13
CYRUS TEETERED BACK AND FORTH between consciousness and unconsciousness. Every time he fell asleep, he had a different dream. Caves, pyramids, wings, waves, Martian …
CLACK CLACK CLACK!
Cyrus snapped his eyes open.
“Lumen Caligo … A falcon, a hawk and an owl have arrived for you,” said Lady Marianne.
Where on earth am I?
Birds were singing in the background, the wind whistled and the sound of water rushing was off in the distance. Cyrus closed his eyes again. The bed was so comfortable. Cyrus recalled the shifting dreams he had the previous night.
CLACK CLACK CLACK!
“Lumen Caligo, may I enter your dormitory?” asked Lady Marianne with annoyance in her voice.
Cyrus rubbed his eyes and cleared his throat.
So much for sleeping.
“Yes, yes … enter,” he said as he sat up.
The door swung open and Lady Marianne glided across the floor to the side of the bed. Cyrus blinked in rapid succession as light flooded through the door.
Lady Marianne held three letters in her hand. One had a giant eye sealed in purple wax. The other was sealed with a Phoenix in red wax and the last was sealed with a peacock in an emerald-green wax. The parchment was heavier than Cyrus thought it would be. Cyrus opened up the one with the eye first. He was pretty sure that was the one from Arch Duke Winston, or more accurately, Martin …
Cyrus noticed Lady Marianne hovering. She hadn’t moved since handing Cyrus the letters. Her green eyes remained fixed on Cyrus as if she were expecting something from him.
A tip? A high five? A thank you?
Cyrus decided to try the latter.
“Thank you, Lady Marianne. That is all for now.”
She bowed her head slightly and made the Omniscius Salutatio.
“When you are ready, please join us downstairs. Breakfast will arrive shortly. You have your own private washroom just over there. Pull the lever and warm water will fill the basin.”
Cyrus hadn’t even noticed. The entire room was still relatively dark. The only light came from the door Lady Marianne opened and a little light shone from what seemed to be curtains. Lady Marianne followed Cyrus’ eyes to the curtains. She promptly opened all the curtains in the room and left without a word. Light flooded the room and Cyrus shut his eyes. It was a stark contrast to last night.
The room seemed to be Greek-themed and the only difference that caught Cyrus’ eye was the mural painted across the ceiling. It depicted … him …
A Lumen Caligo with pale skin pointed towards a series of islands with a numerous host of Lumens behind him. In the center was a larger island above the rest. Cyrus recognized it because of the lighthouse looking structure that sat on top of the Atrium. The island was floating. Birds flew with Lumens and the islands surrounding Aeolia had cattle and ships.
The letters …
Cyrus grabbed the letter with the eye in purple wax and quickly opened it. Immaculate writing filled the thick parchment. A small letter with much thinner paper fell out. It was filled with Martin’s cursive but was much smaller to utilize the space.
Cyrus glanced over the elaborate letter quickly. The visit was set for dusk at the Weatherford manor. It was eloquently worded in calligraphy. Cyrus didn’t care. He quickly threw the letter aside and grabbed the smaller one.
Martian … Cyrus couldn’t help but smile.
He quickly reread the letter three more times.
His dad’s name was also Cyrus. Was he going be called Jr? So many questions …
He decided to mull it over in a bath. That sounded nice.
The other letters were quickly opened and read—all the same, just different dates.
Dinner at the dukes. Sounds like the name of a movie.
Cyrus slowly stood up, grabbed the clothes he had kicked to the floor last night and made his way to the washroom. Sure enough, there was a giant basin right in the middle of the room. It looked like a normal bath but it was shaped like a diamond and made out of the same whitish-grey stone that prevailed in Aeolia.
Pulling the lever, Cyrus heard water began to flow above him. A wooden tube had descended to start filling the basin. The water steamed as it filled the basin and smelled of citrus and something else …
Lavender?
Cyrus slipped into the bath and found immediate relief. He unfurled his wings and let them float to the sides. He could understand why the bath was shaped like a diamond now. The wider diamond shape allowed his wings to spread out naturally with minimal effort. It was truly relaxing.
Cyrus allowed himself a luxurious 10 minutes in the bath. As the water began to lose its warmth, he dried off and grabbed the change of clothes Martin had left for him. Beige capris, an open white shirt with two slits in the back for his wings and a black hoody-like piece of clothing that looked three sizes too big. Cyrus shrugged and began putting on the strange outfit. Martin had also included sandals with two straps. He always had a pair for the beach he affectionately called jandals—Jesus sandals.
