Iyaca asked, “What happened to the others?”
Maranna replied, “You are awake now, and quite inquisitive, my little friend. You should be happy that I saved you. We’ll talk more of the others when Rhiann wakes up.”
Iyaca asked, “Why shouldn’t I wake Rhiann up?”
Maranna answered, “I only have experience with allowing those under the lullaby influence to awaken on their own. Have some nectar.”
Iyaca saw the dark amber liquid in an ornate glass decanter. The thirsty youth gulped down the fluid and said, “It’s delicious.”
Maranna said, “Why don’t you go explore outside. My sister Serena will show you around.”
Iyaca said, “Another Siren?”
Maranna answered, “Yes, she’s helping me with Cragmore. You’ll find more of my friends outside. Be careful. Don’t go near the ledges.”
A lovely green-haired siren entered the chamber and said whimsically, “He’s cute. May I have him?”
Iyaca gulped.
Maranna laughed and answered, “No, Sister. Just show him around.”
Serena said, “Come on, kid. I’ve already carried you halfway across Sagain. I won’t bite you…much.”
Iyaca gulped again.
Maranna answered, “Iyaca, you will be fine. She’s only teasing.”
Serena extended her hand and took Iyaca’s left hand. The duo left the sleeping chamber. Rhiann continued to sleep. Serena and Iyaca walked into warm morning light sent from the distant twin suns and looked about the area. Maranna’s beautiful home Cragmore was nestled upon a rocky ledge a thousand arm lengths above a river that had cut a deep gorge in the mountains far to the east of Thynna. The site sat upon a roughly circular mini-plateau surrounded by sheer cliffs a least a thousand paces in height. The circular gorge appeared to have no beginning, end, or exit. The circumventing river and sheer cliffs isolated the lair. A tall rim of rocky peaks surrounded the grassy plateau. Three shadowy gunmetal gray six-legged steeds meandered about the grassy area and munched on the plush green stalks. The stalks grew back as fast as the equines ate them. The mares were larger than typical workhorses and ghostly in appearance. When he stared at them, Iyaca saw the outline of the rocky cliffs behind them. A voice appeared within his head and simply warned, “Don’t stand too near the edge. An updraft might carry you over.”
Iyaca jumped back and said, “She spoke to me! Inside my head!”
Serena said, “Cloudmares communicate telepathically, without spoken word. They have a powerful intrinsic Forget Spell. You won’t remember seeing them… unless they want you to do so.”
benjamintowe 