Chapter 8: When we finally met a master

--SABLE--

“Did you hear me?” Jamie squealed as he waved a hand in front of Lillie’s face. “Yoo-hoo! I know your boyfriend looks absolutely stunning, but can’t you listen to me for just a second?”

“What?” she snapped, twisting to look at him, and breaking our intense gaze.

“Hey, don’t be so mean,” Lara said while wrapping her arm around Lillie’s shoulder. “Lillie has every right to admire her handsome man.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Jamie said while his eyes darted at me, but quickly returned his attention to Lillie. “Like I said, we need to travel by the upper levels in order to get to Lord Orvin’s residence—he’s on the sixth level, you know—in the Trinkuv District, no less.”

“Okay, that shouldn’t be a problem,” Lillie replied while rolling her eyes as Jamie pulled out a small brass object from the inside pocket of his jacket, and peered down after it popped open.

“It wouldn’t be a problem if we had wings like Sable, but, if you used your smart mind for a moment, you’d realize that we don’t have useful limbs other than our own two feet, and we should have left five minutes ago!” Lillie huffed loudly as she shook her head, and Lara simply smiled as she ran her hand down Lillie’s exposed arm, admiring my girlfriend’s beauty.

“You all have fun, okay? Bring me some dessert if you can,” Lara said with a happy tune. She squeezed Lillie’s arm and then shoved Jamie with an elbow to his gut, then moved towards the stairs. “I’m going to get more acquainted with Historia since we have now officially been introduced.”

After we left the library, Jamie and Lillie immediately began arguing the most efficient way to reach Lord Orvin’s home, but, in the end, Lillie gave up after realizing how familiar Jamie truly was with navigating the upper levels, and we ended up avoiding the streets altogether as he weaved us through the overhanging bridges.

I did not know what to expect from visiting a high-class nobleman, but as I followed Jamie who led Lillie and me through the labyrinth of the new district of Trinkuv, I no longer was surprised at how complex Cedrus City really was. As we went further up to the sixth level and away from the working-class district, I noticed the extensive differences of buildings, the fancier, and more vibrant clothes people wore, and the differences in hairstyles. Similar to Jamie’s short cut, the upper-class people also styled their hair short on the sides and voluminous on top. Some even had unusual colors in shades of purple and blue, and many wore several piercings along their long, pointed ears.

“Here we are! Lord Orvin’s estate—right before us!” Jamie sung with his arms spread wide and he stood in front of two very large wooden doors with decorative glass in curved windows that were too foggy to see through. He twisted on his heel, placing his arms on his hips. “Now, be on your best behavior. We wouldn’t want to waste first impressions, now would we?” I glanced at Lillie, who simply rolled her eyes, but then I grabbed her hand as I nervously exhaled while Jamie spun around and began knocking on the door.

“Don’t worry,” she said while looking up at me, and Jamie nervously adjusted the lute strap across his chest. “Just be yourself.”

“Okay,” I said, and the two large doors opened inward, drawing air inside, and my cape dramatically pulled forward and my wing feathers rustled as well. A tall man with long, dark hair pulled back into a low ponytail greeted us, then beckoned us to follow him.

“Is that?” I whispered to Lillie while leaning over, our hands still intertwined.

“Lord Orvin? No, only a servant,” she replied. “Most elites have servants to do the mundane tasks.”

“Oh. Like slaves?”

“Uh—no, they receive a salary, unlike a slave.”

“Oh.”

“Thankfully, slavery is frowned upon, and the Tamarines of Ciimera don’t participate in slavery—although it feels like it sometimes.”

While Jamie chatted with the servant while we walked down the large hallway, I looked up at the extensively high ceilings elaborately designed in ways I had never seen before in the city. Tall windows with foggy glass lined one side of the wall, and along the ground ran a pink carpet that I began to fear would become dirty under my boots.

“Be careful tonight,” Lillie whispered as she leaned closer to me. “We obviously don’t know why this man summoned you, but don’t let your guard down.”

“Right,” I replied quietly, and Jamie gave a rather loud laugh that echoed across the long, narrow hall.

“But, no fighting—who knows if there are Keepers lurking about for this man’s security—especially if he really is one of the most powerful masters.”

“Okay.”

“But, also, keep your wits about you, and don’t let their facade convince you of anything suspicious.”

“Right.”

“Oh, what splendid floral arrangements!” Jamie chimed as he clapped his hands together while peering over at a narrow table against the wall. The servant replied with a low hum, speaking about the exported flowers, and Jamie glanced over at Lillie with pursed lips.

