Journal Entry 18:04 Aja's Mid-Revel in the Winter Court
On their first day back in Chrailis, after Dame Imokan spends some time catching up with the party on recent events, everyone heads off to bed for the night.
Early the next morning, Aja finds Dame Imokan and begins asking her all sorts of questions. As far as the Light Thief, Dame Imokan is unaware of who that is. She says she has met a true magician only a time or two, and with the exception of one she refers to as Thargax, they’re all best be avoided. Magicians are basically gods walking as men, or so she says.
Aja also inquires about her dad to see if Imokan has any further insights. Yet again, Aja is reminded that Dame Imokan has a serious dislike of almost all things fay. She certainly has no dislike of Aja, just Aja’s affiliation. Aja can tell by Dame Imokan's voice that she is not pleased with Aja’s allegiances to the Winter Queen. She certainly has no dislike of Aja, just Aja’s affiliation. Aja inquires for suggestions of how she might make further contact in order to find out about her dad. All Dame Imokan can say is that it was her sister, Gráinne, who had most of the fay connections. Aja suspects that Gráinne’s disappearance may be related to Dame Imokan’s displeasure with the fay.
As Aja spends her next day back, she manages to make a few trips shopping and renews her library fees as needed. She has a goal and wishes to start more research on one spell in particular.
With regards to spell research, she inquires about further spell progression. Dame Imokan says, "You are almost my equal, and that doesn’t include the divine spark each of you now carry. I fear I can't aid you much further. My only suggestion is to research continually. The only places I know of gaining more powerful spells are through the Coteries. I have little idea of how to join one of the Great Houses, they seem finicky as to who they let in. However, I believe you have a friend who is now part of their households, Kinsi? Maybe she can help you.”
Later that same day, Dame Imokan adds, "There is another place. You would have to leave this land behind, for it is lands away. That place is the Academy of Science and Magic in Brynthia. You've inquired about Crynthia before from your dreams, well, Brynthia is about 500 miles to the north of that cold city. A completely different city, a city of warmth and comfort.” The comment is made in passing. The chilling memories of Aja’s initial dream of slavery in Crynthia keep her from pursuing this line of conversation.
Toward the end of the daylight, Aja decides to take Dame Imokan's advice and sends word ahead in an effort to arrange an audience with Kinsi. In preparation for the upcoming meeting, she asks Tars to carve her two small figurines. The first to be a small girl carved from pale beechwood and the second to be a slightly larger young woman carved from mahogany.
Kinsi sends a messenger back saying that while she is currently busy with Mid-Revel tasks, she will be free for Aja and Gigi and happy to receive their audience toward the end of the next day.
With that scheduled, Aja follows up on other pursuits.
The next morning, Tars has finished his wood carvings. He really is talented and if it wasn't for his adventuring career, wood carving might actually be an option for him. Aja gifts Tars with a heavy stone jug of dark ale - actual, real ale from the Mid Year Revel celebrations bottled exactly one year ago - to show that his efforts and craftsmanship are appreciated.
Toward the end of her second day back, Aja meets with Kinsi. It is at an out of the way bartering house in the third tier. Kinsi explains the location in that it might not be wise for an agent of Winter to be in the inner tiers, even as a guest, if not on official business.
Despite having been gone only a month or two, Kinsi looks older by about 4 years. She now appears she might be around 11 or 12. She is definitely more mature in demeanor and initially greets Aja with a distant formality.
Surprised at the change, Aja reluctantly gives over the two small wood carvings, each wrapped in a deep blue silk and tied with teal ribbon.
Aja is confused by Kinsi's assertion that an agent of Winter might not be welcome within the inner tiers. She tells Kinsi that she and her companions are doing work that she believes to be a boon to S'Nassa, work that is actually in the service of the Dragon Matron.
Aja sees that Kinsi is a relaxing a little while holding the wooden carvings. A little of the girl Aja remembers is surfacing as Kinsi examines the figurines closely.
Kinsi responds, “Very true. You are working to the ends of Mother, however the truce between your court and mine is one of current convenience. Even now, I can feel the power of Winter coursing through you. You carry Winter with you and that might be seen as a breach of good manners were you to enter the inner tiers uninvited. Be warned, you also carry Chrailis within your heart, so the same by hold true when you visit the Lucid Veil.”
She continues on, “Mother is not giving up her claim on you. As long as you were that necklace, that claim remains. However, part of the truce seems that both parties will allow you to exist in duality. The same is true for a surprising number of your companions.”
Aja focuses in on this. She can see Urik and Josca, or for that matter possibly any citizen of Chrailis who is also a priest. However, what allegiances do the others serve beyond Chrailis? She has suspicioned Morvion but chooses not to pry in his business. She briefly questions and Kinsi makes it clear she isn’t going to elaborate further.
After catching up on trivial stories, Aja confides in Kinsi all that has transpired since their arrival at the city of the Sarloks, including a description of the enigma that is the Light Thief.
She goes on at length about her own near permanent transformation into a tree within the Wood Temple, using the magics of her artifact to cover her skin in a thick layer of bronze-colored bark for effect. She asks Kinsi if she has ever heard of such a spell herself.
Kinsi says that she has seen a few spells like that in her spellcraft class. Kinsi is most interested in the Light Thief. They even discuss the puddle jumper spell. Aja explains a little of the mechanics and the intro stanza when Kinsi nods and says, “Yes, I can see where that spell was crafted for you specifically.”
After describing what has been relayed to them by the Light Thief, Aja asks Kinsi if she has any particular insight into why S'Nassa would be interested in preventing a new Coalescence. She also asks whether S'Nassa might have sent any agents of her own to act on her behalf.
Kinsi seems surprised and exclaims, “Aja! Surely you jest. Do you not know that you have been Mother’s agents all along? The items you carry were gifted to you for this explicit purpose.”
“I know this, I meant, are there others? With more specific purposes?” Aja replies, covering for her slightly misspoken words.
“Yes there are, but none down south. You and your friends are on your own. More and more are taking interest in this event, however. As evidenced by the Winter Queen’s strong interest. This Light Thief I suspect is an ally, though I know not myself. Several of the gods have also taken an interest. Kristor in particular.”
“It is not another Coalescence. Though that has some similarity I suppose. Coalescence involved the merging of multiple disparate worlds into one. That was bad, it killed nearly 90% of everyone. It gets complicated. This could be worse. This is not a merging of different worlds, it is the collapsing of the veils which separate nearby realities.”
Confused, Aja asks, “What does that mean, I guess, what happens?”
Kinsi thinks for a second. “Imagine if you will, you are holding an apple. Do you eat it? Do you not. When the realities collapse, you may find yourself holding both a naked appel core and a full apple. A whole apple with an full stomach, or a core with a empty grumbling stomach.”
Aja tries to wrap her head around this. Kinsi continues, “Possibly a bad example. We don’t know for certain, or if we do, I don’t understand it fully myself. Better yet, let’s say you are aware of a thief coming to steal and ransack your dwelling. What do you do? You lock the door, you place a guard, you possibly wait yourself, correct?”
Aja smirks. “Oh, I wait. I definitely wait to meet the brazen pilferer. I will meet him with the most fiendish curse. Turn his fingers into feathers I will – give him a truly light touch.”
“Very good. The next day, you find you are robbed. The thief came, however, when he arrived the door was not locked, there were no guards, you weren’t there. For him, you chose different. By my understanding, it means that effects can happen without direct cause. Potential causes which you don’t remember still influence future events. Some say that effects may even precede cause if the timelines are slightly out of sync once the barriers collapse.”
Aja thinks hard. She remembers reading a little about this somewhere. “Wait a second, we know of two realms where this kind of time exists, don’t we?” This talk reminds her vaguely of the stories she has read about Torim Rae in ‘Amber and Fossil’.
“Yes, we do. The Pryson dimension and Anytime. If the barriers fail, the results could be catastrophic. Unfortunately, some have experience with those dimensions. And for them, they believe that greater power lies in this direction.”
“It could also allow things to escape to environments not meant for them. Imagine if the Quirk Woods existed everywhere. And that is why I believe the Fay Courts are also interested. They know that their absolute reign over their lands might be seriously challenged by the Gods and the likes of Si'Nassa. Some see opportunity, some see destruction."
Heavy with thought, Aja sits in silence for several moments. Kinsi starts up the conversation again asking about Dame Imokan. This, in turn, leads to Aja showing off her new dress to Kinsi.
They talk late into the night. Aja also manages to get Kinsi to promise a few higher level spells sent her way. Kinsi promises to try anyway.
Aja hugs Kinsi and departs, getting back to Dame Imokan’s late. She heads straight to bed.
The next morning, Aja prepares herself for the parades which start early the following day. She's rarely ever been in Chrailis during actual Revel and always heard how great and festivities of the three-day event can be. With this grand event, she has to try out her new dress in public.
