Queen's Rise

The Tavern In-between

Night had fallen, the queen's guard quickly made camp, and established a perimeter.

Catherine stood at the door of the tent, closed her eyes and spoke softly, almost singing "Avv tyrd... Caive to sol kata ven stezt"

The guards stood, mesmerized..

The horses seemed to all bow their heads to these words, as the moon shined down upon the door.. a light appeared within... Laughter and music rang out the opening

Avari smiled

"You did keep some things from me... Old friend."

Catherine opened her eyes "we are ready to rest for the night. Let us enter".

Flynn, looked puzzled "what language was that?"

Aeliana looked at him, confused

"she was speaking the common tongue.. are you ok??"

He started to reply, but was cut off by Avari"you understood her!?" She asked pointedly. "It can't be.," she muttered to herself.

"Everyone inside!!" The guards were now on alert.. "Orcs!" One screamed

The party hurried into the tent, as they heard swords clashing.

Avari, Catherine, Aeliana, and Flynn, were now inside... But it wasn't a tent anymore.

They were in a large tavern, with great tables, a stage, three hearths,any rooms upstairs, and a massive bar.

All manner of creatures were there... Fauns, Saytrs, Elves, Dwarves, Halflings. There were Cayn and Elyon, men with pig heads, tree people and many more..

"Your majesty's... Tell your guards to come in. Those orcs can't cross the plane into my home."

A strange man was behind the bar, serving drinks. He was at least twelve feet tall, four feet wide, and covered in black hair.

Avari called out "shul vid!" The guards came in single file. "Are you alright, my friends?"

A guard stepped forward..

It was Jaryn

"A few cuts and bruises.. but we'll manage"

" There's a clinic in the back, the girls can patch y'all up" the man stated, pointing to a door with a medical symbol carved into it

"Thank you sir"Jaryn said.

Avari nodded, then turned to the bar

"Gal Adu!" Avari exclaimed, suddenly recognizing him

"I haven't seen you since I was a little girl."

The giant man smiled "little Avari all grown up .. and queen now!

"Hello Gal" Catherine said politely almost intimately

"Ah, if it isn't the Queen of illia" Gal said playfully... "You opened the door I suppose?"

"Correct"

Gal nodded,then directed them to an empty table...

"So ... Why are two queens travelling in the South, with a Galadorian and a Veridonian? I'm guessing you're headed to Everbright, correct?" The queen's nodded

"How did you know where we were from" Flynn asked...

"Your clothes" Gal answered. " My grandfather did found Galadoria... I know one when I see one.."

"And me?" Aeliana queried.

"I knew your grandmother Aeliana... You are the splitting image of her. She came here before she died, and showed me portraits she made...." Aeliana looked confused "I'm sorry what?" Gal slapped his hand on the table

"Where's my head?? Your grandmother was a witch.. she could conjure likenesses of people and things on paper, from strands of memory, extracted from a person.."

Aeliana, now smiling"I never knew... Maybe that's where I get my love of magic."

"And your abilities" Flynn interjected.. "that trick in the library was..... Ow!"

Catherine grabbed him up by his ear. "That's enough out of you, boy!

Gal, we need rooms for the night, and this one needs a bath."

Gal nodded, "Akran!"

A strange creature came to the man's side

"Yes sire"

"Take this young man to the baths, then set him up in one of our finest rooms."

The creature sniffed at Flynn

"Something is strange about that one...

He's...

Different...

And what is she?" Looking at Aeliana.

"ENOUGH AKRAN!!!" Gap's voice reverberated through the hall, everyone paused and looked, then went about their business like nothing had happened.

The creature scurried away with Flynn close behind

Gal smiled

"I apologize.. Akran doesn't know his place at times.. white goblins.. half human, but still have the sight of their worse half.. great for hunting and upkeep of the tavern.. excellent cooks... But overly curious."

"What did he mean?" Aeliana asked, now concerned. "What am I?"

"And Flynn is DIFFERENT???"

Gal was also puzzled here "I do not know, my lady. Half-goblins see inside people Catherine may know what that was about"

They looked at Catherine...

"I have my suspicions... But nothing proven.. since we are safe now, I shall speak more on what is going on. Sit my friends.. we shall speak of a great many things tonight."

Avari, Catherine, Gal, and Aeliana sat at a large table, Catherine pulled a scroll from her pack.

