The Chase : Volume One

W'Eishildur

Directly to the North of Zeneth, was the icy teritory known as W'eisildon. Because of its position, the locals called it "True North." Which was true at least of the capital city W'eishildur

Though only twelve years had passed, one could hardly tell the region had suffered. Citizens contentedly went about the business. The roads lined with structures and homes crafted elegantly from colossal blocks of blackfrost bricks. Buildings chisled with intricate carvings of historical figures; their forms come alive in the shifting light. Streets paved white glacial stone, strung with enchanted lights, providing a sparkling pathway for the city's inhabitants.

Upon a small bridge under which a frozen river ran, a gon sat upon a bench carved of grandbirch and with a oblong blackfost slab as the seat. Gael, was a tall and slender man, as many of his house were known to be. "Yehmura ty seni a Picelyn" (Lengthy and thin as the Picelyn), some would say. He gray hair with silver ends and dark gray eyes. His hair was tied back in a long braid and his long beard was braided into three sections, the middle section being the longest and thickest. He wore a simple gray tunic and fur coat. His boots, lined with Direbaine Leopard fur was the only tell to his true status unless someone got a closer look at his markings. A few scholarly gons stood with their kebabs prattling on about politics and the like. Gael, was here to listen in on the current gossip that the nadiren (common) citizens might not tell aloud.

"I wonder if the Yl'Amea will go."

"She will have to, none of the Key families have any greatless, it is part of what started this mess. All we have left is old gons all ready for The Eye."

"Soon we may have to do a Selection from nadiren to fill their places."

Rumors and conspiracies filled the streets, but there didn't seem to be a trace of unrest. This was of no great surprise to him; he knew people would come up with their own ideas. However, the idea of her going to The Amaranthyne concerned him.

He got up from his bench on the small bridge. Underneath it, ran the rahisi filled ice waters of the Picelyn Glacial River. The ice river inched along at snail's pace, not moving at all on the coldest days. Today, one could just tell that the Picelyn was moving if they looked for long enough. Cold though it were, he felt a heat rising in his chest.

Gael was the one who had found the Yl'Amea, "Good Princess" as they called her. She should have taken the crown for Manenmnon, but they hadn't officiated her adoption. Afterall, Gael was also the one tasked with finding her birth family. Her bearings and ability were clearly that of a noble house, she had the beautiful white markings and ends of her hair that were passed down in normally from the royal line. None were ever found, and she had been ordained as an Ameagon by the past Center himself. It was a day that had filled Gael with more pride than he thought possible at the time.

A pride that was smashed with Manemnon was assassinated before he officially adopted her and named her his heir. In fact it was that which assured Gael that someone other than Servius had a hand in the treason. It was just a few nights earlier that the Center had asked the Contract Office to send a officiate to oversee an adoption and the appointment of his heir on the next Soleil; the last day of the week. Navaska A'isilyn W'eisilgar should be the one on throne as far as Gael could see it, if not now, it was meant to be her place in the future.

The W'eisidun were a sturdy gyn; the wintery landscape wasn't just their location, it was their home. One could tell with a mere glance that these were a peoples fully adapted to their lives. With some dragons and many in their "human" forms, the W'eisidun styles and attire were designed for both the weather and an elegant appearance. Commonly trimmed and lined with extravagant furs from the mammalian inhabitants of the region.

Direkids, the giant wooly goats common to this region, did not exist anywhere else but not a twee gon around didn't have at least a pair of direkid socks. Direwolves, adwarrin mares, and Frost Griffins were more of the normal livestock seen around the city. Though, Direbaine Leopards were too large and much too ferocious to be kept in the city, you could see traces of them in the capes and carpets used in the homes of nobles houses.

Gael sighed to himself as passed the port district and the familiar smell of cooking fish and Tuskbaine meats. Navaska would be waiting for him now."Where is he?" she tapped her foot. Navaska stood with her back to the door. She had been waiting for him for only ten minutes or so past the appointed time, nonetheless, it was ten minutes longer than she preferred to be waiting. She had send the Alimenam out to survey how the nadiren felt about the current state of affairs. It always seemed to take him a little longer than she wanted. It was hard for her fathom how difficult it could be to get some gossip. She would be out there herself, but couldn't afford to let her mask as the Yl'Amea slip over something small.

"Amea" Gael greeted with a bow as he swung open the door.

"You are late" she sighed without turning around. She caught her reflection in the mirror to her right. Her fair skin was pale by any comparison, common as it was among the W'eisi gyn. Her blond hair was long and wavy, with snow white tips and bangs. Her eyes, were a soft blue that seemed to shimmer with the blue of the sky in certain lights. Her markings were silver and danced like crystals across her neck. The markings across her hairline were covered by her bangs but it was it like a built-in tiara that signified her grace of being. She was wearing a traditional dress at the moment, as it made people even more enamored by her.

"Things are going as you planned." he stated standing up straight. He caught her eye in the reflection and she immediately turned to face him.

"I needed to be chosen for The Chase."

"Dragons, die in there." he closed his eyes and winced reflexively; fully prepared for the backlash.

"We are Zheragon! We used to rule The Amaranthyne, and I cannot let someone else take him."

"Ati kelengon?" That bastard gon?

"He is perfect." She started smiling, and then walked back to the window. Gael shrugged and walked up to the window to stand beside her.

"Everyone here knows how hard you have worked. They even call you the Yl'Amea. Even if the Center decides to hold a selection - You would be granted the title of Hep'tera. There is no need for-"

Navaska rushed up to him and held a finger to his lips, "it just not just about power, Gael ari... It is about access, I need to move into the Palace. Everything I need is there. I need time to look for it, and no one else knows what to look for. It is not a task I can give to anyone else." She turned around and begun pacing up and down the length of the room.

Gael bowed deep in understanding. "I owe you my life. I shall follow until its end. I only wish, that your dream is accomplished. That what is rightfully yours be returned."

"Losing my place as heir is heavy, after all those years building up to this... But it is nowhere near as heavy, as the weight of what I have truly lost. My family must be avenged... Justice, must reign supreme. True Justice. A petty position as Key is nowhere near enough. If I am to rule, I need someone next to me who believes that it is rightfully mine - that sees me for who I truly am."

"But that gon, he doesn't know the truth - are you sure if you told him he would follow you?" he asked following her with only his eyes. At this she stopped and smirked.

"If the truth of Dark Winter Betrayal isn't enough, then I will give him whatever version of the truth we need"