System Break

When I looked at Redmond, I realised they kept me out of the hall long enough to hide what was done. But they didn't know I could see qi. I sighed - it was done, and I missed it.

Redmond was a Dokkalfar. At least he had started his journey. His skin had turned an interesting hue of dark blue and his eyes had grown several sizes. He had lost some fat and looked wiry. His head was still bald, and it made his large round ears stick out.

Ailen and Sakaala congratulated him and Reyas stared.

I pulled Gisael close and asked, "What did they mean when they called you sister and asked about the Fomori."

"We are all alfar, but it means little when we are not the same clan. There are Svartalfar, Dokkalfar and Myrkalfar. The stories say eons ago we were the one people."

I looked at her and at them. "I can't see it."

"The Fomori are from the stories too. I have never seen one, nor known someone who has seen one. They chased us from paradise and tried to kill us all. The ones who escaped split into three groups, these groups became the Svartalfar, Dokkalfar and Myrkalfar over time. It is a story for children."

Redmond whispered to Ailen, "I got a discovery."

Ailen put a hand on Redmond's shoulder, "We can discuss it later. You need to tread carefully with their sensibilities. It's not a game to them."

Redmond nodded. "I will, I read the guide."

Sakaala chuckled. "They won't throw you in an asylum, they'll just throw you down a deep hole."

Kindeag was listening and turned to face them. "If a hole is deep enough you can fall through the world. It is good our mine is near the centre."

Sakaala raised her brow and glanced at Ailen. He shrugged and asked, "What do you mean fall through the world?  Like can you dig through the whole thing?"

Kindeag nodded. "It is possible, but we can tell from the sound if we're close. The rock sounds different."

"What about the earth's core?" Redmond asked.

"The earth? You mean the island? It has no core," Kindeag said. "We have a land core and so do the Svartalfar. The city men have one too. But there is no massive core that belongs to the island."

Redmond began to ask another question but a hand from Ailen stopped him. "You have time enough to learn during your training Redmond. This is our last night together for a long time, we should celebrate that you've joined the Dokkalfar and Brudin's success."

Sakaala and Ailen tried the mead and were drunk after a few sips. Redmond on the other hand was able to handle a full mug before he started to wobble.

Gisael would not try it and Reyas was able to handle it like a champ. She out drank Redmond but was wise enough not to challenge the others.

"More," Barrin pushed a horn on me. 

"No," I said and waved it away. "Didn't you hear Sakaala, someone has to kill the monsters and we will be travelling tomorrow. I don't want to run into a mob of yetis with a hangover."

Reyas leaned into me and pressed her breast against my side. Her chin titled up and she tried to whisper into my ear. "I want you," she said, and it was loud enough for everyone to hear.

I picked her up and put her on my lap. She threw and arm around my neck and rested her head on my chest. "If you close your eyes you will fall asleep," I said.

"I will not," she argued and closed her eyes.

I peered at Barrin. "Can you show us where we sleep?"

He nodded and stood. With Reyas in my arms I stood and followed him. Gisael walked behind me and the other three stumbled along behind keeping each other upright.

"You will sleep in the guest chamber," Barrin said. He looked down the line of us. "We only have one, so you'll have to share. It is private, but not from each other."

"That's fine," I said. "We're used to sleeping together."

Barrin made a face and chuckled. Brudin followed behind quietly but otherwise we were alone in the winding corridors of the living areas.

On this side there were carvings in the walls, and I guessed there was meanings behind them based on the occupants of the chamber. They seemed to tell a story, but I didn't have time to study them.

Our room had stone beds cut from the rock with comfortable padding on top. A central fire with cauldron and exhaust to the roof.

"How does the air get sucked up through that?" I pointed at the exhaust.

"The boiler makes steam which turns a turbine which moves the air through the entire system," Barrin said. 

I looked at Ailen and Sakaala, but the information was lost on them, they were falling asleep on their feet and stumbled into the closest bed. 

I grabbed Redmond before he hopped in the largest bed. "That's mine." And I lay Reyas down with my other arm. I steered Redmond to a small bunk and let him go.

Barrin looked at Brudin who looked at me.

"Before you go to bed," Brudin said. "We should talk because you will leave at first light, no?"

"We will," I said.

Barrin looked slightly confused but said nothing.

Brudin said, "Follow." She did not protest when Gisael followed with me.

Barrin asked, "Need me?"

Brudin shook her head.

She led us through so many corridors that we'd need her help getting back. She arrived at a large room and cleared a round table.

"This is the chamber where I work," she said and indicated for us to take a seat at the round table. She heated a pot while she hummed. When it was done, she brought me a mixture to drink.

"This will clear your head of the mead," she said.

I tasted it, I was not worried about poison or any malice, I felt none from her and they could have poisoned me a dozen times already.

"Mm, a little like coffee."  I loved it and it wasn't bitter at all. She was right it cleared my head. Gisael watched me drink with a small amount of curiosity.

"I wanted to talk to you alone," she said, "Because I do not wish fear to spread throughout the clan."

"The way I look isn't scary enough?"

She looked me up and down. "Your heart is good; I do not fear you."

I sighed.

"We came to this place a long time ago, before Brigid was born. But this is not our ancestral home, that is in the old world. We are adventurers too, but not like you and your friends. The gate keepers came to us and offered us a place on this new island. Some were worried that nothing is given freely and there would be time to pay in the future. But others thought it was wise for us to make a new colony in case the Fomori came for us again."

I finished my coffee-like drink and put it down. She had my full attention.

"I volunteered with the others you met today, and we made this our new home. Now the gate keepers are bringing in strange beings like you. Where are you from? Explain to me so I can understand."

"A place called earth. We're all men there - billions of people in cities. And this is not my real body, it is one made for me here. My real body is in the old world still, sleeping while I'm here."

My words caused a reaction from them both. Even Gisael was a little shocked with the details.

Brudin stared at me. "This is such a strange story I believe you. No one could invent this."

"Truth is stranger than fiction," I said and chuckled.

"The gate keepers first served the Fomori and the Jotnar. Now they say they're free, but I do not trust them."

"Who are the gate keepers?"

Gisael thought before answering. "The ones who open portals. They are not like us, if you meet one, you'll understand."

Brudin added. "They are like bees but instead of honey they deal in qi and the pathways which give them their name."

"Do they rule the other races?"

They both laughed. 

Brudin shook her head. "They are a force of nature. Like the wind or rain. They do not rule nor seek it."

Gisael held her hands up indicating a small size. "They are only this big," she said, and it was the size of a cat.

"I wish I knew what they had planned for this island," Brudin said.

I played with my empty cup. "It's for my world - A theme park." The term was met with blank stares. "Like a child's sand pit. To play imaginary games."

Brudin shook her head. "This is from your eyes. It may be they're using your world for some reason."

"Or someone," Gisael said.