Rose stood on the crumbling Nexus when Mendean fell. She stared up at Valnar as she held the book tightly. “We were too late. I’ve failed my fallen Lord.” She gritted her teeth as she quickly got them out of the Nexus. They landed at the outer edge of the Oasis. Rose knew where they were, there was no mistaking those noises or the color of the trees.

Her robes blew in the wind, their bright blue and gold silk dancing among the flying sand particles. Her blue eyes got wide as she looked over at her Drow companion. “I’m sorry to have dragged you all the way there only to find the destruction that awaited us. My vision must have been clouded.” She covered her eyes for a moment. “I grew to close to the ideals of this book.” She held it closely once more. “We have to hide it.”

Her long brown curls were pulled back and the look on her face was of pure disappointment. “No one else can have this book Valnar. This is the one place it will be safe, lets just hope I have allies here.” She looked up into the oasis and began the hike to Sularia. “This is my home country. When I was reborn this was where I was. I was placed in the Spiritual Underground Lake to let the spirits mingle with my soul. This was where I took my second first breath.”

No doubt she had told him how she had already died once, that that was how she became an Oracle of the Roses. That was what she was, underneath the guise of being Judge’s oracle… She belonged here with her people. The Rosenite walked through the tropical jungle until they stood in front of the massive gate of Sularia with it’s colorful buildings and designs of gold, silver, and many different gemstones.

“Princess Rose! You return, we were fearful you were dead like so many others.” The guards were happy to see her. She was an oracle many knew her but these people… She looked at their white rose necklaces.

“Is my mother here?” Rose had a look of pain as she expected the worse, that they would have to hunt her down.

“Faithfully leading her court here as she should. Is that shocking?”

“It’s out of her characteristics as a Rosenite to even want to lead from a place like this.”

“Your step father and the situation with your missing brother have a lot to do with that my lady.”

Rose’s eyes grew wide. “Where’s Jayden? He cannot go missing,” she began to panic as visions began to flood the visions of when her brother Costel had died. The rampage her mother had gone on. Finally her body stopped its convulsing and she tired herself out. “I’m sorry… I fear I am not yet over the death of my brother.”

The guards looked stunned but they shook their heads. “You are damaged like your mother but you fair much better than she does. She is at home, you should go rest there… Welcome to Sularia, home of the Rosenites.” They told Valnar. “My Lady’s home is the White Court Manor.. Follow the Fire Statues and you will find it. It’s made out of white rock.. Not hard, it’s near this district.” They pointed up to a tall building far from the entrance but clearly in the district. “She needs rest after that, we shouldn’t have mentioned Jayden’s disappearance.” 

Rose shook her head, “No, I’m glad you did. I want to be strong when Mother tells me about it. She does not need to see what pain this causes me.”

Valnar felt nearly as disappointed as Rose looked, he had offered to help and it had begun so wonderfully. It had almost been an adventure as Valnar had always imagined they'd be and now to meet with such a huge setback. "No need to apologize Rose," Valnar pulled up his hood against the wind and stinging sand while he also draped a comforting arm around Rose's waist to steady her during the hike, "I'm here for you to the end and beyond, I made a promise and I try to not go back on my word. I'm sure you'll have someone here who will keep the book." Valnar smiled though disappointment still plagued his mind and soul like a hope devouring sickness.

The view of the oasis though almost made Valnar forget his disappointment and guilt entirely. It was if a gleaming emerald had been placed in the fiery embrace of a flow of magma, the green, vibrant trees contrasting beautifully against the scorching heat death of the desert. Valnar had only ever seen his own small village and parts of the surrounding area his short existence. If anything Valnar owed Rose a thousand times over for showing him as much of the world as he'd seen since joining her back in Adeluna. No matter what happened Valnar would forever be grateful simply for Rose showing him the world. 

