Out in the Garden

~Chapter 9~

Mae wiped her eyes, again and again, desperately trying to staunch the flow of tears, but nothing seemed to work.

Jack's voice echoed in her head, 'I love you!', 'Oh, wife-of-mine!', 'Smile, you're beautiful.', 'Let's travel the world!', 'Together, always.'

It was ludicrous and painful; a haunting torment that wouldn't cease.

"Mae," Ven spoke in a hushed tone.

She hadn't even noticed his approach, but she welcomed the comfort he offered as he pulled her close, letting her cry into his shoulder.

"It will get easier."

"I know," she uttered, pushing against his chest as she stepped back. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to see me standing here, blubbering like an idiot."

"There's no shame in crying," he replied, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and handing it to her. "It's clean. Keep it with you."

"Thank you," she said while wiping her eyes once again. "I'm not used to being this much of a mess, but reality, it just hits me sometimes and I can't control it."

"It's understandable. You miss your family, your home, your life." He took a breath, and she saw him reach towards her but then retract his hand. "Here, I brought out your shoes. Let's talk while I show you the garden."

She nodded, and using him as a support, brushed off her feet and put on her shoes before gathering up the length of the robe once again. Taking Ven's offered arm, he guided her through the gate in the fence that surrounded the garden, and together, they slowly began their walk down the rows of plants.

"I take it that you enjoy this sort of work," she commented as he leaned down to examine one of the shorter cane plants that didn't look to her as if it was doing very well.

"I do. I find it relaxing to keep occupied. What about you?"

"I never had enough time to keep a garden like this. I was more of a house-plant sort of woman. I managed to keep a flowering tree, called a Lilac, alive too, but you basically just plant them and stand back. Very hands off."

"What kept you so busy?"

"I'm a seamstress and Mascareri, a mask maker," she explained when he looked back at her. "I always loved creating and designing costumes. I focused mostly on custom orders, so I never had to make the same thing twice. It's really just challenging busywork. It started out as just a way to help pay the bills, but over the years it's grown into a real business. There was just something special about seeing someone say they won a contest or an award while wearing something I designed and made. I don't suppose an Aspect would accept a fancy costume in exchange for shipping me home?"

"You'll have to ask. They might just find it an interesting enough proposal," he replied as they walked further down the row.

"If you were in my position, which Aspect would you reach out to?"

"For me, that's an easy choice. I would go to Omb of shadow. She's easily the most accessible of the four, but by going to her, I would be aligning myself with Sotar'ra and the Thay Empire, and that presents its own difficulties."

"Okay, so who are the other options then?" she asked as he stopped once again to adjust a vine along a rope stretched between two lattice frames.

"Well, your second option would be Balen'thelm, Aspect of light. He's not as accessible as Omb, but going to him would align yourself with Boem'thol, and the Draynarian Empire. Currently, the Draynar are in a more stable position. They hold more lands, have better alliances with neutral cities, and control the major trade route to the north."

"So, he's a bit harder to find but the benefits are better?" she questioned while watching him tighten one of the ropes.

"I don't know if I would necessarily say that the benefits are better. For the moment they are, but the tides of war tend to shift here, and that could change quickly. Most of the neutral nations don't show favor to one side over the other, as far as adventurers and travelers are concerned. It's different for the citizenry though. Who you're vowed to can mean the difference between wealth and poverty, depending on where you end up. Overall, Omb is the safer bet, despite her reputation and alliance. She protects her people, and doesn't hesitate to make her presence known."

"You said there were four. What about the other two?"

"Out of the question," he replied as they reached the end of one row and began to head down the next. "Sola'nerae of dreams is revered more as a god by her followers than the others, and she is rarely seen. Her chosen people are the Evleshian, and they are just as arrogant, and self-centered as they sound. They look down on everyone with a righteous indignation capable of making a dragon cry. As an outsider, you would never get an opportunity to approach her, even if you did manage to find a way to get to Jonelle, their capital in the Cytherian Islands, where she's said to reside. And lastly, there is Nimaro, the Aspect of nightmare. Sola'nerae's twin, and opposite. Where she is divinity, he is chaos. His people are known as the Ji'vie. They are said to be nightmares made flesh. They are unwelcomed everywhere, and it's rare to even see them outside of the Sal'air'nyne Quarter. Occasionally, you may find one or two in Tag'thyr, but it's more of a political nicety considering it is the capital of Sotar'ra's Empire and they are considered allies. That doesn't usually stop them from being shunned, and slaughtered everywhere else they go. I suppose you could go to his temple and speak to one of his priests, but there's no reason to believe he'd agree to grant you an audience. And if he did, it probably would require you to go into the Quarter."