Of her other pursuits her first three days back before Mid-Revel, Aja has been working on translating the glyphed orb. Dame Imokan has taken an interest also. Together, they figure out it has a cipher in it. As the pieces spin, the glyphs change and the words change. Dame Imokan observes, “I believe there are multiple languages on this orb. It is magic, that we know. I believe it might be used in understanding languages which prove inaccessible to comprehend languages.”
Aja comments, finding the though annoying for her own recent experiences, “I find it odd that certain languages seem to be beyond the prevue of comprehend languages.”
“Well,” Dame Imokan replies, “As you know, the spell doesn’t work on magical script. While not magical, I believe this language may not be from this realm. With no native speakers, the spell has nothing to work on. Magic still has rules and as you well know, nothing is absolute. Additionally, if the language has abstracts you have not encountered, how does that translate?”
“Imagine explaining something as basic as introcolusion emotional complex to someone how has never cast a spell? Basic to any of us, basic to even someone who has mastered a few shalingras, but to a child who has never been exposed to magic, those words would have absolutely no meaning. A who vocabulary exists in how to modify the matrixes, and yet again, all those words would also be meaningless.”
Aja can only agree, she was already thinking the same thing. As they work on the orb, Aja is reminded of the runes she had seen on the walls of the Wood Temple. While she had translated some of them, parts had remained indecipherable. Using the orb, she starts to unlock some of their mysteries and new phrases begin making sense.
Then she starts in on the runes Morvion had transcribed from the walls of the well in the water temple. A whole new story unveils itself. While she is overjoyed that she has made progress, the story itself is dark and disturbing in nature.
And as she is spinning the orb, she makes the greatest discovery. There is a part of the story actually written on the orb. As it is moved in certain combinations, the story unfolds. She now has successfully unlocked the first three stories from what appears to be the collection of narratives known as ‘Amber and Fossil.’ While fanciful, she has yet to see their relevance. But she concludes, if they are so prominently placed in the temples, they may very well have meaning when it is all said and done.
The first day of Mid-Revel is as fun as Aja expected.
On the second evening of Mid-Revel, Aja is resting up. It has been a long day of celebrating. Lots of walking, though she is used to that, but also lots of laughing, a little drinking, probably too much food, and if anything, too much singing and dancing. Her legs are sore.
The suns have gone down and the night sky is bright. Three full moons tonight, an auspicious sign to begin winter. Supposedly tonight is the longest night of the year, or close to it. Not that she can tell, the days and nights always seemed about the same length. Aja’s read that if you go far north or far south, the days and nights trade lengths, eventually to where summer is nothing but day and winter is continual night.
One of her goals, when she got back, was to learn more about her father. Dame Imokan has proved elusive and doesn’t seem inclined to interact with the fay realm. Gigi hasn’t helped any either, giving her a confused look. She even tried offering a little prayer, like a priest to her deity, to the Winter Queen but only ended up feeling foolish.
Five days back in Chrailis, and she is not any closer than before to determining a course of action. She had visited her village on the afternoon of her second day back, but that didn’t yielded anything either except a warning from the inhabitants not to enter the Quirk Woods. Each time she is away, she feels further and further detached from the people of the village. Few remember Eram anymore, even those who were her kin. Aja feels old in comparison. How many years has it been for these short-lived humans?
Still not having come to a solid decision as to the best way to proceed, she starts to nod off. That is when she hears the voice, a voice she instinctively recognizes as that of the Winter Queen, Child – I sense you are seeking my audience. Tonight my power is at its height. Come at Once, for tonight I am feeling magnanimous.
Fully waking up, Aja wonders where she is to go. However, she knows the answer. She is to go to the grove just inside the Quirk Woods where she often spent time with her father. It was their favorite picnic spot in her youth.
Aja realizes that the trip will take a few hours at least, assuming she can get a horse. But – she has memorized teleport. She could just go straight there. Looking at Gigi, she says, “Would you be up for a trip?”
“About time,” he replies as if she was the reason they hadn’t already made their way to see her Matron. Aja mock swats at Gigi and he plays along by taking flight with a loud squeak.
Aja quickly dresses in her travel clothes. She ensures Gigi's fur is spotless and fluffy, even though he refuses to bathe using anything other than his own tongue. (He does offer to let her use hers, which she declines).
She gathers the etchings collected from the temples along with the "decoder" sphere, in case her patron should be interested in any of these. Putting them into her travel bag, she double checks to make sure she is ready to travel before actually preparing for her appearance.
Despite the late hour and the instructions to come at once, Aja feels certain, knowing without knowing how she knows, that she has a few hours to prepare. She feels the need to bring gifts, this could be her first actual meeting with her patron – or matron she reminds herself. How long has she been referring to her unknown benefactor as patron?
She doesn’t wish to bother Zurelevants and ask for help, yet she knows she needs help procuring some gifts Asking around, she finds he’s not back yet. And unfortunately, Dame Imokan was rather intoxicated when they returned from the night’s activities, so she wouldn’t be much help either.
Needing help, she bangs on Graykar’s door. No answer. She has Gigi fly around, enter his window, and check on Graykar to see if he is in his room, maybe he is just drunk. Gigi comes back, “No one’s there, he’s gone.” Aja thinks, Where’s he at? We returned just an hour ago and I know he said he was going straight to bed.
Ok, maybe Morvion can help her. He has a few connections within Chrailis. Same thing, locked door and no answer. She doesn’t bother sending Gigi around knowing that Morvion wouldn’t be asleep yet, or if he was, it would be a light sleep.
“Gigi, what’s with everyone being gone?”
Gigi responds, “Maybe everyone has a lady folk they are seeing?”
Aja starts to retort, then realizes that she falls into that category also, though hers is definitely not of the romantic sort. “Hmmf.”
Despite the difficulties, finding gifts remains her first priority. In her favor she, she has a few fine items she had bought for herself earlier this trip. Actually giving up something she had purchased for herself might appear as having more meaning to a powerful entity as it could show greater sacrifice. At least in theory, she thinks.
However, she wants to buy something nice also. Leaving Dame Imokan’s and wandering the streets close to midnight, she finds the choice is obvious. Not much is open during Mid-Revel, especially this time at night. However, one thing is always in demand. Food and Drink. And with Dame Imokan’s estate setting in the middle of the wine district of Chrailis, finding a nice bottle of wine is no problem.
However, that seems so common, even if she pays good money. Without a better idea, she steps into one of the finer eateries still open and she asks to speak to whoever is in charge. “Sir, I need a wine for a last minute gift, I need something special, something that is unlike any other.”
He rattles off a few wines which of which she refuses. He then says, “Ma’am, I got a single wine case, three bottles left. They are each about two centuries old and come from a distant land named Rose Cliff. I couldn’t even tell you where that was at except the land is said to be perpetually frozen. The wine is a specialty wine, valuable even from there, so I am led to believe. I have never even tasted it, in fact, the last bottle was opened over fifty years ago, one of the nobles bought it. My uncle was allowed to try a sip and said it was truly spectacular and he has a great palate for wines.”
“Great, that could be perfect. What kind of price are we talking?” Aja asks.
“Well, to be honest, the wine has a condition. It must be near frozen also. In this heat, I fear you might regret such a purchase.”
Aja acts a little put off. Serendipity or Providence? Either way, I have found my gift. Using her voice to sound uncertain, “It might work, just how much would such a bottle be? Just curious mind you.”
He responds with a figure of 600 draknels. Aja is thrilled, within her budget. Now to see if she has any haggling ability. “Sir, that seems a bit steep, but I like the idea of the uniqueness. I have three gems worth 500 draknels. Any chance that is enough.”
He stammers a bit, more to himself. She remembers something Graykar had told her about haggling. ‘Use the Pause’ he had said. ‘Let them do the talking.’ So she just looks at him as he talks a little more about being uncertain himself as to if he can come down in price. When she just continues to stare, he unconsciously gets a little flustered and in the next second, “Yeah, I can do 500.”
She fishes out the gems out of her little gem purse. He takes them and using a quick shalingra, confirms their value. “I’ll be right back.” He returns with the bottle of wine. It is in a slender blue bottle with ornate gold metalwork melted into the glass. The bottle itself might be worth several gold.
Hurrying back to Dame Imokan’s, Aja takes some time to dress. She had already worn her new dress once this Mid-Revel, but she felt it appropriate to wear again. She has enough time to clean up and prepare her self to be presentable at court, or what she perceives as being presentable.
Unsure of the protocol in such situations but wanting to take advantage of the wide array of goods currently on offer in Chrailis, she takes the bottle of imported ice wine and cools it with her own breath, wraps it in a fine ermine pelt (300 gp), and finally secures the pelt with a simple silver pin in the shape of a stag.
Once done, she cast her teleportation spell. Focusing in on where she was told to go, the spell initiates.
