• Closed • [Maste's Maze] All Things Seen and Unseen...

[Dula]

92 Vhalar 719¤

Set up thread for the Maze

After spending all morning crossing her t’s and dotting her i’s, Dula finally thought she was ready to head out to the door. Her head was pounding and she felt ill, in fact a couple times her stomach heaved and she retched while getting her things ready, though nothing ever came out. It had only been two days since Hygge had told her about the doorway to what he thought was something called, “Maste’s Maze”. The woman was completely terrified. Her hands shook with total fear and she had a hard time focusing.

Now ready she gave one last look to her home wondering if she would ever see it again, then opened her front door and headed outside. On her person was her hood, her cold weather outfit, and her backpack with her entire feild craft kit either inside the bag or tied to the outside. Also in the bag was her sparkle potions and pieces of flint, they were wrapped up in a length of wool cloth she had ripped off from her bed sheet to keep them stable while she walked-- or ran. Silently she hoped that would be enough. The final item on her person was her staff Mercury, one of her most prized possessions, which she clung to like a baby jangunjagun clinging to its mother.

Upon exiting her home she was greeted with the crisp, cold air of middle of Vhalar. The trees around Desnind were still in their splendid autumn colors, but a few were now bare having already shed their leaves. She thought she felt like those bare trees, maybe she was premature in heading to the Maze. Was she really ready? Fear gripped every part of her body and in a daze she made her way to Karshe Inn where she was hoping to find Eliza.

Dula had a crackpotted plan. No one in their right mind would step into a dangerous scenario with a stranger. But! Eliza owed Dula a favor, Eliza was also an amazing map maker. Perhaps she could be persuaded to come to the Ruins under the guise of mapping out the Ruins or painting some of the splendid buildings that stood there… hmmm. And Dula could be her “tour” guide. It was a shot in all Faldrun’s twisted, scorched whiskers, but she would have to take it. There was no way she would be able to get through it alone.

Her legs felt like both jelly and heavy as stones as she made her way into Karshe Inn. Sitting at the bar, she decided against buying any holpxay mead, thinking it would be best to be sober for this conversation. Dula wasn’t one with a silver tongue nor was she one usually prone to manipulating people, this was all new territory for her. Her brow was furrowed as she took deep breaths to steady herself. Nae'ila noticed a patron at her bar then asked her in Xanthea,
"Need anything?"
To which Dula replied,
"No, thank you Nae'ila. I'm just waiting for someone."
Nae'ila smiled nodded, then busied herself with other work.

[Eliza Soule]

Eliza had been in Desnind just long enough to have established something resembling a routine. She was usually up before the sun and would slip down the stairs from her room, to enjoy a plate of sauteed greens with sweet peppers and mushrooms, with two eggs, sunny side up on top. And while she dined and sipped her cup of tea, Eberhardt, usually snuggled into the pocket of her cloak, would dine on dried fruits and nuts, and Darwin sprawled on the floor nearby, devouring his own breakfast. Usually the latter was supplied by the cook who'd grown fond of the enormous wolfhound, and had saved whatever scraps had been left from service the evening before.

After finishing her meal, Eliza usually returned upstairs to gather whatever supplies she wanted to take with her that trial. Ordinarily that would include her leather satchel filled with art supplies, more lately a book or two filled with maps, a flask and sundry other things that the daughter of Ymiden thought she might need that trial. She made sure to dress warmly, put on good leather boots for walking, and more recently, she'd picked up the habit of never going out on her own without arming herself. More than was necessary, Eliza was sure. But a girl could never be too careful, she thought.

And then, nearly every trial, she returned downstairs and dropped off at the bar, before heading into the outdoors. She'd been in Desnind for a while now, but she'd found the place to be an unending source of inspiration. She rarely returned at the end of the trial without having created some new work of art. She didn't expect this trial to be any different, so when she headed back down the stairs, Eberhardt tucked deep in her cloak pocket and Darwin at her heels, Nae'ila would have been waiting for her, with a cloth packet in her hands, tied off with string. "Headed out as usual?" the woman asked, and Eliza smiled and nodded as she accepted from Nae'ila what had become a standard order. Things to nibble on while she was out and about. A few boiled eggs, some crusty bread and chunks of cheese. Dried fruit and berries, and cuts of smoked fish and meat to share with Darwin along the way.

