Miss Ashfury,
it would be my pleasure to have you as my guest at my estate in order to discuss the prospect of employment. You are expected two hours before noon the third day of the present week. Further instructions will be found in the second card within the envelope.
I shall await our encounter with growing interest.
Lady Xoriana Ravenfall
The letter bore the crest of the noble house, as well as the signature of the author. Three days had passed since she had found the letter at her very doorstep, three days since a name she had never believed would echo in her ears again had come to haunt her. There she stood, before the gilded gates of a building as imposing as those it housed, holding the yellowed envelope over her locket.
A servant had been sent to guide her, wide-eyed and with short, fiery hair. Little did the joyful girl manage to conceal her smile behind the parting gate, pushed open by magic. "Miss Ashfury." she greeted. "My name is Rianeth Goldpath. If you follow me, I will take you to Lady Ravenfall." Her voice was soft, warmer than the area where she led her mistress' guest.
Order was the dominant characteristic of the estate's gardens. Benches whitened by sunlight stood at the side of the large path lead to the estate's entrance. They were surrounded by bushes heavy with scarlet roses at full bloom, not a single one of them wilting, or missing as much as a petal. At the very entrance, a tall statue rose, at least three times shorter than the young apprentice. Long silk in the colour of coal was covering the likeness of the one hiding beneath, as if veiling shame.
"What lies beneath?" asked Celysiel as the two women approached, never stopping to marvel at the gardens.
The smile only vanished from the servant girl's eyes, not her lips. "That would be the Lord." she replied cautiously, lowering her voice slightly as if engaging a forbidden subject. "All trace of him has been covered, until it may be replaced and disappear."
It nearly felt as if Celysiel could see behind the smooth fabric, at least with the vivid eyes of her imagination. On pale marble she envisioned the former Magister on the portrait in his office a year ago, also concealed. Such was the fate of traitors, for the High Kingdom had no mercy for those eager to forsake their own. They would die a second death in the field, after suffering a first in the minds of those they once knew. Their names would be avoided and despised. They were Sin'dorei no more.
The first guards they saw once they reached the three steps behind the covered statue, leading to the entrance of the building. Two males clad in red and expressionless they were, holding a spear to their hand. It was they rather than magic who pushed the door open this time. Rianeth did not seem to mind for the smiles wasted on them, smiles never returned, as she led Celysiel inside.
True to the Sin'dorei fashion, the Great Hall was rich in ruby and ivory colours. Large windows provided openings in the circular room, with only barriers the dancing golden curtains. Left, right and ahead below the inner ramp, doorways led deeper into different sections of the estate. Celysiel's guide however made for the ramp which was clinging on the circular wall, leading to the floors above.
"Lady Ravenfall will see you in her study." she gently uttered as the two began their ascent. "I apologise, Miss Ashfury, for it is located at the top floor."
The apology Celysiel dismissed with nothing more than a shake of her head which the servant missed as she took the first steps on the spiraling ramp. Azure crystals mounted the walls along its length, though their arcane light was dim at best when contested with the daylight's brightness. Portraits hanged in-between, sometimes of singular figures, others of the individuals all standing together. Cold were their faces, frozen on canvas. It was easy to spot those draped in the equally grim coal fabric as the statue outside among the collection and even easier to guess whom they were hiding. Every time that the two passed from such a canvas, it felt as if the ghost of Maridren Ravenfall was watching, ever vigilant. Celysiel wrapped her arms around her shoulders and lowered her gaze, trying to ignore that chilling feeling in her head, the vicious female laughter that would forever be her burden.
Of course the trip among the phantoms of house Ravenfall, deceased and fallen, or living and forgotten, would not happen in silence. Not few were the times that Raineth's voice rose over the clicking of heels and the dragging of Celysiel's skirt against the stone floor in order to offer an apology for the tiring ascent. Many a door they passed, each of them coated with leaves of gold and fragments of gems, but entered none. Sometimes, the apprentice would steal a glimpse from the tower's top, measuring the distance between herself and the final door.
It was finally reached and opened under the blinding sunlight that the large windows permitted be cast over it. Celysiel saw Raineth slightly flinch as her digits came in contact with the gold, warmed by the sun's heat. The hallway behind it however was much cooler; it was a relief to stand away from the sun's radiance. That part of the estate it did not seem to reach. The windows remained plenty, but no rays graced them. Though still weak, the light of the arcane crystals guiding the way was just a little brighter there.
