|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 1:02 pm
Well, he had done it. He had not only handed off the cube, but he had come face to face with the one he followed so faithfully. It... hadn't been quite as enlightening as he'd imagined, but it did somehow provide a peace he had lacked previously. It was one thing to be told Creation was well and hale, but quite another to ascertain it for himself. It had been a rather odd little tea party, but in the end quite satisfying for what he'd come to do.
His sister had disappeared down the hallway, heading for her chosen door. This left him standing, regarding his own with some hesitation. This one was meant for him? The door itself was quite beautiful. It was three dimensional, luring him into reaching to touch the stained glass and the lead that held it together. It was a masterful optical illusion, giving the impression of the whole being perfectly shaped, but without the whole portruding sharply from the door as it should, if the proportions were right.
The series of squares were done in layers of glass, each less opaque than the last, but all sharing a color theme and style. The squares were done in blues, turquoises, and deep purples, shades of twilight swirling and blending together in very organic ways, despite their sharply defined edges. There was a line of what should have been lead that followed the mathematical path of Padovan's cuboid spiral, but this line glowed with aqua flourescence, tracing the edges of the cubes corner to corner, from one to the next, making it easy to follow with the eye. What intrigued him more was the softer echo, in a dimmer light, of the curving spiral, sans angles and edges, that followed its brighter twin. For a moment he wondered if this softer glow was he himself, following his better defined sister. Movement drew him out of his reverie though, as winking faerie lights, tiny moving orbs within each cube, began to drift and swerve aimlessly, will-o-th-wisps within the dusk of the door. A smile touched his lips, and he set a hand to the door and pressed it open.
Inside he found a circular room, the curving walls a pleasant counter-balance to the angles of the door. He closed it behind him, glancing back to realize he could dimly see the light from beyond it, which would afford him knowledge should someone be waiting outside it. He nodded to himself and stepped into this first room, gazing about with contentment.
Along the right wall a large fountain, mounted against the wall, tinkled softly down into an elaborately tiled basin. To his left, curved steps led up to an indoor terrace, with many potted plants and comfortable seats. The sun streamed through a ceiling that was mostly glass, domed and levered so that it let in air and birdsong as well as warmth. The floor was tiled brightly in mosaic, curving lines and simple patterns nicely accentuating the other features of the room. Well, this was a good start indeed! Eagerly, he turned towards the two other doorways. Which to choose?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 1:19 pm
On the other side of the room, there was a glass door to the right, and a step up into what looked like an alcove on the left. The two were quite close together, so he paused to consider. The glass door clearly lead outside, with green things and sunshine showing clearly through. The other was cooler, with a glimpse of another room up a set of stairs. Time enough to explore the outside. He turned to the left and ascended the short stair.
There was a small space here, with a padded bench and a softly glowing lamp. His eyes were drawn to the doorway though, where more sunlight beckoned him on. He stepped out into another circular room, but this one, though smaller, felt grander somehow. He stood on a lower level, for this room was broken into two as the previous room had been. A twisting, eye-baffling sculpture stood in the middle of the lower section, water trickling down it quietly into a small basin at the bottom, making only a whisper of noise. From that basin, the floor radiated with more mosaic tiling, but this time in more sober colors and geometric patterns. Benches stood against the right hand walls, below large, tall windows that revealed the garden outside.
In stark contrast to the natural beauty out the windows, the opposite wall was a thing of constructed beauty. Arc was drawn up the few steps to the second level, eyes fixed on the artistic mosaic on the wall. Millions of tiny chips of stone all blended into a breath-taking sweep of fractal glory. It was if a universe swirled there upon his wall, ready to be touched, explored, or merely admired. The thing was massive, and it was some time before he could pull his eyes away. It was then that he realized what this was meant to be. It was an audience chamber. There was a heavy, substantial seat for him to sit in, which he wasn't sure he was at all comfortable with, for rows of benches marched before it as if in tribute. Even as he thought this, however, things changed. Instead of the chair at one end, there now was a chair set firmly at the middle of the mosaic wall, with chairs set all around it in radiating rows. Ah, that was much better. That felt more like a classroom and less like a... a... well, like a king's throne room.
