#legendsofasthy

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“Um…Aailaine? Aailaine, it’s time to wake.” A soft voice roused Aailaine, and she sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She ran her fingers through the cool earth and stood, stretching out her sore limbs. She looked at the opening of the tent to find that a bucket and washcloth had been left for her, as well as a small bundle of clothing. Sluggishly, she undid her rumpled braid and undressed from her filthy clothing, dumping the cold water over herself. She shivered, reaching for the cloth and washing herself down as quickly as she could.

           As she waited to dry, she inspected the clothing brought for her. The green shirt was short-sleeved, a gold band encircling the sleeve. The neckline was v-shaped and loose, making the shirt more breathable. A pair of brown knee-length pants lay underneath the shirt. They laced up the side, allowing her to adjust how tightly they fit. And finally, there was a pair of sturdy leather boots; at first they appeared similar to her old boots, until she noticed that the leather felt different.

           As Aailaine began to dress, she noticed a smaller stack of clothing underneath that she had missed. In the smaller bundle was a pair of brown gloves with a green band around the ends. The right-handed glove covered all her fingers except her pinkie and ring finger whereas the left glove only covered her thumb. As she pulled them on, she realized that the gloves were to protect her fingers from cutting on the bowstring.

           The last article of clothing was a half-skirt, which sat low on her hips. It was a lighter green than her shirt and sat just right so that it would protect her skin from the quiver’s strap. She quickly set the skirt and attached her quiver to her waist.

She picked up the black bow from the ground and, removing a single arrow, drew it back carefully. The bow’s belly and back bent, allowing the nocks to move ever so slightly. The fletching touched her lips and the soft feathers moved under her breath. She closed her eyes as she held the arrow ready, breathing carefully.

           For a moment, everything around Aailaine disappeared and she could feel the runes pulsing on the grip underneath her hand. She could feel the bow and arrow as if they were extensions of her own body rather than foreign objects. The bow breathed with her, bending and moving with her as she drew in breath and released it.

           “Aai-” Sirix’s voice surprised Aailaine and in her surprise she released the arrow. Sirix moved her head slightly and the arrow went flying by her. Aailaine stepped out of the tent as Sirix turned, and both women watched as the arrow buried itself deep inside a pole the trolls had set up to mark their land.

           “Well, I see being without a bow has not dampened your talent,” Sirix remarked, turning to Aailaine, who sighed with relief before looking at the dragon woman. Sirix still watched the girl with her unnerving gaze, although Aailaine thought she noticed a touch of warmness. “Have you made your decision, Aailaine?”

           Aailaine paused, reaching for her amulet. Upon realizing she had failed to put it back on, she rushed back into the tent and grabbed the amulet. Its pure white stone shone in the bright morning light and the mo’qire seemed to wink its red eyes at her. Sirix’s eyes widened as Aailaine slipped the cord over her head, but she said nothing as Aailaine turned to face her.

           “I…I’ll do it, Sirix. I’ll go to Exla.” Aailaine spoke softly but with conviction. Sirix smiled softly and placed her scaly hands on Aailaine’s shoulder.

           “Then I thank you, Aailaine, on behalf of the world you will save.” Sirix smiled brightly, squeezing Aailaine’s shoulders. “As I said last night, you will need to make it to the forests of Hirie and visit the elves. However, I would suggest you stop in Lanol, get a large pack if you can, and find a guide. There are plenty of beings that travel around a lot and know about the world.”

“You can likely find one who would be willing to help you. So, walk straight from this camp and follow that road. However, you still must be careful.” Sirix pointed Aailaine toward the beaten path in the grass. “As I’m sure Hvidr told you, not many races know of deep-dwellers. It would be a dead giveaway to anyone who means to do you harm if you mention you’re from the Tolsan. Say you are from a family of plainsfolk that lived with these trolls. It’s a common occurrence in the plains.”

Sirix smiled and handed Aailaine a piece of paper. Written on it were several different names and Aailaine looked at her questioningly. Sirix laughed slightly, running her finger down the paper.

“Here is a list of last names you can use as your own, all of which are from plainsfolk origin.” Sirix explained, her laughter fading. “Choose one you like and use it when you introduce yourself or buy anything. Remember, never tell anyone your true origins.”

           Aailaine nodded and tucked the paper away just as a huge gust of wind forced her to take a couple of steps back. When she turned to face Sirix again, the dragon woman was gone. A large shadow passed over her and she watched as Sirix finished shifting and flew toward the peaks of the Tolsan. Aailaine was a little disappointed to see her leave so quickly; she had wanted to ask Sirix more about her mother. As her Vuiej, Aailaine had hoped that the dragon woman would be more willing to talk about Kleia than Rfkr had been.

She watched until she could see no more, then turned back to see a woman her height looking at her. The woman’s skin was a light caramel and her dark hair was pulled into a neat bun.

           “If you are ready, we have some food for you to take with you on your journey.” The woman spoke softly, handing Aailaine a large backpack. “It is our gift, our way of thanking you for accepting this quest.”

           Aailaine graciously accepted the food and settled the pack on her back. She began to walk past the woman, who spoke again. “Also, we…we would be honored if you would eat with us before you left.”

