Dobaryia fidgeted anxiously. She understood well enough that their visitor was someone important but what she didn't understand was the way they masked the person's identity from her. She assumed it would be some future instructor who would guide her in expanding the use of her eluyia because when she attempted to "survey" her father's whereabouts, she was unable to detect the person with him beyond that there was another person there. Frustrated that nobody would reveal anything to her, she did her best to relax her mind and ponder over a difficult question posed to her regarding the nature of birds. She understood the purpose of the question was to force her into detailed insight into the entirety of the creatures, not just the easily observable traits. It amused her that not even her mother knew she comprehended the essence of the question and it made her feel as if she had accomplished something beyond what was expected of her. Dobaryia tried to take comfort in such thoughts as she reached out her awareness to the garden where she knew burvei would be emerging in the cool of the evening to feast on insects, calming her restlessness for the moment.
Shethryia looked over at her daughter and smiled guardedly. The child had begun to develop the ability to calm herself, and more. At six years of age, the Princess was also capable of asserting her eluyia specifically; though she lacked subtlety, her abilities were growing more acute and controlled. It also pleased her that Dobaryia had discovered the art of mental evasion, a rudimentary means of guarding one's private thoughts from others who might be bonding with them. Yet, the thing she felt was the greatest breakthrough was that her daughter had the ability to understand the point of a lesson. Few of her people possessed abstract reasoning before the age of fourteen or fifteen years.
The Empress' attention on her daughter was distracted suddenly by a gentle assertion of her husband's presence. Smiling openly, she stood and turned toward the door, awaiting the entry of her husband and their old friend. Dobaryia noticed the action and quickly disassociated herself from the evening songbirds, turning to watch the door like a scouting hawk. A moment later, the door opened and Ravyiel stepped through to be greeted warmly by his wife and, soon after, his daughter. After the brief welcoming home for the day, he turned to look at Dobaryia.
"There is someone here who is eager to meet you," he began. "Since you seem intent upon meeting her yourself, I would like to introduce Vandaia." As Dobaryia watched the woman come through the portal, her Awareness of the woman was suddenly filled with the other's presence and she stared in child's awe at what she beheld.
The woman she saw and felt enter was nearly deific to her senses. She was taller than her mother but shorter than her father and the muscles she didn't see she knew at once were toned to perfection. Her movements were lithe and graceful, unhindered by the beautifully designed armor she wore and Dobaryia was immediately reminded of a Great Cat. The woman's face was beautiful and exotic for though she possessed the characteristic features of the Ta'Yiashi, her skin was of a deeply tanned olive tone and her eyes were a softer brown than those of her own people. Her dark hair was braided, beginning at the top of her head and ending just above the top of her neck, leaving the rest to dangle down her back to just below her waist. In her hand was a helmet with exotic feathers forming wings on either side, coming together in the front to form a mask that would conceal all but the mouth and jawline. From a decorative nub at the top and toward the back of the helm, hung a mix of black plumes that formed a long tail. Besides her mother, Dobaryia was certain this woman was the most beautiful she had ever seen. Then something about her presence seemed out of place and she realized the woman was greeting her without speaking.
I am deeply honored to finally meet you, Eika, came the words, together with a sense of joy and kindness mixed with mild amusement. She wasn't sure if it was by that contact or not, but Dobaryia was positive she could smell strange fragrances and exotic spices she had never before been aware of. Realizing she was expected to greet their guest, Dobaryia curtsied politely, her eyes never leaving Vandaia's face.
"I see she is exceptional," Vandaia said in a smooth, deep feminine voice. "I had surmised as much when she attempted to sense me."
"You knew?" Dobaryia blurted out. "But how did you-" The rest of the question died with a veiled flare of her mother's eyes, something she knew only she would have seen or felt but left no doubt she had acted improperly.
"I have very well developed eluyia, Princess," the woman smiled. "A gift from my father." Instantly, images of people she had never seen passed through Dobaryia's mind. One was a woman who looked much like Vandaia only more powerfully built, with nearly black hair touched by a light dusting of grey. There was an alien roundness of the other woman's face and deeper olive tone of her skin, as well as dark brown eyes and the softly rounded tips of her ears. She, too, was beautiful but lacked the refinement of features displayed in her daughter. The man beside her was her equal in height but less thickly built, dressed in robes of rich green. Dobaryia knew at once that this was Vandaia's father and that he was definitely Ta'Yiashi.
"My father yet lives, though he dwells apart from the rest of the Kalderi," Vandaia explained. "After my mother departed this world for the Light, he left. Only I have spoken with him since and then, only at his request."
"How long ago was that, Vandaia?" Dobaryia asked, hoping she was not being intrusive.