“Impressions truly are impeccable,” Jamie said as his eyes widened, then turned to face the servant again, but still spoke loudly as Lillie released her hand from mine. “Something as delicate as flowers—yes, impressions and flowers go together like Tamarines and Teraganes.”

Jamie and the servant laughed while both eyeing us, and Lillie gave a rather fake laugh as the servant then pushed open a door at the end of the hall. We all followed, and entered a large dining room where a elegantly carved table sat under a crystal chandelier. Like the hall, the walls were lined with glass-stained windows, the ground with lavish carpet, and the table was covered with an array of cutlery, but scents of food wafted the air.

A tall, thin Tamarine stood in front of the table, facing us with his hands folded in front of him as a smile crossed his aging, grey face. His short, white hair caught my attention, for Lillie had told me that the man standing before the Keepers after attacking me also had white hair, and my mind began to swirl with questions of whether or not it was this man who had stopped the brawling.

“Greetings, my esteemed guests,” he said with an intrigued, smooth tone, and he took a few steps towards us. He wore a vibrant violet waistcoat that plunged deeply, revealing his bare chest, and had wispy, transparent black sleeves that flowed with his movements. His pointed ears were pierced, and chains hung from the tips down to the lower lobe, and he flashed a pearly-white grin as he walked right up to me, reaching his decorative hand towards me.

“I am Lord Orvin,” he said while holding his stretched hand out to me, but I bowed my head, and Lillie did as well. “I am so pleased that you accepted my invitation.”

“Thank you for the invite,” I said as I straightened up, but eyed his bejeweled hand still stretching towards me, and Lillie nudged my side, and Jamie my other, but my hands stiffened at my side, still not understanding the sentiment. Lord Orvin laughed as he moved his hand up towards his mouth, hiding his smile, but his piercing yellow eyes glowed like sunlight with a curiosity I hadn’t expected from someone notorious as the Masters of the city.

“My—do Teraganes not know such greetings?” Lord Orvin asked while I nervously glanced over at Lillie who was signaling with her titled head in a way I did not understand, for one never taught me how to greet a Lord.

“Lord Orvin!” Jamie chimed as he reached his hand out and bowed his head lower than either of us, but then he flicked his hair back as he straightened up, and Lord Orvin took Jamie’s hand, and they slightly shook their grasping hands.

Ah! That’s what he expected.

“We are ever so delighted to accept your invitation,” Jamie said after releasing his hand, and I stretched my hand out as well, and Lord Orvin happily grasped it, and I followed Jamie’s exact movement.

“Naturally—the invitation was meant for this young man, however, it appears he extended it to his friends as well?” Lord Orvin said then placed his other hand upon mine, and a prick of pain tensed my neck as Orvin’s eyes smoothly glanced at Jamie, then at Lillie.

“Ah, yes, naturally, my good lord, but as you can see, being the first Teragane to move into the city, our lovely boy needed some extra support. Wouldn’t want him to get lost on account of misdirection within the district, or eating with the wrong fork.” Lillie nervously laughed as Jamie chuckled, and, surprisingly Lord Orvin only smiled while squeezing my hand with both of his, and I stiffened again, unaware what to do next.

“I would have simply looked the other way, for how could I expect someone as mysterious as you to navigate your way through?” Lord Orvin said rather smoothly, and Jamie and Lillie tensed at my sides, but I felt rather relieved as the man released my hand. “So—without further misunderstandings, please, introduce me to yourself and your friends so that I may address you all formally now that you’re finally here.”

“Yes, of course. I am Sable von Hira,” I said, then pointed to Lillie. “This is my girlfriend Lillie Marie Benedict, and our friend Jamie—“ I looked over at him, realizing I did not know his full name.

“Jamie Bari Jamin from the Kraventree family—your humble bard, entirely at your service,” Jamie said, once again bowing dramatically as his hand gripped the strap of his lute against his back.

“Ah, Kraventree of the tax regime, you are ever so welcome here tonight, but please, keep the family business to another day, yes?” Lord Orvin said, and Jamie released a more authentic laugh.

“Not to worry yourself, my good lord, for I refuse to lay a finger upon their work, keeping myself mainly in the entertainment business as a humble bard and friend to those in need of a good laugh and delightful tune.”

