~
Solin had offered us rooms in her house. She promised a room for each of us and the invitation to stay as long as we wished. She had rung a small hand bell by her side in the design of a little T’Iea woman wearing a long, wide bell shaped frock; I blinked as she put the little bell back onto the table for I was sure the little figure gathered up her skirts with her slender lace-gloved hands and curtsied to me before remaining still. Whilst I was staring at the little bell in disbelief a house servant appeared and stood in readiness to one side of the room.
Solin was scribbling something onto a sheet of parchment. When she was finished she folded the paper, placed her thumb upon the fold and holding it there closed her eyes and concentrated. There was a faint glow between her thumb and the parchment. On removing her thumb, I noticed a blue seal, the same blue as her eyes, had appeared across the fold, the seal had upon it the imprint of a wolf’s head a gemstone held between its teeth, the same emblem I had noticed on the ring that Serinae wore and upon the door knocker.
Without looking up from the table Solin said, “Ah Jonas. Please kindly show our guests here to their rooms, then if you would be so kind, please send a footman to the Inn, the name of which the Lady Serinae can furnish you with. There you will find three companions to the Lady Serinae, please ask the footman to give them this letter, the names of each are written upon the outside, if they agree to the invitation, and I hope they will, please then have the footman escort them here at their leisure.”
Jonas bowed and taking the letter and secreting it somewhere within his jacket, led us upstairs and down a number of hallways to our rooms.
The house was large, larger than it looked from the outside. Every hallway and each room that we could peer into looked lavishly furnished and decorated. Each work of art, each painting and statue, each clock, each table and chair, all of it looked priceless and expensive, here was a well-to-do lady, I couldn’t begin to comprehend the richness of her lifestyle. I had never seen anything like it and would probably never see anything like it again. My mind ran riot and my imagination began to surmise that I had been given a private viewing into the manner in which the T’Iea’Denarin had lived in ancient times, perhaps this is what the houses looked like within the T’Iea’Denarin cities of old, perhaps in the great city of Ter’Hadsnefel itself. Perhaps this was a life style that may no longer exist except perhaps for little glimpses like this.
It felt good to be in Solin’s house. Apart from being very culturally T’Iea in its look and feel it was a well-protected sanctuary from the world outside, I felt that it was protected not just by locks and keys in stout wooden doors and thick brickwork, but by something else, something much stronger protected this place and I wondered why that should be. But I took the opportunity to take a few hours’ relaxation in my room before we all met again at supper that evening. I began by exploring the room I was in. Like all the rooms I had seen so far it was lavishly decorated with fine furnishings and ornaments, every item I supposed must be of great value, both in monetary terms and of course in historic, for everything reflected the T’Iea culture of old. There were many pictures hanging on the walls, some were painted, some engraved and others that seemed curiously to take up a three dimensional space, for as I moved around the room, no matter what angle I viewed these pictures from it always appeared that I faced them front on and could see the whole picture as it was without distortion. This was fine with those pictures that depicted a landscape or a still life, but a few were portraits and I found it a little disconcerting that those T’Iea faces seemed to follow me around the room wherever I went. I wondered often whilst in Solin’s house about the art and the artists that had the skill to create such paintings.
But there was one picture in particular that drew my attention; it hung over the fireplace. Compared with some of the lavish works of art that hung around it, this picture was nothing special, the frame was plain unworked wood, cracked with age, the corners knocked about as if the picture had travelled far with little protection and it was quite small compared to the other pictures that surrounded it. But it was most interesting, quite captivating in fact, for as I looked at it I realised that this picture was a piece of a jigsaw that made up a life story.
The picture depicted a very large room, in fact a large elegant hall with a vaulted and painted ceiling. The roof itself was supported by a large number of huge carved oak beams from which hung many tapestries of exceptional workmanship. Complex scenes of T’Iea city life where depicted within these works of art. Many ornately carved pillars made from marble lined each side of the space. At the far end of the hall, in the distance it seemed, could be seen an enormous stained glass window in which was depicted a tall T’Iea man in long flowing robes, he looked up at his raised hands. I couldn’t actually see his hands for they were obscured by bright rays of light, natural light that shone through the window, but cleverly worked into the picture itself, for it looked like the light was emitted from an orb that he was obviously holding aloft. A single focussed beam of light then shone down into the hall, but I could not see what it illuminated. I had no idea what this meant or what the history behind this character was. This single beam of light led my eyes down to a part of the picture that interested me most. For this ray of light disappeared behind many people arranged in lines, the tallest to the outside of the line, the shorter as the line moved to the centre. They had obviously been arranged in this manner specifically for this painting. There were three rows of males at the back, all T’Iea’Denarin by the look of them, all very finely dressed. They all wore a similar medal at their breast, but I could not make out the motif upon the metalwork for they were too small. But in front of these males sat two rows of females, again all T’Iea’Denarin. These ladies were dressed in fine gowns and the way their hair was set and the finery in jewels and other adornments suggested that this was a special occasion. Each had a deep blue silken sash across their shoulders, again the same blue as Solin’s eyes. But then when I looked closely, each ladies sash was adorned with a larger broach, and upon each was the Wolf’s head and gemstone motif that seemed to be a regular occurrence within Solin’s House. I looked once more at the faces of the ladies sitting in the picture, scrutinising each one in turn until one in particular caught my attention. I gasped, as third in from the left, and upon the second row up sat a figure whose face, although looking very much younger than it did now, clearly belonged to Solin. She looked beautiful, her youthful features shone forth at me out of the picture. Her hair, still white as snow even then, was gathered upon her head, an ornate tiara was set in amongst her locks. Apart from this obvious age difference there was something different about her, it took me a few minutes of looking at her face when I realised that her eyes were not the blue in blue that I had become accustomed to, but where white as any person, her irises a brown hazel colour.
