The lights visibly went on in Iselin’s eyes as she turned her perfect gaze on Legon. he knew she was on to Sasha. She looked him over. he felt blood rushing to his face. oddly, he found himself reciting the fear litany in his head. This was all the more embarrassing because Iselin, like Mantic and probably every other Elf in the room, could hear his heart speed up and see his face flush, even if the humans couldn’t. And worse, Mantic and Iselin most certainly felt the heat off him. This was great. maybe he should go back to bothering the empire.
He spoke. “That’s ok Sash, I’m sure that…”
“No, I think it’s a good idea. Mantic, I will take them from here. Sasha, Sara, I like you two. We’re going to be friends, I can already tell.”
Mantic looked like he had been taken off guard. clearly this was not part of the plan, and clearly Iselin had no authority to do this, but he turned and walked off anyway.
Sasha knew that she probably shouldn’t be trying to set Legon up with the first Elf she saw, but Iselin seemed to have a good sense of humor and probably wasn’t the type to be bothered by this behavior. Arkin was standing behind her and she could hear him trying not to laugh. Iselin made a jab at him and it appeared to be in good fun. she wondered about their history.
“Well, I will show you to your quarters first and you can rest and refresh yourselves. then we can eat and I’ll show you around. Oh, and Legon, Mantic is in the process of contacting your house so they and the other great houses can ratify you.”
“Ratify me?”
“Yes. They need to certify that they believe you are who you are. it’s a formality, not to worry. They’ll have answered by this evening.”
Iselin whistled and Sasha gasped as she saw a large cat come walking up to her. It wasn’t a cat, though. It was made of pink fire and was in the likeness of a cat, slightly transparent with glowing eyes and a grapefruit sized ball of bright pink magic in its chest. The cat walked forward to inspect them, stopping first at Arkin, rubbing against his legs like any other cat would do. he petted it. Iselin looked inquisitively at them, and then seemed to realize something.
“So Arkin, what exactly did you teach them about magic?”
Arkin looked up, his countenance showing much irritation. “Oh, I’m sorry my lessons weren’t up to your standards. forgive me for keeping them alive.”
Iselin laughed. “Touchy aren’t we. come, Cat.”
“You still haven’t named her yet?” Arkin asked flatly.
“No. Why should I? Cat is so perfect. she is a cat, after all.”
“She’s a familiar, not a cat,” Arkin asserted.
“She’s in a cat form right now, so…”
“I’m sorry, but I’m confused,” Sasha said.
Iselin answered. “Oh, sorry. Cat is a familiar. she’s made of magic, as you can see. this light in the center is where the crystal that powers her is. Familiars are very handy but take a class five to make and they’re hard to do. you will learn more about them. If you see Cat and need my assistance, you can ask her and if she is in range she will contact me.”
“Thank you,” Sasha said.
“You’re welcome. Now let’s go.”
Iselin turned and started to walk off, her cat close behind. Sasha liked Iselin so far, but she was also overwhelmed by this place. everything about it was alien to her. They walked through passage after passage passing other Elves, all just as gorgeous as Mantic, or “delicious,” as Sara was thinking, but no humans. finally Iselin spoke to Arkin.
“Will you be a dear and show Legon and Keither to their rooms and give them the tour? I will tend to Sasha and Sara.”
Arkin must have known where they were going because he nodded and turned down a hall with Legon and Keither. Sasha and Sara continued to follow Iselin, but something was bothering Sasha.
“Dang it!” she said.
“What is it?” Iselin asked.
“I forgot our things. I’m sorry, Iselin can you tell me how to get back in here and I can go get our stuff?”
Iselin smiled. “You don’t think that we have things for you?”
“Well I don’t…”
“When Mantic said that you were being offered our hospitality it didn’t just mean a room. he did offer, didn’t he?”
“Well yes, but…”
“We will have someone bring your things in, don’t worry about that. But all of your clothes are for colder areas; you must be hot,” Iselin said.
“We are,” Sasha replied.
“Good, then you will like the clothes we give you. They’re much lighter. I and another Ascended picked them out for you.”
“Oh, you did? Thank you. And Iselin?”
“Yes?”
“What’s an Ascended?” Sasha asked.
“Sorry, a dragon. You can use either term, but with the Elves you will mostly hear Ascended, as it’s the correct term.”
Sasha nodded and wondered: had Arkin given their measurements in his reports as well? She decided not to ask. They stopped at a plain looking door.
“This is your apartment while here. I will show you around,” Iselin said.
Iselin opened the door and Cat darted in like all cats do when doors are opened. So far she had been impressed by the dragon dome, but her quarters topped it all. There was a large living space with two white couches and a divan. the room was all wood with dark beam-like ribs running up the walls, meeting in the middle of the ceiling, which was about ten feet high with a large dome shaped light at the top. she noticed that the beams had intricate leaves carved, or rather grown, in them. The floor was the same dark color as the beams. to her right was a small sink that had a funny looking pipe coming out its back, and to her left a closet. On the floor was large rug. separating the couches was a table not more than two feet from the ground. She walked to the couches, examining the intricate woodwork. Sara sat on down on one.
“Even when I was sent to a rich man’s house I never saw luxury such as this.”
Iselin started apologetically “I am sorry for the meager apartment. As a lady of one of the great houses you should have more, but unfortunately space does not permit.”
“This is normal?” Sasha asked.
“Of course. You must remember we come from different worlds. To Elves this is average at best. When you go home you will see real luxury. now come, I will show you how everything here works and where your chambers are.”
Iselin took them on a tour of the apartment, starting first with the sink and the funny pipe, which was called a faucet. it was astounding. Next she walked them into a bedroom. they were met by a bed the likes of which Sasha had never seen. It was much larger than any she had ever slept in. she pressed down on the soft silky sheets. it was squishy. Iselin smiled at them and showed them the bathroom, as it was called.
Their amazement didn’t seem to end. there was a round thing you sat on and did your business like an outhouse, and Iselin said that the waste was taken by the dome. Then there was the ‘shower,’ which consisted of a space you stood in naked and an odd-looking set of hollow tubes close together coming from the top of the wall sprayed water on you. Against the wall was a ridge that you moved your hand along until the water was a temperature that you liked. There was a sponge and a liquid soap for your body and another for your hair.
“You two look a little overwhelmed,” Iselin said
“That’s a good way to say it,” Sara said.
“Well, I’ll tell you what: Sasha, you can stay in this room, and Sara, you can stay in the one across the living space. It’s set up the same. Take a nice, long, hot shower. Trust me, you will feel better and I wi…”
