An Island for a Cloud

5.3 How to safe a friend

By the time the sun set, Cloud had already been long waiting in the courtyard of the old ruined library. It was said, that this was one of the oldest structures in the city. She looked up at the old broken light blue glass in the arched windows. Finely crafted wrought iron work graced the balcony railings. Curved steps led to a graceful archway hovering over the main passage, only half of the door still hanging on the rusty iron hooks, the other nowhere to be seen. Cloud, walked up the stairs, covered with dry leaves and broken branches. She looked up at the hand painted tiles that decorated the ceiling, depicting the glory of the Four Creators.

They were all here: Lord Lukus, stared down on her looking solemn in his golden robe. He was the creator of the Arkehons and the Nehalen. Arkehons, who preferred night to day, and who hid in their Labyrinth of Thornes and had not left its safety since the rise of Aleuta. The Nehalen, half species of water and half species of the air, who had built Waterese, the magnificent city on a lake. Cloud had seen it once as a child and remembered the palaces of Waterese with walls made out of water and finely polished white stone. As a child, she was fascinated by the city's sparkling against the blue sky. Even the memory of it made her smile now.

Next to Lord Lukus was depicted Lady Retsa. She appeared benignant and merciful to Cloud, her light grey dress made her look like a ray of light in a dark chamber. She was the creator of the Voltris and the Skaults. Voltris lived in the city of Mara Barag, on the Western shore of Ailarin. Cloud had seen it, too. Their homes, dotted the water along the coast like mushrooms, half submerged in water and half seemingly floating above. Voltris were also known as Pearldivers, then they could remain under the water for a long period of time, allowing them to dive deep for pearls. Pearls were in high demand in Aleuta and that had made the Voltris very wealthy.

Skaults, the Forest Children, on the other hand were a mystery to Cloud. Just like the Arkehons, they had withdrawn into their forest stronghold of Skara Brae, yet while Arkehons still maintained trading routes open with the rest of the inhabitants of the island, the Skaults completely shut themselves off. Anyone who ever entered their lands, never returned. For many generations, Aleuta attempted to bend them to its rule, yet they persevered. During their travels, Cloud's grandparents always made sure to make a big circle around their forest, then Skaults had little love for Veilys. And the ring of poisonous plants that grew around their forest, made it impenetrable for anyone who tried. Then it was said that the sweet scent emitted by the plants, dimmed the wits and made one forget everything they knew and become like a suckling babe again – helpless and lost.

Next came Lord Erbis. He was depicted as broad-shouldered and emanating physical strength, the golden robe tight on his muscular body. He was the creator of the Orvats and the Sanduls. Where Sanduls, the inhabitants of Sumi Sandul, city in the desert, were the embodiment of beauty, the Orvats were the embodiment of physical strength. Although Orvats valued peace above all, they were easily angered and once that happened, one was better off keeping the distance. The Orvats were a river folk, who had built Rarrah Gigidi on what once was a swamp. It was a city criss-crossed by canals and it laid to the north west, between Leivrat and the Labyrinth of Thornes.

Last came Lady Ekara, who gave life to the Veilys and the Flizers. Cloud had never seen a Flizer, even though they were closest to the Veilys in kind. She had heard many stories about female Flizers serving in Aleuta, and chose to believe it, then everything she knew about the Aleutans told her that they grew up with servants, used to command. Cloud looked closer at Lady Ekara's image, and she had a feeling that she reminded her of the woman from the vision she had when the stranger touched her. Those piercing eyes, the long black hair...

Cloud never saw them coming. Two pairs of hands grabbed her roughly and a black bag was thrown over her head. She felt a sharp pain explode on the back of her neck and all went dark.