Isolus
Lady of the Lexicon
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Prologue: The Fading Light
City of Sangria || The Sunset Temple || Early Evening
Prologue: The Fading Light
City of Sangria || The Sunset Temple || Early Evening
By the time the evening patrol had ascended the tower walls to begin the first night watch, the springtide rains had already ceased their misty downpour over the capital city of Sangria. In the dewey mist that mingled among the fading rays of the sandy sunset, the air smelt fresh again freshened by the light shower that blended the distant scents of the sea with the spiced rust of the twinkling sands of Soltantius. Life stirred momentarily among the pointed peaks of the sentinel towers. The city watch went about their routines, climbing up and down the gilded stairways that lead to the city walls and overlook perches. And as a dole of ivory doves glided over the domed rooftops and settled snugly into their nests perched among the bell towers' attic shafts, the golden city bells rang their final tolls to be heard in every corner of the city. Soon, the city gates would be closing for the night and would not open their iron bars again until morning's first light.
It was in the fading rays of the sun peering through the vast swathe of violet clouds above Sangria that Karine's Illuminators began their march through the streets. The myriad lanterns, torches, and sconces that lined the roads of the walled city were already being lit, one by one, by small parties of lamplighters. For the brothers and sisters of Karine's Golden Path, the act of bringing forth light to the lands of men in order to keep the dark auras afar was of great religious significance. Each and every night, the Temple sent its trusted parties of priests out to usher in the sanctity of Light and banish the feared Dark by lighting the paths of the city.
Among the mingling colors of brilliant white linen robes, embroidered with muted gold patterns along the edges, and the tall amber flicker of the lamps' glow, no one appeared to notice one small maiden spilt away from her party. Her footfalls crunched evenly upon the pebbled road as her focus turned from her nightly duties and to the temple the stood mounted before them in the distance. Even in the incoming darkness of the springtide night, the grandeur of the Sunset Temple was not so easily obscured. Only second to that of the Crystal Palace, the temple remained tall and alluring to any wandering eye. Its own domed roofs and impressive towers an envy to many - and that was exactly where the wandering Illuminator's current quarry lay.
The pavement spanning across the the temple's courtyard was still glazed with a soft sheen of rain water. Soft puddles pooled upon the walkway's pavement, their surfaces reflective like tiny mirrors that reverberated with each step taken by the suede sandals of bustling priestesses or the worn boots of the elder scribes as they traveled from the open courtyards to their lone towers above the city. The myriad of torches that lined the walkways had already been furnished by a small parties of lamplighters before they left to travel the city streets. It was just enough to provide the robed priests, bundled with their holy texts and decorative staffs, a way to navigate the winding paths.
Alas, Eira was never permitted to go with the other children to learn the Illuminator's path. Instead when the evenings came, a scroll was thrust into her tiny arms as she was herded back into to her communal dormitory where she was instructed to recite the twelve tenets of the Golden Path by the moon's first light. This night was different however. When evening mass came and Eira watched the other children march silently to the chapel tower, she felt a hand rest upon her shoulder. Maester Castillo, the Senior Illuminator, had stayed behind to speak with her. Though he was a relatively new addition to the Church of Karine, with a supposed tenure of only 5 years, his rank within the Iridescent Path was not insignificant. But Eira knew who the man truly was. He was no priest any more than she was a priestess, yet the towering man with the aquiline nose and the growing crowfeet knew how to play his part far better than she did. A spy does need to be. Maester Castillo led her away from the lights of the chapel, yet Eira never had a reason to fear him. Mama told her not to, that he was one of them and that he would be there to protect her. Thus when the man told her to pack as much as she could carry and wait for him in the Inner Sanctum, the child did not question him. It was clear they would be on the move. Again.