The shirt was an absolute game changer. He slipped his wings through the slits like you would put your arm through a sleeve—absolute freedom. It was a whole new world. Cyrus checked his phone. Zero bars and no service. Not surprising. Cyrus snapped a couple pictures of the mural on the ceiling and his surroundings. He then quickly turned it off and stuffed it back into his bag.
Cyrus had no idea what to do with the extra large jacket so he tied it around his waist.
Standing at the top of the stairs, Cyrus saw Auli’i and Kimo sitting around the table, Lady Marianne peering at them crossly. They were obviously frustrated. Kimo wore the same outfit as Cyrus except his shirt seemed too big. Auli’i wore a flowing white dress with sleeves that ended just below the shoulder. The white contrasted against her bronze skin. Cyrus found her new look refreshing. Cyrus wondered if she was frustrated with Lady Marianne, the fact that she was in a dress or both.
Cyrus began making his way down the steps. His foot thudded on the first step and echoed throughout the building. Lady Marianne’s eyes flickered to him and then back to the twins. The twins turned quickly and faced Cyrus. Their expressions immediately lit up.
“Cyrus!” they said in unison.
There was a rustling of chairs as they both approached Cyrus, wanting to help.
Kimo was first to his side. Auli’i was annoyed Kimo had beaten her—always competing. Cyrus held up his hand as Kimo reached out to support him.
“Let me try … Just catch me if I fall.”
Kimo and Auli’i raised their eyebrows in surprise but nodded and gave Cyrus some space.
Cyrus felt refreshed from the bath but sore from the day before. Slowly, he made his way down each step.
One at a time.
Cyrus reached the bottom step triumphantly. Kimo and Auli’i provided some sarcastic applause with authentic smiles. Lady Marianne shook her head in disapproval.
Cyrus sat down between the twins and looked up at Lady Marianne who raised an unimpressed eyebrow.
“Kindly cover your wings with your taper, Lumen Caligo. I will usher in the servants after,” said Lady Marianne.
Cyrus looked at her confused.
“The thing around your waist.”
Cyrus untied it and looked at it. It had two sleeves and a v-cut. The clothing had an almost round shape to it. He pulled it over his head and wings.
Like a glove.
Cyrus’ wings were completely covered. The material was breathable and made movement very easy. Another game changer.
Lady Marianne pursed her lips together and whistled loudly. The doors immediately opened and two Lumen guards robed in white entered followed by three Lumens in aprons, each carrying a giant platter. One had every type of danish you could imagine, another, a platter of cheeses of every kind. Kimo swooned. The last one had multiple jugs filled with different colored juices and milk.
Auli’i pouted her bottom lip up and nodded her head in approval. The servers promptly left the platters on the table and exited as quickly as they’d come.
Lady Marianne followed them, “Shout if you need something.” The guards shut the door behind them.
“Good food, good meat, good gosh, let’s eat!” said Kimo, hurling himself at the food.
“Amen,” said Cyrus with a smile.
“There is no meat here,” said Auli’i dryly.
“Juuu know vhaatt I mean,” said Kimo, already stuffing his face with a couple danishes.
Cyrus grabbed his fork and poked a couple of the cheeses.
“Dooose yellow ones are weeeally good!” said Kimo, pointing at the cheese platter while spearing another danish across the table. The danish fell off Kimo’s fork and landed on the ground. Kimo quickly grabbed it and stuffed it into his mouth.
“KIMO! GROSS!” said Auli’i.
Kimo grinned.
Cyrus took a bite of the yellow cheese. It was good. Salty and sweet ... creamy and rich. Cyrus eyed the danishes next.
Auli’i ate properly with the fork and knife. One danish and three different cheeses adorned her plate.
Kimo poured a little bit of the first juice into each chalice. It was pink like bubblegum.
Auli’i sniffed it. “Guava.”
They all sipped it at the same time. Sure enough, it was guava.
The others were orange juice, pineapple and passion fruit. Auli’i guessed correctly every single time.
The milk was also very rich. Cyrus didn’t like it because it was warm.
Auli’i leaned in close to Cyrus.
“What did Martian say?”
Kimo stopped his loud munching and leaned in.
Cyrus swallowed deliberately before he spoke. “Akela is safe. Martian got her off of Ni’ihau.”
They both exhaled in relief.
“Where did he take her?” asked Kimo, leaning in closer.
“He dropped her off with your uncle on Oahu.”
