Page Six

Niseka's kingdom, Detenstagem, is a realm with three distinct layers. The first is a layer of impenetrable fog meant to confuse navigators. The second is a deadly snowstorm meant to destroy one's vessel and its crew. The final stratum is a snow-blanketed, desolate forest with trees compacted together like bars on a cage. The forest's canopy tangles together like locks of brittle, unkempt hair, successfully hindering light from reaching the floor and lighting one's path. This obstacle is meant to discourage a trespasser, who was lucky enough to have survived the first two barriers, and whose will was not crushed by the onslaught of mist and snow. For obvious convenience, Niseka and his party arrive in Detenstagem at the entrance of his mighty citadel. His sleek palace towers like an upturned chandelier, with its impressive, infinite display of silver-capped spires and enough ogee-arch, blacken windowpanes to mystify the senses. A village whose charred, shrine-like domiciles look as if they have been pummeled by an avalanche of magma surrounds the palace. Exemplary adherents to Nipercaria - or anyone Niseka so chooses- are granted permanent residence under the great Issar's glorious guardianship. Niseka has named the village Quaikodum. 

Niseka and Nelet carry the boy's body down a frigid hallway that seemed to get colder the further you went. After the cold march, they ascend an irrational sequence of narrow stairways and passages that lead them to an imposing set of doors decorated with thousands of metallic, tar-dyed serpents. These doors opened to Niseka's frigid, shadowy quarters- the loftiest, most radiant vantage point in the realm for miles. Niseka prefers the coldness of his drafty chamber, but knows the temperature to be improper for their sickly guest.  So he waves his hand activating a ring of faint lights that emit enough heat to warm the room. Everything was already prepared: the bed made, a gown laid out, and a hot bath running. They immediately bathe VerNous, detangled his hair, and put him in a warm garment. Nelet, taking care of some duties in the washroom, watches Niseka as he carefully lays the ill VerNous in his bed; his vitals are still very faint and his breathing dreadfully shallow. Niseka kneels down and admires him as he lifts locks of moist hair from his face, stunned by death's and darkness' failure to mark the boy's pleasant appearance. He then clutches VerNous' frail hand while holding the talisman, and murmurs an inaudible incantation whose residual powers cause the lights to flicker and flames to sway. This wasn't the first time Niseka had witnessed death imprint itself upon the boy's face. Though, his condition now differed greatly from the past. For VerNous is an issar who had savored 300 years of life, only to be met with death a second time after already suffering a mortal's death. It's a frightful memory come alive, yet Niseka pushes through and finds the strength to win over those negative ties. All the while, Nelet has finished with his duties and then notices Niseka remains seated by the bed.  He returns to him to ask, 

     “You've been here for some time, master. Should I have the kitchen prepare a soup?” Niseka answers staring the boy's direction,

     “No, not soup, he's far too weak. Perhaps, just some water.” Nelet laughs and shakes his head, 

     “Not for the boy, Master, but for you?” Niseka grins and replies, 

     “Oh. Yes, of course. No, I'm fine, thank you. In fact, why don't you take the remainder of the evening off. You've done exceptionally well today and have earned a night free from my summons.” Nelets bows and replies graciously, 

     “As you wish, master. Though, ring for me if should anything happen.” He bows, but as he leaves, the palace's bell resounds and rumbles the walls, signaling a visitor. Baffled by the late visitation, Nelet says, “I wonder who that could be. Very well, I suppose my final task for the evening would be to tend this unknown visitor. Excuse me, Master.” He bows again and leaves the room. Yet, Niseka, having a keen sensitivity to the palace's happenings, detects a familiar, spine-numbing presence. Soon he could visualize the visitor encroaching upon his kingdom's energy field, this dark, massive figure filling him with some apprehension. Within seconds Nelet is back and beckons Niseka, 

     “Master, this is quite unexpected, but it's Quanpo.  He waits in the southern pavilion for you. But be weary, don't be quick to impose yourself upon him, I sense that he's not his usual forbearing self today.”