She appears in the grove she had imagined to find the scenery much changed. While dark, the trees are coated in a thick layer of ice. A nearby pond is smoking from the fog. Several ducks are walking along the shore, quacking. They are clearly bothered by the sudden coldness of the pond.
As she stands there, she sees a figure rising out of the water. He is skinny and white skinned with two long point ears going well past the top of his head. His hair is reddish brown and along with that, he has a stubble goatee also of reddish brown growth. Once he is on top of the water, he starts walking toward Aja and bows just before he reaches the shore.
While shorter than Aja, his very demeanor has an air of menace. With no weapon in sight, he is wearing a light green armor made of thin leather. The leather vest is sleeveless, leaving his arms bare. On either bicep is a narrow leather band which has been died red and traced with dark blue ink markings. The arms themselves are covered in light blue tattoos of patterned swirls.
With a smile revealing only sharpened teeth, “Greetings Lady Aja and faithful Gigi. My Queen sends her greetings and invitation. I am Ravnous Core, my Queen’s Seneschal Keeper. Follow me out onto the water, we travel to meet our Queen on this most holy of days.”
Turning, he starts walking across the water. Aja begins to follow, the power of the Sparrow’s Sprig enabling her to follow on the water. As they go further out over the steaming lake, she can start to make out a set of water stairs descending into an opening in the water.
He begins going down and she follows. The lake appears about two feet thick as the stairs descend into the water, the stairs turning to ice and then continuing down below the surface of the lake into another land. The stairs continue another twenty steps before ending in a heavily wooded forest. She can’t tell if it is day or if it is night and the woods are lit from bright light source in the distance. Looking around, she sees she is in a large cemetery. The trees are covered in ice, several of their branches broken in fact from the weight.
Under a nearby pavilion made of marble, she sees a tall lady of surpassing beauty surrounded by what looks to be several children. Her hair is red and she is wearing a white dress made of what appears constantly moving ice. Though Aja can make out folds of fabric, each curve and bow of the fabric is scintillating in the light with every tiny movement she makes.
As they begin to walk toward the pavilion, Aja realizes that the lady isn’t surrounded by children, it is that the lady is nearly twenty feet tall and those around her of a similar size to Aja.
Before they get within earshot of the tall lady, who Aja has no doubt is the Winter Queen, Ravnous holds up a hand for them to stop. “Lady Aja, while I would find immense pleasure in watching you fail, my Queen would be cross with me for allowing you insult her status. After she had me punish you, she would punish me also. So – as we approach. Do not bow, do not speak. Stop when I stop and wait to be called upon. And by wait, I mean wait.”
Aja nods, “I understand.”
Gigi, now is riding on Aja’s shoulder, huddles up close to her ear, “You never want to be punished by the Seneschal Keeper. I hear his powers are few but truly horrible.”
Aja whispers, “What are his powers.”
Gigi shakes a little. “He can know by looking into your heart who you truly hate or truly love. And then he can command you to kill them to your utmost ability. You will not stop, and it is not a mindless effort you will make nor does it change your emotions toward your target. You will plan and act with no concern for the consequences, only the success, and all the while fully knowing and aware of the consequences of your actions. Once he has given the command, which is unresistible, only the Queen can undo it.”
Aja shivers now, just thinking about it as all those she loves and hold dear dart through her mind. She doesn’t even want to consider them dying, much less being the instrument of their murder.
Ravnous Core looks back, grinning, “Silence, we approach now!”
Approaching he suddenly stops. When he stops, Aja halts also. She feels tempted to bow, but as he just stares straight ahead, she does also.
Aja stands there for what must be hours watching the Queen talk in an alien language to those around her, obviously conducting court. Several creatures come and go during this time. There are several that Aja can identify, various sprites and fairies, a few brightly colored dragons with dragonfly wings, a centaur, a talking snake, and small group of what Aja believes to be satyrs, though the fur on their legs is white as snow.
Others are standing at a distance holding small conversations. The tables are lined with different foods and drinks with several winged folk hovering around carrying trays and serving the rest of the guests.
One of the winged folk, about two feet high, flutters up near Aja and holds out a silver platter with a single crystalline fluted glass on it. In it is a purplish sparkling drink. Aja looks at Ravenous for permission and he nods. Taking the drink, Aja takes a sip. It is extremely cold with a slight berry tastes and a hint of something minty she has never tasted. She can taste a mild aftertaste of alcohol, though she would not call it wine, or at least it is unlike any wine she has ever tried.
As she stands there, Aja doesn’t move her head but looks around with her eyes at all the white tombstones surrounding her. She can’t make out the names or writings on the stones, but each stone appears to have a considerable amount of script on them.
With no warning a sweet voice begins talking in Aja’s head, Beautiful, aren’t they? They are the memory of the my most loyal of servants who have perished. Today is the day I honor them.
Aja starts to respond in voice, but she finds her tongue is frozen, Speak not, there are those here I wish to not know that you are one of mine, at least not yet. Time for that later. For now, just think, daughter.
Aja thinks back Yes Queen. Or how should I address you? Aja didn’t mean for that last thought to blurt out, but once done an answer is quickly forthcoming.
Queen Mother will do. Majesty is too formal, Mother is too informal. For you child, when speaking with me, Queen Mother will suffice. Few are allowed to have this level of closeness, I have killed many for less. But for now, I give you this permission.
Aja wonders if that isn’t a warning for the future?
All the while this mental communication is occurring, Aja can see that the Queen herself is also talking to two large ogre looking creatures, both dwarfed by her. Whatever the language, they are getting animated and raising their voices at her. She says a single word of force, the sound resonating throughout the cemetery causing ice to fall off of the trees. Everyone stops and freezes, even those who were approaching and or in the process of walking away. In the distance, Aja can see the other small groups talking quietly amongst themselves, at which time they freeze also. Everyone is now staring at the Queen and the two ogres. Both ogres have stopped talking.
One of them then bows, obviously mockingly and barks out a few words. No one says anything until the Queen looks to the lithe elven female by her side. She simply nods and says, “Innecious, if you will.” The elven female is wrapped in white bands of cloth, her arms, legs and feet bare. She is carrying a single scimitar of translucent metal.
With barely a perceptible movement, the elf is suddenly standing before her Queen and her scimitar has already made a single downstroke, neatly cutting the offending ogre in half. A slight spray of blood fans out twenty feet behind the ogre. Standing briefly, the ogre then slumps to the ground in two evenly dissected pieces.
As Innecious turns to look at her Queen, a look of disapproval comes across the Queen’s face. Looking down, the queen glares at a single drop of blood which has landed near the bottom hem of her dress. As everyone looks, the blood begins to spread out, slowly coloring the white dress and turning it red, giving the dress’s fabric the appearance of a transparent ruby. As the seconds go by, the slow spread of redness eventually covers the whole dress. Whereas before she seemed to be dressed in a brilliant snowflake, she now wearing a dress made from a brilliant ruby.
The other ogre, now fearful, finally turns to start running away. The Queen waves her hand and he stops, his body slowly freezing as ice begins forming on his skin and clothes. As the ice forms, it begins turning white, like snow. The same thing begins happening to the two ogre halves at her feet. Once they are completely covered with snow, they begin diminishing in size, absorbing slowly into the ground.
Aja now notices that the ice on the trees and gravestones have also starting to take on a pinkish hue. The blood is spreading to everything frozen.
Innecious bows and resumes her position. The Queen then looks around to everyone, “Today’s court is done. I have been marred by the essence of mortality, and this will not do. Please, celebrate as you will. But first, I wish to introduce one of the newest members of our court, the Lady Aja. In honor of this particular Night of Remembrance, I hear by proclaim her Lady Aja Bloodchill until she earns a new namesake by great deed.”
Many look to her and smile, some even bow. In her ear, Gigi whispers, a“Beware! Most of all beware the fay who smiles.”
The Queen then freezes and everyone takes this as a cue to start socializing. Even Ravnous turns to Aja to begin to speak when the Queen speaks up again, startling the entire congregation. “Wait, something else is to be mentioned. One of you has done something greater deed tonight than any other. A realm for who can ever guess?” she pleasantly says.
A treants deep in the crowd asks, “And for those who fail a proper guess?” It is obvious to Aja that now that the court is adjourned, a more informal setting is allowed.
“I don’t know – a beheading maybe, or maybe a befooting? I guess it depends on how good or bad the guess is.” she responds. Everyone nervously laughs. “Well, any guesses?” No one ventures a guess.
“No one wants to play? Well. Here it is, someone here has brought me a gift, can you believe it? A gift for their Queen.” Several of those in attendance look pleased and smile, some even point at themselves. As far Aja, she suddenly feels very nervous and self-conscious of the gifts in her travel bag.
With a now serious tone, the Queen then flatly says, “Yes, many of you have brought gifts. Gift you feel will please me. But only one has brought a gift out of respect. Not to curry favor, but actual respect. This gift represented sacrifice and was considered not on the basis of how it made her appear in my eyes, but how I might perceive it. I wish you all to learn from this. For all of your gifts, I reject them. To the Void Wife they go!”
