by T. C. Edge
We're not too far from my own apartment, this neighbourhood clearly one of the plusher ones within the city and intended for those of higher birth and rank. It's a little to the east, set to another side of the Hill of Olympus. I imagine that from the higher apartments facing that way, the square and Sacred Steps will be visible.
The carriage stops, and we climb out into the cool courtyard. I see several Worthies tending the gardens, cleaning the fountains and statues dotted about. They look up at me as I appear, stopping briefly to bow and perform the expected pleasantries, before continuing on with their work. To one side, a door opens, and another Worthy appears. This one, by the looks of his shaven head and the appearance of his robes, looks to be a High Worthy. Perhaps the man tasked with managing things here.
He steps forward, smile upon his aged visage, taller and thinner than Marlow, but with that same friendly expression.
"High Worthy Marlow," the man says, stepping in. "Right on time." He grins as he approaches down a short set of steps, working along a pathway flanked by flowerbeds and verdant plants.
Marlow steps forward to join him, though is sure to usher me along as well. He greets his kin with a hand pressed to his heart, and a brief bow. It's a particular greeting that High Worthies appear to share with one another. "Lady Amber, this is High Worthy Kitchener," he says, turning to introduce me. "He tends to this particular square and sees to its upkeep."
"And does a fine job of it, by the looks of things," I say, glancing around. The place is spotless, though that's not uncommon here. "Looks like you run a tight ship, High Worthy Kitchener."
"I do try, my Lady," the old man says, bowing low to me. "What a pleasure it is to welcome you here today. Lady Felina is awaiting you upstairs. If you would follow me, I shall take you right to her."
We begin moving towards the building he came out of, passing the door and stepping into the finely appointed hallway inside. It's similar to others I've seen, formed of thick stone and grand in structure, a central staircase swirling up to the top, at least a dozen floors up.
"Lady Felina lives in the penthouse apartment," High Worthy Kitchener says. "It's quite a climb up those steps, but affords a fabulous view. I propose we take the elevator to ease our knees."
"The elevator?" I ask.
"Yes, Lady Amber," says Kitchener. He looks to Marlow. "Does her Ladyship's new apartment building not come with an elevator?"
"It does," Marlow says. "We opted to climb the steps yesterday when I introduced her to the building. Don't you remember, my Lady?" he says, turning to me.
I shrug, the term ringing a bell. I'm sure I've heard it in the past as well during one of my grandmother's many ramblings, though never paid it much mind. "Oh yeah," I say, remembering. "It's that automatic lifting device, right? It takes you between floors of the building?"
"Precisely," says Kitchener. "It's certainly a Prime-send for an old man like me. Hauling this old frame up and down these steps all day isn't something my joints tend to thank me for. This way now."
He moves us to one side, pressing his thumb to a little circular button fixed to a panel on the wall. It lights up blue, and I hear a light whirring in the wall beyond. A few moments later, the stone facade opens up silently, and I see a spacious metallic box appear, square in shape and without windows.
I feel a slight sense of trepidation as we step inside, the elevator looking quite out of place within these more traditional surroundings. It is as I've seen before, a blending of the ancient and the modern, a convenience that, while unsightly, is important in easing life around here, especially in any building with more than a few floors.
Inside, I see another panel, this one listed with the various floor numbers. Kitchener presses the button for the penthouse, the doors slide shut, and the elevator begins to rise. It's an odd sensation, the square room rising as if by magic up through the building, and opening once again into another large hallway.
We step out, and the doors shut behind us, merging nicely into the wall. It seems that the elevator gives access right into the penthouse apartment without the need for locks and much form of security.
I pose the question to Kitchener.
"Oh, such a thing isn't required here," he informs me. "Crime is all but non-existent. The entire city mostly operates on an open-door policy."
"An open-door policy?" I say. "You mean, people just wander into one another's houses?"
"Oh no," chuckles Kitchener. "That wouldn't be appropriate. No, the Children of the Prime keep to their own personal ranks and habitations, as we do as Worthies. For a more lowly divinity to wander into this courtyard might be considered rather improper, unless accompanied with the correct invite."
