Survivors

Yriane curtsied in front of them and welcomed them all with open arms, especially Yriane whom they had known since she opened her eyes to the world, then they turned to the girl of the dawn. Aunt Bépole put her hands to her mouth, overwhelmed. And yet something about them bothered me viscerally. And moreover, none of us, did not have to wait a long time to be sure of it.

- Oriana, it is thus you, the daughter of Harsèle, she approached the said Oriana whose I discovered finally the name to my biggest amusement, and put her too familiar hands on her shoulders. You didn't inherit anything from your mother, did you?

They were perfectly vulgar and indiscreet, I felt Oriana recoil under the shock and the contained free malice of these words.

But we didn't have time to talk, the other members arrived, including the children of this repulsive couple who didn't have the same name and I was not surprised at all. A young girl named Keria, with a sulky lip and a look of boredom, and her youngest child, a redheaded boy named Lerin, who probably didn't smile much or think about the others. Then there was one more child, a young boy of the same age as Oriana with silver hair, Emere.

- Hello, and welcome, said the latter with a frank smile. My father is in his room, my apologies if he didn't come to welcome you like the others. It's just that he doesn't talk much, he prefers to think the rest of his time.

He took Seiran and me into his father's room, the walls were covered with moving paintings, varying between crystal and ochre.

- Father...

- Emere... my beloved child... you bring me new visitors...

- Yes Father... forgive this disturbance...

- It's nothing my treasure... don't be afraid, I trust you completely.

He got up from his work table...

- Well, present them to me, Emere.

He bowed as a sign of filial respect.

- Father, I present to you Prince Seiran, and Dania, visitors from the kingdom of the flying.

Prince Seiran, Dania, my father Archilouse Lorios.

- Pleased to meet you my children, I hope that my not very talkative nature will not make you uncomfortable.

- No Master.

On the contrary, Seiran seemed to be enjoying this meeting. Two more assistants from the duchy were among the survivors. I was impressed, two women of noble, serious manner, deciding against all odds to behave as they chose to be and to shape their lives. The only person who was not touched by this demonstration of character was Seiran and Oriana, the latter looked pale, more sad than relieved. I didn't have time to ask her what was making her so melancholic. Because a voice rose soon, resounding in all the cellar, declaring that she accepted to receive the newcomers after strong demonstrations of respect and delicacy, accompanied by all the formulas required to a woman of the nobility, of her two loyal assistants.

We were taken to the room of the Duchess of Stone. A place decorated with art and richness, filled with every imaginable satin, soft silk, perfume of luxury and distinction, gilding and sobriety were mixed to perfection. It was a real jewel box that prepared me to face the one who was in possession of so much good, the pomp that resided there, was so different from the palace of Seiran, but a link of taste of high rank was felt in these glittering ornaments. The two ladies of the company introduced her.

- I present to you Her Lordship Valentina Laurineis, Duchess of the Lineage of the Lilies.

The latter rose from her throne-seat with the grace of a queen.

- Welcome to my home, my friends of the flying empire.

I made the curtsy due to a noblewoman, Seiran bowed her head in a simple greeting and not as a form of respect. It would have been too ironic, that the ruler of the kingdom of the Flying ones, would have behaved otherwise.

Then I stared at the duchess, this beautiful and sophisticated woman, whose personality I found difficult to define despite the superbness and superficiality she displayed to the world. For by an instinct that magic helped me greatly to develop, I felt a nobility that flowed in the blood contained in this dream body. A nobility that for inexplicable reasons she decided to hide from the world.

- And welcome to you my darling girl...

I turned, stunned, towards Oriana who looked at her mother as the image of a too old derision. The weasel aunt Bépole had said true, on a point at least. Nothing to outside united the mother and the daughter. This mother, endowed with wild, curly black hair and blue-night irises so mysterious and dazzling, was rather like a stormy night. Her dress of the same shade, in velvet, simple, going down to the ground, a long train behind, put besides in evidence this distinction of her duchy.

Seiran, leaning against the wall, looked at her in a very strange way.

- Do you want a cup of tea? asked the latter, facing the incisive look of the sovereign.

- Would you do it, yourself Duchess? he replied, mocking.

- If I were not duchess I would have prepared it without doubt, but alas for you and fortunately for me, I am duchess.

He smiled under this neutral remark which did not reveal anything of the feelings of the one who expressed it.

- But you my daughter, you will change. Agreed?

Oriana nodded. Then followed one of the faithful ladies' maids until the end.

In spite of an uneasiness that only Seiran and the duchess did not suffer, their gift to know how to communicate, and to animate an audience changed the thread of our emotions and even if I did not know too much what to say at the beginning, I could in my turn participate in the exchanged words.

It was late when we parted. The tea as well as the snacks soaked with restorative magic, were worthy of a meal offered by the nobility. Oriana, who had gone to change her clothes as her mother had asked her to, did not reappear, which did not surprise me anymore.

It was already a lot for our second day in this palace of the Abyss.