~Chapter 15~
Mae's heart was pounding as she stood at the gate of Nimaro's temple, a step behind Omb, the Aspect of shadow. She felt hot, uncomfortable, and nauseous; functioning on stress and anxiety, shocked she hadn't had a complete panic attack yet. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined her day, would have turned out as it had.
When Omb had called Mae to return to her temple an hour before, she had expected to find Nimaro there or that they would wait for his arrival. Instead, she found a quill in which to sign her name on the agreement she couldn't read, although Karanosi assured her that it said everything that Omb had laid out for her earlier in the day. Depressingly, this felt like no more than a formality; now realizing she had crawled into bed with Omb the moment she had set foot in her temple. Now, together, they were playing a new game with Nimaro, as instead of coming to Omb's side of the city, he sent a priest with an invitation to dinner for 'Omb and her new curiosity. No dragons allowed.'
Karanosi didn't bother apologizing for keeping this vital bit of information from her, remarking only that he couldn't allow this to be a deterrent in her decision making, as it had to do with dragon politics and not her.
Thus, she was now standing under a massive gate, staring at a desolate courtyard. Compared to Omb's temple, this one looked near abandoned. It was less than half the size, and a single Thay, whose wings had turned gray with age, toiled about with a broom in his hand, diligently sweeping to clear a path for Omb.
"Please, allow me." Mae hurried forward and stopped the elderly man, who clearly was in some amount of discomfort given the way he was slumped forward, limping and holding his back.
The old man seemed startled by her actions as she gently took the broom from his hand and continued to sweep the path, while Omb stood in the gateway and smiled in amusement.
"Why did you aid the old priest?" Omb questioned as she had nearly finished sweeping the walkway.
"He reminds me of my grandfather, and he's clearly in a lot of pain," she replied as she lowered her eyes. "And I like to clean when I'm nervous."
"Oh dear, please forgive my rudeness," the young priest who had delivered the invitation, hollered as he came running out of the temple. "I was unaware of your arrival and was busy preparing the hall. Thank you for helping my grandfather."
"It was no trouble," Mae replied as she handed the priest back the broom. "Is it just the two of you here?"
"There are a couple of others today, but normally, yes. Please, come in. Nimaro bids you welcome to his temple. My name is Me'Lau."
"Priest, is he even here?" Omb questioned making her way into the courtyard.
"He is not," Me'Lau replied, lowering himself into a bow as she walked past. "He has asked that I take you through to our main hall and insure your comfort."
"Very well," Omb replied and shooed Me'Lau forward.
"It is this way," he replied before turning and walking towards the temple.
Like Omb's this one also had five steps, and at the top, Me'Lau's grandfather was waiting, the large sliding doors behind him still closed. Nothing about the situation seemed right and upon reaching the top step, a cold chill crept up Mae's spine.
"Nimaro has arrived," Me'Lau announced from the doorway, as the grandfather pushed open the doors, having to wiggle the one fiercely in order to get it to slide all the way to the end of its track.
Mae suddenly felt as if she were standing at the top of the Grand Canyon, looking over the edge of a cliff. Her palms were sweating, strange tingles were washing over her in waves like a full-body case of pins and needles. There wasn't a single hair that wasn't standing on end or nerve that wasn't screaming 'RUN!'. This was an instinctual fear, a gut reaction that was unavoidable, and this was just from being in Nimaro's vicinity. It was no longer a wonder to her why no one wanted him or his people around, causing Mae's heart to hurt for him, just a tiny bit.
"You need not fear him," Omb proclaimed as she walked into the building. "He wouldn't dare harm you in my presence."
"I'd prefer it if he didn't harm me at all," she replied in barely a whisper as she followed close behind.
The temple was a stark contrast to the courtyard as everything inside appeared to have been meticulously maintained. The grass-mats looked freshly laid, the wooden statues polished to a glossy sheen, and the candle holders looked as if they had never been used before.
Leading them passed the small shrine, Me'Lau opened another sliding panel revealing a room whose walls were open to a hidden courtyard with a pristine water garden. A set table, about a foot high, sat in the center of the room. The wooden floors, covered in fabric mats and large cushions, were a stunning cheery red and appeared to be newly installed. And at the far end of the table, a large mass, concealed beneath a dark burgundy cloak, sat unmoving.
"I welcome you to my table." His voice was low. His cadence slow, deliberate, and entrancing.
"I didn't summon you here so you could feed us dinner, Nimaro. And take off the cloak so I know it's actually you."
"I would not dream of trying to deceive you, Omb. For I cannot dream at all," he remarked with a horrifying chuckle that caused Mae to seize having barely stepped into the room. "I wear this out of consideration. She is not a child of this world. This is to ease her fears. We are nothing if not aware of our unusual appearance. We are nothing like what she knows. Sit, and be assured that no harm will come to you."
Mae swallowed as she took a step closer, as she constantly repeated in her head, 'walk, walk, walk, walk, walk,' hoping that her feet would keep moving if she stayed focused on that singular task. The table was large and round. Three places had been set on the farthest side from where she stood, and Nimaro was at the one in the middle.
"You dare to sit me to your left?" Omb growled.
"All are equal at my table, Omb. There is no head. No right side or left."