They eventually arrived at the gates where they were greeted by a pair of Rosenite guards, Valnar respectfully remained quiet as Rose discussed the situation of her home and family. His comforting arm about her waist became one of gentle yet firm support through her convulsions. Valnar memorized the directions given by the guard, "Right, White Court Manor near the district," Valnar glanced apprehensively at the imposing building pointed out by the guard. Royalty always made him nervous, he never knew how to act in such glorious and opulent situations. "Come Rose we must get you somewhere you can rest." Valnar's moss green cloak and ebony arms guided Rose through the gate and towards the Fire Statues. Once they had walked a few minutes Valnar asked, "Who are we here to find Rose? Will your mother take the book or are we searching for someone else? I must admit that I'm a little apprehensive about meeting your mother," Valnar smiled timidly, "look at me you'd think I was a suitor from lower standing." Valnar laughed deeply. Valnar had to admit there were a lot of things he'd done since joining Rose, nothing terrible and all were things he'd never have done had he adventured on his own. Another thing he must thank Rose for, she always seemed to encourage growth in him and bring out his best. Valnar couldn't imagine what life would be like or where he'd be now without Rose.

Rose gave a deep smile as he encouraged her. It was the same way she had been encouraging him over their travels and finally he was returning the favor, not that she had asked him to. “Good, I never did like promise breakers.” She teased him softly. Though she only could imagine her mother’s reaction to Valnar. 

The oracle leaned into Valnar as her visions continued. It would probably remain that way until she bathed in the healing springs in the vault. She needed to reconnect with the spirits and they needed her. She put her hand to her forehead and smiled at him. “Thank you for helping me.” Her steps were shaky but she was strong through it, she was Toya’s daughter.

She shook her head gently. “I’m hoping my mother will get us into the underground. I have more than one reason to get into the vault today. The book will be safe in the deepest reaches of the castle and the spirit spring is there as well. If I bathe in it my visions will finally come under control.”

She took a moment and laughed. “My mother met my father when she was fifteen, ended up pregnant out of the blue with my brother. My mother is the least noble person in power compared to my aunts and cousin. She is sort of a loose cannon.” 

They got to the manor and she knocked on the door. “What the fuck do you guys want from me now?” Toya opened the door with a slam. She was dressed in an oversized white tunic, most likely Rose’s step father’s. Taking one look at her daughter Toya lept onto her. “Rose! I didn’t think you made it.” The Rosenite had tears of joy as Rose released Valnar to hug her mother. “Also,” Toya looked over at Valnar. “Do you have a fetish for Drow?”

Rose groaned. “No, I do not have a fetish for Drow! One other time did I bring one home. ONE. If you recall Father set us up.” She growled at her mother and Toya giggled softly as she rubbed her face on Rose.

Toya looked like Rose except for the eyes and her heart shaped face was more defined than Rose’s. “Come in, please. Blaine will be so happy you are home.” 

Rose stopped for a moment as she was about to enter. “I have business Mother. I need to get into the vault.”

Toya tilted her head and thought on it. “I can do that but I have to change. In the mean time, come in and get comfortable in the entry way. I need to actually play my part if I’m going up to the castle.” The mother skipped her way up the stairs almost in childlike joy over Rose being home.

“See? No questions, you’ll be fine.” She found a seat on a bench and lightly tapped it. “I could use the rest though, it feels like we haven’t had a break in a long time to just rest…” She held the book out in front of her. “This thing caused a lot of trouble.”

The shouting from behind the door made Valnar grow nervous which quickly melted into joy at seeing Toya's reaction to seeing Rose again. Valnar bowed out of respect when Toya's attention turned to him but mostly it was to hide the snicker that surfaced when Toya had asked if Rose had a fetish for Drow. A snicker that turned into an outright, full laugh at Rose's defense against her mothers accusations. They loved each that was easy enough to tell and it was a joy to Valnar see people who loved each other this much, it reminded him for a moment of Jeffers and Alia but that thought was quickly shoved back into the mental vault it had escaped from.

