Emery blinked, cleared her throat, and looked to the side. She wasn't entirely sure if he was still staring at her, but she could feel the heat prickling at the back of her neck. She knew it was him, and after a hesitant pause, she turned back to meet his gaze, which remained unwavering, fixed upon her face. Does he even blink? Emery wondered. She cleared her throat again—a habit whenever embarrassment claimed her—and turned to face forward. They had passed the gurgling stream and the forest's shadowed edge, emerging onto the cobbled roadside, where townsfolk gathered in huddled clusters, some already packing up their wares and drifting toward home. Nightfall approached, and most hawkers had vanished, yet a few villagers from Velanthri roamed about, casting curious glances at her and her peculiar guests.
Strangers from Druvkaur, or any other neighboring tribes, were not an unusual sight in Velanthri. After all, Velanthri was renowned as the jewel of Varnathian. From its melodious voices that graced the village airs to the exotic birds that perched in radiant bursts among the trees, and the tranquil streams that beckoned with crystalline beauty, Velanthri was a marvel. If she had not been born in Varnathian, Emery mused, she would have been endlessly enchanted with the idea of visiting here herself.
Her family manor lay not far from the glistening Gem Stream, and their walk came to an end quickly. The three travelers halted before the grand wrought-iron gate, ivy clinging delicately along its weathered edges. Emery turned to face her guests, her eyes settling on Zekar, who seemed to be perpetually looking at her. She blinked twice, gathering her composure, then parted her lips to speak—only to catch Zekar's gaze drifting there. A blush crept up her cheeks, and she glanced away, clearing her throat before returning her attention to him.
"You and your brother will stay with the gatekeeper tonight. I'll let him know," she said softly.
Zekar nodded, and Emery stepped forward, rapping lightly on the smaller gate within the grand one. A moment later, a familiar square cutout slid open, and the weathered face of Moxy, the gatekeeper, appeared. Emery greeted him with a warm smile, which he returned before swinging the gate open to admit them. His eyes widened as he took in the unfamiliar faces behind her, but Emery quickly spoke up, her voice calm and reassuring.
"Elvani te Draúvkar. Eshari lûrae ella, nai úra vil shala,"[1] She explained in the musical tongue of Velanthri.
Moxy's eyes, though wide with concern, softened at her words.
"Arae, anaé talúri elvani lûrae ella?" [2]He muttered, leaning closer. His voice held a note of hesitation, for he, like Emery, knew the young men likely could not understand Veel, the native language of Velanthri.
"Elvani úra sona'dal rei. E tala'rei, sa noé shari velan, Moxy." [3]She said, her features softening. She had often been told that her serene face could charm anyone, that her pleading eyes alone could sway even the sternest of men. Emery had always laughed at these remarks, dismissing them as teasing. But in moments like these, she could not deny the gentle influence she held over others.
With a sigh, Moxy rubbed his hand across his weathered brow. "Velira sa lórae. Véla sa lórae aen." [4]
"Vél esha velira lir'asa,[5]" Emery replied with a mischievous grin. She glanced back at the young men. Zekar, the wilder and more unruly of the two, leaned on his more refined twin, lending him a relaxed, unpolished charm. She herself had always valued propriety and order, yet, unexpectedly, she found herself drawn to this untamed twin. Shaking herself out of her thoughts, she turned back to Moxy.
"Elvani sa shara'vil rei ane duvan. Naelé, lira eshan vilaya mo Frin senas'a," [6]She pleaded, her voice low and earnest.
Moxy sighed deeply, then nodded. "Vae, vae. Talúri elvani thrainé."[7] He muttered his reluctant consent, but as Emery's face lit up in gratitude, her smile shining with the radiance of dawn, even he found himself momentarily mesmerized. Her beauty, though at the tender age of thirteen, held a magnetic pull that was hard to ignore.
"Thank you!" she chirped in English, turning to face her guests with that same beaming smile. "He agreed." Her joy was almost palpable, and her expression was so bright that it seemed to compete with the stars as dusk fell.
Zekar, caught in her spell, could only gaze at her in stunned admiration. His brother, more practical-minded, nudged him along, guiding him forward as they entered the modest yet inviting gatehouse. Though simple, the room was spacious, with four doors leading off the main sitting area—likely to the gatekeeper's rooms and storage rooms.
"Did you have lunch or dinner before coming here?" she asked, her brow creasing in mild concern. They both shook their heads, and she turned to Moxy, who gave her an apologetic shrug. He rarely kept much food at the gatehouse. "Very well, I'll fetch you some. But stay inside! Don't come out under any circumstances, all right?" she instructed, and both nodded dutifully.
Slipping away, Emery smoothed her skirts and adjusted her posture, drawing herself up with the practiced elegance her stepmother always demanded, as she entered the main house. The guards at the entrance dipped their heads in acknowledgment, and she moved swiftly across the grand hall. She had barely made it halfway through when the sound she dreaded reached her ears—two voices, echoing in perfect sync.
"And where, may we ask, are you coming from?"
[1] ENGLISH: They are from Druvkaur. They came here and could not return.
[2] English: So, why did you bring them here?
[3] ENGLISH: They have no place to stay. And you know I can’t abandon those in need, Moxy,
[4] ENGLISH: Madam will be angry. Very angry.
[5] ENGLISH: That's only if she finds out
[6] ENGLISH: They will leave first thing tomorrow morning. Please, let them stay with you and Frin just for tonight.
[7] ENGLISH: Okay, okay, bring them in