Chapter 22
The spherical room they entered was magnificent. Orbs floated above four stands set around a circle on the floor large enough for them all to stand in with room to spare. Silver runes ran throughout the circle, glowing with energy. Moonlight illuminated the room through a multi-paned glass dome above.
Teleport circles were rare, exclusive to the most powerful wizards. Tathan had only seen one before and it was much smaller with space for just one person.
Jarrrn Garrrn gestured while making a multilayered sound with his voices. Enchanted globes attached to the walls began to glow. The four floating orbs above the stands started to spin rapidly while the runes in the floor grew bright.
“This is my teleport room. You are to walk slowly without touching anything,” he warned them. “This room and the teleport circle took nine years to build. You could damage it by being careless.”
Tathan noticed the Rojuun’s hands were all on knives. He had no doubt Jarrrn Garrrn would do his very best to kill them should they not agree. “We’ll be extremely careful, Master Garrrn.”
“Very good.” He relaxed a little. “I do not normally transport humans, but the distance is far and the need great. The sooner I get you to my home, the better.” He motioned for them to stay while he went to each of the orbs, making gestures and chanting in quiet tones.
Vevin whispered to the group, “I want one of these in my lair. This is wonderful.” The dragon barely restrained himself from doing a dance so as not to upset their employer.
Jarrrn Garrrn still didn’t seem to notice Vevin as he came back over to the companions. “I will take you to your place in the circle one at a time. You are to stand completely still once there.” He motioned for Tathan to follow him first.
Tathan walked slowly behind the Rojuun and moved to the spot indicated. Liselle and Sir Danth were next. He placed them all so they were facing back toward the door they had entered. When it came time to place Vevin, Jarrrn did a double take before shaking his head as if to clear cobwebs. He led Vevin to his place in the circle.
Once they were set, Jarrrn strode to the middle of the circle. He took one last look to see that the companions were in their correct places. His gaze lingered on Vevin for an extra moment.
The dragon stared straight ahead, ignoring the Rojuun.
“Now we will teleport.” Jarrrn clasped pairs of hands together. “I need you to keep your minds and bodies as relaxed as possible. It will feel as though your soul is being held while your body is magically moved from one place to the next. I will not explain the process, but rest assured that all will be well.”
Tathan didn’t know what to expect. He took a deep breath, relaxing his mind and body.
Jarrrn spoke in the multilayered tone he had used on the floating orbs. His arms were outstretched and his head was back. A magical breeze gusted from in front of the Rojuun, ruffling a few loose hairs in his braids and blowing the hem of his robe back. It affected only him. Silver tendrils of power flowed from his hands out to the orbs. Power gathered around them, spinning down through channels on the pedestals to the runes within the circle.
Time slowed for Tathan. Everything became blurry and then ceased to exist, including his body. There was no sound, smell, sight, substance or . . . anything. It felt as though he were in a soft cocoon of nothingness. The universe shifted around him, but only an infinitesimal amount. He had the impression that the universe wasn’t aware of him, nor did it care.
Everything became blurry again and reappeared. The teleport circle was still there as were the orbs and pedestals, but the room itself was different. He looked up and saw a glass paneled dome above them, but there was no moon or stars, just a soft glow from a cavern ceiling high above.
Jarrrn stepped forward out of the circle. “Here we are.” The orbs slowed as the power dimmed. “Take a moment to compose your thoughts and then come forward into the hallway.”
Tathan looked down at his body, holding his hands out. Everything was where it was supposed to be and felt the same. Vevin was the first to walk out of the circle, smiling after the experience. Sir Danth was the next to go, not giving any clue about his feelings. Liselle took a deep breath and then departed the circle as well. Tathan followed, joining them in the hallway.
There were doors along the hallway, each one with elaborate designs. The floor was made of polished stone, possibly the stone floor of the cavern. Various paintings lined the green walls and the ceiling was yellow. Those seemed to be the family colors.
Jarrrn led them into another sitting room, more lushly decorated than the one at his house in Puujan, though the furnishings were of an alien design. It didn’t appear as though humans had made any of it.
There was another Rojuun sitting in the room, the first female the party had seen.
“This is my wife, Yrrraa Garrrn,” Jarrrn announced with a gesture. “You will be exceptionally pleasant to her and greet her with a bow. Do not touch her as she is not familiar with humans.”
They all bowed and said hello.
She nodded to each in return. Yrrraa was shorter than Jarrrn, reaching his shoulder. Her features were more delicate. Bright yellow, catlike eyes peered from a soft brow. Her body was somewhat wider than that of the male Rojuun they had seen and she had round breasts about the size of a human’s. She wore robes with yellows, oranges and reds to highlight her eyes. It would be easy to believe that she might be considered beautiful by Rojuun standards.
