Master of the Cave Mountains
Lariel stared curiously at the three black-winged strangers who had entered to his new home. Their appearance was noticeably different from the syrinxes: narrow eyes, sharp facial features, pale skin, rough, baggy clothes.
"Master Lariel?" - One of the men glared at him. - "I am Chief Cheteng. We are a race of winged ones from the Cave Mountains."
"I've never heard of you, winged!"- Lariel was surprised to see kind of relatives.
"We live inside the mountains and almost never go outside, mining metals and gems.
"What do I owe?"
"We know that you are an experienced healer and clairvoyant. We need your help. We stopped having children, and we need to find out why."
"Do you have women?"
"Yes, about half the population of five hundred people."
Lariel froze thoughtfully, and after a short pause said:
"You are not related to the syrinxes... winged people. You previously colonized in Zaria. The composition of bodies is different... therefore, you are mortals."
"So, we won't be accepted into your community?" Cheteng asked.
"Have you contacted our Ruler Erin?"
"He said that he could not make a decision until fifteen years had passed, when a representative of the supreme power would come to the planet. This is quite a long time for us, don't you think?"
"I can imagine..."
"Could you help us?"
"Examine your fellow tribesmen, who else is capable of conception?"
"Yes... can you just see it?" Cheteng was amazed.
"You and your companions are barren... due to harmful rays inside the mountains where you dig stones. They kill the ability to reproduce."
"Ow! Who would have guessed this?"
The Blackwinged men became very agitated as they discussed the verdict they had heard.
"You need to get out of the mountains and start living on the plains. - Was advice from Lariel. - Why did you hide underground?"
"According to legend, predators from the sky devoured us, and our ancestors took refuge into the mountains, but that was a long time ago. Obviously the foe have now disappeared."
"This is true! Thanks to our mighty warriors, the skies of Zaria became peaceful."
"Praise be to your race! Master, could you help us?"
"Yes, sure! How far away do you live?"
"Ten days of flight!"
"Okay, I agree, but I need to take my two sons with me."
"No problem, we will deliver them on our own hands."
***
Gedeon was left to Imarinis, that greatly upset the boy.
"Are you leaving me to your horny cousins? Take me with you!"
"No, Deo, stop it!" Lariel reassured him. "You can't fly yet, and the way is not close. Who will carry you over such a distance?"
"Then... will it be possible for me to get to you once my wings get stronger?"
"Let's see, if I arrange everything, I'll call you in a couple of years."
"A few years?" Gedeon become more upset. "I don't want to wait that long. You are my mentor. I need you!"
"You're almost big boy now. No one will touch you with such protection. You can always turn to your uncle Rohen for support."
"He is strict and will not understand my problems."
"Don't make things up! You are his servant also and must obey all his instructions."
The boy wrapped his arms around Lariel with sadness.
"I will miss you a lot!"
***
The Lariel's toddlers had to be tied to the bodies of Blackwinged for a safe flight. They soared into the air amidst cries of farewell and caught the rising wind, rushing into high-speed flight.
They often had to stop for rest and overnight while going down.
"Master, what fruits should I bring for you and the children?" Cheteng asked carefully while searching for food in the forest.
"Syrinxes don't eat! We are creatures of a different from humans nature."
At these words, the leader of the black winged fell into deep thought.
"I saw that your wives are from people race, why do they have children from you, since you are of a different nature?"
"Oh, Cheteng, it's hard to explain, but we have the ability to reproduce in any human folk."
"So you don't have problems with reproduction?"
"There are problems when there are no girls," the syrinx joked.
They reached the mountains on the tenth day in the evening.
Cheteng invited the guests to go inside one of the mountain caves. They walked for a long time along narrow winding passages, lighting the way with torches, and finally found themselves in a huge stone grotto, in the middle of which there was a small glowing blue lake, covered with white fog. Light leaked from numerous holes above, creating a slight twilight.
"Do you live here?" Lariel asked, looking around in confusion, noticing that people were coming out to them from all sides.
Voices of surprise and sighs of admiration were heard around, women and men of different ages looked with curiosity at the beautiful gray-winged syrinx with two babies in his arms.
Cheteng introduced the syrinx to his tribe and led the guests into a small, dimly lit stone room with bedding on the floor.
Lariel snapped his fingers and several bright white lights lit up in the air, causing Cheteng to be scared.
"It's a little dark here," - the syrinx noted. - "Are we going to sleep here?
Cheteng nodded.
"Hold him for now!" Lariel thrust the baby into his hands and began to create a crib in front of the amazed leader.
"Are you a wizard?"
Cheteng couldn't believe what he was seeing.
A thin, black-haired woman approached them and picked up the child. She saw a baby's cradle appear out of nowhere and her eyes widened in surprise.
They both stood, dumbfounded, until the syrinx placed the baby in the finished elegant crib.
"Have you ever seen magic?" Lariel grinned, turning to them. - "Well, get used to it!"
The woman lowered her eyes in embarrassment, having closely seen the irresistible beauty of the syrinx in the light.
"My wife Elima," Cheteng introduced her.
"Are these your children?" - She asked timidly.
"Yes. The fathers raise their children themselves."
"Won't their mothers miss them?" Elima was worried.
"They won't, every year they have a child from different men."
"Lucky ones," the woman said enviously.
"You can't live in these caves, they kill your fertility. I will help you build a city outside and get out of here," Lariel told them.
"Are we all going to die out?" Cheteng exclaimed in horror.
"I will try to restore your health, but I cannot guarantee complete healing. You can mingle with syrinxes, or rather, only women."
Elima ran out of the room, covering her face with her hands.