“What about my father?” asked Auli’i with worry. “Did he get caught? Did the chiefs imprison him?”
“He stayed behind. I don’t know what the chiefs did to him,” said Cyrus apologetically.
“Did he say anything else?”
Cyrus shook his head. Auli’i looked worried. She peered past Cyrus to Kimo.
“If dad got caught, hypothetically, how long would it take for the chiefs to make a decision about him?”
Kimo looked up and counted as he chewed what was in his mouth.
“They would have to call another chief to take his place. No big decision can be made with less than three. That could take a while. Then again, it might be quick. I don’t know,” said Kimo.
“What would be the decision?” Cyrus asked.
Kimo looked at Auli’i with a wide-eyed expression. Cyrus turned to Auli’i.
“Probably the same as Akela’s … ” replied Auli’i. She no longer whispered.
“We don’t know for certain … Don’t jump to conclusions, Auli’i,” said Kimo.
“I’m not, I’m just considering the possibilities.”
“Let’s hope for the best. We just don’t know,” said Kimo with reassurance.
“What DO we know?!”
“That our sister is safe!”
“Kimo, that makes me so happy. Truly … but did we just switch one family member sentenced to death for another?”
Kimo fell silent.
“Martin found my mother … ” interjected Cyrus.
They both looked to Cyrus with surprise. Cyrus pulled Martin’s letter out off his pocket and went back to whispering.
“Read this …”
The twins read the letter quickly and silently.
“Your father’s name is Cyrus?!” asked Auli’i.
“The red bearded guy is your grandpa?!” asked Kimo.
Cyrus blinked in surprise. High Duke Bradford was his grandfather.
Is my beard going to be red, too?
“Yeah … I guess so,” said Cyrus with a chuckle.
“We need a plan of attack. What are we doing today?” asked Auli’i.
“Dinner at Arch Duke Winston’s residence. Martian will be there too. I think Lady Marianne was going to show us around Aeolia as well.”
“I’m sure she’ll be a wonderful guide,” said Auli’i, putting another piece of cheese in her mouth.
“Probably got jokes for days,” said Kimo, leaning back in his chair.
“I’ll ask her, LADY MARIANNE!” shouted Cyrus.
Kimo almost fell out of his chair. The door opened immediately and Lady Marianne was at Cyrus’ side at once.
“Yes, Lumen Caligo?” she said making the Omniscius Salutatio. Her face was focused.
“Will you be showing us around Aeolia today before our dinner appointment with Arch Duke Winston?”
Lady Marianne raised an eyebrow. “I have been assigned to protect you, Lumen Caligo. If you wish to walk around the city, I will accompany you. That is all.”
Cyrus pouted his lip. Lady Marianne’s expression remained unchanged.
“Very well, could you please ask one of the guards if they would be willing to tour us around while you protect me?” asked Cyrus un-pouting his lip.
Lady Marianne nodded and whistled again. Both guards entered, white hoods covering their faces.
“Captain Johnathon, you may wait outside.”
The guard on the left bowed while making the Omniscius Salutatio and promptly returned to his post.
“Captain Ori, at ease and de-cloak.”
The Lumen put down his hood and sure enough, it was Ori.
“Lumen Caligo,” he said gesturing with both hands in the Omniscius Salutatio. A smile crossed his lips.
“Captain Ori, the Lumen Caligo would like to be shown around Aeolia today before his dinner appointment with Arch Duke Winston. A tour, if you will. Aside from your skill with a bow, you are known for your tales and songs. Would you be willing to regale the Lumen Caligo with stories of this place?”
Captain Ori bowed. “It would be a great honor. When would you like to begin?” asked Ori looking at Cyrus and twins.
They all looked at each other while Kimo stuffed another danish into his mouth.
“Could we go now?” asked Cyrus.
“Of course. Allow me to find someone to fill my post and we shall be off,” he gestured the Omniscius Salutatio, opened the front door and flew off.
“Three rules,” began Lady Marianne. “Number one, stay within sight at all times. Number two, wings covered at all times and hood up. Number three, no Lumen Caligo mention or talk whatsoever. Should someone ask who you are, let us do the talking. You will be presented under the guise of new servants familiarizing yourselves with Aeolia. You are meant to stay a secret.”
There was a whoosh followed in quick succession by another whoosh.
“Ready when you are, Lumen Caligo,” said Ori with a slight bow.
“Refer to him by his name from here on. Do not address him as the Lumen Caligo again, understood?” said Lady Marianne.
“Yes, my lady.”
