The mirror: Kevali

The Kevali inhabit vast cavern systems beneath the surface of their hostile planet. The twin suns constantly boring down on the surface have created a harsh desert environment. The days are long, the nights longer (the normal day lasts 36 hours). The intense heat of daytime and the bitter freezing cold of evening drove the Kevali underground centuries ago.

Phosphorescent algae provides an ambient glow, while oil lamps set into carved niches in the walls provide most of the dim light.

The capital city of Andhakara'a is built around an inky black subterranean river, the water is mostly drinkable...

The air is stale, it's crowded and the air is filled with the sound of tools and working.
It never seems to stop.

Map

Andre blinked as he looked around this cavern curiously. He would stay close to Kaliyana to stay safe as he carried the water jugs to go with her. It would take a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dimness and his ears to the constant noise.

Kaliyani took a minute or two to get her bearings, blinking into the gloom as her eyes rapidly adjusted to the dim light she was more accustomed to. She let go of Andre's hand and ran a hand across the stone wall of the cavern, as if scarcely believing she was really home.

She indicated he follow, and began the long trek across the crowded city. If you could call it a city. It seemed to be made up of small tunnels and caves all interlinked, and then they came out into the great central cavern, an enormous echoing chamber with a dark river running through the middle of it.

The people that passed them were pale things, small and frail, their dark hair tied up out of the way and their dull purple eyes shining like cats eyes in the lamplight.

Kaliyani shifted the load on her back and kept her head down, ignoring the stares of those who passed.

A great many of the workers looked to be children, their parents toiling in the mines below.

Kaliyani lead Andre along the banks of the river, past the docks where fishermen worked hauling their nets ashore and casting small skiffs into the inky blackness.

They came to a stone carved bridge stretching out across the water, half way across an island with a crude stone building settled in the middle of it.
She took another deep breath and explained quietly. "The Ishvara's throne room sits beyond, we shall have to convince the guards to allow us to speak." How she wasn't sure, she'd never gotten this far in her plan.

Andre followed her with his head down a little but his eyes roving and taking in the sights and tunnels around them in curiosity as they walked. When they reached the bridge, he looked ahead to it and the island beyond. "Remember, Fate has chosen you to do this, she chose you to be the child's protector, think of him not of your fear or shyness." He said quietly

Kaliyani nodded grimly, looking grateful. "I hope I do not disappoint her."

She lead him across the bridge where two guards stopped them.
The carried vicious looking pikes.

Both of them stared at the two strangers.

Kaliyani bowed her head. <<I am Kaliyani Vivek, We need to speak to the heir.>> She told them. <<We bring food, water and medical supplies.>>

The guards looked to one another, then back at the burned woman.
They didn't look entirely certain. The Ishvara had said nothing about visitors.

<<Get the Steward.>> Kaliyani told them firmly, surprising even herself with that authority.

One of the guards nodded and headed across the bridge to the island to do just that. The other remained where he was, blocking the pair's path as they waited.

Soon enough the Steward appeared, a sour looking woman who walked quickly and looked Kaliyani up and down critically, then turned her eye to Andre.

<<You have returned?>> She snapped.

Kaliyani nodded. <<Please, we must speak in private. I bring news of the Ishvara.>>

The Steward looked wary, but nodded and indicated the guards let her and her companion through.

They were lead to the throne room which was currently empty.

Andre remained quiet and watchful. He knew he had no reason to speak here, and that he didn't know the culture very well. He followed silently, carrying the water for them.

The Steward looked unimpressed, folding her arms as Kaliyani untied her bundles and set them down on the floor.

<<Where is the heir?>> she asked.

<<Resting.>> the Steward replied.

Kaliyani frowned.

<<What news do you bring?>> The Steward demanded.

Kaliyani tried to figure the best way to say this. She couldn't so she just blurted out <<The Ishvara is dead.>>

The Steward blinked. She didn't look overly surprised which worried Kaliyani.
<<How?>>

<<The Kanistha.>> Kaliyani told her.

