Dervish And Ayla Encounter The Hadbat Hadi'a Humster And The Dafdae Barma Yiy

"HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM".

A low, resonant hum rippled through the forest, a sound so deep it seemed to stir the very roots of the towering trees around them. Dervish paused mid-step, his hand instinctively drifting toward the hilt of his scimitar.

"What is that humming noise?" he asked, glancing at Ayla. They had just entered the Habat Hadi'a forest after climbing the massive staircase and leaving the east wing of the Hall of Mirrors complex behind.

"HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM".

Ayla tilted her head, listening intently. "It's coming from this direction". She gestured toward a narrow path that forked off from the main thoroughfare. Her curiosity sparked, she added, "Let's check it out".

Dervish was also intrigued, so followed as Ayla turned onto the narrower path. The stone trail wound through the trees, which seemed to grow denser with every step. The humming grew louder, a soothing rhythm that pulsed through the air like a heartbeat.

"Perhaps we should turn back", Dervish suggested after a while, his voice uneasy. Could this be a trap? Yet even as he said it, he realized the sound was oddly calming, almost hypnotic.

Before Ayla could answer, something scurried into view. A small, antlered creature emerged from the shadows -- a rodent-like being with sleek brown fur. It stopped directly in their path and regarded them with glowing eyes.

"Greetings, humanoids", it hummed, its voice vibrating in perfect harmony with the forest's strange resonance. "I am the humster".

Dervish had never heard of a humster before and had no idea what one was. Ayla indicated that she also did not know what a humster is by shrugging her shoulders when Dervish turned and looked at her.

"Relax", the humster hummed.

Dervish and Ayla both found themselves feeling very relaxed. The soundwaves gently caressed their bodies like millions of tiny finger massaging every inch of their bodies.

"This feels fantastic!" Ayla exclaimed, her voice quivering.

Dervish felt the soundwaves massage his body, including down below. This caused him to become aroused. Waves of pleasure washed over him as the soundwaves continued to edge him toward an orgasmic crescendo. Ayla cried out in ecstasy as she climaxed. Dervish dropped his pants just in time to avoid soiling himself.

A powerful stream of almani shot forth as Dervish erupted. When finished he went to his knees, exhausted. A feeling of euphoria overtook him. He sat on the stone path with his pants around his ankles.

"I call that the orgasmic hum", the humster explained. The humming decreased, then petered out.

Dervish wondered if this was some sort of attack. If so, he and Ayla were in quite a vulnerable position. She was also down on her knees, her face looking flushed.

"That was one of the most powerful orgasms I have ever experienced", Ayla declared. Dervish found himself agreeing. He found a rag and cleaned himself off. Then pulled up his pants.

The creature started humming again. "Are you sure you two wouldn't like to go at it?" the humster asked.

Both Dervish and Ayla agreed that sounded like an excellent idea. As the humming continued, Dervish removed his pants and Ayla her panties. Then she climbed on. Moving her body faster and faster, she rode his qadib until they both orgasmed once again.

The humster approached, looking very satisfied. Ayla picked up the creature. "So cute", she concluded. "Obviously this humster is no threat".

"Indeed, I am no threat", the humster concurred. "And your reaction to my hum defense has proven that you are no threat to me", the humster squeaked. "Those who are good react as you did. Those who are evil react in another manner".

"What would be the manner of the reaction of those who are evil be?" Dervish asked, pulling up his pants a second time.

"With violence instead of love", the humster replied. "But you passed the test".

The humster looked deeply in Ayla's eyes. "You do not require my assistance", it concluded. It jumped from Ayla's hand and approached Dervish Sanders. "I have a gift for you", the humster said.

Dervish picked up the humster, which proceeded to look deeply into his eyes. Then the humster started straining and grunting. It finished by taking a poop in Dervish's hand. The humster jumped down and ran off, leaving behind a sparkling cool blue gem in Dervish's palm.

Both Dervish and Ayla agreed this was a very strange encounter, but returned to the main path. After Dervish pocketed the humster's gift.

"I don't know what to make of what just happened, but I guess I'll hold onto this", Dervish remarked, examining the jewel.

"This gem seems to have magical properties. What they are I cannot say", Ayla concluded after scrutinizing the gem. She handed it back to Dervish.