The guard replacing Ori peeked in real quick and then closed the door. Cyrus recognized him from last night when Ori had flown Cyrus to Aeolia.
What was his name again?
Cyrus, Auli’i and Kimo stood up and promptly prepared. Cyrus made sure his wings were tucked away and that his hood was up. Auli’i smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress. Kimo made a small mountain of crumbs on the floor by wiping them from his lap. Lady Marianne adjusted her belt and reached behind her to check a quiver that Cyrus was noticing for the first time. She counted the arrows silently behind her back.
“Off we go!” said Ori as he opened the doors.
Aeolia was even more breathtaking in the day than it was at night. The sky was crystal blue, a couple fluffy clouds whisked through the air. The sun, coupled with the rain from the night before, had encouraged the vines decorating the buildings to bud. A row of trees and flowers lead to the entrance of the guest house. There were tulips in every color of red, yellow and pink. The statue with the outstretched hands had curly hair and looked like some of the statues he had studied when they had covered Ancient Greece. He adorned a toga and looked to the sky.
How would I meme this? Come at me bro.
He chuckled and kept walking.
The front gates were opened and they made their way into the street. Directly in front of them was the Atrium that seemed to be the pinnacle of the city. The manors decorated each side of the road. Lumens walked all about, garbed in flowing white cloaks and dresses. Their wings matching the brilliance of their garb and folded behind their backs in that v-like shape that Lady Marianne did as well. They all seemed to be moving towards the Atrium which was now surrounded by tables, tents and chairs. Cyrus wondered what was going on over there …
The details of the buildings were on full display. Each mural depicted stories of heroism and were intricately designed. Each one must have taken hundreds of hours to make. Some of the nicer manors had statues.
“Lumen Cal— Cyrus … Kimo … Auli’i … We welcome you to Aeolia once more. The sacred residence of the High Dukes and homestead to all Lumens.” Ori gestured grandly in front of him. He then began walking directly towards the Atrium.
“The first building every Lumen knows is the Atrium. It serves as a holy place of worship, a guiding light in the dark and the gathering place both inside and outside its walls. It is the center of our city and everything is built around its circular structure”
They approached the Atrium and saw hundreds of Lumens walking around, talking and negotiating with each other. It looked like a little farmers market was going on. Fruits and vegetables and all manners of meats decorated the tables. Delicious smells permeated small fires in iron pits. The tables and tents completely encircled the Atrium. Most people were focused on getting what they needed but there were a few who stared as Cyrus and the twins as they walked by.
“We have the market six days a week. The fruits and vegetables are harvested from the many small islands and atolls surrounding Aeolia. Each one serves its proper function with Aeolia acting as the brain controlling and instructing the other isles.”
Cyrus really wanted to see the other isles. He couldn’t see the ocean because of all the buildings and the Atrium blocking the way. Seagulls shrieked overhead. Cyrus looked up and saw a falcon dive-bomb one. The seagull quickly flew away. The falcon pursued for a moment until the seagull was long gone. There was almost as much going on in the air as there was on the ground.
Besides the falcon and seagulls in the air, there were at least fifty Lumens approaching Aeolia from the air. Most carried knapsacks and a pair of Lumens chased each other laughing. Cyrus couldn’t take it in fast enough.
Captain Ori went to a fruit stand and smiled. “Morning, Darla, could I get two coconuts with lots of water in them?”
“Morning, Captain Ori. You want the biggest ones?” the lady said with a smile in return. The woman had more freckles and sunspots than Martin. She was a middle-aged woman whose smile was completely genuine.
“Sure. The most filled one you got would be perfect,” Ori responded while jingling for something in his pocket.
“You got it.” She grabbed a couple of the coconuts and shook a few in rapid succession. After the third, she looked satisfied. She stabbed the coconut onto what looked liked a large, wooden stake and peeled the coconut with practiced efficiency. She grabbed a rock and struck the coconut two times with pinpoint accuracy. The coconut split into two perfect halves and dumped a lot of liquid as it opened into a dish below. She emptied the coconut completely.
“You want the pulp, the milk or the meat?” she asked.
Ori looked at the three teens and then back to Darla.
“Let’s go meat today. Could you slice them thin?” asked Ori as he placed a silver coin and two wooden cups on the table.
“You got it,” the woman said back.
She grabbed a seashell and began shaving out all of the coconut meat. Once both sides were completely devoid of meat, she grabbed a medium-sized knife and sliced it into small french-fry-sized pieces. She repeated the process with another coconut just as fast as the first. Darla then promptly put the coconut meat into the two coconut shells and handed them to Ori along with the coconut water in his two wooden cups.
