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Chapter 37 - Chapter 7: The Three Cadiri of Umut

Bonus Chapter 7: Sariya's Adventures The Three Cadiri of Umut

Emir pointed to a spot in the distance. It looked a bit like a slum, but a clean slum. "Umut is over there. See that large house in the northwest corner? That's where the cadiri live," he explained.

"It looks like a crowded area," she remarked.

Emir nodded. "It's cheap to live there. Only a few people like the Ildirim built houses there. It's a newer section. Only about a thousand years old," he explained.

Sariya nodded. She frowned. "Is there a concern of overpopulation?" she asked conversationally as they began to walk down the steps.

Emir shook his head. "Undirheim grows to accommodate everyone. Lady Elaides promised our ancestors that all Eoduun could find a home here. Only the shunned are no longer allowed in," he explained.

Shunning wasn't as simple as everyone ignoring the person. A Priestess of Elaides had to ask for Living Judgment on the person. Once judged guilty, they were exiled from Underheim for the rest of their lives. It had to be a serious moral offense in order to be shunned. 

Although the stairs seemed endless, they reached the bottom in less than five minutes. And, although the city seemed huge, they reached the center in less than half an hour. The center of Undirheim was an octagonal plaza. There was a large building. It was the Temple of Elaides. Starshadow had the Starlit Temple, this was the Eternal Night Temple of Elaides. 

It was not only the place of worship, but also governance. The leader of Undirheim was an elected official called the Baske. Although Eoduun were matriarchal, they didn't oppress their men. The current Baske was a man. 

The current leader of the Temple was a High Priestess. Although given the same rank as the High Priestess of the Starlit Temple, she mostly concerned herself with Undirheim. She spent years learning and studying in other temples. When the former High Priestess of the Starlit Temple died of the Plague, the Temple elders offered her the position, but she refused and suggested that a Dragon should lead Dragons through hard times, so a young Dragon was installed instead and the Eternal Night High Priestess offered a guiding hand.

There were also commercial buildings with shops and restaurants. People came and went busily. Very few men in Underheim wore veils. They only really wore them outside Undirheim. They were dressed far more beautifully in rich colors and silks. Their make-up was more delicate, their hairstyles more intricate. Jewelry adorned them.

"This is the rich part of town," Sariya guessed.

Emri chuckled. "Indeed. Renting a shop here is astronomical. Far out of reach for our family," he said.

Sariya looked at him thoughtfully. "Does your mother want to rent a shop here?" she asked him.

Emir didn't notice her sudden thoughtful expression. He widened dreamily. "Yes! But, although my family is an exceptionally skilled cook, the food is all the same. The shops here have been here forever, but all the same. Even though ours is better, it doesn't matter," he said.

Sariya raised a brow. "Is it better?" she asked. "Which one here is known as the best?" she asked.

Emir gestured to a grand shop with a lot of people. "Do you need a reservation?" she asked.

Emri nodded. "Or a lot of money," he said. Undirheim used the same currency as the rest of Emphyralis. Sariya nodded. She marked the name of the restaurant. "Come, let's go," she said and began heading in the direction he'd indicated from the entrance.

Emir followed her, occasionally letting her know a shortcut. Another half an hour and they reached Umut. Although it looked chaotic from afar, it was kept clean. Children ran around, laughing and playing while their fathers would scold them from time to time as they sat around and gossiped. There was a stark difference between the men here and those in the city center.

They wore plain buns or braids with simple hairpins. Dresses were made from coarser, more sturdy fabric. They weren't poor, but they weren't rich either. One thing Sariya noticed is that even the poor weren't poor. There seemed to be societal programs in place everywhere to help people live decent lives no matter their circumstances. She liked that.

Emir stopped at a building. Some of the men were peeling the husks from a type of corn that only grew in Undirheim greeted him familiarly. "This is my family's building. The cadiri live two blocks away. You can't miss their house," he said.

Sariya nodded. She pulled out a small pouch and a container of fermented cabbage. "For your family. Try it together," she said.

Emir was surprised. He didn't expect to be paid. "There's no need! I was coming eventually anyway," he said.

Sariya shook her head. "It was still troublesome to guide this lost sister. As for the food. Try it with your family," she said the last part firmly.

