The Mother of Monsters

Teyva and Paraklytus made their way out of Teyva’s private chambers after that, stopping briefly to check on little Estella who was sleeping soundly. Teyva grabbed her satchel, checking to make sure Queenie hadn’t slipped out again (she had been doing that a lot recently) and departed. As they left they found Abba, Azraels attendant, waiting for them outside the door, ready to tend to the room and the infant’s needs. Teyva gave the maid a quick nod before casting her eyes over the ring-shaped common room. The Marble stood stoically off to the side, one of its eyes opening along the side of its imposing frame to acknowledge its mother. Sitting on one of the couches, his eyes glued to a game board, was Batel. The ashen-haired Captain of Teyva’s guard moved a piece on the board before turning it around and examining it from the opposite side.

“Are you winning?” Teyva asked playfully, making one last visual sweep to make sure she wasn’t missing something, “Where’s Azrael and Elat? I figured they’d be up by now.”

Batel frowned at her and raised an eyebrow, “You explained this game to me, you know better than I that- oh, you’re messing with me,” Batel grunted, standing up and placing his hand over his heart and inclining his head. “Good Morning, Queen Mother, Lady Azrael, and Sir Elat have gone to the gardens for a private conversation.”

“Oh really?” Teyva mused and sighed, “Probably shouldn’t crash the party then.”

“I wouldn’t, Elat seemed quite driven,” Batel said. 

“Driven?” Teyva made a face and looked over at Paraklytus who shrugged, “Interesting.”

“Are you heading out, my Lady?” Batel asked.

“Actually, yes, I wanted to go down to the University and spend time with our people,” She glanced at Paraklytus, “I also wanted to check on your progress with the Mask if that is at all possible.”

The lich inclined his head, “Certainly, I do believe between the masterful work of Barin Kot and my own efforts there has been significant progress made. It may even resonate with you this time.”

“Let’s hope so, waiting is agony,” Teyva grunted. She glanced back at the door to her room, “Nephral? Are you coming?”

The feline’s face appeared in the opening and he shook his head, “No, Mother, I would like to stay and watch over the Young Mistress, if it pleases you.”

Teyva couldn’t help but frown a little. Nephral had been distant in some ways recently. She’d noticed him growing quieter and quieter after the encounter with the Lydan and then the adventure into the University had left him all but stoic. She wondered if his self-perceived weakness had weighed on him that much. She sighed, she wasn’t going to push him right now. She needed to find a way to help him build his confidence first. She nodded her head, “Okay, take care dearie.”

“I will, dear mother,” Nephral said and slipped back into the room.

Teyva turned back to Paraklytus and shrugged before heading toward the door leading into the lift. Batel quickly fell into step behind her and immediately to Perry’s right. The two figures guarding her felt a little like overkill but she wasn’t about to complain. The doors opened and she stepped inside. She glanced over at the control panel and saw it begin to flicker of its own accord. Paraklytus stood next to her with his hand outstretched, bony fingers twitching. A moment later the lift began to descend and Teyva took a deep breath before casting [Alter Self] taking the form she’d seen in the mirror that morning. As her features shifted to something less obvious, Paraklytus did something similar, his body growing smaller and light flickering around his skull until the illusion of an elderly man took shape. 

“See, that’s why I want to learn sorcery,” Teyva said, admiring his transformation. 

Perry’s faux wizened face twisted with mirth, “Oh ho ho ho! You’ll learn one of these days young lady!”

Teyva rolled her eyes and restrained a laugh, rubbing the back of her neck. At least now the three of them looked like a noble, bodyguard, and advisor rather than the frightening trio that had been marching their way through the city on and off the past few weeks. Teyva rolled her shoulders and twisted her right arm. It was still a little uncomfortable. Despite the fact that she should be more used to only having two arms the feeling of not having that third limb had become awkward recently. She considered letting it reappear and just wrapping it around her main arm as a chain but chose otherwise.

The old man glanced her way and raised a finger, “Ah! Before I forget again, I have a gift for you. It’s at my desk at the University. We should stop by there as well.”

Teyva made a face, “You don’t have to give me anything.”

“A queen such as yourself deserves tribute now and then,” Batel pointed out, “Lord Paraklytus is simply doting on her majesty.”

Teyva scratched her nose and looked away for a moment, “You two are idiots.”

When they arrived at the first tier of the city, Teyva couldn’t help but hesitate before stepping out into the busy street. And yet for once in her brief life here in Orum, she didn’t feel the stares of others prickling the hairs on the back of her neck. She sighed with relief and stepped further onto the walkway, glancing around. Maybe it was a good time to do a bit of learning about the people around here since no one knew who she was. She glanced at Paraklytus who turned to look up at her with mischievous glittering eyes. He was of the same mind it seemed.

