The rooftops were connected to one other like a beaten path. In fact, it was widely known that thieves and nimble couriers prefered this highway to the one below, for obvious reasons. Though multiple laws were proposed to patrol the rooftops, city guard manpower always forced the propositions to fall through. They had enough to worry about, inside the city let alone keep watch overhead.
The only watch Azurio ever encountered were those patrolling the city walls which kept each district separate. The more experienced climbers found ways to bypass the typical district gates, whether by leaping over the walls to the next district, or by carving manholes underneath the parapets, below the sentries' watchful eyes. Though the latter required some skill and manpower, and were subject of being found from time to time, they guaranteed ever increasing supplies of contraband, forcing the city watch to offer rewards for any unrevealed locations.
Behind him, Yllithia grunted as she leapt down from a balcony. He could hear her mutter a curse, which amused him to no end, as the priestess would never admit to doing such a thing with a face full of innocence.
“We can always turn back if you prefer.” He offered a hand, not at all attempting to hide the smirk on his face. “We can just ask the guards nicely.”
“You can ask the guards all you want.” She huffed proudly and proceeded past him, ignoring his assistance. “I said I wanted to see your favorite spot, away from the city lights. Will you keep jabbing me with insults or lead on?”
“Oh, I wouldn't want you to tear that pretty dress of yours.”
“I can always buy another.”
“But not that one.”
“You do realize I am a tailor. I try to fix holes in just about everything. Including you.”
Tserai chuckled as he looked at his footing and timed a careful jump from a narrow ledge to land atop another rooftop. He offered his hand again, waiting for her to follow suit.
She ignored it and nimbly leapt across, making sure to nudge the man in the ribs as she passed by.
“I've probably done more jumping in my lifetime than you, Tserai Azurio.”
“Was that an age joke?” He grinned and followed her across a series of narrow alleys and climbs.
“We have plenty of treetops in the north, Tserai. I was implying about the scarcity of foliage within your desert plains.” She replied snidely. He couldn't tell whether she was being sarcastic or trying to rile him. Perhaps both.
“Athanor is hardly a desert, despite the entire western coast being burned to hell. Thanks for bringing that up by the way.” He tried to sound upset. She stopped and turned, a hint of dismay on her face.
“Tserai, you weren't even born when that happened let alone in Athan-,” Seeing his grin, she quickly turned red and scowled. “Dog. Now who is making jests about tragedies?”
He laughed and pointed left, to another series of rooftops. Ahead loomed the central tower, only a few jumps away. A single silhouette with a dim lantern slowly paced the entire section, obviously more tired than alert. The moon was blanketed by thick clouds, allowing the stars to shine brightly overhead. It would be a good night.
“Looks like old Barthas is keeping watch again tonight. Once the bell rings, he'll be standing guard in his dreams until the next shift arrives.”
“And how exactly do you know that?” She asked inquisitively.
“He does it every shift. I can hear him snoring from the top.”
They laughed together, waiting for the distant ring. As they prepared for their final jump from the edge of the rooftop to the wall, Tserai could see a hint of concern on the priestess' face as she glanced down at the street below, watching as the occasional figure walked down the cobble street.
“Nothing you haven't done in the north.” He reminded her with a smile, watching the worry quickly wash away as she realized that he'd spotted it. She was always quick to hide any sort of concern. She was not one for public worry.
The bell rung in the distance, signaling their final jump. As always, Tserai went first. It was over a yard in width, nothing too large. However, the wall on the other end was more elevated and required careful footing. The fall would most certainly be fatal.
Yllithia nibbled on her lip and took a deep breath, studying the various measurements. It was nothing to Tserai; he'd done this a hundred times before. Either he was skilled or just didn't fear falling to his death. Undoubtedly both.
She could feel him watching her, studying her tautness. Scowling at herself, she tossed away the tense thoughts and jumped, landing into Tserai, his arms quickly catching her.
“Not a word.” She said, annoyed more at herself than anything else. He smiled to himself, saying nothing and moved on, towards the tower. Approaching the closed door that led inside, he pointed up to the top of it.
“Now we climb.”
“Climb? You never said anything about that!” She hissed, careful to keep her voice down.
“Relax Ylli. It's just a few bricks sticking out.”
She scowled and followed his hand to where a series of thick bricks protruded upwards in a spiral pattern around the tower's edge.
“You are mad, do you know that? Absolutely insane.”
He laughed and took hold of the lowest mortar stone, leaping up and grabbing another. “You're probably right. Still... rewards and risks remember?”
“If I fall, you're going to follow me down.” She threatened, following his actions with unease.
“And if I fall?”
“Simple. I can give up this fools quest and return to the ground in peace.”
“Live a little, Ylli.” He said with a grunt, pulling himself to the top. With feet on solid ground, he lowered his arm to her. She accepted it without hesitation. Pulling her up, Tserai gently helped her to the top.