           “I…I would like that.” As Aailaine followed the woman, she took a chance to look around. In the darkness and confusion of the night, she had failed to get a good look around the farm, but now she noticed the fields that seemed to stretch indefinitely, as well as some pens she assumed were for animal keeping. They passed several wooden huts, some obviously too small for the trolls, and Aailaine assumed that humans, like the woman who led her, must have lived in them. It also seemed that the human huts were square in shape, while the troll homes were more rounded. The one structure that stuck out the most was a long cabin, easily seven meters long and it was this building that the woman led her to.

The woman held open the door and Aailaine stepped inside to find the group of trolls that she had seen the night before seated around a large feast, along with a scattered number of humans that appeared similar to the woman who had brought her to the hall. On its walls hung colored mats of every hue and pelts of animals that Aailaine didn’t recognize. The table sat about a meter off the ground and all present knelt on pillows next to the table. The pillows seemed to be the same height for almost all the guests, with the exception of a troll and a human who sat at the head of the table. Aailaine recognized the troll as the one that had found her the night before and assumed he must be the head of the farm.

The man next to the troll waved her over and the woman gently nudged her. Slowly and nervously, Aailaine made her way to her seat and set her belongings on the floor behind her. She carefully knelt on the pillow and was surprised by how firm it was.

          “We hold this feast in celebration of the great harvest we’re due to have this cycle, as well to celebrate Aailaine, the one who will save us all.” The head troll spoke and the male plainsfolk lifted up a bowl filled with a sweet-smelling drink, which he offered to Aailaine. Aailaine brought the bowl to her lips gingerly, taking in the scent of the drink. When the first drop reached her lips, she recognized it as a wine, although it was very different from smibi. As she sipped from the bowl, the man began to speak.

           “Let us thoroughly enjoy this feast given to us by Orassul and enjoy the company we have.” Aailaine passed the bowl to the troll to her right, who took a sip as well. Once the bowl had made a complete circle around the group, the host began to feast. Aailaine ate little, merely nibbling on the food before her. The man next to her took notice and spoke to her softly.

           “Does something trouble you, Aailaine? Is this too foreign for you?” He touched her gingerly, and Aailaine looked up from her food at him. His green eyes watched her with concern and she sighed, glancing down again. “I’m sure we have something more similar to what you’re used to.”

           “No, the food is just fine. It’s just…I’ve never been treated with so much kindness by humans. Where...” Aailaine paused, thinking back to her home in the mountains. “Where I come from, I was ostracized by the other humans because of how strange I look. It’s…strange to be so accepted instead of judged.”

           “It’s something you get used to when you live in the plains. The humans you knew were very close-minded.” The man smiled at her and heaped a larger portion of food onto her plate. The woman next to him hit his shoulder, lightly chastising him. Aailaine watched him as he shook her off and looked up to the roof of the dwelling. “Out here, especially since many people travel through the plains, you often see many strange people wandering around. I’m sure as you travel around, you will see stranger than what we see here on our little farm.”

           “So, most humans won’t really judge you for how you look here, or in most places, I’d imagine.” Aailaine smiled and began to eat the food offered to her. Inside, she felt warmth that threatened to overflow.

next chapter

Chapter 6

It stood almost twice her height and was covered in thick red curls from the crown of its head down to its large, bare feet. The only clothing it wore was a white kilt around it’s waist, which glowed in the bright moonlight. Its small green eyes seemed to study her for moment before offering her a hand. Slowly, she took it and in a quick fluid motion, it yanked her to her feet. When it spoke, it reminded her of the sound of two smooth stones being rubbed together.

“Come. The white one and your companion await you.” He turned from her and began to walk through the open plains, off the beaten path. Aailaine began to argue, but after realizing she had no idea as to what the correct path was, bit her tongue and ran to catch up with her new guide.

After walking a short way, they reached a small clearing where the grass had been cut and one could see the soil beneath. More trolls similar to the one who led her sat or stood around a blazing fire, watching it’s tongues lick at the heavens. As they grew closer, Aailaine recognized Hvidr among them, a sapling among the trees.

“Well, at least they found you.” Hvidr bowed to the group and turned to face Aailaine’s troll. “I leave her in your hands and in the hands of Sirix, as was decided many a cycle ago.”

“Go with caution, Hvidr. While the Shadows may leave Mathydar once they learn she is no longer there, that will not make the city safe,” the troll warned, placing his large hand on Hvidr’s head. Hvidr nodded and ducked under his touch. “Also let us apologize for the fate of Rfkr.”

“I am aware, but I must return to my home.” Hvidr looked down at the ground before glancing at Aailaine. “As for Rfkr, his soul has finally found the rest he sought, and his body will be preserved in the stone.”

“Then go and go with haste.” Hvidr looked at Aailaine and nodded at her as she passed, leaving to return beneath the mountains. Once Hvidr vanished from sight, the troll returned his attention to Aailaine and motioned her forward. “Here you will find the answers you seek.”