“You have a great day, darling,” the woman said warmly.
“You too, Darla darling,” said Ori with a wink.
Is that flirting?
He handed half of the shell to Kimo and one of the wooden cups to Auli’i.
“Let me know how it compares to Akhet,” whispered Ori with a smile.
Kimo offered a piece to Cyrus first. The coconut meat was soft and slightly sweet. It was very pleasant. The coconut water was so refreshing. They ate as they weaved in and out of the outdoor market, taking in all of the sights and sounds.
Lumens bartered with another, one ruffled his feathers when the merchant didn’t lower his price on a bunch of bananas. People would immediately fly into the sky when they finished their purchases. A pair of Lumens strummed away on guitars.
A mother and father had one end of a rope attached to their hips while the other end was attached to a pair of boys. The kids looked to be five years old and had long flowing blonde hair. Cyrus wondered why they were connected by rope until the boys began flapping their wings and erratically flying in every direction, giggling and screaming.
“Follow me this way. We’ll make our way to the outskirts,” said Ori.
He led them away from the crowd to the other side of the Atrium. The only side they hadn’t seen of the Atrium. As they weaved through the multitude of Lumens, they noticed that this way seemed to curve downward. The horizon was visible with no buildings blocking the view. The further they walked that way, the more the ocean came into view. Slowly, little islands appeared to dot the surface of the ocean and Cyrus could see a good 20 or so miles out to sea. They seemed to be looking down at everything.
How high up are we?
Ori took a sudden left down an open street and walked a little bit faster. Kimo looked at Cyrus who, in turn, increased his pace. The buildings shadowed them on both sides but the sun was shining very brightly at the end of the street. The opening grew closer and closer and Cyrus could see more and more of the ocean sprawling out in front of them. There was a gazebo at the end enclosed by a fence. Ori wrestled with the gate a bit and then opened it. He stood in the center of the gazebo and beckoned them to approach. The three climbed up and looked out towards the expansive ocean and gasped in unison.
“The floating city of Aeolia with all her children,” said Ori with a smile.
Ocean as far as the eye could see encompassed Aeolia. Islands speckled her blue face like freckles. The sound of moving water was prevalent. It was the same one they had been hearing the last 24 hours. Ori looked down. Cyrus, Auli’i and Kimo did the same.
Below them was a giant whirlpool bigger than Aeolia. Auli’i gasped.
“Whoaaa … ” said Cyrus and Kimo in unison.
The water gurgled and swirled violently. The islands closest to the enormous whirlpool were very lopsided.
It’s probably from that current constantly hitting them.
Cyrus could see hundreds upon hundreds of boulders on one side of the islands redirecting the current.
The gazebo protruded from the island like a giant birdcage. It was from that vantage point Cyrus was able to see that Aeolia was shaped almost like a giant top. The top half carried the bulk of the buildings and then trailed down ever so slightly.
“Aeolia is a modern marvel beheld by few. It was initiated three and a half millenia ago and completed at the meridian of time. The giant whirlpool below us is named ‘Wadjet’ but everyone calls it ‘the eye’.”
“How … how does it float?” asked Cyrus, still unable to wrap his brain around how they were suspended in the air.
Ori exhaled loudly. “Well … We’re not entirely sure … We just know that the eye is the energy source that keeps Aeolia afloat.”
Cyrus peered down at the center of the eye. It seemed to sink hundreds and hundreds of feet deep. The water turned darker and darker until he could no longer see the water due to the chasm that seemed to engulf the entire ocean. Cyrus shivered at the thought of what would happen if he got caught in the current.
As his eyes reached what he believed was the center of the whirlpool he saw something white poking out of it. Auli’i was to his right and had a slightly better vantage point. She cocked her head curiously and then looked at Cyrus. She’d seen it, too.
“Ori, there is something sticking out of the center of the whirlpool. What is it?” asked Auli’i.
“A giant spire that protrudes from the heart of the whirlpool. The spire houses a temple in honor of the Lumen Caligo and his past lives. Its proper name is Mentibus Oculis. The entrance is sealed and only a Lumen Caligo can gain access to whatever lies below. In the deepest part where Wadjet and Mantibus Oculis meet lies the Sanctum. The last Lumen Caligo never visited Aeolia so no one has stepped foot inside it for almost 700 years. No one knows what lies inside the Sanctum.”
