The Hall of Doors

by Phillip Locey

  Be’naj shook her head, but felt herself smiling. “I’ve never been here before.” She unfurled her wings, whose feathers seemed somehow fuller. “Shall we see what lies up the path?” She led the way, noticing the gradual incline of the paved trail in the tendons of her ankles. Though it also descended behind them, going forward and up seemed right.

  They’d only progressed a short way when Be’naj stopped in her tracks. A pair of male humanoids flew around the bend of the mountain toward them, their pearl-like skin even more luminescent than hers. Their wings were broad and mostly white, though the tips of their outer feathers were brightly colored, matching the creatures’ hair: one brilliant gold, the other a royal purple.

  “Hold where you are, travelers. What brings your kind to the slopes of Mount Celestia, and by what means have you journeyed here?”

  The voice Be’naj heard was in her head! The lips of their welcomers had not moved, and the pair alighted a dozen paces ahead, their great wings folding behind their backs as they landed.

  “Palomar, is that you!” Saffron cried from behind. Be’naj turned to see her rushing past, a look of sheer wonder on her face.

  “Saffron min Furasi! Child of Fire, it is a gift to be reunited! Praise the wisdom of Hiruth Jeshu.”

  “May His light shine forever,” the original voice followed.

  Saffron and the gold-haired angel embraced, the taller creature’s reach lifting Saffron to her tiptoes.

  “That is quite the bruise on your arm,” Palomar commented after they’d separated.

  Saffron waved his observation off. “Come, you must meet my friends!” She grabbed his palm and drug him toward Be’naj.

  “You know these mortals, Palomar?”

  “This one at least, Jubilex. We strove together against the King-priest of Chelpa during my time of banishment.” Palomar allowed himself to be led within a few paces of Be’naj, where Saffron released him. “Wonders of the Mount, what do we have here?”

  Be’naj looked away, embarrassed by the sudden scrutiny.

  “This, Palomar, is my friend Be’naj,” Saffron answered. “We met in the forests of Ifelian, and I believe her father to be Aasimar.”

  Be’naj forced her eyes back to Palomar’s so as not to appear rude. “Hello. Your wings are magnificent!” She knew she sounded stupid, but couldn’t think of anything else to say.

  “It is my great pleasure to meet you, Be’naj. I must admit, I find myself more surprised than you look.”

  “Can you all speak with your minds?” she asked.

  Palomar nodded. “All Aasimar can, yes. In fact, most natives of the Higher and Lower Planes share such an ability. It allows us to communicate with those from other realms.”

  “I thought you were dead, Palomar,” Saffron cut in, a tear streaking down her left cheek.

  She was still smiling, though, so Be’naj tried to calm her quaking heart.

  The golden-haired Aasimar placed a hand gently on Saffron’s shoulder. “I did die, Lady Saffron. On your world. And there, I cannot return for a hundred and one years. The Silver Chord of Immortals can only truly be severed on their home plane, however. If we perish elsewhere, our spirits simply return to our native realm.”

  “Well,” Saffron said, sniffing and wiping her cheek, “I’m glad to see you again. I didn’t get to say ‘goodbye,’ and so much has happened since you left.”

  “So much, indeed. It looks as though your other friend is injured as well.” Palomar nodded in Thaelios’s direction. “Why don’t you finish introducing us and tell me more about why you’re here, while I escort you to the Celestial Fountain?”

  Saffron agreed and presented the rest of her companions. As they followed Palomar and his Aasimar partner up the road, Saffron caught up their hosts on the circumstances that had brought them all here.

  Be’naj watched closely as Saffron and the Aasimar interacted, noting her obvious affection for the one named Palomar. Perhaps it would be helpful to learn more about their connection. Maybe she could seek his advice later on how to further develop her own relationship with Saffron. Be’naj was certain she wanted something beyond friendship, but didn’t want to do anything that might push her away.

  After listening to Saffron talk for a quarter of an hour as they walked, the scenery ahead changed. Great stone buildings, polished white and enhanced with designs of precious metals, peppered the hillside. It became clearer as she gained perspective from the receding slope that an entire city was built into the face of the mountain. It extended upward beyond the visual limitation of the clouds, with the road winding higher in a series of switchbacks.

