Crazy Tiyr's Treasure

[Malkaer Andares]

Timestamp: Spring of Era III of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIII Post Fractum

With a racing heart Malkaer followed Manijor through the hallways of the majestic governmental buildings of the Concordia Incola. For a moment all the marble around him made him sick. It was different from the marble of Eth'gantor. That was always placed with careful detail, accenting the fine splendour of the stone. Here in Primus Gaudeo the material was simply put down. The humans used marble like they used bricks, not altering their way of architecture. No wonder a delicate soul like his sister felt lost here.

Unlike her brother Tiyribi had not possessed the strength to overcome the ways of the shortlived races. Malkaer considered that to be her downfall, the inability to adapt. She had tried he knew, for herself and for the family and for him too. The problem was that Tiyribi did not belong anywhere. Not in her village of birth with her strict Kyotke family; not in the Allerian Empire nor in Eth'gantor. She could not bind herself to one place, a terrible affliction inherited from their father. Astartus could hardly stay in one place for a cycle. His wandering spirit had caused him to cut all contact with the family, such was the prize he paid for his freedom.

Malkaer knew Tiyribi could not turn away from her family so heartlessly. She always felt guilty, probably still in her current state. Perhaps if he could convince her that how she lived did not matter to him or their relatives, that there was guilt on her part... perhaps he might rescue her still.

[Adder]

The cities architecture would surely be different to the marble city of the shadow elves, but then it was something that few would be in the position of comparing. That Malkaer attributed the dwarfen constrution to human amply demonstrated how compromised the design had been. Classic dwarfen architecture as had been exemplified in Zerdargia was very unsuited to a city that had been intended to be open to all races and certainly the humans had had a good part in its construction.

But such concerns were neither here nor there when it came to the matters in hand, except perhaps that it might have contributed to his relatives madness. Manijoor led the way and paused outside the door to the apartments where she was being kept, for lack of a better way of describing it. He paused with a hand on the door and met Malkaers eyes. I'll introduce you to the doctor, but I warn you that if she doesn't want you to meet the patient then I'll ask you to respect her wishes. He didn't wait for an answer but instead opened the door and ushered Malkaer inside.

The room was small but well furnished, with a small writing desk and a long low leather couch. Said couch currently contained an elf who had been leaning back with her hand over her eyes. She stood as soon as she realised that she had visitors, nodding in recognition to Manijoor and obviously realising that anyone he brought personally must be important on one way or another.

Doctor L'Kares at your service. Her violet eyes searched his face, recognising that likely another Esh'lahier like herself and brought by the Governors assistant would likely mean a relative.

[Malkaer Andares]

As the Concordia palace was a compromise, so was House Andares. A compromise between traditional Eth'gantorean Esh'lahier culture and that of the Empire, mainly influenced by human and light elf culture. It was difficult to merge both in one person. Malkaer found himself often in conflict; in doubt how to react to certain situations or what to think of important matters in life. Moranor had taken the most daunting step, becoming a lightborn in all but appearance. That perhaps explained his success. Tiyribi was different in that she sought to explain all through rational thought. Some things could never be explained fully in black and white. There was a large grey part. Maybe his sibling could not cope with that.

Occupied with his thoughts, Malkaer looked up to Manijor in surprise. He nodded in agreement. The esh'lahier was not doctor; if it was in Tiyribi's best interest that he did not visit her he would comply with that demand. With great sadness and a little anger, but he would comply.

The pale elf stepped inside the small office and looked down on the female. She seemed... stressed. "Lord Andares." Malkaer inclined his head respectfully for the healer, but was not able to bring up a polite smile. To meet a doctor of his own race was both a relief and a shock. While it was comforting to converse with an esh'lahier over this touching subject, it was distressing to know that even one of his race had not yet been able to cure his sister. "How... is she?" He inquired carefully.

