Juvel is the Jewel of Kreg’uune. That’s why it is the capitol.

Saltless Sanctuary is a city of archives built on the boundary of a freshwater sea.

Sequester is the hidden city. Few who look for it find their way there.

Cavaan is… built on a cavern. It is hollow like the land on which it stands.

- Taken from an elementary geography lesson in Juvel.

Coming to Casien’s house had solved one of my problems, but it produced another. Transporting the sword and dagger weren’t an issue, that was solved when I realised there were drawers underneath the display shelves that had all the associated scabbards and sheaths for the displayed weapons. No, my new problem was that I couldn’t exactly waltz into my house like this.

The weapons had been gifted to me, and thus were now mine, but I had little expectation my parents would respect that. To say nothing of how one of the Shepards might react. I could hide them in my room, but there was the matter of me getting that far. If someone saw me with these swords hanging from my belt and asked my dad about them. He would ask me about them and I’d inevitably get in trouble.

It wouldn’t kill me, but that was an inconvenience I dearly wanted to do without. With that, I said my goodbyes to Casien’s many pale, black haired siblings and started walking to Taranath’s estate. The streets were still largely empty, since there weren’t any events today, and both my starting point and my destination were a fair distance from where I lived, so I felt safe traveling this way.

Taranath lived on the northern side of town, and held the most property in Veliki. He technically owned the building I lived in, which had gone a way towards me getting to know him, but the fact that he collected rent from my parents hadn’t really soured the relationship. His estate, because it really couldn’t be called a house, nor a castle, was tied to the man himself, and the massive garden reflected that.

Having a big house that everyone could see and envy was apparently very important for him, so the place he lived was the largest and most extravagant building in Veliki. And only two people lived there.

After passing near the town hall that Voxis apparently spent her days in, I stepped from dirt onto grass that crunched under my feet. An involuntary shiver ran through my body as it got used to the drop in temperature and I rubbed my arms as I waited.

Taranath had picked up a fey title at some point in his career, and it had lasting implications. One of which meant his estate and his domain were basically one and the same. Maybe demesne was a better word to describe it. His was a weird, funky kind of magic that didn’t obey what the sages had taught Avien, and by extension, me, but there were some rules that were easy to remember.

For one, don’t trespass. By standing on the edge of his domain, I was sending him a request for entry, and he would either accept or deny my invitation. I watched my breath fog up before me as I waited, hoping he wasn’t out or something. Thankfully, his response was favourable, and came back after just a few dozen seconds.

The grass around me was dewy and had frozen thanks to the reduced temperature of Taranath’s domain. A sudden rise in temperature alerted me that something was changing, though it didn’t return to how warm the rest of Veliki was. Leading out from where I was standing to the estate was a path of thawing grass that was becoming a much more lively green, and meandered into the tended gardens leading to the front door.

With nothing to wait for, I set down the path. There was a plethora of beautiful rose bushes, orchids of flowers, ponds and streams that had still more flowers and lilies floating on the surface, all of which I ignored. It was tamed nature at its finest, albeit with a coating of frost, but I didn’t really care for that kind of thing. With how the sword had exploded last night, nature had declared it didn’t like me, and I was happy to hate it in return.

The path of unfrozen grass ended on the gravel path shortly before the front door, and I just walked right up to it. I reached forward with my hand, only for the door to open inwards without me touching it, and with no one on the other side. Frowning, I walked in and looked around.

I was in a large entrance hall, with two grand staircases leading to a landing on the second floor. There were four doors, one on the right and left, and two on the wall opposite me on the ground floor alone. All of them were open, and there was no sign of anyone here. Which was strange, to say the least. There wasn’t any indication of a direction I should go, either.

Rather than walk in a random direction and end up somewhere I wasn’t supposed to I cleared my throat and called out, “Hello?”

“Hello?” Someone asked from behind me. I spun to find the tall blue figure of Taranath standing behind me. I hadn’t heard him walk up behind me. “What brings this unexpected visit, Duskchild?”