"Now... Where to begin..."Some many years ago, I met with Galador, and Velys Dama.. the man whom you know as Verid.""

Aeliana gasped... "The Verid??"

"Yes, he..."

Avari interrupted

"When you opened the door... That language was..."

"Valai" Catherine replied

"How is it Aeliana understood you

Catherine?" Avari said pointedly.

"She is.." Catherine looked around

Jaryn suddenly sat down at the table "We are being watched.. the grey woman, in the corner." He gestured behind himself.

A woman sat at a table across the room, watching intently. She was grey skinned, but beautiful, dark hair, and eyes like silver. She wore dark clothes and a hooded cloak, that seemed to absorb the shadows

" A Shadow mage... Known as Sage" Gal said.

"An Avassian?" Avari said "I thought they were all dead."

"What does she want with us?" Catherine, now visibly annoyed scowled at her drink.

"Jaryn" Gal looked at Jaryn,"invite her to join us" he nodded, and went across the room.. "your little brother has grown to be a strong man, Avari" Gal jested.. Avari nodded in agreement "He has made my family proud."

"Brother?" Aeliana asked "Yes" the Queen replied, laughing at Aeliana's surprised look.

The mage walked to the table, and sat down...

"Forgive my eavesdropping, daywalker, I just found your arrival interesting, with current events and all."

"What is a daywalker" Aeliana asked..

"She didn't tell you???"

"THAT IS NOT YOUR STORY TO TELL!!"

The room seemed to go dark as Catherine spoke, now with fury and conviction.

"I meant no disrespect, my lady...

We met a thousand years ago, at the reclaiming of Illia...

I did not think it would upset you"

Catherine breathed in, then exhaled slowly...

"Sage.....

Sage......"

Sagean Stormshadow!!

I did not recognize you....

I am sorry, it has been a great many years"

Avari gasped at the name....

And looked at the mage with a sense of awe and pity.

"Kol tryn" she spoke softly, Sage bowed her head acknowledging her...

"I haven't heard the language of my home spoken aloud in a great many years, thank you Avari." She nodded in welcome.

Sage spoke to Avari now on Avassian.

"Kel trynd Vai?"

Avari seemed confused, then a sense of realization came across her face

"Catherine!!!"

"Ka" she answered in Valai looking at Aeliana.

"Yes" what? Aeliana asked.

Gal Adu laughed aloud

"How many bloody nobles are we going to have at this table?

That explains the orcs this far South

Can I?"

Catherine stopped for a second...

"We are in a safe area, and no one here will tell a soul, for fear of death. Go ahead, my old friend."

He nodded, and looked squarely at Aeliana... "My dear girl.... There is something I must tell you..." He retrieved an envelope from his pocket. And handed it to Aeliana.

"You come from a long line, back to the beginning of creation.

When the All settled upon The Glade, pieces of its essence broke away, and landed among the clays of the earth.

These pieces left a mark of light upon certain individuals.

A mark of true light.

This is why your family could do magic for generations...

Not all consciously used it, but all could.

You are of the Valai...

The grand sorcerers of Everbright can help you realize your potential..."

Aeliana stood...

then sat down...

Then stood again....

"I'm....."

"One of them" Catherine stated

"Flynn as well?" Aeliana asked

Catherine pondered the question

"No... But he is not human... That is for sure. He seems to be of ancient origin, but has no memory of anything before this lifetime.

Sage, do you have any idea what that could be?"

Sage looked down at the table in thought.

"Could it be???" Half to herself

"What?" Catherine urged for an answer

"Kyl vztra"

"That's a myth" Catherine scoffed

"The six would disagree" Sage said

"What is Kyl vztra?" Aeliana asked...

Avari now chimed in "The visitor"

"I'm not familiar with this" Aeliana said.

"Gal, is there an Elven scholar here?" Catherine asked.

He thought for a second...

"Eltis!" A woman came from the kitchens, "yes?"

"Is Callum Rys still napping upstairs?"

"Unless he's snuck out" Eltis answered.

"Collect him" Gal ordered

"As you wish"

Catherine laughed... "That old drunk!

I bet he got lost in his cups and never returned. Thought he died years ago. If his father could see him, he'd be furious."

Only Sage, Gal and Catherine understood this, and laughed heartily...

Sage interjected, "Callum is the son of Kael. One of the six, who was slain in the first dark war against Blyxx. Callum blamed himself, and has since drowned his pain in wine and ale."