⌘ Chapter 6.

The Kaj'nikh Umbr Sseth'vekk, or Horned Black dragon lizard were the specially cultivated mounts of the Sirionean Elite. The Entelecheians rode them, but their Kaj'nikhs were markedly different from those of the four ruling houses. The Arahani breed was spawned of magma and breathed fire, for example.

Of course, an ordinary Dragon lizard of the Black horn tribe was powerful enough in its own right, but when combined with the elemental prowess of the unlocked dragon bloodline, they exhibited monstrous strength that only a truly inhuman individual could dominate and control. It is why the entelecheians only rode normal beasts, and why the heirs were only granted their mounts after passing their Archmage trials.

The record for youngest such Archmagus to receive their mount is held by Jaka, the cursed prince, of whom it is said that his ghost still haunts the ruins of sunken Sirion to protect what was rightfully his. He passed his trial when he was 13 years old and was said to have truly inhuman sigil drawing speed.

- Attributed credit to ☼S.V, Scholar of Dawn.' as usual, for providing much of the information compiled in this treatise.

- From the Magnum Opus of Archmagus Siovanus Mitrus Vardenaai, (108-239 ABS).

Ves awoke to the rumbling crunch of wooden caravan wheels on dirt road and the subdued clop clop of hoofs. She smiled and stretched, feeling her spine cracking pleasantly. Damn she'd had a good one. This was why she enjoyed night watches. She could conveniently skip part of the journey.

It felt sort of like how she imagined teleporting would. That was the whole reason for this entire trip of hers, and only with Gideron's help had she been able to convince the fatherlord to let his little daughter go on an adventure. Only after the sour old goat had assured the fatherlord that this was an important scholarly undertaking which would further her education, had he relented and let her roam free and untethered for the first time. Ever.

Ves sighed at the thought of the ancient gates. Just how the hell did they work anyway? Why wasn't there any texts left over from that era. Why the tits hadn't someone figured out how to replicate the gates yet!? It just frustrated her to no end.

It would be so convenient to have gates. She could visit with all her friends in the afternoon, then pop over to the jewel of Colla for an evening ball with Kreischt then head home to sleep in her own bed at night. The possibilities... Ves' head spun, and she popped the cork on a waterflask, gluping down chill lifegiving water and sighing in relief.

She wondered what became of the Jak fellow after he'd called Barnas a manservant. Ves was a little worried that the old man had pulverized her new toy. That wouldn't do.

Crawling from the Caravan, Ves poked her head through the opening squinting against the sunlight, but froze.

The caravan infront of her was open at the back and inside it sat the mysterious Jack fellow together with Mina. They were too close. "You scoundrel!" Ves shouted, making both of them jump.

Jack was holding Mina's hands hostage and staring at her with a creepy smile.

Ves grabbed her sword and not bothering to buckle it on, leapt from the Caravan onto the back of theirs, her hand on the hilt. "Leave off it you bloody womanizer! This time I'll cut your hands off for real!" Ves said. Her hands trembled and she felt that her face was burning up. She also realized that she was still barefooted, and wore only her panties. Silently, she cursed herself.

"I never figured you for an exhibitionist. They're rather small, but cute and perky. You're so pink all over, but I don't dislike the look." He said, as if he was merely commenting on the weather, though there was a glint in his eyes that just pissed her off. Ves let go of the sword with a yelp, trying to cover her exposed breasts. Mina surprised her by covering the Jack fellows eyes with her hands, motioning with her head.

"Mina, you're a lifesaver." Ves replied as she jumped past the still blinded Jack and pulled down one of Mina's dresses, quickly slipping it on.

It was a loose fit, and a bit too long for her, but it would have to do.

"I'm good now, thanks." Ves said, and Mina removed her hands from Jacks eyes.