"Over seven hundred years ago," she replied, apparently undisturbed by the child's curiosity. "My father lives apart for he considers Iandra his home now, but is yet saddened by my mother's passing. It was difficult for him to be present at the celebration of her life when she was gone. It is our custom to give honor to the dead and celebrate their lives when they are no longer with us."
Dobaryia absorbed this without question or judgment. She knew it was different from the way her own people honored those who journeyed to Ka'alad Avayiadi and, from there, into the Light Forever. The Ta'Yiashi were more quiet about such things, remembering those who had gone with affection but without celebration. It was simply a part of being that one would eventually be finished with whatever his or her life had been lived for and thereafter become rejoined with the One. The thing Dobaryia couldn't understand was how this woman was as old as she was. Before she could formulate the question, her mother asserted a warning pressure in her mind and she let the question subside. Hopefully, she would learn more about this woman in the near future.
"Well," Ravyiel said after a moment. "Shall we eat?" He motioned everyone to the table near the East balcony. As they sat, servants brought a variety of foods and drink, which they placed on the long table. Plates and finger bowls were placed, along with small drying cloths for use after the finger bowl. In addition, a large silver bowl with warm water was brought and taken to each person so that he or she could wash their hands before eating. Dobaryia often ate the evening meal alone with her parents in their quarters, the mid day meal being the largest and generally eaten in the company of others, usually Neshyia, Tethyien, and a few of the other Councilors in the large airy room set aside for such use. It was very rare that anyone outside their family ate with them in the Empress' private quarters. She pondered the fact of Vandaia's presence and decided that if she was dining with them as family, her parents must be very close to the Kalderi woman.
As was custom, eating the meal began with a glass of chilled gaba juice, a hearty fruit known to grow wild but cultivated in vineyards of various locations to render subtle differences in the flavor. The taste was considered complex and, for many, was the perfect complement to more substantial fare. Dobaryia generally found the beverage too strong and tart, making her eager to eat something to get rid of the taste. Like her parents, Vandaia appeared to enjoy the flavor and praised the stock as being exceptional. It also seemed that Vandaia was as familiar with the foods as anyone who lived in Damar-Y'Avan and seemed to understand how to eat them: fresh, crisp greens with the crunchy, sharp tasting elassa root, the roasted chushi paste with the flat bread, the meat with dried sema fruit, and so on. Again, curiosity raced through her young mind but, knowing her mother and father would disapprove, she remained silent and simply listened to the conversation of her elders. When the meal was over, glasses of fresh water were brought, followed by dark, aromatic sika and spiced honey cakes. Dobaryia enjoyed the hot, bittersweet beverage with it's subtle hints of fruit. When taken with the honey cakes, it was her favorite part of the meal.
After the light dinner and dessert, the servants removed most of the items from the table, leaving behind cups and a pot of sika which sat on a small stand above an oil candle. As her mother spoke with Vandaia of the past, Dobaryia became aware of two things: first, her father said little to add to the conversation; though quiet by nature, it occurred to the child that he said less than usual. Second, the conversation lacked any subtle shifts in intonation and wording, seeming more like a discussion between her father and Aleshyiel, the Captain of the Ka'anephi. As she allowed her eluyia to expand around them, Dobaryia quickly realized that another conversation was taking place in their minds and included Neshyia, Tethyien, and someone simply known as Toryien. Straining to maintain a general sense of there being another discussion, she tried to focus on what was actually being said. As she did so, the conversation halted on both levels and Dobaryia found her parents and Vandaia observing her with expressions of amusement mixed with mild disapproval.
"Sorry, Mama," she said to Shethryia, lowering her eyes respectfully. "I should go to bed now, I think."
"I think not," her mother replied, the subtle inflections indicating that her mother was for some reason proud of her, though she didn't know why. "This is something you should know about, though with less attempts at subterfuge in the process."
She quickly looked at her father who secretly winked at her, a slight upward movement of the corners of his mouth indicating he was pleased. Vandaia looked at her without expression, though her eyes said many things; the Kalderi princess seemed impressed and curious while at the same time assessing the child. Something about the woman's eyes was beyond penetrating and the Princess of Y'Avan shivered involuntarily. Seeing the child's reaction, Vandaia smiled warmly.
"Forgive me, Dobaryia," she apologized. "You are a most exceptional girl, one with many gifts. I am used to assessing those of my people who desire to join the Feisannai, a rigorous undertaking at the very least. For me to consider one, she must possess unusual talent, even beyond the norm of your own people."