She turns and starts walking toward Aja. “But from my newest child, Lady Bloodchill, I receive your gifts with all appreciation they deserve. In fact,” at this she bows in Aja’s direction. “I am humbled.”
All the looks toward Aja from those assembled are glares of jealousy and anger. Only Ravnous and Innecious seem unfazed. Ravnous even smiles and winks at Aja.
Shaken, Aja involuntarily bows back. She then reaches into her pack and pulls out the gift to present to her Queen. Ravnous steps forward and takes the wrapped battle and holds it up, then hands it to a small child looking fairie with blue skin and large yellow eyes. The child takes it, bows to the Queen and hurries off. “Oh sweet child, I will enjoy it later. Come closer and let’s talk.”
Aja stammers a polite agreeableness and steps forward. With softened tones, the Queen says, “You have a question, and though we are out of court, you may ask it now. A rare privilege.”
In her head, she hears the Queen say, Think your real question and I will answer in kind. Save an idle question for the voice. I will answer only one real question so consider well what you ask. Tonight I will give no riddles
Aja ponders well her two questions.
Aja smiles, tapping her chin for a moment before proclaiming in a canorous voice:
Ravenous has a comical look of shock at the audacity of Aja to riddle his Queen. The Queen stares back for a second before letting out a great laugh. “A riddle everyone, a riddle?”
The Queen lifts her hands and turns around, “Did everyone hear the riddle, I hope so. Such a great answer. Who wishes to answer it?”
She then points to a small ice troll. “You – answer it!”
The ice troll looks around, shaking in fear. He fails to quench a squeak of fear as it escapes his mouth. As he looks for help from those around him, none offer any. Several of the guests closest to the ice troll beginning backing away. A few lick their lips in anticipation.
Understanding his plight and that he is alone, the ice troll bows. Finding a measure of courage, the troll stands up straight and looks at the queen before stammering out, “The answer is, the answer is,” he looks around for help once more before continuing, “you, my Queen?” He says it as half a statement and half a question.
“Interesting,” she says slowly. “But wrong.” The ice troll falls to the ground and begins whimpering. It is evident he understands that mercy is not something seen in the court of the Ice Queen.
“Innecious, please be a dear and take this thing from my presence. Inflict on him my displeasure until he can come up with a correct answer.” The Queen then immediately forgets the troll and looks back at Aja.
In the corner of her eye, Aja sees Innecious bow and then walk up and grab the whimpering troll. Displaying strength unnatural and impossible for her frame, she lifts the troll by its neck and begins to drag it off.
The Queen then says, “A second gift in that riddle. I appreciate the added entertainment.” Then loud voice to everyone, “I’ll ask once a day until I receive an answer.”
Aja manages to mentally think her question while the Queen was talking with the troll. Her question is.
Queen Mother, you have done me greater honor than I deserve. I thank you for welcoming me among your Court. I had heard rumors whispered that tonight one might hope to be allowed to ask a question of her Queen so I have given great consideration as to what I might inquire.
As your Majesty surely knows, I grew up in the Quirk Woods, learning what I could from my father Xevellius and now-departed mother Eram. I know not the reason my father chose that peculiar location as his protected domain, but he has always taken the self-imposed duty seriously. Now, insofar as I am aware, the forest is unprotected, growing wilder and more uncanny every day. I worry for the peoples of Mystic Cove, River's End, and the other villages that line the Northwestern shores of Dawn Lake.
I fear imposing impatient with the length of my exposition... Queen Mother, now that I have entered the loyal service of Winter, would you consider tasking my father to return to the Quirk Woods that he might resume his guardianship and look after your interests during the twilight of his life?
Suddenly, everything stops. Everyone stops moving, frozen in place. The only movement Aja can see is the Queen and the tracking eyes of a few of the more powerful of her court, like Innecious and Ravenous. With both of their bodies solidly immobile, Aja can make out the eyes of both the Queen’s follower’s focusing in on her. Everyone else is locked in the moment, unaware. Even Gigi is frozen.
“You push boundaries, Child,” the Queen says. “I gave permission for a question of which I would answer in full. Your question crosses over into the realm of a requested boon for me to take additional action.”
“Were I to follow through on giving you a complete answer. That answer would be, Yes, I would consider this. And then we are done, your question answered in full.”
Aja remains silent. Maybe Graykar’s advice of silence has more applications than haggling. After another moment, the Queen continues, “As you are new to the courts, allow me to better ask your question. Queen Mother, I seek to find a way to return my father to his previous position as warder within the lands both within this realm and that of Chrailis. What are the current terms of his service so I can best understand how to achieve this goal?”
Aja curtsies low, “The question presented is vastly superior to my feeble inquiry.”
The Queen laughs a chilling sound indeed. “Then the superior question I shall answer. Your aunt promised herself to Winter. And she promised her first born. She thought it clever in not having children. Rather than force a child upon her, I sent her away to distant courts. What she did not know is that in our lands, blood is power. And power flows from parent to child. However, if no child is present, it flows to the closest child of the bloodline. You share that blood with your Aunt. When she was sent away, she was tricked and lost her connection to Winter. That power took shape and sought you out, finding a home in an injured animal you were caring for.”
As she speaks, the Queen circles Aja. Aja doesn’t move, knowing that she is the only one be besides the Queen currently capable of movement. As the Queen glides across the ground, Aja stares ahead, watching the eyes of Ravenous Core follow his Queen from his immobilized head.
“When your father learned of your fate, he bargained. I made it clear, if he could convince your aunt to reclaim Winter, I would give you the option to surrender Winter. To do this, he had to travel to the lands where she now resides, living in defiance of my wishes. As per the bargain, if she did not recant, then he would be my new servant. As a boon, should he fail to reclaim your aunt, I offered to give you the chance to relinquish the claim of Winter should he remain in my service regardless of your choice.”
“When you passed inside the crystal tower, the choice was given. You clearly chose Winter. While you may state that it was under duress, all true choices are made under duress.”
“Now to be clear as to the role of your dad before he became mine. It did nothing for me and nothing for our lands. His role was that of interceding and protecting those of your world who ventured too far into our realm. That he always showed proper respect and deference granted him extended liberties where the boundaries crossed. That he representing that goddess of nature extended him liberties. That his sister was loyal, granted him even further liberties. He was a friend of the family he sometimes joked.”
“For him to return, the answer is simple. Someone must take his place in that land of Delusion. Finish your task in the city far to the south and I will consider his replacement carefully and with due diligence.”
Once this is done, everyone begins moving again as time unfreezes and the Queen says to Aja, “You are dismissed, child. Look at all them, they so glare at us, don’t they?” They do hate you now. And she laughs.
Aja watches as the Queen steps away and hears her call a command to the retreating Innecious. “Innecioius, my lovely, allow the troll to go free. I fear my newest is disquieted by the results of her riddle. His first guess was close enough, so for the first day, I give failure a pardon.” The Queen then fades from view.
Not hungry or thirsty, Aja wanders around to look at the cemetery graves. She definitely doesn’t feel like mingling with any of the others.
Most of the markers are in languages she doesn’t understand. A few are. And what she sees surprises her. They say things like, “Faithful and Loyal Servant: Betrayed their Queen on this Date.” And on each of these, there is little doubt, that the day listed as their death was the day listed as their betrayal or close to it.
As she wanders farther away, she sees two graves stones of red snow. Looking around, she sees that much of the pinkness which was in the surrounding ice has now faded. The Winter Queen’s dress was also back to its clear sheen before she vanished. Approaching the two stones, she can make out that the red snow is slowly melting away and as it does, two new white marble stones exist. She can’t make our their names or other details yet, but they both state at the bottom, “Died on the day of Lady Bloodchill’s Naming.”
At this, she hears a slight cough behind her. Ravnous is there and says, “It is time to go back. Do you wish any food or drink before we depart?”
“No,” Aja says.
As they start walking, he starts up a small conversation, “You know, she gave you a great gift back there?”
“What did she give me, it sounds as if she turned her whole court against me.”
“Exactly – if any of them try to make nice with you now, will you believe their overtures?”
“Not with the looks they were giving me,” she retorts.
“Exactly. A great gift indeed. You mortals are simply too gullible most days.”
They talk briefly more. Then nothing. Aja wakes up in her bed the next morning, still wearing her dress. Getting up, she sees that the wind and ermine pelt are gone from her pouch. The events probably did happen. On her nightstand, she sees a single glass filled with a clear amber liquid. On a folded note it says, “Please enjoy a glass of your delicious wine.” As Aja picks it up, she immediately feels the chill of it, it would probably injure anyone not immune to the cold like she is. And if Aja was to ever say a bottle of wine was worth as much as she had paid, this is that wine.
