Reverence Counter: Mekalis

I woke to the darkness of a tepid night, barely able to recognize the difference between closed and open eyes. In the twilight, I could only make out vague outlines of various furniture and objects in the room, the window over the bed only letting in a minimal amount of the moon's gleam.

My whole body felt simultaneously energetic but somehow tired and eager to continue resting, loosed from a sleep that ended too early. My eyes in particular, but I kept them open, getting them used to the dark as I relished the warmth on my back.

I resisted shifting closer to Ilundres, who was still slumbering, concerned that doing so would tempt me back to a relaxing sleep. Instead, after a few moments, satisfied that my surroundings were distinguishable enough, I stepped out of bed and got dressed in a simple forest green satin dress, ignoring any other morning routine.

Taking care to close the door quietly behind me, I left our room of residence, and looked over the third floor balcony, which connected each third floor residence to the others and spanned the perimeter of the Keep's central garden. Two stone paths crossed through the center of the garden, dividing it into quarters, each with an elevated flowerbed adjacent to the paths. A beautiful little area to have among all the stone gray when the well-tended flowers were in bloom. Of course, at this unlit hour, there wasn't much to see.

Nobody else appeared to be stirring, but I knew the night watch would be at their posts.

I hurried to the left across the balcony, being careful to step lightly even with bare feet. At each corner of the balcony there was a door leading to one of the four towers. I entered the closest.

There seemed to be no light at all inside the tower, so I walked slowly towards the middle with arms outstretched, finding the spiral stairs easily.

Several flights later, I found the top, breathing in the warm early morning air. A clean, soft wind caressed the skin as it drifted by. The deep sapphire blue sky was almost completely cloudless, and the moon had already disappeared. Off to the east, a faint impending yellow was creeping over the horizon.

The tower's watchman slouched in one of the battlement's indents, apparently on the verge of dozing off. His dark brown wavy hair, only visible because his helmet lay on the floor, hung almost to his shoulders. He wore a chest and shoulder plates with a white undershirt and pants over his wiry frame. He seemed oblivious to my presence.
I kindly cleared my throat.

The boy jolted to attention, assuming the appropriate stance. He turned his head toward me then relaxed somewhat, relief showing plainly on his face. A tinge of red seeped into the tan of his face.

"Oh, good morn, miss Mekalis," he said in a docile tone, sheepishly picking up his helmet.

I smiled and nodded to him. "Rokler."

"Come to see the sunrise?" he asked knowingly, watching me saunter over to a suitable vantage point.

"Yes," I answered, in a gentle tone that suggested I'd like to not be bothered.

I looked out to the golden tinted skyline with just hints of blue surrounding it, and watched the yellow hue grow with a barely visible gradualness.

"Um..." Rokler elicited. I turned to look at him. He had a hand behind his head, appearing uneasy. "If you're going to be up here anyway, might I...uh...let you take the post?"

I made a face of disapproval. He should dutifully man the post, but what would be the harm? "Go ahead," I permitted.

He smiled gratefully and disappeared down the stairs without another word. Once he was gone, a yawn suddenly caught up to me, and my eyelids felt heavier. Perhaps I needed more sleep as well, but I was determined to view my favorite scene, the advent of day.

Minute by minute, I watched as a perfectly incandescent sphere inched over the horizon, turning the blue of the sky lavender, and spilling sunbeams onto the ground, turning shadows green. Detail eroded across the land, creating unmistakable hills and trees. The atmosphere slowly adopted a lighter blue, with a brilliant orange glow around the sun. I felt completely relaxed an at ease, as the earth and sky leisurely developed into their more daytime colors...

"Mekalis?"

Something gently shook my shoulder.

"Mekalis?" A slightly more urgent shake.

I opened my eyes, finding myself slumped over a parapet. I lifted my head, hastily wiping away a small dribble of saliva.

"I wonder about you sometimes," Ilundres' mellifluous voice stirred my consciousness.

I couldn't answer, feeling disoriented and a bit confused. I couldn't remember. What was I doing here, leaning over a tower battlement?
Ilundres offered a hand, and I took it. Even after I stood he held on. He gave me an affectionate morning kiss, which I returned while I tried to gather my bearings.

I noticed the day was already well into starting. Plenty of sunlight, and the sound of activity within Poltuun Keep.

"That dress really brings more shine to your eyes," said Ilundres with a smile even in his tone.

I looked into my husband's vast hazel eyes, continually windows to his heart. I saw concern and indulgent discontent, and an incredible longing. Curious, I rested my free hand on the side of his rough to the touch, but very boyish face, the color of shaded peach. His short auburn hair swerved in the light wind.

And then recollection came to me. I had fallen asleep watching the sunrise. I suddenly started laughing with some embarrassment at the realization. Without inquiry, Ilundres seemed to already be knowledgeable of what had crossed my mind.

A not-quite-pleasant aroma wafted to my attention. Retracting my hand, I told him, still with humor in my voice, "You should clean up."

He chuckled. "You, too."

Memory went back to when I first awoke and skipped morning standards. "I must be a sight to match," I muttered.

"That's all right," he said, taking both my hands and pulling me forward. He held me in his arms, pressed against his lean physique, resting his head on mine. The gesture caused me to sigh with delight. I gave in to the overpowering love for Ilundres, reveling in his warmth, feeling profoundly comfortable, even though my heart was beating with much more fervor. I enjoyed this interval of bliss, brief as it was.

