The Chamber of the Ancients: Wrak-Wavara: The Age of Darkness Book Two

by Roberts, Leigh

  “I thought, from our history, that was part of the problem that caused the anger of the Great Spirit and sent the contagion,” said Norland.

  “It was the indiscriminate and rampant mating of the females without their explicit consent, and the females being continuously seeded. The females had no choice. This is different because I have a say; it is I who selected the female who will be joining our pod,” Kyana answered.

  “But she will not just be joining our pod,” Norland objected. Kyana knew he understood that this arrangement would not only be one of protection and provision; his father would be mating with this new female.

  “Where will she live? Certainly not with us,” Dotrat said. Sensing the tension, the younger daughter started to cry. Her older sister, Lai, picked her up to comfort her.

  “We do not always get to choose what comes our way. Your father has decided this, and it is up to us to make the best of it. But no, to answer your question, she will have separate living quarters. Any offling she bears will live there with her. And I expect you to make an effort to welcome and accept her,” she said.

  “I will do as you ask, Mother. But I do not think this is right. What does Toniss think of this?” Dotrat asked, referring to his father’s mother.

  “I do not think she knows,” Kyana replied. “Neither, I assume, does Trak.”

  Nor did she think it would make any difference. Nox’Tor cared nothing for Toniss’s mate, so Trak would not have any influence.

  “Who is it?” asked her daughter, Lai, still holding Somnil.

  “Her name is Lorgil.”

  “Lorgil seems nice enough. I am glad you chose her,” Lai answered.

  Kyana turned her head and squeezed her eyes shut, shutting off the stinging tears.

  Norland stepped closer and put his arms around her. “I am sorry, Mother. This cannot be easy on you, either.”

  She nodded and leaned her head against his shoulder. The others gathered close, having seen that despite her strong front, their mother had been hurt by their father’s decision.

  They stayed huddled together for another moment, and then Kyana said, “Come. Let us pick some more berries and take them back for Lorgil. That will make a nice welcoming gift for her, yes?”

  She discreetly wiped the tears from her eyes and led them back to the berry patch to collect as many for Lorgil as they could carry.

  As they walked home, Kyana saw Nox’Tor speaking with Wosot. She motioned for her sons and daughters to go on, and Nox’Tor stared at her as she approached.

  “I have spoken with our offling. They know what is happening.” And then, not being able to help herself, Kyana said, “But they asked if Toniss knows of it.”

  Nox’Tor openly glared at her.

  “Why would I have consulted with Toniss?” he finally said. “She is not the Leader; she is not Kayerm’s Adik’Tar, and the running of Kayerm is not her concern. I will call an assembly tomorrow, and Lorgil and I will be paired.”

  He turned to Wosot. “Prepare a living space a little way down from ours. Let Lorgil know of it so she can begin moving in. I want to be paired before tomorrow evening.”

  “If you have no need of me, I will be leaving,” Kyana said and walked away to catch up with her offling.

  When her mate came to their bed that night, she pretended to be asleep.

  The next day, Nox’Tor did as he had said, and soon everyone was assembled around him as he once more stood in his father’s customary place. Kyana and their offling stood at the back.

  All eyes were upon him as he spoke.

  “I have called you together to announce some changes. Since my father has left Kayerm to me, I have decided that some of our customs must change if we are to flourish. First of all, the A’Pozz plant, which was used by Ridg’Sor to poison my father’s mate, Ushca, is no longer permitted here. Now that there is common knowledge of its properties, it is too dangerous to have around. Secondly, no longer will females be paired to only one male.”

  A loud murmur rose up from the crowd. One female after another exchanged glances, their expressions ranging from confusion to anger. Nox’Tor felt his heart pounding, and for a moment, he feared an uprising. He scanned the faces and startled when he found his mother, Toniss, scowling at him.