“I live well enough, thank you.” She snapped back, crossing her arms and staring out toward Tyreen's Hammer. He was right of course and she was too stubborn to admit it. The view from here was astonishing. The moon had already lifted itself from the clouds and now shone brightly above, its image reflecting clearly in Athora's bay. Every district could be seen from this point, distant roads with tiny figures traversing upon them, and empty rooftops, illuminated by the waxing moon. The city was built on a hill, she realized. The central tower had been built at the very top of it, a perfect vantage point for any onlooker.
Tserai sat down against the rampart and stretched. The bulwarks were just high enough to where one could sit and enjoy the sights around them without having to stand. Yllithia knelt down besides him and looked over towards the royal district, where the cemetary was located.
“I am curious, Tserai Azurio. Why do your people prefer to bury each other in the ground?”
“As opposed to what?”
She raised her eyebrow, surprised at his ignorance.
“Opposed to letting them lay underneath the sky. Are you not aware of our customs?”
“I am now, I suppose. You have fields of bodies rotting in the sun?”
She nudged him with a scowl. “We do not rot, Tserai. We eventually become like the world around us- a part of nature.”
“If given the choice, I'm sure we'd all prefer to become trees.” He grinned and gently caught her hand as she tried to jab him again. “Though, there is more legend to our ways than there is logic. When we die, our bodies are said to meet Syl'Zaron the Waker who waits for us on the other side of this earth. It was he who first awoke the Eiron from the eternal darkness of the elder gods. Our ancestors of the Ember were the first. It is said that they now serve the Waker as his most devoted subjects. When we die, we simply rise again once more. To be buried is to be closer to the Waker when he comes to wake us from our sleep.”
“You sound skeptical, Tserai.”
“I don't like being woken up.” He snorted. “If I die, I'd prefer not to bothered anymore, thank you.”
“What do you know of your elder gods? We have no such thing in our teachings.”
“Just that. I'm afraid you won't find references to them in our libraries. There may have been more back in the time of Ember but that's all dust and shadow now. If you prefer, you can visit my study and look at our myths yourself, Loreweaver.”
“I would like that.” Yllithia smiled and pulled his hand closer to her, embracing it with her spare one. “Though it still surprises me that one such as you tends to know so much.”
“Knowledge makes not a man weak but rather a stronger opponent”
“Always the soldier. Is that Kierke?”
“Soren actually. It was mandatory officer reading.” Tserai grinned again, amused by her answer. “His original term was debater, not opponent. Some general probably insisted it be edited to better fit the soldier's lifestyle. I never bothered with Kierke.”
“You were ordered to read Denari philosophy over that of your own man? You continue to surprise me, Tserai Azurio.” She replied sardonically, studying his smile with interest. It were these moments that mattered most to her, to see him open and relaxed, without a weapon at the ready. His walls were still thick with ice and she attempted to scrape at the surface, identifying cold remarks as his unique sense of sarcasm. It was a clear defensive mechanism, often employed in order to retain that barrier. The more she fought fire with fire, the further she managed to delve in.
“What surprises me is that you didn't recognize your own philosopher's quote. I suppose they don't teach that in... what sort of schooling did you have anyways?”
“It was a temple.” She replied quickly, eying him confidently. “We are taught everything at the temple.”
“Must be large.”
She nodded. “It housed the greatest minds of our society. Our writings were ancient, from the days before.”
“Before what?”
“Before we arrived in Travil. When we were of different heritage.”
“Your people seem to dislike sharing knowledge. Our borders are open yet yours remain closed. Why is that?”
“We have a history of distrust, Tserai. Tardale remains an open rend between our people.”
Yllithia did not mean the remark to mean anything, especially an insult, but it seemed to annoy Tserai. Was it her lack of openness that bothered him?
“Ember's entire army was annihilated, Ylli. Whatever happened, it wasn't our ancestors who did it. Would we destroy our own men and leave your people standing just for show? Whatever happened, it destroyed that entire land and rendered Voranor lifeless. And let us not forget about the maelstrom that continues to eat away at both our lands.”
“I believe you Tserai, but my people have different ideas. They see your kind as foolhardy and pervasive. The Eiron are in our ancient texts as well you know. I suppose your ancestors once tried to sail across the seas as we did, to create new kingdoms. Their conflict with our olden ways lead to our birth. We escaped that war torn world to found a new one, in Arkhalon's light.”
“Arkhalon. That sounds familiar.”
Ylli grimaced. The memories though ancient, were still fresh in her mind. As a Loreweaver, it was her duty to keep memories to the exact detail. Arkhalon's fall, though seemingly taboo to even mention, was her obligation to remember.
“It was our first holy city, built before the corruption took hold within our lands. You must understand Tserai- the corruption began at the same time as the burning at Tardale. My people saw it as an attack from your people- an attempt to invade. We believed that Tardale's fire was meant for us, but had been miscalculated. You have no idea how close we were to invading your lands with our entire might. Had it not been for the spreading rot and the collapse of Arkhalon, you and I may not be having this conversation, let alone be in this tower.”
She realized how much she had said. The plague that gripped her lands was of little matter to the Eiron and thus, the Denari spoke little of it to them. It could be taken as a sign of weakness and enmity could spread between the two races. Yllithia could not blame her peoples' paranoia. They'd been hunted since before their landing upon the northern shores. At their strongest moment did her people collapse once more, fleeing to separate sides, with separate plans.
