Knightly Duties (Sahal)

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]


Like the mythical bird Phoenix, the civilisation of the Eldorai had arisen out of the ashes. Kaeshana was a desolate wasteland, Santaissa reduced to ruins, a shell of its former glory. Those left behind on the broken husk were the Forsaken.


The only that remained were memories. Eldorai have long lives and even longer memories, but soon a generation would be born who would never have seen the homeworld with their own eyes, let alone set foot on it. Tygara was their home now. For the time being it had been spared the turmoil that was sweeping across the Galaxy and engulfing in a massive conflagration, though relations with the natives were tenuous at best.


The unoriginally named New Santaissa was their capital now. Not so long ago calling it a city would've been a big euphemism because it had been composed of little more than tents, makeshift shelters and some public buildings. However, the diligence of the Eldorai and of their Firemane allies had paid off, and now it was a city they could look upon with pride. Today was a beautiful day, though storms had been predicted for later on.


Perhaps fitting considering the Eldorai army would soon take the plunge and go on the offensive against the Xioquo. But for now, the morning sun reflected off the white domes and spires, creating a breathtaking site. White stone buildings, built to deliberately emulate the style of classical Eldorai architecture, dominated the better part of town. Even at this early day, the city was a hub of activity, as trade was picking up once again. Heavy guns were concealed in the mountains overlooking the city to provide protection.


It was only fitting that today one of the most powerful women in Eldorai society go on a tour of the city she'd helped build. A luxurious speeder swept down from the sky, carrying Siobhan Kerrigan. With her was was her usual posse of fawning hangers-on and slaves, and none other than Sahal Jai Azal, her Qadiri Companion.


Siobhan's penchant for the absurdly grandiose was matched by her romantic streak, so she had decided to adopt Sahal as the knight to her queen after being impressed by her valour in battle. "That's the new ziggurat. Lovely, isn't it? How does it compare to Semiramis'?" she asked out aloud, pointing a delicately manicured figure to the massive structure that dominated the cityscape as the speeder came in to land.


Like on Kaeshana, the ziggurat was the political and religious centre of the capital. It rose high up into the sky as if reaching for the heavens where the Great Goddess Ashira was said to dwell by the Church of Light. Since Siobhan was an aristocrat and favoured by the Queen, she had the privilege of landing her craft rather close to the monument.

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Sahal took in everything, looking around with a fair measure of awe.
“Lady Mistress…it is much grander than anything I have ever seen in a city,” she confessed. The city of Zeheb was grand enough, but it would not only be lost in this sprawl, it would be outshone.

The ziggurat before them was shining white, even the glass created to appear a shimmering ivory.

The Angelii guarding the door saluted as Siobhan and Sahal approached, ushering them through into an enormous entry hall filled with light and covered with exquisite artwork saved from Kaeshana.
The Star Queen did not need to play coy with constitutional niceties. She was the absolute monarch, and though Anya had not been excessive in her spending, she had wanted her palace and centre of government to remind her people of what had once been. Thus, it had been painstakingly redesigned based on detailed notes taken before Kaeshana’s destruction.

“This city has sprouted as if from nothing, but it already looks so powerful, so grand,” Sahal said, looking around the foyer.

The view from the top was amazing, though few were allowed to see it. Siobhan was one of those few.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Sahal Jai Azal"]


Suffice to say, if Siobhan were Queen the city would be filled with excessively grand monuments and statues built in her likeness or that of her wife. Many needlessly grandiose factories and streets would be named after her. For her part, Siobhan found Sahal's expression of almost childlike wonder and awe absolutely adorable when they were led into the ziggurat.


"Yes, it is beautiful, dear," Siobhan agreed with a bright smile, looking around to take in the exquisite artwork and tapestries that covered the walls. The old ziggurat had been looted during the exodus, but many precious artefacts and art had been saved prior to that event. Unlike millions of people. She cast that thought aside. Firemane had not saved everyone, but millions of elves were alive because of it. She who saved a world broke no law.


"It makes you almost forget that couple months ago it was just a load of tents and we had food riots. It's very similar to the old capital. Deliberately so. Just better planned and less chaotic. It's also more racially diverse since non-elves aren't confined to a ghetto anymore. I wish I could take you to Kaeshana to see old Santaissa," she said wistfully, reaching out to take Sahal's hand into hers and give it a loving squeeze.


