On to Tzel-Maret and our Scottish elf friend..
Part LIV: Tzel-Maret
Date: Yippah 15th, 114 A.U.
“So this is the young elf-maid who has explored these ruins.” Walking as if he had an aura of greatness around him, the short emperor walked up, looking up at the tall elf, the emperor’s wings shadowing over him.
“Aye, I am Sereth,” Sereth said. “I came here with my parents about a decade ago, back when they were still alive.” An involuntary shiver went down Sereth’s spine.
“Very good,” Jaigran said, staring up at her with beady eyes. His black wings slowly flapped and he rose to meet her eyes.
“What does the noble emperor want here?” Sereth asked, swallowing back the knot in her stomach.
Jaigran laughed. “There is no need to burden yourself with my many titles,” he said. “You may call me emperor. As for my purpose here, I have come to seek out the Citadel of Tzel-Maret.”
Sereth’s eyes flicked up to the tall tower that overshadowed the city. “What’s there?”
Jaigran licked his lips. “There could be something; there could be nothing at all; call it a hunch, will you?” His eyes narrowed. “Come. We have wasted much time. Snow storms have kept us at bay ever since we’ve arrived.”
Sereth slowly followed the Emperor as he flew in front of her, accompanied by the guards with the fire-sticks. “So, my Emperor, if I am correct, you want me to guide you through the Citadel?”
“Yes, along with any information you can give me concerning this place,” the Emperor snapped as he flew down to the ground near a large tent. “Come in.” Sereth slowly pushed back the tent flap to follow the Emperor into the tent. The Emperor walked over to a short table, a map spread about it. Sereth walked over to the table.
“It was your parents,” the Emperor said, noting the look of recognition in Sereth’s eyes. “I was able to recover it given some unfortunate deeds concerning your family.” The tent flap moved behind her and Sereth noticed the lead elf from her ship enter. Sereth automatically flinched, still afraid of what he would do—or if he would tell Jaigran his suspicions about Cortna.
Jaigran tapped his finger, causing Sereth’s train of thought to break. “Pay attention,” the Emperor snapped. “As I was saying, my chief librarians, idiots that they are, could not find any real relevant information on Tzel-Maret except for its position as the previous fortress of the elves. I was hoping that you would have more to say than they had on this subject.” There was an edge to his voice.
“Ah yes, Tzel-Maret!” Sereth said, nervously laughing. “My parents did a lot of research on it before coming ‘ere to this place. I believe that at one point it was one of the chief cities and fortresses of the elves a millennia ago, or so. And, in fact, some sources suggested it might have even been the capitol at some point in time.”
“What happened to it?” Jaigran’s eyes seemed to dig deep into her, as if he knew her every thought.
“Well, I believe that it gradually faded from precedence,” Sereth said. “It was attacked by an orcish tribe seven hundred years ago and was raided and pillaged of many of its treasures. Some inhabitants returned, but I believe they were mostly a secretive bunch that clung to the old ways. I believe some of them were still around here, as well. We caught sight of one when we were here ten years ago.”
“Ah, those elves,” Jaigran snapped. “Some of my guards have enjoyed hunting them down. We can’t have any potential threats, of course.”
“Of course,” Sereth said, swallowing hard.
“You haven’t heard of any supernatural powers here, though,” Jaigran said.
Sereth searched her memory. “No, well, I’m afraid not, Emperor. I don’t remember anything about magical artifacts and such here, if that’s what you’re looking for.”
“Very well,” Jaigran said. He pondered the map for a few moments before looking up. “You may leave. I expect you to return here promptly at daybreak to guide me through the Citadel of Tzel-Maret. You will not be late.”
“Yes, sir,” Sereth said, not wanting to know what Jaigran would do to her if she was late.
“One thing, Emperor, sir…” The lead elf from the ship that had taken her here stood up and walked over to Jaigran. Sereth turned to leave as the lead elf whispered something in Jaigran’s ear.