Valnar watched, amused and greatly relieved, as Toya skipped away up the stairs to get changed. At Rose's request he sat next to her on the bench as they waited for her mother to return, "If all your other family are similar to Toya I think we may find more adventure here in Sularia." Valnar winked. He hadn't meant at all that he preferred Toya's company to Rose's just that this seemed like his kind of city, already in with one of the ruling families and he was finding the warm, dry desert air to his liking though his cloak was beginning to be a little much. "She may cure me of my apprehension of royalty." Valnar turned back toward Rose, "What's so important about this book again, I don't think I fully understand from what you have told me." Valnar undid his cloak as he voiced his question, this building was beautiful but he was looking forward to a room at a local tavern and possibly a mug or two of the local beer. He quickly turned back to Rose after folding his cloak smiling mischievously, "I also want to hear more about this Drow fetish of yours, it sounds like quite the story from what little I could pick up."

Rose smiled at him for a moment and laughed. “No, my mother is very unique but the situations she gets herself into with her sisters… They might make you laugh.” The oracle put her hands up and cupped his face. “Hey, I’ll cure you of all your anxiety about Royalty. My family is quite… fun to be around, not just my mother but the amount of care they have for what we do.” She rubbed his cheek with her thumb and dropped her hand.

Her blue eyes watched him take his cloak off and she tilted her head. “Well, this book possesses events of the future. Dangerous events. Wisdom for centuries knew that these things would happen, so he wrote them all down. I was suppose to give it to his son, but he fell. I’m not sure if it is even needed anymore. The fate string of this book has been broken… So that means that it was tied to Mendean. Still the book is powerful and I must hide it. It’ll be safest in the vault.”

She gave him a look. “My father once tried to get me a suitor by putting up a notice. Two drow showed up to be interviewed to be my mate. To say the least, it didn’t last long. It is weird to be set up by your father because all you do is work. I was sixteen… I’m in my thirties now but I can’t quite remember how old I am.” She giggled softly.

Toya came back down in a corset and pants. “Let’s go children!” She gave a smirk to Rose. “To the vault! Well, I’m getting you in. It creeps me the fuck out so you are going the rest of the way by yourself.” Rose made a face and sighed.

“Alright, I don’t like the vault either but it is a tradition mother.”

“It’s a tragedy and I’d rather not be around it.” Toya was quick to correct her as she threw a plain dress at Rose. “You are going to take a bath in the spring. Change out of your robes and into that when you are done. You’ve done a lot of traveling and the wear is showing.”

The White queen took them into the city. Rose was having a hard time holding herself up. She held onto his arm as they moved. The closer they got castle the weaker she got as if the spring was calling. “You are going to have to carry her in.” Toya stopped and waited for him to carry her. “It’s the spring and how it isn’t connected to her at the moment. When she fell through the tear, it must have unformed the bond. I’m surprised she is alive to be honest. The only reason she is alive is because of the spirits and their bond with this place.” Toya wasn’t being harsh. Rose was nearly passed out.

They got to stairway by the castle. It led deep underground. “Go down there and talk to the oracle at the table. They should know Rose. I told them she would be coming eventually.” She rubbed Rose’s hair and smiled. “Take her down there please.”

The walk down would be cold, and it would get colder more as they got down. The oracle that sat at the table looked up at Valnar with the same blue eyes as Rose. “Welcome, my she does look terrible. I haven’t seen her ever look this bad.” The oracle got up and rounded the table. “Rose? Are you awake?” The oracle tried to touch her and Rose swatted at her.

“I’m awake enough. I need the spring and then I need to talk to Bryony is she here?”

“She is around, but first your condition needs to be tended to. This way please.” The vault opened up. What was inside was the reason why Toya didn’t’ want to. Bodies were lined wall to wall, up and down. “These are Eshari victims that the Oracles take care of.” They looked more like little dolls. “I’m sure Rose will explain what it is when she is done with her bath.”