Then she was reminded of why she'd leapt over here in the first place and frowned. "You two seem awfully intimate with each other. He didn't do anything to you did he Minsy? I swear I'll punch him till he's a bloody puddle I will." Ves said, her face burning red hot. She was still shaking and could not understand this crazy emotion she experienced whenever the Jack fellow was around.

[He didn't do anything untoward. In fact, he's been nothing but a perfect gentleman so far and a great conversationalist too. Laughter: I have to admit V, you're acting a bit strange at the moment. I haven't seen you so riled up about a man since Seb, but let's not go there.]

Ves nodded, feeling the wind leave her sails. She slumped down beside the two, running a hand through her hair. It seemed to have become tangled up again while she'd slept. Annoying hair. It would've been easier if she shaved it off like Barnas... egghead. Ves felt a tug at her face.

"I concur." Jack said, looking over at Mina.

"Your behaviour is most unbecoming of a noble lady, though I can't say I dislike your recent coming out as an exhibitionist. I haven't seen many pale pink women like you." Jack said. Ves felt the flame spark to life within her again, and she clenched her fists.

"I'm not an exhibitionist!And what do you mean pink woman? I'm normal, you know? You make it sound like I'm some sort of exotic animal or something." She said. He just shook his head, even Mina... Which reminded her. "Did you just say that he was a great conversationalist?" Ves asked, and Mina nodded.

[Joy: Jack's very good at handtalk. Color me seven shades of surprised when he started flourishing his hands to talk. You brought back a very interesting fellow V.]

Ves frowned. "Why... how could you possibly know handtalk? Most people aren't even aware that it exists."

Jack shrugged. "What can I say, it was just a part of my education and thats that."

[He came from some desert place. Funny story: You should tell V about the Krait poop incident in the market.]

Ves was shocked to see a smile on Mina's face as she glanced over at the Jack fellow. They were sitting so close that they nearly leaned against each other for support, and it was bugging her. Ves crossed her arms over her chest. "So you've been feeding my friend lies and nonsense and make believe stories have you? We all know you for the faker you are. Some village boy got it into his head that he's a fancy nobleman from some strange faraway place.

Somehow we're supposed to believe this even though you don't know anything about Dorwine! Pah." Ves said.

For some reason, Mina frowned and gave her a disapproving look. Ves felt a tightening in her chest that just pissed her off even more. "What, you're on his side now?" She said.

She knew she was caught up in the moment. She'd even snapped at her calm, good hearted friend and she'd vowed never to do that again after the Sebastian incident. It was all that Jack fellows fault.

[Confusion: There aren't any sides V. Question:Why don't you calm down a little bit?]

Jack looked from Mina over to her and back again.

"I don't think she's interested in my so called fairytales, so let's leave it at that. It's enough that you believe me Mina." Jack said. Ves couldn't stand the look on his face. He wasn't allowed to look so at peace while she felt all riled up. It was just unfair.

"Now look here! I explicitly permitted the Jack fellow to travel with us to Midshear because I thought he might be slightly interesting, but I fully expected him to make stuff up and be strange." Ves paused a moment. Her face was heated and she was breathing heavily as if she'd had an intense sparring session. "But somehow, while I was asleep, he managed to steal my friend!" Ves shouted.

Her whole body was shaking, and she had to constantly fight the urge to hurl herself at the Jack fellow and punch him bloody.

"Careful with all that huffing and puffing my dear lady, lest you blow the robe off and expose that lovely pale and pink flesh again." Jack remarked, still calm in the face of her storm.

Ves tried to forcefully settle herself down, but it was hard. She didn't know what it was about this bastard that so annoyed her, but there was this nagging sense of familiarity in the back of her mind that felt out of place, and it bothered her greatly.

She couldn't help the blush though. "Pink flesh this, pink flesh that. Have you never seen a wo-woman before? Huh?" Ves asked, not quite believing the turn the conversation had taken. She hated how her voice had come out. It made her sound like she was an insecure little girl.

Damn this guy. Everything he did just seemed to piss her off for some reason and she couldn't put her finger on why.