Dobaryia blushed in response, feeling ashamed for having felt a sudden twinge of fear. As the woman's words settled in her mind, she realized that the Feisannai Kalderi must be on the same level as the Ka'anephi, an elite force of exceptionally trained warriors who protect the home and person of the Empress at all times, sacrificing their lives if need be. As she thought this over, her father placed his hand on hers and looked deep into her eyes. For a moment, she felt his presence sweep through her, exposing every thought and emotion before suddenly withdrawing, leaving her to feel strangely serene. With a slight smile, Ravyiel nodded.
"You are more amazing every day, Dobaryia," he said, pride gleaming in his eyes. "I doubt any of my Company ever had the potential you have." As he looked first at Vandaia, then at his wife, the Lord Protector nodded once.
"Vandaia will teach you a few things," Shethryia said in answer to her daughter's unspoken questions. "When the time is appropriate for you to learn them. There is much for you to understand before then, including that it is impolite to eavesdrop in any form." The last made Dobaryia blush and look down at her hands.
"Subtlety will come with time and practice, my darling," her mother said, asserting a warm tenderness and her own feelings of pride in the girl. "You are but six years old. Enjoy these years as much as you can for one day, they will be exchanged for a life of responsibility. Such is the fate of all who become adults."
Dobaryia smiled, partially out of pride in herself that she seemed worthy of such high regard from her mother and partially because she couldn't imagine being an adult. Looking up, she saw her mother's genuine smile of approval and she drank it in as if feeling sunlight after months of clouds. Relaxing, everyone returned to the conversation, this time allowing Dobaryia to participate in the verbal discourse.
"We were discussing when Vandaia had last lived amongst us," her father explained. "That was the last coming of the Outlanders, around a thousand years ago. Neshyia was reminding me of my role in the event." He smiled, a youthful light coming to his features.
"Neshyia greeted us when we arrived," Vandaia said. "With me was one named Holrigm, Chieftain and Warlord of the Kels-Tzava. My husband was also with us then." Her eyes seemed to glow with the memory she related. "Holrigm had come to Iandra, my former homeland, seeking asylum from the combined might of the rest of the Tzavoian clans. Out of twenty thousand, only three hundred crossed our borders to safety."
Dobaryia was thunderstruck at what she heard. She had learned very little history, mostly just that of her parents' families and nothing of any great importance. She knew, in passing, of the Coming of the Outlanders and only understood that her parents had officially welcomed the refugees into Damar-Y'Avan. She had never imagined that she would ever meet anyone not of her people to have been present then as she knew other peoples lived around three hundred years at best. That Vandaia had been there made her mind reel with questions. Regaining control of herself, she looked from person to person.
"I was Warmistress of the Feisannai Oxmati a hundred years before that, Princess," Vandaia smiled. "I have lived longer than any of my people since the First Ones and seem not to have aged at all since I was, perhaps, thirty. My people, though long lived by others' standards, only live around three hundred years, if they live well." Dobaryia caught the nuances of the words and understood that some died accidentally and others as a result of war.
"How old were you when you became Warmistress?" the child asked, curiosity getting the best of her wits.
"At the time, I was one-hundred twenty-five," Vandaia supplied. "That is the usual age for one of my people to rise to such positions, even for the daughter of the Besaina Mevat. My husband was seventy-four years my senior and was Chief Healer of the Temple. He had ventured here with me to ensure all made it to Damar-Y'Avan in good health. Paeth was a good man and died with a smile on his face as he slept."
"What is a Besaina Mevat?" Dobaryia asked.
"The High Queen of the Kalderi," Shethryia responded. "She is equal in her position of leadership to me."
"Oh," the young princess replied. "So, Vandaia is a princess like me." Turning to Vandaia once more, she asked, "Was your husband a prince?"
"No," Vandaia smiled. "He was the son of a wood carver who made a chest for my mother. That is how I met Paeth."
"When did he die, Princess?" Dobaryia asked tentatively, hoping she wasn't being too presumptuous to ask such things.
"He was taken to the Light the year after we arrived here," she explained. "He knew his time was short when we left Iandra and the trip had been difficult for him, though only I knew that. In the end, he saw those who had come to be counted as friends safe and well within Y'Avan. His last words to me were that he was grateful to have been able to aid those in need and see them cared for before he died." Vandaia smiled at the memory, pride clearly evident in her expression. "He was three hundred years old when he died. We had been married one hundred-fourteen years."
"A kind man he was," Ravyiel said wistfully. "He was counted among the most loved to have ever come here from afar. His life will always be honored every time anyone looks upon the fountain in the central courtyard." He looked at Dobaryia who recalled the image of the fountain and realized that the lean man with the staff tending to an injured warrior was the likeness of Vandaia's deceased husband, Paeth Kalos. "I feel fortunate to have known him," her father finished.