"He's merely referring to the general theme of openness within the city, Lady Amber," Marlow adds. "The people know not to wander in out and out other people's houses uninvited, as they know that their personal station dictates just where they can and cannot go. That is all High Worthy Kitchener meant."
"Quite," says the older man, nodding. "Now, Lady Felina is right this way. She is, as I know, excited to meet you."
I wonder just what form of 'excited' he means as he continues to lead us down the central hall and towards the rear of the luxurious apartment. There are plenty within this city who, I'm sure, still view me with that ingrained contempt. A young woman of high birth might well be among their number, excited only to look down upon me, even if I now outrank her. Which, honestly, I'm not sure I do.
But then, the Overseer did mention how she is a kind-hearted woman, a woman who has a profound appreciation for the Worthies and the work they do. Maybe my story - coming from the Fringe and competing for the position of Chosen Fire-Blood - is one that greatly appeals to her. When I step out of my bubble and view it from outside, it's not hard to imagine how my journey might have its appeals.
I feel an odd twinge of nerves as we turn right, moving towards another wing, heading for a beautifully carved wooden door. Will Lilly be in there too, in her role as Lady Felina's new personal attendant? Will I be locking eyes with my sister again in only a few moments time?
I slow on instinct, dropping behind the two men. High Worthy Kitchener reaches out to knock. A soft voice comes from inside, and he turns the handle, the door opening. A breeze flows from inside, light coming with it. My eyes take in the shape of a large living room with sofas and fine tables, several grand windows allowing the winds to cool the interior. I catch a glimpse beyond; the Hill of Olympus dominates the skyline, perpetually wreathed in clouds.
I lose myself for a second as I see it once more, before coming back to as we move into the room. There, seated in a plush armchair, I find a lovely looking young woman with soft brown hair, a pale complexion, and eyes that are a starkly striking shade of blue. She regards me from her perch, a smile building upon her face. A moment later, she stands and briskly makes her way towards us, keen eyes on me as she moves, gorgeous blue dress flowing behind her.
"Lady Felina, I'd like to introduce Lady Amber," High Worthy Kitchener says. "Primary Fire-Blood, and Chosen candidate."
Lady Felina sweeps in, lips splitting into a wonderful, charming smile. She reaches me, getting rather closer than I'd have expected, and continues to regard me with those strangely striking eyes.
"Oh my, you truly are the spitting image of one another," she says. "What a pleasure, an absolute pleasure, it is to meet you, Amber."
"I...thank you, Lady Felina," I say. "It's a...pleasure for me too." I frown at my own social awkwardness. "Sorry, I'm not used to all this."
"No no, that's quite all right. You're far more fascinating than any of the other prim and proper ladies around here. Come come, sit down with me. I want to hear all about you."
She takes my hand, her fingers soft as a newborn baby's, smiling to the two High Worthies standing in the doorway, and inviting them to wait outside. They do so immediately, leaving the two of us alone. I'm promptly sat down as Felina begins offering me all manner of food, set o
n a table in front of our sofa. I shake my head politely, my stomach too knotted to think about filling itself.
"A drink, then," Felina says, snatching up a metal flask. I imagine she'll pour coffee or water, but instead see something that resembles wine decanting into a glass, about the same colour as my Fire-Blood robes. I'm handed it, the scent wafting up my nose. Yes, definitely wine. Unexpected, seeing as it isn't yet midday.
"It's a special occasion," Felina says, noting the look on my face. "I'm not prone to daytime consumption of such things, don't worry. However, I often feel that a nice glass...or two, if the occasion calls for it," she adds, raising her eyes playfully, "helps to grease the wheels of the bonding process. Wouldn't you agree?"
"I...suppose so," I say, taking a breath, then a sip, my eyes working around the room in a vain search for my sister. Only then do I realise I'v made another social faux pas by drinking before she has. She merely smiles, then touches her glass to mine, accompanied by the words, "To the Prime."