  A waterfall poured out of the mountainside beneath a many-columned temple, or at least that’s what Be’naj assumed such a magnificent structure must be: dedicated to the gods. A large pool collected the run-off at the base of the falls, and near its front, a series of artful fountains sprayed the clear water into smaller basins. She realized that she wasn’t the only one staring in amazement, noting that Saffron had ceased her story-telling.

  “Come, all who are thirsty, but especially Lady Saffron and Thaelios. You should drink from the fountain.” Palomar extended an arm toward the pools, then headed over while the others fell in behind. A stand with four metallic arms, each pointing in a different direction at different heights, held drinking horns, suspended by leather straps. Palomar choose one, dipped it in the water beneath the nearest fountain, and handed it to Saffron.

  She accepted the horn with a look of skepticism, but when Palomar nodded, she lifted it to her lips and drank. Be’naj watched with wonder as the bloom of yellow and purple on Saffron’s exposed shield arm blended back to her normal, light brown pigmentation. Saffron exhaled after her drink as if she’d been holding her breath for a while. She smiled up at Palomar, then dipped the horn back into the water for more.

  Saffron started to pass the vessel to Thaelios, but realized it would be easier for him to drink if she held it. “You have to taste this, Thaelios. The aching all over my body just vanished!”

  Thaelios drank eagerly as she tipped the horn back, spilling some around the edges of his mouth as she poured too quickly. “Oh, sorry,” Saffron apologized, leveling the horn.

  Be’naj took a few steps closer as Thaelios wiped his lips with the back of his hand, curious to witness the limits of the fountain’s healing ability. The Eladrin’s injuries were well beyond Saffron’s, after all. Before her eyes, even the melted skin outside the boundaries of his bandages regrew and smoothed itself. Thaelios, a look of astonishment on his face, used both hands to unwrap the linen from his arm and torso … it was as if the ghast’s spell had never struck him!

  “That’s incredible!” Thaelios looked to Palomar, beaming. “Thank you, a thousand times thank you! I feel whole again.” He turned to Be’naj next, still smiling, and tore the makeshift sling from his left arm before locking her in a sudden embrace.

  She wasn’t sure how to respond, but tentatively placed her arms around him just as he pulled away. “I suppose I shouldn’t pass up a drink,” she said, suddenly curious if it healed more than just physical wounds.

  “Certainly, Be’naj.” Saffron dipped the horn into the pool once more and carried it to her.

  Be’naj accepted the horn and brought it to her lips, but a loud voice boomed in her head, startling her after swallowed her first mouthful.

  “Intruders are not permitted to drink from the Celestial Fountain!”

  Be’naj reflexively closed her mouth, spilling some of the water across her chin. She lowered the horn and looked toward Palomar, though the voice was distinct from his and, given it was telepathic, could have come from anywhere.

  Palomar turned to the open street ahead, and Be’naj followed his attention to an especially imposing Celestial. Standing more than twice her height, the figure wore shining silver armor and bore two separate pairs of long, narrow wings. It advanced on her with a menacing stride.

  “Arinome,” Palomar’s calmer tone interject
ed as he raised a palm, halting the giant’s approach. “These are mortal guests, not intruders. Hiruth Jeshu himself, may His light shine forever, bade me greet them.”

  “Why was I not informed of their arrival?” Arinome tilted his head downward, possibly to look Be’naj and her companions over, but his great, golden-plumed helm concealed his eyes. “And this one… how can this be? She is half-Celestial. Who sired you, my lady? Do you owe your mortal blood to mother or father?”

  “Be at ease, Arinome. Her father’s identity is unknown to her, though I shall take them to Hiruth Jeshu, may His light shine forever, and He will know the truth.” Palomar turned to Be’naj and spoke Illanese from his mouth, though the words in her head had been Eladrin. “I am sorry if you’ve been alarmed. Arinome takes the defense of Mount Celestia seriously, that is all. You are safe.”

  “Is he another kind of Aasimar?” Saffron asked. “He’s huge!”

  “I am a Seraph, mortal woman, and I can hear you speak. You are a human, are you not?”

