Draiks and Angels: Survivor

23 - Rites

The Oracle returned from the hospital around lunchtime the next day. She had a large bandage over her nose, but otherwise, she flew in by herself. She immediately agreed to see Ava and Tadeas. When they entered her chamber, they saw she was in her thirties, brunette with shoulder length hair. In front of her sat a cut crystal goblet.

"How may I assist you?" the Oracle asked in a nasal tone.

"We need to contact Salav, the god worshipped by the Brethren of Harmony who are known around here."

"I do not know if I can do this thing, but I will try."

The Oracle raised her hands over the goblet as Ava and Tadeas took seats along the wall.

Ava was starting to get concerned that they weren't going to be able to find someone able to contact Akhi. They had one more lead, but Aaron said they were starting to reach the dregs. Hopefully if this Oracle failed, and Mellifera failed, Mellifera would have some more ideas.

Tadeas rubbed the rainbow and repeated the grounding questions. See. Hear. Touch. Smell. He needed them to be automatic. See. Hear. Touch. Smell.

The Oracle lowered her arms after a while and said, "I am sorry, I can't."

"Thank you for trying." Ava said.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ava called Mellifera Aerie, and they also agreed to summon the pair without asking why. They asked how long Ava and Tadeas needed to prepare, and when Ava said only ten minutes, they agreed. The summoning occurred right on time.

One of the summoning Angels stood and said, "Welcome to Mellifera Aerie. The guest rooms are down the left hall. There is someone to show the way."

"Um, can we-" Ava started.

Just then, a Draik ran in and said, "Here's the next one!"

"Please." The Angel gestured to the door, then turned to the paper the Draik was holding.

Ava and Tadeas filed out and walked down the hall.

"That was strange," Ava commented. "I didn't think Aeries summoned people that often..."

They came to another Angel standing in the hallway where another hallway branched off.

"Guest rooms are this way. Next available are thirteen and fourteen."

"'Next available?'" Ava asked, confused. "Why would they have so many guests? And they expect more?"

They reached their rooms to find small, efficient spaces that managed a queen bed, a desk and some drawers. There were little signs next to the door that said "vacant" on one side and "occupied" on the other. They switched theirs to "occupied."

"Now we need to find someone who can get us in touch with the Oracle or the Archangel," Ava put her hands on her hips.

They walked back to the Angel at the head of the hallway who was directing a pair of Angels to room fifteen.

"All settled? Main hall is down this hall, left, then all the way down. There is food in the main dining area."

"We need to see the Oracle," Ava came right out.

"O- Oh?" The Angel asked confused. "I can't help you with that. You should talk to the Steward. I don't know where he is, but if you go to the main hall, I bet someone has seen him."

Ava and Tadeas walked down the hallways into the main area of the Aerie. It was a large circular space, showing three floors in four quadrants. There were tables and stools in the center and a buffet-style setup of food along one side. There were a number of Draiks and Angels in the room already, but not nearly the number that the amount of food would feed.