The mirror: Kevali

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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

"We were engaged to become mates before he was taken and feared to have been killed, yes." Jessica answered then looked to Andre "We have the choice to continue or dissolve the engagement now."

"Something we must speak about together" Andre said and walked over to Jessica "Our parents wanted the union ever since we were born, we have been friends all our lives."

"It is an important discussion, would you like to go for a walk to discuss it?" Kaliyani suggested.

Jarral nodded. "Nobody will interrupt you." He waved his hands. "You have free run of the city, only the Elder's chambers are off limits."

"Do not go down to the lower levels and you should be fine." Kaliyani told them both.

Andre smiled and sipped his head to them "Thank you, I think we should." He said then went over to help Jessica up so they could go for a walk together.

Max watched the pair silently as they left the room. "Do you want us to leave so you can rest?"

Jarral shrugged. "I do not mind. I can sleep through most things."

Kaliyani bowed her head. "We will let you rest my Lord. I can show our guests the city if they would like."

Max smiled at her then dipped his head "I would like that." He said and the other two males nodded, standing to go to stand beside Max.

"I would like to stay, in case anyone is needed." Christine said gently, curling up in the chair she was in.

"As you wish." Kaliyani bowed her head to Christine and bowed to Jarral.
"Rest well m'lord."

Jarral waved a hand, curling up himself.

Kaliyani lead those who wanted a tour down the stairs and out across the bridge.

The three males followed Kalyan out the door to go on their tour.

Christine smiled and looked over to the young king, laying on the chair she occupied

Jarral opened one eye and looked at her. "Yes?" He asked.

---

Kaliyani paused, as if trying to decide what to show them. It had take her all week to get used to this city again, not much had changed of course, but it still was strange to be back.

She decided to take them to one of her favourite spots, leading them away from the noise of the mines and the shouts of the fishermen and down into the distant caverns, where the torches became less and less till finally she pulled one from a bracket in the wall and indicated they follow her through a narrow passage only wide enough for them to continue single file.

"I was wondering if you wanted anything, or if you are in any pain." Christine answered.

~~~
Throw males followed her, watching the way quietly as it continued to darken. "This place is far from the rest." Max commented softly.

Jarral shook his head. "The pain stops when the visions pass." He told her.

---

Kaliyani nodded. "That is the point. It is not much farther." She spoke in hushed tones as they moved forward and came at last to a wide dark cavern. There was a soft breeze in here, coming from somewhere far beyond. The torchlight barely illuminated anything in front of them. Kaliyani set the torch into a bracket carved into the wall and motioned the others to follow into the pitch black. She walked carefully, trailing one hand along the cave wall. "Watch your step." She cautioned and finally stopped moving. "And make no sound."

She waited till they'd caught up, head raised to the ceiling. "Absolute silence." She whispered "and watch."

Christine smiled and nodded at that. "That is good, I am glad the pain does not stay with you." She said then curled back up in the chair again to rest too.

~~~
The three males could see pretty well in the darkness, they nodded and watched, following her example and looking up as she did. The only sound when they stopped was the sound of light breathing.

After a minute or two of silence little pinpoints of light started to flicker on above them, a few at first, then more and more joined them until the ceiling of the cave looked like whole constellations.
Staligtites above lit up as if cloaked in Christmas lights, the ceiling was like a starry sky, larger lights flitted to and fro between them.

The three males were surprised and awed at the show above them, though they remained quiet out of respect for what she had asked before.

Kaliyani remained silent for quite some time, enjoying the show. Finally she spoke, still in hushed whispers but as soon as she did so the lights flickered off. "They are insects, the lights... they are larvae and the moving larger ones are a sort of fly that feeds off the sap the worms secrete." She shook her head. "it is not so pretty when you think of them like that though. "

"We have something similar, we just call them cave worms. They are both part of the same creature, both the larvae and the flying beetle they become have that fluorescence to them" Max said softly

Kaliyani lead them back to the torch, picking it up again. "Many things glow down here, the moss, the fish. As certain points in the cycle the very algae on the lake lights up. Come." She lead the way back through that narrow passage and took them alongside the river, heading down a winding stairwell with the sound of rushing water to one side of them.

The three males followed her, looking around curiously at the sound of the water so close. The sound of the river and the darkness around them could cause some to be claustrophobic, if they couldn't see around themselves.

Kaliyani was so used to the cramped conditions, she was completely oblivious to how uncomfortable this might be to some. Her dark vision was good enough she didn't really need the torch but it made the way that little bit safer.
They came out onto a platform of rocks, uneven and slippery in parts. Kaliyani held up the torch, light glinted off the crystals in the walls and strange moss glowed around them. There was a fine mist in the air and the roar of water.
A waterfall, above them tumbling down to the lake they now stood on the shore of.

"The underground river continues for miles that way." Kaliyani pointed downstream. "down there the Tanners dwell." She pointed into the gloom. "We will not go close, they are not friendly and the fumes are unpleasant. "

Max looked up at the waterfalling and smiled softly "This place is amazing." He said softly

"We could..." Bryan started only to have Max turn and give him a look and a shake of the head in a negative. Max didn't want them going if she said it was dangerous, they were just guests here after all.

"You do not wish to go anywhere near the tanners island, the chemicals they use are... quite noxious and they're all a little.... strange thanks to the fumes." Kaliyani told them matter of factly. "that is why they keep so far from the cities. " She indicated away into the caves beyond. "The elders chambers are below, they do not like visitors, particularly not outsiders. I would advise to to avoid them, Akantarak particularly. She is... rather unstable I am afraid. " She shook her head, speaking in hushed whispers. "Our previous Ishvara banished them down here when he took power, their.. isolation does not seem to have improved their moods." She looked apologetic. "in time I hope they will work well with the young Ishvara and see that he is not his father..."

"Of course, we do not wish to cause any disturbance" Max said, glancing to the twins again then looking to her "And too much time alone is not good for anyone, though with Andre here, you will have less to fear of him going crazy from pain."

Kaliyani nodded. "He is an extraordinarily bright child, I am certain he will be an excellent leader. Fate would not have marked him were he not special." She spoke fondly, clearly she had rather a soft spot for the youngster. "The Kanistha's double was, I think, correct in his assessment. Fate intended all of this, and has great plans." She bowed her head.

Max dipped his head and smiled a little "Yeah, there are always plans." He agreed, though he wasn't certain those plans were always to the good of anyone.

Kaliyani nodded back. "May Fate smile on us all." She told them.

"Fate be kind." Max replied then looked to the waterfall again, focusing on it instead of them for the moment

Kaliyani watched the water too, silent for a while. Finally she spoke to tell them. "We do not know where the water comes from, but it has traveled far to reach us. No water exists upon the surface, or... so it is claimed. Only the hunters and the condemned venture up there and since the union with the Kalvair many generations ago, such hunting parties are not so necessary. "

Max looked to her again and nodded "Water has it's ways of getting places and it's secrets that are hard to discern. Perhaps one day someone will be able to find where this water comes from." He said and smiled at her again.