Aailaine slowly walked forward and made her way toward the center of the circle. As she neared the fire, she realized that her earlier observation was incorrect. The other trolls weren’t looking at the fire, but rather something close to the fire. It was the dragon woman, now clothed in a shorter white robe, and upon seeing Aailaine, she bowed to the trolls and walked to meet her. The sleeves of the dress hung way past her hands and hid them from sight. Her huge wings were still visible this time, but her large tail hid her feet, and Aailaine couldn’t tell whether she actually walked or glided.

“So, you made it safely, although since Hvidr is the one that brought you, I’m guessing Rfkr was not so fortunate.” Aailaine struggled to hold back tears as she shook her head. The woman laid one of her scaly hands on Aailaine’s shoulders and looked at her with sympathy. “He was a good person and lived a full life. I…I’m sure he died with no regrets. I must apologize for not introducing myself earlier, as I had hoped we had more time.

“I am Sirix, and I was Kleia’s Vuiej. Come, follow me.” Sirix led Aailaine to a small tent and opened the flap to allow Aailaine in. Aailaine paused, eyeing Sirix with wonder. “Do not worry. The trolls will alert us of any danger should it come our way.”

Aailaine carefully ducked her way into the tent and sat down in the furthest corner. Sirix followed her and lit a lamp to light the dark space before sitting with her back to the flap. Aailaine squinted at the harsh light of the lamp, which was brighter than the dull light of the Elddess. After she finished settling and sticking her tail out the opening, Sirix turned to face Aailaine, who waited patiently.

“I’m sure you have many questions, Aailaine, but some of them I can’t answer for you. Most importantly, you need to understand what happened tonight.” Sirix sighed, gathering herself before she began her explanation. “First of all, I’m sure you know about the Shadows?”

Sirix smiled a bit when Aailaine nodded but the smile quickly faded. “Their leader we call Irdrin, although it is merely a name we have given to them. They are a remnant of the old chaotic Darkness that used to cover the land, and their only goal is to cover this land with that Darkness once more now that Orassul sleeps.

“However, it was prophesized that a person would be born who could journey through the mist that covers Exla, the resting place of Orassul, and restore their Light to our world.” Sirix paused, her gaze growing serious. The pause in her speech caused Aailaine to squirm, adjusting her quiver and reseating herself. Sirix’s grey eyes seemed to pierce down to her very soul, as if judging her worth. “When you were born, the elves said that you were that one. The Shadows attacking Mathydar were looking for you.”

“So, Rfkr died…. because of me?” Aailaine’s voice quivered as she spoke, and the tears threatened to flow again.

“Do not blame yourself for his death, Aailaine. Rfkr knew the risk when he agreed with Kleia’s wish to hide you with him.” Sirix carefully touched Aailaine’s shoulder before withdrawing once again. “I was meant to come get you to get you started on your journey to Exla but the Shadows-”

“Wait, I…I’m supposed to go to Exla?!” Aailaine interrupted the dragon woman, her voice shaking with disbelief. “But how? That’s too much to ask of me! And I may be skilled with a bow but I can’t make it across A'sthy by myself.”

“Calm down, Aailaine.” Sirix raised her hand to stop Aailaine. “You don’t have to do anything; it was Kleia’s wish that you have a choice. But realize this; even if you refuse, Irdrin will hunt you for the rest of your life. They are aware that you can lead to their downfall and they will not allow you to exist peacefully.”

Aailaine sat silently, mulling over what Sirix said. Sirix’s words sounded so surreal; it seemed unbelievable that she was the one who was supposed to awaken Orassul. However, if she refused, she could never go back to having a normal life. Rfkr was gone, so she really had nowhere to go back to anyway. “But how? I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do.”

“That is why I am here to help you. You must go to Hirie to retrieve an artifact from the elves there. That artifact will allow you to awaken Orassul when you reach Exla,” Sirix offered, smiling. “You will have to find someone to travel with you on your own however. I cannot, as I have other things I must do on my own accord to ensure your success.

“But as I said, Aailaine, you do have a choice. I will give you the night to think it over.” Sirix stood, and Aailaine stood as well. “This tent is yours; rest here for the night and gather your thoughts. In the morning, I will return with fresh clothes for you.”

“Nao fei.” Aailaine looked at her blood-soaked clothes and pack and wished she had one of gowns with her. Sirix smiled softly.

“Ika heia. Ikaded fuo, Aailaine.” With that, Sirix left, leaving Aailaine alone with her thoughts. Aailaine’s mind drifted to her time with Rfkr and how even though he seemed uncaring, he was always there when she needed him. Aailaine pulled the bow out of the quiver to examine the beautiful craftsmanship. A small paper tumbled out of the quiver and Aailaine quickly grabbed it. She opened it to read it and as she did, her eyes shone with tears.

Aailaine,

I know that there’s a chance that I won’t be around when it comes time for your journey, whether Irdrin attacks Mathydar or I die of old age before Sirix comes for you. But I want you to have everything in this pack. The bow was an old gift from your mother to you and it has been sung and enchanted by the elves themselves. The power within the bow is strong and will serve to amplify your own abilities as they manifest. Use it well and make Kleia proud.

The money and jewels are my gift to you. They are from the days I travelled with Kleia and Sirix. I realize that you may hate me for withholding this money, especially with the meager existence we had, but please understand that these gifts will be far more valuable during your journey. The life of a traveler is hard and it’s not easy to make money, so please accept these gifts and spend it wisely.

