Xo-Xu

Foreword

As the drapery was pulled, the invited staff looked on with awe at the newest statue to be installed. It was the image of an elegant lady, beautiful but forlorn as she gazed blindly at the floor. The statue glowed from the brick and iron niche, as if sunlight were trapped just below her translucent marble skin. There was a nervousness among the crowd, an uncertainty of whether applause was appropriate. This uneasiness continued for several long minutes until a cloaked figure stepped forward. He placed the statue’s ivory hand firmly into his own and bent to kiss the downcast marble face. The kiss lasted longer than was perhaps appropriate for stone. Turning finally, the man pulled back the hood of his cloak and as one the crowd dropped to a knee, eyes averted. No-one met the High Lord’s awful gaze, so no-one saw his tears. Without a word, the Lord’s Men swiftly escorted him from the hall. He was gone by the time those kneeling could stand once more. Moving closer to the statue now unveiled, the closest read aloud, “Lady Dayla, 613-637 DR, Remembered forever and loved forever more”. As the elders quietly argued the impropriety of such a statue, the others simply stood and marveled at the wonderful artistry and wondered why the High Lord would wish to place such a beautiful image of his wife here, in this underworld. “His Highness won’t even abide the likeness of himself to be worked into stone,” uttered one a bit too loudly. “It is just shameful,” agreed another. As the crowd dispersed, they did not notice the figure sitting upon a staircase in shadows not too far away, listening to their treasonous talk, and smiling. “My love, may you bring light to this darkest of places, a light so bright that I too can find you again from far, far away.” With that, Edgur stood and left Kyrm Oryroð for the final time. His wife’s image stands in the Rott Transept to this day, one hand forever gesturing toward the shelves across the hall, and one book in particular, a volume that includes all entries Xo through Xu.

Pronunciation Key: X (soft z = xanthic, xebec)

Definitions