- THE TOMB RAIDER, NIA-URO
When the scholar Ola-Kai arrived bearing Admrilia Hortus Ashiphiex’s summons, Nia-Uro was certain she was about to perish. Surely, the Ashenian princess had learned of her deception, had suspected that the blade she now kept hidden in the bottom of her bags was the very star that the Conqueror coveted. The aker demanded her to flee with each labored stride through the Great Library. Ola-Kai nodded towards the Ashenian neptori stationed outside the doors of the Kai’s private collection and they pulled the cedar doors apart. The scholar deposited Nia and her brother at a cluster of tables littered with papyrus.
The princess scooted back her chair and stood to her full, commanding height. She was uncharacteristically dressed in plain clothes, just trousers and a royal purple tunic.The princess’s braid was coming undone around her ears and framed her severe, tired eyes. Nia’s aker froze in her chest, caught between fleeing and lunging forward as Admrilia regarded her. “My spear points me to De-Asha, towards the glory of recovering the star for the Emperor. The two of you, along with the rest of your House, will assist the throne in this aim. Our party shall depart for De-Asha in two days' time.”
It was Lero who was able to speak first. “How best shall we assist you, your highness?”
Princess Admrilia swiveled her obsidian eyes onto Nia. “The empire requires your sister, the tomb raider Nia-Uro.”
The tomb raider Nia-Uro. All too familiar shame hit her. Nia exhaled slowly. Too slowly. Her mouth felt as if it was filled with ash. Nia finally managed to speak. “It would be an honor.”
Princess Admrilia swatted the platitude away. “Detail your search efforts so far.” She barked.
I’m not some soldier. Nia thought. She forced her amber eyes to the tile to appear subservient. “Well, your highness, considering I did not know what I was searching for until the legate sent us to recover the journals, I’m unsure—” Nia abruptly stopped. If she continued with ‘I’m unsure as to the benefit to you’ then Admrilia Ashiphiex wouldn’t need her. Maybe I could save us all the trouble and go retrieve the dagger right now. Nia nearly laughed at the absurdity of the thought. She shook her head. “I’m unsure because my knowledge may be too broad.”
“Broad how?” Advisor Clavo barked.
Nia straightened her spine. She looked up from the tile and made herself face the advisor. If her only option was to prove useful to the empire, then she couldn’t keep groveling at their feet. She needed to be valuable. “Legate Clavo had my search efforts begin about four years ago. At first, the legate sent me through the necropolis and the surrounding ridges. I was ordered to recover anything of value so De-Asha can pay the Conqueror’s triumph demands. I kept an eye out for jewelry, headdresses, necklaces, rings, gold…”
“What about weapons?” The princess asked impatiently.
“Yes. Those too. Every item I recovered is carefully categorized in the storerooms at the estate.”
“We were already planning on searching for those when we arrived at De-Asha.” Advisor Clavo said in a dismissive tone.
“I see. Your highness, I must apologize, but I am ill informed on what, if any item in the storerooms would have a connection to the stars you week.”
“I shou-I will be able to tell an item's connection to the wyrd.” The princess bit her lip, and Nia sensed a kernel of doubt from the princess.
Good. Nia thought. Maybe she doesn’t realize anything after all.
“Nia, would it be helpful to show them where you have searched so far?”
“Wha? Oh of course, that is an excellent idea. Do you have a map I could use?”
Wyn-Kai groaned as he stood. “Allow me to show you the cartography section, Nia-Uro.” Admrilia Ashiphiex moved around the table, making it clear she was to follow. The princess was tailed by her brooding guards. The four of them followed Wyn-Kai’s shuffling gait into the stacks. Despite the surreal circumstances, Nia’s blood hummed with eager anticipation as they rounded the corner and entered an alcove made up of circular shelving units. The documents inside the alcove shelves were clearly centuries old, made up of thick hides and fraying papyrus.
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“The Ibis’ personal collection.” Wyn-Kai said with no shortage of pride. “Please navigator, help yourself.” Wyn-Kai turned towards the princess. “You know, in the old days, it was the navigators of the House of the Doorway who led people across the Dunelands.”
“I see.” Admrilia said shortly. “And what changed?”