Even her usually calm and collected friend Mina had a slight blush coloring her freckled cheeks. Jack pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his one exposed eye, making Ves wonder what was behind the elaborately embroidered eyepatch with the strange silvery thread.

"If you must know, then I have indeed seen women before, known them even. I wasn't even 10 when I had my first encounter. It was common practice in the palace for those like me. From a young age, I was used as a training tool for the apprenticing maids, though in turn they also trained me well in various ways, as it would not do for me to be remiss in any part of my education no matter how vulgar it may be." Ves felt her jaw drop and she just stared at the man for a moment. She hadn't expected such a frank admission of... that.

"What's with the messed up stuff about you not even being 10, and what palace? You expect me to believe you grew up in some desert palace? Don't you think you're stretching the lie a little thin?"Ves asked.

Mina didn't look nearly as surprised as Ves, so she figured maybe he'd already been weaving this lie for awhile. Mina looked like she believed him, but this was too strange and outrageous to be real. It couldn't possibly be true.

Jack shrugged. "It matters not what you believe. I don't feel inclined to disabuse you of your mistaken notions about me. Besides, you make it sound like it's a big deal that I've known women before." Jack said.

"Gah, you make my head hurt. You're barely older than me and you act all obnoxious and knowing, which is ridiculous since you told me Dorwine didn't have a royal family!" Ves said.

At that, Mina finally widened her eyes and looked over at Jack. Perhaps her friend was finally seeing him for what he really was.

[Surprise: Did you really say that?] Mina asked with a quick flourish of her digits.

Jack nodded. "Indeed I did. As far as I know, the Dorwinian dominion doesn't have a royal family, but I suppose..." Jack trailed off, frowning and showing an uncharacteristic lack of confidence suddenly, which just puzzled Ves further.

[Puzzlement: How can you say that, especially in present company. That over there,] Mina thumbed over at Ves, [is Vesteele Veris, a princess of the royal family. Even if she's third in line for the throne, she's still a part of the royal family. Her blood is as blue as it comes.]

Jack frowned, then he cocked his head sideways causing his long black hair to swish across his forehead. He looked to be in deep contemplation, and Ves wondered what was going through the mans head. Perhaps he was reorganizing his made up lies or something, though it was hard to tell. The look of confusion and contemplation seemed so real and genuine that Ves almost believed it to be so.

"I have seen paintings of Dorwinian nobles before and used to think them some sort of fabrication of the artists imagination. Yet now that you mention it, Ves does bear an uncanny resemblance to them, what with her pink skin, small stature and silvery blonde hair." Jack said, apparently completely apologetic at having been caught in a blatant lie. "I suppose the rebels could've had an underground court, but to think that it was this extensive. Either that or... No, that can't be it. I refuse to believe that the 7th key master would..." Jack said, trailing off.

"You see now?" Ves said, turning to her friend. She still sat shoulder to shoulder with the Jack fellow, so comfortable with the lying scoundrel. Her friend had a contemplative look on her face, but made no move to flourish her digits in a response.

"A princess? You? It is hardly believable, though the delicate nature of your body indicates a high class rearing... so perhaps it is possible?" Jack mused, muttering to himself.

"Alright that's enough of that. I said last night I don't really care about your delusions, but keep them to yourself will you? And stop going on about my body." Ves felt her face burning up. "Sure it's a little flattering that you think... ah but no, it's... it's disgusting? Yes that's it. It's disgusting, so stop talking about me like that. Yes" Ves said, nodding to herself even as her face burned red hot. She was sure the others could clearly tell she was blushing furiously, but what was she to do? Turn away and leave Mina with this rogue? She'd rather die than leave her friend to the whims of this randy creature. Who knew what he'd get up to if she wasn't here to ward her friend from this evil? He was like an out of control wayward bard or something.

"In the desert, only nobles of high standing were not cracked under the scathing rays of the sun and the dry air." Jack said.