"I have lit a lamp to his memory every year on his day of birth," Vandaia said. "As none of my people has ever lived longer, I thought it fitting tribute to my husband that I honor him. Now, his lamp is lit at the foot of the Temple in Iandrakat by the High Priestess of Iandra. I wish you could have known him, Dobaryia," she said to the Princess. "You would have loved him."
Dobaryia felt somewhat uncomfortable. It was not a common thing to speak of the dead openly, let alone celebrate their lives in their passing. Yet, she felt a certain warmth in the Warmistress' words that touched her deeply and she wondered what it must have been like for her to have experienced her husband's death. Suddenly aware she was being observed, Dobaryia decided to seek another topic they could discuss with her.
"What do children do in Iandra?" she asked, unable to think of anything else.
"Ah," Vandaia smiled. "Well, most of them live much as you do until they are twenty. Then, they are given to either the trades or to hunting. Those of us born to certain clans are raised to be hunters and warriors, a few of us will become Champions and a very few will become either Huntmistresses or Warmistresses. When a Queen dies, their eldest living daughter will take her place in leading the tribe."
"Then, after your mother died, wouldn't you have become Queen?" Dobaryia asked, slightly confused at the alien arrangement of the social order.
"High Queen, actually," she said. "I gave the mantle of leadership to my cousin, Danea."
"The Oxmati are the oldest of the tribes of the Kalderi," Shethryia explained to her confused daughter. "Vandaia's mother was High Queen Myrandra and her father is Meralyien. The Oxmati are descendants of the first High Queen of the Kalderi, Shamara Oxmata."
"Oxmata," Dobaryia repeated, sensing something in the name she couldn't discern.
"It means 'Skydancer'," Vandaia explained. "Oxmati means 'People of the Skydancer'."
Feeling herself lost in a sea of names and explanations she couldn't fully grasp, Dobaryia asked to be excused to her bedchamber for the night. She hugged her mother and father and curtsied politely to Vandaia, unsure of exactly how she should dismiss herself from the woman's company. Vandaia smiled and wished her well in her sleep, her subtle change in tone indicating she looked forward to speaking with her again. Self-conscious of the attention, Dobaryia again curtsied and called to Ranna who quickly arrived and took the Princess to her bedchamber.
When Dobaryia had gone, Vandaia turned her head to stare out at the darkening sky, lost in thought. After a moment, she spoke.
"I wonder how many sunsets I will know before I join my ancestors in the Light," she said absently. "I have seen so many more than I would have believed possible. Now, I have lived long enough to see the next Empress in her youth."
"She has the Gift to rule," Shethryia said softly, following her friend's gaze out the open doors of the South balcony. "She grows in ability faster than anyone known."
"Other than you, Shethryia," Vandaia smiled softly. "My father told me of you before I left Iandra and Neshyia has said more than once that you were an amazing child and an even more amazing woman."
Shethryia blushed slightly, causing Ravyiel to grin like a well fed cat.
"Such may be so," the Empress replied. "There is something about her that goes beyond even my talents. I can almost touch it, then it's gone. Neshyia said it would manifest itself when she had better control of her eluyia. I just hope she can handle that kind of power."
"I sensed the same thing today," Vandaia said, looking at Ravyiel. "I have never encountered a child like her. Her presence is…" she spread her hands apart, indicating she was at a loss to express herself.
"It's like being next to the sun," Ravyiel said softly. "She has potential far beyond anyone I have ever known of, as if she were the culmination of power that has been growing and being refined since the Beginning. Bonding with her earlier was almost painful," he finished, his eyes reflecting a conflict of emotion within him.
"It becomes more of an effort to control her," Shethryia said after a long silence. "I am going to need to help her gain control of her mind before she inadvertently knocks someone senseless with her curiosity." Ravyiel and Vandaia exchanged a quick glance at one another. It was true that expanding ones Awareness without control could result in harm. It was also true that eluyia, beyond allowing one to bend forces of nature, could be a devastating weapon; using ones presence like a sword was part of the training for the Ka'anephi and the Feisannai alike. If Shethryia were concerned enough about it to say something, it was an issue that needed immediate attention.
"What may I do to help, Beloved?" Ravyiel asked.
"I don't know yet, my love," she replied absently. "It would help if both of you could express to her the importance of both discretion and humility with regard to the use of power. 'Beyond allowing you to be aware of the world around you or giving you the power to control the primal forces of nature, eluyia is the paradoxical union of Creation and Destruction. Misuse and carelessness must be absent.'" Shethryia grinned. "I remember when Neshyia taught me that, a gentle and cheerful face with words that felt like nails being driven into my flesh. I never forgot it." She paused, turning to look out at the deepening gloom. "Let us pray Dobaryia learns it quickly," the Empress whispered.