Emir pursed his lips, and finally relented. "Then, go with peace, Sariya-kizka," he said, calling her sister obediently.

She smiled. "Go with peace, Emir-erzka," she said, referring to him as a brother. Ah, it'd been a long time since she'd been addressed in such a way. Only people who were truly close called each other kizka or erzka. She continued on her way. Emir was right, there was no missing the House of Ildirim. It was larger than she expected. There was a lot of lattice work, and wild gardens. There were also gargoyles perched at the gate.

"Who goes?" one of the gargoyles spoke.

Sariya looked up at the stone creature. "My name is Golgfelaket Sariya, formerly Ildirim Sariya. My father was Ildirim Orhani," she reported. She pulled out a hairpin. It was the hairpin her father always wore. She wanted to bury it with him, but couldn't bear to part with it. She showed it to the gargoyle.

Both creatures looked at each other then the gate opened. She stepped through the archway and into a courtyard. Before she was even inside well enough, the door swung open and three large breasted curvy women in flowing dresses and intricately braided hair spilled out. They were all nearing six and half feet tall. "Niece!" they exclaimed. Before Sariya could react, she was enveloped in the hardest but also softest and squishiest hug she'd ever encountered.

"Careful. I'm pregnant," she finally squeezed out.

"Bah," said the eldest aunt, Kadriya.

"You're Ildirim," said the second aunt, Osmanir.

"You may be small, but you're strong," said the youngest aunt, Lamyal.

They finally let her go and introduced themselves. They ushered her inside. They took her to a quaint and spacious sitting room. Osmanir bustled off to find some tea.

"No need second aunt. I have something for the aunts," she said. The aunts stopped and sat down.

Sariya pulled out several coffee cups and saucers. She then placed cream and sugar on the table. She didn't think the aunts would use either, but it was still an option. She then pulled out a carafe of steaming hot coffee. "This came from a world I recently visited. It's very bitter. I enjoy it, but cream and sugar can tame it, but if the aunts are like me you won't need any," she said and politely poured them each a cup of steaming coffee.

Coffee would probably soon take Emphyralis by storm. After trying it, Britiana had to add several heaps of sugar and cream to hers before she found it palatable. She eventually grew a fondness for it after she was introduced to "coffee culture" and found out coffee was the basis for many drinks that may as well be desserts. Darius, on the other hand, fell in love with the mellow, bitter flavor. They would undoubtedly propagate its spread soon.

The aunts politely took sips. This was the first gift their niece gave to them, after all. It seemed she'd planned for it. They brightened. "Very nice!" Kadriya exclaimed.

"Wonderful!" Osmanir agreed.

Lamyal nodded, too busy sipping to say anything.

Sariya also provided a few desserts, mostly lemon or other tart things. The aunts finally asked while they ate. "You're so small. Your father must have died early," Kadriya said. 

"If we'd known where to find you, we would have come once we realized Orhani was no longer alive. He used to send us letters all the time," Lamyal said with a sigh.

Sariya was touched. "You knew about me?" she asked.

"Oh, yes. We were excited to meet you. Your father promised to bring you back when you turned twenty-five for your hair cutting ceremony," she said. It was a common Eoduun practice in Underheim. A twenty-five-year-old girl would cut off her hair and offer it as a gift to Elaides. It signified her new life as an adult, leaving childhood behind.

Sariya smiled. "I performed it myself. The Eoduun where I lived thought I was insane," she said with a chuckle.

Osmanir chuckled. "I can imagine. I'm sure even so far away Elaides heard your heart. She must have guided you back to us," she said, feeling tearful.

Sariya smiled. That was possible. Her meeting Britiana and Darius was such a one-in-a-million chance. 

"You took your husband's name? Why are you alone?" Lamyal asked her.

Sariya's smile faded a bit. She told them about Qahim's circumstances. "Since he was alone, I wanted to continue his mother's family name," she said. "So, when my daughter is born, she'll carry it on," she said.

The aunts sighed. Their neice's fortunes had been earned with tragedies. They'd make sure she had a good life from now going forward. No matter what happens from now on, their niece and their little great-niece would be under the protection of three cadiri of Umut.

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