026 - Explanations, Realizations, And Adjustments

Roxanne entered the doors that had been previously pointed out; these opened to a bedroom with a high ceiling and clerestory windows letting in light. The columns and squares continued here. This room was two squares wide extending to her right, and one deep from where she stood. A chandelier hung over the square she stood in. A large fireplace was in the wall opposite the entrance, and just to the right of the center column. A four-post canopy bed sat to her right against the wall. Assorted tables lined the walls, as did a few wall hangings. A set of curtains covered doors opposite the entrance, leading to a dressing room with an attached washing room, each a single square in size. These rooms had a lower ceiling and stained glass windows of no particular design or pattern from nearly the floor to the ceiling. A dressing screen, blocked off the currently empty closet on the left. A dressing table sat to the right with a stool next to it. The inside of the dressing screen had full length mirrors for looking at gowns. Rox looked at herself and did a double take.

She had not changed size at all. Rather there was now a subtle shade of light blue to Rox’s previously pale skin, brighter than when under stadium lights. All her hair was shock white, even her eyebrows. She looked over herself, and at the mirror several times turning this way and that. She also saw that her amber eyes were slightly more almond shaped with a bit of point to the outsides. The front edges of her ears were pointed slightly forward, like a Vulcan, instead of the round she had seen all her life. She also noticed that all the colors seamed to be more saturated, and the room brighter than she expected. Then she saw the slight shimmer around her body.

Somewhat shocked, Rox proceeded into the bath chamber, and puzzled out how to fill the tub. It was the size of an eight-occupant hot tub, a bit larger than the bed in the adjoining room. Try as she might, she could not figure out how to get hot water. But she was grateful for any water at all to wash off the residue. She found some towels and soap, and sat in the tub and washed, taking more time now, than she had earlier this morning. The rain drizzled to a stop on the motley windows as she washed. The Sorceress came in halfway through and sat on the edge of the tub.

Instinctively Rox moved to protect her modesty as they began to converse. The Sorceress explained how to get hot water; by starting a fire in her fireplace before bathing, to heat the water in the tank above the apartment. The Sorceress also explained what to do about the laundry, the privy, and several other domestic chores and activities. Then they got to the subject of magic, and Rox’s change in coloring.

“Well, to put it simply, one of your progenitors was an elf, most likely from this planet. The elf blood has passed true down to you. From what you say, it was at least your grandmother, if not farther back. This is your true form and looks, hidden by magic since just after you were born. Also you can expect your hair to grow a bit different in pattern. Most elves of the stock you show have a large stripe from their forehead, around and part way down their backs, with the sides growing down, usually braided.”

“Nice. Just what I need. A mohawk.” Rox felt her hair, and thought. “What do you mean ‘of the stock I show’?”

The Sorceress folded her arms as she sat. “Well, you are taller than most everybody around here, and thinner. Your skin color has a slight blue-tint. Also you have a lighter build. Before I removed your disguise spell, your hair and features were of human cast. The mix of those just set you apart as a half-elf. Then with the spell gone your full features are exposed. From my own experience, there is only one group of elves that have the mix of features you show.”

“Where do they live?” Now Roxanne was curious.

“A ways away, to the south east. It is expected that your mate is coming to get you. We can worry about this then.”

Roxanne nodded. “You mentioned a spell for language. I think I am speaking my native one, and am hearing you in the same. Is that so?”

The Sorceress waved her hand, back and forth. “No. I am not speaking your native language. I do not even know what it is. There are two methods of dealing with language in magic. One is transferring knowledge; the other, which I have used on you, may be called a translation convention. The transfer is more permanent, and ultimately more useful, and we can do that later. Translation is an active spell that bypasses the noises and provides an almost mind-to-mind connection to transmit meaning. However that spell consumes the energy of the person it is cast upon and is best for short term only.”

Rox understood this, and then thought of another question. “What does ‘schwaer’ mean?”

“Where did you hear that?” She responded with a bit of weariness toward the subject.

“One of the other slaves that I was with used it, in apparent application toward me.” Rox was curious, wondering if she had encountered the local racism.

“That is a derogatory word used by ignorant people, toward mixed-breeds.” She spoke as if she had this argument on a regular, tiring basis.

Rox had grown up in a place where she had been color-blind socially, but had encountered those who weren’t, and felt that she could grasp the rest of the problem. She let it go and moved to her last concern.

“How about clothing? I can’t just run around in a towel, and won’t go around naked, even as a slave.”

“We can take care of that.” She brightened to be off the previous subject.

The Sorceress showed Rox what she had selected for her to wear as her apprentice. Roxanne wasn’t flattered by it.

First, she was given a loincloth. Next was a skirt consisting of several strips of cloth that hung from the belt. Then a “Y” cut drape of light blue material. The neck opened all the way to her belt, front and back. The sides were open all the way up with no sleeves. The blue cloth was translucent, with gold and silver thread piping the edges. All of it too short fot Rox’s height.