There were Oracles tending to the girls and combing out their hair. They were so lifeless but yet they obviously weren’t. The oracle led him through the underground catacombs of the castle. More bodies of girls. Until finally they were at the top of another staircase. “Down there is the lake. I would suggest taking her in so she doesn’t drown. Feel free to strip your clothes.”

The oracle just left them there. Rose grunted a bit in pain. “Let’s just get this over with, I don’t care if you just throw me in.”

As Rose discussed the importance and danger of the book Valnar nodded in understanding, it definitely sounded like something that needed to be guarded and kept from dangerous individuals. He chuckled at the story of the Drow suitors, Valnar wished he had been there to see that mostly to see Rose's reaction but also to see some of his own kind. Since leaving the Deet farm and everywhere he'd been he still was yet to see any other Drow.

When Toya returned Valnar stood with Rose, holding her about the waist again while they made their way to the vault. The journey through Sularian streets would be on that Valnar always remembered. The streets were made of all kind of precious metals, gold and silver sparkled and shined in the sun, trees swayed in the cool breeze. It amazed Valnar just how much more tolerable the desert air could be when experiencing it in an oasis. Everywhere Valnar looked were women seemingly going about doing jobs usually held by men in most other cities, guardswomen patrolled the streets, tailors, butchers, bakers. They were all the most beautiful women that Valnar had ever seen as well, this place was truly a rose in the desert in every sense.

Upon arriving at the castle Toya told Valnar where to take Rose and he nodded his head in acknowledgement as well as in respect, "Of course Toya, thank you for everything." As they descended the stair though Valnar found himself wishing he hadn't left his cloak at Toya's place, it seemed to drop a degree with every step you took down into the earth. Having descended and seen the oracle at the table they made their way through the vault, Valnar looked around, "I can see why Toya didn't want to come through here, it certainly is creepy as fuck. Maybe creepy is a little strong, eerie seems more appropiate." Valnar smiled at Rose, "Let's make our way to the lake we need to get you back to full health and function."

The lake was nearly as beautiful as the surface, the only difference was in the care that went into making the city above look it's best and aesthetically pleasing to those who lived there whereas the lake held that beauty that comes from simply existing. It stretched away into the dark of the cavern to where Valnar could barely make out the opposite shore it also seemed to have a soft, spiritual aura of blue coming from it. Valnar could tell that this was a holy place.

Valnar gently set Rose down with her feet in the water and chuckled at her desire to be thrown in and then put on a mock serious face, "Of course Rose, the only question is how far would you like to be thrown? It must be far enough to allow you a proper bath, yet not so far as to allow your initial weakness cause you to drown." Valnar winked at Rose to show that he had been jesting, in fact the entire walk over Valnar had been concerned about Rose's growing weakness though he had been more than willing to carry her it had still scared him slightly. Now they were at the lake and within moments of strengthening her Valnar felt he could joke a little to lighten the mood.

Valnar began undoing his armor, it wouldn't be good to get his leather armor as wet as he was going to get. Down to his linen breeches Valnar turned toward Rose, "Would you like help undressing?" he understood that Rose's independence was important to her and merely offered as a courtesy.

Rose knew the truth about the lake. She stared at it and her first memories came flooding back to her. She was barely living, barely breathing. No, she was dead when she first met this place. A baby’s soul trapped within the compounds of the earthly soul. She had been released with ties to the spirit realm. Heavens didn’t exist for people like them, no they became the spirits that guided the Rosens to victory. Rose remembered her first real breath into the world, she wasn’t like regular people. Every word ever spoken to her… she remembered.

Just having her feet in the water, the room lit up in her eyes. She seen hundreds of souls, floating and staring at her. This was a different situation compared to the girls who woke up in the lake from Eshari. No, the spirits were Rose’s life force now. She stumbled forward only to have Valnar catch her. “Sorry, to answer your question, far.” she had almost lost her breath seeing them all once more. They were elderly, young, children, and they spread all throughout the room and water. She was certain Valnar couldn’t see it but one touch from her opened his mind’s eye to it. She was trying to enjoy the lightened mood.