Early the next morning, Aja finds Dame Imokan and begins asking her all sorts of questions. As far as the Light Thief, Dame Imokan is unaware of who that is. She says she has met a true magician only a time or two, and with the exception of one she refers to as Thargax, they’re all best be avoided. Magicians are basically gods walking as men, or so she says.
Aja also inquires about her dad to see if Imokan has any further insights. Yet again, Aja is reminded that Dame Imokan has a serious dislike of almost all things fay. She certainly has no dislike of Aja, just Aja’s affiliation. Aja can tell by Dame Imokan's voice that she is not pleased with Aja’s allegiances to the Winter Queen. She certainly has no dislike of Aja, just Aja’s affiliation. Aja inquires for suggestions of how she might make further contact in order to find out about her dad. All Dame Imokan can say is that it was her sister, Gráinne, who had most of the fay connections. Aja suspects that Gráinne’s disappearance may be related to Dame Imokan’s displeasure with the fay.
As Aja spends her next day back, she manages to make a few trips shopping and renews her library fees as needed. She has a goal and wishes to start more research on one spell in particular.
With regards to spell research, she inquires about further spell progression. Dame Imokan says, "You are almost my equal, and that doesn’t include the divine spark each of you now carry. I fear I can't aid you much further. My only suggestion is to research continually. The only places I know of gaining more powerful spells are through the Coteries. I have little idea of how to join one of the Great Houses, they seem finicky as to who they let in. However, I believe you have a friend who is now part of their households, Kinsi? Maybe she can help you.”
Later that same day, Dame Imokan adds, "There is another place. You would have to leave this land behind, for it is lands away. That place is the Academy of Science and Magic in Brynthia. You've inquired about Crynthia before from your dreams, well, Brynthia is about 500 miles to the north of that cold city. A completely different city, a city of warmth and comfort.” The comment is made in passing. The chilling memories of Aja’s initial dream of slavery in Crynthia keep her from pursuing this line of conversation.
Toward the end of the daylight, Aja decides to take Dame Imokan's advice and sends word ahead in an effort to arrange an audience with Kinsi. In preparation for the upcoming meeting, she asks Tars to carve her two small figurines. The first to be a small girl carved from pale beechwood and the second to be a slightly larger young woman carved from mahogany.
Kinsi sends a messenger back saying that while she is currently busy with Mid-Revel tasks, she will be free for Aja and Gigi and happy to receive their audience toward the end of the next day.
With that scheduled, Aja follows up on other pursuits.
The next morning, Tars has finished his wood carvings. He really is talented and if it wasn't for his adventuring career, wood carving might actually be an option for him. Aja gifts Tars with a heavy stone jug of dark ale - actual, real ale from the Mid Year Revel celebrations bottled exactly one year ago - to show that his efforts and craftsmanship are appreciated.
Toward the end of her second day back, Aja meets with Kinsi. It is at an out of the way bartering house in the third tier. Kinsi explains the location in that it might not be wise for an agent of Winter to be in the inner tiers, even as a guest, if not on official business.
Despite having been gone only a month or two, Kinsi looks older by about 4 years. She now appears she might be around 11 or 12. She is definitely more mature in demeanor and initially greets Aja with a distant formality.
Surprised at the change, Aja reluctantly gives over the two small wood carvings, each wrapped in a deep blue silk and tied with teal ribbon.
Aja is confused by Kinsi's assertion that an agent of Winter might not be welcome within the inner tiers. She tells Kinsi that she and her companions are doing work that she believes to be a boon to S'Nassa, work that is actually in the service of the Dragon Matron.
Aja sees that Kinsi is a relaxing a little while holding the wooden carvings. A little of the girl Aja remembers is surfacing as Kinsi examines the figurines closely.
Kinsi responds, “Very true. You are working to the ends of Mother, however the truce between your court and mine is one of current convenience. Even now, I can feel the power of Winter coursing through you. You carry Winter with you and that might be seen as a breach of good manners were you to enter the inner tiers uninvited. Be warned, you also carry Chrailis within your heart, so the same by hold true when you visit the Lucid Veil.”
She continues on, “Mother is not giving up her claim on you. As long as you were that necklace, that claim remains. However, part of the truce seems that both parties will allow you to exist in duality. The same is true for a surprising number of your companions.”
Aja focuses in on this. She can see Urik and Josca, or for that matter possibly any citizen of Chrailis who is also a priest. However, what allegiances do the others serve beyond Chrailis? She has suspicioned Morvion but chooses not to pry in his business. She briefly questions and Kinsi makes it clear she isn’t going to elaborate further.
After catching up on trivial stories, Aja confides in Kinsi all that has transpired since their arrival at the city of the Sarloks, including a description of the enigma that is the Light Thief.
She goes on at length about her own near permanent transformation into a tree within the Wood Temple, using the magics of her artifact to cover her skin in a thick layer of bronze-colored bark for effect. She asks Kinsi if she has ever heard of such a spell herself.
Kinsi says that she has seen a few spells like that in her spellcraft class. Kinsi is most interested in the Light Thief. They even discuss the puddle jumper spell. Aja explains a little of the mechanics and the intro stanza when Kinsi nods and says, “Yes, I can see where that spell was crafted for you specifically.”
After describing what has been relayed to them by the Light Thief, Aja asks Kinsi if she has any particular insight into why S'Nassa would be interested in preventing a new Coalescence. She also asks whether S'Nassa might have sent any agents of her own to act on her behalf.
Kinsi seems surprised and exclaims, “Aja! Surely you jest. Do you not know that you have been Mother’s agents all along? The items you carry were gifted to you for this explicit purpose.”
“I know this, I meant, are there others? With more specific purposes?” Aja replies, covering for her slightly misspoken words.
“Yes there are, but none down south. You and your friends are on your own. More and more are taking interest in this event, however. As evidenced by the Winter Queen’s strong interest. This Light Thief I suspect is an ally, though I know not myself. Several of the gods have also taken an interest. Kristor in particular.”
“It is not another Coalescence. Though that has some similarity I suppose. Coalescence involved the merging of multiple disparate worlds into one. That was bad, it killed nearly 90% of everyone. It gets complicated. This could be worse. This is not a merging of different worlds, it is the collapsing of the veils which separate nearby realities.”
Confused, Aja asks, “What does that mean, I guess, what happens?”
Kinsi thinks for a second. “Imagine if you will, you are holding an apple. Do you eat it? Do you not. When the realities collapse, you may find yourself holding both a naked appel core and a full apple. A whole apple with an full stomach, or a core with a empty grumbling stomach.”
Aja tries to wrap her head around this. Kinsi continues, “Possibly a bad example. We don’t know for certain, or if we do, I don’t understand it fully myself. Better yet, let’s say you are aware of a thief coming to steal and ransack your dwelling. What do you do? You lock the door, you place a guard, you possibly wait yourself, correct?”
Aja smirks. “Oh, I wait. I definitely wait to meet the brazen pilferer. I will meet him with the most fiendish curse. Turn his fingers into feathers I will – give him a truly light touch.”
“Very good. The next day, you find you are robbed. The thief came, however, when he arrived the door was not locked, there were no guards, you weren’t there. For him, you chose different. By my understanding, it means that effects can happen without direct cause. Potential causes which you don’t remember still influence future events. Some say that effects may even precede cause if the timelines are slightly out of sync once the barriers collapse.”
Aja thinks hard. She remembers reading a little about this somewhere. “Wait a second, we know of two realms where this kind of time exists, don’t we?” This talk reminds her vaguely of the stories she has read about Torim Rae in ‘Amber and Fossil’.
“Yes, we do. The Pryson dimension and Anytime. If the barriers fail, the results could be catastrophic. Unfortunately, some have experience with those dimensions. And for them, they believe that greater power lies in this direction.”
“It could also allow things to escape to environments not meant for them. Imagine if the Quirk Woods existed everywhere. And that is why I believe the Fay Courts are also interested. They know that their absolute reign over their lands might be seriously challenged by the Gods and the likes of Si'Nassa. Some see opportunity, some see destruction."
Heavy with thought, Aja sits in silence for several moments. Kinsi starts up the conversation again asking about Dame Imokan. This, in turn, leads to Aja showing off her new dress to Kinsi.
They talk late into the night. Aja also manages to get Kinsi to promise a few higher level spells sent her way. Kinsi promises to try anyway.
Aja hugs Kinsi and departs, getting back to Dame Imokan’s late. She heads straight to bed.
The next morning, Aja prepares herself for the parades which start early the following day. She's rarely ever been in Chrailis during actual Revel and always heard how great and festivities of the three-day event can be. With this grand event, she has to try out her new dress in public.
Of her other pursuits her first three days back before Mid-Revel, Aja has been working on translating the glyphed orb. Dame Imokan has taken an interest also. Together, they figure out it has a cipher in it. As the pieces spin, the glyphs change and the words change. Dame Imokan observes, “I believe there are multiple languages on this orb. It is magic, that we know. I believe it might be used in understanding languages which prove inaccessible to comprehend languages.”