After saying goodnight to her parents and Vandaia, the Princess of Y'Avan had left and made her way to her room. She undressed and slipped under the covers while impressions of the after dinner conversation raced through her young mind. For an hour, she tried to make sense of everything that had been explained to her, seeking to create a sensible understanding of Vandaia and the Kalderi, how they lived and what it must have been like to grow up that way. At last exhausted, Dobaryia drifted off to sleep. That night she dreamed of resplendent warriors running upon a field of clouds, women of near flawless beauty and form dressed in exotic armor chanting ancient battle cries across the heavens. At the van of these distant alien people was a woman so beautiful as to be terrifying to behold. For a moment, the woman paused and turned her head, beautiful emerald green eyes staring back through space and time to regard the child who observed her. Then, with a smile as radiant as the sun, she said One day, such will be sung of you, Princess of Y'Avan. A moment later, she was gone and Dobaryia slipped into a deep, dreamless slumber.

* * *

Shethryia stretched languorously as she arose in the grey of early dawn. Ravyiel watched her rise and cross over to the East balcony, fetching a robe against the unseasonably cool morning. He smiled to himself for the woman he had married was beyond merely beautiful. Her body, while possessing the lithe sensuous form of a dancer was as hard beneath her soft skin as any well trained warrior. As she walked, he admired the grace and nobility of her gait, every aspect of her body enhanced with each movement. As much as he enjoyed seeing her unclad, the silk robe covering her greatly defined her shape and added mystique to the woman beneath. As she stood on the balcony, watching the sun rise, Ravyiel became aware that she was pleasantly amused at his observance. Quietly, he rose, donning his own robe, and crossed the room to stand beside his wife.
"I see that some things remain the same over so many years," Shethryia smiled as Ravyiel stepped onto the balcony. "I enjoy watching you as much, my beloved." She turned and looked at his face, reaching her hand up to stroke his powerfully muscled chest. Gently, he leaned down and cupped her face with one hand, bestowing her with a soft kiss. Wordlessly, she slipped her arm around his waist, his around her back as the Empress and Lord Protector of Y'Avan watched the rising sun.
"I will return as quickly as I can," Ravyiel said quietly. "This business in Tumal should be over within two or three days."
Shethryia nodded, a slight smile turning up the edges of her mouth.
"I feel a certain pity for the rogues causing trouble there," she said, still smiling. "I don't think they have any idea they will be facing a Battle Tiger in a fortnight." With a more serious note she added, "I would like to know what makes them so bold as to venture that close to our borders."
"We will know soon enough," he said, a mild shift in his presence indicating he was more curious about the cause as well. "In any event, it should be a simple matter to dispose of." Shethryia knew he intended to avoid as much bloodshed as possible, expecting to resolve the problem more quietly. She knew however, that it would likely result in the deaths of many of the renegade Peshkai, known as the Black Circle, a well organized group of bandits who harried caravans between the Kingdom of Peshkai and the Empire. Usually, they never came within two weeks of her borders, preferring not to irritate her people into dealing with them. Something out there had forced them close to Y'Avan at Damar-Tumal and it was that something which would ultimately need to be addressed. Pulling her husband close, she smiled again, allowing her love and affection to rule the moment.
"I am glad we could spend last night together," Shethryia said. After another loving embrace, the rulers of Y'Avan turned back to their chambers as the vivid rose of sunrise washed across the land. Summoning the baths to be made ready, Shethryia asserted her presence to Ranna and Dobaryia and also to the attendant seeing to Vandaia's needs so that Vandaia might join them. She knew Ravyiel would forgo a bath, opting to bathe after the trip to Tumal. Mildly disappointed that he would be absent, she requested Amia have fruit and drinking water brought to the bath. As there was no business of the High Council to attend to that day, she would enjoy the company of her daughter and friend at leisure.
Ravyiel stripped off his robe and dressed in his usual traveling clothes: deep blue robes trimmed in gold, a deep green cloak fastened with a brooch formed like a tiger's claw, and knee-high black boots. On his arms he wore black bracers tooled in intricate designs and around his waist he wore a heavy belt, wrapped over with the saffron sash of his office. Over his shoulder, he strapped on the baldric which held his sword. When he was finished, Ravyiel turned to see Shethryia watching him with adoration.
"I never tire of watching you," she said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I am as taken with you as you are with me."
Smiling, Ravyiel walked over to his wife and took her into his arms. Looking down into her beautiful amber eyes, he asserted his presence, forming an unseen bonding of love and joy with his wife. Kissing her once more, he stepped back. "I love you," he said.