  “Please, please. Quieten down,” he said. “I know this is a return to the old ways, but our numbers are greatly reduced. We will not survive long if we do not increase our population. One harsh winter or serious food shortage, and we could lose many of us. If that happens, we will not be able to recoup our losses. To that end, I have asked my First Choice, Kyana, to select a Second Choice for me. She has selected Lorgil.”

  He motioned for Lorgil to step forward.

  No one was listening any longer. The crowd was stirring, and Nox’Tor could see his mother coming up to speak with him. Lorgil had taken a few halting steps forward and then stopped as Toniss marched past her.

  “Nox’Tor, what are you doing?” Toniss asked as she approached. “Have you learned nothing from the tragedy of our history?”

  “Not now, Mother,” he hissed. “You are embarrassing me.”

  “You embarrass yourself, Nox. Why did you not come to me with this idea? You are Adik’Tar now, but that does not mean you do not need the counsel of others. Surely Wosot does not approve of this. Wosot was one of your father’s most trusted advisors. And I am confident by the look on Kyana’s face that she does not, either. Only a fool makes such huge decisions on his own. You have not enough experience to be making wide, sweeping changes.”

  Nox’Tor felt his anger rising at being humiliated in front of everyone. “It has already been decided.”

  “Then undecide it,” she snarled.

  “It is too late; I cannot. I will lose their respect,” he whispered to her.

  “You already have,” she snapped. Then she turned and strode back to her mate’s side.

  Nox’Tor was grateful for the clamoring of the population; hopefully, as a result, few had witnessed the exchange with his mother. He took a deep breath and clenched his fists behind his back. Seeing Lorgil stopped halfway on her approach to him, he waved her forward.

  “People of Kayerm,” he had to shout to get their attention. “Quiet. Quieten down now. I realize this may feel like a shock. I am not ordering you all to comply at this time. But let the idea sit with you, and you will see the wisdom in it. And as your Leader, I will pave the way for this change.”

  He turned to Lorgil and reached his hand out to her.

  “Do you choose me over all others?” he asked her.

  Lorgil placed her hand over Nox’Tor’s heart and said, I, Lorgil, daughter of the House of ‘Nas, choose you over all others.”

  Then Nox’Tor placed his hand on Lorgil’s head and said, “I Nox’Tor, son of the House of ‘Tor, accept you as my Second Choice.”

  In the back of the crowd, Norland put a protective arm around his mother and looked at his siblings, shaking his head. “An awkward and rushed ceremony,” he scoffed.

  “Come,” Kyana said. “We must go and welcome Lorgil. It is the least we can do for the pitiful pairing she just experienced,” and she led them to the front, where Lorgil was standing.

  When they reached the front, Kyana realized that the murmuring crowd had not dispersed. For her offling’s sake and for Lorgil’s, she turned to address them. “Thank you for coming and witnessing the pairing of your Adik’Tar and Lorgil, who is now his Second Choice. My offling and I welcome her to our family. Please enjoy the rest of your day.”

  Hopefully, they would take that as a cue to disband.

  It worked. Talking still, they slowly started to move away. As Toniss was leaving with Trak, she caught Kyana’s eye and slowly shook her head as if to say that she was sorry for her son’s bad judgment.

  That evening, alone in her sleeping area, Kyana cried herself to sleep as she tried to block the sounds echoing up from down the tunnel. Sounds of the male she had committed her life to so many deca
des before, the male she loved, whose offling she had born, voraciously claiming his Second Choice.

  Chapter 3

  Like it or not, Pan could not stay hidden in her quarters for long. After freshening up in the personal area, she instinctively left to find her mother. Then she stopped. Mother is dead. What am I doing? Her mother and father were both gone; she must now find her way by herself.

  With the Mothoc Healers and Leaders having left, including Rohm’Mok, she felt at a loss about what to do next. She found herself walking aimlessly, and before she realized it, was standing in front of Kthama Minor. She looked up at the huge rock put in place by those helping her father.