The wine is just a little going away present. I know how much you’ve grown to love this wine over the cycles, and while I’m sure the dwarves shall miss it, it will serve to remind you of home. Your journey will be rough and at times you’ll miss these mountains with their walls of stone and glowing jewels. The smibi, this wine, will serve as the cure for your inevitable homesickness. On the reverse of this letter is how to make this wine. If you can, be sure to procure some rice from a Dochel merchant and make yourself more.

This may all be a lot for you to take in. You grew up being shunned because of your appearance and I know you just wanted to be normal, but this journey, it is important. It could save everyone from the tyranny of the Shadows. You could be the one to restore peace to our world and live the normal life you always wanted. To be accepted by the same community that shunned and harassed you.

So please, for this old dwarf, strongly consider accepting. I would like to see you live happily, not so sad and withdrawn. I’m sure Kleia would feel the same if she were here. Although if she were, she herself would’ve ensured that no one harassed you. She was a strong, proud woman who cared very much for you. I wish I could’ve done more to protect you, but I couldn’t risk upsetting the SkiRyldes or the Commune.

Please understand; I wanted to do so much more for you. I know that I haven’t always shown how much I cared for you, at times I have even acted with disdain, but that’s because that’s just who I’ve become. This long life has made me bitter and I took that out on you. I have always cared much for you Aailaine, and I wish for you to be happy and free.

Odo kodad ashe dikang iktad.

Rfkr

Aailaine wiped away the tears before they could drip onto the paper and she carefully refolded the note and slid it into her private pouch. She added her money to the money Rfkr gave her and slid both the new pouch and the pouch with the sellable jewels into her leather bag attached to her quiver. She carefully folded the bloodied pack and placed it outside the tent. The letter was all she needed to finalize her resolve; if for nothing else, she would do it for Rfkr and Kleia.

< Rfkr, > Aailaine silently called out to her caretaker as she lay down to sleep. < I’ll make this the peaceful world you and my mother longed to see. >

Next chapter

Aailaine awoke to find the city in chaos.

Hvidr burst into her room as Aailaine woke up violently and the dwarf quickly yanked her out of the bed. Before she could even ask what was happening, Hvidr pulled her quiver from underneath the bed. She glanced around for a bow, but upon not finding one, looked at Aailaine questioningly.

“It got broken a couple of months ago by some people harassing me.” Aailaine admitted, sliding on the boots Hvidr had tossed her way. “I’ve been saving up to buy a new one. But how did you even know-”

Hvidr promptly began to curse as Aailaine fixed her hair and fasten the quiver around her waist. “...guofi Hebu kodad ritye! I’m sorry, but we don’t really have time for this. Let’s hope Rfkr has a replacement for you.”

“Hvidr, what’s going on?” Aailaine tried to pull away from Hvidr’s grip as she pulled her out of the house, but the dwarf’s grip was strong. Hvidr picked up the war hammer she had left by the door and fastened it to her back. It was at that moment Aailaine noticed the armored breastplate Hvidr was wearing, bearing the insignia of the Nivim clan.

“The Shadows are attacking Mathydar, and while the main of my clan is on their way, there are too few of us here to fend them off for long. All thanks to the Stryn and their stupid rules.” Hvidr admitted, rushing Aailaine out of the crevice as another group of dwarves rushed past them, heading toward the western side of the city. “We could’ve had a decent force here if not for them. We need to find Rfkr and get you out of here.”

“The…the Shadows?” A wave of fear washed over Aailaine. The Shadows were twisted beings, only shreds of their former selves. They attacked and preyed on the other races of A’sthy, instilling terror and fear with their very name. Aailaine desperately wished her bow hadn’t been broken as she followed Hvidr through the chaotic city. While the few soldiers quickly moved to the west side of the city, other dwarves and deep dwellers alike scurried into their homes.

Hvidr led Aailaine toward the heart of the city, weaving their way through the caverns and tunnels, taking shelter in a crevice or abandoned dwelling anytime someone other than a Nivim dwarf passed. Aailaine began to question why, but Hvidr always silenced her words. Eventually the dome of the Threrayrt came into view, the gem room shining brilliantly despite the chaos beneath it. Lying in the street beneath it was the crumpled form of a familiar figure.

“Rfkr!” Aailaine stepped from behind Hvidr and ran forward, taking the old dwarf into her arms. Blood began to soak into her shirt and trousers as tears poured down her cheeks. Rfkr sank into her embrace, no longer able to support himself. “Why are you here? You should’ve been in Slalan; you said so!”

“The Viwl were the ones who sent the warning. The Shadows were coming, had to make sure you were safe…” He was bleeding from several different wounds, and even Aailaine knew he wouldn’t survive until help arrived. Rfkr coughed and pointed toward the large brown pack that he had been attempting to move, covered in his blood. Hvidr went to inspect the pack as giant tears rolled down Aailaine’s face. The old dwarf meant more to her than any father ever could and yet she could do nothing to save him.

“Rfkr….” Aailaine’s voice came out choked as she tried to stop crying over the old dwarf’s body, closing her eyes to try and stop the tears. The old dwarf groaned and coughed more blood before sighing deeply. Aailaine opened her eyes to see a slight smile on Rfkr’s face before he met her gaze, a strong determination in his eyes.

