by Nira Steele
Frowning slightly Willa settled onto the sofa adjacent to him. They shared a knowing look before he continued with his story.
“Nobody knows what happened but we believe it was an attack from an external force. The survivors have all gone into hiding so we cannot ask them what occurred.” Placing his drink upon the low slung table he then looked directly at Andie. “But this dragon may hold the key so we must persuade him to stay in our House. No matter how concerned he is we have to allay his fears.”
“Andie won’t understand that,” Tessa murmured with a little frown.
“What do you mean?” Andie asked.
“Anything capable of destroying one House could potentially take down another,” she explained. “Our townships are supposedly hidden and the shields unbreachable.”
“How safe are we here?” Andie enquired quietly.
“Very,” Terenus stated firmly. “Our security protocols have been heightened to ensure such an attack cannot occur here.”
“Except for the forest transfer point,” Tessa muttered under her breath.
Andie glanced at her companion as she remembered how easily Tessa had snuck her into the township. Holding her breath she waited to see what would happen next. Sure enough a heavy huff sounded from in front of her.
“I have been informed Andie’s ease of access was due to the Eye stone she carries,” Terenus declared in a raised voice. “In the future you would do well to discuss your assumptions with me first my dear.”
“Sorry father,” Tessa responded as she quietly hung her head.
Drawing in a deep breath Terenus spoke again.
“All disparaging comments aside we need to consider what an asset this dragon could be to us. Have either of you considered what we can accomplish with his aid?”
Andie’s mind lit up with possibilities as she realised what he was saying.
“Oh if he stays here he might let you ride him too,” she deduced with a wide eyed look. “Then he could take you to his people -”
“Let’s take it one step at a time,” Terenus interrupted her smoothly. “For now we just need to keep him here. Will you help us to achieve this?”
“Of course,” Andie responded.
This felt like it was meant to be. By some kind of miracle Andie had managed to arrive here at exactly the right time. As she started to comprehend just how incredible this was, her heart swelled with hopeful excitement. This could be it - the opportunity to do something extraordinary with her life.
✽✽✽
Andie was quietly thrilled by her success today. Filled with a sense of achievement she felt ready to tackle anything now. However the euphoria was short lived as her exhaustion quickly caught up with her.
After consuming a large meal she was ready to retire. Deciding to freshen up, she collected some things and headed for the bathing room.
Now this was something Andie had really been looking forward to. The so-called bathing room was actually a miniature Roman bath house. Complete with pillars and side stands, it looked a lot like the ones she had seen in text books. Completely enclosed in its own cave-like space it was illuminated by a high glass panel. The bath itself was the size of a small pool and just like its ancient counterpart it was plumbed with a continuous flow of fresh warm water.
Slowly removing her clothes she placed them over one of the side stands. Then she waded down the stairs and let the soothing currents envelop her.
After almost an hour of blissful soaking she reluctantly headed to her bedroom. Untying her hair from its bun she then curled up in her soft warm bed. This time her sleep was mercifully peaceful and unhampered by any strange dreams. She would find the rest to be essential as Tessa had many things planned for her the next day.
Shortly after breakfast Tessa took her on a whirlwind tour of the township. There were so many things to see here Andie had trouble taking it all in.
Their first stop was the shopping precinct just beneath the surface of the settlement. Stretching out in a wide curving avenue the little stores were bustling with people. Every craftsman had an outlet here, displaying their wares in glass-fronted shops. The sights and smells were so intriguing Andie could have browsed there for hours.
Unfortunately she lasted for less than a minute before she started to attract a crowd. Yanking down the front of her hood, Andie tried to hide from the townspeople’s stares. Tessa flew into a rage at them, yelling out something in her native tongue. Glaring fiercely she cleared a path towards the entrance to a nearby shop.
“Perfect,” Tessa declared as she briskly stepped inside. “We should be able to have something truly appropriate made here.”
Dropping her hood Andie gazed around at the bolts of fabric filling the shelves.
It turned out Tessa had taken her into a rather quaint little tailoring shop. The two elderly staff were not fazed by Andie, only concerned with getting her measurements right. They took barely an hour to create her riding outfit - a grey leather ensemble just like Tessa’s.
Staring at herself in a long framed mirror Andie could not believe how different she looked. The figure-hugging outfit was actually very flattering so it gave her confidence a little boost.
Andie had never worn anything custom made before. It was a treat, a luxury she had never experienced before. Smiling broadly she turned to heap her thanks upon her little companion. Tessa beamed back at her, obviously pleased to see her dressed in something less conspicuous. She recommended Andie keep wearing the outfit as she would be embarking on her first proper flight soon.
After their trip to the shopping district they ventured into the bowels of the township. This was the realm of the guilds, or Collegiate as they were known here. Their workshops and storage spaces took up well over half of the town’s footprint.
As they strolled along a wide main corridor Andie peeked inside the huge archways into the guilds’ areas. Squinting intensely, she barely managed to get a glimpse of the strange and intriguing things within them.