Aja comments, finding the though annoying for her own recent experiences, “I find it odd that certain languages seem to be beyond the prevue of comprehend languages.”
“Well,” Dame Imokan replies, “As you know, the spell doesn’t work on magical script. While not magical, I believe this language may not be from this realm. With no native speakers, the spell has nothing to work on. Magic still has rules and as you well know, nothing is absolute. Additionally, if the language has abstracts you have not encountered, how does that translate?”
“Imagine explaining something as basic as introcolusion emotional complex to someone how has never cast a spell? Basic to any of us, basic to even someone who has mastered a few shalingras, but to a child who has never been exposed to magic, those words would have absolutely no meaning. A who vocabulary exists in how to modify the matrixes, and yet again, all those words would also be meaningless.”
Aja can only agree, she was already thinking the same thing. As they work on the orb, Aja is reminded of the runes she had seen on the walls of the Wood Temple. While she had translated some of them, parts had remained indecipherable. Using the orb, she starts to unlock some of their mysteries and new phrases begin making sense.
Then she starts in on the runes Morvion had transcribed from the walls of the well in the water temple. A whole new story unveils itself. While she is overjoyed that she has made progress, the story itself is dark and disturbing in nature.
And as she is spinning the orb, she makes the greatest discovery. There is a part of the story actually written on the orb. As it is moved in certain combinations, the story unfolds. She now has successfully unlocked the first three stories from what appears to be the collection of narratives known as ‘Amber and Fossil.’ While fanciful, she has yet to see their relevance. But she concludes, if they are so prominently placed in the temples, they may very well have meaning when it is all said and done.
The first day of Mid-Revel is as fun as Aja expected.
On the second evening of Mid-Revel, Aja is resting up. It has been a long day of celebrating. Lots of walking, though she is used to that, but also lots of laughing, a little drinking, probably too much food, and if anything, too much singing and dancing. Her legs are sore.
The suns have gone down and the night sky is bright. Three full moons tonight, an auspicious sign to begin winter. Supposedly tonight is the longest night of the year, or close to it. Not that she can tell, the days and nights always seemed about the same length. Aja’s read that if you go far north or far south, the days and nights trade lengths, eventually to where summer is nothing but day and winter is continual night.
One of her goals, when she got back, was to learn more about her father. Dame Imokan has proved elusive and doesn’t seem inclined to interact with the fay realm. Gigi hasn’t helped any either, giving her a confused look. She even tried offering a little prayer, like a priest to her deity, to the Winter Queen but only ended up feeling foolish.
Five days back in Chrailis, and she is not any closer than before to determining a course of action. She had visited her village on the afternoon of her second day back, but that didn’t yielded anything either except a warning from the inhabitants not to enter the Quirk Woods. Each time she is away, she feels further and further detached from the people of the village. Few remember Eram anymore, even those who were her kin. Aja feels old in comparison. How many years has it been for these short-lived humans?
Still not having come to a solid decision as to the best way to proceed, she starts to nod off. That is when she hears the voice, a voice she instinctively recognizes as that of the Winter Queen, Child – I sense you are seeking my audience. Tonight my power is at its height. Come at Once, for tonight I am feeling magnanimous.
Fully waking up, Aja wonders where she is to go. However, she knows the answer. She is to go to the grove just inside the Quirk Woods where she often spent time with her father. It was their favorite picnic spot in her youth.
Aja realizes that the trip will take a few hours at least, assuming she can get a horse. But – she has memorized teleport. She could just go straight there. Looking at Gigi, she says, “Would you be up for a trip?”
“About time,” he replies as if she was the reason they hadn’t already made their way to see her Matron. Aja mock swats at Gigi and he plays along by taking flight with a loud squeak.
Aja quickly dresses in her travel clothes. She ensures Gigi's fur is spotless and fluffy, even though he refuses to bathe using anything other than his own tongue. (He does offer to let her use hers, which she declines).
She gathers the etchings collected from the temples along with the "decoder" sphere, in case her patron should be interested in any of these. Putting them into her travel bag, she double checks to make sure she is ready to travel before actually preparing for her appearance.
Despite the late hour and the instructions to come at once, Aja feels certain, knowing without knowing how she knows, that she has a few hours to prepare. She feels the need to bring gifts, this could be her first actual meeting with her patron – or matron she reminds herself. How long has she been referring to her unknown benefactor as patron?
She doesn’t wish to bother Zurelevants and ask for help, yet she knows she needs help procuring some gifts Asking around, she finds he’s not back yet. And unfortunately, Dame Imokan was rather intoxicated when they returned from the night’s activities, so she wouldn’t be much help either.
Needing help, she bangs on Graykar’s door. No answer. She has Gigi fly around, enter his window, and check on Graykar to see if he is in his room, maybe he is just drunk. Gigi comes back, “No one’s there, he’s gone.” Aja thinks, Where’s he at? We returned just an hour ago and I know he said he was going straight to bed.
Ok, maybe Morvion can help her. He has a few connections within Chrailis. Same thing, locked door and no answer. She doesn’t bother sending Gigi around knowing that Morvion wouldn’t be asleep yet, or if he was, it would be a light sleep.
“Gigi, what’s with everyone being gone?”
Gigi responds, “Maybe everyone has a lady folk they are seeing?”
Aja starts to retort, then realizes that she falls into that category also, though hers is definitely not of the romantic sort. “Hmmf.”
Despite the difficulties, finding gifts remains her first priority. In her favor she, she has a few fine items she had bought for herself earlier this trip. Actually giving up something she had purchased for herself might appear as having more meaning to a powerful entity as it could show greater sacrifice. At least in theory, she thinks.
However, she wants to buy something nice also. Leaving Dame Imokan’s and wandering the streets close to midnight, she finds the choice is obvious. Not much is open during Mid-Revel, especially this time at night. However, one thing is always in demand. Food and Drink. And with Dame Imokan’s estate setting in the middle of the wine district of Chrailis, finding a nice bottle of wine is no problem.
However, that seems so common, even if she pays good money. Without a better idea, she steps into one of the finer eateries still open and she asks to speak to whoever is in charge. “Sir, I need a wine for a last minute gift, I need something special, something that is unlike any other.”
He rattles off a few wines which of which she refuses. He then says, “Ma’am, I got a single wine case, three bottles left. They are each about two centuries old and come from a distant land named Rose Cliff. I couldn’t even tell you where that was at except the land is said to be perpetually frozen. The wine is a specialty wine, valuable even from there, so I am led to believe. I have never even tasted it, in fact, the last bottle was opened over fifty years ago, one of the nobles bought it. My uncle was allowed to try a sip and said it was truly spectacular and he has a great palate for wines.”
“Great, that could be perfect. What kind of price are we talking?” Aja asks.
“Well, to be honest, the wine has a condition. It must be near frozen also. In this heat, I fear you might regret such a purchase.”
Aja acts a little put off. Serendipity or Providence? Either way, I have found my gift. Using her voice to sound uncertain, “It might work, just how much would such a bottle be? Just curious mind you.”
He responds with a figure of 600 draknels. Aja is thrilled, within her budget. Now to see if she has any haggling ability. “Sir, that seems a bit steep, but I like the idea of the uniqueness. I have three gems worth 500 draknels. Any chance that is enough.”
He stammers a bit, more to himself. She remembers something Graykar had told her about haggling. ‘Use the Pause’ he had said. ‘Let them do the talking.’ So she just looks at him as he talks a little more about being uncertain himself as to if he can come down in price. When she just continues to stare, he unconsciously gets a little flustered and in the next second, “Yeah, I can do 500.”
She fishes out the gems out of her little gem purse. He takes them and using a quick shalingra, confirms their value. “I’ll be right back.” He returns with the bottle of wine. It is in a slender blue bottle with ornate gold metalwork melted into the glass. The bottle itself might be worth several gold.
Hurrying back to Dame Imokan’s, Aja takes some time to dress. She had already worn her new dress once this Mid-Revel, but she felt it appropriate to wear again. She has enough time to clean up and prepare her self to be presentable at court, or what she perceives as being presentable.
Unsure of the protocol in such situations but wanting to take advantage of the wide array of goods currently on offer in Chrailis, she takes the bottle of imported ice wine and cools it with her own breath, wraps it in a fine ermine pelt (300 gp), and finally secures the pelt with a simple silver pin in the shape of a stag.
Once done, she cast her teleportation spell. Focusing in on where she was told to go, the spell initiates.
She appears in the grove she had imagined to find the scenery much changed. While dark, the trees are coated in a thick layer of ice. A nearby pond is smoking from the fog. Several ducks are walking along the shore, quacking. They are clearly bothered by the sudden coldness of the pond.