  Saffron straightened her posture. “I am. We come from Elisahd, looking for assistance against agents of evil.”

  “And what do mortals know of true evil? Have you ever traveled to the depths of the Abyss, or struggled against the thousand fires of the Nine Hells?” Arinome gripped the pommel of the enormous sword sheathed at his hip.

  Be’naj didn’t like the idea of a supposed protector bullying Saffron. “Evil grows first in the heart, brave Seraph. It can live anywhere when people forget to embrace compassion.”

  “And all Celestials have taken oaths to combat evil, as I’m sure Arinome is aware,” Palomar interjected. “Please, Lady Saffron, continue with your plea.”

  Saffron made eye contact with Be’naj and then cleared her throat. “Be’naj can explain our particular quest better, but the rest of us have all spent time as captives to the Dread Lich, Hadrian No More. He is a creature of Undeath, and anyone who deals in slavery qualifies as evil in my ledger.”

  “I agree with Saffron,” Be’naj said. “There is evil we know, and I fear, even more that we have yet to uncover. I received a trance-vision from the Sky Lord, Shecclad. It warned that my people, specifically the ruler of my nation, were marked for death by ‘The Name of the Beast’ – some sort of diabolical cult, from what Cauzel deduced.”

  “He is—was, our mentor,” Thaelios butted in, gesturing to himself and Dyphina.

  “I am sorry you were deprived of your freedom.” Palomar spoke to all of them but was looking directly at Saffron. “Were you successful in finding your sister?”

  Saffron nodded. “She is well… Be’naj saw her most recently. She is helping Baron Rogan search for his son.”

  “These are not the concerns of Mount Celestia,” Arinome’s booming tenor filled Be’naj’s head. “Palomar, Jubilex, I leave the mortals under your care. Make sure they do not cause mischief.” The great Seraph’s wings began vibrating up and down, different in their movement than her own. He leapt upward with surprising grace, continuing higher until completely obscured by the low-lying clouds.

  “I am sorry for that,” Palomar apologized. “What he lacks in courtesy, I assure he more than makes up for in valor. I would gladly hear more of your stories, but to keep you from repeating them, perhaps we should go before Hiruth Jeshu and let Him hear?”

  “May His light shine forever,” Jubilex added.

  “He would have to give His blessing for us to intercede on your behalf, and His knowledge and wisdom far outstrip any counsel I could give.”

  Be’naj looked to Saffron and they both nodded, which was enough for Palomar to start leading them back up the road. Be’naj stole a quick sip before replacing the drinking horn, and found that the water removed even small, physical aches that she’d not been aware of. Her heart, however, remained unsure of how to capture Saffron’s.

  Palomar’s voice snapped her attention back from staring at Saffron’s dark hair, wishing she could run her comb through it. “Be’naj, you said you received your vision from the Sky Lord … is that one of the Juda-cai?”

  Be’naj looked back to Saffron in confusion, hoping for help, but her friend was ahead of her and didn’t notice. “I’m not sure what you mean. Shecclad is god of the Sky and Mastery. He relishes excellence in all endeavors.”

  “I see. My apologies, I momentarily forgot about the differing perspectives of our two worlds. What mortals on Elisahd often refer to as ‘gods,’ we know as the Juda-cai. They are beings who reside in a strange realm called Ishmere. I was just wondering if your vision was at all similar to Jaiden’s connection with Criesha.”

  Saffron flinched at Palomar’s final words, and she finally looked back at Be’naj as they walked. “Uh, Be’naj grew up with this gift, didn’t you?” she said.

  Be’naj nodded, wondering why her friend was suddenly acting strange. “I have received visions since I was young.” A thought suddenly struck her as she recalled one of Palomar’s earlier explanations. “Palomar, if my father was indeed an Aasimar, and he died on my world, would his spirit also return to Mount Celestia?”

  Palomar paused at the turn in a switchback, allowing those in the rear of their procession to make up distance. Though Be’naj saw other Aasimar walking within the city and flitting from place to place on their angelic wings, they had yet to cross any on the paved path. She wondered if they were being purposefully avoided.