He could see them now too. “Don’t be scared, they won’t hurt you. They gave me life again.” Rose gave a smile as she nodded to his question. He was gentle with her as he undressed her. The sheer white dress she had would be enough for her to go do into the water. “These are the spirits of the desert, the ones who give me visions.”

Rose took Valnar by the arms as they slowly submerged into the water. She held onto her as the magic in the water began to glow even more so than it had before. It was connecting with the oracle’s body. For what seemed like miles the lake began to glow. Her eyes seemed to glow with the magic of the water as she breathed heavily. The spirits drifted in and out of her body at this point, never harming her nor taking over her body. They were energizing her. She leaned into Valnar and hugged him around his waist as she seemingly got more tired from all of the energy floating through her. “Just a little longer.” The tired voice reached up to his ears.

It was more like the spirits were stitching her to the lake, invisible threads. Millions of them spread out all over the place, as if connecting every oracle to one another. It seemed to go on for hours as they sat there in the water. Rose’s eyes drifted up to him and she gave a smile. “I feel so much better.” Her voice was still drained, “but I still feel… tired.”

It took no time at all for the magic to go back to being invisible. The spirits seemed to leave them and Rose took a huge sigh as she felt her body normalize. “I’ll never get use to that.”

For a moment, as Valnar's eyes were opened to the sight of the spirits filling the room, he was scared but at Rose's request and her reassurance he calmed and simply enjoyed the beauty and feeling of the room. Gently Valnar eased Rose out of her clothing down to the sheer white dress, upon seeing it Valnar's memories stirred. That sheer dress and his breeches were how they'd spent their first night together, it seemed almost ages ago now but Valnar would always remember and somehow seemed fitting to rejuvenating Rose now.

They descended into the water together and, as the spirits began to pass through Rose, the lake and her eyes glowed a soft magical blue. Valnar embraced Rose and pulled her into him, a moment of concern passed for Valnar who worried that this may be too much for her to handle in her already drained and exhausted condition. The moment passed though everyone they'd talked to, the oracle, Toya and the guards all said this is what she needed and most of all Rose's confidence in what was happening dissolved Valnar's concerns and doubts like the sun burning away the first dew of morning.

"Take as long as you need Rose" Valnar softly said. Valnar continued to stand as Rose's support as she regained her strength, it was the most calming and self-affirming moment that he'd ever had in his life and from that moment knew that he would always be there for Rose. He'd said it before that he would always be there for her but, until now, he had never truly understood what that meant and now he not only knew but was fully committed to fulfilling his promise.

As the magic died away and the spirits grew less and less in number Rose finally spoke again, Valnar replied, "I'm sure we can find a soft sandy shore to lie down on and continue to rest if you'd like Rose? I don't think anyone would mind if we were here a little bit longer. I don't know how much more of the contact with the lake you need? If you're feeling well enough though we can return to the surface, I know that  you wanted to find Bryony."

It comforted her to feel Valnar around. He was so protective of her even when she was at her full strength. A soft smile crossed her lips even though she was tired from all of the activity in the water. She knew she would feel rejuvenated afterwards, all she want to do was wait. The oracle steadied herself on his arms as she felt the last of the spirits leave her body. The moment they left she was hit with a surge of energy like no other. She coughed a bit as it spread through all of her body, her fingertips even tingled.

She didn’t just have normal urges to spread her magic and watch the show. There were more primal urges as well that she was sure the spirits had a hand in. She grit her teeth a bit. “Staying here… is a fine idea I think but I might have more ideas than just laying about.” She didn’t know how to tell him that her body was most certainly energetic. Perhaps it was her touch being sensual that would catch him off guard or how she tugged the remaining clothing off of her. “Sorry, but this is driving me nuts.” she had a blush to her and before he would know it she had him down in the shallow water.