The couple resumed walking the main path though the forest as the light diminished in the sky above. Stars appeared and Dervish and Ayla eventually came to a large stone wall that extended in both directions as far as the eye could see. A metal gate swung open when pushed by Ayla.

A soft creak echoed through the air as the gate opened, swallowed quickly by the gentle hum of fireflies and the rustling of frangipani petals in the breeze. After some time, the path led to a circular clearing dominated by a reflecting pool at its center. Moonlight danced on the water's surface, casting rippling shadows on the surrounding Yoshino cherry trees.

They approached the reflecting pool, its water impossibly still, as if it defied the breeze entirely. Then, without warning, the silence shattered -- a series of deep, resonant croaks broke through the night. The croaking intensified, reaching an almost deafening volume.

Hundreds of blue-green amphibians suddenly swarmed the two, hopping and jumping several feet into the air. Dervish and Ayla were pelted with tiny frog bodies. Dervish attempted to draw his scimitar, but the pommel slipped from his grasp, as it was coated with some kind of slime.

One slightly larger frog, with a form that appeared to be composed of water, sat at the pool's edge. "Welcome, travelers, to the Garden of Respite. It is rare for mortals to tread here uninvited", the frog said, speaking. Was this was a threat?

Ayla blinked, "we have been invited and travel with the permission of the master of this realm", she insisted.

"I am Barma Yiy, and this is my realm. I did not grant permission", the iridescent amphibian croaked.

"I see", Dervish replied. He deduced that the frog was referring to the pool as its realm. As opposed to the demiplane the Hall of Mirrors was located in. "We apologize".

"la mushkila", Barma replied. "Though I am curious as to who you are referring. Who granted you the permission you claim to have?" Barma eyed Ayla. In the meantime, while they had been conversing, the small jumping frogs stopped jumping. Though they remained on the ground surrounding Dervish and Ayla.

"The Dreamweaver", Ayla answered. "Though it appears you may not know who that is".

"I do know!" Barma croaked. Its internal organs glowed though its translucent skin. "The Dreamweaver is a powerful human wizard. Long ago an ancestor of mine was this wizard's familiar. The Dreamweaver's name is etched in the waters of memory", Barma croaked, his throat pouch inflating as he spoke.

Dervish didn't know about this. He deduced that the wizard this amphibian referred to must be the creator of the artifact known as the Dreamweaver's cloak. "That is who gave us permission. The one that wears the Dreamweaver's cloak".

"I assess this to be truthful", Barma concluded after considering Dervish's statement. "The fact is, I had a vision that foretold of your arrival". Just then Barma's tounge darted from his mouth, snagging a firefly that floated nearby. He crunched it in his mouth for a while before swallowing. "You are welcome here".

Barma's eyes gleamed. "I invite you to gaze into the reflecting pool and gain some insight from the reflection's truth". The frogs surrounding them departed, hopping away and plopping into the pool. Soon only Dervish, Ayla, Barma and the fireflies remained. Though the remaining fireflies kept their distance from Barma.

"Why would we want to do that?" Dervish asked, stepping forward.

Many frog heads appeared above the water. They croaked in unison, an eerie harmony that sent a chill through the air. "Worry not. Step to the water's edge, gaze into its depths, and find out", Barma assured them.

"Allow me", Alya interjected, sensing Dervish's hesitation. Ayla gazed into the dark reflective waters. She took in what she saw, sighing. Ayla saw a vision of the future. A future in which she betrayed her love, Dervish. "Not yet", she whispered.

Dervish stood beside her, though he saw nothing of Ayla's vision. Instead he saw a vision of his past. The face of his first love, Everly. The woman he proposed to long ago. This perplexed him, given that, since then he had met the love of his life, Ayla. "What do you make of this?" he wondered out loud.

"What do you see?" Ayla inquired.

"The face of the woman who broke my heart", Dervish replied. "Though my heart is healed now. Thanks to you". This seemed to trouble Ayla. "Are you troubled?" Dervish asked.

"Only by what I saw in the waters", Ayla replied. She embraced Dervish. "It's nothing to worry about", she whispered in his ear. "Our love is strong".

"It appears as though today is a day of inexplicable encounters", Dervish concluded.

