by P R Glazier
Chapter 7. The House in Amentura
So here the two T’Iea women stood upon the pretty cobbled avenue outside Solin’s house. Nar’Allia was still marvelling at the beauty of Amentura, she had never really been in a town like this before. The roads and boulevards of Amentura stood bedecked in bright floral displays, trees lined the wide roadways. Climbing plants covered much of the brickwork and stone of the walls and archways throughout the town, each resplendent in full bloom. The weather here was sunny and pleasantly warm, apparently Amentura seemed to bask in its own little microclimate, protected by the hills that surrounded it so that even in winter it was unusual for any snow to fall in these streets and pathways and no cold winds managed to blow across the hills chilling these pretty houses.
Minervar of course had been in Amentura before; she had delighted in describing her last visit there in great detail as they travelled the roads through the great wood. Amentura looked just as good as her descriptions, in fact better, for gone were any signs of floods and other natural weather phenomena that had marred the pretty place in Minervar’s tales.
Solin had given the impression that the people or at least some of them viewed T’Iea kind with some distrust. Minervar had reinforced this concern with further suspicion as she recounted her own experiences with the lynch mob attacking the little Pnook man Tnie because of their misguided suspicions. But as they had walked through the town none of the local populace had offered anything other than a warm greeting or even an enquiry as to their wellbeing. This had Nar’Allia feeling greatly relieved. Only once did they have any course for anxiety as a large brute of a man approached them with a stern look upon his face. They had stopped in front of his path for he was obviously making a straight line towards them. He had hailed them in a deep bass voice with what looked like a frown upon his face. But he had left them with a perplexed look as the two T’Iea women laughed in great relief. For all he wanted was to ask directions to the town square! The two women had begun to wonder if Solin could have been mistaken.
Then at last after climbing the narrow winding streets up the gentle hills at the back of the town, Minervar stood with Nar’Allia at her side looking at this iron gate. Minervar’s thoughts were of another time. A time long ago, when she had stood in this same spot with Serinae and Tnie the Pnook. The view had not changed in her eyes, but the feeling was very different. Then she had been full of the excitement of adventure, full of the wonder of the unknown. She was older now and wiser. Adventure had seen to that, now it took a much greater thing to stir excitement in her breast. Yet she recalled every detail, every brick, even the view back down the road was the same, unchanged by the years. Of course some of the trees and plants had changed, but everything else, the more permanent features, they were all as she remembered. Minervar half expected Serinae to pull on the bell chain, half expected the Pnook Master Tnie, to be hanging back in suspicion behind them still unsure of their intent, yet also wanting to stay within the protection of the person that had rescued him from that incensed mob down in that same town they had just walked through.
Nar’Allia’s thoughts however were totally different. She wondered as to what lay beyond this ornate wrought iron portico set into a whitewashed wall bedecked in sweet smelling rambling roses and bright bougainvillea, each attended by bees and other flying insects that buzzed pleasantly in the warmth of the sun as it shone dappled through the orange trees that lined the way. She wanted freedom, to draw her own future, to be mistress of her own life. Just like Solin. And just like Serinae.
Reaching forward Nar’Allia pulled upon a chain set into a small alcove in the brickwork by the side of the gate. Minervar started as if awakening from a dream, took in a deep breath and reached up with one hand to grasp the iron gate, it was as if she wanted to steady herself. Nar’Allia noticed something she had not seen before upon her hand. Minervar had, on her right index finger, an ornate ring with a single green gem set within a clasp fashioned in the form of what looked like a wolf with the gemstone within its open maw. She must have slipped it on whilst they made their way up the hill from the town.
Nar’Allia felt a little concerned, “are you alright Momma?” Minervar turned to Nar’Allia and nodded. The sun shone down on their backs.
Before Minervar could add any words of explanation or response, a small human boy ran around the corner beyond the gate and stopped inside, looking up into the faces of the two T’Iea, his gaze full of curiosity.
