Birth

[Valeriya]

The soft clothing wrapped around her like a comfortable blanket. Warm and somewhat content, she eventually found an unoccupied corner and curled up in a ball to rest. Her hair frizzed as it dried, but she did not shiver. In fact, here was about the warmest and safest place she ever felt. She tried to tell herself not to become complacent, but the weariness of travel and drama took its toll. She drifted into a well-earned, dreamless sleep.

She was awakened by Illarion's presence. He hovered over her with a bandage covering one side of his face. He gently prodded her and fearlessly led her to someplace more comfortable - a cot. She would grow soft and dainty with all this pampering, she thought, but allowed herself the luxury of sleep anyway.

When next she woke, hunger pulled her to her feet. She rubbed her eyes and pushed frizzy mass of black hair from her face. She went in search of the others, and found most of the other Khylsty gathered in a central chamber dining out of little tins.

They all turned to face her simultaneously, but she dismissed their collective gasp for her appearance. "We will have to arrange ourselves like those of the Above,"
she explained and tugged at the cloth at her wrists. "There are more garments like these and I will show you how to purify your bodies as I have purified mine."
But first, she needed to eat.

"Where is Regus?"
She asked as a tin of meat submerged in some kind of oil was placed before her.