As she stands there, she sees a figure rising out of the water. He is skinny and white skinned with two long point ears going well past the top of his head. His hair is reddish brown and along with that, he has a stubble goatee also of reddish brown growth. Once he is on top of the water, he starts walking toward Aja and bows just before he reaches the shore.
While shorter than Aja, his very demeanor has an air of menace. With no weapon in sight, he is wearing a light green armor made of thin leather. The leather vest is sleeveless, leaving his arms bare. On either bicep is a narrow leather band which has been died red and traced with dark blue ink markings. The arms themselves are covered in light blue tattoos of patterned swirls.
With a smile revealing only sharpened teeth, “Greetings Lady Aja and faithful Gigi. My Queen sends her greetings and invitation. I am Ravnous Core, my Queen’s Seneschal Keeper. Follow me out onto the water, we travel to meet our Queen on this most holy of days.”
Turning, he starts walking across the water. Aja begins to follow, the power of the Sparrow’s Sprig enabling her to follow on the water. As they go further out over the steaming lake, she can start to make out a set of water stairs descending into an opening in the water.
He begins going down and she follows. The lake appears about two feet thick as the stairs descend into the water, the stairs turning to ice and then continuing down below the surface of the lake into another land. The stairs continue another twenty steps before ending in a heavily wooded forest. She can’t tell if it is day or if it is night and the woods are lit from bright light source in the distance. Looking around, she sees she is in a large cemetery. The trees are covered in ice, several of their branches broken in fact from the weight.
Under a nearby pavilion made of marble, she sees a tall lady of surpassing beauty surrounded by what looks to be several children. Her hair is red and she is wearing a white dress made of what appears constantly moving ice. Though Aja can make out folds of fabric, each curve and bow of the fabric is scintillating in the light with every tiny movement she makes.
As they begin to walk toward the pavilion, Aja realizes that the lady isn’t surrounded by children, it is that the lady is nearly twenty feet tall and those around her of a similar size to Aja.
Before they get within earshot of the tall lady, who Aja has no doubt is the Winter Queen, Ravnous holds up a hand for them to stop. “Lady Aja, while I would find immense pleasure in watching you fail, my Queen would be cross with me for allowing you insult her status. After she had me punish you, she would punish me also. So – as we approach. Do not bow, do not speak. Stop when I stop and wait to be called upon. And by wait, I mean wait.”
Aja nods, “I understand.”
Gigi, now is riding on Aja’s shoulder, huddles up close to her ear, “You never want to be punished by the Seneschal Keeper. I hear his powers are few but truly horrible.”
Aja whispers, “What are his powers.”
Gigi shakes a little. “He can know by looking into your heart who you truly hate or truly love. And then he can command you to kill them to your utmost ability. You will not stop, and it is not a mindless effort you will make nor does it change your emotions toward your target. You will plan and act with no concern for the consequences, only the success, and all the while fully knowing and aware of the consequences of your actions. Once he has given the command, which is unresistible, only the Queen can undo it.”
Aja shivers now, just thinking about it as all those she loves and hold dear dart through her mind. She doesn’t even want to consider them dying, much less being the instrument of their murder.
Ravnous Core looks back, grinning, “Silence, we approach now!”
Approaching he suddenly stops. When he stops, Aja halts also. She feels tempted to bow, but as he just stares straight ahead, she does also.
Aja stands there for what must be hours watching the Queen talk in an alien language to those around her, obviously conducting court. Several creatures come and go during this time. There are several that Aja can identify, various sprites and fairies, a few brightly colored dragons with dragonfly wings, a centaur, a talking snake, and small group of what Aja believes to be satyrs, though the fur on their legs is white as snow.
Others are standing at a distance holding small conversations. The tables are lined with different foods and drinks with several winged folk hovering around carrying trays and serving the rest of the guests.
One of the winged folk, about two feet high, flutters up near Aja and holds out a silver platter with a single crystalline fluted glass on it. In it is a purplish sparkling drink. Aja looks at Ravenous for permission and he nods. Taking the drink, Aja takes a sip. It is extremely cold with a slight berry tastes and a hint of something minty she has never tasted. She can taste a mild aftertaste of alcohol, though she would not call it wine, or at least it is unlike any wine she has ever tried.
As she stands there, Aja doesn’t move her head but looks around with her eyes at all the white tombstones surrounding her. She can’t make out the names or writings on the stones, but each stone appears to have a considerable amount of script on them.
With no warning a sweet voice begins talking in Aja’s head, Beautiful, aren’t they? They are the memory of the my most loyal of servants who have perished. Today is the day I honor them.
Aja starts to respond in voice, but she finds her tongue is frozen, Speak not, there are those here I wish to not know that you are one of mine, at least not yet. Time for that later. For now, just think, daughter.
Aja thinks back Yes Queen. Or how should I address you? Aja didn’t mean for that last thought to blurt out, but once done an answer is quickly forthcoming.
Queen Mother will do. Majesty is too formal, Mother is too informal. For you child, when speaking with me, Queen Mother will suffice. Few are allowed to have this level of closeness, I have killed many for less. But for now, I give you this permission.
Aja wonders if that isn’t a warning for the future?
All the while this mental communication is occurring, Aja can see that the Queen herself is also talking to two large ogre looking creatures, both dwarfed by her. Whatever the language, they are getting animated and raising their voices at her. She says a single word of force, the sound resonating throughout the cemetery causing ice to fall off of the trees. Everyone stops and freezes, even those who were approaching and or in the process of walking away. In the distance, Aja can see the other small groups talking quietly amongst themselves, at which time they freeze also. Everyone is now staring at the Queen and the two ogres. Both ogres have stopped talking.
One of them then bows, obviously mockingly and barks out a few words. No one says anything until the Queen looks to the lithe elven female by her side. She simply nods and says, “Innecious, if you will.” The elven female is wrapped in white bands of cloth, her arms, legs and feet bare. She is carrying a single scimitar of translucent metal.
With barely a perceptible movement, the elf is suddenly standing before her Queen and her scimitar has already made a single downstroke, neatly cutting the offending ogre in half. A slight spray of blood fans out twenty feet behind the ogre. Standing briefly, the ogre then slumps to the ground in two evenly dissected pieces.
As Innecious turns to look at her Queen, a look of disapproval comes across the Queen’s face. Looking down, the queen glares at a single drop of blood which has landed near the bottom hem of her dress. As everyone looks, the blood begins to spread out, slowly coloring the white dress and turning it red, giving the dress’s fabric the appearance of a transparent ruby. As the seconds go by, the slow spread of redness eventually covers the whole dress. Whereas before she seemed to be dressed in a brilliant snowflake, she now wearing a dress made from a brilliant ruby.
The other ogre, now fearful, finally turns to start running away. The Queen waves her hand and he stops, his body slowly freezing as ice begins forming on his skin and clothes. As the ice forms, it begins turning white, like snow. The same thing begins happening to the two ogre halves at her feet. Once they are completely covered with snow, they begin diminishing in size, absorbing slowly into the ground.
Aja now notices that the ice on the trees and gravestones have also starting to take on a pinkish hue. The blood is spreading to everything frozen.
Innecious bows and resumes her position. The Queen then looks around to everyone, “Today’s court is done. I have been marred by the essence of mortality, and this will not do. Please, celebrate as you will. But first, I wish to introduce one of the newest members of our court, the Lady Aja. In honor of this particular Night of Remembrance, I hear by proclaim her Lady Aja Bloodchill until she earns a new namesake by great deed.”
Many look to her and smile, some even bow. In her ear, Gigi whispers, a“Beware! Most of all beware the fay who smiles.”
The Queen then freezes and everyone takes this as a cue to start socializing. Even Ravnous turns to Aja to begin to speak when the Queen speaks up again, startling the entire congregation. “Wait, something else is to be mentioned. One of you has done something greater deed tonight than any other. A realm for who can ever guess?” she pleasantly says.
A treants deep in the crowd asks, “And for those who fail a proper guess?” It is obvious to Aja that now that the court is adjourned, a more informal setting is allowed.
“I don’t know – a beheading maybe, or maybe a befooting? I guess it depends on how good or bad the guess is.” she responds. Everyone nervously laughs. “Well, any guesses?” No one ventures a guess.
“No one wants to play? Well. Here it is, someone here has brought me a gift, can you believe it? A gift for their Queen.” Several of those in attendance look pleased and smile, some even point at themselves. As far Aja, she suddenly feels very nervous and self-conscious of the gifts in her travel bag.
With a now serious tone, the Queen then flatly says, “Yes, many of you have brought gifts. Gift you feel will please me. But only one has brought a gift out of respect. Not to curry favor, but actual respect. This gift represented sacrifice and was considered not on the basis of how it made her appear in my eyes, but how I might perceive it. I wish you all to learn from this. For all of your gifts, I reject them. To the Void Wife they go!”
She turns and starts walking toward Aja. “But from my newest child, Lady Bloodchill, I receive your gifts with all appreciation they deserve. In fact,” at this she bows in Aja’s direction. “I am humbled.”