"The usual, yes. Thank you," Eliza said and smiled when she took the packet, and then took her first glance down the length of the bar. She smiled again and her eyes lit with recognition. Tucking the packet into her sack, she approached. "Good trial, Dula. It's good to see you again," she said, and meanwhile, two tiny primate hands gripped the edge of her pocket while Eberhardt peeked out at this new company. Meanwhile, Nae'ila had taken it upon herself to pour Eliza a cup of tea, so offering her thanks, the daughter of Ymiden took the stool next to Dula. "How have you been?" she asked.

[Dula]

"We all know that, when caught off our guard, there comes
a dark temptation from the depths of our lower selves,
something atavistic stirs, and we think thoughts, or even do deeds,
of which we would never have believed ourselves capable.”
-Dion Fortune

¤

Moseke's right boob! She's already here!
Shifting uncomfortably in her chair for a trill she shied her face away to gain some composure, then gave Eliza a half smile.
"Hello Eliza, much time ago. Nice to see. Better on sunny day! Full heart."
Honey puzzel eyes rested on the monkey that poked its tiny head from Eliza's pocket, she laughed genuinely at the sight.
"What? Small monkey?"
She asked, using the word for monkey in her native language, pointing to the small primate in Eliza's pocket.
"Cute."

But it wasn't time for pleasantries, she was burning daylight talking about pocket monkeys. Taking in Eliza's form it would seem the woman was ready for a day out and about, even armed.
Perfect.
"Eliza, question."
She bit her lip, considering how to phrase this fate sealing lie. It felt completely wrong to be manipulating this sweet woman, but it had to happen. Hopefully when they got to the doorstep of the Maze she would understand.
"You want see Lori? Dula great walkin'. Take sacred place. Old. Ancient."
She spoke a word in Xanthea, then explained.
"Or 'The Ruins'. Long ago people live stone buildings. No Sev'ryn ken what happen, now Ruins covered trees. Beautiful. Could paint? Map? Dula show? Walk long, dangerous at time. Lori wild, singing trees 'member? Eliza bring bow, Dula bring staff. Dula stronger she look, no worries. Eliza and Dula walk quiet and fast and find no troubles, no troubles. Ken'nit?"

It got easier to tell this half truth the more she spoke it, becoming more confident with the lie that left her lips. A crease furrowed her brow and Dula's eyes held the faintest of anxiety to them, but she seemed sure of herself. Her eyes looked deep into Eliza's own as if searching for something there, in Dula's mind she was sending a prayer to Moseke that if this woman said yes it wouldn't damn them both to Famula's embrace. Despite the manipulation, Dula decided then to make sure that Eliza got out of the Maze alive, in one piece--both of them making it out alive, she made a mental note of.

[Eliza Soule]

In response to her greeting, to Eliza, Dula seemed to squirm in her seat just a bit. If only in spirit and not in actual practice. Such an unusual individual, the daughter of Ymiden thought. But Eliza liked her, maybe because of those little quirks and eccentricities, rather than in spite of them. As an artist, Eliza wasn't immune to being viewed as a little bit different herself. It came with the territory and in that sense, she was quick to be drawn to those of a similar bent.

"It has been some time, she agreed. And I'm always grateful for a more agreeable trial outdoors." In fact, it was the fact that the sun was shining and the wind had reduced itself to merely a pleasant breeze, that was behind her decision to venture out farther than she had since arriving in Desnind. She grinned then and glanced down at her pocket where Eberhardt was peeking out, and the tiny primate popped her head out farther and waved at Dula. She even chattered a bit, which required Eliza to translate. "This is Eberhardt. She says that it's nice to meet you." To Eliza's ears, if only hers and no others, Eberhardt's chatter was as plain as common was to anyone else.

So a question? Eliza's curiosity was piqued and when Dula mentioned the Lori, she smiled and nodded. "I'd like to very much. And if there are ancient ruins and sacred places out there, even better. Great for painting," she explained. "And maps." And why not? If she was going to create maps that included stylized images of local or regional places of note, then she'd actually have to see those locations for herself. "Since the trial is a nice one, I was thinking of walking farther outside the city. In case I got lost, Darwin is good at finding his way back home," she added with a smile, gesturing to the large wolfhound laying down at her feet.

