Lucy Wickshire 179 Chapter Twenty-One 12

The wind howled and snow fell without end. Other-side was covered in so much snow, it's white flakes was all there was for as far as the eyes could see. At the gate of Other-side, a large city was unusually covered in a silence heavier than the snow blanketing it's entire width. On the west side, the Avrid clan matched towards a black gate with a lofty entourage of hors.e.m.e.n, carriages and footmen. On other sides of the city, similar flashy matches could be seen approaching the tall black gate. These were the four powers of Other-side; the Lantanier, the Flutii, the Lancier and the Avrid clans.

Their appearance caused fear amongst the common people. It was rare to see this kind of flashy gathering of the four clans in one place. Silence and curiosity followed each clan on their match, till they all stood before the black gate. This gate was imposingly black, even the white snow turned black the moment it descended upon it. Though there was Ekrom; a city that stood dead centre between This-side and Other-side, this black gate was the true pa.s.sage between both sides.

The four great clans, headed by their leaders all arrived in front of this gate; tension could be felt in the air.

"Ah, everyone is here. I will a.s.sume we are all waiting for the same person." the Avrid clan head said.

"We all know that all the veins have dried; only the resuscitators can rectify this." the Lantanier clan head said.

"What we all know is that the Avrid must have done something. This begun with them, yet they hid it. Now, it has spread like a virus." the Flutii clan head accused.

"What matters is that the resuscitators are sending a representative to inspect the damage. All scores will have to be settled later." the Lancier clan head said.

"If they agree, that is." the Flutii clan head countered.

"This a chance for them to return to Other-side after staying in This-side for so long."

"Yes, I do not see why they would not take this chance. After all, we are prepared to pay heavily." the Lancier clan head agreed with the Avrid.

"Envoys approaching!" a guard announced from on top the black walls.

"Open the gate!" the Avrid clan head ordered.

The twenty feet tall black gates creaked open; It took twenty guards to wheel it open. Dark carriages lightly covered in snow could be seen from a distance. They waited patiently and watched as the carriages rolled in before the gates rolled shut behind them. Guards garbed in black emerged quickly, as the carriages rolled to a stop. A guard opened he middle carriage and a lean monk stepped out. Heavy fleece coat s.h.i.+elded him from the cold. The clan heads recognized the famous tattooed head as a symbol of the resuscitators. They somewhat felt belittled to have had to come themselves to greet mere inspector and not even the healers themselves, but swallowed their discontent.

"We are honoured by your presence, inspector. Welcome to Other-side." the Flutii clan head was first to speak. He too felt that this was beneath him, yet he smiled as he said those words. If the inspector was not pleased, he might decide to ignore their plight and not send back message for a healer to come heal their spirit veins.

"Thank you."

The soft voice that answered was not the monks, It came from inside the carriage. The monk stepped aside and made a deep bow towards the carriage door, allowing a lady stepped out. The lady's spongy white blonde hair set a deep contrast from her dark skin. Heavy white fur covered her from the cold as her sharp brown eyes took in the surrounding.

All the clan heads froze at the sight of her. This was not just anyone, they knew this face even in their sleep; this was Lady Xier of the hooded eyes. After a millennium worth of peace, a Thraine had stepped out of This-side, into Other-side.