"There is clearly a right and left of you!" she grumbled as she grabbed the plate and utensils and moved them so she was directly across from him.
"Ever so stubborn." Nimaro chuckled once again. "Perhaps, little one, you will be more amenable, but you are also welcome to move your setting, if you wish."
Stepping further into the room felt like falling out of an airplane without a parachute, and thanks to Karanosi she knew exactly what that felt like, as the internal dilemma began.
Now that Omb had moved her place, the remaining setting was on Nimaro's right, closer to him than her. If she moved her setting, she feared it would offend Nimaro. By leaving it, she worried that it would offend Omb or that she would see it far more than just her being too scared to do anything, which would also prove she was a coward and weak. But sitting that close to Nimaro was terrifying on a completely different level. This was a nightmare in its own way. A worst-case scenario. A no win situation. Her feet were dead weight, and grew heavier with each step. She was desperate for someone to save her. Death would have been preferable to this and the fact that she hadn't passed out was a miracle in itself. But no one was going to give her a way out. No one would provide an answer or tell her what to do. She had to make the decision and as she stepped around the cushion directly at Nimaro's side, she pulled her dress under her as she sat down where the setting had been place.
She had an agreement with Omb, and it seemed wiser not to offend their host. But her heart was beating so rapidly, that it had begun to physically hurt.
"Me'Lau, serve the Pomme-kitar," Nimaro remarked, his massive form still unmoving. "Can you tell me your name, little one?"
She opened her mouth, but couldn't speak. Her eyes dampened as compounding sense of embarrassment caused a sharpening of the pain causing her to labor more just to breath. She was certain she was having a heart attack, and any moment this would all come to an end, while clenching her hand so tightly into a fist that her nails were digging into her palm, the subsequent pain the only reason she was still conscious.
"Her name is Elahemé. I'm certain she would have said so herself if she wasn't about to drop dead because of you."
"Mae…" it was faint but she had managed to spit something out. Swallowing she breathed in another breath and tried again. "Mae. I… prefer… Mae."
Omb began to giggle. "Braver than I gave you credit for."
"Mae," Nimaro repeated the front of his cloak swiveling in her direction. "I am Nimaro. What would you ask of me?"
"She is only here because you invited her. Your business, Nim, is with me. Now take off that damn cloak," Omb demanded as Me'Lau returned to the room carrying a tray.
"Impatient as always," Nimaro remarked as Me'Lau joined them at the table.
Setting down the tray, that had three large glasses and a decanter with a round, fat bottom and long slender neck, filled with a clear, faintly green liquid.
"It is important to me that all of my guests are comfortable," he remarked as Me'Lau poured each glass to less than half. "Mae, this will help to calm you and ease what fear remains."
As Nimaro spoke, Me'Lau set one of the glasses down in front of her, before serving one to Omb.
"It may be sweet to your palate," Me'Lau warned as she picked up the glass.
Mae didn't much care at this point, she would have drunk sewer water, if someone had told her it would alleviate what she was feeling. Her heart had been beating too fast for so long, she truly didn't think it could take much more and would just give-out at some point.
She barely managed to catch a hint of sweetness as she shot back what she was certain some form of alcohol, the afterburn confirming her suspicion. And while she was positive it wasn't going to be good for her health, she slid the glass back towards Me'Lau, holding up her finger at him when he looked at her, hoping it was universal for '1 more' rather than some insult that was going to get her killed, not that that wouldn't be a welcomed relief.
"Another for our guest," Nimaro translated, as Me'Lau seemed confused. "Here we tap our glasses or knock on the table tops for refills."
"I… I… will keep that… in mind," she replied, as she watched Me'Lau refill her glass.
Handing it back to her, Mae was just thankful to have the glass back in hand. It seemed even here; liquid courage was a thing.
"There, she drank it. Can we get down to business then?"
"Very well. I apologize if you find my appearance more distressing, little one. But I do assure you, I am not your enemy, even if I am not your friend. Sotar'ra has told me that your people are isolated on Nubarra."
"Yep," she nodded. "We…" she choked on her own spit as the hood slipped from Nimaro's head, "… are alone." Her words were nothing more than gasps as she looked upon him, and he looked back.
Large, black, almond eyes; the abyss that gazed back. The triangular shaped head, akin to a snake or lizards, but covered in flesh, smooth, sleek, faintly translucent, shifting through colors in an array of dark tones and hues of blacks like that of the octopi. Upon the center of his forehead, embedded into his skin was a dark purple crystal, and rising up from behind him, a mane of sucker-less tentacles, that began to sway, arching up and waving about a visual representation of his breathing.
She watched, her jaw hung open, as he reached out, his fingers, long and slender with an extra joint with nails like talons, and picked up his glass. Lifting it to his lips, he took a slow sip, before turning to her with a barely visible smile.
"Are you sure you have nothing to ask me, Mae?"
Picking up her glass, she drank it back just as quick as before. Biting down on her lips, she tried to stifle her nervous laughter while placing the glass back, being extra careful, not wanting to drop it. Lifting her hand to her mouth, desperate to conceal her laughter, she felt the warmth of her tears as the streamed down over her fingers.
Frantically, she wiped her eyes and shook her head, sniffling as she took a breath to regain what little composure she could before turning and looking up at him.
"Yes. Will you help me?"