But was it truly dangerous out there? Dula would certainly know better than she did, having lived here much longer. "I actually have a bow and a sword already," she said, lifting up the edge of her cloak so Dula could see the sword on one hip, and the pistol crossbow in a leather holster beneath her left arm. Of course Dula made the place sound more risky than Eliza had once assumed it might be. "I was thinking of going already. It sounds better to go with someone else than to go alone," she said. Of course she wasn't a mind reader and had no idea of the extent of Dula's plans. But based on what she knew, she was happy to go anyway. So..."Now?" she asked.

[Dula]

"We all know that, when caught off our guard, there comes
a dark temptation from the depths of our lower selves,
something atavistic stirs, and we think thoughts, or even do deeds,
of which we would never have believed ourselves capable.”
-Dion Fortune

¤

The monkey was a welcome distraction, she eeked, little cheeks trembling as she made herself known. Dula laughed as Eliza translated the monkey's speech.
"Eberhardt. Better common den Dula. Nice apologies, small friend."

Dula was listening intently to what Eliza had to say, it would seem luck was on the half-sev'ryn's side today. Eliza didn't even seem to question her at all, though why would she? This solidified in the woman's mind that she would keep them both safe at all costs, to take advantage of someone's utter kindness was out of Dula's realm of reality-- but the circumstances that led her to lie were too real. Again she made her silent oath to Eliza, then gulped.

After showing off her dog and flashing her weapons to Dula, the half-sev'ryn was ready to head out.
"Look good. Darwin, beauty much. Handsome soul. Weapons, good yes. Dula staff. 'Mercury'."
At that, it would seem Eliza was also ready to go.
"Follow Dula, stay quiet Lori. Long walk, step feet afternoon."

They made their way through Desnind, past all of the shops in the city she called home, the tall trees which held her kins-people, following the trail littered with leaves to the exit in the wall that surrounds Desnind. Dula motioned to the two trees, nearly identical, that stood before them.
"Look, Eliza. Itọju. Two trees. Cïkäkkẹns make, hide Desnind. We go beneath earth mother, find our roots."
Putting a closed hand to her chest in solidarity she made her way into the tunnel.

The tunnel was large, an obvious thorough-way as it had no side tunnels. They walked through this dank and cold tunnel for some time, until finally reaching the other side and stepping back into the light. Here they were faced with the Makubwa Lori in full, no longer were they safe. Hygge had shown her the way to the Ruins before, and safely she had made her way back even with that massive headache, so she was confident that she would make it there again... Hopefully.