The Steward nodded. <<You believe he may be a threat?>>

Kaliyani shook her head. <<I believe he genuinely has no desire to rule. He could be dead for all we know, he was mortally wounded when he escaped.>>

<<Let us hope>> the Steward nodded.

<<You don't seem surprised. >> Kaliyani remarked warily.

The Steward shook her head. <<A few hours ago the Heir collapsed, Fate has marked him. We suspected something of this sort must have happened.>>

Kaliyani looked alarmed. <<Is the Heir alright?>>

<<He is resting.>>

<<My companion is a healer, could he help?>>

the Steward regarded Andre critically. <<Who is he?>> She asked.

<<He has helped me a great deal, he wishes to assist.>>

<<that doesn't answer my question, who is he? >>

"Vaidya." Kaliyani said. <<He is a healer.>>

The Steward sighed. <<Very well, let us see what the heir has to say. >>

She headed off toward a stairwell concealed behind a curtain of skins and fur.

Kaliyani looked to Andre and explained in a whisper. "The Heir has been marked by Fate, which means he has had a vision. We shall learn what his prophesy is. This is a great honor, leave the water here and follow silently. The Steward is wary of us." She looked worried.

Andre nodded and set his burden down to follow her to see the heir. He hoped things worked out well now that they were here.

They were led up a roughly hewn staircase to the Lord's Chambers, which was actually a decent sized cave partitioned with curtains of tanned hide to create separate rooms.

It was very neat and orderly up here and deathly quiet.

The Steward pulled aside the curtain and bowed deeply to the sickly looking boy of no more than 8 who was laying on a bundle of furs which made his bed.
With some effort he pulled himself into sitting position while the steward rushed to bundle a pillow behind his back for support.

He stared at Kaliyani, dim almost grey eyes flashing with recognition.
"Kaliyani Vivek?" He spoke softly, his voice little more than a whisper.

Kaliyani bowed deeply and gestured that Andre do the same.

<<Yes Jarral.>> She nodded.

The boy stared at her, his gaze shifting to her companion questioningly.

The steward didn't give him a chance to ask. <<Kaliyani confirms our fears, the Ishvara is dead.>> She told him.

The young Heir nodded grimly, his expression one of relief more than sorrow.

<<My Lord... >> the steward began. <<What did you see?>>

Jarral looked at her, tilting his head. <<I am still trying to make sense of it. >> he waved a hand. <<I wish to speak with Kaliyani Vivek now, please.. leave us.>>

<<My Lord?>> the steward questioned.

Annoyance flashed in those pale eyes. <<Leave us>> Jarral's voice rose the tiniest amount, enough to sound loud in the deafening silence of this chamber.

The Steward gulped, nodded and looked to Kaliyani and her companion. <<May Fate smile on you.>> She told them, hurrying away.

Jarral watched her leave, then rubbed his aching head with a groan.

<<My Lord, are you alright?>> Kaliyani asked worriedly.

Jarral nodded. <<Who is he?>> He nodded to Andre.

<<A healer.>> Kaliyani explained.

"you..." Jarral switched to heavily accented galactic common. "Are not what you appear to be are you?"

Kaliyani looked shocked. <<What.. do you mean my Lord?>>

Jarral remained placidly calm, shaking his head weakly. "I have seen you before..." He tapped his head. "In my vision. Your form melting away, your true self... " He frowned softly.

"What... else did you see my Lord?" Kaliyani asked.

"Lizards." Jarral spoke flatly. "A woman with wings like a bird. A warning? or... an instruction?" He looked frustrated. "I do not understand it."

"I am certain it will become clear soon enough my Lord." Kaliyani spoke softly.

Jarral shook his head, irritated. "It hurts."

"The visions?"

He nodded. "My father used to scream, beg them to stop. I.. am not sure I can do this." He looked scared.

Kaliyani knelt beside him. "Jarral... " She spoke gently. "Fate will guide us, you must have faith in that. She has sent this man here to help you, to heal you if he can. "

"She saved you..." Jarral stared at kaliyani's ruined face.