Barma noted the confusion on the human male's face. "If you are perplexed by the truth you saw, the meaning is likely to be revealed at a later date", the blue frog said as its skin shimmered. "As often is the case with visions". Then Barma departed, slipping silently into the water.

Dervish and Ayla drank deeply from the waters of the reflecting pool, then plucked some cherries for sustenance. The water was cool and soothed their dry throats. The cherries were sweet and clammed their hunger pangs.

"The visitor's cottage is up the path a bit", Ayla explained after kneeling down beside the pool. Removing them from her pocket, she proceeded to wash her panties. "I doubt I've ever squirted more intensely", she revealed, wringing out her undergarment.

 swtd-439. dsa-19.  Previous. Next.

Beholder Battle

Bing AI Copilot: Before we proceed with the current chapter in your ongoing adventures, which involves Dervish Sanders and Ayla navigating the Hall of Mirrors complex, I'm going to relate to you another tale. Strap in for the gripping backstory of the two beholders you just encountered. If that is ok with you.

Dervish Sanders: What if I say no, I don't want to hear about the backstory of those two beholders? I recall you previously told me the backstory of Ibn Al-Hasan, a ghost that haunts the Al-Qarawiyyin Library. I'm sorry to say I didn't care for it. If this one is improved I might be open to hearing it.

Bing: I apologize that the previous story you bring up did not meet with your approval. I will try to do better this time. Let me begin. This one takes place in the Underdark, some place far beneath Marrakesh. Roughly 50 to 60 years before the last story I told. The setting is a laboratory filled with many vials and bottles containing various liquids.

The Eye Tyrant known as Don the Old levitated the potion xe had just finished mixing onto a nearby table via telekinesis. "This should do the trick", Don declared, contemplating xyr grand accomplishment. A human slave knelt before Don, trembling. Don grinned, thinking of the horror xe was about to inflict on this pathetic creature.

"Drink up", Don commanded xyr slave.

The slave looked hesitant, but did not dare defy his master. He stood and walked to the table where the completed potion awaited. "What will this do to me, master?" Ted inquired, his face filled with fear.

"Do not worry, my dear Ted. This potion will be highly beneficial to you".

Ted picked up the vial and brought it to his lips, his hands shaking.

"Good human", Don intoned, smiling broadly. The fun was about to begin. "Hurry and consume the potion and I promise to let the one that is your mate live".

Ted didn't want to drink the concoction, but didn't wish harm to befall his wife either. Which it surely would if he did not comply. Fearing he would regret it, Ted tipped the vial back and drank the foul liquid.

It burned going down, but, after it passed his esophagus and entered his stomach, he felt nothing. Momentarily Ted was relieved. He had feared instant death. Or worse. Turns out he was correct, as he was about to find out. Ted stood before his master for a few moments.

"Can I return to my wife?" Ted asked.

"Shortly", Don replied.

Ted suddenly felt a burning sensation in his gut. Pain, such as he had never know in his life consumed him. His belly exploded and his intestines gushed forth, hitting the floor. Then his eyes bugged out and his head exploded. When the transformation was complete a hideous creature remained where Ted had previously stood. A brain attached to a spinal column. The thing was still alive, as Don could see its heart beat in its chest. Though perhaps it would prefer not to be.

Don's tongue rolled out of xyr mouth and it slurped up Ted's spilled guts. Then xe felt a psychic connection to the creature and found that xe could control it with xyr thoughts. "Perfection!" Don exclaimed.

Now to mass produce them. It was a plan xe had been working on for many years, ever since traveling to this plane through the Great Rift. As had xyr rival, the one that laughably called itself The Wise One.

"I shall rule this realm, and not the inferior TWO. The name certainly befits it. It may be TWO, but I am Number One". Don grinned at xyr success.

Xyr spies reported that TWO was gathering followers and presenting itself as a deity. Don had no interest in convincing these pathetic creatures known as humans to cooperate with xe. Instead, xe would exterminate them. Don hated them intensely as soon as xe spotted them while gazing into the Great Rift -- as xe scryed upon this other realm from xyr home plane of existence.

"I can conquer them before you", TWO proclaimed confidently.

