Session 4 Part 3 - Family

Sethie tensed as they passed the old wall into the city center, leaning closer to her mother as they navigated the narrow streets past the Ten Spires and toward the large brick complex. Torch Side. The old stone stood imposing against the soft designs adorning the rest of the city. The massive complex housed the city prison, the guard headquarters, the Lauthrian Army’s Central Command, and the Panopticon—a maximum-security stronghold for the worst of Astoria. Guards littered the streets around the complex, posted along the walls and rooftops. This was the king's reminder to North Town—a grim structure that separated them from the rest of the city.

Sethie gulped as they approached a small gate, and Orianna squeezed her hand tightly as the guards approached.

“Business?” one of the guards barked. He was a lean elven man with cruel eyes and greasy black hair.

“I’m scheduled to pick up my daughter,” Orianna said steadily. “Zhera Baevyr.”

The guard surveyed them for a moment, lingering on Sethie. “Wait here,” he grunted, pointing to a small shaded area beside the gate.

Sethie and Orianna sat in the shade and began to wait as the guard strolled back behind the stone gate. Ten minutes passed. Then thirty. By an hour, Orianna was growing increasingly impatient. Sethie never moved, her eyes glued to the gates, waiting for her sister to pass through them. Just as Orianna motioned to one of the guards, the gate opened. Sethie froze, feeling her mother’s grip tighten on her hand. The same greasy-haired guard strolled out and eyed the pair again.

Sethie’s chest tightened. The man smirked before turning back to the gate and whistling a harsh, loud tone. Another guard emerged, and Zhera’s purple hair flashed beside him. This man—a slightly older guard with tired eyes and tightly trimmed hair—turned to the pair, pushing Zhera into their arms.

“Keep this one out of trouble,” he growled. “She won’t get off so easily next time.”

Sethie’s blood began to boil, but before she could speak, Orianna pulled her into an embrace with Zhera. “I promise,” she said with sharp certainty.

The three lingered in a tight embrace for a moment before Zhera stepped back, her eyes tired, her hair ruffled with dirt. “Can we go home now?” she signed.

Orianna’s eyes welled with tears as she nodded, squeezing Zhera into another hug. Sethie looped her arm tightly with Zhera’s and began to lead her back.

“Anything interesting?” Coada asked, leaning into Sethie’s room.

“Lots of trinkets,” Sumayya called back. “How’s the tea coming?”

“Nearly there,” Coada responded.

A light bell chimed from downstairs. “And look at the timing,” Coada smiled. Sumayya quickly returned the items and joined Coada at the stove as Sethie led Zhera up the stairs, with Orianna following close behind.

“Welcome back,” Coada said, turning toward the three with a kettle in tow. “Tea?”

Orianna let out a sigh of relief and collapsed into one of the dining room chairs. “That would be marvelous,” she breathed.

“This is Sumayya and Coada,” Sethie signed, turning toward her companions. “This is Zhera!” she exclaimed.

Zhera waved timidly. Sethie watched her move toward the table with a weakness she had never seen in her sister. “Let me wash up your hair, and then you can take a nice nap. How does that sound?” she signed.

Zhera nodded and followed her sister to the washroom. “I’ll be right back!” she called back toward them.

“How long has she been deaf?” Sumayya asked, handing Orianna a cup of tea.

Orianna leaned forward, taking in the hot steam. “She was born with it.”

“I see,” Sumayya replied, as Coada sat beside her with two more cups of tea, offering one to Sumayya.

The three quietly enjoyed their drinks while Sethie and Zhera cleaned up and retired for the day. As the sun began to fall, Orianna excused herself to do some work, while Sumayya and Coada joined Sethie. Zhera was sound asleep, wrapped tightly in her sister’s arms. Sumayya entered, followed by Coada, as they sat on the opposite bed. They sat in silence for a moment, Sethie gently brushing the remaining knots from Zhera’s hair as she slept.

“She’s exhausted,” Sumayya whispered.

Sethie didn’t look up but responded softly, “She shouldn’t have had to go through this. This was my mistake… not hers.”