As the warrior had probably figured out by now, her new mistress was rather touchey-feely. The light reflected off Siobhan's forehead and firemane, almost looking like a halo. "But there's nothing left except ruins. Most of the Eldorai in it died when the asteroid hit. What's left of them is struggling to survive."

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Sahal smiled at Siobhan took her hand.
The smile faded as her Mistress told her about Kaeshana.
“I’m sorry, Lady Mistress. It must have been terrible,” she said a bit awkwardly.

If she was honest with herself she didn’t really understand, at the base, the concept of travelling to another world. She had never been in space, she had never seen the stars apart from the ground.

She shook her head at some internal doubt. “Please show me the next place when you are ready, Lady Mistress.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Sahal Jai Azal"]


Siobhan felt a bit bad about making her knight uncomfortable, so she patted her hand. "It was, but it's alright, dear. I wish it would've occured under better circumstances, but I don't regret coming to Tygara. After all, you're pleasant company. There are many worlds I can take you to one day, if you want," she said in a brighter tone, giving the Companion a kiss.


"For the time being, I've still got your planet to explore! Let's go to the roof. We'll have a lovely view."

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

The view was indeed spectacular, and though there was a lot of construction work going on, the new city was growing every day.

“It’s so green compared with home,” Sahal said. “Go away more than a kilometre from the river and it’s all desert.”

“What’s that?” she asked, pointing. In the mountains sat the long barrels of the Tempest cannons, standing guard over the Eldorai.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Sahal Jai Azal"]


It was truly a lovely view only a select few would get to see. After all, the ziggurat's roof was not accessible to everyone!


Siobhan looked at the mountains Sahal was pointing towards and smiled at her charge. The cannons had been designed by Firemane to defend the capital city. They would be able to take own capital ships in orbit.


Forts were still under construction in the mountains. "That's what we call Tempest cannons, dear. The science is a bit complicated, but basically they're big, very powerful guns that can fire on big warships in space if they're close to the planet. Some warships are over a thousand metres, but a hit from a gun like that can destroy them."

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Sahal stared at Siobhan. “A…a thousand metres? That’s larger than my city!” she said in shock.
She looked at the city again, judging its size in the way of a professional warrior. “Almost as large as this city. How can you build something so big?”

The girl had much to learn – perhaps Siobhan would take her into space one way and show her!

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Sahal Jai Azal"]


Oh, you're so adorable! Part of Siobhan felt a bit bad about subjecting Sahal to such a culture shock, but at the same time the Qadiri was being really cute. "There, there, sweetie. Take a breath," she said, fondly stroking the girl's hair. The Companion had much to learn, but Siobhan believed informed minions were more capable ones.


"As you can imagine, it takes tons of time and resources to build a warship that big and thousands to crew it. Your people have shipyards on the planet to build your surface ships. Well, we have the same in space. Massive stations floating around above a planet, where hundreds of thousands of workers and machines toil every day. Most of the labourers even live there."

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Sahal’s eyes glazed over, trying to imagine something she simply could not fathom.
“So…so the stars are like a black sea? And the stars are islands?” she asked hesitantly. She was afraid her ignorance would be mocked by Siobhan, as she clearly knew little.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Sahal Jai Azal"]


The look Siobhan gave Sahal could only be described as motherly. "Yes, that's a good analogy. They're islands connected through a big, black sea. You can reach them if you've got the right compass and ship," she said encouragingly. "Look Sahal, I know this is very new and probably very overwhelmning to you, but never be afraid to ask, ok? I will never mock, scold or beat you for it. I don't think you ignorant, sweetie. I'd be a terrible mistress if I did."

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Sahal impulsively hugged Siobhan. Then, she paused, backed away, looked down meekly.
“I’m sorry, Mistress, I didn’t mean to touch you without permission,” she said, her face red.

“You’ve just been such a good Mistress to me…I want to show you how much I appreciate you.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Sahal Jai Azal"]


Siobhan was momentarily taken aback and surprised by the embrace, but then she smiled. "Don't apologise. You did nothing wrong, sweetie. Look at me," she reached out to gently raise Sahal's chin.


"I'm glad you feel that way and that I've been a good mistress." Her tone was soft, commanding even though she never raised her voice. Then she pulled Sahal into an embrace, holding the smaller woman close. My poor, sweet girl. I'll take good care of you. "You can hug me any time you like. Well, not all the time, but you know what I mean," she joked lamely, planting a kiss on Sahal's lips.