Sereth had just pushed back the tent flap to leave when Jaigran spoke. “One thing, Sereth…”
Sereth slowly turned around, her gaze darting from the lead elf to the Emperor. “Yes, Emperor Jaigran?” A cold pit was forming in her stomach.
“Goran here has reminded me that you have a sister, do you not?” Goran quickly walked out of the room while Jaigran’s eyes stared her down.
Sereth swallowed hard. “Och, well,” she said, nervously laughing. “I’m not quite sure what Goran told you, but the rebel couldn’t be my sister. A stout Imperialist she is, just like me.”
“Ah, but like I said,” Jaigran said smoothly, a glimmer in his eye. “I did do the research on you before recruiting you, and as well as finding your parent’s map, I did come across an interesting bit of
information.”
“Yu don’t mean to tell me that my sister is the rebel, do you, Emperor Jaigran?” Sereth asked.
“Ah, but it is true,” Jaigran said, slowly tracing his finger along the mouth as words slowly trickled out of his mouth. “But that’s not to worry about, of course. Your sister’s failings are not yours, also.”
“Of course, Emperor,” Sereth said. Behind her, the tent opened and Sereth turned to see who it was. Sereth’s mouth dropped.
Standing in front of her was what looked like to be a mirror—a duplicate image of herself staring back at her. But no. For this mirror was different. Her mirror’s eyes were glossed over, her fingers displaying scars that Sereth knew that she didn’t have. Her mirror image was clothed in the traditional garb of a soldier, carrying a fire stick and a gun. And the little twitch—the movement in her eye—no, but this wasn’t a mirror. She looked identical, but there was something… something deathly different. And then Sereth went cold.
From behind her, Emperor Jaigran gave a low laugh. “You would be correct to say she is a stout Imperialist, Sereth. Oh yes, but she is indeed an Imperialist now.”
Sereth would have sworn. But she no longer seemed to have the ability to move her mouth. Her mirror image cocked her head, and then slowly walked past her, as if Cortna didn’t recognize her sister.
And Sereth knew.
Question of the Day: Tell a story about Tzel-Maret...
Part LIV: Tzel-Maret
Date: Yippah 15th, 114 A.U.
“So this is the young elf-maid who has explored these ruins.” Walking as if he had an aura of greatness around him, the short emperor walked up, looking up at the tall elf, the emperor’s wings shadowing over him.
“Aye, I am Sereth,” Sereth said. “I came here with my parents about a decade ago, back when they were still alive.” An involuntary shiver went down Sereth’s spine.
“Very good,” Jaigran said, staring up at her with beady eyes. His black wings slowly flapped and he rose to meet her eyes.
“What does the noble emperor want here?” Sereth asked, swallowing back the knot in her stomach.
Jaigran laughed. “There is no need to burden yourself with my many titles,” he said. “You may call me emperor. As for my purpose here, I have come to seek out the Citadel of Tzel-Maret.”
Sereth’s eyes flicked up to the tall tower that overshadowed the city. “What’s there?”
Jaigran licked his lips. “There could be something; there could be nothing at all; call it a hunch, will you?” His eyes narrowed. “Come. We have wasted much time. Snow storms have kept us at bay ever since we’ve arrived.”
Sereth slowly followed the Emperor as he flew in front of her, accompanied by the guards with the fire-sticks. “So, my Emperor, if I am correct, you want me to guide you through the Citadel?”
“Yes, along with any information you can give me concerning this place,” the Emperor snapped as he flew down to the ground near a large tent. “Come in.” Sereth slowly pushed back the tent flap to follow the Emperor into the tent. The Emperor walked over to a short table, a map spread about it. Sereth walked over to the table.
“It was your parents,” the Emperor said, noting the look of recognition in Sereth’s eyes. “I was able to recover it given some unfortunate deeds concerning your family.” The tent flap moved behind her and Sereth noticed the lead elf from her ship enter. Sereth automatically flinched, still afraid of what he would do—or if he would tell Jaigran his suspicions about Cortna.