“You have to be strong now, Aailaine. I have fulfilled the task your mother asked of me, and I have lived a fuller life than most. Don’t cry over an old miser like me.” Rfkr looked past Aailaine to Hvidr, who nodded and handed him his sword. Aailaine looked at the blade in surprise as Hvidr handed it to Rfkr; she hadn’t noticed that Hvidr had grabbed it as they ran out of the dwelling.

“You’re a liar, you know that?” Hvidr punched Rfkr’s shoulder lightly, and he returned the favor, hitting her with the hilt of his sword. “At least have your blade with you before you try to fight.”

“Why, when I think I did just fine without it.” The old dwarf laughed as he lifted his sword, smiling at the two women. “Now go Hvidr, take Aailaine out of here. I’ll see if I can’t take more of those Shadow heiirmeia with me.”

“C’mon Aailaine. We don’t have much time.” Hvidr shoved the bloody pack into Aailaine’s hands. Aailaine carefully slung the pack on her back and glanced at Rfkr once last time. The dwarf’s eyes were surprisingly full of vigor, although he kept shaking his head, holding on to life as hard as he could.

“Rea kodad beirz, Rfkr.” Aailaine turned and ran to catch up with Hvidr, who began toward a tunnel Aailaine had never noticed. After Aailaine entered, Hvidr pulled a switch, blocking the entrance with a giant rock.

“That should buy us a little bit of time.” Hvidr placed her hand on the giant stone and lingered on the rock for a moment. Aailaine thought she might be holding back tears as Hvidr’s hand slowly dropped away. Breathing deeply and straightening herself, the dwarf turned and took the lead. Aailaine followed closely, tracking their progress by counting the Elddess lamps they passed. The dark spaces between the lanterns caused Aailaine to become filled with fear and she stayed very close to her dwarven guide. All the while she lead, Hvidr spoke to herself softly and tossed her war hammer between her two hands. Although Aailaine was curious to know what Hvidr was saying, she remained silent.

After the twelfth lantern, the dwarf paused, leaning against the wall. She slowly lowered herself to the ground and sat against it. “We’ll rest here for a moment. We should be far enough ahead that we could afford a small break.”

Aailaine remained standing, staring into the darkness from whence they came. Hvidr watched her for a moment and then took a swig from the container she had on her person. She offered some to Aailaine, who refused.

“Take this time to unpack that.” Hvidr motioned to the pack Aailaine carried. “That pack should have everything you’re going to need to face what’s ahead of you.”

Aailaine finally sat down and spread the pack before her as Hvidr pulled out her ponytail and closed her eyes, her long red hair shielding her face. The largest item was a large black bow, with silver runes that danced and pulsed down its length. Aailaine traced the runes with her finger, and the shapes grew brighter with her touch. The bowstring was made from twisting the hair from a black totiriel. As she plucked it, a residual “twang” resounded through the tunnel and Hvidr sighed.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she examined the rest of the contents. With the bow were two large pouches: a pouch of money, more than twice the amount she had saved up, and a pouch of various jewels. The jewels were of great quality and she could sell each of them for a high price. Among the money and jewels were a few scattered bottles of smibi, easily a season’s worth.

“Hm, I suppose that’s enough of a rest.” Hvidr stood, stretching her limbs. She redid her hair, tucking in the loose strands and began to start off again when Aailaine caught her arm.

“No, I want answers. Explain to me where you’re taking me, or who the dragon woman I saw earlier was.” Aailaine stared at her, the tears still flowing from her eyes. “I need to know why Rfkr died.”

Hvidr raised an eyebrow and twisting her arm, easily broke free of Aailaine’s grip. After repacking Rfkr’s gifts and tossing the large pack in the girl’s lap, she grabbed Aailaine’s shirt and angrily pulled her close. With their faces close enough to kiss, Aailaine noticed the tears in Hvidr’s eyes that she refused to let flow.

“If you value the life of Rfkr and everyone else who is dying for that life of yours, you will keep going.” Hvidr’s voice was deep and full of anger as she softly spoke to Aailaine. Compared to the dwarf’s unnerving tone, Aailaine wished Hvidr would’ve just raised her voice and yelled at her. “To be honest, I don’t know why any of this is happening, but I value that stubborn fool’s life enough to do this last thing for him.”

Hvidr made as if to drag her on the ground until with a heavy sigh, Aailaine stood. She slid the bow into her quiver and slung the bloody pack over her shoulder and resumed counting the lamps as she walked behind the female dwarf.

After the thirtieth lamp, Aailaine’s patience had reached its end and her curiousity was getting the best of her. Crossing her arms, she sighed as she walked behind Hvidr. “Can’t we at least talk while we walk? You have to know something.”

“It’s not much.” Hvidr admitted, not missing a step. The anger had faded from her voice but she still sounded annoyed with Aailaine’s pestering. “If you really want answers, wait until we reach the trolls.”

“Trolls?!” Aailaine nearly tripped on her own feet in surprise. “I thought you were trying to save my life, not kill me!”

“Hmph, shows how well deep-dweller education has failed you.” Hvidr scoffed, shaking her head. “At least I can fill you on that.”