This time, the march was not long. The new hallway was bare, possessing just a meagre touch of green with a flower pot that seemed to survive in the shadows granted to it. Ahead of the two women stood a door as wonderful as any they had passed. This time, Raineth made no attempt to open it. She merely stood in front of it, raising her knuckle to knock twice; the absence of a third time caused the young elf behind her to twitch, though the impulse of bringing the third knock was not one she acted upon.
"My Lady." her warm voice uttered clearly behind the metallic barrier of rooms. "Miss Ashfury has arrived."
Without expecting a response, or one ever coming, the maid's fingers slipped to the knob, opening a section of the double room alone, rather than pushing it wide open. The revelation behind it was a world of brown, though before Celysiel had the chance to process what her eyes were looking at, Raineth spoke again. "The Lady Ravenfall is awaiting."
Celysiel inclined her head gently, before entering in the chamber laid before her. Behind her, the door closed silently, most likely the work of her guide. Now she stood alone in a large chamber, slightly flustered. Brown she had seen and now it revealed itself to be bookcases far taller than herself, burdened with large tomes of faded colours. It was a study indeed, though far different from any she had seen before. Several nobles had in the past been eager to hire a maid and when sent to their studies, Celysiel would see towers with ceilings as distant as the sky, bookcases clinging on walls and a clear space of lounges in the middle for the wanderer's convenience. With the study of Ravenfall, this was not the case. As if wishing to live up to their reputation of mystery, they had constructed a room which would make their desire come true. Put together, the bookcases formed a labyrinth of narrow paths and treacherous choices.
Each moment in the estate was becoming more and more confusing, though the shadowmancer was not deterred. The entrance of the maze welcomed her; at her every turn, the dark train of her robe would trail, only to be lost as a new path was taken. Books were surrounding her, more than she dared believe could exist in the world, or that one would have the time to ever study, even if granted the immoral life of an elf. The smell was at least pleasant, one of dust and old, paper and leather. The steps of her heels echoed in the chamber, though no other sound could reach her. If Lady Ravenfall was truly present, or merely had the desire to test her guest and was scrying from afar, she could not tell.
Many a time did the tomes tempt her and many a time did Celysiel stop, willing to forget at least for a few seconds that the owner of the estate, the very study, was waiting for her. The glove concealing her right hand slid from her skin, though the ghost of the scar on her palm the former Oathsworn did her best not to look at. The dance of her fingers against the covers was gentle, though it did not come without the gift of dust.
It did not take long for her to finally reach a wide opening within the maze, similar to finding an oasis within the desert. The eastern windows offered rays and dancing specks of dust on a small loung consisting of three diwan sofas bearing colours of ruby on their cushions and carved from the same dark wood as the bookcases of the room. There were no tables, but merely stacks of books between them which could as well have that purpose.
The diwan on top of the other two was the only one occupied, that by a lone woman. Lady Ravenfall was her brother's twin, though there was no likeness they shared, merely a name. The Lord's portraits was still locked in Celysiel's mind, the proud Magister with the auburn hair, the peachy skin and the handsome features. At least his sister was equally tall and slender; her dark green gown heavy with lace was only adding to that impression. Her skin was pale in a manner that suggested poor health, even worse than her sickly guest's. Onyx was her long hair tied strictly at the back of her head, so dark as if midnight nested in them. That the cause was artificial was the apprentice's guess, but she could not help but admire the result. Dark red was the colour of the Lady's lips, something that could make her look even mroe beautiful had it not been for her flaws.
It was neither the skeletal hands, nor the cold aura of the Lady which alarmed Celysiel, but the alabaster mask covering nearly half of the woman's face. It was set to her right, covering her forehead, the nose and all of her cheek. It was ominous at best and for once in her life, Celysiel was not certain if she would like to know what lay below.
She had been reading a book at the time, though her long fingers slid across the page to mark it, before setting the former object of her interest by her side. It was only for a little that the eyes of the two women met, before the lowborn averted her gaze to the floor and inclined her head.
"Lady Ravenfall." she greeted.
Xoriana did not return the gesture, for such her blood allowed. "Miss Ashfury." The lace decorations of her sleeve danced gently as the Lady rose her hand to gesture towards the diwan to her left, perhaps wishing her guest to regard her unmasked side. "I am glad to see that my invitation has been accepted."
Slowly did Celysiel obey, making her way to the seat. Her skirts barely filled the cushions on which she sat, though her wide sleeves draped the diwan. She had not selected an attire any poorer than her usual. Her mother's robe embraced her body and the dark flowers were displayed atop her head. Even the locket she had not bothered to hide, letting the silver beauty shine on her torso, though not being able to hold it caused discomfort, even if well veiled.
