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Aralim 105

Uncertain of what to expect, Aralim and his friends filed into a meeting room in the western wing of the Palace.  It was a broad room with a centered table framing rectangular panels of glass on its surface.  Aralim had heard enough boasts in Rema to know the rarity of quality glasswork beyond Numa’nakres, though glass like this would have been commonplace in his own homeland across the Stormy Sea.  As his friends seated themselves around the expensive furnishing, Aralim prepared himself for a religious tutoring. Continue reading Aralim 105

Aralim 104

The throne room of Maga’s Palace was a wide corridor painted with gold and washed in mosaic gemstones.  At the end of the hall, before the arched ceiling ruffled into a gleaming mahogany waterfall, rested the serene white throne of the King.  Narrow canals of pristine water ran alongside the throne’s sides and tall golden reeds grew up from the murky soil beneath.  The throne itself was draped with a lilac runner and hefty glass crystals were encased in its hands.  Sunlight shone through round portals in the gem-crusted ceiling and lit up the room with a reflective haze.

Under Rel’s guidance, Aralim entered the room and paused.  He took a moment to admire the beauty of the tapestry-like designs in the wood-panel walls and the blue motley tiles that ran toward the throne.  In many ways, he felt completely out of place. Continue reading Aralim 104

Farek 53

The guards gave Farek the name and description of the man who delivered the sacks of flour to the site of the disaster.  As Simi slowly healed under Devender’s care, Farek and his guards scoured the city for Oggin Drezenis.  Two weeks after the explosion, Farek found the culprit at the Sweet Anchor tavern.  A bloody nose was the first of Oggin’s injuries as Farek had slammed the unsuspecting man’s head off his table.  The interrogation that followed revealed a terrified and guilt-stricken man—if his show was to be believed. Continue reading Farek 53

Raya 49

Raya had been relieved when Avri and the other volunteers had returned unscathed from their multi-day reconnaissance mission, but now she grew nervous once more.  Ailo, Benn, and Avri had reported on several sergeants, captains, and a single Commander that was willing to meet with Raya.  Now, on their trek across Ith to make the meeting, Raya’s anxiety was growing once more.

The only neutral ground that the City Watch and Raya’s group could agree upon was in the Low Dales, out of reach of all three factions.  Unfortunately, reaching it required a crossing of several other neighbourhoods. Continue reading Raya 49

Aralim 103

Aralim had learned a few things during the last few weeks.  He had learned a lot about the culture of Maga and the religion of the similarly named Goddess.  He had learned how loyal his soldiers were to one another—Grendar rarely left Lerela’s bedside.  He had also learned that his birthday had come and gone during their frantic trek toward the city.  Aralim was now forty-eight years of age, though he had scarcely noticed as they carried Lerela’s stretcher toward the Eye those last few days. Continue reading Aralim 103

Renado 56

“Favourite drink?” Ira asked, smiling.  She leaned on her hand, with her elbow resting on the bar.  The Down Dunrall barkeeper had already served her a glass of rye whiskey, while Renado had just asked for ale.

“I like a good cider,” Ren replied.

Ira gave him a humorously raised eyebrow and started to smirk.  “Cider,” she muttered flatly, then took a swig of her whiskey. Continue reading Renado 56

Raya 48

The sounds of combat were almost a daily occurrence in Ith.  Raya woke to shouting that morning, but was relieved once she had sat up and repositioned her auditory senses.  The cries of fighting were too far away to be within her own territory.  Her scouts reported that the borders between factions were now frequently marked by discarded corpses.  At least the factions kept their controlled regions a little cleaner.  Raya’s patrols helped ensure a similar bubble of tranquility within her small partition of Massed Alley. Continue reading Raya 48