He wore scruffy knee length leather breeches and a cloth jerkin that looked to be made from some rich material and would have been very smart when new. But it looked too small for him, in deed the arms had been removed to make way for the broader shoulders of the boy but they had been sawn up with care by someone, so that the edges of the material did not look scruffy. He was bare footed. After scrutinising each of their faces he nodded at each of them in turn and as he did so said, “ah, ma’am, ma’am, what can I be adoin’ for e t’day?”
They heard a shout from beyond where the boy stood, “Donak, who be it Donak? If that be milady returnin’?”
The boy kept eye contact with both of them, looking from one to the other in turn, but turned his head slightly in the direction of where the other shouted from, “nah, pops, nat the lady. It be two elves righ’ enuff though, an both be wimin.”
A man appeared around the corner wearing a large brimmed straw hat, in his hands he had a flower pot and was pressing the roots of a small plant into the soil. He came up to stand beside the boy, he squinted into each face and with his head cocked to one side asked, “aye, m’ladies, an’ who might ye be?”
Minervar stood forward and smiling asked, “Jonas?”
The man scrutinised her features. “Me? Naw, Jonas, ‘e be out in t’ town. I be Dunc’n an’ this liddle squirt ‘ere he be m’ lad Donak. Be ye friends o’ ‘er ladyship then? She aren’t ‘ere right now, ‘er bein’ away an’ all. Been agone, phew I dunno, few weeks now a ways.” He placed the flower pot on the ground in front of him and whilst supporting himself with one hand on the shoulder of his son he wiped grime and sweat from his brow with the back of his other hand.
“Yes we know, in fact the lady Solin sent us here, perhaps this will help.” Minervar held up her hand on which the ring was set and showed it to the man, the boy Donak stood on tip toes to get a look.
Duncan seemed to recognise the ring and in acknowledgement said, “oh, aye tha’ be ‘ers alrite, ye may be expected, I dunno though, but like I says, Jonas, ‘e be away. But nay matter come ye in. Better t’ wait in t’ cool o’ t’ ‘ouse.”
He hobbled over and opened the gate and the two women bent to pick up their luggage, but Duncan said, “nay m’ladies, ye be leav’n they t’ me an’ Donak ‘ere now.”
So the two women stepped through into the garden courtyard thanking Duncan for his help. Minervar was back in a daydream, once more remembering the last time she stepped through into this beautiful garden. She stood in front of the same ornate pool; its fountain still spilled trickles of crystal clear water into the cool clear pool where the golden fish swam leisurely about beneath the lily pads and other aquatic plants. Some of the flowering shrubs were different, and some of the flower beds had moved, or were larger than she remembered. The climbing roses and other plants still clung to the walls and the wrought iron work that screened the alcoves where tools and other things were stored looked identical to what she remembered. The metalwork was painted a slightly different shade of green, or perhaps the same but freshly painted green not yet faded by being in the direct sunlight for so long.
They walked slowly forward. Minervar turned and said, “Well Duncan your care of the gardens and grounds is exemplary, I have never seen them looking better.”
Duncan smiled and nodded, “thank ‘e milady fo’ anoticin’ I be sure.”
Nar’Allia looked around in wonder at this lovely place as they made their way down the path, she was trying to match things to Minervar’s descriptions as she told t
he story to the twins. Minervar stopped suddenly, she wiped away a small tear from her cheek, there in front of them stood the wooden door. It still looked plain to Minervar, the wood the same hue, the same knocker the one fashioned into the wolf’s head, the same motif Nar’Allia had seen on the ring that Minervar now wore.
Duncan looked expectantly at Minervar.
Minervar slowly raised her hand and touched the ring upon her finger to the knocker, with a loud click the door swung inwards. They both stood upon the threshold gazing into the interior of the house, both reluctant to enter. For Minervar a memory of that same simple step many years before had led her into an adventure in which much was lost, but also gained. For Nar’Allia a simple step into a house, but her mind held a question, the answer to which was yet to be discovered. The performance of that simple act of entering, how may it change the direction of her own life?