"And I love you, my Ravyiel," she smiled. "Now, go, before your porter leaves without you."
Chuckling at the impropriety of such occurring, the Lord Protector of Damar-Y'Avan, General of the Armies of the Empire, turned and left the room. In his wake, Shethryia sighed and relaxed in a chair beside the balcony. As she awaited Vandaia and Dobaryia for the bath, the Empress pondered over what might cause three hundred bandits to risk their lives against her people. Something strange was occurring beyond her ability to detect but she was sure Ravyiel would likely discover the nature of this disturbance quickly. It had been since before her birth that the last foreign raiders had ever come as close to Y'Avan and that had been met with the destruction of all but ten of the outlaw band. Since then, only traders between nations had been bothered by the bandits and even then, rarely. The Black Circle seemed to dislike the Ta'Yiashi envoys traveling with the caravans as they tended to make things difficult for plundering; it had become well known that even one delegate of the Ka'aneph was more trouble than thirty veteran guards. Shrugging off the irritation of not knowing what actually occurred beyond her borders, Shethryia contented herself to enjoying the morning.

* * *

Dobaryia giggled as she made little disturbances in the water by lifting her toes up to just below the surface of the water then pulling her foot down quickly. Shethryia smiled slightly, wondering how long it would take for her to learn how to do that without using some part of her body. Vandaia watched the girl closely, her expression void of emotion but her eyes seemed to follow even the slightest movements of the child, as a cat watches a bird. Shethryia noticed her friend's attention and wondered what the woman saw in her daughter. After a moment, Vandaia turned her head slightly to look the Empress in the eyes. Neither spoke for a moment, then Vandaia's eyes twinkled momentarily.
"Her coordination and reflexes are remarkable," the Kalderi said. "My own daughters were less gifted at her age."
Shethryia blinked, her only show of surprise at Vandaia's mention of her daughters. The Empress had known and been a friend to the Kalderi for the better part of a millennium and had heard her mention her family only once before. She knew the woman had denied herself much when she renounced her claim to the position of High Queen of the Oxmati in favor of her cousin. She knew that when Vandaia left Iandra to lead the Outlanders to Damar-Y'Avan, she had left behind her daughters and the life she had once lived. It was an act of great personal sacrifice for the sake of people who, for thousands of years, were bitter adversaries to the Kalderi. No one who knew of her felt anything but admiration and respect for the woman.
As she looked past Vandaia, Shethryia noticed Amia looking at Vandaia with an open expression of awe. Apparently, her attendant had taken the time to examine the tapestry in the Great Hall more closely and realized that the exotic warrior depicted there was now bathing with her Empress. Suppressing a laugh, she made eye contact with the young woman who immediately averted her eyes.
"Vandaia, I would like to introduce my shaika, Amia," the Empress said as she motioned for Amia to approach the edge of the bath. Shethryia had asked that she, Vandaia, and Dobaryia be allowed some time to simply relax in the bath before regular bathing; Amia had been busy readying Shethryia's robes while she waited to cleanse her. As she approached, she seemed to fall into her usual calm demeanor though she avoided looking directly at the Kalderi woman.
Vandaia turned her head and observed Amia's approach, a soft and relaxed expression on her face. When the attendant reached the Empress, the Kalderi smiled warmly. "I am pleased to meet you, Amia," she said. "I take it you have some knowledge of history."
"A little, Highness," Amia replied somewhat shyly. "I have seen your likeness in a tapestry in the Great Hall but had no idea you… would be here." She finished, avoiding the mention that she didn't expect the woman to be alive yet.
"I have inherited long life from my father," Vandaia said. "You are not the first to be surprised at my appearance." Indeed, not a few Councilors who had been near the Grand Entry when she had arrived the day before responded to the Kalderi's presence with something akin to shock. She knew that for someone not of pure Ta'Yiashi blood to live so long and appear no older than he or she did several hundred years earlier was exceptionally rare. Amia's reaction, though expected, seemed to reserve something else hidden behind the shyness.
"I mean no disrespect," Amia said. "I just have never known of any others to live so long and youthfully. Forgive me."
"There is nothing to forgive, Amia," Vandaia smiled. "Perhaps sometime I can explain the event depicted in the tapestry to you, if the Ka'Y'Avan has no objections?"
Shethryia shook her head that she didn't. Sensing Amia was nearly beside herself with the prospect, she indicated that she was ready to be cleansed and Amia disrobed, slipping into the bath to begin her duties as usual. The Empress felt the shift in her attendant's presence and knew the routine provided a means for the young woman to regain control of her thoughts. A moment later, the other attendants assumed their duties in bathing Vandaia and Dobaryia. When they were finished and dressed, Shethryia dismissed the attendants to their regular duties, hoping to speak with Vandaia about her arrival without interruption. As the servants dispersed and Ranna had Dobaryia in tow, the Empress asked the Kalderi to join her in her chambers to break fast and talk awhile. When they were seated, Shethryia spoke.