She nodded. "I believe so."

Andre had bowed when she told him to but straightened once the boy spoke to him "You are correct, I only took the form of your people to not cause unnecessary fear young King." He said then smiled as he let his form fade back to his true one. "I am Andre, a Carpathian. Our people are healers. The lady with wings is likely the princess of the star dragons, one who wishes to trade and be friends with your people."

Jarral watched him passively, nodding. He had no idea what Carpathians or Star Dragons were, heck, he didn't even know what a regular dragon was, but he was at least relieved to see what he'd seen in his head was likely something real and not a decent into the same madness that had consumed his father.
"Fate brought you here." He spoke quietly.

"He thinks he may be able to help you." Kaliyani told him gently. She looked back to Andre. "yes?"

Andre nodded and dipped his head "If you wish, I can try to heal whatever it is that makes you bleed too much." He said gently

Jarral frowned, then nodded. "How does it work?" He asked curiously.

Andre paused a moment, not many asked that. He thought a moment then shrugged "I use my life force to heal yours. It is a magic we are born with, though it costs us and we usually have to feed and rest after. Some treatments require more than one of us and take many sessions to finish"

Kaliyani moved aside to allow Andre to approach the sickly looking child.

Jarral watched Andre warily. "But.. how?"

"touch my Lord, with touch." Kaliyani offered.

Jarral considered that, then extended a pale hand.

Andre bowed again then came forward to take the outstretched hand gently in his own. He shut his eyes to concentrate on healing the child's blood illness as well as he could.

Jarral watched Andre curiously, the weird alien man was fascinatingly strange to him.

Kaliyani watched tensely.

The Heir's illness seemed to be a genetic quirk, the very small population down here meant there were generations of inbreeding and adding to that his father's half something else, the kid's genetic structure was a bit of a mess. He was small, he was frail and he was hemophiliac.

Andre healed what he could then blinked and released the child's hand, frowning "The injuries are healed, but your blood illness is inherited. That will take more than I alone to heal it."

Jarral rubbed his hand, nodding solemly. "Thank you." He murmured, he did feel a little stronger, which was an improvement.

Kaliyani bowed her head. "You believe more of you could repair it?" She asked. She didn't want to get hopes up.

Andre nodded "Yes, it is a weakness in how the bones make blood that simply recreates itself to keep you sick"

"What now?" Jarral asked quietly.

"What do you mean my lord?" Kaliyani asked, glancing at Andre. He would need blood wouldn't he?

"With my father dead, I am to be Ishvara, but... I do not even know where to begin." Jarral admitted.

Kaliyani nodded. "Could the Elders help?" She asked gently.

Jarral considered that, nodding slowly. "perhaps. I... should speak with them."

Kaliyani nodded. "They have been imprisoned for a long time, it would be unwise to go alone."

"You will come with me. and... and the guards." Jarral decided.

"As you wish my lord." Kaliyani bowed her head and looked back to Andre. "Do you need blood?" She asked.

Andre nodded and looked to Kaliyani "Yes." He answered simply then smiled again "I did bring a bag with me since I knew we would be trying to heal him."

Kaliyani nodded. "Good. I will do all I can to ensure you always have a supply here."

Jarral moved to get up.

Kaliyani rushed to help him to his feet.

Jarral held onto her for support, staring at her face. "Does... it still hurt?" He asked.

Kaliyani looked taken aback at that. "a... a little... " She admitted.

Jarral nodded grimly.

"My sister and I tried to heal her a little before I came here and she went with the others." Andre said and looked to her, frowning at the fact she still hurt. "I sent a message for some of my people to travel here, they will arrive within the week."

Kaliyani bowed her head. "Thank you." She told Andre sincerely.

Jarral tilted his head at that. More strangers? Well that'd be interesting.

"We.. should speak to the Elders." he decided.

Kaliyani nodded. "Would you like to stay here and rest?" She asked Andre, as she was kinda being used as a crutch currently.