Page 59 of Returned to the Vissigroth
The text wasn’t etched; it was burned into the material. Each line carved deep, as if by heat or energy, not ink. The characters weren’t like anything I’d seen or remembered, neither human nor Leander. These were fluid and complex, composed of lines and whirls that shimmered faintly when touched by light.
“I can’t read it,” Thalia said, flipping carefully through the thick, stiff pages. “But it’s definitely not symbolic. It’s a language.”
“It’s not human,” Oksana added quietly, eyes sharp. “And it’s definitely not of Leander.”
“Zuten,” I whispered. My voice trembled with reverence. “It has to be.”
"Niara said she figured out the writing with her palmtop…" Oksana said, tapping her fingers against the desk, "I wonder if she shared the program she must have created for this… did any of you bring a palmtop?"
Thalia and I shook our heads, and with a sigh, Oksana put the book into her satchel. "Well, we'll have to stay curious a little bit longer, I suppose. I'll take this with me, though."
"Hey, what's that?" Thalia moved to the wall by one of the shelves. A lot of debris lay next to it. "Where did that come?—"
Her head moved up, and ours followed; our gaze caught at a large hole in the ceiling.
"Well, what do we have here?" Oksana stepped closer, using her light to illuminate the area.
Thalia was already clearing the shelf out of the way, brushing off dust and ash with her sleeve. “Looks like they opened it from the floor above,” she said. “But that means there’s more.”
Oksana turned to the young dragoon who had brought us here. “Get two of your strongest up there. I want to know what’s on the other side.”
The male bowed quickly, but he looked hesitant. “Forgive me, Susserayna, but… that shaft hasn’t been secured yet. We haven’t assessed the upper level’s stability. It might not be safe—especially not for you.”
Oksana’s brow arched so high it could’ve cut clouds. “Are you telling me I can’t go?”
He blinked. “Ney, I mean—zyn, I mean?—”
“Careful,” Thalia drawled as she stepped beside him, casually twirling one of her daggers by the hilt. “You’re dangerously close to giving your susserayna orders.”
The poor male turned a deeper shade of aqua, his voice cracking. “I didn’t mean—I just meant?—”
“It’s alright,” I said kindly, giving him a reassuring smile. “We’ll be careful. You can send more guards up to keep an eye on us, if it makes you feel better.”
“Zyn,” he mumbled, bowing deeply again. “I’ll alert the Charge Leader and have rope ladders brought down at once.”
“Good male,” Oksana agreed. “Now let’s see where this goes.”
In no time, more dragoons arrived, and one of them introduced himself as Joren. He and his partner secured a line to a metal beam near the hole and tossed down a rope ladder.
"I beg your pardon, Susserayna, but I need to send dragoons up first." He didn't really look apologetic, more resigned to the task of having to be responsible for three high-ranking ladies.
Oksana waved her hand, and we watched enviously as several dragoons nimbly climbed up the rope, lights attached to their backs. It seemed to take forever until one stuck his head out, sought out Joren, and nodded.
With a sigh, Joren turned his attention back to Oksana. "If you are still set on this ill-advised venture, my dragoons are ready for you."
Thalia didn’t wait for permission. She slung her satchel behind her and began climbing up the rope like she was born for it. Oksana and I stared speechlessly at one another.
“I swear, she scares males for fun,” Oksana muttered under her breath, "there's no way I can do that."
I shook my head. "Neither can I."
"If I may," another dragoon entered. He wasn't as big as our vissigroths, but he was taller than the other soldiers.
"I'm Surnak, and I'm in charge." He approached Oksana first and indicated for her to lift her arms. Then he made a sling for her and gave the command to have Oksana carefully hoisted up. When she arrived on the next level, I heard her squeal in delight, and then the rope came down for me. It smarted underneath my arms and across my breasts, but I wasn't about to complain. I felt alive going on this adventure.
More dragoons came up, followed by Surnak.
"I don't care that you're my susserayna and you two are vissies," he started, looking sternly at the three of us. "You will do as I say, when I say, or I will take you back. I will not have your safety compromised, understood?"
