Chapter 10 - Part VII

The three of them followed cobblestone paths that snaked in between perfectly angular buildings of stone and mortar.  While Cedric and the Silent Scholar clacked along the red splotched grey stone, Onion tiptoed on her soft slippered feet, observing her surroundings.  Cedric and the Silent Scholar mentally discussed the finer details of campus upgrades ahead of her while Onion trailed the two by a few paces.  To any passersby, however, the three of them traveled in an eerie silence. 

Even though she had arrived to the University on High over two tides ago, Onion still didn't know where she was going half of the time.  Novice students had few trips to make, save between the first 3 study halls, a mess hall and the lower dormitory block, but that was one mere petal on the rose that was the University.

Eighteen study halls, a training ground, three mess halls, two amphitheaters, one for public performances, one for her wisdom only, and 22 residences lay behind the neat, smooth cobble stone paths.  Each building stood as a solid, strong sentinels in a confusing maze of pathways that Onion was sure was placed there to test the persistence and courage of any new student.


Their destination was a small house that spent its nights lonely and vacant, though loving attention had been paid to every detail in its construction; from the tepid red stain of the alabaster to the intricate wood work of mountain cherry that reached from over the multi-tiered roof to explode into the carved patterns of vine and flowers on each corner of the edifice.  It was secluded, ignored by the rest of the enormous campus with a grove of chestnut and sycamore trees that offered shade against the strong Yibouhese sun.

A small mahogany wood walkway meandered through the grove and approached the structure from the side.  Before the main door, however, three perfectly rectangle obsidian steps descended from the house and lay before a wide cobblestone path that led directly to the inner sanctum of the Nativity Palace.

"Get down!" Cedric commanded forcefully as he prodded Onion onto her hands and knees and did the same himself.  "Respect.  Her Wisdom is just leaving." He reached a hand out to cover Vren's, lest she think about getting up before propriety dictated she could.

As soon as her knees touched the wooden walkway they stood upon, six men and two women, all shirtless and clad in breezy knee-high kilts of saffron colored silk assumed their place around a large polished mahogany litter.  Ornate carvings of lily flowers gilded in gold adorned each wall of the litter while a solid gold roof tiered out in shingled leaves.  The 8 bearers waited patiently as their frail charge was walked out to the litter.

Vren lifted her head slightly, curiosity winning out over formality and saw the most powerful person on the continent, if not the world.  The geriatric woman was held up by two strong men on each side of her and Onion was not convinced that she held even a single stone of her own body weight up.  Empress Coth Di's skin was light, but not like that of a Lithenese.  Hers was the paleness of weather and weary and her eyes were milky and grey.  Her grey hair, likely once jet black, as most Yibouhese, was tied up tightly in several buns that spanned from ear to ear along the top of her cranium.

She also noticed that the Silent Scholar did not bend a knee, and simply bowed its head deeply at her Wisdom.

Once the empress, with her layers of flowing robes and high ket shoes had been safely loaded into the litter, the 8 bearers headed straight for the only entrance to the Nativity Palace.  Onion ventured up and stood when she saw Cedric nod gently to her.

"That is Empress Coth Di?" she asked, already knowing the answer, but not quite able to rectify the image of the woman who has just been before her, with the imposing image of the woman she had created in her mind.

"Yes." Cedric responded, "Highest Scholar in the Land, Learned of Alchemy, Guide of Civilization.  You have her to thank for your liberation from the Archne Estate; it is her foresight that directs the Silent Scholar, and all of the Learned."

"It doesn't look like she has the capacity to open a scroll, much less study and direct matters of state." Onion blanched.

Cedric could not help but smile, though he tried to remain stern, "Yes, but don't ever say that again."