Chapter 4 - Ja'Ekavira

Winter looked up from where she stood, leaves and curtains of ivy obscuring the view of the top of the cliff. For now she had to make do with the visible path ahead and the ever-widening view over the hidden domain. Winding steps and a walkway that doubled back on itself tightly as it climbed the vertical incline greeted her. Carved out of the face of the cliff, each step was topped with black onyx, she allowed her distaste to show as she continued to climb. The material favoured by the ebony dragon, she knew why he had made this place the way he did, to expose secrets, uncover untruths and dispel the arcane before meeting the resident. Behind her was the silent whisper of Ja’Freya, the only sound being the occasional clink of the steel bands on her tail and breath being readied to speak.

“You can feel it, can’t you?” the rakshasa said.

Winter nodded, glancing back at her unexpected travelling companion

“Whoever made this place wanted to stay safe. With every step I feel my strength being drawn from me.” Ja’Freya said, “Recently, by the time I get to the top I can barely walk and have not the will to argue, except for a few words at best.”

Winter frowned slightly, “You do not agree with Ja’Ekavira?”

“No, I do not. Imprisoned here while our people suffer; while the real is just beyond the mountain. No, I do not agree. But, I will uphold her word and enact it.”

“You have been outside.” Winter said with a smile.

Ja’Freya made a click of her tongue, “Almost caught in the act while I was at it.”

Winter shook her head with a smirk twisting her lips, “What did you risk it for?” she said, looking back over her shoulder.

Ja’Freya’s eyes flashed gold in the dark, “To watch the dawn on the mountain, to walk the mountain forests and hear the birds, feel the fresh breeze that I had forgotten the feeling of and to see the sun set and bask in twilight under the stars.”

“A worthy reason, Freya.” Winter smiled, “What greeted you out there?”

Ja’Freya burst into laughter, “The middle of winter, a thick blanket of mist, freezing snow, chill wind and a very large and angry she-bear.” she suddenly calmed, “But the stars, Winter. So bright, the air was so fresh, so clear.” she sighed, “I stood on a rocky outcropping and stared at the sky until I was almost frozen in place.”

“You can feel that again, Freya.” Winter said quietly, glancing upwards, “Meliandra and its domains, it is all…”

“Don’t tell me, Winter. I wouldn’t be able to stand it. I want to experience it as it happens.” Ja’Freya followed Winter’s glance, “You have not come here to negotiate, have you?”

Winter shook her head, “The only negotiation will take place in Dagnetheln, and that is to organise safe passage to secret all here to Meliandra. Every soul.”

Ja’Freya stared at her.

“I am here to deliver a message to Ekavira and to escort her to her Master.”

“And what if she refuses?”

Winter glanced at her, her eyes flashing before she turned back to the path, mounting the steps of the final set of bends. Ja’Freya nodded slowly in silent understanding, her sight seeing both of Winter’s sides in unison, her current form the amalgamation of both.

Reaching the last flight, they ascended, the landing at the edge only a few steps away. Winter’s eyes swept over the top, immediately taking in the sweeping multi-tiered tiled roofs, the lack of walls and the pillars that held it all aloft akin to a temple of the gods. A faint smile came to her lips as she quickly looked back out over the domain of the Dekaalenstaad from its highest point and shook her head. She settled her eyes on the temple, the silvered maples that grew through its middle glowing faintly from below.

“I will wait here.” Ja’Freya said with a measure of breathless strain, “You do not feel it?”

“No, it does not affect me. But I can feel its intent.” Winter said with a gentle smile, “You will feel relief shortly, Freya. I will be calling on you.”

Winter set off along the lantern lined path, its carved walkway shining, reflecting the perpetual night. Finally, she came to a halt at the edge of the stone that made the floor of the building. Deep shadows of dappled waves and shifting light resided between silken curtains that hung from the ceiling to the floor, concealing the inner pillars and structure within. Lantern light bloomed and cast shadows of accentuated movement between the silken layers, strangely mimicking the veil between life and death. Winter waited calmly as the shadows shifted and swam; the sleek silhouette of a rakshasa female growing defined and coming closer until finally the burning, luminous eyes from Winter’s memory could be seen in the darkness. The rich orange fire of life burning behind layers of silken gauze.

“Winter, an honour.” said the gentle voice, the liquid smooth purr, the flicker of fire as those hypnotically captivating eyes blinked.

Winter stood without reaction, letting the Empress’s thoughts play out in the quiet.

Another blink of those almost disembodied eyes, “Have you finally been sent to kill me, now that you found me?”

The silence hung between them, stretching in time as Winter’s steel and copper eyes hardened, meeting the rich orange fire of the rakshasa. The slight sway and movement of the glow disconcerting as the silken curtains drifted.

“Ekavira.” Winter said quietly.

“Winter.” echoed Ja’Ekavira softly, “I heard my brother’s roar, only a few moments ago. He has returned alongside you, he is acting without my…Approval, to summon our people in anger.”

“My long disapproving sister, Freya is resting at the clifftop. At ease and not escorting you under guard. What have you promised that their allegiance has drifted?”

“I have promised nothing, Ekavira.”

“Then I ask my question again, are you here to kill me now that you have found me?” said the quiet voice, the eyes pendulous in the shadows, “After all, my people attacked yours on the trail without provocation.”

Winter continued to stay unwavering, “Sessh is taking care of that now. He is doing what he must, a lesson that must be learnt.”

A faint chuckle could be heard, “I send him out to be humbled, to curb his ego, to humiliate himself among the people of the Eld. He returns as a master of his own wit, his failure has given him cause to grow. It makes me wonder what you threatened him with.”