“Nowadays, few beings even believe in the existence of deep-dwellers outside of these mountains. The deep-dwellers cut off all ties to outside races, so other races grew to believe that we wiped them out during the Tolsan Conflict. The trolls I’m taking you to, however, were close with Rfkr and are aware of your upbringing. They won’t harm you.” Hvidr paused, taking another swig of her drink. This time when she offered Aailaine some, the girl accepted, realizing with disappointment that it was only water. “Most other trolls won’t even realize you’re a deep-dweller. If anything, they’ll probably think you as a plainsfolk, especially with your complexion.”

“What even am I?” Aailaine asked timidly, handing Hvidr back her water.

“I don’t know, but you’re not from Tolsan. Your mother brought you here to hide you from the outside world, that dragon woman arriving shortly after her death. I don’t know any more than that.” Hvidr sighed, staring into her water before putting it away. “Rfkr is… was the one with all the answers, and he was supposed to be the one to bring you to the trolls if anything happened. However, that task now falls to me.”

“Did all the dwarves know? Is that why you all were so kind to me?” Aailaine stopped in her tracks, staring at her feet. Hvidr paused to look back at her and sighed with annoyance again.

“No, only Rfkr and I knew. I only know because I insisted on him telling me. As a whole, we may tend to not like other races, but we don’t forget our debts. You saved the SkiRyldes of the Stryn and helped the Viwl Hongekako when the stone wouldn’t listen. You even proved yourself a warrior to my clan.” Hvidr started walking again. “You earned our respect and kindness and so it was given.”

Aailaine began to mull over what Hvidr said as she walked quickly to catch up to the she-dwarf. She knew so little of the woman Rfkr had called Kleia, and even less about the dragon woman. “Hvidr, did you know my mother?”

“No, I never even saw her.” Hvidr shrugged. “Rfkr told me what I needed to know in case it fell to me to take you and as fate would have it, it has. I do know that when she died, she was encased in a sapphire tomb deep in the Fourth Crypt. She’s one of the few to actually have their body there.”

“Wait, the Fourth Crypt? Was she not human? Why not the deep-dweller Crypt? Why did Rfkr-” Hvidr huffed, shooting Aailaine another glance, causing the girl to pause in her questions.

“You know that the Fourth Crypt is for those the dwarves hold in high enough regard to be buried in a jeweled tomb. Your mother was highly enough regarded in these mountains to have one made for her, although no one thought she would ever inhabit it.” Hvidr sighed, glancing into the oncoming darkness as Aailaine mumbled. “I don’t know why Rfkr never took you to see her, but I think he didn’t want to remember her as anything other than the woman he knew. When he used to talk about her-”

“Rfkr used to talk?! About Kleia?!”

“He wasn’t always a bitter old man, Aailaine.”

Aailaine wasn’t satisfied with the answer but gave up her interrogation. At least now she knew where her mother was buried and she vowed to return to Mathydar to visit her mother’s tomb.

Aailaine followed silently behind Hvidr as they continued to pass the twilight lamps. After what seemed like an eternity, the moon’s soft light appeared in their path and a cool breeze brushed against her face. Hvidr’s pace picked up as they neared the exit, and the silver light stung Aailaine’s poor eyes as she stumbled out into the open air. Hvidr merely rubbed her eyes and continued walking into the cool autumn air of the plains. Aailaine attempted to follow, her eyes barely open as they tried to adjust to the soft moonlight.

“Hvidr! Hvidr wait!” she called out, rubbing her eyes again. Hvidr seemed to pay her no heed and continued getting further and further away from her. “Hvidr, I can’t-”

Her sentence was cut short as her half-blinded eyes caused her to run into a tree. She rubbed her stubborn eyes for a final time and managed to open them fully. That’s when she noticed her tree was wearing a long kilt and was covered in hair instead bark. Startled, Aailaine stumbled back and tripped, landing on her backside.

That’s when Aailaine realized her tree was actually a troll.

Next Chapter

“Ah, Aailaine, that’s quite a harvest. So early, too, maybe it's a sign.” The she-dwarf accepted Aailaine’s full baskets and paper without much question. Aailaine shook her head and waited for the dwarf to finish filing her report. As she waited for her pay, she decided to test her luck.

“Um, Hvidr, can I ask you something?”

“Ask away.” Hvidr never looked up from her work as she spoke. A wave of uncertainty passed over Aailaine, but her curiosity got the better of her.

“Is it possible to see akhby this deep in the Tolsan?” At this, Hvidr stopped working and looked at Aailaine suspiciously. Aailaine, uncomfortable under her gaze, began to stroke her index finger with her thumb. “I’m just curious.”

“Did they speak to you?” Hvidr asked, ignoring Aailaine’s last statement. Aailaine nodded, deciding not to lie to her. She chanced a glance at Hvidr, who stared at her a bit longer before turning back to her work. Relieved that the moment had passed, but puzzled by the dwarf’s reaction, Aailaine remained silent as Hvidr finished calculating her pay. She soon finished her work and handed Aailaine a strip of paper.

