Chapter 04

Family Descent

Book One �" Divergence

Part I �" Novices

Chapter 04

April 1657

 

            The smell of night-blooming mountain jasmine wafted in through the open window of Shalhanna’s office on the topmost floor of the academy’s main building accompanied by the slanting silver glow of the largest of Pedias’s moons, the argent Silna. The headmistress sat behind the large carved desk working by the glow of an enchanted crystal set within a bronze stand at the corner of the desk.

            Too small she seemed behind the massive desk, the top of which was covered by neat stacks of parchment. Before the slender elf sat a small tome bound in leather. The slender, nimble fingers of her right hand held a white quill pen tipped with a silver nib that she deftly moved between page and ink pot. The soft scritch scratch of the pen on the paper of the book was the only sound in the room until a knock sounded upon the sturdy oak door.

            She raised her tilted green eyes to the door; delicate arched brows raised in curiosity. “Enter.” She said the word in Ilithan accented by the lilt of the elven tongue. The door opened soundlessly on well-oiled hinges and Korrie entered.

            “Korrie.” Shalhanna said with a warm smile as she set aside the pen. “What a lovely surprise.” Korrie immediately saw the stacks of paper and the open book.

            “Do I disturb you, Hanna?” he asked making a backward gesture with his hand suggesting that he might leave.

            “Never, my Liatanu. Come in and tell what has you about at this hour.” Korrie smiled fondly at her use of the nickname she had given him years ago. Bright star it meant in Elasarin, the common tongue of the elves of Ilitha.

            “Sleep eluded me and I saw the light from your window.” He said as he entered the office and closed the door behind him. “I thought we might talk for a while, but I see you are engaged.” He gestured to the work on her desk.

            “Not so busy as all that.” She laughed lightly and it brought to mind the light fluidity of birdsong. “I am just finished as it happens. I’ve been updating the student records for you and the other graduates.” She closed the book in front of her. Its cover was a special leather of a misty grey color. Embossed upon the cover and spine was the name of the student whose record it contained. As Korrie sat in one of the upholstered chairs he recognized the name of Jonathan Derbin. Jonathan was one of the three graduating students who had studied magecraft at the academy. Jonathan was the same age as Korrie and Iyara and his parents owned the Briar House, a boarding house on the road between the academy and Orlon.

            “Let me put this up and you shall have my undivided attention.” Shalhanna said as she stood up from the leather padded desk chair. She placed her right hand on the closed book and murmured a phrase in the archaic mage tongue. The enchanted leather binding on the book shifted from grey to a brilliant sky blue. The headmistress took up the journal and moved to a tall book shelf beside the desk.

Korrie watched as she fairly glided across the floor. She wore silken pants that were loose and flowing and over the top, a chemise of the same dusty green fabric. Her long auburn hair was held back in a long tail.

On the middle shelf was a row of identical journals in misty grey. The shelf above contained a smaller row of books that matched the one she carried and she slid it into the row. Above that was a row of teal green books that was smaller still. The top shelf held a row of merely a dozen or so tomes in forest green.

            Each level, Korrie knew, was for students of various levels. The first row, the misty grey tomes were for current students. The sky blue journals were for graduates. Above those, the teal books were for those graduates who stayed beyond the two year general academics to study the Art and graduated the four year stint. The top row of forest green records were for those mages who had graduated but returned, on occasion, to continue study or learn new skills. Now Korrie’s book would take its place on the teal green shelf.

            Now Shalhanna turned from the shelf. Barefoot she moved around the desk and stopped beside the chair in which Korrie had sat. In the candlelight he could see the fine stitching in copper thread that wound around the hem and collar of the chemise in a vine and leaf pattern the elves favored.

            “Let us be comfortable.” She said to him and gestured toward the corner of the room. On the floor in the corner, surrounded by the heavy oak paneled walls was an arrangement of large down-filled pillows surrounding a low round table. Korrie smiled for throughout the years of his short life, this had become a custom between the two on those long nights when he could not find sleep. He rose from the chair and followed her to the casual seating nook. Like Shalhanna, Korrie wore loose fitting trousers though his were black instead of green. A matching silk, sleeveless tunic reached midway down his thighs. Korrie felt the soft fibers of the plain woven rug beneath his feet as he walked to the cushions for he too was barefoot; another habit he acquired from his long and close relationship with the elf woman.

            As Shalhanna settled into the mass of cushions she gestured to the table that, but a moment before, held only a small glowing crystal lamp, yet now held a porcelain teapot and two cups as well.

