Fan Fiction ❯ Triskle (Life Giver) ❯ The Mage City ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Title: Triskle (Life giver)1Title- The Mage CityPG-13 to RAll concepts, characters and situations in this belong to me, c. 2002. Any resemblance to actual events/people is coincidental. :)I really don't want to give away part of the storyline here so let's just say it deals with birth in a less than normal manner. (As if that didn't give it away anyway ^_^ ) Maybe some very light language. Not really much other than that. Yaoi (male/male romance) mentions, but nothing explicit yet.

"Nakol'oun!"
turned to look at Lisais as she ran up behind me. I had managed to get out of the settlement and had been making a break for the grove when I'd heard her calling behind me. I'd immediately quickened my pace. I knew she'd try to stop me. I couldn't let that happen. My blood was singing in anticipation of seeing the people who lived within the grove. The other people in the settlement however, were determined that no one should go there. We should do as the people of the grove wanted; leave them in peace. I growled in my throat as Lisais' voice once again shouted my name, though by this time she was already up beside me. I slanted a look over at her, waiting for her to speak. She was slightly out of breath from trying to catch up. Good.
do you want Lisais?" My voice was suitably cold, not showing the anger I was trying to hide. Perfect.

sighed, turning to face her fully. "Yes, I believe that is what I'm called. Am I suddenly a mind reader that I can tell what you want with the mere sound of my name? I paused to sneer at her; I'd never had a great love for my sister anyway. "Or do you actually mean to say something and stop wasting my time?"
you can't go back there!"
feigned ignorance. "Back there...?"
all but grabbed me, so great was her irritation at my affected ignorance. "Back to the grove Nakol'oun. Those...people," she said this word as if not really sure that they were people," they mean to harm whoever goes. I won't let you go!"
admired her while hating her. Her courage in stopping me was really quite admirable. Then again, she probably thought I wouldn't harm her. Family ties and all that. But daylight was wasting as I argued with her. I meant to be there before nightfall. Something I couldn't do if she kept arguing with me.

"There's nothing you could possibly do to stop me Lisais. I'm going... I suggest you do not try to stop me."
spun quickly and began walking away, breaking into a fast trot as I reached the tall grass.

