Servitude: The Hydrangea Chapters

Chp 48: The Burdened Chieftain - Part 1

As Mordecai slowly stands up, he keeps his gaze down, while Tessa absorbs every detail of the two of them. Aurea is about to introduce the three of them in turn, but Adelina raises her hand to stop her. 

"In due time, Chief Aurea, but not here. I have requested that you all come together to discuss several important matters, but I'm sure that speaking here for too long will soon become overwhelming for all of you. Come, we shall speak where it is more comfortable for you without my Fire."

As she places her hand on Kanaka's cheek to give him a loving kiss, he embraces her in return before turning to face his people, shouting a command to them in their language as they disperse. He faces them again and extends his hands toward them. 

"Step back, please." He stomps down near the center of the platform before placing his hands on the surface, heating and melting it into lava beneath him. He sinks his hands into the newly formed puddle, separating it to reveal a spiral staircase leading downward. With another stomp, the lava hardens almost immediately. He holds up Adelina's hand like a noble gentleman as she begins to descend the steps.

In the enclosed space, Adelina pulls her wings tightly against her body, resembling a long, feathered cape draped around her. The flames emanating from her eyes and wings cast enough light to illuminate their path. Aurea is just a few steps behind her, carefully watching her footing to avoid accidentally tripping and falling onto Adelina. This also helps reflect Adelina's heat with her cold, ensuring the other two do not become overheated by her presence in the small space.

Tessa hears Mordecai's footsteps falling farther behind. She turns to see the look of dread on his face, further emphasized by the shadows cast on his features from Adelina's flames. Stepping back a few paces, Tessa moves behind Mordecai, placing her hands on his shoulders to urge him to keep going, signaling that she's right behind him.

The steps seem to go on for quite a while, but eventually, natural light begins to filter in from below. As they step through a doorway, they find themselves in what appears to be a suite. The far end of the room lacks a wall and features a balcony, from which they can see only the evening sky. The rest of the room is spacious and open, with decorative pillars supporting the high ceiling. In the center of the room is a large pool of steaming, bubbling water, with intersecting draperies trailing along the ceiling and hanging down to the stone floor, serving as the only 'walls'.

Adelina leads them to a lounge area filled with cushions and ottomans, a large throne with a wide, tall back adorned with intricate carvings that appears to be decades old, its base an unusual concave seat featuring an oversized plush cushion. As she sits on the throne, her body slightly sinking into the cushion, she gestures for them to take a seat.

There is a prolonged silence as Adelina gazes at each of them one by one. It becomes uncomfortable for a moment, then she interlocks her fingers. The golden claws decorating her fingers, carved with intricate designs, produce a soft, metallic grind.

"I understand my request for your presence is strange and unexpected, but I thank you all for coming regardless." Her gaze lingers on Aurea. "Chief Aurea, I have been especially eager to meet you. I am surprised that more of the Tribes, besides the Ébo, still exist, let alone thrive among Urushians and Colonials. I must ask, are you the last of your kind?"

'Tribes? Plural? As in more? And how she says it, in some sense, mine and Chief Kanaka's people are also connected to them in some way.' Aurea thinks.

What's also strange is that Kanaka has a name for his kind, while her people have long forgotten whether it even existed. If Adelina has lived as long as Tessa says, then there may be things she can clarify. But for now, perhaps she can help her people just as she has with the Ébo.