“Well, then, perhaps we can hear some of your music later tonight, for quality tunes are hard to come by for my flutist recently damaged her fingers and is no longer practicing. But, please, allow me to invite you all to the table—I’m sure you all are rather hungry for the night has grown dark and you have traveled far.” While Lord Orvin turned away from us with a beckoning hand, Jamie made an excited gesture with his fist, and then skipped over to Lord Orvin’s side, immediately putting on his charming act now that his and Lillie’s presence had been accepted.

Lillie and I followed Lord Orvin, who directed us to our designated seats on either side of the table while he sat at the head and Jamie next to Lillie. I looked down at the chair with a very low back, feeling intrigued as I sat upon the large cushion and my wings smoothly folded behind me. Normally, the wooden chairs I often used were uncomfortable due to my size and wings. Most tables were too short for my height, and I always felt cramped and often unable to even rest my legs underneath like most Tamarines.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Although Teraganes had no use for furniture and I was only growing more accustomed to the furniture provided by the Tamarines I lived around, it felt as if this chair had been designed specifically for me. It was strong, not producing a single creaking noise, and the low backrest allowed my wings to rest comfortably behind. The table was tall and my bent legs easily fit underneath, and I observed how Lord Orvin was also a similar height to me as our eyes met at the same level.

“Comfortable?” Lord Orvin asked me as I glanced down at the chair and rested my hands upon the table.

“Yes, thank you,” I replied, causing the Tamarine man to smile, then his eyes shifted as a group of tall, male servants entered the room with silver plates, announcing our first course, which was an array of fruits and vegetables that I had never seen before.

“Strawberries!” Jamie exclaimed, and then winced as Lillie elbowed him, and I picked up the little red fruit and consumed the juicy flesh, suddenly realizing why Jamie was so excited.

“I thought the strawberry fields had been destroyed,” Lillie said rather smugly, and Jamie then nudged her.

“Oh? I wasn’t aware of that,” Lord Orvin said after plucking up the fruit and drifting it over to my plate while his yellow eyes watched me intently as he plopped it onto the silver platter. “To be honest, I have no idea where these came from. Perhaps the fields had been restored, or these came from somewhere else—I’m sure there isn’t only one field in all of Ciimera.”

“Perhaps,” Lillie said quietly, then picked up another as Jamie leaned over and whispered something to her.

“And what do you think?” he asked me after I ate the juicy triangular shaped fruit.

“It’s fine,” I said, and Lord Orvin’s smile dropped.

“Oh, I’m sorry it is not up to your standards,” he said, sighing heavily as he leaned back in the tall chair. “What kind of food do Teraganes like?”

“I did not mean that. It is fine, as in satisfactory.”

“Oh—I see. My, you are quite alluring. Tell me what kinds of food do you like.”

I glanced over at Lillie, attempting to hide any emotional reaction to the man who was obviously trying to impress me. The strawberry was, in fact, absolutely delicious, and so was everything else set before me. However, I knew the reason why someone like Lord Orvin had access to strawberries, while destroyed fields kept the delicate fruits from ever reaching the plates of those from the lower levels.

“Whatever Lillie makes,” I said, and Lillie’s cheeks flushed as she glanced away while Lord Orvin smirked, eyeing us both.

“Aren’t you just a dream,” Lord Orvin replied, and the servants brought the second course. After the third, and final, I could see why Lillie was often complaining that elites were greedy bastards, for it was an excessive amount of food, and impossible for any of us to consume all that was brought. Perhaps, after exerting extensive energy, I could have eaten all that was given to me, but the servants took my plate away before I could even think twice about consuming every last crumb. Since moving into the city, my routine had drastically changed, and I was no longer flying long distances, and could only strength train on occasion, although I did take any opportunity to carry Lillie in my arms.

Jamie did his best to keep the conversation going, but Lord Orvin navigated each subject back to asking me questions, nearly ignoring Lillie as I attempted to direct my answers in relation to her. I didn’t like being the center of attention, nor Lillie, and Jamie was growing anxious to make his debut. So, the moment Lord Orvin invited him to entertain us, I felt relieved as Jamie accepted the invite with exuberance, but, once again, Lord Orvin turned his attention to me.

“Tell me, my dear Sable,” Lord Orvin spoke in a low voice. “How does a young Teragane find himself in Cedrus City, residing as a fishmonger in the Divcii District?” Jamie sung a dramatic song while Lillie held her head high, bouncing slightly to the tune, but kept shifting her eyes as if she were scanning for danger.

“I fell in love with Lillie,” I replied while looking directly at her sitting across from me, causing her ears to narrow, but she kept looking towards Jamie, almost pretending that she wasn’t paying attention as she sipped from a crystal glass.