“You can’t blame yourself for that,” Sumayya insisted. “It’ll drive you crazy.”

Sethie shook her head. “I know. It’s just hard not to.”

Silence fell over the group.

“So…” Sethie began, “Are you going to tell us about those blood recipes or not?” She smiled mischievously toward Sumayya.

Coada leaned back, her tail playfully nudging Sumayya. “Well, go on!” she added.

Sumayya sighed and looked out the door, listening for Orianna. At the sound of clanking glass on the floor below, Sumayya leaned in, Coada and Sethie following suit.

“I need you to understand how important it is that this stays between us,” Sumayya whispered.

The pair nodded in anticipation.

“I’m not exactly an elf,” Sumayya hesitated. “Have you ever heard of a vampire?”

Coada snorted, and Sethie let out a low chuckle. “Like the ghost stories you tell children at night?” Sethie laughed.

“You’re not really telling us you’re a vampire, are you?” Coada questioned with a restrained smile.

“Not exactly,” Sumayya sighed. “I’m the child of one, a Damphyr. And yes, they’re real.”

Coada and Sethie sat silently for a moment before Sethie leaned back. “I’ve honestly heard stranger things,” she commented, returning to her work untangling Zhera’s hair.

“So how is it that you can go out in the daylight?” Coada asked.

“Being the child of one, I don’t have the same hindrances,” Sumayya said, placing her hand over her heart. “Nor do I have their perks.”

“So no bat forms or immortality?” Sethie asked.

Sumayya shook her head.

“How do you feed?” Coada pressed.

Sumayya gestured to her pouch. “Butchers often have some runoff they don’t need, and fresh game tends to be reliable.”

Coada nodded. “Well, I’m in no place to judge,” she smiled, gesturing to her serpentine form.

Sumayya smiled. “I’m glad you guys can understand,” she said as she leaned back into the bed.

“So I’m assuming the vampire half was your father?” Coada continued.

Sumayya sighed. “Yes.”

“What does he look like? Maybe one of us has seen him before,” Coada leaned over.

“Well,” she contemplated, “Probably a lot like me. White hair, red eyes, fangs…”

Coada leaned back, coiling into a seat on the ground. “Hmmm.”

“Look,” Sumayya rolled to her side to face Coada, “Let me sleep on it, okay? I didn’t expect all of this to happen so fast.”

Coada relented, lowering herself to the ground. Rest came quickly as Orianna returned to find the women all fast asleep. She quietly snuffed the lanterns in their room before retiring for the evening.

The next day, Sumayya and Coada set out into town while Sethie stayed with her sister, sharing stories of her journey. Coada stopped by the orphanage to check on Ovar, who relayed that Wora would be available for dinner that evening. She happily accepted, and the pair continued on their way.

“Do you mind if we stop at the inn again?” Sumayya asked as they passed from market to market. “I’d like to see if I have any messages.”

Coada agreed, leading Sumayya back through the city toward the docks.

Sumayya hesitated at the door for a moment. “Mind if I come in this time?” Coada asked.

“Sure,” Sumayya responded.

As they entered, a hush fell over the bar. Coada recognized the tension she brought, looking down at her Arcean armor. Sumayya did too, hesitating in the doorway.

“I’ll take a seat over there,” Coada said with calm confidence. “Grab me when you’re done.”

Sumayya nodded and continued toward the bar. Loanna sat quietly behind the bar, cleaning an already spotless glass. “Need somethin’?” she asked, casting a suspicious glance at Coada.

Sumayya leaned in. “No, she’s… she’s nothing to worry about. I just wanted to check if I had any messages,” she whispered.

Loanna scanned her slowly, pausing for a beat too long. “No,” she finally responded. “I’ll let you know if I do.”

“Thank you for your time,” Sumayya responded, tipping her head.

As she turned to leave, she locked eyes with Coada and nodded toward the door. Coada followed quickly out and back into the streets.

“They clearly are not fans of authority there,” Coada suggested. “What is it that you do again?”

