Book One: Chapter Eight
The dark stone room underground was filled with barrels of wine and beer. In one corner, dimly lit by candlelight, a clean smock lay to the side near a bucket filled with piss and offal. And there next it was a raven-haired woman laying naked on a bed of hay, her bloated belly jutting out and her large breasts hanging to either side of a small newborn child which she held fondly. She breathed forcefully and her long damp hair was matted against her forehead. Then she suddenly grunted and her eyes went wide. Adalla woke with a start, sitting up quickly.
Her breathing gradually slowed from it's elevated state. On the other bench seat inside of the carriage Allora tossed and turned. Adalla put her hand to her sister's shoulder and tried to push her awake, but she did not succeed until shoving roughly which caused Allora to gasp.
"Are you alright?" Adalla asked with concern in her voice.
"I... I was dreaming." Adalla was about to speak, but was interrupted by her sister. "It was about a woman with a baby."
"The same dream that I had."
"The same? What does it mean?" Allora asked with worry.
"I don't know." Adalla hugged her sister and then pulled back the fabric curtains to the carriage. As the horses plodded along they passed tall trees lining the road. Ahead of them, their father, Viscount Deinmag rode his horse, leading the way with some of his men.
Adalla and Allora drifted back to sleep. They slept peacefully, until suddenly the carriage lurched to a stop.
"What happened?" Allora exclaimed.
The twins each chose a window to stick out their head. In front of the carriage a young male Kahzri cried. He had caramel colored skin and long black hair.
Deinmag got off his horse to investigate. He tapped the Kahzri a bit with his leather boot and the baby cried again.
"Where are the rest of your kind?" the Viscount asked. The Kahzri child looked up at Deinmag and cried. "Better to put it out of its misery," he said under his breath.
"What is it father?" Adalla asked.
"Stay inside," he insisted sharply. He drew a short sword and the Kahzri looked at him with innocent eyes, his irises were slightly oblong and horizontal like a goat. There was a cry from the hill above. A female Kahzri stood there, her clawed hand pointing at him. Her hair was pulled back in a braid and her face was lined with concern for what appeared to be her child. She was bare-chested, wearing no more than a few feathers and leaves in her raven black hair. She was chesnut in color from her forehead down to her hooves and her soot colored horns were about two feet long. She opened her mouth and snarled, showing pearl white teeth much sharper than any human's.
"Look," Allora said with wonder. Adalla pushed her head next to her sister. They saw the Kahzri poised there ready to pounce at their father.
"Is this some trap?" Deinmag said under his breath. Then he spoke in a booming voice. "Alright Kabrate, I'll put away my sword if you take your babe and leave." The Kahzri made no sign that she understood. When he moved his sword to the side she immediately took a sharp breath and her eyes opened wide. Her clawed hands clenched as she readied herself to charge. Deinmag slowly lowered his blade to the ground.
She said something in her native tongue and a few other Kahzri approached from behind, some being children. A younger female Kahzri with dark hair tied back and wearing only a thin leather armband, slowly trotted down a slight grade of the hill towards him, while the large female at the top still leered heavily at Viscount Deinmag. The young Kahzri's human half appeared to be in her early twenties and quite beautiful, with chocolate colored skin and fur. Her dark brown nipples were hard in the late autumn air. Her eyes seemed larger than a human and her horse-like legs knelt as she put her arms out to the little male Kahzri. He crawled toward her and hugged her firmly. She said something softly in their own language.
The female above spoke harshly. Then the younger female stood up, carrying the baby with her up the hill. The older female turned her head slightly and spoke, causing those behind her to trot away, back into the forest. Then finally the Kahzri mother turned sharply and galloped away. When she was gone Deinmag grabbed his sword from the ground and slid it into its scabbard. After getting back up onto his horse, he frowned.
"Damn Kabrate," he swore. "Let's go Gerbe," he ordered. The carriage continued along.
"I hope the baby man-horse is ok," Allora said.
"That's not what they're called," Adalla said.
"Sorry, Kabrates," Allora said.
"That's not what I meant. It's a boy-horse, not a baby man-horse."
"Right," Allora nodded in agreement. Then her expression altered to that of confusion. "Horses don't have horns though."
"Boy-horse-goat then."
The rest of the trip through the forest was uneventful. They reached Meikell Manor just as the sun began to set. The balding carriage driver, Gerbe, opened the door and the twins walked to the main door of the manor at the lead. Inside the hall was quiet. There was a young woman stoking the fire, who turned and strode towards the Viscount and bowed meekly.
"Welcome my lord, how might I be of service?"
"Inform the cook that I've arrived. I'm heading upstairs to relax in the solar. Come up and inform me of the menu when you've spoken to the cooks."