The half elf was blue, and his hair was a mix of green and blue. His eyes were blue, but a much deeper blue than his skin that made eye contact with Taranath feel like I was staring into the depths of the ocean. Hardly surprising since his elven blood came from the sea elves of the Volten Ocean. He wasn’t wearing his blue armour, but he was wearing casual blue clothes that were fancy by my standards. His only non-blue thing, his sword, was strapped at his hip in its blue sheath.

“I need a place to keep my weapons.” I told him blunty, after taking a moment to appreciate how blue his ensemble was, and then another to think that he really needed to branch out from the colour blue.

Taranath cocked his head as he walked into his estate and gestured for me to follow. “Is your own home not good enough?”

“The home is fine.” I said. “It’s the people that are the problem.”

“How so?”

“They would take away my weapons.” I hefted my belt, which had taken to falling down as I walked thanks to the extra weight on it. I would need a new one before leaving Veliki. “But I need them to learn how to fight.”

Taranath hummed as we walked from the dining room to the kitchen without walking through any doors. “I don’t understand the problem, exactly. The usual?”

I rolled my eyes. “Sure.”

The usual referred to the snacks that he served whenever he hosted me. The only thing was, something fey had happened somewhere along the lines. Years ago, he had been the one to make the snacks. Now, I was the one to make them, and then he would serve them to me. I had no idea why things were like this, and the one time I had asked my mouth had been frozen shut for two days.

Not wanting to deal with that again, I just got started preparing the dips, cheeses, various meats, and cut carrots we would be eating the crackers with, but made a point to not prepare any tea. I’d had enough of that stuff for today and glared Taranath down when he started moving towards the pot.

“Oh,” Taranath realised shortly into the preparations. “I wasn’t there for your ten and fifth birthday, wasn’t I?”

“You’re a day late.” I told him as I aggressively cut the cheeses.

“Wasn’t there a s… no, there wasn’t.” He sounded disappointed. I had no idea what he was talking about. “Tell me about these weapons of yours. I wasn’t expecting you to ever get anything after the bow, so this is a pleasant surprise.”

Without pausing in my food preparation, I pulled the dagger out of its scabbard with my left hand and laid it on the counter next to me. Taranath was suddenly right next to me with the sound of many wet footsteps sounding very close together and was inspecting it with interest.

“Aha!” He exclaimed victoriously. “I knew this was from the hells the moment I smelled it. See that?” He held the pommel towards me and traced out something there. It looked like a red script that I couldn’t read. “That’s an infernal signature. Ammegurvna Giiliya is the name of the devil that made this. He’s nice, for a devil. Only tried to bite me once.”

“Cool.” I told him.

Taranath frowned in thought. “Actually, that might have been because I killed him before he got another chance.” Then he shrugged. “The point stands. Decent for a devil. What’s the other one?”

Still cutting with my right hand, I used my left to pull out the other sword with some difficulty. The shape of it meant I couldn’t just pull it out like I did with the dagger. I still retrieved it, and passed it into Taranath’s waiting hands.

“Watch the blade.” He scolded me, and I realised I had made him bleed. His blood was blue because of course it was.

“I’m multitasking.” I apologised as he spat on his hand and rubbed it over the wound. It miraculously healed over, which made me shake my head.

“This one…” He hummed in thought as I moved on from the frozen carrots. “I can’t tell who made this and that worries me.”

“Why’s that?” I asked. Not because I was particularly interested, but to grease the conversation.

“This is a drow weapon, but it wasn’t made with steel from the Kingdoms Under, meaning this came from somewhere else.” He paused in his inspection of the weapon and looked at me. “Do you know who made this?”

“Casien.” I shrugged. “He said the design was stolen from a demon prince.”

“Ah, the drow patron.” Taranath nodded, and returned to his inspection of the blade. “Oh, would you look at that! He even put his signature on this weapon in the same way. Ah! It’s his fiendish name too.”

“What is it?” I asked, actually curious this time.