In the end the moment in time ended, the spell was broken as Duncan said, “’scuse me m’ladies, I best be puttin’ yur, bags inside, then if ye ‘scuse me I be gettin’ back t’ me pottin’. I’ll be sendin’ Donak here dun t’ the town t’ find Jonas an’ be lettin’ ‘im know ye be ‘ere.”
The women stepped aside to let Duncan and Donak through. The entrance had been made. It was an easy thing now to walk forward into the cool room that lay beyond the wooden door. There was another loud click as Duncan closed the outer door behind him after laying their things just inside and they were alone in the silence of Solin’s house.
But Minervar heard a ghostly voice in her mind as if it were just yesterday. “Minervar I’d like you to meet the lady Solin’De’Teinde.”
She looked at the chair where Solin had sat, now empty, the foot stool in front. She remembered the blue in blue eyes. She remembered the glance and acknowledgement between Serinae and Solin as they greeted each other, the deep look of trust and affection. She again remembered the cowering Pnook by her side, the mob that was trying to hold him responsible for crimes he had not committed, the townsfolk would make him pay, they had to have someone to blame. She thought of what Solin had said about the mistrust of the humans in the town and suddenly thought with regret that coming here may have perhaps been an error of judgment after all.
But her doubts were extinguished as Nar’Allia touched Minervar lightly on the elbow, Minervar turned and looking into Nar’Allia’s eyes, she smiled.
Nar’Allia clapped her hands together and said, “ok then show me around!”
Minervar giggled, all negative thoughts gone from her mind, all misgivings cast aside. She knew then that they were going to have a good time here; they were going to explore and read, and talk and discover. Above all they were going to have fun.
Nar’Allia found herself pulled in the direction of a door, an excited Minervar tugging at her sleeve to come. They walked down a corridor lavishly hung with paintings and tapestries depicting T’Iea life. Nar’Allia wanted to linger at each, take in every detail of the landscapes, seascapes and cityscapes, depicted in the paintings. But she had to concede to Minervar’s tugging and decided there would be time for a more detailed look later, for now Minervar quite obviously had another destination in mind. They stopped in front of a wide set of double doors, Minervar paused for a little, took in a deep breath and grasping both handles slowly she pushed them both downwards and pushed both doors open. The doors both swung silently inwards and there before them was a magnificent spacious chamber. A wide sweeping stair went up on the far side; a long banquet table ran the length of the room. At either end large picture windows looked out, Nar’Allia ran to one end and could see the town below and beyond the harbour and the ocean glinting blue in the sun. She ran to the other side here could be seen the green hills at the back of the town, the blue sky above. She turned. Minervar was standing obviously deep in thought her hands resting upon the back of one of the dining chairs. Nar’Allia stepped slowly up to the side of her step mother and grasped one of her hands. Minervar turned her head so that she could look upon her step daughter, she smiled as yet another tear ran down her cheek.
“This room holds so many memories Narny. It was here that we had a dinner party.” She looked around the table as if recalling memories that she thought lost. “I sat there,” she pointed at a chair, “Serinae there next to Jondris,” she faltered, a lump rose in her throat, Jondris, oh Jondris, looking so handsome in dark blue suit. She swallowed the lump, composed herself and said, “Master Łinwéé sat here, he told so many raucous jokes my sides hurt with the laughing, as did the sides of many of the attending house servants. It was here that Teouso unlocked the secrets from the cylinder that Solin had retrieved from the northern lands, a secret from the ancient Ognod temple, guarded by the blind old ognodess. It was there, in those temple grounds that Solin first met Serinae and they travelled back here to Amentura along with the thief Tezrin. The three of them lived in this house for a while, I don’t know for how long. They must have sat and talked and eaten at this very table hundreds of times,” She then whispered under her breath, “the mage, the ranger and the blade.” She then turned to Nar’Allia, “this house Narny, it holds so much, apart from the great knowledge and artefacts held within, if only these walls could speak, what a story they would have to tell.”