"Yes milord," she said with another bow.
* *
They ate a late dinner with their mother and father, then they retired upstairs.
"Goodnight my dears," Lady Farnei said.
"Goodnight mother," the twins replied together.
"Lock the door and give me the key after they're in their room," Viscountess Farnei said, handing her a key from a pocket at her waist.
"Yes m'lady."
The tall female servant followed them with a candle into their bed chamber. She set it on the mantle and went back to the door.
"Could you light the fire Karaon?"
"Of course mistress."
She took a box from the ledge above the hearth and took out flint and steel. It took several minutes but after several tries she was able to light a fire.
"Did you need anything else, mistresses?"
"No, thank you," Adalla said. "Goodnight,” the twins said together with a smile.
“Goodnight,” Karaon said, closing the door.
A loud click was audible as the servant locked the door. The firelight flickered against the mantle.
“It’s still cold,” Allora said as she rubbed her shoulders.
“Let’s huddle under the covers,” Adalla replied after opening the door to the balcony.
“It’s so chilly, why did you open the door?”
“You know how we like seeing the stars at night,” Adalla explained.
"Yes, I know,” Allora smiled, unbuttoning her blouse. "Could you help me unlace?" Allora said as she took off the blouse. The stars illuminated her back (shining through the window) which was covered in a garment fastened with eyelets laced tight between her shoulder blades down to the small of her back. Adalla untied several knots and loosened many ribbons and bows. Finally she was able to help her sister remove the tight garment.
"Thank you," Allora said as she pulled on a nightgown that her sister offered.
"Now me please," Adalla said. She turned towards the open door and began taking off her blouse when suddenly there was a crack of a branch from outside that startled them. They went to the balcony to look.
There was a thump as a pair of figures fell out of the tree near their window into a bush.
"Oh my, was that a person?" Allora exclaimed, clutching her chest.
One and then another man popped up from the bush. The shorter of the two raised a periscope to his eye and then quickly hid behind his back, a sheepish look on his face.
"Allora, Adalla, hello how are you?" the young man said loudly.
"Fine," Allora replied.
“Deiky, is it you? Who’s with you, Aldageir?” Adalla asked.
“Yes it's you,” their cousin said sheepishly.
“What are you doing down there?” she asked.
“I was waiting for you,” he replied.
“We were,” Deikuneist corrected.
“Can we come up?” Aldageir asked.
“Is everything alright?” asked Adalla.
“Yeah, I just… we just missed you.”
“Shhh, our parents may be listening. They’re just on the other side of the manor,” Adalla replied. “You can come up, but be careful.”
The girls watched as the young men ascended the trellis, grabbing the vines for support. Deikuneist climbed first and then Aldageir. The twins helped pull Deikuneist onto the balcony first.
“Thank you,” he said.
“It’s been so long since I’ve seen you,” he smiled hugging Adalla and looking at her fondly.
“That’s Allora,” she said.
“Oh sorry,” he said sheepishly. He gave the other sister a hug.
As Aldageir came up, Adalla helped him get over the ledge. He seemed exasperated by the time he got over the ledge.
“We just came from Bausheiv this afternoon, did you follow us?” Adalla said.
“No. Well, we have...” Deikuneist began but trailed off.
“Why don't you and Allora go inside?” Aldageir said to Deikuneist.
“Why?” Adalla asked.
"He's going to talk to her alone," Aldageir explained.
"Why?" Adalla asked.
"We have a surprise for each of you."
"Oh..."
Deikuneist grabbed Allora's hand and pulled her inside. Adalla frowned.
"They'll be alright."
She sighed.
"A- Adalla I.. I want to talk to you…"
"What about?"
"You know I... well I..."
She looked concerned as he struggled for words.
* *
Allora sat on the bed, on her knees, sitting on her forelegs, while Deikund sat next to her.
"Allora... I," Deikuneist stammered. "I wanted to say that… I… I love you."
"Oh…" she sighed, her face turning red. She didn't respond. Deikuneist became worried.
"Do you-"
"I love you too," she said, suddenly crying softly.
"Don't be sad. I want to show you something," he said, putting his hand to his waist and starting to untie a cord. Allora turned away. He untied the pouch on his belt and pulled out a necklace. "Allora," Deikuneist said, tapping her shoulder.
She turned back to face the long haired boy. He held a pendant necklace. Wrapped around the pear-shaped nearly two inch long red stone pendant were thin silver filaments connected to a small icon of a cherub. A silver chain looped through the cherub's halo. Pale red beads and hollow ivory tubes etched in Trocano letter characters ran the length of the chain.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"It's beautiful, thank you."
She lay back on the pillows and he lay next to her, placing it around her neck.