“I shouldn’t…” Taranath grinned. “So I will. It’s Kanneyziian Eaedaepllaize. Don’t go throwing that name around willy nilly, or Casien will make sure there are consequences.”

“Such as?”

“Blood and fire.” Taranath answered easily, and I realised it was a genuine warning.

“I’ll... do that then.” I refocused on the usual and realised I was basically done. “Where are we eating today?”

“May I?” He put the sword down and gestured to take the tray of dips, crackers, and more from me. I passed it off and we walked to the door, only to reach the gazebo after a few steps. “Don’t mind the burns, Nikolai came by this way the last time he was around. Made for a very easy night.”

I looked around, blinking at the change in light, and noticed several burn marks and gashes on the gazebo, as if someone had attacked it relentlessly. Then I cursed when I realised I had left my weapons behind. I wanted to go back, but I needed Taranath as sympathetic to me as possible. Asking to go back would be a hassle for him, so I bit my tongue. He was personable for a fey lord, but the whole problem with that was I never knew when his hat was going to drop.

There was a picnic table that had been set up in the middle of the gazebo, and Taranath was setting the tray of snacks there. Before he was even done, the other person in the gazebo took the first cracker and smiled at me.

Maiathah Waterlily was literally hot. I’d only been standing in the Gazebo for a few seconds and already the chill that permeated Taranath’s domain had completely receded from my bones. She was blue, like her husband, but dressed in much more vibrant colours, though her hair was a similar blue/green to Taranath’s, if more green than blue.

She was also a fully blooded elf, unlike her husband who had lineage split between human and elvenkind. Her ears were longer because of it, and she had a lot more natural grace sitting there in the burned gazebo than Taranath did,

“Hello Amber.” She greeted me as her unoccupied hand fixed part of her wardrobe I couldn’t see. Her voice sang in a way that was different to Brynn’s voice. If he had angels, Maiathah had crashing water. I was having trouble deciding which I thought sounded better.

I waved as I moved around to the guest seat. “Hey. I’m here for a favour.”

“Where is the tea, Taranath?” Maiathah asked her husband while inspecting the snacks.

Taranath gave a strained smile as he put his arm around her. “Honey, it would evaporate.”

“But it would smell so good.” Maiathah moaned forlornly.

“I’m learning Rezan and need to store my weapons somewhere here when I’m not practicing with Brynn.” I said before they could get lost in their own world. “Is that something you’re willing to let me do? Or do I need to find someone else to help me.”

Maiathah straightened up, inadvertently shrugging off Taranath’s arm. “What on Santoria would you need to learn Rezan for?”

“A beithir?” I shot back with a strained tone. Just once, I would like someone to accept what I needed without asking questions.

Maiathah however, seemed to have a different reason for asking the question. “But beithirs are natural creatures, a magical edge isn’t needed to cut their hides. Oh, that’s stupid of me.” She went a little green in the cheeks. “You fought one, didn’t you?”

Taranath had raised his eyebrows in surprise when I inadvertently mentioned being trained by Brynn. From the calculating look he was giving me now, I assumed he knew about the rule changes. He was part of the council, so he would’ve been doing a really bad job of it if he didn’t.

I realised, somewhat belatedly, that I nearly just broke my agreement with Angelica. My specific wording may have saved me, since I only said I was learning. That being said, I didn’t know what breaking the agreement would entail, and I very much didn’t want to find out.

“Yep.” I said, snagging a few crackers for myself, though I wasn’t too hungry. I wanted something to fidget with.

“If I am not mistaken, this is the first time you have asked a favour of me.” Taranath changed the subject, and I had to think on that before nodding in agreement. “That makes things tricky then, I’ll need something in return.”

“Why?” I asked flatly.

“Fey bullshit. And I didn’t need to tell you. But, if I hadn’t, you’d have found yourself having a series of magical inconveniences following you around until you returned to me to repay the favour. Owing something to a fey is a great way to end up fey yourself. It worked out for me, but I can’t recommend it.”