“My, how sweet,” he replied with a purr. “But how did you ever come to meet in the first place?”

“It’s a long story,” I said. “Lillie, would you like to tell it?” Lillie’s eyes darted towards me, looking surprised. Lord Orvin’s smile slowly lowered, but he then looked at Lillie.

“Tell what?” she asked with a feigning voice.

“Our story of how we met,” I said softly, and she turned to face the Tamarine man and proceeded to light heartedly tell the tale of how we met, and came together, but significantly left out crucial details, creating a shallow tale. It was disappointing to hear her speak so apathetically about our story, but Lord Orvin happily listened, and I wondered if she was purposefully keeping the important aspects of our relationship private. He rested his pointed chin on top of his palm, intently listening to Lillie, and occasionally clapping at Jamie’s performance who attempted to bring back the attention upon himself.

“What an intriguing story,” Lord Orvin smoothly said as he patted Lillie’s hand resting on the table. “My, you are one lucky girl to have such a handsome man in your life. One so daring—brave, and, well, unique.”

“Of course I know this. He is my shining light,” she said as she blew a kiss towards me, and I had deeply hoped the dinner event would end so that I could sweep her off her feet and return home and kiss her lips.

“Would you be so kind if I stole him away for a few moments?” Lord Orvin asked, dismantling any hope I had about leaving as he rose to his feet.

“Of course not, just don’t keep him too long from me.” She winked, then feigned a flirtatious smile as the man beckoned for me to also stand up.

“Splendid, my dear Sable,” Lord Orvin said. “I have something I’d like to show you.”

He twirled his wispy sleeves and began walking away, and Lillie nudged her head, signaling for me to follow. I bolted up, and followed his trailing sleeves, but I glanced over my shoulder, and Jamie’s smile disappeared as he began strumming and singing slower as we exited the dining hall. Lord Orvin led me through another hallway that entered a towering room, and there was a spiraling staircase he began ascending. I followed still, examining the circular room that extended high up, and drifted my hand along the iron rod as I examined the curved windows surrounding the room that revealed the lit-up city beyond the tower.

As we climbed, the view of the outside expanded, and I could see further through the city, finding it rather intriguing to finally feel capable of seeing things from above. I had seen the glass tower a few times during my excursions, but never once did I imagine it to be a place where someone lived.

After we reached the top of the stairs, there was a long platform with a glass dome ceiling, but the darkness of the branches overshadowed from above. However, further along the platform, there was a brass tube standing on three stilts pointing outwards. Lord Orvin walked to it, and bent down to look through a smaller tube sticking straight up.

“Come, have a look,” he beckoned me, and I leaned over as he had done. A clear picture of a lantern from a street flickered. I glanced up out the window. With my sharp eyes, I narrowed my vision, aiming my sights to see where the lantern could have been. I spotted it along the area in which I knew to be the market square, then I looked back into the tube, realizing that this strange mechanism allowed a Tamarine to see things from a far distance—something I had never thought about since I was already capable of doing so as a Teragane.

“Fascinating, yes?” Lord Orvin asked while standing on the other side of the tube. “It’s called a spy-glass. I purchased it a long time ago from an inventor. It has been quite useful.”

“Yes, fascinating,” I replied, although I did not think it was all that interesting. I knew my sharp eyes were capable on their own, yet, again, it probably was useful for a Tamarine. For what? I wasn’t quite sure.

“I can use it to see anything I want in the city,” he said as he turned to face the window and pointed with a long, slim finger. “Well, mostly, I daresay. It’s difficult to see through some of the low levels, especially in the Divcii District, but I hardly paid much attention until one day I spotted a curious young man—a Teragane in the market square. Odd, I thought, for a Teragane is as elusive as the mountains in which they reside in. I became desperately curious, and even went to the market myself after discovering that this young Teragane had become a fishmonger of the city. However, upon my visitation, I came upon a horrible, bloody scene.”

“It was you who stopped the Keepers?“ I asked, becoming increasingly curious about the man with a strange spy-glass.

“Yes, I’m surprised that you remember me, for you disappeared quite suddenly after I commanded the regime force to stand down. I was going to extend my help, but upon turning around, you were gone and I left it up to hope that you would recover. I interrogated the regime, demanding to know why they would attack. My, it took several days for me to settle things in order, but, alas, the Teragane had gone completely missing, and I could not even tell him the good news of the regime paying back for what they had destroyed.”