ignored her, giving in to the urge to run. My legs stretched as I covered the ground. My sister's voice intruded only once more before the rush of wind flowing by me cut off all sound. I could feel the earth murmuring beneath my feet, telling me its endless tales. That was another thing that had set me apart. The others couldn't feel the earth. They couldn't hear the message as the wind wailed, the constant lectures of the sea. They could hear none of it! I had tried explaining to Lisais once. She had said I was being stupid and to stop acting like a child, imaging things everywhere. That was when I first doubted what I was feeling. But when I was on my own, out in the wild... Well, all that needs be said is that I felt that Lisais was being the childish one, for not being able to hear!
by Lisais' intrusion I reached the grove later than I'd wanted to. The sky was already stained with purple, darkening into black as I watched. The wind moaned strangely as I stood before the opening in the fence. Telling myself that it would be better to face whatever lay ahead in the day, I reluctantly ignored the burning in my soul and made camp for the night. I don't know how long I lie awake that night, staring at the stars, wondering what would come tomorrow. I closed my eyes and took a calming breath. In. Out. Then, I began to sing. I could not tell you what I sang that night, for it remains a blur in my memory. But I know what I sang for. I sang for my freedom, for the beauty of the stars, for the earth talking below me, the trees whispering above. I sang for the hope of new discoveries, I sang for wisdom. I sang of so many things that night, not knowing if it would be my last. Finally, when my throat was dry and raw and I could sing no more I drifted off to sleep.
woke to find my sister standing over me, a length of rope in her hand. I sprang to my feet quickly. Or at least, that is what I tried to do. My feet had already been bound. Apparently my dear sister had been about to bind my arms as well. I desperately pushed myself backwards as she advanced on me. I'm sure that to her she simply thought she was doing the best thing for me. To me it was the worst kind of betrayal. One that deepened as my frantically searching eyes saw Drakiurn and several of the loremasters right behind her. I was twisting my legs, frantically trying to get them loose from the rope.
please stop struggling! It's for your own good!"
voice barely penetrated the fog of panic that was enveloping my mind. I was free! Free to do what I wanted. They could not restrain me like this!
whose good Lisais? Mine or yours?" I was vaguely surprised by the venom in my voice as my brain finally started working again. Your dagger, you fool!
one wants to see you dead Nakol'oun. We will take care of you until this madness has passed."
was so confident, so sure that her little brother would listen to her again. But I was no longer a child, and the feelings invoked by the grove could not be ignored. I reached down and quickly grabbed for where my dagger should have been. I cursed when my hand passed through empty air and I realized that they must have taken it from me. The panic had lifted however and I remembered the sharp arrowheads I always carried with me for luck and other more practical purposes, like now. I reached down into my pouch and drew one out, hiding it in the palm of my hand. Lisais' voice was getting more frantic all the time. I looked behind me and saw that I had been steadily pushing myself backwards. I was almost within the grove! With one great push backwards I managed to get half of me within the gate's opening. I was tired; I hadn't realized it until now. The sight of them rushing at me, however, was more than enough to send me scuttling backwards again as best I could. They all halted outside the grove's entrance. I laughed at them; huddled outside, paralyzed by the fear that death would strike as soon as they set foot within. I managed to push myself up and started cutting the ropes. I finally managed to cut them and I stood up, stretching away the kinks from my temporary confinement.
spoke first, voice heartbroken. "Why Nakol'oun? You are my brother, I protected you! Why do you go against me and pursue this madness?" Her voice was a wailing, as if I were already upon my deathbed. "Why do you insist on throwing your life away!"
spat at her. "I'm not throwing it away! I'm living my life as I have always wanted to do. My way. You protected me?" My anger was growing. "You did not stop to carry me when we ran. You did not give me encouragement when we collapsed for rest, you didn't stay with me when I had nightmares. Most of the time of our run I could see no one, especially not you! You abandoned me, and so I do the same! I am Nakol'oun, and I am my own person! I have no family, least of all a twisted one like you!" Perhaps my rage was coloring my judgment, perhaps I was simply caught in the moment. For whatever reason I'd said those hateful words, they had been said. And I felt my spirit pulsing in a fierce exultation as she collapsed, sobbing. They backed away from me, frightened. Ignoring them one last time, I walked forward into my future, my destiny.
I walked deeper into the grove I noticed that some had strange vines running down them. Curious, I walked forward and touched one. It was cold to the touch as I ran my fingers along the intricate designs carved into it. Hold. Carved... into it? My eyes widened as I realized that they weren't vines at all. They were tubes, metal! I laughed and followed the tube up with my eyes. It stretched up out of my sight. As I'd said before, these trees were truly gargantuan. More of these tubes appeared as I continued on, all decorated in the same manner. It was as if the designers had wanted even the mundane pipes and tubes to be beautiful.
continued further into the forest and noticed that the trees were all open to make a path. I decided that my only way of getting into the city above (for I was very sure now that the city was up in the trees) was for me to be captured, or sneak in. Both of these plans required some way up the trees. There was no possible way I would ever be able to climb them on my own. So, swallowing my fear I crept forward along the path. After some time walking I had still not come to any sign of a city or settlement. Looking up I saw that the sky was darkening. Excitement gnawing at me I collapsed on the ground and tried futilely to go to sleep. This, after all, turned out to be a very good thing.
saw them before they saw me. Five figures, crouched and walking hesitantly, fear evident in every shaking step.
I hissed at them, "come to try and imprison me again? Well it won't work!" I took off running along the path, not looking behind to see if they were following. And I was reminded of the Flight, nearly eight years ago. My legs were getting scratched from where I stumbled, my breath was coming in harsh gasps, and I could see no one. Once more, I was alone. Color bled into the lightening sky and I longed to stop running. It couldn't get me when the light came. Blessed light. Then I shook my head roughly (almost causing me to lose my balance and trip) and reminded myself that I was running from the woman who had been my sister and her little hunting party and they wouldn't stop with the sun!
*
skidded to a halt, looking wildly around for the source of the voice. I heard a soft thump as something landed behind me and quickly spun around. It was a man, similar in appearance to me, with notable differences. His hair was kept in a braid and reached just below his shoulders. Unlike mine, his clothes were made of cloth, something that the loremasters told me we had used in the Otherworld to make clothing before we had been forced to flee. His leggings were a brown that matched the trees in coloring, his shirt a mixture of greens that matched the leaves. He was pale, even though I guessed that he spent long periods of time outside, his clothes were worn and stained, though still in good condition. His eyes were the most startling shade of green. Not because they were bright, but because they were dark. His eyes were dark deep forest green, flecked with gold sparks. I felt I could drown in them.
nos da lir?"** He spoke again, voice impatient and angry.
don't understand."
you speak one of the old languages. Well, at least it's one I know."
he finished speaking the woman who had been my sister and her party crashed around the corner and into where we stood, skidding to a halt much the same as I had. The man's eyes narrowed and he let out a piercing whistle. Several shapes dropped down behind the others.
inshi hei o weir!" ***
saw the new arrivals grab the woman and the others, binding them. I myself was grabbed by the man in front of me and bound, tight enough that I couldn't escape, but loose enough that I could walk. He spoke to me once again.
name is Liriok. If you need to refer to me though, I am simply Guardian."
bowed my head to him. "I would not presume to think I have the right to call you by name Guardian."
smirked and, taking my arm, ran forward a few jogging steps until we reached a strange place. It was empty of vegetation only in one spot. This spot was in the shape of a rectangle, perfectly proportioned. He dragged me into it, the others following shortly.