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Sahal blushed, but smiled at Siobhan. “Thank you, Lady Mistress.”

Seeking a diversion from the somewhat awkward moment, Sahal pointed to the spaceport.

“Can I go up into space with you? I want to see everything like you do.”

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Sahal Jai Azal"]


Siobhan smiled slightly, feeling proud of her knight. "Of course, sweetie. We can go right away," she decided impulsively. Did they have other stuff to do? Probably, but she was the Destroyer, so it didn't matter.


She took Sahal by the hand and led her down from the peak of the ziggurat. Their speeder was waiting outside for them and so they boarded. Soon it had taken off into the air into the direction of the spaceport. They would have a lovely view of the New Santaissa cityscape and various buildings, monuments and landmarks during the trip.


Obviously one of the most important was Ashira's Mall, a temple devoted to the goddess of consumerism and materialism. Certain conservative Eldorai had complained about this cult was eroding traditional values by compelling elves to waste dalti on frivolous pursuits - and dress in foreign clothes - but it was too popular for many to care! Naturally Siobhan was wearing the latest footwear from Trada. The transport would also fly over the grand building that housed Firemane's corporate offices on the planet.


As the two would see from their lofty position in the sky, the primary mode of public transport was the impressive monorail that connected the various districts of the city like a web. Non-Eldorai were no longer concentrated in an euphemistically named ghetto, but many tended to cluster in certain quarters, especially at the lakeside, which had a disreputable reputation. Firemane provided housing for its employees if they did not have the means or desire to purchase their own place.

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Sahal let out a little gasp as the shuttle lifted into the air. The ground was dropping away from her, and she could see the centre of the city where she had just stood. But now…it was…below her….

She gripped the arms of her seat, closing her eyes a second before relaxing and opening them again. She still kept a tight hold on the seat though!

“It’s…so small,” she whispered.

It got smaller and soon they were leaving the atmosphere entirely. The blackness of space engulfed them, and she looked down to see…Tygara.

She’d seen maps, she knew what the lands looked like. But it was like she was standing over a map…but a map the size of the world.

Holding up a finger she hid from sight her home in Lakish, with another Zaheb was obscured. She shivered.

“How do you do it, Mistress? How do you look down on the world and not feel sick?” she asked softly.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Sahal Jai Azal"]


And so they landed at the spaceport, boarded a shiny shuttle and then lifted off from Tygara! Soon their ship had pierced the atmosphere and they emerged in the cold void of space, passing the Tirathana Skyport. For Siobhan it was just an everyday trip, something she did all the time. There was no magic or mystique to it.


However, perhaps Sahal's reaction showed her a bit how special it was. "I've....never thought about that. Not in a long time at least. First time I took off into space I'd stowed away on a freighter to escape from my homeworld. I guess I was a bit busy being afraid of discovery," she admitted.


She reached out to wrap her arm across Sahal's shoulders. "I suppose it's a bit like not getting sick on a ship while being in the middle of the sea with no land in sight. Lots of dangerous things can happen, but you're confident in the craft you built," she began to massage Sahal's shoulders.


"Look at your world, sweetie. It's beautiful. There's Lakish, there's Zeheb, there's the ocean. That's your planet. See the stars. You're the first Qadiri in space." She tactfully left out the Qadiri who'd been abducted by pirates.

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Sahal said nothing, clutching the railing. She looked at the railing, the floor, all around her.
“Metal…metal everywhere. It’s so…soulless,” she said softly.

She looked out the window, to the wonder of the stars, to the ships moving in the void.

“M-Mistress…can we please go back down? I…I don’t think I can handle this right now,” she said, closing her eyes.

Perhaps it had been too much for her too quickly.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Sahal Jai Azal"]


Siobhan nodded understandingly. "Ok, sweetie. You've been very brave today. I'm proud of you," she spoke reassuringly. "Pilot, take us back planetside," she barked. Obediently, the pilot steered the craft to turn away from the dark void and set course for Tygara. Soon the shuttle was piercing the planet's atmosphere and once again flying over New Santaissa.

 

[Sahal Jai Azal]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
Sahal closed her eyes on the way back down. When they were on solid ground again she hurried out of the shuttle and stood looking up into the sky.

“I do not wish to seem ungrateful, Mistress, you did a kind thing for me. It…it was just too much for me to start with. Can we please go somewhere else now?”

It had clearly been a shock for her, like going several centuries forward in a single jump, from ground to space.