There was only one other door from this room, so he stepped down from the dais and made his way across the room.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 1:41 pm
This doorless opening led to was undeniably merely a hallway. To the left was a small door that led to a very functional but unremarkable bathroom. He nodded again to himself, knowing this would be necessary, but was glad it wasn't a focal feature. Another open doorway led him out of the hallway and into a courtyard. It was an odd shape, like an arc, but he realized it was merely part of another circular structure, like the previous rooms. The courtyard was cobble floored, with the right wall being nothing but windows and a glass door leading out onto the garden. The room was comfortably thick with moisture, plants hanging, standing, or nestled into many places all about. A shallow pool was to his left, with water lilies growing plentifully in it. Other than a stone seat here and there and the many plants, the courtyard was generally open space.
A door in the curving wall beckoned, so he investigated willingly. Inside was a comfortable room, also arc shaped. A bed, fireplace, sitting area, and a desk tucked in the narrow end of the room completed what he thought might be a guest suite, though he wasn't yet certain of that. Could these be his own rooms? He didn't bother checking the door at the far end, assuming it must be another bathroom. Back out in the courtyard, he headed for the only door left, the one out onto the garden.
Outside the manufactured sun shone brilliantly, making all the greenery gleam and glisten. Taller plants were along the edges of the green area, against walls and sometimes windows, casting deliciously enticing shadows. Flowering bushes and trailing vines were everywhere, but still left a wide open section of grass. But most intriguing was a large pond to the left. Huge sections of many-colored slate created a path around the edge, circling smaller and closer to the pond. Plants grew along the edges, and as he approached it, he realized the circling pattern extended into bluing stones that sank into the depths of the pool, still following a neverending, fractal path of smaller and smaller stones. Above those stones swam fat, lazy koi, serenely cruising between the water plants.
Tipping his head, brows knitting, he began following the pattern with his eyes, starting in the pool and circling out. It climbed out of the water, came round the pool, right under his own feet, the stones mimicking overlapping circles. He kept following the pattern, tracing it to a series of patios, shaded by large umbrellas and scattered with tables and chairs. Turning, he followed the path himself, threading through the chairs and coming at last to... a wall with another stained glass door. His eyes slid past that and along the scalloped walls beyond it, circling the garden further, back towards where he'd entered. With astonishment, he realized it was all part of the same pattern. Each room was part of it, right down to those tiny pebbles in the deep pond. With an abrupt yelp of delight, he eagerly turned the handle in the more traditional stained glass door and went inside.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 2:08 pm
Here is was much darker, and he stood just inside the door for a time to let his eyes adjust. When it had, he gasped in delight. It was a study and library rolled into one. The walls were lined with massive bookshelves, rising to a domed and backlit ceiling. Rolling ladders were strategically placed to make access to all levels simple. Heavy carpets in dark, rich colors softened the floor. To his right was a reading area, with deep chairs and carefully muted lamps. To the left, up two padded steps, was a large desk, illuminated nicely with not brilliantly, just right for strained eyes intent on small figures. He mounted the two steps, and trailed his fingers along the rich mahogany wood of the desk. This room clearly was his. But what more was there?
A door beyond the desk led into a brighter but just as comfortable room. This upper section was thickly carpeted as well, with a fireplace along the right hand wall. Chairs gathered close around it, and nearby there was a table for intimate dinners with friends. Two steps down led into a sort of sunroom, where floor to ceiling windows let in a lot of light and warmth, but were well shaded by trees outside. Chairs were set up here to take in the warmth, with plants scattered comfortably about, vines climbing the inside of the windows, and one tiny fountain in the corner, burbling happily away to itself. The flooring here was in small slate stones, giving it an almost rustic feel.
Reluctantly Arctang proceeded through the next door, which led into a tiny hallway. The door to the right revealed a huge and finely decorated bathroom. Marble and granite contrasted pleasantly, and all was lit by a series of skylights, though lights along the walls were available as well. For a moment Arc thought of how much fun Rairne would have had in here, but as his heart squeezed in gentle pain, he closed the door and moved on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 3:49 pm
As expected by this point, here were his own quarters. He had enough time to take in the large bed, big fireplace, and that there was other furniture scattered about when a small figure stepped out from behind the bed, clearly tucking in the thick comforter. He gave a startled yip, having felt so alone in the rooms thus far. This caused both the little person to look up, as well as another head to pop up from another region of the room.
"Oh, sorry milord!" "Oh, you are here milord!" "So sorry milord, we'll be right out of your way!" "Pardon us, milord, we didn't know you were here already!"