My attention moved to the foreground where sat a low table. Upon the table were various items that I did not recognise except an ornate long feather quill pen, a bottle of blue ink capped with a silver hinged lid and a book with a blank cover. Then one item, a very ceremonial looking mace finished in gold leaf cast in the same wolf’s head devouring the same gemstone. Below this someone had signed onto the painting itself the words:
‘T’Iredriie’Olle’Et’Roesee’7076’For’Noste’A’ - De’Et’Niale’Ternaven’.
I translated in my head into the common tongue:
‘Graduation Ceremony ‘Et’Roesse 7076 ‘Grade A’, De’Et’Niale’Ternaven’.
There is no direct translation of the words Et’Roesse into the common tongue; it is a reference to the relationship of the people depicted with the order to which they belonged. The words incorporate many demands, to carry on this relationship for the rest of their lives, prioritising it above all else. It is a total commitment that when taken could not be overthrown by anything.
I had heard of the ancient order of De’Et’Niale’Ternaven, the closest translation to the comm
on tongue being ‘To live is to learn’ they were a revered order of academics believed to have been originally active in Ter’Hadsnefel and other Elven cities in ancient ages past, certainly well before the Ognod wars. I gazed at the fine figures in the painting for a long time, for this was a moment in my races history depicted here. I felt a feeling of great pride welling up inside of me.
Not for the first time I had so many unanswered questions. I could not get the thoughts of the past days out of my head. A few short weeks ago I was just a fresh student learning my chosen profession, by far the most exciting thing to have ever happened to me was that evening in Corbond when I first came across Serinae. Yet now I felt very different, so much had happened over the intervening weeks starting with the following day after that same evening. I thought of the people I had met, the things I had seen and done, the places I had been. Well not many really but compared to my past life it felt like I’d been on some kind of extended trip. I also analysed my emotional self, I certainly felt less secure and more anxious, a little apprehensive perhaps. But at the same time I felt alive, my nerves set a-tingling. My thinking had changed, less accepting and more demanding. I was undoubtedly excited at the prospect of adventure.
I must have fallen asleep because I could not remember where my thoughts had finally taken me. I was startled awake by a knock at the door. I rose from the couch on which I had been lying and sleepily opened the door to my room. Rubbing my eyes I eventually found Jondris stood outside. I looked him up and down, I had to rub my eyes again and I think my jaw dropped in shock, for there stood before me a Jondris that I had never seen before. He had changed from his normal attire into smart fitted leggings of a dark blue hue. They were delicately embroidered in the fashion of my T’Iea people. On his upper body he now wore a white lace shirt over which he had on a dark blue jerkin matching the leggings. I noticed that the material was very rich in look and wondered where he had got such richly flamboyant clothing.
He smiled noticing my quizzical look. “Well? Do I look the part?” He turned around so that I could get the full effect of this smartly dressed man.
All I could do was stutter, “ummm Jon, well, ummm yes, gosh yes you do.”
At this he crooked his arm by his side and bowing held out his arm for me to take. I took his arm without thinking but then it occurred to me that I looked a complete mess compared to him and did not feel ready to face the others downstairs for dinner.
Realisation dawned as he looked me up and down. “Oh,” his only response.
A sly smile formed upon his lips, he led me back into my room and after moving a chair into the centre of the room he bid me sit. He held up one finger as if to say ‘wait just there’ and walked to the opposite side of the room to where a row of tall wardrobes resided. Here he turned to me and smiled and with a theatrical flourish at each door, made to open the wardrobes which I now faced. As he opened each one in turn, he bowed keeping one leg extended in front of him and gestured to the contents with both his hands as if to seek my approval. I was highly amused by his comedy show but also astonished at this uncharacteristic display of frivolity. I became even more astonished to view many fine clothes held within each wardrobe, attire for both male and female. In fact I was stunned into silence.
I looked at Jondris and he said, “would my lady like to choose, or shall I choose for her?”
I rose slowly looking into each wardrobe in turn. I walked to where he was standing trying to take in each style, each colour. My fingers lingered on each of the fine gowns within. At last my mind started to get into the right frame, helped by a rather fetching long green gown in patterned velvet with lace cuffs and neck line. I removed this dress and looked at it longingly. I moved across and holding it in front of me stared into a full length mirror. I swished my hips and legs around, the gowns skirt swished with me in a very pleasing way. I smiled and excited laid the gown upon the bed, then I turned to Jondris and laughing pushed him towards the door, “out, Out, OUT!”