"To the Prime," I repeat, smiling naturally, my mind filling with their perfect image.
"I suppose that phrase must be a hard one for you, for several reasons," Felina muses, after taking a sip and drawing a long, satisfied breath. She places her glass down, rearranges her legs so she's looking right at me across the sofa, and sends that sharp gaze upon me again. It's quite...unnatural, but mesmerisingly beautiful at the same time. "Here you are, a girl from the Fringe, your true nature so recently discovered. And, tragically, brought here as a heretic." She shakes her head. "You must have resented the Prime not so long ago?"
She doesn't deliver the question with any sort of scorn. Just a sort of curiosity, a smoothed out bluntness that doesn't offend me at all. It's just...fact, really.
"But, now you've met her," she goes on, sighing. "What a experience that must have been. What a turbulent life you've lead."
"That's um, understating it I think," I say quietly, though with a wry smile. "Well, actually that isn't true. Only the last few weeks have been turbulent. The months and years before that were a little more mundane."
She chuckles sweetly at that, nodding, picking up her glass and taking another sip. "Quite the change, I must imagine. It can't have been easy, all of this. What a ride, Amber. What a tremendous ride."
She reaches out as she speaks, squeezing my hand before releasing it. My impression of her comes quickly. She is as the Overseer said - truly lovely.
"Trouble is," I say, starting to relax in her presence, "I don't know where it's going to lead me next..." An impulse takes me, and my eyes switch to the window. To the hill beyond. To the clouds that cover it.
"She has a power, doesn't she," Felina whispers, eyes wandering in the same direction as mine. "You can sit for hours, can't you, just staring up there..."
"You've...been?" I ask softly, eyebrows lifting.
She gently shakes her head. "Never so lucky," she says, a smile beginning to form once again. "But I have lived here for some time now. I have caught glimpse of her light so many times. I have been closer than most."
"You call them 'her'," I say. "Why, when you know there are two of them?"
"Just a personal choice," she smiles. "I believe that the female form is always likely to be the more powerful and dominant. It's she who runs the show, Amber. Couldn't you tell that when you met them?" She grins mischievously.
"Well I...maybe," I say, not sure if she's serious or not.
She breaks into laughter, a quite pleasant sound. "Oh I'm only jesting," she says. "Well, mostly. I've spoken to several Children who have met our Mother and Father before. All say the same. That the experience is quite hard to describe. That the feeling when they gaze upon you is..."
"Euphoric," I whisper, feeling that light bloom inside me once more.
"Ah, yes. I can only hope I get to experience it one day."
No, you don't, I think to myself. Because nothing will ever be the same again.
We continue to speak for a few minutes more, Lady Felina evidently keen to ask questions about my time upon the hill. I try to answer, though have never been so great with words, finding it quite difficult to describe the experience as she might want it. Yet, I enjoy the conversation nonetheless, taking the opportunity to sound out this young woman to whom my sister will serve. I imagine Lilly will be happy here. Despite all my previous reservations, I start to see that this is a more suitable life for her than living outside Pine Lake. She isn't free, no, but perhaps freedom isn't all it's cracked up to be.
After about fifteen minutes of mild interrogation, Lady Felina suddenly stops in her questioning, takes a dramatic breath, and announces that she's done. "Is there anything you'd like to ask me," she says, scooping up her glass of wine, which looks like it will imminently require a second helping. She hardly gives me a moment to think. "No? Nothing?" she grins.
"Erm..." I try to go through the mental gears. There are surely a hundred questions I could, should, ask her. This is the woman who Lilly will be serving, after all. I need to do my due diligence, don't I? "Well, um," I begin, mind sifting through the available queries, "what...what are you?"
She draws back, frowning. "What am I?"
"Yeah. I mean, your eyes are...different. I assume you're a Farsight."
"A Farsight, yes," she says. "A Primary Farsight to be exact, the very same rank as you. How else would I be able to live in such a tremendous location?"
"So you're of high birth? Or you're, what, more gifted than other Farsights."