Ilundres released his intimate hold, and gripping me by the shoulders, pushed me to arms length. I looked at him questioningly, dismayed at the withdrawal.

"You should freshen up," he said seriously. "You're late for a council meeting."

Alarm threatened to drive away my calm, but I kept my composure, sighing a second time to release tension. Much of the time, I only approved decisions the others already made, only being on the council by request, and by being the Keep's founder's daughter, but recent exchanges with Rhivai and especially Kalloch were very unpleasant, and I was eager to see the outcome of its discussion.

"I'll see you this afternoon, then? You'll be in the sparring room, I assume?"

"Yep," he answered, patting the long sword strapped to the side of his waist. "I can nearly best Tenshine now. Would you care to watch?"

I stared at the blade apprehensively. "I thought you used practice weapons."

He chucked. "Don't worry, everyone knows what they're doing. It's absolutely safe."

"Right," I said with a touch of sarcasm, then adopted a more serious tone. "I should hurry." He met me in another affectionate kiss, after which I whisked away to our living quarters.

I finished with a somewhat rushed tidying up, and stepped in front of the mirror to make sure I was presentable.

Parted in a line down a bit to the side of the center of my scalp, perfectly straight and black hair all hung down my back, almost reaching my waist. I had a modest face with a pallid skin tone which held luminous green eyes. Over a very thin figure I had outfitted with a blue velvet blouse and long skirt with brown leather shoes.

I turned right upon emerging back onto the balcony, and used the northwestern tower's stairs to get to ground level. I stepped out of the tower going south under the shade of the now overhead balcony, trying to hasten through the bustling within the Keep, exchanging quick pleasant morning greetings. About halfway across the central area were two sets of double doors, through which a large, dome-shaped auditorium capable of holding the entire population of Poltuun; about three-hundred fifty. Presently, it was dimly lit by the sunlight coming through the windows, with no attempt at decoration. There was a small elevation resembling a stage at the far end, and a great semi-circular ramp stretching around the right half of the auditorium. The hemispherical room flattened near the top. The ramp wound up to another chamber that sat atop the auditorium. This was where council meetings were held.

Knowing what would be coming, I pushed open the thick wooden door without hesitation, keen to begin.

"Why, hello, Mekalis," said Pilgamn in his distinguished way of speaking, his voice saturated with satire. "Nice of you to finally join us. Have a seat." He gestured to an empty chair.

I endured the others' stares as I walked to my seat.

Pilgamn was a tall and slim man with an erudite visage. He kept his short brown hair neat and bowl-shaped, with half moon glasses among his other elderly facial features. He had a short beard on his chin, and the rest of him was draped in a long green robe. A no-nonsense sort of person, always appearing calm with a very slight contained agitation.

Mercifully excusing the issue, Pilgamn went back a few pages in his ledger. "We were just discussing importing livestock to offset the shortage of wild animals and meat. They will be kept in Lirdra."

Lirdra, the farm established early after settling on this island, was several hours walk south of Poltuun Keep. I nodded consent.

"Now that Mekalis is here," Pilgamn continued, "we may discuss the issue of our neighbors. It appears both Rhivai and Kalloch oppose our presence here on the island Sothime."

"Have they given a reason?" asked Yirlana, another woman on the council. Much like Pilgamn, she had a very sophisticated attitude, and she enjoyed extravagance. Yirlana often wore a considerable amount of jewelry and owned many exquisite dresses. It helped to counterbalance her unusual yellow tinted pale skin and off-white hair.

"Nothing concrete, or specific," Pilgamn answered. "Here is an excerpt from Kalloch's notice," he continued, holding a note of fine white paper in front of his face, " 'I have been informed by a reliable source that the residents of Poltuun Keep have brought an evil presence to this island, Sothime. I hereby command that each of you leave the island completely and immediately, or harsh action will be taken. - King Cervino of Kalloch'."

"Let me take a look at that," said Nemui, a normally jolly man, but now grave under the circumstances. He took the note and studied it, pensively pinching a double chin with muscularly plump fingers. Finally he held a hand over his bald crown, seeming shocked and confused. "Well, what do we do?"

"Obviously, we can't comply with such a demand, especially with so little an explanation," Yirlana answered sharply. "Poltuun Keep was just completed three months ago!"

"I know. I wasn't thinking that, miss. But what is this 'evil presence' it talks about?" asked Nemui, slapping the paper on the quote. "It's ridiculous. We're all nice folk."

"Indeed," Pilgamn said. "Perhaps we should question Kalloch about this claim."

Yirlana anxiously stepped in. "And what of the possibility that there is something evil here? Perhaps we should question the citizens and conduct a search."

"I can't allow that, Yirlana," finality apparent in my statement, but with a touch of sympathy. "It would be nice to know if and where it exists, but asking such questions and forcing residents to let us search their rooms may cause more problems."

"What do you suggest be done?" Pilgamn asked.

I could feel the expectation in the air. "I agree with you, Pilgamn. I suggest we ask Kalloch about it, and base any further decisions on their answer."

"I'm with that as well," spoke Nemui.

"Very well," Yirlana accepted.

Pilgamn nodded approval. "That seems most appropriate. I'll arrange for a messenger to be sent out, if you wouldn't mind writing the message, Mekalis?"

"Yes, I'll do it," I agreed, not looking forward to composing the delicate phrasing required when dealing with royalty.