  “I suppose he would,” Palomar finally answered. “Though I am honestly puzzled at your very existence, Be’naj. I have never known of a union between Aasimar and mortal, but Hiruth Jeshu surely would.”

  Be’naj expected to hear, “May His light shine forever,” issue from the mind of their second Aasimar companion, but it didn’t come. When she looked around, she noticed that Jubilex was no longer part of their caravan.

  “May His light shine forever,” Dyphina stated after a few breaths, apparently also missing the refrain.

  “What would happen to Be’naj’s spirit?” Thaelios asked. “Would it travel to Mount Celestia, since she’s half Aasimar?”

  “I don’t have the answer to that question, unfortunately. Though I wish her a long, joyful life with those who make her happy.”

  Be’naj looked to Saffron, who she found already looking at her, and felt her heart melt. They continued up the slope, reaching a thin blanket of clouds, which they passed through. The mist was palpable, but didn’t leave her feeling damp. When they emerged above the foggy layer, she saw they were very near the huge temple she’d spied from below, nestled into the mountain above the head of the waterfall.

  A number of Aasimar stood in pairs or larger groups upon the temple’s wide, white steps, and they unanimously turned to look at the newcomers. Their hair and wingtips struck a palette of colors to shame a rainbow. Be’naj saw several of them nod, though none intruded with telepathy.

  “Jubilex went ahead to announce our arrival, so we should be expected,” Palomar said.

  “I have one more question before we enter, Palomar.” Saffron came to a stop at the base of the steps and looked as if what she had to say wouldn’t be easy for her. “You said before that all Celestials took an oath to fight evil, yet obviously they don’t all keep it. Illicurus comes to mind. I want Be’naj to have a clear, but honest understanding of her parentage. Given the splendor of your home,” she opened her arms to the beauty around them, “it would be easy to come away with a singular view of Celestials as perfection incarnate. However, I believe an Aasimar may have aided our slavers in the Wyrmsmoke Mountains when we were trying to escape. Jaiden Luminere could never account for Illicurus or his band after the war with the King-priest ended. Have you received any tidings on the whereabouts or actions of your brethren on Elisahd?”

  Palomar’s face appeared strained, almost sad. “My own past with Illicurus is complicated, for sure, and I think I understand what you’re getting at.” He turned to face Be’naj. “None of us are infallible, and you should always follow your own conscience, even if it dicta
tes a different path than those around you. Such things aren’t always easy, of course. But I do believe my kind – our kind – strive to do what is best for others as often as we can, even though the reasons behind our actions may remain invisible, or the actions themselves counter to what those we help would choose for themselves.”

  He turned back to Saffron. “I am sorry to hear that not all of my kin who were punished on your world have taken to heart the lessons we were sent to learn. I have been given no word on the actions of the Aasimar I left behind, though Hiruth Jeshu, may His light shine forever, is bound to have more knowledge of this than his humble servant. Our audience with Him will no doubt be illuminating for you in many regards.”

  Palomar tilted his head toward the great open doors at the height of the steps. “If you are ready, we shall go seek your answers.”

  Be’naj reached out her hand, and without words, Saffron took it. Their hands clasped once again as they approached the threshold of yet another door to the unknown.

  Chapter 6

  May His Light

  Shine Forever

  T haelios could hardly believe his luck. He’d gotten to peruse the personal bookshelves of the greatest Shaper who ever lived only a couple days before, and now he was about to enter the seat of power of an Upper Plane. It was a lot to take in.

  He vowed to never again take his health for granted, too. Now that the pain of his debilitating injury had been taken away, he felt invigorated and ready to accomplish anything. He allowed the rest of his companions to walk ahead of him up the steps to the temple doors, using the moment to crystalize the image of his surroundings. He noted that the street they’d been walking continued past the temple steps, leading further up the mountainside, switching back a great distance above his head. What more was there to see?

  The telepathic communication of these Celestials was a fascinating development. The Aasimar’s thoughts must somehow translate into understandable language inside each of their minds. Rhazine must’ve felt especially glad to finally be included in at least one end of the conversation. It was her choice to show up and follow a group of strangers, though, so Thaelios didn’t feel too badly.