Subject:  Regarding housing |
Author:
Ilu
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Date Posted: 17:45:53 09/17/01 Mon
http://zone.msn.com/asheronscall//homestead.asp
Homestead
The dream collapsed into stale night sweat and twisted sheets.
Asaina blinked. The tawny light of Alb'arel fell through the open window, coating the simple wooden furnishings of her room with warm, lustrous wax. The cool night air of the badlands wound itself through the room, rustling the scrolls and bringing in the gentle susurration of Zaikhal's fountain.
Softly, again, came a rap on her door.
She stood, gathering the blanket around herself, and shuffled across the book-strewn floor. “Yes, yes. Coming,” she grumbled, pushing sleep-wild hair away from her eyes.
The Sho girl in the hall, perhaps sixteen years old, gulped and bowed deeply, holding it until it seemed certain she would topple to the floor at Asaina's feet. Moonlight glittered off the polished obsidian chopsticks holding the sable hair off the back of her neck. “My sincere apologies for waking you at such an hour, Mistress al-Arqis. I have been sent by my master, Celdiseth. He wished me to give you a most urgent message.”
Asina folded her arms crossly, but forced a smile. “Worry not, child. I'm used to that old crank's ways.” The girl's eyes widened at the word. “What is your name?”
“Hoshino Kei, mistress.”
“Have you walked far, Kei? I could make you some tea.”
Her mouth worked, but nothing came out. Then, “Portal magic, mistress.”
“Ah. Well, tell me your message.” Asaina walked back across the floor and perched on the edge of her bed, folding her hands in her lap.
Kei looked down and began to recite in low, even tones. “Master Celdiseth wishes to say that the Monster of the Labyrinth has just completed her studies, and called for a meeting of the Archmages and certain powerful nobles. Celdiseth desires that a representative of the Arcanum be present, for he expects what is said will be of great interest to all sages, and yet would not become common knowledge otherwise.
“He has chosen you because you are aware of the Monster's illicit appropriation of texts recovered by the Arcanum from the archives of Xarabydun. He also knows that you expressed disapproval of this, and were reprimanded by other members of the Arcanum as a result. He therefore believes that which will be whispered tonight must be heard by you. He yet recalls being impressed by your persistence in warning of the sudden frost that presaged the discovery of Old Frore.” The girl bowed again, and spoke in her normal voice. “This is the message I was given, Mistress.”
Asaina rose and walked to the window. Below, auroral waves of sand shimmered and drifted across the stones of the courtyard. So. This was the night the first age of humanity in Dereth would come to an end. The night nomadic wandering gave way to settlement, to true civilization.
The greatest schemer of Ispar was prepared to move, having at her side the lost secrets of Empyrean magic. “The Monster of the Labyrinth.”
Nuhmudira, scholar of Tirethas.
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