Sumayya hesitated, locking eyes with a Coada. Her gaze was steady and sure. “I travel a lot for my work and sometimes I end up in… different places. That’s all I can tell you right now, believe me.”

Coada shrugged waving her hand as she led them back through the city. "If you say so..."

Their walk back was weighed down by a quiet tension.

That night, Sethie joined them as the three returned to the orphanage. The warm firelight glistened through the window as they arrived.

Coada’s heart leapt when she saw Wora and Ovar sitting in the dining room, conversing. She rushed toward the door, opening it quickly but quietly, trying not to wake the children. A hush fell between Ovar and Wora as they turned to the open door. Coada peeked around the frame with a grin.

"Couldn’t get rid of me, co-" Coada was cut short as Wora crashed into her, enveloping her in her arms.

"I am so happy you’re back!" Wora whispered with excitement. "So much has happened; I can’t wait to tell you!"

"So I’m being told," Coada said softly as she stepped back to take in her friend.

"And I see you brought your new companions," Wora said cheerfully, extending a hand to each of them. "Wora, it’s a pleasure."

"Sarah," Sumayya said with a gentle smile.

"Sethie," came the reply as Sethie followed suit.

"Well, come, sit!" Wora turned, leading the group into the dining room. "A friend of Coada’s is a friend of mine. So tell me about your journey!"

Coada’s smile widened as she followed Wora into the dining room and sat between her two friends. Sumayya and Sethie followed, sitting across from Coada as she began to recount her past month of travels and time in Riversidetown.

"So, what about you?" Coada concluded.

"Well," Wora paused, barely containing her excitement, "I may have gotten a bit of a promotion since you left!"

Coada raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah?"

"Some context is needed," Wora began. "Right after you left, the head treasurer’s fiancée returned from her studies—she was apparently researching magic in the Ashlands. I’m not sure about the details, but she supposedly snapped and killed him."

"Okay?" Coada noted with confusion.

"Well, Brosvis apparently wanted his seat, so he vacated the position as High Priest. Umeran took his seat, and the whole chain of command began to move around, and Remuth—"

Coada groaned loudly and rolled her eyes.

"Say what you will, but he does have my best intentions in mind!" Wora snapped. "Anyways, he had Brosvis get me a position in the higher court. You, my friend, are looking at the personal priestess to the princess of the Lauthrian Empire!"

Coada leaned forward in surprise. Sethie and Sumayya gasped. Ovar leaned back, tilting his chair on two legs. "I told you a lot has happened!" he laughed casually.

Coada glared at him, playfully tilting his chair, forcing him to jolt back upright. "Anyways," he continued, "there’s more I’m sure you’d like to know about."

Wora nodded. "This is just between us, but I’m sure you saw the armada in the bay, yes?"

Coada looked at Sethie and Sumayya, who both shrugged. "We didn’t actually bother to check," Coada mumbled.

"Well, King Orthtrious is not getting any younger, and the princess is still unmarried..." Wora hesitated. "That’s about to change."

Another audible gasp rang through the room as Sethie and Coada looked at each other in surprise. Sumayya’s eyes narrowed. "To whom?" she asked.

"I’m not sure if you’d know who he is. I didn’t," Wora explained. "Severin Vaerean, of House Vaerean."

Coada looked at her blankly.

"His family were powerful merchants in Leor until they seized the Island of Alhum from the Orthine family, claiming it as their own and subsequently building the second-largest fleet in the world, rivaled only by the Orthinian Armada. They are pirates at best, and most notably, they are human," Sumayya explained.

"A human... as king to the elven nation of magic?" Coada snorted.

"It would seem so," Wora reasoned. "We get their navy forever, and they get our kingdom... for as long as he lives."

The group fell silent for a moment.

"It’s a good deal," Sumayya concluded.

They sat quietly for a few moments longer before returning to lighter conversation. Ovar and Wora regaled them with tales of Coada’s school days, while listening to stories of Sethie and Zhera’s antics. The night slowly drew to a close, and they all said their goodbyes, returning to Orianna’s for another night’s rest.