Tessa explained how important the guilds were with everyone belonging to a major Collegium. These were not just jobs for her people - they were a vocation which was pursued for life. Tessa and her father were accomplished gardeners so they naturally belonged to the Collegium Hortulani. They grew all of the township’s requirements, from food supplies to medical needs. Terenus was the Magister of this guild so he represented them at meetings of the town Council.
There were minor guilds for hobbies and interests such as the Collegium Venandi for hunters and trackers. Smiling proudly Tessa revealed she was currently its youngest member.
They were sitting together on a stone bench now, finishing their brunch time snacks in a secluded courtyard. Having completed their morning tour it was time to give Andie a well-earned break.
“I’m sorry I can’t show you much but I hope in time things will change,” Tessa advised her.
Andie let out a chuckle.
“It’s absolutely fine! I can barely take in what you’ve already shown me. You have no idea how amazing your home is.”
“I can’t complain but it’s nothing compared to your cities,” Tessa mused. “I’ve been to Howland two times and it never ceases to amaze me.”
“It’s like a lot of cities. They’re great to visit but awful to live in,” Andie replied. As a resident of Howland City she was very familiar with living there. Located on the northern coast it was the capital of Nevari Island.
Sighing wistfully Andie gazed around at the pocket of perfection surrounding her. This sweet little courtyard was just divine, like it had been plucked from the pages of a magazine. From the soft hydrangeas to the marble-edged fountain everything here was absolutely exquisite.
“Do you know how amazing this is?” she breathed.
“What, this little spot?” Tessa replied with a curious frown.
“Well yes,” Andie responded as she gazed around wide eyed. “Just look at this fountain for example. Not only is it immaculate but the stonework is amazing.
The only place I’ve seen anything close to it is in the grounds of my dad’s university.”
Andie wasn’t kidding about the craftsmanship here. From shopfronts to walkways everything was constructed with incredible precision. Beautiful white marble was used in abundance, carved into everything from columns to fountains. Woods of all types were used to create furnishings so exquisite they would be considered artworks anywhere else. This was not a place where things were made cheaply. Absolutely everything here was built to last for a very long time.
“So your father is a man of learning?” Tessa enquired.
It took Andie a moment to work out what she meant.
“He lectures in Astrophysics at Howland University,” she replied. “My mother studied it too before she started having all us kids.”
“That sounds very interesting. Is it what you are studying?”
“Um, no,” Andie said quietly as her eyes dropped to the pavement. She had made the mistake of mentioning she was a student earlier. “I was kinda pushed into something.”
“Oh, I’ll bet it is interesting!” Tessa declared with an expectant stare. “You’re so fearless it would have to be something quite dangerous. Come on, tell me right now.”
“Ugh, Business Administration?” Andie replied with a little grimace.
For a moment Tessa just sat there before her lips began pursing. Pressing them tightly together she leaned forward and made a loud snort.
Andie’s mouth fell open.
“Hey it’s not funny! I didn’t get much choice in the matter!”
Silencing herself, the little Draconarid rubbed her fingers over her mouth.
“Sorry,” she squeaked out before pulling herself up straight. Taking a deep breath Tessa cleared her throat before speaking again. “I assumed from your behaviour you would be doing something extraordinary. I even thought you might be following in your parents’ footsteps.”
“My older brother and sister beat me to it,” Andie muttered with a little frown. “By the time I left school my parents didn’t care what I studied. There are five of us kids, so I was told to pick something which would get me employed.”
“My apologies. That was very insensitive of me,” Tessa responded quietly. Jumping to her feet she made an offer of reparation. “Let me make it up to you by taking you somewhere special.”
“Accepted,” Andie declared with a nod. She was very used to receiving this type of reaction.
“It’s just my workplace really. I was planning on taking you there as a surprise later.”
Together they headed back downstairs into the maze of corridors. Eventually they rounded a corner where the air brightened into natural daylight. Passing under a high archway they were soon immersed into greenery.
“Oh wow,” Andie breathed.
They had entered a long cavernous hall bursting with plant life. From trays of seedlings to towering stalks it was packed with an endless array of vegetation. The entire floor space was covered with stands, each filled to capacity with different plants. Hanging from the roof were racks of trays all suspended amongst a latticework of piping.
“This place is amazing,” Andie declared as she gaped around at the display.
“This is the Horticulture Hall. It is the primary workshop of my guild. We have a great location here as we’re right against the side of the mountain,” Tessa declared proudly.
Through the banks of foliage you could catch glimpses of huge glass panels along the far wall. For half of the day this space would be filled with the warmth of natural light.
“But this isn’t the best of it. Come with me,” Tessa said with a sly wink. Then she walked off, weaving her way through the labyrinth of greenery.
Andie followed behind her and eventually emerged into a large open area. Initially blinded by the light she had to squint until her eyes adjusted. Then she recognised little Tessa standing just a few steps away.
Flinging her arms out wide the enthusiastic little Draconarid broke into a big smile.