“Let’s take a detour,” Teyva said eagerly, slipping into the flow of people with the practiced ease that came from living in a busy city like Chicago. 

The first place they stopped was a small plot that looked like it should have a building set in it. Instead, a crowd of stalls pressed against the surrounding structures and created a semicircle of shops to browse. Teyva stopped at the first one she saw, the owner was a thin, willowy-looking man with an angular face and sharply pointed ears. An elf. She’d seen them in passing but she’d never had the pleasure of interacting with one. She approached and he broke into his best business smile.

“Welcome to Kellner’s!” The man said, “I’m Kellner! Can I interest you in some exotic spices? Maybe a few fruits and vegetables?” 

Teyva squinted at the various fruits and vegetables that were lined up. She didn’t recognize a single one of them. That didn’t mean that weren’t possibly similar to something she’d eaten before, though. She rubbed her chin and spotted an apple-sized fruit that had a red and yellow skin that reminded her of a watermelon. She pointed at it and raised her eyebrow, “What’s that?”

Kellner made a face, “You’ve never seen a botsi before?”

“Let’s just say I’m pretty sheltered,” Teyva said with a playful wink.

He glanced at Batel and Perry and she could almost literally see dollar signs in his eyes. “It’s quite tart! Delicious when baked properly though it is most commonly eaten with something that can cut the sourness. Would you like to try one?”

Teyva nodded and he picked one from his stand, handing it over to her. She turned it over and examined the skin before taking a bite directly out of it. Cherry and Lemon! Cherry and god damned Lemon! She looked up at him bewildered and then back down at the fruit. It was amazing! She could hardly imagine all the different things someone with half a brain could make with this. All they did was bake it? Were they kidding? She shook her head and reached into her pocket, conjuring up her bag of holding inside and pulling a silver coin out. “I’d like to sample the lot, and buy some as well.”

Grinning ear to ear, Teyva made her way down the street with Perry and Batel in tow. Batel was laden down with several paper sacks of foodstuffs. Teyva was aware that she could summon up a wall to carry it for them but they were trying to keep a low profile. She felt a little bad, but Batel didn’t seem to mind despite stumbling now and then under the awkward weight. When they finally arrived at the doors to the lift going down to the University, Batel let out a sigh of relief. Teyva laughed and clapped him on the upper arm. “Oh come on tough guy, they weren’t that heavy. Besides, I’ll treat you to something tasty in exchange, how’s that sound?”

Batel raised an eyebrow, “What are you going to make with all this?”

“All sorts of things,” Teyva said, “The people of Orum have no idea what they’ve been missing.”

“I for one am pleased! Your next lesson, I say, know your people and their ways! You should spend more time out here in the city now that you can pass for a local,” Paraklytus chimed in.

The lift doors opened and they proceeded inside, Teyva opting to help Batel a little bit. She carried a few bags over to the lift itself and Paraklytus activated the terminal. A moment later they were back on the long descent through the fortress’ stilts and down into the structure beneath the lake below. When they arrived they found the courtyard of the University filled with people milling about, talking and laughing. Teyva stopped to appreciate the sight from above until she was spotted by a trio of children who let out a shout and ran up the steps to meet her. She turned and dropped to a knee, holding out her arms as the three Akurai children threw their arms around her.

“Queen Mother! Welcome home!”

Teyva gave them a squeeze, “Thank you dearies, it’s good to be home.”

She released the children and they stepped back, looking her up and down. “You look different!” One of them, a boy with messy dark hair that fell just above his glowing blue eyes said.

Teyva raised an eyebrow and grinned, releasing [Alter Self]. Her form shifted back to her true, frightening shape and he let out a gasp of wonder, his eyes going wide. One of the other children, a little girl with ashen hair similar to Batel’s stared in awe; “Can I learn to do that?” She asked.

“Maybe?” Teyva, “Perhaps one day.”

“Can you teach me?” The girl insisted.

Teyva blinked and looked to Paraklytus who had reverted to his looming skeletal form. The lich chuckled and turned to descend the steps. Teyva glared at his back, he was totally ditching her to deal with the question herself. She scratched her head and looked over at Batel who was busying himself, intentionally, with the bags of food to carry down behind Paraklytus. She spotted a grin on his face as he passed by and she scowled at him. Traitors, both of them.

She turned back to the girl who was scrunching up her face in concentration. “Now now,” Teyva said, “It’s not so simple as-”

The girl’s face changed, her skin grew pale, her eyes turned yellow, and her hair became white as snow. Teyva gasped and slipped back a step, drawing Batel’s attention who stared open-mouthed at what was happening. The girl looked down at her dark fingernails and paper-white hands. “Wow! I did it!” She looked up at Teyva, “Did you see? Queen Mother! I did it!”

“Paraklytus!”