  Suddenly she became aware of movement over to her right. “Tyria!”

  “I did not mean to startle you.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I come here sometimes,” explained the Healer. “I feel drawn to this place, and I do not know why. I know we are not supposed to keep the past alive.”

  “I understand, though,” said Pan. “Despite the efforts to cloak its history, this is still a mystical place. I do not think the Akassa pay it any mind, though. Perhaps it is now a sacred place for Healers and Guardians to gather,” she joked lightly.

  “Perhaps so. How are you doing, Pan?”

  “I am adjusting. And you? Your offling is growing,” Pan said as she glanced down at Tyria’s expanding belly.

  “Yes. I left Kayerm just in time. I did not want it known that Ridg’Sor had seeded me. Thank you for taking me in, for your father taking me in. Your sister Vel has been particularly attentive to my needs. And she told me Oragur has offered to help finish my Healer training.”

  “You are a blessing, and I am glad to hear that it seems you will be staying with us as our Healer. I know you have family elsewhere, but—” Pan sighed and added, “I feel a need to get back, though I do not know why. I am not sure what to do with myself, to be honest.”

  “Any time you want to talk, I am here,” Tyria offered.

  We could both use a friend, Pan thought. “Thank you. Stay as long as you wish, do not let my interruption cut short your time here.” And she left Tyria to her solitude.

  Over the next few days, Pan struggled, and as a result, spent a great deal of time alone. She felt called to return to the meadow where she and her father had engaged the Aezaiterian flow and the Order of Functions, but she ignored it. As she was hiding in her quarters, someone clacked the announcement stone outside.

  “Come in,” she called out.

  “Forgive me,” said Dochrohan, “But a messenger has come to let your brother know that they have several females for him to meet at the other communities. I thought you would want to know.”

  Pan nodded. “Thank you. When will he be leaving?”

  “I believe shortly. He said he plans to be back by the High Council meeting.”

  He is not wasting any time, Pan thought bitterly. She wondered if he intended to leave Kthama and live at his mate’s home. Surely, he would not abandon her altogether

  “Where is he now?”

  “He was in the Great Chamber a moment ago.”

  Pan went immediately to find Dak’Tor.

  “I hear you are leaving for a few days?” she asked.

  “Two of the other communities have females for me to meet. I am excited, Pan.”

  “What are your plans, Dak? Do you intend to take over the leadership of Kthama? Do you even plan to return here after you are paired?”

  “If the High Council members, in their wisdom, decide that for me to take up the mantle of leadership is the best choice for the High Rocks, then I will bow to their judgment,” he said. “But I think Hatos’Mok made it clear that would not happen.”

  “What about your responsibility? You are the first son. The only son. It is your place to lead.”

  “An act of chance. You should have been a male and born first. I am not cut out for it, trust me. I know this about myself, even if you do not.”

  Pan shook her head. “No one truly knows their own strength until they are tested.”

  “Again, in all the time since it was formed, the High Council has never overturned a Leader’s choice of successor. You know as well as I that they will not now, either.”

  Pan had to look away to compose herself. He is right. “How long will you be gone?”

  “I do not know. As long as it takes. I am traveling up to the Deep Valley, then back down to the Little River. It will take some time.”

  “Just let me know when you return. I hope you find a few females you like, but remember, which one you pair with will be the High Council’s decision.”

  The weeks passed, and before long, it was time for the High Council to meet. Pan had already sent word through the community of the High Rocks that the High Council was reconvening there, so there was plenty of time to prepare. A large meeting room had been prepared, as well as temporary living quarters for the travelers.

  Pan looked at the ‘Tor Leader’s Staff, still in the same place her father had left it. She let out a huge sigh, then walked over and stood in front of it.

  Finally, she reached out and wrapped her fingers around it. She closed her eyes. Kah-Sol ’Rin.