[Adder]

The doctor dropped back into a manner that was clearly professional and took Malkears hand and patted it reassuringly. She is as well as can be expected at the moment. She has moments of lucidity but most of the time she is lost in her own world. Manijoor here arranged for me to come and look after her so that she wouldn't be disturbed more than necessary, feeling that one of her own race would be the most soothing.

You can go and be with her for a while if you want, but she is sedated just now, it's the only way that we can get her to rest and I should warn you that when she is awake the presence of men upsets her greatly. She released his hand and walked over to the closed doorway, If you want to see her?

[Malkaer Andares]

That she grabbed his gloved hand was an odd gesture; unelven if anything. Nevertheless he did not recoil, finding some solace in her touch, even as the fine silk prevented direct contact. Malkaer listened to the doctor with a defeated look in his eyes. His steel-grey orbs sparkled only as she mentioned Manijoor's decision. There was some loyalty in the lightborn after all.

Seeing her asleep was good enough. Most likely better, to keep the image of his highly intelligent, rational and kind sibling intact if at all possible. The pale elf nodded, not able to bring out a word over his lips.

[Adder]

The doctor, unaware of the unease that her manner had caused opened the door into the next room. Too long amongst the humans and dwarfs that thronged this Province had changed her manner. Too many of the Esh'lahier had been isolated, absorbed into the Empire and out of contact with their families and the doctor was no exception. Manijoor had in fact done well to find a female doctor of her race here in the city, especially one who had at least some experience with dealing with patients who needed special treatment. What treatment for the mad though? It was outside of all knowledge within the Emoire either medical or arcane and the best that could be hoped was that it would cure itself.

The doctor stood back from the open door, leaving it open for Malkear to enter or not. Within, the room was light, the walls of a fine grained marble, light, almost as white as the buildings outside, but flashed though be veins of green and red. Guazy curtains billowed lightly at the windows, restrained by the cords that tied them back and allowed a soft sunlight to penetrate into the room, reflecting off the white floor and casting a welter of pale shadows. On the bed that occupied the right hand wall and just out of the direct sunlight that lit the woven rugs around it, lay the former Governor. She seemed at peace and her right hand lay atop the cream satin sheets that covered her; a tone lighter than the curtains.

Her breaths came slow but even and the doctor glanced at her, guaging if there had been any change and then looked away again, apparently satisified. Manijoor waited for whatever it was that her relative wished to do or see, his place to help where he could, loyalty still strong to the woman who had been an important part of his life.

[Malkaer Andares]

After a slight hesitation that only one of elvenblood would notice Malkaer stepped into the room. He walked to the end of the bed. From there the esh'lahier looked down upon the countenance of his half-sister. She seemed calm, but Malkaer knew that certain drugs could knock out a giant for brightenings. For himself it was best to meet Tiyribi like this. The impact on his own sanity would be dangerous if he saw her in a less calm state.

For a while the pale elf just stood there. There was no thought in his mind. He merely watched her breath. "May I have a moment alone with her?" He asked the doctor with a grim voice, without looking up from the bed. There were many questions he had for her and Manijoor, but they could wait. For now he just wanted to be with Tiyribi for a while.

[Adder]

The doctor nodded and closed the door. Manijor hadn't even moved, for he'd seen the former Governor there before and had no especial desire to repeat the experience and certainly not to intrude on the private moment.

He did corner the doctor though, leaving the two elves alone in the other room. Has there been any change? The doctor sighed and shook her head, not adding any comment for there was nothing new to say since the last time they had had the discussion. Manijor persisted though, nothing new on what caused it?

The doctor eyed him patiently and met his eye. No, as you know that you would be the first to know if there was something. It's still a mystery, but the Governors job as you ought to know well is a very busy one and sometimes the work is too much after a while. It could be that she has retreated in her mind from something that she knows is too much for her, though her determination was to continue and the resulting strain caused this. Or perhaps there is some other reason altogether, but again we have had exactly this conversation more than once. The man reddened slightly at the reminder of his persistance but he'd ask again and they both knew it. Until he knew what had caused this, he'd not stop chasing.

