Reverence

Anahita slipped off the beast beneath her. Her feet landed in the water with a soft splash. It had been far too long since she'd ridden that far on Mahalakuka and her muscles protested against the abuse. Calida was no better, she jumped off her carrier and began stretching her taut muscles as soon as they'd reached the shore.

Anahita turned to her familiar. The fair woman rubbed her hand up and down its nose. "You have done well, Mahala" she praised. The dolphin whistled, it basked in the attention from the keeper. Slowly, she stepped away and waddled through the water to stand beside Calida. It was time to go. Mahalakuka whistled again. It submerged itself and swam away with his partner, not before leaping out and splashing back into the sea, a farewell of sorts. And then it was gone, until the next time.

Calida slung her bag over her shoulder and faced inland. The port of Heus, the largest man-made harbour, lay before them, busy despite the late hour. The wide entrance channel was filled with ships of various sizes. Their crews working diligently hard to unload and upload cargo. The berthing and turning basins were stocked with docked ships and boats waiting to head out to the open sea at first light. A tall pier head was alight, stationed at the far end of the shore though, with that much traffic, it was mostly unnecessary.

The dark moonless night obscured them from view but, a stray lantern in the right direction could just as easily have revealed their presence. The keepers made haste in vacating the shore, leaving behind the hollers of seamen and the roar of waves.

With the night progressing, the streets were mostly bare. Houses were dark, their patrons immersed in their worlds of dreams. Any inn-house around would be closed but, they were not there for just any inn.

"Do you believe it will be there still?" Anahita asked when they'd reached the residential area of the port city

"It should be. It has not been that long since we were last here" Calida replied.

The two walked a while longer, taking back alley ways and walking between houses instead of around them. Soon, they arrived at their destination. The Temptress was before them, in all its glory. Despite its suggestive name, the inn-house was a rather respectable establishment. It's eye catching elegance and exquisiteness earned the place its name. It had for long, been a meeting point and resting place for the keepers and they knew accommodation was always available for them.

Knowing from experience, that the front doors would be locked by then, the keepers went around the back to the owner's lodge. Calida knocked loudly, then they waited. Footsteps sounded from up the stairs before they descended. The door opened and a grumpy looking man poked his head out. He lifted the small lamp he'd brought with him. The light fell upon Calida's face and his eyes widened with recognition.

"Mistress!" he exclaimed. "Come in, come in out of the cold." he ushered them in, lowering his voice. The door closed behind them.

"Your room is ready, as it always is. I made sure to keep it exactly as you left it." the man began, leading them up the stairs to the room they stayed in whenever they visited.

"I can hav' hot water brought for a bath if you feel up to it tonight, food as well." he stopped when he reached the last door on the third and final floor of the building. A large bunch of keys was produced from his pocket and soon they were standing inside the living area of a large suite.

The far wall was entirely covered with a dark brown curtain behind which lay a window that took up most of the wall. On the right side was a long cream coloured sofa. The floor was covered with a fluffy carpet, the same shade as the curtain. An eating table with chairs lay in front of the window. On the other end was a cozy fireplace. The patron had spared no expenses when he made the room for the keepers.

"Do not trouble yourself, Hadrian. We will not require a bath tonight. Some sustenance and wood for the fireplace should suffice." Anahita answered. The man always overdid himself, as could be seen from the expensive suite.

Hadrian Varth was the owner of The Temptress and a firm believer in the harbinger and her keepers. His family had devoted their lives to the service of the keepers and had for years, provided shelter and whatnot. The inn was left to him by his father, whom Calida had known. He'd immediately commissioned its expansion and had invested in building a private lodging for them should they ever need it. The place was kept in pristine condition at all times, regardless of how long it had been since they'd actually used it.

Hadrian's joy at seeing his beloved keepers once again before his eventual death knew no bounds. As he stared at them, he was in awe of their power. Both of them had been standing in that very room some thirty years back yet, they looked as youthful as they had then.

Hadrian broke eye contact and walked out of the room with a promise to send someone with the requested items. He walked down to the staff quarters and woke one of his most trusted with specific instructions. After doing so, he took his lamp and walked back to his room.

Hadrian sank onto his bed as soon as he'd closed the door. He could hardly believe the keepers were truly in his inn, only a level above him. The man had not believed he would see them again as they had always chosen to isolate themselves from the rest of the world. Times had been peaceful for long, even now he thought they were. If the keepers were assembling however, they were not as peaceful as he believed.

A knock on his door broke him out of his thoughts. Who could it be at that late hour, he wondered.

"May i come in, sir?" Tobias, his appointed manager asked from behind the door.

"Come in boy, what's the matter?" the door opened and he walked in. The boy, though he was more a young adult than boy, looked a bit nervous. His round cheeks were painted with a slight blush. His hands fiddled with the shirt of his sleep wear.

"Well, c'mon, spit it out! Or did you com' all the way over here to stare at my floor?" Hadrian was sure he knew what Tobias wanted yet, he couldn't resist teasing the boy a little.

"No, sir" came his reply. Furiously blushing, Tobias asked, his voice only slightly above a whisper. "I was only wondering who our newest patrons are. Have you really been keeping the room just for them?"

Hadrian stared at the bashful boy before him. He was everything Hadrian had always wanted in a child. He himself was never blessed with one though, and he'd taken in Tobias as soon as he'd laid his eyes upon him. His age was progressing, he knew he only had so long to live. For long he'd wondered who would inherit his fortune and if worthy, his cause. If not Tobias, then who? Hadrian pondered.

"Sit wit' me, boy. Let' me tell you a story. A story that's been told for generations in my family." Tobias sat beside the old man and with keen ears, listened as he narrated the most amazing story he had ever heard.