“Welcome to the Arboretum!” she declared.
They were standing in front of a huge greenhouse which extended beyond the side of the mountain. It was a beautiful garden space filled with flowering shrubs in a dazzling display of colour. Set amongst the plantings were small marble benches sitting along a winding pathway.
“Strictly speaking these shrubs are cultivated for scientific purposes. Personally I find it the most glorious place in the world.”
Andie could see what she meant. You could lose yourself amongst the masses of colour.
“It’s wonderful here. It reminds me a little bit of my aunt’s garden,” she replied.
Quickly stepping forward Tessa whispered to her, “Let’s go hide. I have some things to tell you.”
✽✽✽
Disappearing into the flowers, Tessa led her to a large bench positioned at the farthest edge of the Arboretum. Sitting down slowly Andie could barely tear her eyes away from the view outside.
It was like looking out the window of an airplane. Through the seamless glass panels she could see everything within a considerable range of them. Far below her were tendrils of dark green, spreading through the valleys like the veins of a leaf. Between the strands sat patches of stark white snow marking the summits of the lower peaks. Floating above it all were the clouds with their fluffy white tops glowing in the sunlight.
“This is breathtaking,” Andie murmured.
“It’s remarkable isn’t it? I love to sit here and take in the view,” Tessa professed.
“So how far up are we?” Andie asked as she pressed her fingers to her chin.
“About twenty three thousand feet or seven thousand metres depending on how you measure it.”
Andie’s eyes bulged a little. She knew at this height you would need an oxygen tank to survive. It was hard to imagine how anyone lived up here, or how they actually managed to build a town for that matter.
“Don’t be concerned as the air pressure inside the shields is close to what you would normally feel,” Tessa assured her. “You can drop your hood down now as nobody will see you in amongst all these flowers.”
Shrugging off the grey fabric, Andie exposed her dark red hair to the sun.
“My goodness. Your hair is such a lovely colour,” Tessa remarked. Letting out a chuckle Andie could not help but feel somewhat embarrassed.
“It’s not natural. My hair’s just a mousy brown mop really,” she confessed. It was a lie of course but she never liked admitting what colour it really was. Dipping her head a little she hoped the grey patches of roots weren’t showing too much.
“We’re all really boring here. Everyone’s just different shades of blonde,” Tessa professed.
“But what about your boss? The tall guy with the long white hair?”
The little blonde’s eyes shot open briefly.
“Oh you mean Lord Laurentius. He is a member of the royal family.”
“So they run the whole place then?”
“The Council manages the day to day matters but the Overlord is in charge. His family lives in the palace on the far edge of town.”
“So you don’t have a king then?” Andie asked with a little frown.
Tessa made another wide-eyed expression.
“Don’t ever use that term as people dislike it intensely around here. It reminds them of the olden days when our rulers were violent and cruel.”
“I won’t,” Andie assured her companion, reminding herself how long these people had lived up here. “I’d hate to accidentally offend anyone.”
“It’s not such an issue with ordinary folk but just be careful around the Magisters. If you see any men in long white robes, they are the heads of guilds. Don’t mention it around Lord Laurentius either as he’s next in line to rule. Overlord Tiberius is nine hundred and five now so we expect him to abdicate soon.”
It took Andie a second to realise what she had said.
“How old did you say he was!?” she gasped as her jaw ne
arly hit the floor.
“I was about to mention that.” Tessa slumped forward as she smirked rather awkwardly.
Andie stared back at her.
“There’s something rather particular you should know about us. This may come as a bit of a surprise,” Tessa spoke carefully.
“How old are you?” Andie muttered.
“Eighty four.”
“What!?”
“Oh come on. I’m not even old enough to get married,” Tessa said with a frown.
“Holy shit!” Andie exclaimed as her eyebrows arched to the roof.
Tessa went on to explain the Draconarid were an extremely long lived race. Most of them survived to over eight hundred years of age. At eighty four, Tessa had only just become an adult within the strictures of their culture. When she turned one hundred she could choose to marry, although her partnering would need the approval of the Council.
Andie just sat there with her mouth slightly open.
“How old are your parents?” she murmured.
Tessa’s eyes wandered up towards the glass ceiling.
“My mother is five hundred and forty eight and father is five hundred and thirty two.”
Andie sucked in a slow breath. The people she was living with had existed for more than half a millennia.
“I… don’t know what to say.”
“Please don’t be upset,” Tessa pleaded softly as she leaned in to touch Andie’s hands. “You’ve already met us so surely it doesn’t change anything?”
Andie gazed down at the set of small fingers resting upon hers. They were so delicate and perfect, yet so terribly old. Then they curled around the edge of her hands to deliver a gentle squeeze.
“The biggest problem with living this long is everything gets very dull. That’s why we’re all so excited to have you here. Did you know your kind is normally terrified of dragons? They tend to run away from them not chase them into forests.”
“I’m not exactly normal,” Andie admitted with a smirk.