Inside the closed room, everything was still aside from the flicker of movement in the curtains and the slow but regular breathing of the slumbering patient. Her skin was paler than usual and had an almost transparent quality to it. Her expression was relaxed and there was almost a smile in the corner of her lips, though that was hard to be sure.

[Malkaer Andares]

When the door closed Malkaer did not immediately move. Then with slow steps, as if his boots were filled with lead he walked to the head of the bed. With his gloved hand he removed a lock of white hair from her forehead and placed it gently next to her head. The esh'lahier remembered his first meeting with his half-sister. Moranor had sent him a letter that a new child of Astartus -the father they shared- had come forward. Malkaer had arranged a meeting in Midpoint, where both childs of Astartus worked for the Imperial Alyssans. Although such a thing as a bastard did not truly exist in esh'lahier society, meeting one's half-sister after one hundred and twenty-five patterns was still slightly awkward. Fortunately Tiyribi proved to be the sensible, intelligent and gentle sister one could wish for. There were no immediate sibling feelings on his part and also not on hers if he was not mistaking, but a mutual understanding was there. Considering Malkaer understood little of himself at some times Tiyribi had become a pillar which supported him. And now she was gone.

The pale elf sank to his knees and did something he rarely did: remove his gloves by daylight. She was one of the few people who knew of his horrid hand. During combat against foul practitioners of the dark arts his hand had been replaced with a black skeleton claw. He always were gloves to hide this imperfection. Now he removed them and folded his hands together. The necromantic energies which the claw contained immediately creeped through the elf. Yet he welcomed the pain, in the hope that the physical pain might distract him from the burning wound which a mental attack had caused. Eventually the claw would kill him he knew, but that would take a lot of time. Now, he prayed.

Ioanness, King of Aetheria, listen to your humble servant. For whole my life I have paid your greatness hommage through sacrificial gifts; I have always given you the best pieces of the ox or the lamb to still your hunger; I have given you the best wine to sooth your thirst; I have lit incense upon my family altar to perfume your kingdom with delightful smells. I have always repressed my Hayan feelings; I, who is of the esh'lahier elves and for whom it is the most difficult of all Aetheria worshipping beings. Listen to me then! My sister lies on bed with a holy disease; for what, I ask? What has she done to deserve this touch of the divine? Bring her back and I shall shower your temples and clergymen with gifts. I shall sacrifice ten oxes and twenty lambs. I shall traverse the lands to grace your name in every corner of this world. Please help your humble servant, my Lord.

Malkaer mumbled a standard prayer to Ioanness after his request, then raised from his position and put on his gloves once more. Only after his communal with the upper god did he realize how nautious he felt because of the necromantic effects of his claws. "Whoever did this to you; if I find out I shall make him, her or them pay." The esh'lahier vowed. Vengeance would do little to sooth his pain, even less to bring Tiyribi out of her miserable state, but the momentous joy of getting the one who did this would still be worthwhile. Noone was allowed to harm the Andares family and walk away unscathed. After a last look on his sister he turned to the door of the small room.

Stepping into the doctor's office, Malkaer closed the door gently behind him. "Should the need arise, is she able to travel long distances, doctor?" He asked L'Kares.

[Adder]

It was odd that it should be her family that should make the assumption that the Governor was not the victim of something in her own makeup, some hidden weakness or perhaps the inabililty to cope with the pressure that the Governorship cost. Perhaps it wasn't surprising since there was no evidence of foul play, though of course that had been the immediate thought of those who were close, but quickly that had changed. The Governor would be hardly the first one to apparently fold under the pressure of the job and few were those who had the ability to function in the job. Most thought the job a round of social occasions; balls, tea parties, ceremonial visits and the like. Few saw the mountains of paperwork, the complex negotiations and the delicate tightropes that were an everybrightening necessity. Few noticed that the coach from the Governors palance rarely seemed to trundle through the streets and few realised that it meant that the Governor travelled to and fro before most were awake and returned long after most others had returned home. Few realised the sheer weight of responsibilty that crushed down on the one person ultimately responsible for everything that happened in an entire province. Mistakes made by others ultimately were paid for by the one who could not pass on that responsibility, for while they might be punished for that failure, equally liable were those who allowed the mistake to happen. The buck indeed did stop here.