He started to splutter something about dressing finely for supper, he found himself back in the hallway. I went to shut the door, but then opened it again and grabbing his arm gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek, and said, “don’t worry I can manage this on my own.”
Laughing I shut the door on him and ran back to retrieve the beautiful gown from the bed. I held it against me once more and admired its look and feel again in front of the full length mirror.
Shortly another knock on the door had me shouting, “Jondris, leave me alone I have work to do!” I bit my bottom lip and sighed as I thought just how much work.
There was silence for a couple of seconds then another knock. So I sighed and went over to the door meaning to open it and rebuke the poor man to leave me alone as I had many things to do.
I opened the door sharply expecting to tell Jondris not to waste my time, there was precious little of it and I had a long job ahead of me. But the frown was wiped from my face, for there stood one of Solin’s maid servants, “oh, errr I’m sorry I thought ….”
She said questioningly, “my lady?” She curtsied low even though she held a tray in front of her that contained odd shapes beneath a silken cloth. I looked beyond her as she bent and there was the old fellow, the same one that had let us in at the front gate earlier, he still looked to be better suited to the stables than the house, but it was what he was carrying that made me gasp in delight. He had a large tin bathtub in his arms and I stood back to allow him into the room to place it on the floor. I enjoyed sitting on the bed watching pitcher after pitcher of hot steaming water being poured into the bath under the watchful gaze of the maid servant who also fussed around with the gown and other garments and bottles and tubs of various lotions and potions that she had carried into my room upon her tray. I had never seen the like of any of these before. She produced, from a draw within one of the wardrobes, several hair clips and combs all beautifully made in various materials and adorned with precious and semi-precious stones of matching colours. From another drawer she magically removed a pair of elegant shoes that matched the dress I had chosen perfectly.
I stood to one side aghast at the activities these two were undertaking as they went back and forth one filling the tub the other laying out all manner of things on various tables and other strategically placed surfaces, it was a wonder to watch. Once the bathtub was sufficiently full the maid servant ushered the man out of my room and shutting the door behind him she turned and curtsied, then clasping her hands in front of her she said, “if it pleases my lady, I am here to assist in her preparations for the evening.”
This was something new to me I had never had help getting ready for anything before and wasn’t sure what I should do, but the maid servant took control. Before long I found myself relaxing in the bath whilst all the clothing I had been wearing for the last, well forever really as I had no others, was bundled inside a muslin sack and placed outside the door of my room. I made to complain about the loss of my things, but before I could say a word the maid said,
“do not worry my lady, they will be carefully cleaned and repaired as good as new ready for when you need them once more.”
So I closed my eyes in utter bliss and slid deeper into the warm water. After I was soaped and washed clean, to my embarrassment the water changed once, my hair unravelled and washed several times before the knots were finally all removed and eventually combed through with scented oil. I was then given a large bath towel and led across the room to a chair in front of a dressing table. Here I was dried, perfumed and placed into some tight fitting underclothes, the quantity of which surpassed my entire wardrobe of such things! We then spent a very pleasant hour or so getting me looking my best, it was my hair that took the longest time, the maid servant all the while apologising each time she pulled on a knot. I felt I couldn’t say anything for I couldn’t remember the last time I had even shown a brush to my hair.
When all was finished I was led to a mirror across the room. I looked and was
left speechless at the person that stared back at me. This was me? I couldn’t believe the transformation. I looked like one of the ladies in the picture; I could have been one of them.
Next it was time to get me dressed. I forget how many layers of petticoats I was gently eased into and the various odd looking garments I had to ware, many of which seemed to have no practical purpose whatsoever. But eventually I was led across the room back to the tall mirror. I was just as speechless, instead I turned this way and that admiring the way the dress swished from side to side and the way that everything accentuated the shape of my body; this was a whole new experience for me. Of course I had some smart clothes in the past to go to friend’s parties and family occasions but nothing like this, the gown could have been tailored to me personally. It had me wondering about what experience’s I would have had if I had been born into a T’Iea’Denarin family instead of being a child of the T’Iea’Tarderi. The maid servant after straightening the few creases of the skirt and making some other fine adjustments, stood and was standing behind me patiently with her hands clasped in front of her smiling.
I turned and said to her astonished, “thank you for your help and ……… great skill.”
At this she smiled and giggled and opening the door said, “come my lady let us make an entrance!”
I bowed to her and leaving the room went to walk down the hallway to the stairs. Before we reached the landing the maid servant called to me quietly and indicated that I should lift the hem of the skirt with both hands so that I did not make a real entrance by tripping head over heels down the stairs, this I did and was glad of the advice, I was not used to wearing a skirt let alone such finery as the gown I now found myself in.
Chapter 9 Solin’s Story
Extract from ‘Secrets of the Ancients’ by Solin’De’Teinde.
It is possibly the main reason for all my many travels. Just how did the Elder races turn out so differently? We are after all very different, yet we all live on the same world. Just what chances of evolution made these changes? It is something that I think about a lot, perhaps it is key to our understanding of each other.