"I get the distinct impression that's not something I'd want to do?"

"You are correct," he replied, stopping to kneel down beside a red and green, wide leafed shrub. "The Sal'air'nyne Quarter is an underground cave system. The only entrance being in the heart of the Sorrow Swamp. If you managed to make it to the entrance, you would be greeted by the Ji'vie guards. If they don't kill you on sight, just being in their presence is said to be horrifying, and if they touch you, they can trap you in a never-ending nightmare. Assuming, you were granted an audience, and you managed to get to the entrance, and the guards let you pass, you'd have to then navigate a pitch-black cavern system that stretches under the entirety of Lar'dion, without a map. And the Ji'vie, apparently, aren't the only things lurking down there."

"Okay, definitely not going in that direction," she replied, shuddering to the thought, the idea of getting lost in the dark cave was more than enough for her skin to crawl and palms to sweat. "So, that leaves me to choose between Omb or Balen'thelm. What about the Oracles Karanosi mentioned? What's their deal?"

"I don't really know much about them," he replied as he stood up and faced her. "The blue Serini are said to be able to speak directly to Boem'thol, and the Red to Sotar'ra. According to the stories, the Serini once ruled over this entire world, populating every corner. Essentially immortal, they oppressed the other species save for the Fae. Then, for reasons unknown, they warred amongst themselves. As their numbers declined, the other species turned to the Aspects for guidance. Having learned how to kill their 'immortal' overlords, they rose up, and slaughtered them to near extinction. Only a handful of each race of Serini are known to exist. The only two I've ever heard of are, the blue Serini, Jalto-nine, and the red, Gres'anto. They are almost as much myth as they are legend. I know Gres'anto by name only, but Jalto-nine, I know by reputation. If you were going to attempt to find one of them, he'd be the one I'd look for, since he is known to reside here in the mountains of Horizn's deep with the Ancient of Ancient golden dragon, Kreos."

"That's quite the title," she remarked as Ven reached out and grabbed a hold of her hand.

"It's an earned title. He's the oldest of his brood, and is said to be the oldest living dragon on Sah'Korhune." Turning her hand over, he set a round, pink, fist-sized ball into her palm.

"What is this?"

"It's a piece of fruit. You have to peel it, but it has a mild flavor. They've just come into season. I need to come out here tomorrow and harvest them, before they start to weigh down the bush too much and break the stem. If that happens, I won't get another yield before the cold weather sets in."

"Would you mind if I helped you?"

"I would honestly appreciate it. Everything else out here is going to take a bit more time. Why don't we head back in. I'll pour us some Nuegrum and I can continue to read to you until Karanosi returns."

"Would you mind if I shortened one of the robes while you read?"

"Not at all. We can set you up in the sitting room," he replied offering his arm out to her once again.

"Sounds like a plan."

"Well, at least until Karanosi returns," he remarked as he opened the gate for her. "Then, I'll see if I can't entice him into telling you some stories."

"I would like that," she replied stepping out of the garden, wrapping her arm in around his once more as they headed back towards the house.

*************

"Mae?"

"Yes?" She asked looking up from the work she was doing.

Having been set up on one of the couches in the sitting room, Mae had been focused on stitching a new hem into one of the robes, this one a brilliant, tangerine orange, made of a heavy brocade fabric, the pattern of ivy and small flowers. It looked expensive, and if she had to get dressed, she figured why the hell not enjoy wearing what was offered.

"I'm hoping some of that made sense to you," Ven remarked, setting down the book he had been reading from.

"Uh huh," she replied.

She didn't want to admit that she had been too focused on her stitching that she hadn't been paying him an ounce of attention.

"Excellent. Then you can tell me which of the neutral species can't use magic."

"It's unfair of you to ask questions like that when I can barely remember what the other species are called."

"Aucron, and I should hope you remember since I've been reading about them for the last hour. And it was a trick question. It's not that they can't, it's that they choose not to."

"Right, Aucron. Big guys that live in the Desert Wastes of the Darton Territories. Their capital city is Euphrate."