"Oh is that so?" Ves replied sarcastically. "Do tell me more about this desert of yours. I'm sure the insights will be great, given how amazingly vast your knowledge is." Ves said. She made sure her voice came out flat and dry, so that even the village fool got her sarcasm.

She couldn't be sure with him, since he seemed to understand very little about the world. Or perhaps he was just willfully ignorant. Those types were the worst.

Jack sighed. "You don't get it, do you? The demins had cracked, dry feet and skin like sandpaper. Even my dearest friend was the same way, I still remember the rough feel of her hands, her cracked skin, dry lips..." Jack said trailing off before looking over at Mina.

The fool stared straight at her as though he had a right to be her equal. Though he hadn't known she was a princess, now he did and yet he hadn't changed his behaviour in the least.

He was just... She had never met someone like this before. Ves bit her lip.

" When I compare that to your delicate pinkish toes and your soft soles, to say nothing of your moist, plump lips and skin that shines with water and sweat, it's like you're a noble of similar standing to myself. Just... you're the first pale one I've seen besides myself and Mother, putting aside middle aged balding diplomats, Judicari and local overseers of the dominions and the like. Though I did not find them aesthetically pleasing in the least. Comparing the Dorwinians I saw back home to you Ves, is like comparing cow dung to the twinkling carpet of stars that blink down at us when mother shade draws the cold shadow across the lands, swathing the burning wounds in her healing salve of shade." The Jack fellow said, his long black hair gently fluttering in the wind, swishing across his forehead and the cloth eyepatch.

Suddenly feeling conscious of her bare feet, which was stupid, Ves swept them underneath her, hiding them in the folds of the white robe she'd borrowed from Mina. All the while, her face burned. She'd never been spoken to like this before, because even the explorers knew of her standing. Sure they were a bit rough sometimes, the boys, but never did they dare speak like this to her.

Why was this stupid idiot praising her... feet? Shit this was embarrassing. Ves resisted the urge to bury her head in her face and scream, not quite believing the effect that the idiots words had on her. The idiot was a damn idiot! Definitely some crazed lying bard or something.

While Ves was busy squirming around and struggling with herself, Mina bumped into Jack. The rough behaviour of her friend once more surprised Ves. This Jack fellow had had a rather large impact on them. Both of them. Mina was more animated than she'd ever been before with an outsider, and She herself was filled with such anger and strange emotion that it was puzzling.

[Amusement: She was right to call you a scoundrel. And I thought your flirting with me was bad. Confusion: I'm starting to doubt your stories. Did you just make everything up? Are you really as V says, a village fool pretending? Sadness: Because honestly it sounds like it now that V has revealed your ignorance of Dorwine to me.]

After looking at Mina flourishing her dextrous digits, the Jack fellow stood with a frown. "I've enjoyed your company even if you haven't enjoyed mine. You should stick to your friend and ignore the words of this village fool. We'll part ways in Midshear regardless. And forget about helping me find my friend. I'll manage without the help of your Church of Rothinia. This one does not wish to be a burden to anyone, much less a lovely lady such as yourself."

Jack said, turning his back to them both. As he was about to go Mina reached out and grabbed a silken black pantleg. Jack stopped. Ves clenched her fists when she saw the expression of desperation on her friends face. She was near to tears! That taciturn, calm, sweetheart Mina was near to tears now. Unbelievable. Unforgivable. How dare he make her friend cry. The fire returned.

[Sadness: I didn't mean it like that. Hesitance: I enjoyed our conversation. Actually I don't think I've had so much fun before. I can't remember the last time I laughed and smiled so much. If you must go, then go. But let us not part on bad terms. Whether you're a village fool posturing as a desert dwelling noble, or the genuine exotic article, I care not. But atleast let me help you find that friend of yours. Give me a name and I'll sick the spiders of Rothinia's web on it.]