Perhaps though the pale elf with his intimate experience of the darker arts was on the right trail after all, perhaps indeed there was someone who needed to pay for what they might have done. Perhaps the doctors were wrong after all?

Manijor and the doctor broke off thier conversation as the door to the inner sanctum opened once more and Manijor stepped back and waited. The doctor considered the question for only a moment before shaking her head. I would not advise it, no. Perhaps if she continues to be stable then it might be possible, but if she were to react badly to the stresses of travel then I would not like to predict if she could survive it. I'm sorry to be blunt with you on this but I would not wish to build hope that does not exist.

[Malkaer Andares]

The blind refusal to accept facts was likely another measure for self-control. Someone or something had done this to Tiyribi. If this was all of her own making; if she could not handle the pressure, what was to say if Malkaer could? He was set on an important position, which would undoubtly carry with it great responsibility and stress. The question of whether he might bulge like Tiyribi was best avoided when convincing oneself something else was to blame for his sibling's condition.

The doctor’s reply caught him off guard. ”But… but she can’t remain in this room forever! How long will she remain like this? Can she be cured?”

[Adder]

The doctor resisted the temptation to shrug at the question for she had long experience of traumatised relatives trying to come to terms with the facts that had suddenly materialised. Trying to blame someone, even if it were the gods was easier to do than to accept that sometimes these things happened, and so she maintained a professional posture and spoke calmly ignoring the temptation to match the elves mood.

"She is as comfortable here as anywhere I assure you, and here she has access to the highest standards of care, something that you could not guarantee on the roads, and if by some chance she were to have some level of conciousness, here she is in familiar surroundings.

As for the cure, well at the moment that is in the hands of the gods. We have done what we can, and if the healers can suggest a new treatment then we will try it." She watched him in a detached fahion, ready to move if he became overwrought.

[Malkaer Andares]

"Whilst that may be..." Malkaer murmurred "I have to leave for Mystique in a month and the other family members also have their obligations elsewhere. Who will take care of her when she's all alone then?!" He asked the doctor, realizing the folly of his words only after he had spoken them. [b]"Well, ahum... I see...

"Still are you certain that a calm estate in the country near Mystique or further westwards is not better than these small quarters in this busy and smelly city?" Maybe this was only about Malkaer, that he just wished his sibling near. It was difficult to say what Tiyribi's wishes were.

[Adder]

The doctor glanced over at Manijoor at the question but he just shrugged. The fact was that the elf was no longer Governor and the city while it had some civic responsibility for her care wasn't in a position to argue with her family. Half expecting the lack of support from that quarter, but peeved by it none the less the doctor returned her attention to Malkaer.

She has fared well enough here and has shown no signs of discomfort. She paused, her words dragging out to display her displeasure at the admission, but I cannot stop you from moving her if that is your wish. The city has cared for her in recognition of the work that she had done and that she was struck down while in service to the Province, but if you wish to move her against my advice, then I cannot stop you. She sniffed audibly and cast a quick glance at Manijoor who was doing his best to disappear into the shadows. If you wish her to be moved then I'll arrange the paperwork for you. She crossed her arms and waited defiantly.

[Malkaer Andares]

Her steadfastness was admirable and noted. His sister’s case was undoubtly very interesting from a professional point of view and earned doctor L’Kares great prestige amongst her peers in the medical world. ”I do wish it”, the esh’lahier male decided. ”but I was hoping if you do not have any other obligations here, you might travel with Tiyribi to Mystique and continue your care for her until she is cured.” If she had been of another race but esh’lahier, Malkaer would not have asked it. ”You will be suitably compensated, of course.” The nobleman quickly added.