"A mixture of both, really, Amber," she says brightly. "I have rather good eyesight, if I may say so myself. That comes from my parents. Both are the same."
"And they live...
"Nearby," she says, smiling. "Both are Primary Farsights like I am. In fact, my father was once a Chosen candidate, like you. He is one of the aforementioned people I spoke of who have met the Prime. I really ought to be upset with him, and so should my mother, truth be told."
"Why's that?"
"Because, my dear, he has, ever since that day, made it quite clear that it was the single greatest experience of his life. Not wedding my mother. Not being present at my birth. No, meeting the Prime." She smiles coyly. "To be fair to the man, I can't very well blame him for that."
"No..."
"So, any other questions? Would you like to ask me about my alcohol consumption?" She looks at her glass. "Please, don't take this as the norm. I'm usually very proper, and won't get inebriated and ask your dear sister to do anything untoward." She grins again, thinking. "I keep an active social calendar, though only with very nice people who are similarly inclined as me towards the wonderful people of the Fringe. I do not currently have anyone 'special' in my life either, so you won't have to worry about me having some horrible, demanding man about the house. And, yes, I have several other Worthies who aid me day to day and see to the functions of the household, though Lilly will become my closest attendant when she's ready."
"I...that's good," I say, trying to keep up. "And, will she live here in the residence? Or..."
"Yes, she will. I have quarters here for my attendants and staff. They are very comfortable, and Lilly will, I'm sure, get along famously with the other girls, who are a lovely group. You also met High Worthy Kitchener, who oversees everything here personally. He is a very jovial old gentleman, and will make for an excellent mentor along with the others." She reaches over and takes my hands. "I promise you, Amber, that Lilly will be happy here. I can't be sure what you've heard about how those from the Fringe are treated here in Olympus, and yes, some don't have the best lives - which, I might add, many of us are trying to change - but the vast majority live long, happy, and fulfilled lives. Lilly will most certainly be among that number, and I'll make sure she's right up towards the top. Does that all sound OK to you?"
"Is sounds...fantastic," I whisper, so grateful.
"Good. And don't forget, you can visit her - and hopefully me - any time you wish. Just one thing I might ask of you."
&nbs
p; "Of course."
"If you're going to decide to take Lilly to live with you, please do so before she gets settled. That is, of course, your right, but the girl seems so sweet and attentive, and I'd rather not get too attached to her if possible. Spare me, Amber," she smiles. "If she stays too long, and you decide you want her back...well, I might just put up a fight."
I laugh at her lightness, her good humour, my face reflecting the smile on hers. I couldn't have hoped for a better meeting. It is the first piece in the puzzle of my life that is falling very nicely into place.
"Well, it's good to get all of that out of the way," Lady Felina finishes, turning to the door. "Now, let's get to why you actually came here today. Don't worry, I'll give you all the privacy you deserve." She stands, and moves towards the door. "Let's go fetch your sister, shall we?"
5
My chest hammers as I watch Felina go, my limbs twitchy, not quite knowing what to do. Am I meant to follow her or just wait here? I stand, preparing to move after her, but she lifts a hand and shakes her head, gesturing for me to stay put.
I plant myself back down, eyes turning to the glass of wine ahead of me. I grab it, sink the contents, requiring the courage. It's ridiculous, but it helps. I'm not entirely sure what the ratio is between excitement and nerves, but the way I'm reacting, I think the latter might be the dominant proportion.
As I fill my second glass, taking the opportunity to do so alone and without judgement, my mind blooms with thoughts of my final meeting with Lilly. When we stood, either side of the window in her room, her attempting to say a secret goodbye, me having no idea of what was about to happen. When I watched her join our parents for dinner, and went and slept a little way down the shore of the lake. When I woke, my dreams severed, accosted by a feeling of dread, and marched into the house to find that Lilly was gone.
That was the moment all of this began, the catalyst for all this change. And now, here I sit, somehow assimilated into this city, my path ahead still undetermined. Awaiting my sister again. Reunited here, at the heart of it all, in the most unlikely of circumstances.
