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

"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.

"I would appreciate that, thank you" Andre said, moving back to take a seat in a chair

Kaliyani nodded.

Jarral didn't seem to care either way.
There was work to be done, and he was driven by a sense of duty.

Kaliyani lead the young Ishvara down the stairs and off to see the Elders.
They'd be gone for quite some time discussing a lot of things that were honestly pretty beyond an 8 year old, even one as mature and bright as Jarral.
Kaliyani would help as best she could, and thankfully the Elders seemed willing to work with the child for the good of the people.

They were pleased to old Ishvara was dead, though none were foolish enough to state this outright in front of the boy.

An hour or so later the sound of conversation would break the silence of the chamber, people in the cavern below.

Andre opened his eyes at the sound of conversations in the chamber and stood, looking around a moment. He was rested enough now, though he forgot to change forms.

People were talking downstairs, at least a dozen voices. Some male, some female. He might recognize the child's voice, and Kaliyani.

Andre debated at the door then stepped out to follow the voices down the stairs. It wasn't really his place, but he was curious

The Throne room certainly felt more lively now, full of people.
The Steward was rushing backward and forward bowing and generally having a terrible time keeping track of everyone and everything. She looked horribly flustered.

Kaliyani stood beside Jarral, who was still using her as a crutch as she helped him to sit upon the throne that dwarfed his tiny frame.

There were 8 other figures, along with two stern faced guards.

The eight didn't look Kevali, or Kalvair. They were fair skinned, though more healthily pink than the ghastly white of the Kevali, their eyes glowing with unnatural inner light.
Most were fair haired, a couple had dark. They were all dressed in fine but ancient looking robes, the females had their hair covered with cloth headdresses or in the case of one particularly striking female, her head completely shaven save for two long strips that framed her face.
Each of them stood on white furred, paw-like feet with short, tufted tails whipping behind them. Their hands were covered in downy fur too, as were their necks and pointed ears. A crest of short horns adorned their heads.

The conversation died as Andre entered, all eyes on him.

"Vaidya." Kaliyani bowed her head to him in greeting, a little startled by the Elder's all staring.

Jarral held up both hands and spoke. <<He is a guest here, he is a healer. >>

The 8 murmured to one another, then nodded and bowed their heads to Andre.

"Zayah Vaidya." a few of them spoke what was presumably some sort of greeting.

Andre stood and bowed his head in respect to them "Hello. Forgive me, I have only learned a little of your language so far." He said, excusing not speaking in their language before stepping forward to join them

Jarral translated what Andre said for the Elders, who clearly knew absolutely no galactic common.

"These are the Elders." Kaliyani explained, moving to stand with Andre now Jarral was sitting. "They have agreed to help Jarral to rule, and agreed to allow me to remain as advisor and liaison with outside contact. There is... concern about outsiders coming here, but we shall see how this goes. We are all very much making things up as we go along. Still, they have heard the Ishvara's visions, Fate has marked him, he IS her chosen, there is no debate there. It is a relief. " She spoke in a hushed whisper.

Andre smiled and nodded then looked to her again "My people will not stay long, just long enough to heal him. We do not much like to be in space or above the ground in the light."

"Your people do not like the light either?" Kaliyani asked curiously. "The surface of this world is not safe, even the Kalvair spend the heat of they day outside of the suns. "

Jarral glanced over, making no effort to disguise the fact he was listening in.

"We are creatures of darkness, it is the way of our people." Andre answered with a nod.

"You should fit in well here then." Kaliyani told him. "It is always dark."

Andre smiled again and nodded "For however long I remain here." He agreed then glanced around "This world has many minerals in the rocks and soil, it is almost like home, just warmer."

"What is your home world like?" Kaliyani asked.

Andre smiled and closed his eyes "Our world is full of life, both blow and above the ground. We live in caves that connect to the very core of the planet, the original source of our magic. They are beautiful places, full of crystals and minerals that keep the life strong. At night, we go above the ground to take walks through the forests and watch over the sleeping creatures until dawn comes again. We have one sun and one moon that replace one another roughly every twenty hours. We have many rivers and forests around the towns above-ground. We trade with a few other worlds, though we mostly remain close to home." He stopped then chuckled "I have not been back in quite a while."

"You must miss it." Kaliyani spoke softly, sympathetically. "I know I have missed my home." She looked around the cavern, she looked substantially less nervous now she was home again.

"Yes, but I know Carpathia is in good hands with our King" Andre said with a smile

"I am glad to hear that. " Kaliyani nodded. She didn't smile.

The Elders spoke quietly with one another in a dialect Kaliyani couldn't understand. Jarral watched them quietly.

"I hope we are in good hands now." She confided quietly to Andre.

"I think so" Andre said and looked back to the child king and the council.

Kaliyani shook her head. "Ancient ones, and a child... what a combination." She looked to Jarral. He looked surprisingly comfortable up there, quite the change from the scared, cowering boy she had known. "Lordship suits him I think." She remarked.

Andre smiled and nodded "Yes, that it does. When we get his blood problem healed, he will not have to worry about that, though I noticed something a little odd when I healed him before."

Kaliyani frowned. "What do you mean?"

Andre frowned and looked to her "I would need more information, but it seemed that he had some damage to his brain."

Kaliyani frowned. She looked to Jarral, then back to Andre. "I do not understand." She guided him away from the gathering to a quiet more private corner. "What do you mean?"

"It was just a small thing, I could stay and check again with the next vision he has, but from what I felt, there was a bit of damage to his brain. I healed it, but it is a danger before my people can get here to heal his blood and possibly beyond that." Andre said quietly and shook his head "It is just a guess on my part right now."