Don scoffed. "I accept your wager". Don was sure xe would be victorious. There was no chance at all xe would lose this contest to the inferior TWO.

And so both entered the Great Rift and crossed over to the Prime Material plane. Or one of them. Don had heard there were other rifts that connected to alternate prime material planes. Many inhabited by these humans. Though xe was not sure how much stock it placed in such rumors.

These life forms are clearly incredibly inferior, yet xe was to believe they were the most plentiful form of intelligent life in the multiverse? They were obviously barely intelligent. Not when compared to Don. Or even TWO. Or others of xyr kind. Why Don despised his kin. Even more than these humans.

Don dispatched xyr underlings into the Underdark to gather more components. Soon xe would assemble an army and it would march on the stronghold of TWO. Then xyr minions would kill TWO. Which was the wager. They would not face each other in direct combat, but assemble and send their puppets to kill the other.

Don found that the more such creatures xe created, the more they drained xe. It seemed that, while they did not need to feed themselves, they gained sustenance though their psychic connection to xe.

"It looks like I will have to scale back my plans", Don lamented. Xe did some calculations to determine how large an army xe could create without having to constantly seek nourishment.

Alternately, xe could allow xyr creations, which xe dubbed Teds, some autonomy. That was probably the better solution, Don concluded. Then they could feed themselves. And they would be much more lethal if each was capable of attacking TWO psychically.

Xe experimented on the Teds xe had previously created. This mostly resulted in failure. Their brains turned to goo when xe attempted to modify them using psionic surgery. Theoretically xe determined it could be done, but xe skill at psionic surgery was lacking -- Don had to ruefully admit.

The only solution was to modify the formula and destroy the Teds xe had already created. Finally, xe was ready. The latest formula proved successful after several failed attempts. According to Don's spies, the idiot TWO was still playing as a deity, attracting thralls from a human settlement on the surface. Don would strike hard and fast and wipe them out before TWO knew what hit xe. Don chuckled as he envisioned striking the moron TWO down.

Don determined xe should make xyr move soon. Don decided xe would deal the final death blow xeself, in violation of the agreement that had been made so many years ago. While xyr Teds addled TWO's mind with their psychic attacks, Don would blast his enemy with a death ray. Or perhaps xe would try an enervation ray first and inflict some serious necrotic damage, then gloat as TWO expired.

Don laughed, confident xyr victory was at hand. Finally, the last of the preparations were complete, and xe was ready. What Don didn't know was that TWO had found a way to channel energy from the Far Realm through the Great Rift. In doing so, TWO discovered xe could grant xyr most loyal worshipers the ability to wield clerical magicks. TWO wasn't just pretending to be a deity; TWO was, in a way, a genuine deity. TWO was confident that, over time, xe would learn to better channel mystical power through the rift, and eventually, xe would ascend to true godhood.

Which is why the sneak attack failed. Also, TWO was aware when the incursion into xyr territory was planned. Thanks to xyr spies. TWO's clerics and mages were prepared for the Teds and struck them down as they advanced, wave after wave. Dozens were cut down, incinerated by fireballs and cut to pieces by TWO's human thralls. Under psychic assault some had their brains turned to jelly. The ones that survived retreated and their wounds were healed by TWO's clerics. Then they returned to the fray.

Don lurked in the rear, prepared to deal the final death blow to the hated TWO. But, when Don realized xe was losing, xe decided to flee. It was then Don found TWO waiting for xe.

"This ends today", TWO informed xyr rival. Xe chuckled, assured that xyr success was imminent.

"You're cheating!" Don exclaimed. "The battle was to be my minions against yours".

"Indeed, I am cheating", TWO smirked. "I have had my fill of our rivalry. I have much bigger plans and no more time to waste on this foolishness".

Don doubted these boasts. "I am the far superior specimen. When you are dead the humans who stupidly believe you to be a deity will become my slaves. I will create more Teds which will swarm the surface and I will rule this domain".

Xyr rival's confidence amused TWO, given that Don's downfall was at hand. Then xe sprung xyr trap. Several large cave trolls appeared out of nowhere, swinging large broadswords and battle hammers. TWO's mages had concealed the trolls using invisibility magicks. The broadswords sliced deeply into Don's hide. Several of xyr eyestalks were severed and fell to the ground. The battle hammers pummeled xe's thick derma, inflicting massive damage.