            “Will you pour out?” She asked as Korrie slipped down to the floor on the opposite side. He nodded and picked up the pot and poured two cups of steaming tea. Although he already knew what brew the pot held, still the vapors laden with the scent of chamomile and peppermint confirmed it. The student passed the first cup to the teacher and set his own down upon the table before adjusting the cushions to his liking.

            As the oft repeated ritual continued Shalhanna sipped her tea silently while looking at the young man before her waiting for his thoughts to settle and for him to speak the thoughts aloud. Korrie brought the steaming cup to his face and inhaled the vapors deeply letting the fragrance ease his stirring mind. He then sipped the tea and felt the warm soothing effect as it traveled inside. With a deep sigh he set the cup on the table.

            “Tell me again of Chevranta and what life will be like among your people.” He said at last looking at her across the table. She smiled her quiet smile.

            “Your people as well, Liatanu.” She said. “Forget not that your grandfather’s grandmother, your sister’s namesake, Miranda, came from Chevranta. Though five generations separate you, you will be amongst kin.” Korrie nodded.

            “I remember, Hanna, but apart from you, there is little I know of the elven culture.” Shalhanna tilted her head slightly to the side.

            “Tis true, aye, but you do know the language.” She answered.

            “Mei alda ta. Da gradu ne parselna li Shaern.” He replied in Elasarin with a grin.

            “No, language does not make the People.” Shalhanna said referring, as elves always did, to themselves as the People �" the Shaern. “But it does make it easier to communicate when two share a tongue.” She countered.

            “Yes, I know but…” Korrie began. Beneath his dark lashes and golden winged brows, Shalhanna saw the fatigue in his dark gold eyes.

            “But you want me to speak of Chevranta, Estarin and all that your future holds.” She said and Korrie nodded and reclined deeper into the cushions; the cup of warm tea held against his chest. Shalhanna’s small figure settled more comfortably and, at a thought, the mage crystals illuminating the room all dimmed to candlelight brightness and she began.

            “Chevranta, the People’s city in the Baltic Wood is an eld city. Before the founding of the great Hanali Empire was it settled and has existed long past Hanali’s fall more than three millennia ago.” Korrie smiled and closed his eyes to see the vision his mentor and friend wove with her words.

            “Unlike the great elven city of Isthia far south in Ggin Wood, with its buildings of  white marble and crystal, Chevranta is woven from the fabric of the forest itself. Over thousands of seasons, the mighty trees of the eld forest have been trained into living structures that form the homes and halls of the Chevashaern. High above the forest floors our bowers have walls, floors and roofs of living branches. Moss, soft and sweet-smelling, carpets the floors.” Shalhanna paused to sip her tea and her green eyes slid sideways to glance at Korrie. She saw the lines of stress lessened on his brow and his breathing seemed relaxed and easy. She continued, softly.

            “It is but a three day, easy-paced ride from Orlon to Chevranta, although the way within the wood is hidden. At the edge of the city lies Estarin’s dwelling; for although the city is gentle and peaceful, oft there is singing and dancing and Estarin would have nothing disturb his workings.” She laughed softly. “Often, while I apprenticed with him, I would alight to find him chastising some bird or squirrel for disturbing his thought with their chattering.

            Much did I learn from Estarin. A stern master he is but wise beyond measure. Do not let his youthful appearance deceive you however. He has lived in Chevranta since before the fall of Hanali and knows much. But though his temper will surely flare at times, I have no doubt you will do well by him and he will be honored to count among his apprentices.” She looked again at Korrie and saw the tea cup angled dangerously in his limp hand.

            Hanna set her own cup softly on the table top and with quiet grace lifted herself from the cushions with nary a whisper of silken fabric. She padded around the table and gently took the cup from Korrie and set it, too, on the table.

            She looked down upon him as he slept and was bewildered when she felt the sting of tears at the corners of her emeraldine eyes. She closed her eyes and pictured in her mind Korrie’s room in the labyrinth beneath the Imirisses home on the academy grounds. The image came quickly and clearly to her as this was a casting she had done hundreds of times since Korrie came into their lives. Her slender hands and arms performed a complex series of gestures and she whispered the mage words that fashioned the enchantment. As the last word left her lips in a hushed rush, she opened her eyes and laid her hand softly on Korrie’s forehead.

            In the time in took to blink an eye she was standing in Korrie’s room, beside his bed whereupon her young student now lay, her hand still resting on his forehead. She brushed back a lock of golden hair from his forehead. She plucked a blanket from one of the chairs near the fireplace and laid it over him.

            “Good night, my Liatanu.” She whispered tenderly. Silently she moved across the room and opened the heavy wood door. She cast a final look back at the sleeping form of her young friend and then slipped through the door and closed it softly behind her.