Adventures in Arlea - Shora

1

Author's Note: Please help me advance my writing by providing constructive criticism. Tell me what you like, and tell me what you think doesn't work. I appreciate the help.

Acacia Dewcraug's bare feet rubbed across the cement platform. The soft brush of her skirt against her line legs contrasted with the texture beneath her feet. Her blue braids jiggled as the city lights illuminated her fair skin. Yellow eyes flinted from signs declaring must-buy products to opening dates for public entertainments. Her softly curved ears rang with bells and horns of barely moving transporters. She rubbed the amulet hanging from the black string around her neck.

Around her, people hustled from street to street, door to door. Her eyes went wide as a purple man strolled past. His rubbery skin was covered in tattoos. He wore a knitted cap on his bald head, and pants made of tough cotton fibers. Acacia's shock came from the shirt he had forgone. She stepped toward a red brick building to remove herself from his path, keeping a hand over the vial of water in the silver loop lying against her chest.

She snapped away from the building when a glass door swung towards her. Two men bickered in a language she did not know. They were clad in white shirts, black pants and robes. The bumpy, reptilian hide of their skin, and the flaps hanging down their chin caught her attention. One glared at her through black slitted eyes. His sloped forehead wrinkled, pulling his long nostrils back. "You act like you've never seen a pogonaoid, girl. What are you, Nymph, a tea farmer?"

Acacia's jaw dropped before she could collect herself. She blew a breath through her own small, sloped nose, and spun away from the lizard-like men. In truth, she had never seen a pogonaoid nor a shirtless ogre. THe highlands were too cold, even on her humid island home. Staring at the buildings scraping the sky, she lifted a prayer. "Dear Ezoann please help me convince her before Ash knows I've left."

Her name, a melody above the city's cacophony, brought Acacia's attention back to her closer surroundings. Familiar arms of her oldest, closest friend wrapped around her waist. Acacia's long embrace encircled the head resting on her chest, and she brushed her cheek over black hair. The city's scent of trash and sweat couldn't hide the coconut wafting from tan skin. Acacia's chest tightened, and so did her embrace, "I missed you, Amethyst."

Amethyst pulled away, wiping golden fingers under her eyes. Her brown eyes narrowed, and her lifts lifted in a smirk, "Just as I thought, you refused to pack shoes."

"I don't need shoes," Acacia took the beige sandal Amethyst offered. The strap hung loose between Acacia's thumb and forefinger. The nymph pressed her pale, pink lips together, yellow eyes glaring at the offending item.

"You'll drench it, glaring like that." Amethyst snatched the sandal away. "All of the mages who live in the city wear shoes everyday. These are from the Cardinal of Shora's personal line."

Acacia huffed, "That woman may be a mage, but she is no druid." She settled her duffle bag across her shoulder, and crossed her arms. "Which brings me to my point. I've come to bring you home."

"Oh, Acacia," Amethyst slipped her free arm around Acacia's waist. The nymph towered over the human by, at least, one full head. Dragging the light woman, Amethyst continued, "How many communications have we shared? I will marry Copper, and it will greatly benefit the highlands."

Acacia ripped out of Amethyst's hold, "What about Ash?"

Amethyst's arms dropped to her sides, tanned hands squeezing into fists. The rise and fall of her silver silk shirt halted at the air around the young women settled. Her dark hair fell against her back. Salt and coconut evaporated off the still, tropical breeze. Golden flecks grew in Amethyst's large brown eyes. "Don't." The word tore from Amethyst's gut. "I have to think of the farms."

Acacia slashed her arms out in front of here. "That's all you humans do. Think of the farms, or the theater," she waved her hand at a brightly lit brick building, "or the... What even is this?" Acacia frowned up at the towering, marble building. At the very top, cast in a pale pink, hung a giant clock. "Did they build out of corar?"

Amethyst blinked, her smooth features scrunching. She tipped her head. Acacia's yellow eyes met Amethyst's brown, and the human rubbed her brow. "Of course not," Amethyst breathed a chuckle, "but part of it is a bank, so there is corar inside. The top is cast in quartz."

"Great Ezoann," Acacia sighed, "That is what they do with quartz in the city."

Amethyst crossed her arms, "Enough! Who passed and made you Atnia? You haven't even seen inside. Every one of these buildings incorporates a temple. This one, because it is Copper's building, houses a temple on every floor. If you wish to be Atnia's right hand, I'll buy your transport ticket myself." Acacia glared into Amethyst's brown eyes. With a puff of air, she snatched the sandals from her friend, and slipped them on.

"Thank you," Amethyst grinned at the frown Acacia wore while the nymph watched her toes wiggle.

Acacia slowly lifted her head, and Amethyst slipped her dark features back into neutral. Acacia's braids jostled when she tipped her head towards the bank. "So, this is your betrothed's building?"

"Yes," Amethyst locked arms with the shoe-clad woman, "and our first stop on the Adventure of Shora City."

The door swung open, and Acacia forced back the gasp. Everything outside the doors were bright and shining. The floors of the lobby were dark and polished stone. Three fountains of staggering heights jutted out of circular pools filled with giant water lilies. Golden benches lined the walls leading to a counter made of the same dark, polished granite of the floors. Amethyst watched Acacia scan the room. Acacia watched the human behind the counter hastily make a call. The women walked around the fountains.

"Lady Wolfcliffe," the woman behind the counter laid the communicator down. "Mr. Shorgark will be down in a moment. May I get you a tea?"

"No, thank you, Opal." Amethyst turned to watch the small family waiting in the lobby.

Acacia watched Opal's hands twist over the communicator, and followed her gaze to the left passage behind the counter. She glanced up at her friend. "Copper's title is Shorgark? You're really giving up the title of Dragonband for Shorgark?"

Amethyst's lips tugged down. "You can't give up what was never rightly yours to make a claim on."

Acacia's jaw dropped, but before she could regain herself, a soft tenor chuckle broke the momentary silence. "As always, Lady Shire, it was a pleasure" A man with red hair and freckles covering his face, and a blonde woman as tall and willowy as Acacia stepped into the lobby. The man's eyes widened at the presence of Amethyst and Acacia. He shuffled to Amethyst's side, kissing each of her palms and her cheeks. Acacia watched Lady Shire smirk. Copper Shorgark glided his hand, palm up, behind him. "Darling, you remember our client..."

"Juniper, if I remember correctly." Amethyst shook the woman's hand. Neither woman's smile reached her eyes. "May I introduce my close friend, Acacia Dewcraug."

"Oh, a mage," Lady Shir shook Acacia's offered hand. Acacia squinted, staring into the blond's blue eyes. "It is an honor. We have so few who live in the city."

"Really?" Acacia rubbed the vial of water hanging from the black string around her neck.

Lady Shire chuckled, "It really shouldn't be surprising, of course. The city is much too cramped for the lifestyle. I do hope you enjoy your stay. How long will you be in the city?"

Acacia eyes Copper as he whispered in Amethyst's ear. She offered Lady Shire a lopsided grin. "Oh, only a few days, I'd imagine."