“The Conquering.” Nia walked forward, drawn by the shelves. She was unable to decipher the sheni etched above the cubicles, and not for the first time, Nia cursed her illiteracy. She pulled out a scroll above her head, and then another, noting how the maps detailed locations to the north of Ash-Kai. Reaching one from a cubicle by her stomach, Nia noticed the coastline of Ker. Nia took a step back. “This is a compass, isn’t it?”
“Very good, Uro.” Wyn-Kai said. “Ash-Kai will be the centermost point where you are standing, which means that De-Asha—”
“Will be to my left.” Nia said, already sidestepping. She reached into a cubicle, finding exactly what she was looking for. Nia began opening papyrus maps and setting them on the floor by her feet.
“What are you doing?” Princess Admrilia demanded.
“Grabbing fragments.” Nia explained as she reached above her head into a cobweb covered cubby. “If you want a master, then you’ll need a complete picture of the search effort…” Nia paused, suddenly every nerve afire as her fingertips grasped onto an ancient hide. Nia was thankful that she was facing the shelf to hide the prickling tears welling up in her sockets as she unrolled the ancient papyrus. There, in the top northernmost corner in kiyr script. Aker-San.
She was holding a copy of the pathia.
I could finally escape. We can be free. Nia discreetly wiped her eyes. She rolled the pathia and grabbed the pile at her feet. She turned around, hoping her naked longing had been wiped from her face.
Admrilia Ashiphiex’s eyes narrowed in suspicion but she was blessedly quiet as they returned to the tables. Nia was provided a desk, and to her satisfaction a blank papyrus, stylus, and cartography set was provided. Nia admired the tools for a moment, noting how pristine and fine tipped they were over her basic charcoal. The princess and her advisors sat cross legged across from her as Nia made the first couple strokes on the blank sheet.
In truth, Nia didn't need the reference maps at her side, but she unrolled them anyway. Starting southward, Nia began drawing De-Asha and the rectangular walls of its gates. She measured the distance to the necropolis, and the ridges of the skytops of which it was situated. She carefully detailed the watchtowers and tombs dotting the hills. Nia unrolled the next map and added Xur and its surrounding area. Then, her heart galloping in her chest, Nia unfueled the oldest map on the bench. The fragment went further north than Nia would have known the world could have expanded. Further where the Dunelands and Skytops met towards the edge of the known world. Towards the First House. Aker-San. Nia took her time carefully copying the long-vacated villages, and sunken wells. The mountain passes and the potential hazards. Before the prodigal heir of the Ashenian Empire, Nia openly plotted her escape.
“Now this is an interesting fragment.” Wyn-Kai said, breaking her concentration. He looked up from the funerary account he had been reading. “The lady wove the stars into her hair, a mane of heavenly fire.”
“A mane?” The wriry advisor, who Nia had learned was Khispen, asked. “What could a mane possibly be?”
“The goddess Sachmis is portrayed as a half-lioness.” Wyn-Kai said.
Nia stretched her aching back. The princess’ hawk-like gaze did not leave her hand as she dipped a new stylus in red ink and cleared her throat. “As I said, the Legate Clavo had me searching the Dunelands for years. We began with the necropolis, and the ridges around there. In addition, the necropolis has been subject to over fifty years of treasure seekers, not to mention the countless legionnaires and workers who could have pocketed treasure to pawn themselves.” Nia quickly made a slash through the necropolis and the other locations Clavo had sent her too. “The furthest North I’ve been is Xur, and while it is impossible for one person to search through it all, the tomb raiders and skin traders surely would have cleared it out by now.” Nia slashed through Xur. “I’ve never been further north. But if what the Legate Xur said was correct in his journals, then the priests would have fled for the First House.”
“Aker-San.” Wyn-Kai had left his chair and was now peering over her shoulder. “It’s unknown if they survived the war after all, as no one has heard from the House for decades. The COnqueror’s efforts to cut them off from the rest of the kingdom during his campaign were extensive.”
“Agreed. But, where else could the priests have fled?”
“You don’t think the priests ever made it back.” Admrilia said, her eyes boring into the map.
“No.” Nia said flatly. “It would have been impossible for them to survive the journey. If Xur had already been extinguished, then the trip was futile. I believe the working theory is that they never did make it to Aker-San. Which gives you a couple options, princess. Search for resting points between the necropolis and Xur, risk pushing past Xur to further your search, which you do not have time for before the Conqueror’s arrival or—” Nia met Admrilia’s godlike eyes. “Admit defeat now. If the star did exist, it is long gone.”