“Nao Fei, Hvidr.” Aailaine bowed her head as she offered her thanks, but Hvidr merely waved her off. Aailaine took her leave and returned to main cavern. A lot more people were out and about now, so Aailaine knew she needed to be careful about her path. She needed to reach the deep-dweller Commune, which stood in the heart of Mathydar, in the city’s largest cavern. However, the quickest route would be by far the busiest, filled with both deep-dwellers and dwarves alike. She had no interest in being around that many people, so she decided to take the longer but more deserted path.

As she crawled and walked her way through various tunnels, she became aware of the whispers that followed her presence. She had grown used to the whispers over the cycles, but they still bothered her. When she had been a child, no one ever cared that she looked different, but as she and her friends grew into their later cycles, one by one the friends began to disappear. Aailaine tried many different ways to hide her strange features, going as far as cutting off all her hair. However, it never made a difference and soon Rfkr was Aailaine’s only company.

Soon, Aailaine reached the center of Mathydar and quickly made her way to the deep-dweller Commune. The large building was packed with people and Aailaine paused, considering whether or not her pay was worth waiting for. She took a glance at the paper, and nearly dropped it in her surprise. The pay was made out for almost three times her normal pay and she had to do a double take to make sure she hadn’t misread the amount.

Aailaine silently thanked the dwarf and stepped into line. Living was hard with it just being her and her dwarven caretaker. Rfkr was an old adventurer and a Meiouko, and didn’t have many work opportunities, so they mostly lived off Aailaine’s pay. Her work was usually limited to half the week- only four or five days, leaving her without pay for the remaining five or six days.

“Next! Oh…it’s you.” Aailaine’s spirits instantly dropped when she reached the front of the line. The teller almost seemed ready to dismiss her but waved her over with a look of disdain. The entire room grew silent as she made her way to the front and handed the teller her pay slip. She could feel her ears growing red as the crowd continued to stare and talk in whispers.

“Aailaine, yes, it seems as if quite the bonus has come through. If I didn’t recognize Hvidr’s handwriting, I’d say you wrote this yourself.” Aailaine scowled at the accusation but didn’t respond. The man behind the window reached into a drawer behind him and began to count the money. He put the money in a small pouch and handed it to her, a small smirk on his face. “Please, continue your service to the deep-dweller community.”

Aailaine took the pouch cautiously and began to leave the room. Once she stood outside the building, she produced a pouch of her own and slid the pouch with her pay inside, leaving the string that would open it hanging out. Carefully, she pulled the string and the outer pouch bulged and smoke ebbed from its stitching. Aailaine sighed as she opened the larger pouch; once again, her pay pouch had been lined with smoke powder, with the hope that it would jet into her face when she opened it.

Waving away the last bit of the smoke, she checked the amount in the bag. As if the smoke prank hadn’t been enough, the teller also shorted her pay, although if she hadn’t been expecting it she wouldn’t have noticed, as only a couple of silver pieces were missing. She sighed and stood, sealing the two bags and beginning her slow trek home.

“I’m home.” Aailaine whispered, speaking to the empty dwelling. She made her way to her room and, kneeling next to the bed, she reached underneath and pulled out her quiver. Attached to the quiver was a leather bag, which she carefully removed. Inside the pouch were two smaller drawstring pouches. She opened the larger of the two and carefully removed her pay from the trapped pouch and into her savings. Once her money was safely stored, she pulled out the smaller pouch and opened it, removing one single white emerald. White and translucent stones were a rarity and Aailaine was fortunate to have so many. She happened to be well known within the Stryn clan, the dwarven clan based in Mathydar, because she had saved the now-leader from a wild Totiriel who had found its way into the city. The large mountain ram was about to trample the young lord when Aailaine took down the ram before it reached him. As thanks, he now allowed her to have first pick when white and translucent stones were found, and in return she provided them with the smibi that Rfkr made, which was made with rice from Dochel. Dochel rice was a rare treat in the mountains, making Rfkr’s smibi heavily valued.

Aailaine put away her stones and made her way back to the main room. She pulled down another bottle of smibi, before tidying up the small space, sighing deeply. She began sipping the wine as she walked back to her room and, kicking off her boots, collapsed on her bed. She looked up at the Elddess lamp that cast its soft glow over her room. She finished drinking the small bottle and dropped it on the floor, watching it roll away on the smooth stone.

<Orassul, please hear me, > Aailaine silently prayed. < I know the life I have here isn’t the worst it could be, but if you see fit to, can you let me leave? I want to see the world that my mother and Rfkr knew and then maybe the deep-dwellers would accept me too. But, I really want to see the world outside. >

Aailaine found her thoughts once again returning to the dragon woman and she slowly sat up, undoing her braid. She considered for a moment asking Rfkr once he returned, but shook her head.

“He would probably just ignore my questions again.” Aailaine fell back into her bed, burying her face into her pillow. “And that’s assuming he knows something. But Hvidr seemed to know…”

“Maybe I’ll try to find her later.” Aailaine looked up once more at the Elddess lamp and slowly drifted into sleep, leaving the cares of her world behind her.

Next Chapter

Chapter 1

“Aailaine! Get up Aailaine!”