Looking up, she realized Tserai had been quietly watching her, waiting to see whether she would say more. He wasn't like the rest of this city, eager to engage in intrigue and conspiracy. No he was just a soldier, but his concern for her was a binding light. She hesitated to recall the continuation of her bitter history but decided that Tserai deserved to know.
“Our borders are closed to even our own, now. The path to Oruvar is clear to Denari and Eiron alike, but no more. The rest is poisoned. Each year, our bindings continue to fail and we are forced to fall back. We are losing our lands, Tserai. Our holy city lies at the heart of the rot, bereft and corrupt.”
“This poison, what does it do?”
“It strikes at the mind and induces madness within anyone who it touches. We have had to slay our own brothers and sisters, Tserai. We're losing more of our lands and people each day. There is a reason why we've been slowly allowing your people to our lands.”
He was quiet, dreading the affirmation that she'd been hinting at, yet even Yllithia doubted the facts that presented themselves. She clenched his hand tighter, concerned that this accusal would end the evening.
“The madness does not affect the Eiron, Tserai. They are immune to it.”
So that was it, he thought. The Denari clearly thought his people to be responsible for their downfall yet they refused to look at the events that betook Tardale and greater yet, the kindom of Ember itself. This wasn't an attack on just her people, it was an attack on all people alike. All of their lands were victim to something beyond natures choosing. Fire, plague, and ice. It could not simply strike at once all across the world unless a greater power was involved.
“Ylli, what do your people want with us? Why do you let us intrude into your lands?”
“We hope to find a cure at the heart of it all. Eiron mercenaries can venture deep into the rot and identify the source of the corruption. Though not all of my people agree. Our kind has since split into another sect, returning towards our ancient heritage. They are quite content at reclaiming the old ways in order to battle this evil as well as any intruders that tread upon their claimed soil.”
She sighed, looking back at the years when the ancient document was signed by two of their greatest leaders, two adamant groups standing behind each ones back. As the concord was signed, each leader took hold of the papyrus and ripped it in half, taking the opposite ends back to their own people in absolute silence. No words were needed to understand the split that had just occurred. Every Denari and now Faldiri, understood the consequences and could offer no celebration- only mourning. She was young then, barely into her womanhood and standing at her father's side. She remembered looking up and seeing a river of tears upon his face. He, like her, was their people's Loreweaver. He would recall this tragedy for all of eternity.
“You know of the Faldiri, Tserai. They are reclusive and sorcereous. They fight not only to repel the poison, but to control it. We do not know how successful they are, for the accord forbids us from speaking to one another until Arkhalon is once more free of evil. They regard your kind as intruders and foes, and will not hesitate to kill any who encroach towards Anovar, their claimed capital.”
“Ylli...”
“Yours is not the only kingdom that has fallen. It seems we are a pair of insects in this great world, each with only half a wing upon our backs. Can you fly with just one wing, Tserai Azurio? I wonder.”
He chuckled suddenly, breaking her concentration. His sudden mood swing was a quick comfort as she realized that the conversation had been dreadfully black.
“We were supposed to look up towards the stars tonight Ylli, not down at the ground.”
She smiled and shuffled closer to him, suddenly bothered by the cool winds.
“I am sorry, Tserai. You're right. It isn't for me to talk about-,”
“It's the first time you told me something of yourself, Ylli. I promise not to exploit this sudden realization.”
She laughed. “Soren would be disappointed.”
“It was Kierke all along actually.” He grinned devilishly. “You really think they'd let us read Denari philosophy?”
She looked dismayed for a brief moment before laughing once more and jabbing Tserai with her elbow. “You're a beast, Tserai. You made me doubt myself that entire time.”
They remained quiet then. Yllithia leaned on his shoulder and listened to his steady breathing as she studied the stars with him. The moon slowly crawled across the sky, ready to disappear once more into the veil until the coming morning had passed. She wondered what he could be thinking right now, and if it would be wise to ask but the moment felt rare and peaceful. The dawn would come and the world would once again be full of noise and distraction. Yllithia dared turn her head toward him, to see if his eyes were still following the moon. She laughed to herself, seeing that they were closed and the man had been asleep for some time. Asleep. He had never been so relaxed around her before, always on the guard or patrol. He was at peace for once. Smiling, she curled up closer to him and watched the stars above, unable to close her own eyes. Tonight, she would be on watch.
---
Commentary:
This is the piece that finally broke the indecision on whether to have the character be Kieran Reiyn or Tserai Azurio. Written first for Kieran, it just didn't seem natural enough. The name simply doesn't fit the person. In the end, Azurio triumphs and begins his fourth evolution as a character. This piece gives plenty of information about the world and surrounding lands. Eventually, I will upload the map after I am satisfied with it but I am quite content with the current landmarks and history. This shard has gone a long way since its inception as hardly anything more than an afterthought. It's becoming more delightful to construct. My one negative quip however is that I don't like the spaced out format for each paragraph, but that's as neat as I'll get with this site. Not too big of a deal though.