It was as if the Lori had somehow gotten more wild, the swamps were still and quiet under their blanket of leaves but something about the hush made her ill. It was as if something was prowling, watching them from behind the trees. After staring into the trees for some moments she shook the fear from her head. Nothing was out there, yet, it was only her own foreboding. Her dark-honey colored puzzle eyes settled on Eliza, watching her for a moment as well. Still trying to hide her fears, she heaved her chest and let out a deep breath, then pointed into the trees.
"We go now, follow me. Make little noise, keep eyes high."

~~~~~~~

For two breaks they walked with Dula gently hushing Eliza if she spoke. Truth be told Dula had gotten lost, it had been some time since she knew where they were. While she had felt confident at the beginning, something was now horribly wrong. Nothing looked familiar and she wasn't sure what direction they were going anymore. Every few bits she would stop, pause, and look around. Her face was screwed up in silent frustration.
'No, no no no!'
Was her angry mantra in her head.
'This wouldn't feking do at ALL!'
Trudging angrily through the Lori, not following what a rational being would do when lost, she burst through some brush and found that they were now on a slim dirt path winding through swamp and muck, it seemed to be a game trail. There was only one thing to do in Dula Mi'krill's mind, follow it.

So they did, and after only 10 bits of walking did the path start to open up wider and knee high obelisk's made of crude stone about knee high start lining the path every ten feet. Dula's heart was racing.
"Eliza, The Ruin's close like cat's breath. Sorry for the earlier. Do no know what happen."

[Eliza Soule]

The nature of Eberhardt's origins, were far too complicated to explain to someone, anyone really besides someone who'd been there at the moment of the monkey's entry into the world, and the circumstances under which it had occurred. Truth was, it was difficult for even Eliza, who'd been there and experienced it, to comprehend. She'd begun to simply take it all on Faith, and to value the companionship that came with the tiny bundle of mischief and chatter. Still, she grinned as Eberhardt herself smiled a toothy grin, and she shrugged. "Her grasp of common, or any language maybe, is better than most people I've met." Including herself, in fact.

As for Darwin, Eliza dropped a hand and affectionately gave the wolfhound a quick scratch behind the ear. "He's as loyal as they came. He followed me home on trial and never left." At any rate, if she and Dula were to venture out into the wilds on their own, it appeared that between the two of them, they ought to be sufficiently armed. Eliza was armed as well as she could be with her bow and her sword. But yes, she was ready and so she picked up her sack from atop the bar and followed Dula, Eberhardt in her pocket and Darwin trailing behind them.

So, the two trees marked the entrance to wherever it was they were headed? She must have passed the pair a number of times since she'd first come to Desnind, but hadn't given it much thought until now. She was aware of the underground passage, but only to the extent that she knew it existed. She wasn't accustomed to the gesture of solidarity made by the woman. Though quickly enough the daughter of Ymiden grasped the sentiment, and repeated the same in kind before following Dula through the tunnel. "I've visited so many places in Idalos. Traveled a lot." Several centuries of travel, in fact. "But this...I've never seen anything like it."

It was a wild place they entered. It seemed so old, so ancient, primordial even. It was a daunting sight and her senses were on high alert. And yet she smiled. She'd spent a lot of time in the forests back near Caervalle Town and had been overwhelmed in that way before. But after a time, that forest had come to feel like a second home to her. But she wasn't a foolish girl. She kept her eyes trained for potential trouble. Perhaps it was Dula's own nervousness bleeding off her and spilling over. A little contagious, Eliza would have to say. So she heeded the warning and stayed quiet.

Darwin on the other hand occasionally wandered away, off the trails, out of sight and then back again. Eliza had never considered herself to be his owner. The hound was his own, and he choose to remain with her, and so she left him to do as he pleased. There came a time however, after a few breaks, when Eliza became aware that something was afoot. Dula didn't have to say it. It was Vri's blessing, or maybe Pier and Pre...she tended to forget; which meant that anything Eliza ever saw, heard or experienced before, she remembered. And she was becoming surer by the trill that there were certain landmarks they'd passed more than once.

She'd have said something earlier, but she remained mindful of the ancient forests back near Rharne. The trees there were alive in ways that ordinary trees were not. And sometimes they upped root and moved from one place to another. Even the most seasoned wilderness travelers could become hopelessly lost when everything around them transformed itself on a whim. Was the Lori a similarly inclined place? But before she could ask, they'd seemed to finally gotten back on track. "No worries," she said and smiled when Dula apologized.

Of course the ground here was soft and soggy, her boots sunk in and made a sucking sound when she pulled them out again. But it was nothing she couldn't contend with. She was more curious about the ruins anyway, and was eager to see them. "What happened to the people who built the ruins?" she asked as they walked on. "Does anyone know?" Of course what she didn't say was that if she was so inclined, she could gaze at them in a sort of trance like state, thanks to her Immortal father, and all of the place's history, in bits and pieces from beginning to end, might unfold in her mind's eye and a matter of trills.

[Dula]

"We all know that, when caught off our guard, there comes
a dark temptation from the depths of our lower selves,
something atavistic stirs, and we think thoughts, or even do deeds,
of which we would never have believed ourselves capable.”
-Dion Fortune

¤

Dula understood the gist of what Eliza was saying. Eberhardt was indeed well verse in common. Intrigued, if it were any other day Dula may have asked too many questions of the monkey. Instead though, the dark skinned woman focused on the task at hand, getting them safely through the Lori. The dog was sweet, he looked strong in stature and somehow wise with his wiry hair and dog-mustache. An apt companion, he made Dula wish she had a dog despite solidly being a cat person.

