Chapter 3

Cherphine had finally reached her home or her domicile – the name she was taught to use. The palace was unlike any other. Built five levels high, it was the tallest in all Aroedeen.

The palace was built of white stones, of the very rocks of the hill. The hill had been very much higher than it seemed now. The palace took the form of a geometric circle. Its center, exposed, lined with corridors wide enough for ten he-men to walk abreast. A garden laid in the first level, where many springs sprouted, forming the rivers and waterfalls of the hill.

Cherphine's chamber is found in the third level, where the royal chambers were. Her chamber had the width of twenty he-men shoulder to shoulder, and twice the width for length.

The servants' quarters were found in the fifth level. The fourth level however, beholds an open view; built only by strong pillars and woven walls with tiny windows carefully designed to take form certain creatures of the past. One can overlook the whole of Rhonthelm from this height.

Cherphine had allowed herself to be groomed after she returned. She had to at least look like a princess if she is to be in the same domicile as her father.

She had her dark blue tresses adorned with glittering threads of silver, stringing her hair into thin locks. Her handmaiden did all this for her, designing her hair each day.

Cherphine was given long silver bangs to flow down beside her face. She didn't know how Lara, her handmaiden, did so but she had her hair combed together to resemble a cxever (flower). The rest of her hair fell loosely on her back.

Her outfit was a white dress. The skirt flowed from her waist down, almost reaching the floors. On her feet she wore a silver sandal. It hid her toes and heels, protecting them, being strapped crisscrossed to her legs.

She wore no jewelry, save the necklace of white diamonds adorning her neck. A gift from her father – from infanthood.

There were many stairs in the palace, each strategically placed. Cherphine descended one of them to the second level, in time for her evening meal. The dining hall rested closer to the Northern court. Her room lay closer to the Western court.

Walking along the inner corridor, where she could observe the garden closely, Cherphine noticed the shifting rays of Torian through the glass bricks above, which made most of the floors of the Centre court in the third level.

Diverting her gaze, she quickened her pace to the dining hall. The palace was large enough, and it takes time to walk from one place to another.

"Whoever designed this palace wasn't thinking much." Cherphine muttered under her breath, as she would to the least, once each day. She had passed three rooms and two antechambers now, in which she had always had her lessons. Her favourite rooms were her father's study east of the Southern court, and the library west of it.

Approaching her destination, she saw clearly her kith and kin. She smiled at their resemblance. Both stood admiring the garden before them, amidst the walls of the palace.

Both he-men were of tall stature. Both have dark hair, save the graying head of her aging father. Both were golden brown in complexion.

The only difference between them was the colour of their eyes. The emperor Cherbrent owned silver gray eyes, a-telling wisdom. The prince Cherzo, however, owned black eyes, said to be an inheritance from their queen.

Cherphine's smile waned a little, remembering the tale her father had told her. A-telling the tale of her coming to be a princess, and the death of her mother.

"Sister!" Cherzo greeted her once she stepped into the hall. "You are late in coming."

"I had been grooming myself." Cherphine held her chin high, smiling her pert smile. "You know how it is when a princess grooms. Pheon rises soon after Torian before she is done."

The stout emperor, both by manner and by nature, laughed a hearty laugh. "My dearest Cherphine. Pray, let us begin what was delayed."

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Night had fallen when Cherphine found herself in her father's study. Still clad in her eveningwear, she watched the gates of the palace. The forest before her she beheld, half hidden behind the dark felt curtains. Pheon had yet to appear.

The night seemed quiet. Soldiers were at their stations, mostly at the gates.

Her mind lingered at midday – when she had formed those darts. She never knew how she could have done so. The scene echoed in her mind – replaying their formation.

Focusing her eyes to her palm, held before her, slowly vapour assembled midair, marshaled by her mind. Once gathered, they commute, causing a crystal cxever to hove as if from thin air.

She was able to control the element water in all its forms.

Her masters had found this gift in her when they first trained her. None were said to possess that same gift. They kept it a secret, as she had desired by fiat.

Her powers had also enabled her acute senses. The crystal wrought in her hands dispersed to where it came once the doors of the study open. It would appear to have evaporated.

"Cherzo." Cherphine acknowledged his presence, unmoving. His footsteps were steady and his strides long. His ways are subdued and his words laconic. Cherphine could tell it was he from whither he is.

"Rhonthelm is dark without Pheon. I wonder of travelers at this hour." Cherzo said once he approached her side. He held both his hands behind his back, his posture ever straight.

Cherphine shot him a brief sidelong glance, before grazing the cities with her eyes. She had forgotten how gnomic he could be at times.

The world around her began to dim. She could feel her soul tugging at her heart, releasing an overwhelming emotion. It felt strangely familiar. Warm, and comforting, like a presence. Yet, her mind clinched it disturbing.

A slight confusion aroused in her heart. It showed in her features. Her fists clenched as her eyes shut in bemusement.

"It's that feeling again, wasn't it?" Cherzo inquired. Cherphine had guessed he would. He knew her as well as he knew every corner of the palace.

Cherphine opened her eyes. She turns to seat herself upon a cushioned seat, the shape of a crescent. Before it was another just like it. A circular table found itself in between.

"It gets stronger each time." Cherphine said. Her eyes fixated upon the portrait across her – of empress Purence, her mother. "It feels so close, almost near. I could almost feel it within my reach." She studied her hands as she said this, pressing her nails into her palms occasionally.

"It feels as though the source is searching for me, wanting to reach me." Cherphine threw her hands to her side, her head – back. "I'm disturbed."

Cherzo laughed curtly. "You shouldn't be." He sat across her. Though it was he who seemed amused, Cherphine saw in his eyes some signs of concern. It never failed to cause her some disconcert.

"Has something occurred?" she leaned forward. Cherzo let out a deep breath. He stared intently into Cherphine's eyes. She, in turn, stared back at him, questioning.

He gave up first.

"The messenger, Uzki, returned."

"Wherefore does he come?" Cherphine erected herself. Anxiety filled her heart. The messenger was not due for a week more. His return seemed to forebode ill tidings.

"Tell me more." Cherphine prodded her brother with these – her words – encouraging him somewhat, seeing it difficult for his answering her.

"I know of nothing else."

She did not believe him at first. She couldn't. He never was a good liar. His very being depicted it. Though he laid back, he wasn't relaxed. Though his hands did not fidget, they were firmly folded across his chest. Most of all, though he was staring at nothing in particular, his eyes were not empty. They were filled with concern.

The doors of the study opened once again.

"Ah!" the emperor exclaimed, "both my children are here. I need not send for them after all."

The siblings stood up in respect. Both a little troubled. The emperor's voice had sounded cheerful, but, for a reason or more, his face was downcast – betraying his thoughts. Worry seemed to furrow his brow, glowing deep in his eyes.

Trailing behind their father was the messenger himself.