Beyond the Void

Chapter 45, Age-old problem

SIL'VAR

Two moons since the Mark of the Other One blossomed. The Day of Slumber has come.

Much later than she had planned, Sil'var was approaching the Grand Council of Ironcourt. Everyone else in the Alyar embassy had left long before without even saying a word to her.

The sights and sounds of the decorated city had brought a temporary relief to her mind. Several ages ago, the humans had lived alongside Alyar, learned from them, and even adopted traditions of this world. Looking at the dancing humans and cheerful children, she had felt them not too different from her own kind.

The celebration of this one extra day that did not belong to the ending year nor to the beginning one had been a gift from the Alyar to the humans. There was not a single festivity that the Alyar had not taught to the humans. As time had passed, humans had incorporated their own traditions into them, but a familiarity remained and that gave Sil'var some comfort.

"Ambassador, I believe that was your title. Sil'var. We were afraid you had gotten lost, or were not coming at all." A boy or a man addressed her. It was difficult for Sil'var to tell the difference. He had no beard, so he was not a full-grown man yet.

It was so complicated to tell generations apart when one lived a mere hundred years if that. Going by his posture he looked old and somewhat tired and Sil'var had learned the meaning of those small swollen pockets under human's eyes. But the boy's eyes shone with a pale yellow colour and seemed full of power.

"Please, this way." The boy or boy-man gestured towards a park.

"Are we not heading to Grand Council?" Sil'var was hoping her eldertongue was not too stiff. It was important, the humans understood her intentions.

"We are, but someone has played a joke it seems. Someone locked the lower floors and the main entrance, so we have little choice but to use the upper balconies and overlooking entrances." The boy explained.

They made their way through the maze-like park. Sil'var was at a loss now. Should she confront the boy? Or was he a simple messenger, a guide, unaware of the plot? Her thoughts were cut short, however.

"I apologise, I forgot to introduce myself. I admit I was a little excited that you came. In any case, I am Airik of bloodline Roden. My father, Ander, commands three of the six great fortifications surrounding the greater Ironcourt region."

"And your father is the one who challenges Ebonveil stagnation?" She ventured.

"My father and I are but few of those who serve Lord Ilander Sool. He is the grand author of the Doom of the Ebonveils." Even though they were passing other humans, the boy was speaking loudly, without fear.

"And I will meet Lord Illand'sool?"

"Yes. Up there." The boy pointed to three figures up on a walkway.

They were arguing. As soon as all three had noticed her, one man quickly left the company of the other two.

Sil'var and the boy had to walk quite a way until they finally found a stairway that would lead them up on that walkway. The way this place had been built annoyed Sil'var. A perfect example of what was wrong with humankind.

As soon as one died along came another, who knew how to do things better than the first one. Instead of re-purposing what had been before, the new one had built a bigger and longer walkway above the old one.

Alyar cities were simple, if you wanted to go somewhere, there were clear pathways and signs, as old as the city itself. The imperial capital was an endlessly growing maze.