~~~

"No... worries?"
Dula asked, trying to figure out the meaning. She surmised that it meant the other woman was saying she was letting it go. It must have been the same word as "worry" but just with an S at the end. She nodded to the woman as they found their way to the path. It was a pure stroke of luck that got them there, surely some divine intervention-- or so Dula would like to think. As a spiritual person she sent a word out to Cassion mentally, asking for his guidance on this journey that was right on the precipice. Closer now more than ever, it would seem that Dula's nerves were getting worse. Ears tuned to the sounds around her, becoming hyper aware in her anxiety, she half heard what Eliza said, but understood that she was asking about the Ruins. In a quiet tone she answered Eliza.

"Forgotten. Much vine. Err... grown much big. Buildings stand proud full life, trees, bird, bugs. People? Ghosted, gone no sound. Silent talks left behind, buildings, treasure. Desnind much.... tall stories. Scared sacred place. Spoooooky. Secrets here. "De dead men tell no tales". Sev'ryn do not know. Dula thinks? Sickness. Magic. Only tales, truth? Stories, hopes, dreams. Dead hold secrets dying breath."

Pressing on they made their way among the path, watched over by the spirits in the obelisks, ancient peering eyes of stone leading their way through this place in the Lori. The trail was straight for some time until making a sharp left curve, they walked along this for some time until finally they broke free through some brush and were faced with the decaying ancient buildings. The Ruins stood before them in their eloquent and haunted beauty like a whispered tale that couldn't be heard but wanted to be told. Stone buildings covered in moss, often with trees growing out of them sat mostly intact though a few were in disrepair.

"Muradi Sngäp..."
Muttered Dula under her breath. She had been here times before but it never ceased to take her breath away. Now faced with her decision to come here even more, Dula's heart raced and her breath came out in a wisp of smoke in the cold air. She knew she had to confess, even if she still didn't tell the whole truth.
"Eliza. Must say, Hygge, mentor, wizard, friend, told me door. Dula must find. Dula no having thought of looks, will know. See Dula eye on."
She said "wizard" and "door" in her own language out of second nature, not even noticing. It was getting closer and closer to her destiny, she could feel the electricity of being on the cusp of something great. Something dangerous. Something that may ultimately lead to her demise or... perhaps her salvation. Words were the last thing on her mind, she was a being of sensation at this point, swept up in the mindset of the adventure unfolding.

"Eliza help look? May pause her ske-ch-es, Dula wait artist friend do her work."

[Eliza Soule]

In spite of whatever other strengths or abilities that Eliza might have, finding her way through unfamiliar, and reportedly somewhat unforgiving territory was not one of them. The first few times she'd ventured into the forest that was as good as her own backyard back in Caervalle Town, she'd still gotten lost more than once early on. She'd blamed it on the trees having up and moved from one place to another, but in truth she was an artist, among other things, but not a survivalist attuned to the wilds.

It was good to have companions who were more familiar than she was, and Dula seemed suitably so, in spite of them having doubled back on themselves earlier. But, no worries, Eliza smiled and lifted her shoulders in a good-natured shrug. "It means don't worry. It's alright." She could only imagine that common slang could be more troublesome that common itself for a non native speaker. Therefore she reminded herself not to rely on it too heavily. Dula seemed a little jumpy already, though Eliza couldn't begin to guess any of the reasons why.

So apparently no one alive knew exactly who had created the structures that would eventually fall to ruin, or exactly why it happened. Eliza smiled and nodded as they approached the ruins themselves, and she took it all in while pulling out her sketchbook and pencil. "I suppose only the spirits who took their secrets to their graves, and the Immortals know for sure, yes?" she asked as she stood back, studied the details and made a few rough sketches in her book. "Sometimes, I can look at a place, a person or sometimes a thing..." If that thing was somehow connected to a person or place that was. "If I look in just the right way, I fall into a sort of trance. I see things that way. History, and I draw it."

"Sometimes though," she added, having put away her sketchbook already. "I think that some places only show me what they'd like me to see." At any rate it didn't take long. She only made rough sketches and would take the memories of what she'd seen back with her, and then create a more detailed drawing or painting. It wasn't all bad, the blessing that had caused her to carry the memories of even the smallest of details along with her. It certainly eased and simplified her work on occasion.