Arms linked together Nar’Allia and Minervar walked slowly around the room taking in each wooden carving, each picture, each piece of delicate porcelain. Glass fronted cabinets held all manner of gold and silver articles, some housed plates and bowls each painted with designs of woodlands and seascapes, towns and villages, a city resplendent in the sun. Nar’Allia stayed looking at a very fine painting of a T’Iea city through which a wide river flowed. The city was built across four of the rivers largest meanderings. There were four obvious sections of the city; each could be seen in a staggered pattern. Each section was joined to its neighbour by two bridges each bridge spanned across the loop in the river. Also because each section was at a different height then its neighbour, each of the bridges comprised a series of enormously wide steps leading to the next level of the city. It gave the impression that the city was like four great ball rooms with ornate curving stair ways encompassing each dance floor and leading up to the next. Each level also had a wide waterfall cascading into it from the level above. The bridges spanned the waterfalls in wide promenades. Each of these areas exhibited many colourful tent-like structures in all sorts of shades. Some were solid colours; others had patterns on them like stripes in complimentary colours. Upon each level tall spires of gold shone in the sunshine, flags and banners hung from white stone walls, red tiled roofs glistened in the sunlight. Nar’Allia wondered which city was painted here, wondered for some reason if this city was even in this world. But eventually she went and stood by Minervar’s side, she was going to ask if she knew of the city in the painting, but her step mother was staring at a small picture that looked slightly out of place amongst so much grandeur, Nar’Allia looked at it with curiosity.
Minervar said, “this used to hang in the room I stayed in, my room, whilst we were here. Solin must have moved it here for some reason, look carefully at it, what do you see?”
Nar’Allia looked; the painting was of a number of well-dressed T’Iea men and women. The men stood behind, the women sat in front. All looked proud as they sat within a vast hall. Minervar pointed to a seated figure, Nar’Allia took a closer look and realised that there sat Solin, much younger looking, her eyes not the blue in blue that they were now but as any others eyes, her irises a brown hazel colour, she looked beautiful.
Minervar explained, “this depicted the day of her final graduation from the order of De’Et’Niale’Ternaven. Only she survives now, all these good men and women are gone, all but her. This whole house perhaps stands sentinel to the order of old. Like much of our past Nar’Allia the last vestige of something that will probably never again return.”
Nar’Allia felt a pang of sadness at these melancholy words, something in her became determined then and there to play
the part that Solin had requested of them. “Then together momma we must ensure it survives intact as Solin wishes it to. Anyway you never know what we may find here. What was it you used to tell me, something that Solin used to tell you, something about not being able to change the past, but we would do well to learn from it, for to forget the past was to risk all, for the past has a nasty habit of returning and its bite can be deep?”
Minervar thought for a moment and smiling said, “yes she did. But also Narny another once told me it’s not good to dwell too long in the past for it’s the future we should look to. You know I may not have married Iolrreas if someone had not told me that.”
Minervar giggled and reaching out to clasp Nar’Allia’s hand she said, “by the Maker we are in melancholy mood today, come, let’s find a room to your liking, I know where mine is. Perhaps we should get dressed for dinner.”
Nar’Allia smiled at Minervar, she heard how each room held many luxurious things including the most beautiful frocks and gowns. Still smiling Minervar led Nar’Allia up the curving stair case and along the corridor until they stood outside a door. Minervar again took a deep breath and opening the door entered the room, the same room in which she had slept all those years ago. She turned and returning to the hallway said, “Narny, there are many bedrooms along this corridor, choose any one you like, you will find they all have their own charm, and all have lovely surprises within their wardrobes.” She smiled and winked at Nar’Allia before turning back to inspect her old room once more.
Nar’Allia made her way along the corridor. Many doors were there, but she just shrugged and stood at the door next to Minervar’s room. She opened the door and went through into the room.