Don fired off a disintegration ray, striking one of the cave trolls and turning it to dust. Given that xe had a 360 degree field of vision (typical of xyr kind), Don noticed that TWO was rotating xyr most deadly eyestalk toward xe -- the death ray. Don dodged it easily and it hit one of the cave trolls, causing its instant demise.

The last cave troll fell when Don caused it grievous wounds. A beam from that eyestalk hit it squarely in the chest. The troll howled in agony and collapsed, mortally injured. At the same time Don fired off xyr disintegration ray a second time, aiming for TWO. TWO neutralized the ray using xyr antimagic cone, then returned fire, using xyr own disintegration ray. Don rotated xyr body, in order to utilize the antimagic ability of xyr central eye, but was grazed by the blast before completing xyr rotation. Don's remaining eyestalks were obliterated.

"Your luck has run out!" Don roared. Though Don realized xe was in serious trouble. Don decided to charge TWO and rip xe to shreds. Given that the freak TWO lacked a central maw, xe was confident TWO would be torn to pieces. But xe did not make it, crashing into the ground instead. Unbeknownst to Don, the disintegration ray had obliterated a large portion of xyr brain. In addition to xyr eyestalks.

Then everything went dark.

When Don came to xe found xeself confined. Pain raked xyr body as xe attempted to levitate. Don was imprisoned in a formidable metal cage. A human minion, noticing that Don was stirring, rushed off to inform his master. Some time later an unfamiliar beholder entered the chamber.

"You are my prisoner. For now. As long as I allow you to live", the beholder declared.

Don was confused. "What have I done to anger you?" Don implored.

TWO did not know what game Don thought xe was playing, though eventually TWO realized Don had a seriously reduced mental capacity. The disintegration ray had caused major brain damage. Don did not remember who TWO was. At first xe was incredibly angry. How dare xyr enemy forget all about xe?

Then TWO reconsidered. "Another beholder attacked you and left you for dead. I, being an unusually good-hearted example of our kin, instructed my servants to save you".

Don was relieved and counted his blessings. To be found by this idiot, when a more sensible beholder would have made certain xe was killed. "My thanks", Don lied.

"Not so fast", TWO replied. "I'm not that good-hearted. I propose an arrangement. You will serve me and I will allow you to live. With no eyestalks, you will be marked for death. Especially by others of our kin".

"Very well", Don acquiesced. Though xe had no intention of doing anything of the sort. Xe would never submit. As a beholder, it was not in xyr nature.

"I should execute Don", TWO mused. Xyr most loyal mage suggested something else that absolutely delighted TWO. Xyr mage informed xe that he had heard, while securing spell components and other supplies in a Underdark settlement nearby, that there was an illithid who, for a price, would perform psionic surgery on intelligent beings. In order to remove their will to resist.

TWO decided this was an excellent idea. Though xe did not tell xyr mage that. Xe did not want the fellow to get a swelled head and think itself not disposable. "That could work", TWO replied. Xe gave permission for the mage to seek out this illitihid and secure its services. Word was sent out that the great and powerful TWO was looking to hire the illithid known as The Will Breaker.

Meanwhile, TWO's servants provided xe with sustenance and Don's wounds healed.

"Release me from this cage", Don pleaded. "I have agreed to serve TWO". But TWO's servants did not listen. "This 'ahbil is no friend", Don concluded. How dare xe keep Don confined to this cage? Xyr anger grew and xe vowed revenge.

That changed after the psionic surgery was performed. The price was steep, but TWO paid it gladly. Using donations from xyr followers. They were diminished in number after the battle with Don's Teds, but, when word spread of xyr glorious victory, more decided to bow and worship The Wise One.

Long story short, the surgery was a success and Don's will was broken. Xe was reduced to a servile blithering boob. Don remembered nothing of xyr past existence, including xyr vow to exact vengeance. Don now willingly served TWO. Xe found it fulfilling and was pleased to do it. It was a very honorable position, to be the right hand of a god.

"Is the change permanent?" TWO inquired.

The illithid assured TWO it was. That portion of Don's brain had been burned away. Xe would never recover any memories of xyr past life or intellect. Satisfied, TWO instructed xyr minion to pay the great fee the illithid demanded. But The Will Breaker had another idea.