“The previous Lumen Caligo didn’t come here?” asked Cyrus.
“Not to our knowledge, and we Lumens document everything. According to legend, Aeolia used to float much much higher than it currently does. If you look up you can see that we are below the clouds by a great amount. Seven hundred years ago, when the previous Lumen Caligo visited Mentibus Oculis, Aeolia soared upwards to a height so great you could not hear Wadjet. Since that time though, Aeolia has slowly descended back to the ocean.”
What Ori said fascinated Cyrus. They were still hundreds of feet above the ocean. How would the view be if they were among the clouds?
“You saw how my guards and I found you a couple miles out last night. Well, there are two reasons for that. The first is to encourage anyone who is not a Lumen to turn back. We run perimeter checks nonstop in order to turn people away from our shores. Anyone who sees Aeolia is not allowed to leave to ensure we remain a secret from the rest of the world. The second reason is to prevent any damage to the Sanctum”
Cyrus looked down again at the white point sticking out of the ravenous whirlpool.
What does the Sanctum look like?
“Allow me to tell you one tale I know about the great eye,” began Ori. “Seventy-five years ago or so, there was a fleet of metal ships with no sails that churned and howled as they moved. My grandfather was the commanding officer and was responsible for deterring the entire fleet from continuing towards Aeolia. They refused. My grandfather, with a large number of Lumens, commandeered all the vessels and docked them on the island we landed on yesterday. All of them, save one … One of the ships got caught in the great eye past our defenses. Despite our best efforts to hull the ship to the closest island, Mother Nature cannot be argued with. The great eye swallowed up the ship but on its way down to oblivion, the ship ran into Mentibus Oculis and lodged itself at the entrance. There a piece of it still remains.”
Auli’i, Kimo and Cyrus held their gaze then looked down, trying to see it. No dice.
Cyrus looked behind him and saw Lady Marianne down the street inspecting every person that walked by and then made eye contact with her. Fierce, no emotion, like she was unimpressed. Cyrus returned his attention to Ori. Ori’s eyes also returned from looking at Lady Marianne. He seemed worried. Lowering his voice he said,
“I’m not sure how much I am supposed to tell you. The dukes might tell you the same story. If they do, hear them out and act surprised. I don’t want them to feel like I took something away from them by answering your questions.”
“Of course!” said Cyrus.
Kimo was looking down on the other side of Aeolia and the sheer drop of the wall.
“Why is the outside of Aeolia blue?” he asked.
Cyrus did a double take, ready to call out Kimo for a lackluster joke, but as he inspected, he noticed that the outside of Aeolia all the way down was a dark blue. Looking around, he noticed it was a vibrant blue in the sun.
“We call it Iris Stone. Its function is two-fold. It beautifies Aeolia but the mineral also reacts to Wadjet. It has an energy about it. We have a mine on one of our islands called Alumnus that’s filled to the brim with it. We use it for good health, jewelry and maintenance of Aeolia’s underside. We call the gradual point going downwards ‘the spire.’ It is the most difficult to maintain.”
Between the blue sheen of Aeolia, the giant whirlpool and all the islands dotting the horizon … It was an unbelievable sight. Cyrus pinched himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
Cyrus saw a small bird fly past him and straight to Lady Marianne. She held out her forearm and let it land. The bird had a small piece of parchment attached to its leg. Lady Marianne quickly untied it and read the note.
“Arch Duke has finished all appointments and has offered to move up the timetable. Due to his declining health, he would be unable to receive you properly tonight. Do you accept his proposal, Cyrus?” It almost sounded like a threat.
“Of course.”
“Very well, let’s go then.” She quickly wrote a note, attached it to the leg of the bird and lifted it into the sky. Lady Marianne took off in a brisk walk after it.
Ori and the three shrugged and then took the view in real quick before following Lady Marianne. They reached the end of the street where they had turned left and made their way past the Atrium back towards where they had stayed last night. The Atrium was truly circular and the guards remained ready at each entrance. They passed by a pair who nodded and made the Omniscius Salutatio with one hand as they walked by. The five of them returned the signal.
Lady Marianne walked past the manor that they had stayed in the previous night and walked to the end of the street where a massive building stood. It looked like it had been constructed for Zeus himself.
Lady Marianne looked around. “Announcing the Lumen Caligo with his Virtus Latores and escorts. We request entrance to the Weatherford estate.”
“Granted!” came a voice. The gates then swung open.
Cyrus was going to meet the Weatherfords.