Minervar smiled and stepped into her old room and closed the door behind her. The room looked exactly the same as she remembered it, the same pictures hung on the wall, even the ones in which the pictures seemed to follow her around the room so that she could see the subject painted upon them from wherever in the room she stood. Then she stared long and hard at one particular picture. Well it wasn’t one particular picture at all, ‘that’ picture was now downstairs. The picture that replaced it made Minervar’s tears run down her cheeks, for there in front of her eyes was a picture of a beautiful young T’Iea woman, her body clad in fine shining chain mail armour, bronze bracers upon each forearm. Two pommels of two short swords at her waist a black longbow in her hand. She was smiling, a smile that Minervar remembered well. Her platinum hair hung loose down her back adorned with dried flowers and other small flora in a style of dress that had become less popular now, another reminder of something belonging to a time long ago. Her piercing jade green eyes smiled out from the painting, as vivid and captivating as they were in real life. Minervar reached out and ran her fingers down the painting, down the T’Iea woman’s cheeks as if she could feel the warm skin once more, she wiped her tear strewn cheeks upon her sleeve. An inscription below the painting read,
‘To the memory of one who is sorely missed. May she surprise us yet’.
Minervar sat on the bed, her head and face in her hands feeling her wet cheeks. She whispered to herself, “oh Seri, where are you now my friend? For you are indeed sorely missed.”
Sometime later Minervar was taken back from her thoughts by a knock at her door. Nar’Allia came in looking fine and refreshed and wearing a stunning gown of gold and brown silk, it set her darkly tanned features of very well. “Come momma, I don’t know about you but I am certainly hungry. Let’s see what we can find in the kitchens, if the food is as rich as the surroundings we should eat well this evening.”
Minervar laughed, “be careful my girl, I guarantee you will love the food here, but remember you will not be getting the same exercise reading books as you would hunting boar, so don’t get too fond of the cuisine here, you may not fit into many of those gowns if you’re not careful!” Both women laughed and grasping their arms together left Minervar’s room.
So they made their way down the corridor towards the staircase. As they turned the corner to come down the last flight of stairs a rich aroma took their nostrils, it promised roast meats, sweet vegetables and fine wines. Waiting at the bottom of the stairs was a fine looking young man in a smart dress suit, a white linen cloth over one arm and white buttoned gloves upon his hands. He held a tray on which stood two ornate crystal glasses half filled with a rich burgundy coloured liquid. He bowed and said, “if it pleases my ladies, dinner will be served at your convenience. In the meantime, if you would like an aperitif?”
Minervar looked at the gentleman and asked, “Jonas?”
“Indeed Ma’am, please excuse me when I say you must be the lady Minervar, my grandfather had told me much about you and your travelling companions.”
“Your grandfather? Your grandfather was house master here the last time I visited?”
“Indeed he was Ma’am, sadly of course he is longer with us, but my father, was house master after him, and now the great honour of the position of house master to the lady De’Teinde falls to me. I have held the position now for fifteen years.”
“Well the honour is ours Jonas, we are delighted to meet you. This is my daughter Nar’Allia. I must say it is a pleasure to be back here in this honoured house once more.”
Jonas nodded and bowed again saying “Ma’am. My mistress asked me to await your coming. The lady De’Teinde instructed me to offer you anything you wish from the hospitality of the house and to assure you that anything and everything within is at the disposal of you and your guest.”
Minervar chuckled, “so Solin knew we would come all along. Just like her. How does she do that? Know what was going to happen.” She smiled at Jonas. “Indeed, that is truly an honour Jonas. I am sorry to hear of the passing of your grandfather, I have fond memories of him. He executed his duties with the utmost care and diligence, I am sure that you have the same admirable skill as did your father before you. But please we wish to eat now; I think my daughter’s stomach must be quietened before we will be able to concentrate on anything else.”
Nar’Allia scowled at Minervar and blushed, Minervar giggled as she took both the offered glasses and gave one to Nar’Allia. Jonas bowed with a smile upon his features and they were shown to their places at the table to enjoy the hospitality of the house and a sumptuous meal.