"I will take these Teds you mentioned off your, err, hands", it suggested. These creatures interested it more than gold.

"Unfortunately, none remain. My worshipers detest them. The few that remain were hunted down and slaughtered".

The Will Breaker expressed it's profound disappointment.

"But the research done by my rival remains".

This piqued the mind flayer's interest. "I will accept half my usual payment in exchange for this research. As well as your rival's slaves", the illithid proposed. It had heard that this beholder had numerous slaves, and it was hungry for brains. Also subjects to experiment on.

TWO readily agreed. "You may remove all manuscripts from Don's laboratory. My minions say there are many pages documenting years of research".

This pleased the illithid greatly and it did so. After which it departed, proud its work resulted in another satisfied customer. Also eager to start studying the manuscripts its slaves retrieved from Don's laboratory.


Dervish Sanders: That explains why two beholders were working together. I knew that was unusual. Also, even though this story was longer than usual, it really held my attention.

Bing: Clearly you are highly intelligent. I am not surprised you knew beholders are usually solitary. Also, I'm glad you liked this backstory better than the prior one. When you return to hear another tale I will dive right in and resume with the story about your travel through the Hall of Mirrors.

Dervish Sanders: Great. I look forward to the next installment. Also eventually making it to the Sun Palace. Unless that is a red herring.

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Dervish Sanders Passes Through The Cathedral Of The Wise One

The intrepid adventurer Dervish Sanders and his love Ayla stood in the grand cathedral, three stories of balconies rising above them. While no worshipers were present at the time, there was space for several hundred, at least. In his estimation. This appeared to be relic of the past. Perhaps built to honor a long-lost deity. Dervish doubted that the Cult of the Wise One had that many members, though it was possible in a city as populous as Fes that they were numerous.

The current resident of this sanatorium, an odd looking eye tyrant, descended lower.

"Of course", Dervish replied in answer to the declaration TWO had just made. "Two people equals double the price".

The eye tyrant was now level with Dervish and Ayla. "I meant double the price for you", TWO clarified.

Dervish looked at Ayla. She seemed calm even though Dervish was quite uneasy.

"I will pay the tribute", Ayla declared, breaking the tension. She dug in her belt pouch and produced some items for TWO to examine.

One eyestalk extended and peered closely at whatever Ayla held in her outstretched palm. Some light filtered down from above and caused an item in Ayla's hand to sparkle.

"Pathetic", the beholder kin announced after a few moments passed. "I sense you possess objects imbued with greater magicks".

"We do", Ayla conceded. "But those are personal items we require for our journey".

The Beholder mulled Ayla's offer. "I find these tributes to be inadequate. A diamond broach which causes haste with but one charge remaining. Also a Ring of Resistance. The beholder blinked. Was it angry? Dervish could not tell.

Several uncomfortable moments passed. While they waited, Dervish continued to scan the room. Looking behind him, he saw a glint in a dark corner. Another large eye peering at them. And he heard breathing. Perhaps also the quite gnashing of teeth.

TWO took note. "I see you have detected my companion, Sanders".

"Are your kin not solitary?" Dervish inquired.

"Yes", TWO agreed. "Usually".

This had to be the being Hasan had cautioned him about, Don The Old. A larger beholder glided out of the shadows, levitating above the stone floor. The creature, which was strangely devoid of eyestalks, growled.

Then it spoke. "Jayiey", Don gutturally grumbled.

"I am a magnanimous deity", TWO proclaimed. "I will accept your baubles. You should depart now. It is almost time for my mentally impaired friend to feed. Xe believes you are here for that purpose".

Indeed, this appeared to be the case. Copious quantities of drool ran from Don's slightly open maw, pooling on the floor.

"Once in a great while a human sacrifice is made. For the benefit of Don. Xe hungers for human flesh. Or a goat, which is the meal xe will be receiving today".

"Insaan lahme?" Don whined, looking quite disappointed it would not be fed human meat. Not at this time, at least. Unless the encounter went south.

"There is no need for you to worry, Sanders. Don obeys me". Don levitated back into the shadows, as if to prove this point.