  A moment passed. Pan realized she had been expecting to feel something when she finally grasped the sturdy wooden staff. Some type of supernatural anointing, perhaps. Instead, only sadness came over her. It was as if taking the staff in hand made her father’s death just that much more real.

  She picked it up, feeling its heft and balance. The thick wooden staff was taller than she was, with an obsidian base. Through the ages of their existence, only a few had ever carried it.

  Pan sent up a heartfelt prayer. Please, Great Spirit, grant me wisdom that I will prove worthy of this role my father has chosen for me.

  Pan slowly made her way from her quarters to the Great Chamber where the High Council was waiting. As she entered at the back of the room, conversation dwindled, and everyone turned in her direction. What faced Pan was a polarization of builds and features. Those left of the original Leaders were pure Mothoc. But there were also those whom she considered to be full-blooded Akassa—those who were to become the Mothoc’s partners in the leadership of their communities.

  Pan was aware that most eyes were not on her but on the ‘Tor Leader’s Staff. She paused mid-way down and realized that the huge room was in absolute silence. Are they waiting for me to lead the High Council as well?

  She took her place at the front. “As Leader, I thank everyone for journeying here.”

  The ‘Tor staff in her hand made it clear she had accepted the leadership of the High Rocks.

  “I would like to open the meeting with any reports you wish to share about your communities,” she continued.

  The Leaders’ reports were much the same. Life was going ahead, and interestingly, the Akassa seemed less affected by what had happened than were the Mothoc.

  When they were done, Pan spoke again. “Dak’Tor left on his way to the Deep Valley and the Little River in search of possible mates. Does anyone have news of this?”

  Hatos’Mok spoke up. “He left the Deep Valley quite some time ago. We had several females for him to meet, and my mate, Deparia, attended to him.”

  “He was still at the Little River when I left,” said Pnatl’Rar.

  Pan nodded. “Thank you. The last time we all met, we spoke about the laws. I would like you to consider again the idea of forbidding Healers to pair and bear offling.”

  Frowns all around. “What would be the purpose, Guardian?” asked Tres’Sar from the Far High Hills.

  “It should be obvious. We lost Lor Onida as a result of giving birth to her offling, Liru. My mother died from a complication of being seeded. While I would not say the loss of any one member is more important than another, the loss of a Healer is devastating to a community. Had Kthama had a Healer here at the time my mother first started having pain, perhaps she would not have died. Something could have been d
one earlier.”

  Oragur stood up to respond. “In some cases, what you say might be true. Had the cause of your mother’s pain been identified earlier, it could perhaps have been resolved, but no Healer who has seen the problem your mother had has known any to survive. And it seems severe to forbid Healers to pair and have offling because of one situation. Besides, my daughter Krin has just been paired and is hopefully soon to be seeded. What would you suggest in her case?”

  “It was just at the last full moon that you announced she wished to be paired. When did the High Council select a mate for her?” she asked.

  “They did not. We assumed that a Healer should have the same right as a Leader to select their own mate,” Oragur said.

  The others looked at Pan.

  “That is not what was agreed to. What is happening to us? Are we going to splinter and make up our own rules and guidelines?”

  In that moment, Pan knew that if someone did not intervene, if someone did not step up and take charge, all the progress her father had made in bringing cohesiveness to the people would turn to ashes.

  She steeled herself. “As you can see, I have accepted my father’s choice that I lead Kthama,” she announced. “And as my father was the High Council Overseer, I ask to assume that position in his stead. I would suggest my brother, but it is clear by his absence that Dak’Tor has other goals in life than service to our people.”

  She regretted the bitterness in her words, but it was too late.

  “Guardian, Leader of the High Rocks, and Overseer of the High Council?” asked Hatos’Mok. “Are you not trying to do too much?”

  “It is not my preference. But it is clear to me that if my father’s legacy is to continue, to bring our people peacefully into the future in an organized fashion, then someone has to step into his place. If no one else wishes to, I am willing to make that commitment.”