* *
Aldageir pulled a necklace from beneath his tunic. It was similar in design to Allora's but the stone was roughly heart shaped and a pale blue.
"It's beautiful, what's it for?"
"It's blue agate, symbolizing purity. Please wear it to remember me when I cannot be with you."
"I will."
"Can I put it on you?"
"Of course."
He unlatched the clasp and she moved her long hair so he could fasten it around her neck. "It's a bit long," he commented. "I could have it shortened."
"No, it's perfect," she smiled.
"It's pretty Aldy, I thank you."
"You are most welcome. I gave it to you because I... I like you."
"I like you as well. You are so generous."
"No I mean... like..."
Aldageir stopped talking when he heard Allora say-
"Fareik, we're supposed to be in bed," Allora said in panic, pulling up the covers. Deikuneist looked around frantically for a place to hide.
There was the sound of a key loudly fumbling in the bedroom door lock.
"Hide," Adalla said to Aldageir. She went into the bedroom and closed the door to the balcony before getting to the bed.
Allora and Adalla hid the necklaces beneath their gowns, as they heard someone continue to fumble with the lock. They pulled the sheets up to cover Deikuneist hiding between them as the door finally opened.
Lady Farnei stood with a candleholder, light flickering across her sharp nose and aged face. Her hair was pulled back into a nightcap and she was dressed in a comfortable white flowing gown.
"What was all that talking I heard? Why are you not sleeping?"
"I'm sorry mother, we were... um... just speaking about... the kabrate we saw today."
"I heard someone else's voice," she said, looking into the wardrobe. She looked through all the clothing.
"Oh, it's just us mother," Adalla said.
"Allora, is that true?"
"Y-yes mother."
"It sounded like a boy."
"Well, I... I was imitating the kabrate," Adalla replied.
"Really?" Lady Farnei asked dubiously. Her hands went to her hips.
They nodded.
"I better not find anyone," she said, now peering at the bed. She lifted the sheets at the bottom of the bed to inspect underneath it. "Hmmm," she mumbled. She checked behind their wardrobe, and behind their dressing curtain, but no one was hiding there either. Then she went towards the balcony.
"As she reached for the door Adalla spoke.
"Mother, don't you trust us?"
"No," she said flatly, and then pulled open the door.
The twins leaned forward with anticipation as their mother looked onto the balcony. There was no one there.
"Well I suppose you are telling the truth this time," Farnei said as she closed the door and turned back to the twins. She sat on the end of the bed.
“Ow,” Deikuneist said softly.
"I didn't mean to sit on you," she said, moving her rump.
"You aren’t," Allora said.
“Who's foot is this then?" she said grabbing the blanket.
"Huh? Oh that foot? Yeah... that's mine," Adalla said.
"Daft girls. Alright, no more talking. I know the sight of kabrate may have been exciting, but it's time to rest now.
"Yes mother," they said in unison.
She took the candle from the room and locked the door behind her.
"That was so close," Adalla said, pulling down the sheet to reveal Deikuneist.
"Your mother is heavy," he said, with a pained expression as he rubbed his leg.
"Where is Aldy?" Adalla said, getting up from the bed and going to the balcony. He wasn’t there. Then grabbing onto the top of the stone wall on the balcony, she peered over the right edge by the trellis.
“Is she gone?” Aldageir asked, shivering in the night and holding fast to the vine covered trellis. "I can't hold on much longer."
“Yes, come up,” Adalla replied, reaching out her hand. He climbed up and grabbed her hand after climbing over the edge. She let go of him as they walked back into the room. Allora and Deikuneist got out of the bed and went to where the others were standing near the balcony.
“You should go though. If she comes back and sees you, I don't know what she'll do,” Adalla whispered.
“Alright, but… come with us next full moon,” Aldageir said earnestly.
“What, where?”
“The temple ruins,” Deikuneist replied. "About halfway to Bausheiv."
“There? I don't think we'll be able to find it in the dark,” Allora replied dubiously.
“The next full moon is only in four days, will you both be here at night?”
“Yes I think so,” Adalla said.
“Alright, one of us will.. signal you.”
“How? Our parents might hear again."
“Right… How about you put something on the balcony, when you are certain your parents have gone to bed.”
“Oh, like a pillow?”
“Yes, then we will go to… someplace more fun,” he smiled.
“Ah, for Allora and Deiky,” Adalla smiled.
“Nay not only-” Aldageir began, but Deikuneist cut him off.
“Let us go, before we are found out.”
They each held hands of the girls they had gifted the necklaces to with a gentle squeeze before climbing down the trellis. They watched the boys ride away on their horses in the partial moonlight, Deikuneist to the West and Aldageir to the East. They had trouble sleeping that night.
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