Snippet #2549100

[Co-written with SkullsandSlippers]

96th Day

Sanctum of the Timekeepers

It took time to traverse the rest of the sands to the sanctum. Alleara was warm and sweaty but the time they reached the door and the shade cast by the building.

"Thank the gods." She breathed as she stepped into the cool shadow.

"Do we knock? Do we open the door? I had thought to be here with the lords and never thought to look into what to do should I be alone." Alleara frowned as she lowered her make shift scarf from her face. The wind had died down now that they had walls to block them from it. The sand no longer assaulted their faces or stifled their breathing.

The grand double doors that seemed almost sky-high opened with a giant groan that answered her words.

The captain looked at her before he glanced down the pathway revealing itself as the doors slowly spread apart.

Alleara stared as the doors opened. They were a marvel. Their size, their bulk. Once fully opened Alleara walked forward slowly and cautiously.

"Hello." She spoke out into the darkness, her eyes attempting to adjust increase of shadow. Alleara also noted that the temperature dropped at least another degree as she moved into the actual building.

Out of the darkness came forward two men, both similar in appearance. Estios assumed these were the Keepers. He had never seen them before, even when he was escorting lords to and from the Sanctum. He had never been inside before to know what they looked like. He would never have imagined that they looked so foreign, almost as though they were not quite human.

Their robes covered them almost completely, leaving no skin bare aside from that of their hands and head. Their facial features were quite similar almost as if they were one and the same. They were both bald, and pale as if they had never been touched by the sun. Their eyes were blue with a seemingly eerie and unnatural glow. Their cheekbones were raised high, and their lips were thin. The only difference that separated them were their height. The Keeper on the right was a head shorter than his compatriot.

Interestingly, both had tattoos and markings on their foreheads. Strange symbols that did hinted at some ancient language based on images rather than characters, they were very similar to the Queen Bitava's own birthmarks. One had a circle at the center of his forehead. The other had a line run horizontal to his eye before cutting down his cheek.

Alleara stood very still as the two approached. She suddenly was unsure of what to say or do. Without the lords she wasn't even sure she could get anything out of these men.

"Hello. We come seeking information." Her voice echoed though she did not speak loudly. Alleara swallowed.

"You come for the late queen," the two Keepers waved the two wanderers in.

Alleara nodded slowly, confusion on her face. "Yes, we come seeking information about her last days."

She wasn't sure how they knew. Had the lords sent news ahead? Had news of what happened reached the Sanctum already? Alleara was slightly on edge. She looked at Estios hoping he had some idea of what was going on.

"We are investigating some deaths in Solaria and wish to find out about the queen's final days. Would that be possible?"

"We were expecting an entourage of lords and soldiers a day or two ago."

It appeared the Keepers were unaware of the political upheavals taking place in Solaria. It was none of their business anyway. The Timekeepers' only purposes were to keep a measure of time and history for all who dwelled in the Ba'Gatha. Their sanctums were neutral territory to the frail politics of mortals. Their service to the Sun Lord was more austere than that of Matriarchs of Solaria or any other religious group for that matter.

As the two entered, the Keepers closed the giant doors behind them, sealing the bright sun away. Inside, they were almost bathed in darkness, almost. In the atrium, the sunlight shone onto a giant dial in the center. Estios studied the domed ceiling above them, there were several structures shaped like arcs that were interwoven to form a sphere meant to represent the sun.

Alleara followed, hands gripping her dress. She felt like a trapped animal even though they were being welcomed in. She didn't know how to handle this, that is what the lords had been for. Traitors and murderers...

"We thank you for seeing us."

"Come," the two Keepers spoke in an elevated tone that pierced the ever enveloping silence as they had walked in.

As the two keepers walked, their arms remained at their side. They seemed untouchable and pure. Estios had expected more of them as they walked through the pristine halls.

Alleara felt so out of her element that she felt ill. Worry knotted in her stomach as she followed them. She wondered how many visitors they received and if everyone who entered here felt the way she did.

As they walked Alleara couldn't help at look around. The architecture was phenominal. She had to keep from asking them questions about the building.

There was a moment as they walked deeper in that Alleara looked back over her shoulder toward the entrance and the feeling of being trapped overwhelmed her. Too late now. She knew that they needed to do something, to find out more. Alleara wasn't sure what was happening, what the lords were saying back home but unless she tried to continue the investigation she had no way to fight them.

"Excuse me, but where are the others?"

"Busy," the reply was terse and clipped.

Estios would have pursued further, but he felt as though the Keepers were not the conversing type. They moved with a gait that was befitting priests or wisemen as though they were on a holy sojourn.

Alleara frowned at the answer. Perhaps that is just the way they are. I can appreciate those who focus on work, the tasks at hand and have no time for small talk. She couldn't figure out why it left an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach.

She tried to keep up. She glanced at Estios and tried to look calm and reassuring though she didn't feel it.

Alleara had questions too but given the way the Keepers answered Estios she wasn't sure she would be satisfied or even get an answer. Instead she just kept following, counting the footsteps and the listening to the echoes as they moved deeper into the sanctum.

They walked through what seemed to be numerous maze-like halls, the captain himself was unsure at times which direction they went inside the structure. It seemed more like a temple to time itself than a hall of records or library as it was thought to be. The two Keepers, their guides, walked on in silence. They spoke not of where they were going, nor did they ask any further questions to the two visitors.

Then they finally stopped, outside a pair of large chamber doors, presumably leading into another wing of the building. They were large plain doors made of the same material as the great outer doors, but these felt thicker. There was nothing elaborate to them, these doors were like any other doors that they had passed. One of the Keepers bowed to the other and departed down the same hall they went. The other finally turned around to face the two of them.

"In here," he bade them follow as the giant doors began to reveal large columns and racks lined with scrolls on end. It was a quiet chamber, a rather large one. Estios was surprised at the size of the room, for when his sight first came upon the structure from the outside he would never have guessed that the Sanctum could such a large chamber.

Alleara's eyes went wide as she looked at the racks of scrolls. The space was expansive and she was struck by just how much history was stored here. She was taught from a young age about this place but now witnessing it was awe inspiring.

"There is so much history in this place...." Alleara looked around. She stopped for a moment and then quickly followed so as not to be left behind. She had questions but held her tongue for the moment.