Ves froze, her rage contained within her going on a slow burn. She felt oddly defeated and deflated after reading her friends hands. Why was she willing to go so far for a blatantly lying, womanizing flirt of a scoundrel? What had this man and Mina talked about while she'd been asleep to make her so endeared to him? Ves couldn't imagine...

"I'm sorry for being like that. Alot has happened, and I haven't told you much of import. Ves is right to insinuate that I'm being disingenuous and indirect. I haven't been posturing or acting or pretending though. When I smiled and laughed with you Mina, I meant it. That was real. Don't doubt it." Jack took a step back from Ves and Mina, performing an elegant court bow. He curled his left arm behind his back while he placed the right hand on his chest before flourishing it out as he bowed. Ves frowned.

That was an ancient and outdated Dorwinian court bow the likes of which hadn't been in active use for atleast 200 years. The court dress adopted from Sirion with the wide and annoying sleeves wasn't in use any longer, so a new bow had been adopted to more accurately reflect the tigher modern styles.

Doubt started to creep into her head. If he was a village idiot pretending to be something else, he was one hael of an actor. And why could he perform an incredibly outdated court bow?

Gah, it drove her nuts! Why was she unable to figure out a simple con artist?

"I apologize again for my unseemly behaviour Mina, and to you aswell Princess Vesteele Veris. I may or may not owe you my life, but atleast I owe you my thanks. This Prince does not owe favours lightly. In the future, you may call upon me to do anything you wish. Ask and I shall give it. Oh and Mina, I will give your offer of assistance some thought. I'll tell you my final decision before we part ways in Midshear." The Jack fellow once again bowed before retreating to the outside of the caravan. Ves felt it rocking slightly as the Jack fellow leapt much as she'd done, from one caravan to the next over. He had to be quite agile to jump so far and so high, since the horses were in the way and the vessel was constantly moving.

She heard the men cry out as Jack landed among them. They were laughing, receiving him as one of their own. She saw Morgan clapping Jack on the back and grinning at him.

Ves was left feeling oddly empty and strangely puzzled by the sudden emptiness.

"I don't know what's going on anymore Minsy." Ves said with a sigh, leaning back. Now that the Jack fellow was gone, she nearly splayed out on the floor of the caravan, but if she did that she wouldn't be able to look at Mina. So Ves stayed upright. She did however, remove her feet from underneath her dress, since her legs were getting numb and her feet tingled from lack of circulation.

Her face still burned lightly at the reminder of his stupid, stupid remark. What kind of idiotic pervert of a man complimented a womens feet for fucks sake!?

[The journey has worn your nerves thin V. Even I can tell. It's time to return soon.We've searched a dozen ancient ruins utilizing various explorer's parties with zero yield. I cannot postpone my duties as a priestess much longer, and you still have to complete your apprenticeship under Archmagus Gideron. I'm sure Barnas wants to get back to his party aswell.]

"I know. Without you I'd have gone back after the first few. It's just... I don't really feel like studying or prancing about in court as a pretty face for my father to show off to visiting nobles. Last year he tried to marry me off to the leader of the third empire as a package deal with my older sister for schnikes sake! Here's a dignified queen, oh and take this pretty little thing as your mistress. Just don't invade our lands, do sign this lovely peace treaty and trade agreement and let us be vassals as you take over the rest of the known world. Great moves dad!" Ves said.

Her eyes stung and she felt the tears come and roll down her cheeks slowly. She didn't cry infront of anyone but her most dear friend. Trouble was that she just didn't know what to do any more.

She felt like the world was changing and crumbling all around her. She could never go back to being a little girl full of ignorance and innocence.

If she could, she would. She really enjoyed her first few years at court. 12 years old, doted on by uncles and relatives and nobles alike. Everyone telling her she had promise, that she'd accomplish great things, that she was the prettiest flower in the hanging gardens, the most precious jewel of all. She really didn't want to go home and face responsibility, because that would mean going against the fatherlord. He was ruining the country and she couldn't square that with her conscience... so she'd escaped on her own little adventure, all the while slowly breaking down as she realized the inevitability of what she had to face upon her return.