A pair of eyes as silver as moonlight snapped open as the door was closed, drifting away from the land of dreams. Groaning, the girl slowly sat up, pushing her long, disheveled hair out of her face. The orange glow of the lamp on the wall offered a soft light and her hair reflected that small light around the room, creating an aura of colors. Aailaine sighed and watched the flame flicker before pulling herself out of bed and walking into her wash closet. As she removed her gown, she stepped into the shallow stone basin and dumped a bucket of lukewarm water over her head. Shivering, she quickly reached for a small green cloth and washed away the sleep, refreshing herself. Finished with washing, she carefully began to brush her hair, styling it in a single fishtail braid over her left shoulder with a plain clip.

Once her hair was styled, she left the wash closet and dressed, pulling on her dark brown trousers and fastening the dull grey shirt. After slipping on her sturdy black boots, she dropped a small amulet over her head. Aailaine carefully made her little bed, being sure to fold her bedding at the foot. She sat on the mattress and glanced over the walls of her room. The few possessions she had disappeared into the dark corners and the amulet around her neck helped to reflect the soft light of the lamp. Aailaine picked up the amulet and turned it over in her hands, inspecting it. The eye-shaped amulet had a single white sapphire set in silver and a mo’qire coiled around it, protecting the gem from harm. Aailaine sighed heavily as she tucked the gem in her shirt and started to roll up her sleeves just as her door opened.

“Aaila-, oh, you’re up. Well, get going.” The small figure quickly shuffled out of the doorway and Aailaine followed. The dwarf was about a meter tall, and his disheveled brown beard was riddled with grey. His bald dome seemed shiny in the dull light of the Elddess lamps as he limped his way down the steps from Aailaine’s room and back into the main hall. His once blue tunic was now dark with stains and the leather belt around his waist was worn from use. The dwarf collapsed into his large chair and inspected the food on the stone table in front of him as he took a swig from a jug. The small table had three wooden baskets: one with bread, one with dried meat, and the third with small pieces of cheese. Aailaine carefully stepped down into the main room and sat on a stool opposite him. Helping herself to the other jug in the center of the table and reaching for a small loaf of bread and cheese from the baskets, she leaned back and began eating her meager food.

“Do you know what I’m doing today, Rfkr?” Her voice was quiet and melodic, and she looked away as she spoke, playing with the food in her hands. The dwarf sighed, and sunk deeper into his chair, sliding his bare feet on the stone floor. He remained quiet and Aailaine resigned, taking more bites of the bread. Rfkr lifted his eyes from his beard to glance at the girl and sighed again, straightening up in his chair. He reached across the table and quickly ate some of the dried meat before speaking.

“I think gardening again, but don’t count on it.” Aailaine’s face lit up and she quickly finished her food. She lightly kissed the dwarf’s cheek, who grunted, and she quickly left the little home. As she stepped out, she made sure to lock the door behind her before climbing up the ladder to escape from their small crevice in the mountain and stepping onto the busy streets of Mathydar. In front of her, both man and dwarf walked to and fro in the large cavern, eager to reach their individual destinations. The ceiling of the cave was lost to the darkness above her and the crest of the Nivim clan reflected brightly on the armor of the dwarven soldiers who passed, greeting her with a lively, “Fingge!”

Aailaine greeted them with a warm smile and a slight wave before heading toward the edge of the city. She walked briskly past the other travelers, at times having to crawl through the small dwarven passageways. The city was an intense stone maze of small spaces containing dwellings and large caverns filled with public buildings, and Aailaine knew the city by heart.

Climbing up the side of a cavern wall using small-carved footholds, she finally reached her destination: a small door built into the side of the mountain. Standing on the narrow ledge beneath the Elddess lamp, which casted the soft glow of twilight, she knocked on the door and stated her name. A moment passed, and the door slid open, grinding a rut into the loose gravel as it went. She swiftly walked inside to be greeted by another dwarf sitting on a stool next to a desk, a small stack of papers in her hand. The desk was covered with several stacks of paper and baskets, all neatly arranged on the stone surface. The dwarf herself was well built, her muscles all too visible with her black short trousers and sleeveless tunic that split down the sides, showing her tanned skin. Her red hair was pulled into a high ponytail and a few frays hung in her face, which she ignored.

“Ah, Keoi, Aailaine. Let’s see…gardening again? Hm, that’s the third time this week. Guess it’s just as good, with autumn just starting.” The dwarf began to file through the papers in her hand and desk as Aailaine patiently waited. She looked up toward the ceiling, her eyes tracing the outlines of the various details carved into the stone there. A pack of the yeitre were carved with explicit detail as they ran around the room. The mo’qire flew among them, the dragon’s wings keeping its serpent body afloat. Soon she found herself roaming along side the wolves, getting lost in the design. Aailaine jumped when the dwarf exclaimed, pulling out a single piece of paper.

“Here you are, your plots for the day.” Aailaine bowed her head and accepted the paper. “And here’s your basket with tags should anything be ready to be harvested. Remember to mark it.”

“I will. Nao Fei, Hvidr.” Accepting her basket and tags, Aailaine began for the back of the dwelling where a set of stairs waited to carry her to the world outside. As Aailaine left, the female dwarf watched her go before she settled into her stacks of papers again, nudging the many baskets with her foot.

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