And now she sat in the silence of the empty pews, her belongings bundled by her side and a fresh scroll laid within her small hands. The golden statue of Karine was her only company currently. She was supposed to be writing the twelve tenets, but-
"If I'm only leaving, then who will care to see what I write?" The child thought, casting a glance at the statue as if she expected it to answer her silent question. Eira admitted it was silly to believe now, thinking that a woman made of diamond and gold cared what she did. With a determined look, Eira dug a used charcol stick from her satchel and scribbled its tip noisly over the parchment. If Karine was going to punish her 'idle' hands, then so be it. Once Eira cared to memorize the sacred texts of the Fellow's Goddess - she'd be the last to sleep and the first to rise, the one most eager to pour the holy water within Karine's sacrificial basin for morning prayers. But as if late, Eira found little interest in the whims of gods.
Eira examined her crude drawing. Its edges were squiggly as her young hands found little grace to draw evenly. But it didn't even matter if no one else could see or understand what the picture was. Eira knew who they were. There was a woman with hair as white as a Illyian snowstorm. Mama. And Mama was standing next to a tall man in beautiful black armor. Adrian. Hmm. She used to pray for him too. His face and his voice never left her memory. How could it? Aside from Mama, he had grown to become the only one she truly trusted. But some dreaded part of her wondered if Adrian had fallen too? Had they mounted his head upon the Iron Wall next to Mama's? Had no one told her yet? Eira scrunched the edges of the rice paper, finding the corners of her eyes suddenly misty - It was a thought Eira couldn't bear to think.
Voices echoed from beyond distance pillars. Eira peeked from her drawing to catch a torch's light fading upon the stone wall where shadows danced and quickly died. It wasn't difficult to recognize the towering form of Maester Castillo. But who was the one with him? The little girl hastily stuffed her drawing within her crimson cloak's pocket, scooping her satchel up and scurrying behind a pillar just as the newcomers rounded the corner. Castillo came into view first. His most distinct features was always his height. Standing well over six foot, he dwarfed the men and women he stood over in evening prayer. He dwarfed his companion especially, which Eira saw was a slender maiden bearing bronze skin and dark almond eyes. Her chestnut locks were braided and concealed under the shawl of her soft robes. A native to Solantius - perhaps one who would be assisting them.
"Then we best take this chance while it is still available to us. Ah, but where is Alexandar? He was supposed to be here already and we have little time to delay before the city gates close." There was no flowery speech to his words anymore. The way Castillo spoke stirred a sense of dread within the small child; an urgency that almost forced her to leave her hiding place and scamper over to him.
"Ah, but he is already here, Maester." The maiden said softly.
Castillo paused and scanned his gaze across the empty sanctum. His towering shadow was laid upon the embroidered pillars, yet the elder Illuminator could see no one else's shadow aside from his own and his smaller companion's.
"No, no. Here. Maester." Gently, the maiden's slender palms fell upon one of the silk curtains that ordained the outer pillars. Castillo raised an eye brow and opened his mouth to speak, yet the words clogged in his throat just she revealed the sight that lay behind the curtain. Alexandar was there, just as she said - his throat slit, his eyes glazed over as death's hand squeezed the life from him only hours ago.
Betrayed. They had been betrayed! The princess.
Castillo spun around just as the maiden's dagger flashed from her robes and buried its tip deep into his stomach. When he flinched at the spray blood and searing pain, she relinquished the blade only to stab him further - again and again, the dagger's silver bite met with unprotected flesh. Castillo feel to his knees, his boney hands shakily grasping his killer's slender arm and her mist-coated cloak. As he did, his hand pulled away sticky enchanted strings as if he had touched a spider's web instead of a maiden's skin - Indeed, the remnants of an illusion spell had worn down from his touch to reveal pale skin hiding under olive tones. The woman's smile only grew wider as yanked the knife from his belly and twisted it into his chest.
"The Dewguards send their regards, northern pig."
The king's assassin slowly slid her blade from between Castillo's ribs as the life finally left his eyes and he collapsed in a heap to the ground. She covered her arm with her long sleeve to hide the disintegrating illusion spell, just as she caught of a crimson cloak billowing around the corner and disappearing down the far hallway. Smiling to herself, the assassin calmly moved to the door after the princess.
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