I was grateful for the advice. I wasn’t intending to return to Veliki once I was gone. But I was tired already from all the shit Angelica had pulled today on top of my situation at home, so it didn’t really show.

“Name your price.” I said.

“Yeah, that’s the thing. I don’t want anything.” Taranath blocked an elbow jab from Maiathah. “What? Things are pretty good for me here.

“Just make something up.” Maiathah told the half elf.

“Like what? Tend to my gardens?” Taranath looked around. I could barely see the rest of Veliki over the extensive fields of chilly flowers. “Garden’s pretty big, might take up more of the girl’s time than she gave. Then I’d owe her something, and that’s probably worse than her owing me.”

This was getting irritating, I thought. “It doesn’t need to be complicated. I’m asking for you to hold onto something of mine, why not just get me to hold onto something of yours in exchange.”

“Piece of advice: It always needs to get complicated.” Taranath warned. “Not through any fault of your own, I should add. People are just…” He searched for the word. “Dumb.”

As much as I agreed with him, I wanted my problem solved. “Pick out two things you don’t need and I can hold onto them or whatever, then I can get out of your hair.”

“Yes, you did interru-” Taranath was cut off as a blast of fire hit him in the back of his head. Maiathah, whose fingers were still smoking, turned and smiled at me.

“Don’t be in such a rush to leave.” She chided. “I quite enjoy your company.”

I crossed my arms. “Cool.”

“Humans.” Taranath mused. “Miss one birthday, and suddenly you have them being passive aggressive for the rest of their fleeting lives.”

“Darling,” Maiathah snapped her fingers, sending sparks into the air that magically turned around and impacted each other, where they exploded into a tiny sun above the elf’s hand. This gathering of fire was much, much more warm than the flame she hurled just a few moments ago.

That wasn’t a normal fireball. It was growing with each passing moment.

Taranath backpedaled quickly. “I mean, they suddenly start complimenting your domain! She said I was cool, darling!”

Maiathah sighed and clenched her fist, causing the ball of fire to wink out. “I don’t think I need to tell you to never marry Amber, but this man rescued me from a painting.” I snorted, having heard that one before. “May I know why you’re in such a rush? You’re not normally so eager to leave.”

That was because I normally wasn’t preparing to run away and never return. I still needed more clothes, a bag, rations, and more for the journey. If I could snag a bow as well, then I would be able to feed myself, having long ago learned how to prepare venison, not that it ever helped me any. That I hadn’t been able to kill something yet was irrelevant, and I suspected that was going to change now that Mary’s suggestion stone had a new home on the floor and far away from me.

Even so, I had the better part of the week until the next blank moon. The Shepards usually didn’t have any big events on for about a month after Avien’s birthday. Brynn’s training could take up all my time from tomorrow, or it might take no time at all. In any case, I still had time.

“Fear of death.” I ended up saying. Then I added, “Because of the beithir. What am I going to hold on to?”

Taranath shrugged and stood. “I’ll have a stroll through the house and see what I can bear to part with.”

Maiathah turned around in her chair before he could get too far away. “Get her some of my jewellery if you can’t think of anything. I could stand to lose a few of my earrings.”

Taranath gestured something that looked like it could mean he had heard Maiathah, but thin, silvery white mist gathered around him before the gesture was complete. The moment I couldn’t see him anymore, the mist dissipated, leaving no trace of the half elf.

That was something all fey lords could do, according to Maiathah, but only inside their domains. From my more arcane understanding, it was the space around Taranath obeying his whims as if space was just another subject for him. It meant getting anywhere only took a few steps, and he could bring people with him at will. It was how he and I had moved around his estate so quickly, and since this was far from my first time here it was far from surprising.

“Amber,” Maiathah got my attention. “How is the situation between you and the Shepards?”

I scowled. “Whole new fucking low. Turns out Mary’s been compelling me for months. Dad didn't even care.”

“And Avien?”