Jaigran tapped his finger, causing Sereth’s train of thought to break. “Pay attention,” the Emperor snapped. “As I was saying, my chief librarians, idiots that they are, could not find any real relevant information on Tzel-Maret except for its position as the previous fortress of the elves. I was hoping that you would have more to say than they had on this subject.” There was an edge to his voice.
“Ah yes, Tzel-Maret!” Sereth said, nervously laughing. “My parents did a lot of research on it before coming ‘ere to this place. I believe that at one point it was one of the chief cities and fortresses of the elves a millennia ago, or so. And, in fact, some sources suggested it might have even been the capitol at some point in time.”
“What happened to it?” Jaigran’s eyes seemed to dig deep into her, as if he knew her every thought.
“Well, I believe that it gradually faded from precedence,” Sereth said. “It was attacked by an orcish tribe seven hundred years ago and was raided and pillaged of many of its treasures. Some inhabitants returned, but I believe they were mostly a secretive bunch that clung to the old ways. I believe some of them were still around here, as well. We caught sight of one when we were here ten years ago.”
“Ah, those elves,” Jaigran snapped. “Some of my guards have enjoyed hunting them down. We can’t have any potential threats, of course.”
“Of course,” Sereth said, swallowing hard.
“You haven’t heard of any supernatural powers here, though,” Jaigran said.
Sereth searched her memory. “No, well, I’m afraid not, Emperor. I don’t remember anything about magical artifacts and such here, if that’s what you’re looking for.”
“Very well,” Jaigran said. He pondered the map for a few moments before looking up. “You may leave. I expect you to return here promptly at daybreak to guide me through the Citadel of Tzel-Maret. You will not be late.”
“Yes, sir,” Sereth said, not wanting to know what Jaigran would do to her if she was late.
“One thing, Emperor, sir…” The lead elf from the ship that had taken her here stood up and walked over to Jaigran. Sereth turned to leave as the lead elf whispered something in Jaigran’s ear.
Sereth had just pushed back the tent flap to leave when Jaigran spoke. “One thing, Sereth…”
Sereth slowly turned around, her gaze darting from the lead elf to the Emperor. “Yes, Emperor Jaigran?” A cold pit was forming in her stomach.
“Goran here has reminded me that you have a sister, do you not?” Goran quickly walked out of the room while Jaigran’s eyes stared her down.
Sereth swallowed hard. “Och, well,” she said, nervously laughing. “I’m not quite sure what Goran told you, but the rebel couldn’t be my sister. A stout Imperialist she is, just like me.”
“Ah, but like I said,” Jaigran said smoothly, a glimmer in his eye. “I did do the research on you before recruiting you, and as well as finding your parent’s map, I did come across an interesting bit of
information.”
“Yu don’t mean to tell me that my sister is the rebel, do you, Emperor Jaigran?” Sereth asked.
“Ah, but it is true,” Jaigran said, slowly tracing his finger along the mouth as words slowly trickled out of his mouth. “But that’s not to worry about, of course. Your sister’s failings are not yours, also.”
“Of course, Emperor,” Sereth said. Behind her, the tent opened and Sereth turned to see who it was. Sereth’s mouth dropped.
Standing in front of her was what looked like to be a mirror—a duplicate image of herself staring back at her. But no. For this mirror was different. Her mirror’s eyes were glossed over, her fingers displaying scars that Sereth knew that she didn’t have. Her mirror image was clothed in the traditional garb of a soldier, carrying a fire stick and a gun. And the little twitch—the movement in her eye—no, but this wasn’t a mirror. She looked identical, but there was something… something deathly different. And then Sereth went cold.
From behind her, Emperor Jaigran gave a low laugh. “You would be correct to say she is a stout Imperialist, Sereth. Oh yes, but she is indeed an Imperialist now.”
Sereth would have sworn. But she no longer seemed to have the ability to move her mouth. Her mirror image cocked her head, and then slowly walked past her, as if Cortna didn’t recognize her sister.
And Sereth knew.
Question of the Day: Tell a story about Tzel-Maret...
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