"Have you any idea what is causing the disturbance at Tumal?" the Empress asked without preamble.
"I suspect the Black Circle is behind the troubles there, though I too am curious as to what would bring them so close to your borders." Vandaia paused a moment in consideration. "The last time they were less than four days run from Tumal was when I led Holrigm and the others here, if I am not mistaken."
"You are not," Shethryia said, taking a drink of sika. "But they are only a days ride from the gates this time. The last time they were so bold, all but ten were slain and those who had survived were delivered back to the city of Ghervon in cages on the following day's caravan."
"I believe that was what began the tradition of sending a Ka'aneph trade delegate with every caravan leaving Y'Avan," the Kalderi noted. "It would seem they would have only come so close recently, perhaps within a day of my having reached Damar-Tumal."
"That was my thought," Shethryia said. "I can't imagine what would cause them to risk their lives in this manner."
"Neither can I," Vandaia replied. "Had I come the route I did last time, I might have some notion as to the nature of this situation. Since I had chosen to come south along the coast before turning east at the Ulba mountains, I would have no way of knowing what transpired along the northeastern Trade Road."
"You came down from Iandra through the Wamisu lowlands?" the Empress asked, arching an eyebrow in surprise at the statement. The Wamisu lowlands were a series of jungles and swamps that ran four hundred miles north to south and another hundred-twenty from east to west. Few people ever ventured into those lands and returned alive. Those who survived them told of fearsome creatures and black skinned demons who ate the flesh of those they captured. Shethryia was sure much of those tales were exaggerated but knew well enough there was always some truth in fiction and wondered what had possessed her friend to have braved such a journey.
"It is true that the Wamisu is a dangerous place for most people," Vandaia said, smiling slightly at Shethryia's surprise. "The Taki, as well as several other peoples living there, do not take kindly to 'pale skinned or pointy-eared demons' traversing their forests. It is another matter when you get to know them and traveling that route is quicker than any other, save by sea."
Shethryia caught the humor in the Kalderi's voice and chuckled. Apparently the exaggeration was not limited to caravaners and travelers. "I see there is much yet most of us do not know," the Empress smiled.
"True again, Shethryia," Vandaia grinned. "Such is why I haven't lived in Iandra since I last was here. I have visited my homeland on several occasions but did not stay there more than ten years at a time. I was last there a year ago, before I came here, which brings me to why I have come."
Shethryia was caught off guard by the remark and halted her cup halfway between the table and her mouth. Realizing her position, she set the cup down and laughed at herself. Few had ever taken her by surprise since she was a child and the occurrence amused her; no matter how long she may live, there would always be something that could surprise her. Vandaia simply smiled, understanding of the sentiment visible in her eyes.
"I had wondered that since I noticed you in Ravyiel's office," the Empress said. "At first I thought it might have something to do with Vanyien but since you know as much as I do about that situation…"
"It was important that only you know of the reason I have returned," the Kalderi said, suddenly very serious. "You and Neshyia are the only ones I know of who might be able to shed some light on something for me."
"Shall I summon her?" Shethryia asked, allowing her friend to decide what would be most comfortable for her. When Vandaia nodded, she sought the Vizier and let her know her presence was required. In the time she had grown to know the former Warmistress, Shethryia learned that very few things ever caused this remarkable woman to be deeply concerned, let alone appear troubled by them. Things were taking place and she felt a twinge in the deepest part of her consciousness that told her it was merely the beginning of greater and more terrible things to come. Resigned to await Neshyia's arrival, Shethryia quickly took note of Dobaryia's whereabouts and discovered that she was deeply engrossed in writing something Ranna had recited to her. She gently withdrew and resumed drinking her sika.
Minutes later, the door opened and Neshyia entered the chamber in her usual buoyant fashion. Whatever else could be said of the Vizier, none would ever accuse her of being too serious about anything. When she was seated, Shethryia looked at Vandaia.
"I asked that you be present," the woman said to the newcomer. "There is something amiss in the Wamisu that has many there very worried."
"Indeed?" Neshyia said, the inflection of her voice her only show of surprise.
"I would not have known of it had I not chosen to travel into that land," Vandaia continued. "Originally, I had gone there to trade for some roots used by Kalderi healers. When I arrived in the region of Mutak, I was taken directly to Udli, the current priest-king of the Taki, who told me that something terrible had happened." She paused, looking at the other two in turn then said, "The melari have returned to the jungles."