“Still as clueless as ever.” I sighed. “He’s not the worst part, it’s the parents that are the real problem.”

“Because of the compulsion.” Maiathah repeated.

I waved my hand. “Compulsion around here is like finding hay in a haystack. That’s low hanging fruit. The impressive part is that she did something involving a demiplane that hasn’t been explained to me. Garner is just money to support his wife in her crusade to make me a wife, and disappointment that bleeds over to my parents whenever I try to have free will. Their dedication makes no sense to me.”

“It’s sad that you’re so used to it.” Maiathah’s song of a voice was forlorn. The temperature was rising now that Taranath was away thanks to her overly warm body. It put a strange spin on the scene.

“The Heavens have been pushing this on me for as long as I can remember.” I said. “I had to get used to it eventually. Actually, I have a question?”

“Ask away, dear.”

“Can you teach your magic?” I asked. Just in case Brynn want able to teach me anything now.

“That’s a no.” Taranath answered for his wife as the mist drifted away from his return. “For two reasons. One being that her magic as a sorcerer is inherited. It is possible to train inherited magic, but it’s a strange amalgamation of the body and soul that leads to sorcery. You either have it or you don’t. As much as I compliment my wife’s spellcasting ability, she never learned any of her spells. She just knows them. The second reason relates to Maiathah’s specific type of sorcery.”

“My blood is too hot.” Maiathah continued the explanation. “When I cast, my temperature rises. If I wasn’t Taranath’s only subject, then I would probably die of heat stroke no matter where I was. Even burying myself in ice wouldn’t help, since my condition affords me no protection from the cold. Or the heat, for that matter.”

I frowned at how much that sucked. “How does that even happen?”

Taranath laughed. “A long time ago, someone got very drunk, lost a bet, and had sex with a dragon.”

“Not necessarily.” Maiathah slapped Taranath on the arm and he laughed. She turned to me. “It may have been a deal that involved an exchanging of the souls. Things like that can influence the next generations, where it becomes a matter of the body rather than the immaterial. From that point on the condition flows down the family tree.”

“I get it.” I said honestly, if dismissively. “Why does it burn, though?”

“Well, it wasn’t just a dragon. It was an ancient, incredibly powerful dragon not that far separated from the first dragon, Ogromenkit himself. My soul is too powerful for my body. Hence, all of my heat. Harnessing magic invigorates the soul, which erodes the body. But I’m quite fine in my current arrangement.” She grabbed Taranath by the arm and pulled him down next to her. “This wet freak is everything I need.”

“This wet freak could leave at any time.” Taranath shot back, though I could see he didn’t mean it.

Looking at them made bad emotions roil in my belly. According to the heavens, I was supposed to have that. But because I didn’t have any choice in the matter the whole thing was ruined. Avien wasn’t likable to me, and I hadn’t had the chance to live yet. It was entirely possible that I would’ve been more accepting of the arrangement if the Heavens weren’t so ham fisted about making Avien and me family.

But that wasn’t how things were, so I would never know.

“Did you find something for me?” I demanded before the couple could drift into their own world again.

Taranath cleared his throat. “I did.” He lifted up a bracelet made of a plaited vine of ivy.

Maiathah’s pointed ears quivered in surprise. “Dear, are you certain?”

“Quite. It was just sitting in a flower pot in the guest room, basking in the sunlight.”

“Really? The one that we use for...” Maiathah glanced at me with coloured cheeks. “Sometimes?”

Taranath laughed. “No. The other, other guest room. We really have too many rooms in our house. In any case, Amber, you hold onto this until we need it back. Treat it well. It saved my life more than once.”

I reached out and accepted the bracelet. The first thing I realised touching it was that it was alive, but it didn’t react to my touch at all. I slipped it on and relaxed a bit knowing Taranath would be holding onto my weapons until I needed them.

That being said, I couldn’t figure out how this bracelet could save anyone’s life. After a few seconds I decided it didn’t matter. I was just happy that my problem had been solved.

\V/