"Muradi Sngäp?" She struggled a bit with the pronunciation. It felt awkward on her tongue but it piqued her curiosity. "What does that mean?" But then Dula offered what might be interpreted as an apology of sorts. Or maybe just a confession. "Where does this door lead? Is it supposed to be here somewhere in the ruins?" she asked, looking back to the ruins now with a fresh perspective. Artistic expression and an eye for detail naturally went hand in hand. "I don't need to do anymore sketching right now. I can remember it, and draw later."

Tilting her head curiously, Eliza chewed on her bottom lip while letting her eyes wander over the ruins. "If you mean that the door is supposed to be here in the ruins, there are plenty of places where it might be." Or might have been, judging by the condition of the location. There were half collapsed arches and other places that looked like they might have been passageways, she noted while walking closer so that she could actually touch the crumbled walls and stones. So many of them were covered over by centuries of growth. Vines, moss.

Eliza bent down and picked up a stick and paused here and there, thrusting the stick through the growth as a test. Better than her hand, since she worried a snake or some other creature might be laying in wait. Mostly, the long stick simply passed right through to the other side. And at other times, met another stone wall just behind. Only once or twice, she said to Dula, "There could be something here, covered by the growth." Of course if Dula was to tell her that this door might be elsewhere, then elsewhere, she'd be happy to help look.

[Dula]

"He who fights monsters should be careful lest he thereby
becomes a monster....
And when you gaze into the abyss
the abyss also gazes in to you...."
-Nietzsche

¤

Eliza dutifully followed Dula wherever she went, the forgiveness she showed when they became lost in the Lori was palpable to Dula, it made her feel a bit sorry for the girl. She was so kind and while Dula held kindness close to her heart Dula knew she had a bitter side for sure. It had only been their second meeting and all she had seen from Eliza so far was pure kindness and with a dash of innocence. Perhaps even gullibility. For Dula she took this as that Eliza was an honest person, someone who could be trusted. Anyone who bared their heart and soul on their sleeve was a friend of Dula's. It made the deception everso bittersweet.

"So Eliza... saw thing? Thing past? You see Muradi Sngäp?"
It felt somehow sacrilegious to finally behold the history of The Ruins. Dula regarded her a bit suspiciously, a pronounced pout on her face. Her brow was creased in the middle as well, but that had been there since they started the journey. It was interesting to know that Eliza seemed to have some special powers herself, maybe similar to Dula's attument. There was much about the world Dula didn't know despite growing up in such a magical a place as Desnind, she prefered her bubble for so long, but no more. The freckle faced woman knew she would not come back the same after this. As the conversation headed deeper, Eliza asking her to translate the word Muradi Sngäp, Dula took in a deep breath.
"I mean De Ruins. Xanthea."
Basically, it had a more complex, sing-song meaning but that would be hard to translate to Eliza with the language barrier.

Now Eliza was asking for the truth, where does the door lead? Dula paused, momentarily slapped in the face. Trying to gain a measure of composure she put her hand to her chin and acted like she was trying to remember something, eyes slightly squinted in fake thought.
"Wizard did not go into detail. Dula do no know."
Which was not only a half truth but also a lie, she was omitting the name of Maste's Maze to the woman. Dula almost blurted out the name, ready for the charade to be up, but held her tongue. It was likely she had never heard of the place but if it were written in books it was surely a place of myth. Who knows what Eliza had heard, with her love of books and art.

Frowning again, not at Eliza but just deep in thought, she merely nodded when Eliza said she would sketch later. Dula listened to her speak and replied with simply.
"Yes. Many door. We search, we find."
This sent a wave of defeat over her, Hygge had said nothing about the door's whereabouts and it could take all day to find the entrance to Maste's Maze. But following Eliza this time she watched as the woman picked up a stick and started jabbing bunch of moss and vines. It was almost comical but Dula was in no mood for laughing. She almost told the woman to stop but as she began poking further a few of the vines and moss fell away, revealing wood that looked ornate and beautiful. Untouched by time its rich, light brown stain shone through behind the vines and moss and Dula gasped. Making her way up the stairwell she helped Eliza pull away the moss and vines until finally they were faced with a wooden double door. It looked rather plain save for the door itself seemed to be unharmed by the vines and looked decidedly out of place in The Ruins. Seeming to be brand new, as if someone just installed it yesterday, the door was an omen.

