The Tellanon

1. The Tellanon

She felt her foot slip, and clung for dear life to the tower’s slippery stones. No one would look for her here, on the towers of the Ethunan itself. Taking a small break to regain her breath, she clung to the dark grey stone. Her breath quickened as she scrabbled for a new foothold. She closed her eyes, and whispered a small prayer, until her breath slowed down and she felt safe enough to continue. She had climbed before, very often, but that didn't mean she wasn't afraid of falling. Falling hurt, and she could die. Emyra didn’t fancy dying. She knew too little of the world to do so.

 The great city of Merrón lay at the tower’s base. The harbour, the sailor’s district, and the two wealthy districts lay west, the poor region/district lay east. The lands of the outsiders, the Rannuren, were in the south, and the northern side was occupied by five low hills, each a district, one of which was Emyra’s. The fourth hill from the sea, Agalath, with the Justice on top. Emyra knew practically every single street,  corner and house there, and many people. She liked to talk to them and listen to their stories, and help, if possible.  She dreamt too much, her parents said. She thought she was simply curious, she longed to learn and discover

In the centre of it all stood the Ethunan, stronghold of the Tellanon. They were essentially the rulers of Thén, and carried out all justice, while the Old King thought and the Young King fought. Such were the rules, though they were unwritten. All of Thén knew, and lived in fear of breaking them, of opposing the Tellanon or disobeying them. Then’s people weren't content, however, and hadn't been for four centuries. The Tellanon were stern, and formidable warriors. They punished more severely than they should, and all people cowered before them. Or so the stories told. They rarely left the Ethunan, sending envoys in their stead, so few really knew who they were and what they looked like. Some people said the Tellanon tried to forget what the world looked like and spent their days devouring food. Some went as far as to claim they were monsters, and couldn't show their faces because of this. She could prove against that theory, however. Once, only once, had Emyra laid eyes on a Tellanon outside the Ethunan, from far off. Once was enough, though, to know what happened when they left their stronghold, to know what they looked like.

Most people had fled into their houses at the sight of him. She’d been too far from home to do likewise and had stood in the shadows, watching, while fear took hold of the entire area. The black-and-silver cloak had billowed from his shoulders, and he had stood fair and proud(these ords have positive connotations, maybe try use something more negative unless you want to suggest that there is something regal and good about them), glancing into the street.  She remembered every inch of his face, stern and cold. His eyes had been black, and his hair a cold silver-blond, his features sharp and menacing. What had really drawn the attention, though, was his sword, which he had for some reason drawn. It had shone dimly, dark iron, sharp as a winter’s wind.  Emyra had not been able to feel brave at the sight of it, and a fear had taken hold of the rest of the village? You’ve already said this as well. She had seen in on the faces of all the people.  Then, as quickly as he had arrived, he had ridden away again, down the hill of Agalath, and out of sight. 

A Tellanon had once entered her district, and now she had entered theirs. The Ethunan was huge, and, indeed, a district of its own. Many secrets were kept there that men had long forgotten, hidden in the high, slender towers and immense halls of the Core. The Core was a moniker for the Tellanon, used only by those who wished to please them, but was also the name of the inner circle of the Ethunan. Around it loomed high walls and tall towers, higher and higher, all made of the same dark grey rock. Emyra had explored only the outer walls, never able to come any closer. If they would catch her, they would undoubtedly kill her, so she remained safely on the barely guarded outer walls. Those were the best for climbing anyway, she thought.  Her view from up there was also the best, for further inward, the view was blocked by the higher walls of the outermost rings.