"Well at least you were listening to something I said," he commented with a huff. "Having any issues?"

"With this? No. This isn't even a challenge," she remarked, drawing her needle through the fabric. "But this is the most I have ever had to hand-stitch in a single sitting. Lucky for me this is an incredibly easy fabric to work with."

"Well, if you don't mind putting that down, you can come outside with me to greet Karanosi when he lands. That is the sound of him flying in now."

Mae instantly stopped what she was doing, closed her eyes and sat perfectly still, trying to hear what Ven was referring to.

"Your ears are far better than mine. I don't hear a thing."

"Then you're just going to have to trust me. You do wish to see him as he really is, don't you?"

Setting down her project, she quickly gathered the skirt of her robe as she stood from the couch.

"Well? What are you waiting for Ven, lead the way!"

"Front door."

She ran out of the room at his reply, and when she reached the door, she opened it up and ran outside. Looking up into the fading light, she spotted an impressive sight coming in from the east. Catching the reflection of the setting sun against his scales, Karanosi, his wings fully extended, shimmered as he glided upon the wind.

"How nice of you to come out and greet me," Karanosi called out as he circled above the house before flapping his wings to slow his decent.

Landing a short distance from the house, out in the field, he casually walked up the path to the house as he folded in his wings. He was enormous to Mae. Standing an easy 12 feet at the shoulder, his body was the length of a jumbo jet, from nose to the tip of his tail, and his wingspan was three times the length of his body.

Mae was frozen in a mix of awe and fear. She didn't know if she should squeal in glee or scream and run away in terror considering that she could easily have fit inside his mouth with a single bite. He was the living embodiment of the western style dragons depicted in the books and games for which she was familiar; quadruped, with a fluffy white mane, covered in large glistening, iridescent scales.

"Welcome back," Ven said from behind her.

"It's good to be back. Come, help me with the bag," he replied as he lowered himself down to the ground at Ven's approach.

"How was the flight?"

"The weather was fair, until the coast. A storm is brewing. It will reach land by tomorrow morning."

"Good for us. We could use the rain," Ven replied as he helped Karanosi by lifting a large strap up over his horns, from off his neck.

Side stepping, Karanosi rose upon his hind legs and stretched his neck and back, revealing a hammock sized pouch, full of bags and crates.

"Ah! It always feels good to get that off my neck."

"You bought more than usual," Ven commented as he grabbed one of the fabric bags and headed towards where she was standing, still gobsmacked over Karanosi's existence.

"There are two of you now," he said before grabbing the strap with his teeth and carrying it closer to the house. "Ease, ex use e, ae."

"Mae!" Ven exclaimed before grabbing her arm and pulling her out of the way so Karanosi could set the pouch down next to the door.

"If you could take her inside, I'll get dressed and then help with the unpacking before I head home."

Mae shook Ven from her arm as Karanosi took a couple of steps back from the house.

"Wait!" She blurted out and he lowered himself down to the ground once again.

"I'll take you for a flight another time. We have too much to put away right now," he remarked with a grin that should have made every hair on the back of her neck stand on end.

"No, that's…" she stopped, wet her lips as he extended his nose out towards her. "That's not it."

"Then what is it, Mae?" he asked as she stood before him, the heat of his breath washing over her.

Her heart, pounding loud enough for both to hear it, felt like it was about to explode. Swallowing down her fear, she lifted her hand as she took a step closer, her eyes fixed at the end of Karanosi's muzzle. It looked soft, smooth, and faintly pink. His nostrils expanding and contracting as he breathed. Her fingers trembled as she reached out towards him, but before she could touch him, he pushed his nose up against her hand. It was as soft as it looked, warm and tender. Hearing a faint laughter, Mae retracted her hand and turned to see Ven with his hand clasped over his mouth, his shoulders vigorously shaking.

"Do not mind him," Karanosi spoke as he pulled his head back from her. "He does not understand such wonder nor the courage it took for you to face your fears. However, I would not recommend you attempt such a thing with any other of my kind. While I understand this was out of curiosity, others will only see it as offensive. We are not mounts to be pet, and affections should be saved for only our closest of loved ones and those who are or would be our mates."

"I'm sorry," she remarked pulling her hand to her chest, bowing her head to him.

"All is well. Now, if you would please allow me to change and dress, I would be happy to speak more as we put all of this away."