The chorus of two small voices was swift and brief, and before he could even open his mouth, both small forms swept out the doors leading to the garden and were gone. He stared after them in astonishment. He had... house elves? He took a dazed look around the bedroom, not really noting the details, and headed for the french doors that they had exited by.
He stepped back out onto the circling patios, beneath the shade of the trees, only to be greeted immediately by another individual. At first glance, Arc thought it was Rissa, but blinking the sun out of his eyes revealed her to be completely different colors.
"Greetings, Sire," said the new aoide, giving him an elegant short bow. "I am Fynna, here to serve you." She stood beneath one of the umbrellas across the pond, so Arctang made his way slowly towards her. "We are very glad to see you have arrived," she added, smiling.
"You... know who I am?" He was rather taken aback to find anyone here at all, much less waiting for him specifically. "Have you... been here all the time?" His tone implied he meant for quite a bit longer than the time it had taken for he and Cosine to leave Harmodius, discuss the doors, and arrive at their rooms.
Her laugh was genuine, even if it wasn't exactly the most musical he'd heard. "No Sire," she replied as if scolding him. "We heard the new doors had appeared, and knew one to be your own. We've been waiting in the mortal wing, waiting until you needed us." She turned and beckoned out the two small forms. "You've met Maven and Teresa already, I think," she chuckled. The two house elves bobbed in place and grinned foolishly.
"So it's just the three of you?" he asked, feeling faintly taken aback to have them scurrying in here before he'd even gotten in. He'd gotten used to having Hatim, Raja, and Rissa with him, and thought of them as friends rather than servants, despite what Raja might insist. But this... these were very clearly intent on being servants, or at least as far as he could see.
"Oh no, Sire. There are more of us." He flashed the aoide a startled look, and she began to tap her fingers by turn. "There is Maven and Teresa to look after your rooms, Kreeant and myself to cook and tend to your food and drink, there is Reginald who is the gardener, and a fire pixie that's flitting about tending the fires, but whom I can't seem to get a name out of." She looked faintly irritated for a moment, then her face smoothed again. "I suspect most elemental pixies are shy, due to how easy it is to abuse their powers."
It all sounded so normal, practical, and logical. But it still felt rather unusual to Arc. He stood stock still for a moment, trying to think of how to respond. "Thank you," he finally said solemnly, giving a bow back to the three, which made Maven and Teresa giggle. "I am grateful for your service, and will try to make it as easy as I can for you." He sounded so serious! But it seemed like this first introduction warranted it. "I should mention, I have others who are coming with me."
Fynna nodded with a smile. "Oh aye, we knew that. We've met your honorable Raja and his mate Rissa." Arctang nearly bit his tongue in shock at this bit of news... those two already knew of these others waiting in the wings? Oy, wait until he got ahold of that satyr! "Also, several of us have pets, my Lord, and hope you don't mind. We'll keep them neat and in order, I promise." Arc gave a faint shrug of acceptance, but it seemed she wasn't done. "And also, my lord... your trees do not house songbirds." He gave her a puzzled look, very clearly hearing the twitter and melody of birds above his head. "No, my lord... those are not birds. Those are dragons."
She gave a little whistle, and down into her hand flew a tiny orange and green dragon, who fluted back to her prettily. "Some are very sweet, others are a little grumpy. Thankfully few of them breathe fire or we'd all be a blackened crisp, I think!" She whistled to the little dragon again, who obligingly flew back up into the canopy above. "They seem to like the water, and can often find their way to any of the fountains at any time. Thanks be that they leave the fish alone! But they belong to noone, and feed themselves. Just be wary of their messes. Some of them can be rather caustic. Reginald sees to it, though, and right quick!" She scanned the area as if expecting to see him, but noone else was in sight. "Ah well, I'm sure you'll meet everyone soon enough. Now you go get your others, and we'll have supper ready for you when you get back."
With that, she made a shooing motion, then turned and herded the two house elves back towards the back of the garden, where Arc now realized there were more doors and windows. It seemed he hadn't gotten to explore the entire complex yet, but at this point he guessed that was the servant's area, and likely the kitchen and laundry. Feeling rather put in his place, he turned to shuffle towards the front door. Well. This was certainly going to take some getting used to. Still, it was very pleasant, he amended, passing by the large front fountain, which he now saw had a small, brightly colored dragon dipping in the water. Life was going to be so different now... so different and so good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