All the looks toward Aja from those assembled are glares of jealousy and anger. Only Ravnous and Innecious seem unfazed. Ravnous even smiles and winks at Aja.
Shaken, Aja involuntarily bows back. She then reaches into her pack and pulls out the gift to present to her Queen. Ravnous steps forward and takes the wrapped battle and holds it up, then hands it to a small child looking fairie with blue skin and large yellow eyes. The child takes it, bows to the Queen and hurries off. “Oh sweet child, I will enjoy it later. Come closer and let’s talk.”
Aja stammers a polite agreeableness and steps forward. With softened tones, the Queen says, “You have a question, and though we are out of court, you may ask it now. A rare privilege.”
In her head, she hears the Queen say, Think your real question and I will answer in kind. Save an idle question for the voice. I will answer only one real question so consider well what you ask. Tonight I will give no riddles
Aja ponders well her two questions.
Aja smiles, tapping her chin for a moment before proclaiming in a canorous voice:
What a Matron never sees,
What a dragon seldom sees;
What we see every day:
Read my riddle, I pray.
Ravenous has a comical look of shock at the audacity of Aja to riddle his Queen. The Queen stares back for a second before letting out a great laugh. “A riddle everyone, a riddle?”
The Queen lifts her hands and turns around, “Did everyone hear the riddle, I hope so. Such a great answer. Who wishes to answer it?”
She then points to a small ice troll. “You – answer it!”
The ice troll looks around, shaking in fear. He fails to quench a squeak of fear as it escapes his mouth. As he looks for help from those around him, none offer any. Several of the guests closest to the ice troll beginning backing away. A few lick their lips in anticipation.
Understanding his plight and that he is alone, the ice troll bows. Finding a measure of courage, the troll stands up straight and looks at the queen before stammering out, “The answer is, the answer is,” he looks around for help once more before continuing, “you, my Queen?” He says it as half a statement and half a question.
“Interesting,” she says slowly. “But wrong.” The ice troll falls to the ground and begins whimpering. It is evident he understands that mercy is not something seen in the court of the Ice Queen.
“Innecious, please be a dear and take this thing from my presence. Inflict on him my displeasure until he can come up with a correct answer.” The Queen then immediately forgets the troll and looks back at Aja.
In the corner of her eye, Aja sees Innecious bow and then walk up and grab the whimpering troll. Displaying strength unnatural and impossible for her frame, she lifts the troll by its neck and begins to drag it off.
The Queen then says, “A second gift in that riddle. I appreciate the added entertainment.” Then loud voice to everyone, “I’ll ask once a day until I receive an answer.”
Aja manages to mentally think her question while the Queen was talking with the troll. Her question is.
Queen Mother, you have done me greater honor than I deserve. I thank you for welcoming me among your Court. I had heard rumors whispered that tonight one might hope to be allowed to ask a question of her Queen so I have given great consideration as to what I might inquire.
As your Majesty surely knows, I grew up in the Quirk Woods, learning what I could from my father Xevellius and now-departed mother Eram. I know not the reason my father chose that peculiar location as his protected domain, but he has always taken the self-imposed duty seriously. Now, insofar as I am aware, the forest is unprotected, growing wilder and more uncanny every day. I worry for the peoples of Mystic Cove, River's End, and the other villages that line the Northwestern shores of Dawn Lake.
I fear imposing impatient with the length of my exposition... Queen Mother, now that I have entered the loyal service of Winter, would you consider tasking my father to return to the Quirk Woods that he might resume his guardianship and look after your interests during the twilight of his life?
Suddenly, everything stops. Everyone stops moving, frozen in place. The only movement Aja can see is the Queen and the tracking eyes of a few of the more powerful of her court, like Innecious and Ravenous. With both of their bodies solidly immobile, Aja can make out the eyes of both the Queen’s follower’s focusing in on her. Everyone else is locked in the moment, unaware. Even Gigi is frozen.
“You push boundaries, Child,” the Queen says. “I gave permission for a question of which I would answer in full. Your question crosses over into the realm of a requested boon for me to take additional action.”
“Were I to follow through on giving you a complete answer. That answer would be, Yes, I would consider this. And then we are done, your question answered in full.”
Aja remains silent. Maybe Graykar’s advice of silence has more applications than haggling. After another moment, the Queen continues, “As you are new to the courts, allow me to better ask your question. Queen Mother, I seek to find a way to return my father to his previous position as warder within the lands both within this realm and that of Chrailis. What are the current terms of his service so I can best understand how to achieve this goal?”
Aja curtsies low, “The question presented is vastly superior to my feeble inquiry.”
The Queen laughs a chilling sound indeed. “Then the superior question I shall answer. Your aunt promised herself to Winter. And she promised her first born. She thought it clever in not having children. Rather than force a child upon her, I sent her away to distant courts. What she did not know is that in our lands, blood is power. And power flows from parent to child. However, if no child is present, it flows to the closest child of the bloodline. You share that blood with your Aunt. When she was sent away, she was tricked and lost her connection to Winter. That power took shape and sought you out, finding a home in an injured animal you were caring for.”
As she speaks, the Queen circles Aja. Aja doesn’t move, knowing that she is the only one be besides the Queen currently capable of movement. As the Queen glides across the ground, Aja stares ahead, watching the eyes of Ravenous Core follow his Queen from his immobilized head.
“When your father learned of your fate, he bargained. I made it clear, if he could convince your aunt to reclaim Winter, I would give you the option to surrender Winter. To do this, he had to travel to the lands where she now resides, living in defiance of my wishes. As per the bargain, if she did not recant, then he would be my new servant. As a boon, should he fail to reclaim your aunt, I offered to give you the chance to relinquish the claim of Winter should he remain in my service regardless of your choice.”
“When you passed inside the crystal tower, the choice was given. You clearly chose Winter. While you may state that it was under duress, all true choices are made under duress.”
“Now to be clear as to the role of your dad before he became mine. It did nothing for me and nothing for our lands. His role was that of interceding and protecting those of your world who ventured too far into our realm. That he always showed proper respect and deference granted him extended liberties where the boundaries crossed. That he representing that goddess of nature extended him liberties. That his sister was loyal, granted him even further liberties. He was a friend of the family he sometimes joked.”
“For him to return, the answer is simple. Someone must take his place in that land of Delusion. Finish your task in the city far to the south and I will consider his replacement carefully and with due diligence.”
Once this is done, everyone begins moving again as time unfreezes and the Queen says to Aja, “You are dismissed, child. Look at all them, they so glare at us, don’t they?” They do hate you now. And she laughs.
Aja watches as the Queen steps away and hears her call a command to the retreating Innecious. “Innecioius, my lovely, allow the troll to go free. I fear my newest is disquieted by the results of her riddle. His first guess was close enough, so for the first day, I give failure a pardon.” The Queen then fades from view.
Not hungry or thirsty, Aja wanders around to look at the cemetery graves. She definitely doesn’t feel like mingling with any of the others.
Most of the markers are in languages she doesn’t understand. A few are. And what she sees surprises her. They say things like, “Faithful and Loyal Servant: Betrayed their Queen on this Date.” And on each of these, there is little doubt, that the day listed as their death was the day listed as their betrayal or close to it.
As she wanders farther away, she sees two graves stones of red snow. Looking around, she sees that much of the pinkness which was in the surrounding ice has now faded. The Winter Queen’s dress was also back to its clear sheen before she vanished. Approaching the two stones, she can make out that the red snow is slowly melting away and as it does, two new white marble stones exist. She can’t make our their names or other details yet, but they both state at the bottom, “Died on the day of Lady Bloodchill’s Naming.”
At this, she hears a slight cough behind her. Ravnous is there and says, “It is time to go back. Do you wish any food or drink before we depart?”
“No,” Aja says.
As they start walking, he starts up a small conversation, “You know, she gave you a great gift back there?”
“What did she give me, it sounds as if she turned her whole court against me.”
“Exactly – if any of them try to make nice with you now, will you believe their overtures?”
“Not with the looks they were giving me,” she retorts.
“Exactly. A great gift indeed. You mortals are simply too gullible most days.”
They talk briefly more. Then nothing. Aja wakes up in her bed the next morning, still wearing her dress. Getting up, she sees that the wind and ermine pelt are gone from her pouch. The events probably did happen. On her nightstand, she sees a single glass filled with a clear amber liquid. On a folded note it says, “Please enjoy a glass of your delicious wine.” As Aja picks it up, she immediately feels the chill of it, it would probably injure anyone not immune to the cold like she is. And if Aja was to ever say a bottle of wine was worth as much as she had paid, this is that wine.
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Author's Notes
Events occur approximately 3 days before Mid-Revel through 1 day after in the 920th Year of Her Prominence. (1228 AC) Bulo 22st to Tanlo 1st