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(Authors Note- The original chapter was "The Star-singer I." I have decided to replace it with “The Student I.” Instead, "The Star-singer I" has been moved and become chapter three. I believe, this creates a better reading experience and makes more sense in relation to the characters' locations. Also added a close-up of the map as the original one is a bit hard to see the names. )
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The Student I
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Najara’s belly was full of moths, and her heart felt alive with warmth. Excitement was an understatement for what she felt, with the winter solstice festival only one week away. Dya Del Pygrino Streyada was the most significant event in Clara Luna, and her family always made a grand affair of the holiday. People from all over would participate in the festivities. However, this year's festival held a surprise unknown to most. Najara had seen it. She had sung to the stars, and the stars answered with a vision. There would be a meteor shower. The sky would be awash in thousands of meteors' of green and orange flames. However, one thing was unclear to her. The time in which they would arrive. Try as she might, Najara could not glean the exact time of their arrival.
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Nor could she pinpoint when the Wisemasters would arrive at the Starry Keep. Surely they were en route, and their coming would happen any day. The necessary arrangements had been seen to, headed by Najara herself. Each guest room, of which there were only seven, had been dusted, the bed furnishings and drapes washed, dried, and sown anew where needed. Basins had been scoured and made fresh. Najara ensured pine logs were cut to size, fitting the black iron racks that stood by the hearths. And lastly, each room was complimented by a basket of fruits native to the mountain range. Even with all of this being done, much and more still remained. The dining hall needed to be seen to, a chore headed by her mother but one requiring her assistance. On slippered feet of sky blue and earthen brown, Najara made for the dining hall.
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Her long skirt flowed in the wake of her travel. Najara’s hair was pulled back, smooth from lizard tallow, and taught in a bun. Her milk-white blouse was pulled about her chest close and snug. The garment was a rich navy blue, the bottom of which was lined in silver thread. The piece was cinched by an oak-brown corset, pulled tight, and tied with a delicate knot. Two silver bells dangling on the ends of each string. They chittered softly throughout the Keep.
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Down she went the west wing, turning toward the east. At the corner stood a door. Rounded at the top, it had a withered, aged look. Just beyond that threshold was a stairwell going up a tower. The tower faced northwest and was the tallest the Starry Keep had to offer. The Sunset Tower. This was the meeting place of the Wisemasters. The building where they would conduct their hushed meetings away from the uninitiated.
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The Wisemasters would gather here in several days, just after the solstice, to sing songs in unison to the cosmos. The results of their performance only known to members of the guild. And one other.
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Madalynn Cordo Pieadrra, Matriarch, Star Singer, Mage, Mother, and Grandmother. There was a time when Najara’s grandmother had attended guild gatherings, participating in their ceremonies, hosting events for them in the Starry Keep, and elevating the quality of their craft through her own voice. That was many years past. Madalynn has since ceased her membership in the guild, even abdicating the position of ruling Lady of the Starry Keep and Clara Luna that same year. Yet her influence has not diminished. The Wisemasters still choose the Starry Keep for their clandestine gatherings, and the older servants still treat her as Ruling Lady, to the chagrin of the new Ruling lady, Baetriz Pieadrra, her daughter.
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Were it not for her grandmother, Najara would not have honed in on the talents of her voice. Since she was a babe, Madalynn had seen too Najara’s education on all things musical and cosmic. And though her grandmother had relinquished the responsibility to another in recent years, she would occasionally offer her wisdom. Giving deep insights into the inner working of star singing and the lore therein.
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The Dining hall was long, with highly vaulted ceilings and chandeliers swinging from bronze chains mounted on rigid wood beams. The tables had been spruced up with wood oil, making the hall smell of lemon pine. The day before was spent hanging a blue velvet ceiling drape lined with intricate gold designs. The designs told the story of the starry pilgrim and other celestial bodies. Overall, everything looked to be in place and prepared adequately. Najara saw a servant or two coming to and from the kitchens but no sign of her mother. She resolved to wait and sat at the table to do her share of the labor.
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The only thing left for her to do was to prepare the candles and handmade glass orbs that had just arrived from Green Haven. ‘Only a few more to go, and then I'm free to roam the gardens!’ Najara said to herself with a smile as she grabbed one of the glass orbs and placed a delicate Blue-gray tanager feather under it.
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Within moments, the glass orb started to float up toward the ceiling. When light from the chandelier landed on it, it gleamed and looked almost like a bright star in the night sky. Bringing another orb up to her mouth, she whistled, mimicking the calls of that tiny blue bird. The memory of life still flowing through the feather awoke, staying suspended in the air, carrying the weight of both the orb and the candle inside. With a delicate finger, Najara gingerly pushed the glass light toward the ceiling to float contentedly beside the other.
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“You are growing quite adept at spell-weaving, Najara.”
Najara looked up from her work to see her mother standing tall and proud in a dress of indigo that exposed her shoulders, her belly swollen with child. Her hair was immaculately done up in a braided crown, with a tiara of a Sun and crescent moon in the middle. The top of the garment that hugged her shoulders flowed like a shawl, inlaid with decorative silver buttons. A ribbon of gold cloth wrapped around her stomach, tied in a large, neat bow as if the child inside her were a gift. Her mother held onto her belly now, comforting the growing babe within.
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“It’s simple once you parse out the timing,” Najara said, reaching for another glass orb, ready to demonstrate. A third orb made for the ceiling to float about, avoiding the other two as if it had a mind of its own. Her mother looked on with a cool countenance.
“What of your other duties, have they been seen to?” She asked.
Najara looked down to avoid making eye contact, muttering a reply, disappointed in her mother's disinterest.
“Speak up dear, a lady does not mumble, and sit up straight lest the corset strangles you.”