"I could not deny your summons, my lady." replied the girl calmly. "My services are sought, thus I must answer. Though if I may be honest, I did not expect the reputation of a maid to be so great."
The nobleborn offered a small smile, mirthless, though the spark of amusement shined in her green eyes. "Come now." she uttered as her hands came to her thighs. "To insult the very intelligence of your host is unkind, I am sure you know. It is not your service in cleaning and brushing the hair of my kind which brings you here, as you very well know. Your choice of attire suggests so, for I greatly doubt that you would serve as my maid while trying to match the appearance of a noble. Is it perhaps fear?" Her smile widened only a little. "You may speak freely here, child. We are away from the light."
The last statement brought a shiver to the young apprentice, one she did her very best to suppress. "It is curious that you may say such thing." she heard herself say. "Your brother's fate was also far from the light, or so they say."
If Celysiel's concern was that Xoriana would be irritated by the comment, relief could only come when her hostess smiled for once more. "So they say." she agreed. "Or so you very well know. Is it not why you are here?" Though when her guest did not answer, the Lady emitted a soft sigh and continued. "Were you not the one admitted in his office shortly after his self-exile? Am I to suspect that you did not even glimpse at my brother's notes? Perhaps those of others as well? Your interest in the works of shadow and Void is not hidden. What?" she asked again, once no response was given. "Come now. You do not hide. Do you deny it?"
It was the distant sound of a door opening which spared Celysiel from having to answer. Footsteps were traced in silence as the two women were looking at each other. Not long after, Raineth emerged from the maze of bookcases. Two more girls were behind her, similarly dressed as her. All three held trays with goods, tea and juice, cakes and tarts. On the books they were set, before Xoriana wordlessly dismissed the maids with a gesture of her hand. Neither spoke until the door at the beginning of the labyrinth had closed.
"Would a treat perhaps make you more courageous?" she asked, choosing a lemon tart for herself. "Tea, perhaps?" Her manner reminded Celysiel of Everflare, but at the same time she could not deny how different the two women were.
Succumbing to the hostess' suggestions, the apprentice reached for one of the two cups of tea, carefully bringing it towards herself. Its smell was sweet and its colour made golden by honey. As she tasted it, Celysiel could not help but wonder if Xoriana's tastes in hot drinks were similar to hers, or if the woman had managed to find out how her guest liked her tea served.
"It is not a matter of courage." she finally uttered, feeling the aftertaste of honey and leaves on her tongue. "Merely a matter of curiosity. My interests are innocent enough. I have been judged and remain in the High Kingdom still."
A nod came from Xoriana, one that managed to shake a few strands of her onyx hair, though not the pale mask concealing half of her face. "Words well spoken, Miss Ashfury, though I require no defensive attitude from you. As my letter explained, I wish to discuss the possibility of hiring you, not bringing you any harm, or even unleashing accusations against you for matters of a year past."
Celysiel lowered her cup, letting it sit on her knees. Its warm did not bother her, not even when it became excessive. "I do not understand."
"Oh, but I think you do." Lady Ravenfall commented. "I require someone familiar with shadow and Void to be employed by myself for no small amount of time. Rest assured, I am a kind employer. Coin you shall have plenty and protection also, if that will soothe your mind and chase away your fears."
"Then why not turn to an individual of the Spire, certified, knowledgeable and skilled?" It was a good question and one that would offer more insight. "I am none of the above."
"It is exactly why I chose you, Miss Ashfury." Xoriana made a pause, taking a bite from her lemon tart. Even as she dominated and laid her cards, or even as she did something as simple as taste a dessert, there was something sinister about her. The mask, Celysiel thought, but her hostess was taking over again, before her thoughts could be concluded. "I care not for your skills, but your lack of ties with the Spire is most convenient. Time and time again I have done my best to sever mine these days given the shifting tides which cause even you to hold your tongue, thus was none formed.
"Hence no." the Lady declared. "I have no desire to seek the individuals the Spire has to offer. A young elf with no ties on the other hand? I have spent my time watching you, Miss Ashfury. You are the ideal candidate."
No ties, she thought, looking at the scar of her still unveiled right hand. "What would you require of me?"
Xoriana lifted her hand, now free from the tart that earlier occupied it, to gesture behind her. Just at the other side of the chamber and potentially the very end of the labyrinth, a balcony rose with a gilded door hidden behind its bannister. "My brother's research was never found." she explained. "Yet all of his work found in his office and this very estate alike has been collected in that room. The interest for my brother's research is great you see, both for the Kingdom and in a personal level. I require someone to go through all he left behind. Clues must surely exist. Hints regarding what his focus was on. Surely, you would not deny yourself a chance to delve into a Magister's work, Ashfury. That with permission and payment both provided."