There was a pause, a contemplative silence, “If you are not here to kill me, why are you here? Surely you did not find Sessh wandering and decide to return him home like a lost kit? Or did you get into his head and make him tell you where we hid?”

Winter sighed slightly, “Let us speak of purpose, Ekavira. Instead of this inane dance and play of shadows.” she stepped forward, stopping before the first of the silken drapes, “Tell me the true reason for sending Sessh into the Eld.”

A faint chuckle, no more than a hint of mirth could be heard, “I sent him to find an elven man and to deliver a message. The other, though less important request was for him to set eyes upon the remains of the sanctums of old. I am sure you know why.”

“You could not care less about the sanctums. Your shadows, those that only answer to you were already keeping their eyes on Dagnetheln and the old byways. You knew from their reports that dwarves and elves from Meliandra were there restoring its wonders.” stated Winter.

“What would a few dwarves and elves matter?” Ja’Ekavira said softly.

“The elven man. Lord of Meliandra, Antrandis of Darkfall. Claiming the abandoned and ruined Dragon Sanctums and restoring them. Send Sessh to sight them or be captured in the hope of narrowing his search down so he does not have to venture into the heart of Meliandra itself.” Winter stated with a smile, “I am sure you are trying to make sense how my sisters and I are connected to this. Guarding the remains of the past, watching over and protecting the mortals that toil on their restoration.”

“I do not need to make sense of it. You were claimed by a god that can properly wield you. After what the Host did to me, even I was aware that he had not done as he should have, his twisted ego would not allow it. I would be dead if you had not survived.” Ekavira reasoned, “Maybe my brother did meet with Antrandis and I was correct in my suspicion.”

Ja’Ekavira shifted behind the silk, “Come, High Priestess of Toth. Before that coin burns a hole through your pocket.” she said with a humoured tone, all pretence of fear absent.

Winter’s smile grew as she saw the large orange disks turn away and disappear into the shadows. She followed the shade, parting the translucent curtains and walking silently in the rakshasa’s wake. A soft light started to build among the silken falls, becoming stronger with every step, until finally only one hung between her and the inner courtyard. The sound of water running from stone, through and over roots into a small watercourse that wound its way through the maples greeted her ears. She could see the source of the glow, the snowy maples’ limbs limned with fairy-fire, making the whole garden seem otherworldly.

She stepped out into the inner courtyard, the silken curtains swaying softly behind her, her eyes on Ja’Ekavira as she stood beneath the trees. The rakshasa carefully postured to appear graceful.

“Is this how you appear before all of your subjects?” Winter asked.

Ja’Ekavira smiled, her teeth baring in the attempt, “No… Usually I am clothed. I felt that if I were going to face death, I might as well do so as I entered existence. But it seems my preparations are for naught.” she said softly.

Winter shook her head, keeping her eyes on the rakshasa as she walked to the lounge at the edge of the garden and picked up a gown, slipped into it, each movement deliberate, practised and sublime to the eye before she turned.

“You are not the same as I remember you, Winter.” Ja’Ekavira said as she approached, “You are somehow significantly more than you were.”

She stopped in front of Winter, looking up at her, “Who do you hold fealty to, since the Host is no more? Who claimed you?”

Winter smiled slightly, ignoring the requests as she scrutinised Ja’Ekavira, “You ask a question that you already know the answer to.”

Ja’Ekavira stared at her, the orange in her eyes becoming more intense before she turned away.

“Many years ago, you left this place. Sessh was not even aware. You left to find the Ebony Dragon, did you not?” Winter said quietly, “You travelled to Scarosant in the hope of meeting him there.”

Ja’Ekavira shook her head, a half smile baring some teeth, “Travelled or drawn to Scarosant? I was not sure which at the time. But, yes it was a hope. I left when I saw the first signs of decay, the Dekaalenstaad was failing, the stone he had given me to awaken this place was in decline. I am sure you felt me the moment I left this place.”

Winter nodded, “I did, but I was not certain. At the time it was just a disturbance in the back of my mind that I could not act upon.” she said, “Instead of the Ebony, you found…”

Ja’Ekavira looked over her shoulder, padding over to a low table “Yes, I left to search for the Ebony, instead I found his daughter and Antrandis, an elven man. And an offer that when I felt the time was right, to send him that message you have in your pocket, and he would help. I left to revitalise this place, and I returned with future salvation for my people in the real.”

The rakshasa winced, “I could not control myself; I was drawn to him, aggressively. Even now, just the thought…He would no longer be as he was in my memory.”

Silvast watched Ja’Ekavira as she poured a goblet of water, the slight shake in her hands as she tried her best to remain composed, “Is that coin you hold as it was when I sent it, or did Sessh manage to deliver my message?”

“Yes, he did.”

Ja’Ekavira nodded, breathing deeply in relief, “Where?”

“Escorath.”

“Escorath…” Ja’Ekavira echoed, “The Lord of Meliandra has a long reach to claim Escorath.” she smiled to herself, “Has he aged? He should be silvered by now, an elder, ancient even among the elves. Are you familiar with him?”

Winter watched the faint twitch of Ja’Ekavira’s tail, “Intimately.”

“Intimately…” Ja’Ekavira echoed, turning quickly to stare at her, “Intimately?”

“Vira, there are three reasons I am here at my own insistence.” Winter said, almost startled by the savage intensity in Ja’Ekavira’s glare, “To deliver this message on his behalf.”

“The second?”

“To escort you to Dagnetheln to meet with the Steward of Meliandra and the Sovereign of Knocht to discuss safe passage and resettlement of your people.” Winter explained, watching the rakshasa’s reaction.

“The last?” Ja’Ekavira whispered, shaking as Winter placed the golden coin in her hand gently and closing her fingers over it.

“To bring you to Antrandis, for you to take your place at his side.”