“I’ve seen to our guest rooms. All have been cleaned and the baskets laid out.”
“Oh, is that so?” Baetriz said, her voice rising an octave. “Am I to believe they are right outside our walls, or perhaps they are making their way up the road now? Surly the fruit will stay ripe by the time of their arrival.”
“I merely thought that, with the rooms being cool and-”
“Sweetling, a lady does not guess at what might happen. A lady anticipates what will happen and plan accordingly. No thread can be left unmended, no detail overlooked….” She strode over to a glass orb, sliding her index finger over it, rubbing thumb and forefinger together “....And no glass left unpolished.”
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Click clack, click clack came the sound of wooden soles beating against the stone floor. Lucynda, Najara’s handmaid, entered the hall, two servants shadowing her and holding a large tapestry. There they stood until Baetriz acknowledged their presence.
“My lady,” Lucynda said with a curtsy, greeting both daughter and mother alike.
“Where would my ladyship like these drapes placed?”
“On the wall by the seat of Honor. See that they are placed evenly. I do not wish to have a repeat of the last dinner we hosted, especially not with the Wisemasters in attendance.”
Lucynda bowed once more and started to dole out tasks to the other servants. Baetriz made to sit, sighing once the servants were out of earshot.
“I do not mean to be cruel, sweetling. You have done well thus far, but ‘well’ is insufficient if you mean to rule. Your brother will be born soon and must needs be baptized in the living waters, like you before him when you were naught but a babe at my breast. Lady Madalynn is too old to care for the Keep and Town. It must be you.”
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Najara's mouth went dry. Her excitement fluttered away, and a sense of unease took its place. She had learned to walk before any of her peers. Speech came easy to her, and her talent for learning foreign tongues was unmatched. When she was five, Najara learned how to sow and, by the age of seven, was not only proficient at needlework but quite skillful. Her whole childhood was spent learning both craft and courtesy. Yet the sum of her achievements meant little and less in her mother's eyes, to whom perfection was not demanded but expected.
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The work was finished in silence. A litany of glass orbs floated overhead, illuminating the hall in a wave of yellow-orange light. Najara stood, flattening the creases in her dress, getting ready to excuse herself when another familiar voice came from the dining hall entrance.
“Oh my! What wonders am I looking at?” Berjón said, arms outstretched as if they were trying to embrace the scene. 166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyA1Xs4JKc
“Father!” Najara cried out, glad to see a cheerful face. She made to embrace him. He wrapped her in his long cobalt sleeves, belting out a laugh, swaying from side to side.
“And what a vision you are under such light,” Berjón said, holding out his hand for Baetriz. She grabbed ahold, trying and failing to conceal her shy smile. Helping her to her feet, he fully embraced both wife and daughter.166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mfolif2OX
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When they broke free from one another, Baetriz made to fix his robe, placing it back neatly to sit square upon his brawny shoulders.
“And you look a ragged thing. Should I have a bath drawn up for you?”
“In due time, my vision, first we should eat, and I can tell you about my day out amongst the folk. The foreigners I have met! Norrishmen in the hundreds, all pale as linen if you can believe it!” He said, a smile firmly planted upon his face. “Where is my suegra? She should be supping with us.”
“In her chamber meditating.” Her mother replied.
“Why so many this year, do you think?” Najara asked in haste.
“The games of valor attract the warriors amongst them. News travels slowly up north. Might be they grew tired of clouds and rain and prefer the sun. I can not say that I blame them!” Berjón let out another laugh. 166Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDShkR9eWxt
“Are there any Knights amongst them? Do they have Knights that far in the north?” Najara pondered, sitting back down, hanging on her father's every word. Baetriz cozied up alongside her husband, arms interlocked.
“Many and more, though I will say most look to be a rough lot, not as gallant as your Stoyish Knights, nor as fearsome as mine own Jade warriors but Knights all the same.”
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‘Oh, to mingle amongst new faces and meet these new knights! They might not be as gallant as father is used to, but I am sure they will be just as exciting! Mayhaps one will beseech me to grant my favor upon them.’ It was a dream to have a Knight carry her favor on the field of contest and win in her honor. The thought made her face feel hot, and her heart skipped a beat. She had attended very few of the tourneys in her youth and none as of late. This time of year was set aside for study and signing, especially under the tutelage of both grandmother and her new master of song. Perhaps she would be allowed to attend at least one of the jousts this year.
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“Mayhaps I could attend the games of valor this year?” Najara's sudden question shocked even her. Her father's smile grew stagnant, and her mother looked on with a blank expression.
“You have to prepare for the ceremony. You are to sing with-” Started Najara’s mother but was interrupted by her father.
“Lets not be brash about this, my vision. Najara has done suburb in her studies and-” This time Najara cut her father off.
“And I would be able to practice my Norrish, so few Norrishmen visit, I might not get this opportunity again for some time to come.”
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Baetriz looked at her husband before speaking.
“Your skills in that language have diminished some, I grant. Fine, but you are to be escorted by Sir Rudolfo. No exceptions.”
‘Some things could be worse than a shadow, and even shadows can be cast away with enough shade.’ “Oh, thank you! Thank you!” Najara reached over the table to kiss both her parents on the forehead. “I will return speaking like a true native!”
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Baetriz nodded curtly and snapped her fingers. Lucynda and two other servants came to meet her, ready for instruction.
“Lucynda dear, please fetch Lady Madalynn. We wish to sup with her tonight.”
“As my lady commands,” Lucynda said, rushing out of the dining hall.
To the two other servants, she bid them fetch the food from the kitchens, and within moments they were off.
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The first course was a light soup of onions, carrots, and a steaming bone broth full of crushed peppercorns. She hardly tasted a thing. Her head was in the clouds envisioning what adventures she would have in town.
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