Celysiel did not even flinch, but scarcely could she deny the heightened beating of her heart. Tempting as the offer was, the dangers could not be denied. There were two she had promised to protect, along with herself, herself above all. "May I ask what you wish to do with your brother's research, my lady?" she asked. "Should it be found."
"Take it. Potentially terminate it. That would greatly depend on what forces he plays with and whether they can truly be harnessed. Umbric's people made that mistake once before and now they pay the price. My brother with them."
"Is it not dangerous, if not simply too ambitious?" asked Celysiel again, trying to ignore the fact that she was suddenly feeling as if she were choking. The temperature in the room was rising as much as it had the night that Whitestep had granted her wish and turned it into a nightmare. "Would the Spire be amicable of the idea, or even realising that the sister of an exile is interested in her despised kin's work? Surely they have targeted you since way back? Surely the odds are not in your favour."
Ominously, the nobleborn's lips twitched into a smile. For once more, it was devoid of mirth, but also amusement. What could be anger in her eyes could also be a figment of Celysiel's imagination. "Have no doubt, child, when my brother chose his path, I was taken, as were others. They held me in those cages of gold, as they did others."
A flash of light born from memory momentarily blinded the girl. "Did they harm you, my lady?" she asked calmly.
Xoriana's sleeves of lace began their watlz for once more as their mistress rolled her wrists in a gesture of wonder. "Surely they would have, as they did others." she confessed. "In order to do so, they had to remove my mask. And when they did, they remembered who it was they had dared accuse." Her smile widened, earning a flair of cruelty. Now that the rage was truly there, Celysiel knew. For a moment she thought to ask about the mask, but chose against it.
Taking advantage of Celysiel's silence, the Lady pushed herself off the diwan. Her skinny figure somehow seemed quite imposing. The beauty of Xoriana Ravenfall some would name non-existent given her mask and sickly frame, but there the young elf was, completely captivated by her hostess. "Make no mistake, child. The crime of those cast away was their love for the Alliance, not their ties with dark magic. Surely, not few were those accused wrongly, yet that will be allowed no more."
"But they hate it." Celysiel blurted out. At long last, she reached for her locket. Gone was the weary woman she had returned as from the Broken Isles. As long as she was near the inspiring Lady Ravenfall, she would always be a fearful child, seeking to collect specks of courage from the prisoner within the silver. "They will never stop chasing those who wield shadow."
Xoriana merely shook her head, as she clapsed her hands together. "How little you know, Miss Ashfury." she uttered softly, her manner somewhat motherly if only for that sentence. Her back turned to Celysiel soon and her chin was pushed up. "Without light, there can be no shadow. How can the shades be formed without the rays of the sun? There are no other people who love and revere the shadows more than the Sin'dorei." With those words spoken, she turned to look behind her shoulder, observing her guest with the eye free from the mask's burden. "Ever since the early days of our Kingdom's formation, they claim themselves to be the righteous, the ones who follow order, yet conspire and act in the shadows they weave. The present days may seem dire, but no harm shall come, Ashfury. You have nothing to fear but fear itself."
A soft nod was offered by the young elf upon hearing the Lady's words, though if they could be trusted she could not tell. "If I were to accept your offer," she began. "would you be able to guarantee that your brother's fate will not wrongfully be mine as well?"
"It will not be." Xoriana replied calmly. "My brother chose his path, as I chose mine. You, Ashfury, have also made yours and will keep doing so. It is those choices that will define where you are led. Be wise."
For once more, Celysiel inclined her head. She did not know what else to say, but perhaps it was not needed.
Eventually, Lady Ravenfall turned around with that sinister, hollow smile on her crimson lips. "I regret to say that our encounter must end here, for other duties also require my attention. Do you have an answer for me, Miss Ashfury?" she inquired as her guest also stood to meet the hostess. "Or would you perhaps require a few days to consider?"
"I need not consider, my lady." Celysiel answered with her heart racing in her chest. "I accept your offer."
Several minutes later, as Raineth was leading the apprentice away, Celysiel would still remember how they had shaken hands, as was customary when sealing a deal, or how she had been instructed to wait for a letter to reach her regarding the beginning of her work. But what was stuck with her the most, the one thing she doubted her mind could ever erase was that ominous smile, spreading below the fearsome mask worn by none other than the ghastly woman that was Lady Xoriana Ravenfall.
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