Bonus Chapter 6: Sariya's Travels Undirheim
Three days later she arrived in Weston. It was a much smaller settlement. It resided close to the mountain, but she smelled the sea. It should only be a few miles away. She went into town to eat. There were a lot more Eoduun and half-ish folk there than in Nightfall.
She found a restaurant easily. This time, she did get funny looks from the Eoduun there. It wasn't mocking. It was sympathetic and pitiful. They understood that she was small because of early malnourishment, so they felt bad for the child that she was. Eoduun always took care of their foundlings. Sigh. This child must have had a hard life to be so small.
A motherly type was waiting on her. "Child, I haven't seen you before. Were you raised outside?" she asked kindly.
Sariya smiled. "Yes. My father was a zipla'ii'ci, he died while away and I finally managed to make my way home," she answered. She didn't mind explaining her origin.
The woman was surprised. "Hoppers are so rare! A shame. No wonder you're so small. It must have been difficult for you," she tsked. "Do you have family waiting for you?" she asked. "Maybe I know them. Do you need help finding the entrance?"
Standing nearby was a beautiful, slim young man with his hair arranged in a simple bun at the back of his head held with a wooden hair pin. He wore a simple shirt and skirt that fit his figure well. The veil covering the lower part of his face was light. His circumstances may be humble, but he wore lovely eye make-up. "An'ne," he called out to his mother with a slight laugh. "Let her speak," he said in a soft voice.
The older woman blush. "I'm so sorry, dear. My son is right. I asked too much," she said apologetically.
Sariya laughed. "No, it's fine. The family name is Ildirim," she answered.
"Ildirim?" the young man said in surprise. "Are you related to the three cadiri of Umut?" Cadiri was a slang word for sorcerers. It wasn't derogatory, just incredibly casual. Some could take it as disrespectful, but it wasn't meant to be usually. Umut was an area of Undirheim, like a neighborhood or district.
"Umut? Yes, my father told me his home was in Umut," Sariya said with surprise. "Do you know my aunts?" she asked.
The older woman chuckled. "Dear, there aren't many people who don't know your aunts. Now that I think about it, they did have an older brother. Ah, he's been gone a long time. With that family it's no surprise they could produce a hopper," she said with a sigh. She suddenly realized. "Ah, I've been running my mouth so much and haven't even introduced myself. I'm Kayal Ayessa. This is my son Kayal Emir," she said, proudly. She winked at Sariya. "He's very sought after in Weston," she said.
Emir blushed. "An'ne," he scolded.
Sariya laughed. Ayessa was merely bragging about her son. She could see that the undersized woman was pregnant. And, not to be unkind, she'd be horrified if her son brought home such a small woman. A woman should be tall and strong like her. She wasn't a great beauty, but she was tall and capable. She started a business in Weston and could provide her men with a good life.
"My name is Golgfelaket Sariya. Actually, if you could direct me to the direction of Undirheim, that would be nice," she said. "It's nice to know my aunts are still there," she said. "They'll be quite surprised to find out about me," she said with a slight chuckle.
Ayessa nodded. "Ah, they're wild women, but good hearted," she agreed. "We're also from Umut, you see," she explained. "Emir, call your father to take your shift. You go with Sariya here to Undirheim. While you're there, you can take your grandparents some things," Ayessa said.
Emir's eyes crinkled with his smile. "All right, An'ne. I'll go call him," he said. He hurried out of the dining room.
Ayessa laughed heartily. "Thank you," Sariya said. Ayessa waved her off. When new customers came in, she excused herself. She served them some water and asked what they wanted to drink.
Sariya finished her meal. In the meantime an older, even more beautiful man came in to work in his son's stead. Ayessa introduced him as Mehmir. As a married man, he didn't cover his face with a veil. There was no requirement for men to wear veils, it was just that they preferred to when not in Undirheim if unmarried.
When she finished her meal, Emir arrived. He'd changed into pants with a sarong draped around his waist and braided his hair. Ayessa double checked that he had everything. He assured her he did. He left with Sariya. They were about the same height, but he was even slimmer than her. She could see why he'd be popular even without seeing his whole face.
As they headed further south, he opened up a bit more. He entertained her with anecdotes about her aunts' shenanigans. It seemed they were loud, brash, and unafraid of gossip. One story involved her eldest aunt being caught in a compromising position with a man at his brother's wedding. The bride was so angry she challenged her to a duel. Her aunt just laughed in her face, flicked her skirts, and walked away.
Sariya laughed almost the entire time, just listening to these stories. She couldn't wait to meet them.
They walked about ten miles before coming to a cavern in the rockface. It was simple and abrupt. It wasn't big. An adult Dragon could fit though with wings furled. Emir led her in and removed his veil, putting it away. The cavern was dark. They walked for perhaps another ten miles before coming to an huge arched doorway carved of some cold gray looking Draconite. Guards stood on either side. "Halt! Who is it? Report your names and business," one of the guards called.
"Kayal Emir. I'm escorting a lost sister and delivering goods to my grandparents," Emir said.
The guard looked at him and smiled sweetly. "Oh, it's Emir," she said flirtatiously. She gave him a wink. "Who are you, lost sister?" she asked, looking at Sariya.
"Golgfelaket Sariya, daughter of Ildirim Orhani. I've come to find my aunts," she said.
The guard's eyes widened. "The three cadiri of Umut? They have a niece?" she gasped. "Ah, they'll be so pleased when they see you. And sad. You must have had a hard life," she said sympathetically.
Sariya nodded, not knowing how to answer that. She had a feeling she was going to be an object of pity from now on. The guard sighed. She gestured to her partners and the two of them pulled the large door open with the hanging rings.
Despite the size and thickness, it opened easily. All they could see from that side was darkness, but when they stepped through, a city came into their view.
Undirheim was not an underground city like people outside assumed from hearing the name. It was a pocket dimension. There was a night sky full of stars. Elaides sponsored the relocation of the first Eoduun to Emphyralis thousands of years ago. It may have even been during the 1st Age. She created this place for them. The night was eternal, but the stars were bright. It was almost as bright as daylight, but white and gray instead of incandescent yellow.
Undierheim appeared to be surrounded on all sides by pale mountains of the same Draconite the door was carved of, and probably the same Draconite that interfered with magical technology. The buildings of the city were pale stone. It almost felt as though they'd been shrunken and placed inside the mountain. Or, as Britiana liked to say, it was bigger on the inside.
The architecture had a lot of onion shaped domes, horseshoe arches, geometric patterns, and lattice screens. Buildings were often pillared, and most residences were courtyard houses. It was arranged in an almost spiderweb pattern.
Beyond the city were fields and livestock and even forests. Several streams ran through the city. Quaint walking bridges dotted the city. She could take all that in because the entrance was located at the top of one of the peaks. Stone steps were carved into the rockface. It was absolutely breathtaking. She felt as if she had come home for the first time since she was born.