Then she was given a set of gold chains and bands showing that she was a slave. These started at a choker with four chains going down, one on each arm, and one to each leg. Her armbands were just above her elbow, and her wrist, with loops that the chain attached to. The other two went through a jeweled belt and to leg bands similar to her armbands, just above her knee and ankle. These, she was later told as the chains were lengthened to proper fit, were ensorcelled to prevent her from speaking or moving inappropriately while in court. As she looked them over, and grudgingly put the costume on, she remembered seeing others in this same costume in the halls as she had been brought to The Sorceress’s suite.

Later that evening, at the same time that the language spell was being cast, Rox’s hair was also ensorcelled with a quick-growth spell, to fill out her mane properly.

*          *          *

Journal of Steven Caplan: Day 6

Four moons - must play havoc on the tides.

As they ate breakfast, Steven brought up the three moons and the sky. How they really are on a different world.

Caspian corrected Steven. “Actually there are four moons. But one stays in opposing alignment to the smallest of the other three. You will probably see it later today.”

Caspian then started scratching in the dirt. He drew the spiral of a galaxy seen from above. Then at a certain point on one arm he tapped his staff.

“That is where your world is.”

Caspian moved to a point about 60 degrees counter clockwise.

“We are on a world about here.”

Steven stood looking down at the crude scratching, absently crushing some scrub. He put it on the fire, and sat down.

“There really is life on other worlds.”

Caspian just watched the fire. He stood and leaned on his staff, moving into what Steven already recognized as his ‘teaching mode.’ “Yeah. The Great Atoner is not just the God or creator of one world.”

Neither Steven nor Roxanne had ever been religiously active. He recognized the language, but had not often put it together in that way. He cast quizzical glances at Caspian.

“Yeah, sure.”

Caspian shrugged Steven’s response off, and continued.

“Tywacomb is a world that compares technologically to the time between the late medieval period and the late renaissance of your native world. This planet is a bit larger than yours, and spins at a different rate. The days are about twenty five of your hours, rather than twenty four. I understand that this planet’s orbit averages between one half and two planetary diameters closer to its system primary. Our months are in groups of twelve, with none longer than twenty eight days. The year is shorter than yours. Those are all round figures; I could not tell you the official accurate ones. Right now in this hemisphere we are in spring, just after the equinox.

“By your measure, gravity is about eleven meters per second squared of acceleration. The air pressure is also a bit higher, with a higher oxygen count. It is warmer across the board, more tropical over all, and there is lots of vegetation. In this area it tends to drizzle often, as I understand.

“One of the first things you need to get is a native weapon. To do that, we need to get to a more densely populated area. Currently we are within the claimed boarders of a good king, though his claim is neither disputed nor enforced due to the remoteness of the area. Mostly this is pasture for some local herds. There are few worries about bandits. These high mountains are just too far away from anywhere to be useful to any besides wizards, or herds. Once we get to those mountains to the west, I can find the right materials to make the trackers for your family. Then we can go about finding your wife.”

“She does have a name, Caspian.” Steven responded.

“Yes. Her name is Roxanne.” Caspian finished.

Shortly after midday, they crossed onto a local road, and Caspian turned to follow it south east across the valley. After some miles Steven was ready for a change of pace. He did notice that Caspian seamed to be pushing himself, though whether this was to compete, or out of urgency of the task, Steven could only guess. About this point, a village came into view on the top of the next hill. As they walked in, Steven took a moment to look the natives over, with consideration to fitting himself in. Old skills and training were resurfacing.

Steven realized as he watched, that the clothes he was wearing were not suitable for nondescript travel. Mostly, they were too well made. As well his clothes, specifically his coat and backpack were visibly unique. His booney hat seemed to be the least noticeable, partly as he had already begun to stick some of the local foliage into it, partly to shade against the brighter than expected colors and light.

The next thing Steven noticed was that he was much bigger than the locals, at six foot six inches, with broad shoulders and chest, and with no real belly to speak of. Many of the men were as thickly built, but the tallest came up just barely above his shoulders in height. On mentioning this to Caspian, he gots told that if he was taller, or thinner, he might be regularly mistaken for an elf. As it was, he was too large for that. For his part Caspian was on the tall end of the locals, being just up to Steven’s chin.

To Caspian’s pleasure they found a small market. But none of the clothes had any chance to fit Steven. As they went they sorted the things Steven had, deciding what to keep and what not to keep. His pack and the small gear they kept. The smith was interested in his entrenching tool but Steven refused to sell it. They also kept most of the jewelry and other valuables. About half of the fabric things they sell or trade as they can, these being the few bits he had brought thinking to use for his family. As they looked as the few textiles, Steven ended up purchasing only a poncho, made from a blanket which they slit in the middle. They might have gotten him some new clothes that wouldn’t fit well, but decided not to. They also sold some bits of the camp gear that had proven to be useless.

A few of the local children found Steven to be an oddity, and watched as he and Caspian walked out of town.