Dula stood in shock as the memory of the dream flooded her mind.
She was pulling on a circular handle, the door before her glowed brightly and though try as she might the door would not open. Her lungs filled with mud...
Not thinking twice Dula grabbed the handle and pulled it gently. Her stomach was in a ball and she felt like retching as the door creaked ever so slightly and opened. A soft wind and some dust breezed past them. Before them in the open door was a long stone corridor lit with torches. How long they had been lit Dula did not know, didn't care. Her eyes were saucers lit in the light of the torches fire and she turned to face Eliza, then took her first step inside.

As her foot touched the stone ground she could feel her mother and her father. She knew they must have came here themselves, perhaps this even being where their treasure map was leading them. Right under their noses. A lone tear fell down her face and she wiped it off with the back of her gloved hand, sniffling. There as no reason to know this, but in her heart and bones she clearly did. Destiny was unraveling at her literal feet.
"Eliza? Do you go?"
She asked before going any farther. It was clear to see on Dula's face this meant something to her, maybe now Eliza would even know that Dula was lying? Dula's face was one of honesty, her truth being closer than ever before. Destiny was closing its grip on the girl and the time was now.

model @thequincat on instagram

[Eliza Soule]

"I can see," Eliza said by way of clarification, when Dula asked if she'd seen the Muradi Sngäp. The past that was. The origins of the place, who was responsible, and what had brought it to this ruined condition. "if I choose to, and only if I look." She hadn't. The ability required her to slip into a trance like state, and it took time and energy she thought might be better reserved for whatever was ahead of them. Dula had seemed jumpy since they'd first met at the inn. Best be prepared for anything.

There were other reasons that Eliza didn't always look deeper, in spite of the temptation. Even places liked to keep their secrets, and kept them close to the breast. Oft times she let them have at it. Places, and people too, the daughter of Ymiden thought as she considered Dula's references to the wizard. From the beginning, she'd sensed that there was much more to this outing that Dula admitted. And she'd felt that the other woman wasn't being completely honest with her.

Before being blessed by Pier and Pre, in spite of all the arcs that she'd lived, she'd been no more adept at discerning a lie than any other mortal. But the blessing had changed that. Hear no evil, it was one of the abilities that came with Pier and Pre's touch. A strange thing to call it too, unless one was inclined to view untruths from the narrowest of perspectives. People lied or concealed the truth for any number of reasons. It wasn't always for the ill. Still, Eliza's flesh tingled in response to the other woman's apparent evasiveness. Ordinarily she'd have left it alone. So long as it was no harm to herself or anyone else, then who was she to judge.

In this case however, there was no telling how many and what kind of dangers lurked behind the strange door. It would be better, if they were to go forward together, for both of them to be as informed and as prepared as possible. So when asked if she'd go, Eliza smiled and hesitated, then looked Dula in the eyes. She chose her words carefully. After all, she wasn't angry, but at the same time wasn't eager for either one of them to be going blindly into the unknown. And after all, it wasn't as if she didn't have secrets of her own. Until recently, she'd made a habit of keeping her origins to herself. 'To win trust,' her beloved Poppy had once told her, 'You must be trustworthy.'

"I want to help you Dula," she said. "But before we go, I want to tell you something about myself, that I didn't tell you before. I am a mortalborn. Ymiden is my father," Eliza said. "I'm blessed by him. And by Vri; Pier and Pre too. I don't tell just anyone that. But I'm telling you," she added, speaking slowly in hopes of not tripping the other woman up over a language barrier, "Because those things give me abilities that can be useful. Helpful. Might help to keep us safe from...bad surprises." Maybe, she thought, her own direct approach would convince Dula to respond in kind. Not all surprises were good ones after all, and where they were going had the potential to be full of them. She didn't like the idea of going in blind.

"My abilities won't be much help very much, if I don't know what we're looking for, or exactly why we are here. If it's dangerous, it would be better if I knew now and not later," she said.