Yrrraa turned to her husband. “They are rather intimidating, especially the one dressed in metal.” Awe touched her voices as she pointed at Sir Danth. “They are also much more pleasant than I expected, though you told me they would be, Husband.” Her voices were lighter with even more variations than Jarrrn’s.
“Yes, Wife. They are pleasant and it is good that they are also intimidating. We need strong, dangerous humans to fight off the sstejj so that we may be free to explore artistic endeavors.” He put a hand on her shoulder. With another hand, he gestured to the seats around them. “Sit and be comfortable.”
They sat, with the exception of Sir Danth who moved to the back of the room to look out a window.
“You are now in my home. This is a place you will treat with respect,” Jarrrn said in his normal commanding manner. “It is resting time for us as it is for you, though we do not have night here as you do above the caverns.”
“I cannot imagine what it must be like above the caverns.” His wife spoke in awed tones. “I would be afraid of falling into your sky, though I know that to be silly.” She giggled. One of her voices emitted a normal feminine giggle, but the other sounded like bells. It was an extraordinary effect.
Jarrrn smiled at his wife and then turned to them, “I will show you to your quarters in a moment, but my wife wanted to meet you first.” He tenderly stroked her neck and shoulder as he spoke to the party. “In the morning I will introduce you to my sister, Marrraa. She is responsible for defending the family home. After that, I am leaving to conduct more business in Puujan.”
Yrrraa pouted. “Must you, Husband?”
“You know I must.” Jarrrn smiled while stroking her shoulder. “Let me see them to their room after which I will meet you in ours.”
“Yes, Husband.” Yrrraa ran her two left hands seductively along his chest as she moved toward the door.
Jarrrn watched her leave the room with appreciation in his eyes. He exhaled deeply before turning his attention to the guests. “Come with me to your rooms.”
Tathan found it harder to dislike the Rojuun after seeing them interact with each other. They smiled, laughed and felt anger like humans did. The difference in features and voice didn’t bother him. If anything, they were pleasant. The one thing he didn’t like was the way Jarrrn ordered them around, but even that wasn’t done in spite.
Jarrrn led them down the hall to another. Tathan realized that it was a huge place af
ter they turned down the eighth hallway and still hadn’t reached their room. Finally, they walked out into an open courtyard.
There was a fountain in the middle with water flowing over five tiered pools. Around the edges of the plaza were glowing flowers. Liselle was wide-eyed with an enormous smile on her face. Even these flowers leaned toward her as though wanting to be touched.
Tathan looked closer at an alien flower. Its translucent leaves had luminescent pink liquid moving slowly through its veins.
Tathan tilted his head to the rough cavern ceiling high above. He made out small stalactites scattered across its span. There was phosphorescent moss covering the surface, casting ambient light throughout the cavern.
Jarrrn noticed the party looking at the flowers and cavern. “It is different than above ground, but just as beautiful, no?”
“It is extraordinary,” Sir Danth said. “I have never imagined the depths of the world to hold such beauty as this.”
“Oh yes! It’s wonderful,” said Vevin who was doing his happy dance. He darted about, looking at all of the new things. “Will the pointy things fall?” He pointed up.
Jarrrn followed his gaze. “The stalactites? No, they will stay. Those are sturdy.” He began explaining again, using expressive gestures with his hands. “There are a number of different types of stalactites. Limestone is common in upper caverns, but there are slower moving substances in the lower caverns that create stalactites. These are more solid and do not fall easily.”
Jarrrn motioned for them to follow him across the courtyard. They did so, taking in as much as they could. He led them into another hallway. A short distance later, he opened a door. “Here is your suite. There are three rooms and a sitting area. There is also a bath. You will use it. Rojuun do not like strong odors.”
“Of course.” Liselle smiled. “A bath sounds lovely.”
Jarrrn smiled in return. “Marrraa and I will be back in the morning to show you your tasks. Rest well.” The Rojuun left them in the suite, closing the door behind him.
“Oh, this is exciting!” Vevin did an excited version of his happy dance.
“It really is. The flowers are wonderful. They’re different, but beautiful.” Liselle played with the flower pin in her hair. “They were happy to see me and told me they’re treated well, so that was nice to hear.”
Tathan exchanged glances with Sir Danth. Vevin, on the other hand, didn’t seem to think it unusual at all that Liselle talk to flowers. “That is wonderful, Lady Liselle! It’s good to know the Rojuun treat flowers well.” He suddenly became still, tipping his head to one side in thought. “I still want to eat one of the Rojuun to see what they taste like though.”
Tathan held up a hand. “Let’s wait on that for a little while at least, Vevin. Right now, they’re nice to us and we’re trapped in their domain. I don’t want to upset them.”
“Do you think they would be upset if I only ate one or two?” Vevin asked innocently.
“Yes!” Tathan answered quickly and emphatically.
Vevin burst into laughter at his response. Liselle and Sir Danth joined him. When Tathan realized that the dragon had gotten him, he joined in the laughter as well.
Rojuun Page 34