heard the woman scream as the earth seemingly picked itself up. We began to rise, higher and higher on our piece of earth. Twice I had to be pulled back to stop me from falling as I leaned eagerly over the edge, trying to see how far up we were.
you keep doing that boy," Guardian's voice intruded, "you'll lean too far and one of these times we won't notice in time to stop your fall!"
but to die while seeing this, it would be a very joyous way to go!"
few minutes (and two more close falls) later we had stopped moving and were being led onto a wooden bridge. We were hustled forward, and I couldn't decide where to look first. All of them were beautiful; beautiful beings everywhere I looked! As we came onto what appeared to be the main path I was struck dumb by the beauty. A great tree rose in the center, surrounded by bridges, connected to the one we stood on, that curved around it as if they were a living part of it. The railing on the bridges was intricate and it made my head spin trying to figure it out. Bridges arced off to the sides of the main bridge, leading to houses. In the distance I could see two houses connected by another bridge, two dim figures stood talking upon it. Drakiurn suddenly spoke, breaking my study of the city.
see children, girl children and boy children... but where are the women?"
spared a backward glance at him before continuing on in silence. But now that Drakiurn had spoken I began to wonder too. Where were the women? They had to be somewhere, there were children (now that I looked beyond the beautiful figures of the adults and adolescents) playing everywhere. I also noticed another thing. Most of the children were boys. Looking at one particular of the groups I counted twelve boys and only one girl. In another group of ten there were none! I also began to notice that while the people were far from wearing the same uniform clothing, certain groups all seemed to be wearing the same color . A group standing in front of a house were all wearing a light blue, another group forest green, and yet another group a pale green that reminded me of sea foam. Just then we were blocked by a crowd of people standing outside one of the houses, all with varying degrees of amusement on their faces. Looking at the house I guessed that they were laughing at whatever was happening inside the house, for the shouts were clearly discernible. I, of course, couldn't understand a word of it.
heard a deep voice speaking from behind the crowd on the opposite side of us and they parted to let a man, dressed in robes of black, pass through. He approached the house cautiously; as if afraid it might explode at any second. Judging from the sound of the yells coming from inside, I felt his caution was justified. The man slowly grasped the handle of the door, and then quickly opened it, poking his head inside. He jumped back outside almost immediately, a piece of glass something flying out at where he had been and crashing on the ground. He slammed the door shut.
I asked, "who is that? And who's yelling inside?"
Well, the man in the dark robes is Akira, and he is the Head of the Order of Darkness."
of Darkness?"
they are dedicated to studying the magic arts of dark, the night and all things generally thought unpleasant."
would anyone want to be in the Order of Darkness?" I asked incredulously.
calls to some. It's not my place to judge them, or yours" he added, glaring down at me.
but who is in the house?"
is Akira's soulmate, Tresyrein. He's a bit indisposed right now, and I believe the doctors are trying to get him to calm down. He chuckled before going on, "Tresyrein doesn't like the doctors."
was about to ask Guardian about Akira and his soulmate, because I was fairly sure that he had said they were both male, but I was interrupted by a small body crashing into my legs.

whirled around, and quickly pushed me aside, grabbing whoever had bumped into me.
well, master Akhreyinss, what would you be doing here? And what would your parents say if they heard you using language like that?"
boy, who looked around ten, twisted in Guardian's grasp, blue hair flying in every direction.
tell them Liriok! Please?"
right Akhreyinss, I won't tell them. But why are you here, you're supposed to be studying with Master Nourli today, correct?"
boy fidgeted uncomfortably, having now been placed back onto his feet.

blinked a few times before slowly asking the boy, Akhreyinss, to repeat it, slowly this time.
skipped lessons so I could see my triskle cause he's been really grumpy lately because he's gonna have the baby and I heard dad was here and I haven't seen him in a while cause I'm always studying with the Masters, and I really wanted to see them!" He managed to once again say this in one breath. Drakiurn suddenly spoke from behind me.
that boy just say a man is going to have a child?"
got a slightly annoyed look on his face before answering.
he did. That is why Tresyrein is indisposed, he's pregnant."
that's impossible! Men cannot have children!" Drakiurn's voice was outright disbelieving.
it's not, "Guardian snapped. "Before the Calming of this world we fled here, protected underground. In our group were only two females. While we waited, spending the good half of the year above ground, the bad half below, we adapted. There are still not many women and most of us wouldn't want them anyway. Men now have the ability to give birth, though it does require an operation to get the child out." He took a deep calming breath, "that is why we ask outsiders to leave us alone, we know our way is not natural to most of the world. You're an outsider; I don't expect you to understand."
around me, I noticed that Akhreyinss was now standing beside Akira. This brought my mind to a question I'd almost forgotten to ask.
I began timidly," what did the boy mean when he said he wanted to see his triskle?"
wanted to see Tresyrein, his triskle."
what does it mean Guardian?"

Guardian shot an amused glance at me, "it means life giver."
TranslationsStop!nos da lir?= Do you understand me?inshi hei o weir!= Don't let them escape!Up.Fuck!

Noteswho has read Premonitions will probably notice that Akira is mentioned here, and that Tresyrein can very easily be shortened to Tres. That's because they are the same people. Tres and Akira like to be in everything and they have always been mages and Head of their Orders. So rather than fight the inevitable, I put them in. I would also like to say that it's all Zelraiser's fault. *points to muse, who currently has maroon hair and who is furiously writing down ideas to torment the author with*It is not!












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