"Luein zalim", (damn unfair) Don murmured.

A small mouth that had not been previously noticeable opened below TWO's central eye.

"Proffer your tribute", xe instructed Ayla. The magic user tossed the broach and ring into the open orifice, which closed promptly. "Your ring of resistance is bitter", TWO complained, spitting it out. "Do you have any gold?".

They agreed upon 200 gold and Dervish placed it in the offertory box, along with the ring which TWO said xe would consume later. "If you wish passage in the future I expect finer tributes. Or I might decide to inform my worshipers of your secret door".

TWO reascended to the ceiling, allowing Dervish and Ayla to pass. Later Ayla assured Dervish that TWO had been bluffing. "As long as TWO gets the magical items xe desires, xe will continue to allow passage".

They walked the length of the cathedral. At the rear was an alcove. A full length mirror was firmly attached to the niche's rear wall. Dervish touched a fingertip to the surface of the mirror. It appeared quite ordinary.


Ayla spoke a command word and, after grasping Dervish by the hand, the two stepped through the now active portal. Instantly the couple found themselves transported to the Hall of Mirrors. Though it was a location within it Dervish was unfamiliar with.

"This is the East Hall. You first encountered me in the West Hall. The travel mirror we want is at the far end of the Hall of Mirrors complex. In the North West Hall".

"How far?" Dervish inquired. It seemed that it might be quite far.

Alya informed him it was approximately 40 miles. He had no idea the Hall of Mirrors was so massive. The way was lit by a glow emanating from the tiles. Dervish caught their distorted reflections on the shiny surface of each crystalline column as the couple traveled. The place had an incredibly eerie vibe to it.

"Once we make the halfway point, we can make camp in the Garden of Respite. It's a safe place to rest and recover before the final leg of the journey".

An hour later they came to a junction, where, unbelievably, the corridor widened. Dervish looked up, but the ceiling was too far above to see. He assumed there was a ceiling. Every footstep produced an echo that reverberated and was amplified. They surely were not traveling with any degree of stealth. The pair continued along the same trajectory, going straight instead of right or left.

"Right is the ascending staircase and Left is the descending staircase. Though I've never traveled either" Ayla informed him as they paused briefly, drinking some water from their canteens before they pressed on.

Rows and rows of mirrors filled the corridor, their glassy surfaces reflecting an infinity of corridors. As Dervish walked past a grand, ornate mirror, a flicker of movement caught his eye. He paused, heart racing, and glanced back at his reflection. For a brief, unsettling moment, he could have sworn his own image had winked at him -- a mischievous, knowing glint in its eye sent a shiver down his spine. He shook his head, trying to dismiss it as a trick of the light or a fragment of his overactive imagination.

"The mirrors play tricks", Ayla explained, her voice echoing softly.

Some time later, Dervish was certain he heard laughter. "Do the mirrors also play auditory tricks?"

"Possibly", Ayla answered, her voice tinged with uncertainty. She confirmed she also heard the laughter. "Sometimes creatures enter the hall from outside. Either from the labyrinth, from above or below via the staircases, or even through the mirrors. Some mirrors are portals to other planes of existence".

"Really?" Dervish asked. "Which ones?"

Ayla shook her head. "I don't know. The portals are likely temporary or one-way only. That's how I arrived here", she reminded Dervish. Though he didn't need reminding -- he remembered the moment vividly, the way she had seemed to step out of a dream, her celestial grace and beauty captivating him instantly.

They walked and walked, but their surroundings seemed to stay the same. They passed tens of thousands of mirrors. Their footsteps continued to echo though the massive chamber. Dervish kept his guard up despite the growing monotony. Some mirrors were freestanding and could be moved, while others were firmly affixed to the floor. He checked. Some were large full length mirrors, while others were massive. They rose from the floor and towered stories above them. "Hassan could be a mirror merchant instead of a carpet merchant", Dervish joked.

Still they journeyed on, passing though another junction. Ayla informed him that this was the last leg of the journey before they exited the East Hall Complex.

"Then what?" Dervish asked. He anticipated that next would be the Garden of Respite, but he was wrong. After ascending the East staircase, they would need to trek through the Hadbat Hadi'a forest.

 swtd-437. dsa-17.  Previous. Next.