Certainly it wouldn’t have been the first time she was letting loose but this time she hadn’t the faintest idea when she was going to stop. The water had its own energizing effect on her. After a while of being in the water and pretty much attempting to break him, she took a long breath and sat up on his hips. Her eyes were glued to him. “Sorry…” Or maybe he didn’t want to hear that? He hadn’t had much a choice in the matter what she was going to do to him.

“Well, don’t say sorry to him now. You went and muddled the water up.” The voice that reached her ears made Rose freak out as she pulled her now dretched linen out of the water and covered her breasts up. “BRYONY.”

“Don’t Bryony me.” The elder Rosenite was darker skinned than Rose and most definitely Toya. Her skin was like the people of Malmak’s. Her long dark hair was in curls and her blue eyes were glued on the Drow in the sanctuary lake. “The spirits did this?”

Rose nodded and she almost forgot she was holding Valnar in place as she stumbled up and threw his wet trousers at him. “It was not my intention–”

“I’m well aware it wasn’t. The spirits were highly amused, it’s not everyday they get entertainment on that level.” Bryony motioned for them to get dressed. “I’m just glad I was the one who found you. If Breanne had…”

“I would be dead…” Rose meeped a bit as she burrowed her head into the dress.

“No, I wouldn’t let her kill you… not sure about the Drow though. Get dressed both of you, I know you have business with me.”

“You seen it?”

“No, I ran into your mother and she told me.” Bryony cocked an eyebrow and laughed. “Word of mouth moves faster than the spirits sometimes. Well, Drow–”

“Valnar.” Rose corrected her.

“Valnar, welcome to Sularia and thank you for tainting our spiritual lake, not that you are the first one to do so.” There was hint of mischief in the elder Rosenite’s eyes. “I’m sure our young Rose was quite the entertainment.”

Valnar could notice a change come over Rose from the moment that she coughed, she certainly seemed more alive and more energetic and it appeared the lake had worked it's magic. Rose mentioned that she had other ideas than lying about and Valnar was just about to ask what those were when Rose's touch suddenly became sensual which was followed quickly by the removal of the sheer dress she had been wearing. Valnar stood stunned dripping water from his sodden breeches, but only for a moment, this had been something he had been wanting since they met but he hadn't ever consciously admitted it to himself until now. He couldn't get out of his breeches fast enough before they were lying in the shallow water, Valnar kicked the breeches off. He wasn't sure if the lake or the spirits affected him as well but suddenly everything had become very clear and his senses seemed heightened, the soft wet touch of Roses skin, the clean refreshing smell of the lake in her hair, the way she breathed was all so very clearly etched in reality.

The lake definitely seemed to have energized Rose, it was almost everything Valnar could do to keep up with the passionate woman, but damn him if he was going to let himself fall behind. After what seemed to be only a short moment she sat up on his waist, Valnar rest his hands on her smooth, supple thighs. Then the moment was gone as nearly fast as it had started, Bryony had arrived.

As Bryony spoke Valnar twisted beneath Rose to see who had interrupted the greatest moment of life, it had been his first time but he would never admit that except to maybe Rose one day. Rose stumbled off of him and threw his breeches which Valnar caught and put on even when he would have rather remained as he had been, "Ahh Bryony, so very nice to meet you, Rose has told me a little about you but I'm glad to have met you in person finally." Valnar winced visibly at the mention of tainting the spiritual lake though he did brighten at the mention that he hadn't been the first to do so. "I imagine those spirits enjoy a good show from time to time, I know I would if I were them." Valnar winked at Bryony hoping that he wasn't stacking sacrilege on top of tainting the lake and trying to take some of the heat off Rose. As they got dressed Valnar tried to get any glimpse he could of Rose to keep his passion alive. He had had a taste and he was intent on picking up where they had left off where no one could interrupt.

"So where are we going?"