Mina came over and hugged her close.

Pulling away, Mina gave her a stern yet compassionate look full of meaning. Their bond was deep. This was her first true friend, and she knew that Mina would always have her back unlike those damn nobles at court.

[I won't let my friend be used and discarded as a political tool, but V, you're running from reality. Don't get me wrong, it was really fun and I love you. I wish we could travel together like this forever and not worry about the state of the world, but it would be irresponsible of me to postpone my duties to Rothinia any longer. Likewise would it be for you. Don't run from your fate, embrace it. I know you can face it head on and win and you have my full support, you know you do.]

Ves knew what her friend said was true, but that didn't mean she had to like it. She felt a pain in her stomach, as if someone had socked her in the gut. She smiled through the tears, trying to banish the horrible sucking pain in her stomach.

"It's nice to not know what's going on in the world. But you're right and the truth is that I'm worried aswell. What kind of poo doo did my dad get himself into when I wasn't looking? I dread finding out." Ves said, sighing.

"But I know. I'll go to the magistrate in Fyford and get the latest letters before we make our way back. I should atleast know if my dad managed to finally sign a peace treaty or whether I'm going home to a wartorn fucked up kingdom and dead relatives..." Ves shivered at the thought. Mina reached out a hand to stroke her hair, patting her head like she was a puppy. But this old reminder of the first time they'd met was enough to console Ves, to give her strength.

"I want to wander the wilds to the south forever..." Ves muttered to herself as her tears dried up and she wiped at her face with a white sleeve. She had to go back to her caravan and put on proper clothes aswell. Mina nodded.

[I know that feeling. I've wondered what would happen if we continued until the icy veil. We'd have to make it past the Arachnid realms and the purple zone, but once we got past the icy veil we'd surely be free from our troubles. We could leave this world behind and try to find the underborrows of the svartalfr or something crazy like that.]

"Maybe, maybe not. I suppose it's as good a place as any for the mythical forefathers of the dwarves and gnomes to hide out. Nobody knows what's behind that veil though. Some say the lost tribes still roam the huge floating ice worlds and that only magic can keep you alive past a certain point. That it's so cold you'll die if you're not constantly using magic. I think I need to train a bit more before I'd dare undertake such a journey." Ves replied.

[But it would be glorious. The dream you told me about when you were 11. Let's make it come true some day. You and me together, travelling the world as anonymous explorers, helping people and venturing into the unknown lands. We could write a journal and document it. I'm sure the scholars at the Azure university would faint if we presented them records of the lost tribes, of svartalfr and whatever secrets that ice world contains.]

"Promise be, a promise said. I swear on my ancestors to make it so. One day I'll explore the entire world. Let no icy veil or vast sea bar my passage. Gate or no gate!" Ves said, holding out a pinkie finger.

"Just like when we swore not to fight over Sebastian at the first Kreischt ball we went to together." Ves said with a smile. It was funny. They had almost become deadly enemies because of a stupid double-timing, womanizing nobleman. Perhaps that was part of why she got that strange angry feeling around the Jack fellow. She had to admit though, that he was nothing like Sebastian. That atleast, was one redeeming quality of the rogue.

Mina nodded, also smiling as she intertwined her pinkie with hers. After they had shaken thrice and knocked foreheads, Ves looked up to see Mina with tears in her eyes.

She hugged her friend close and whispered in her ear. "Sorry that I'm such a weak friend. One day I'll be Queen, and once I ascend the throne I promise I'll make everyone in the kingdom learn handtalk. Young or old, they'll all know it."

Mina replied by hugging her so tightly that Ves found it hard to breathe, and she could feel her friends tears flowing, falling, dripping onto her neck and sliding down.

I guess it's official now, Ves thought to herself. If not for herself, but for her friend. She would do anything for her friend.