“Really? You—you organized that for—for me?” Lord Orvin turned to face me as he folded his hands behind his back and smiled gently while the glow of his yellow eyes softened.

“Of course—it was unnecessary for them to act on accounts of suspicions of fraud, but they reported that your papers had been distorted. However, upon further investigation, it was obviously misrepresented. However, after nearly giving up on seeing you again to help reorganize your affairs, I spotted you again near the Library. Too afraid of losing sight of you again, I sent an invitation, for no one shall disturb us up here.”

My eyes darted as he bent down to examine the spy-glass again. I was unsure how or why Lord Orvin had gone through so much on my account. He was nothing like I had expected, especially as he then straightened up again, and looked at me with more concern.

“Say, tell me dear Sable, are you interested in a different service than selling fish at a market?” he asked, slightly gaping his mouth as his kind smile grew while his yellow eyes glistened in the low light of the city lanterns glowing all around us beyond the glass tower.

“I—don’t know. Lillie and I, well, after the incident with the Keepers, I didn’t feel like going back, but I feel quite useless just sitting around the library while Lillie and Historia fill their days with—uh, other work.”

“I cannot imagine the horrors you have experienced, what restlessness a winged-man such as yourself would feel stuck on accounts of pure prejudice against someone different or suspicious. What unfortunate turn of events, but perhaps it was destiny all along. If you’re interested in changing your field of work, I could offer you a position within my estate. I would give you a good salary, and your job would be way less extensive than a simple fishmonger.”

“What type of work?” I raised my brow as I scratched at my neck, feeling the uncomfortable sense of uneasiness prick my neck, but my desire to have a purpose in the city caused me to simply scratch it away.

“Mainly a messenger. You see, I often need to send messages to varying people across the city, even beyond the outskirts. My servants can only get so far on two feet. However, I am absolutely astonished at your flying capabilities, and would gladly pay you handsomely for your unique assets.”

“That makes sense.”

“And I assure you upon my good word as a lord that you would be safe from the regime, working directly with me. I would take care of all politics, taxes, anything that I’m sure is a bother to someone like you. I’m still appalled of their mistreatment, and would guarantee security with a position with me.”

“That does sound appealing.”

“My, doesn’t it? Oh, please do say you will.”

“I want to speak with Lillie first.” Lord Orvin’s yellow eyes darted behind me, but then he relaxed his demeanor.

“Oh, naturally. Say, the two of you make a strong couple. I wouldn’t want you making any choices without her approval. Come, let us meet with your little friend group, and you can discuss my offer with your lovely bae in private.”

“Wait—would you also take Jamie on as an entertainer?”

“A messenger with wings and a talented bard? Does the world desire me as their child?” My eyes shifted as Lord Orvin chuckled loudly while placing a hand on my shoulder. “Of course, I would love to have Jamie, for he does have a beautiful voice, as well is quite inquisitive in nature. I must use him at my next social event. In fact, I’d love for you and Lillie to come, too. She, as well, is quite the beauty. Oh, I am so thankful that you all came tonight, for I was rather worried that such an opportunity had slipped from my hands before I could even know your name. Now, more will know who you are, and you can find people who would truly appreciate you for who you are, my dearest.”

“What do you mean?”

He had gone above and beyond to make me feel comfortable at dinner, offer me a job more suitable for my abilities, and created an inviting nature that allowed me to relax. He obviously had extended his power of authority to clean up the mess in which the Keepers had created, and now was doing so again. Was he someone like Historia? Someone wise and knowledge seeking to help others who were discriminated against in efforts to make the city a better place for all?

“Look at you. You’re a magnificent being born from the mountains,” Lord Orvin said as he slid his hand over my shoulder, then slowly drifted his hand down my arm. “You are blessed by the spirits with strength and flight. You deserve to be treated with respect. It seems that those in the low-levels demean you to something to be feared. By my side, you can rise above a mere sneer of those who could never understand what blessing they stumbled upon. The way the regime spoke about you caused quite the discomfort.”

I lowered my eyes, suddenly feeling grateful for someone in authority to finally recognize the discrimination I had faced since the day I had entered the city.

This must be my chance to make others know me for who I truly am.

After all, I didn’t abandon my life on the mountain just to be caught under another foot of control and diminishing treatment.

“You belong where you can be truly appreciated for what you really are,” Lord Orvin spoke adherently as he drifted his hand onto my chest, and patted the material gently. “It’s time for you to move further up in Cedrus City—move to where you belong—stand by my side and I will guide you to a better life.”