At first, Shethryia was confused as to what that meant, then Neshyia's expression became grave and she knew instantly that this was a very serious matter. The Empress looked at her advisor as the woman began to speak.
"The melari have been absent from the land for nearly a hundred thousand years," Neshyia began, turning to look at Shethryia. "The Kalderi drove them out of Iandra and the Wamisu then hunted them across the Zami and even into the Robir Desert in an effort to rid the land of their kind. They were thought to be gone, hunted to the last. Apparently, some survived."
"What exactly are the melari?" the Empress asked, a sense of foreboding creeping into her mind.
"They are the remnant beasts from the reign of the Great Dragons," Neshyia explained. "In appearance, they seem to be miniature dragons, having been made in the likeness of their masters: winged reptilian creatures with rows of razor sharp teeth and claws that can literally flay the hide from a cow. The one distinct feature of these beasts is that they possess a barb at the end of their tails which is connected to a poison gland where it meets the spine. In ancient times, the poison was extracted and an antivenom was made, as well as a very potent drug used for slowing the functions of the body in order to provide healing for serious illnesses and wounds. Originally, they were created to function in the manner of dogs, sent out as harriers to locate those creatures hunted by the dragons. Later, they were used as guards, protecting the lairs of their masters against intrusion by other dragons. When the race of dragons mysteriously vanished from this world, the melari simply dispersed into the wilderness, hunting deer and the like. When the First Ones came into the world, the melari were simply animals; though very dangerous, they were overcome and driven into the remotest regions of the land.
"When Yianchavar led our Ancestors from the Ancient Place, the melari lived only in desolate regions. After the Great Alteration and the Dispersal of Many occurred, groups settled in different places, each becoming new peoples over time. The Taki, the Dodi, the Bana, the Chu, and the Zamu took to the lowlands, hiding in the jungles and swamps from those who sought their demise, namely the Tzavoi, though they were not called such at that time. The Kalderi followed the lead of Kalderos and, later, his daughter Shamara Oxmata, and the Peshkhai followed Sagath, son of Peshkh. Eventually, the Zamu left in search of someplace similar to the Ancient Place and settled the great prairies known as the Plains of Zami." Neshyia paused a moment. It was not something commonly known about and she had never learned the details of the Great Alteration and the Dispersal of Many. Of the melari and dragonkind, she knew next to nothing short of misty legend and wild myth. As her Vizier went on, her sense of foreboding turned to one of dread.
"Over the years, the melari tried to reclaim their territories, as most predacious creatures will," Neshyia continued. "Eventually, in the time of Shamara Oxmata, then High Queen of the Kalderi, the creatures had become a plague in the jungles and swamps, killing many who lived there and causing many more to flee to Iandra for safety. When the Kalderi found themselves being overrun by the peoples of the Wamisu, Shamara organized her hunters and warriors and went forth to put a final end to the creatures' existence. As I said, it was believed that she had succeeded."
"What does it mean for them to be returning?" Shethryia asked, fearing the answer but needing to know so that she might take action on behalf of her people. It was Vandaia who answered her.
"For them to have survived our hunters and warriors is possible, though more than very difficult," she said without boast, her expression void of emotion. "For them to be returning means they have been driven from wherever they have been. But this is only the smaller part of the problem." Both Ta'Yiashi women turned to look questioningly at the Kalderi.
"If they are allowed to continue as a predatory species," Vandaia continued. "They will cause both destruction of herds and the deaths of people. They may be diminutive in comparison to Great Dragons, but they are deadly even to a group of people unless that group is a well trained melari hunting party."
"I see the problem potentially worse than that," Neshyia said. "Wherever they were hiding was far away. For them to return to these lands means they are no longer able to survive wherever they were and a number have left that place in search of a more suitable habitat. Or," she paused, her voice becoming soft, "they have been brought back from another land for other reasons."
"Who could have brought them back from some distant land?" Vandaia said, a cloud of indistinguishable emotion crossing her features momentarily. "I know of only one race with the might to command melari in such a manner."
"Such is possible," Neshyia replied. "The Great Dragons ruled this world for eons before they mysteriously disappeared. By the best reckoning, it was

hundreds of millennia before the First Ones came into being. Such is time enough for any species to change from tame animals to wild ones. As none know where

the Great Dragons went, it is remotely possible that one has returned, albeit unlikely. No, I think something else is occurring. I cannot explain why right now, but I

sense another purpose behind it." She looked from Vandaia to Shethryia. "I believe someone wishes to alter the shape of things to come." When neither woman

seemed to comprehend her words, she smiled grimly and said, "Someone or something seeks dominion over the Land."