A Mirage Of Milk And Honey

Chapter 14 - What Now?

The baths in the Upeyan Palace, which Zemira had informed Honey was called Aliothra, were not what Honey had imagined. She'd pictured stone tubs and marble floors, but what she beheld was an open spring with a running waterfall.

There was an abundance of greenery grappling at the arches around the room and the sunlight weaving through them illuminated the fauna a bright green, giving it an ethereal glow. The scene looked like something one would find in nature, only it held a pristine neatness that told Honey it was build in such a way that it only mirrored nature.

The clear blue water of the rockpool was warmer than its icy colour led Honey to believe, and soon her and Zemira were relaxing and breathing in the sweet smell that filled the air.

Honey had first found bathing with another person awkward and almost embarrassing, only having done it out of necessity and safety, but as she currently sat in the pool, languidly massaging her scalp, she found that it was nice to have a companion even in the simple things. The two didn't always talk, and were perfectly content enjoying one another's company, but when they did it was nice. Simple conversations came easily between the two friends, and it varied from subject to subject.

"So," Zemira suddenly spoke. She sat on one of the rocks, her head tilted as she ran a comb through her obsidian hair.

"So?" Honey asked, curious as to where the other girl was going with this.

Zemira turned her hair towards the other girl, "You and Aedis disappeared for a fair amount of time yesterday." She punctuated the sentence with a suggestive look, and Honey scoffed.

"Zemira, be serious!" She scolded, splashing her dark haired friend.

"I know! I know!" She laughed, wiping droplets from her face, "I'm only teasing."

Honey playfully rolled her eyes, "He just told me about Upios." She said absentmindedly, scrubbing at her arms. "About before Vika."

"He showed you his wings, didn't he?" Zemira said, her tone suddenly serious and sombre. It wasn't a question.

"Yes."

Zemira hummed, going back to stroking a comb through her hair. "It's a very personal thing for him," She said, a casual, smooth lilt in her voice. "To him, they're a reminder that he's Apaios, and Vika tried to take that away. She almost succeeded. Him opening up to you is not something you should take lightly."

Her last sentence was laced with warning, underlying and deep—ready to pounce should Honey disregard her words. Honey inwardly reeled back at the unexpected action, turning to look at Zemira, but the other girl was simply brushing her hair, watching the waterfall, her expression at peace.

Honey's response came a long and heady beat later, but it was riddled with understanding and assurance. "I know."

*

The question of 'what next' was an unspoken and unsung one of which everyone asked.

Leaving Upios was not quite the same as entering, if anything it should have been easier, but the group had a problem as stubborn as a rusted lock missing its key.

"This is the main river," Aedis pointed out.

The four of them had moved to an old room with the makings of a study—a marble table, hundreds of books cuddled up on high reaching shelves, drawers and compartments and even a few surviving documents all illegibly written by a cursive hand noted down in another language.

Behind the desk and carved into the wall was a map of Upios. It detailed the many rivers and ravines, cliffs and caves, fauna, forest and even other giant that Honey desperately wanted to see.