“You owe me nothing, Lorsedi. I would, however, appreciate your thoughts on what to do next.”
A knock at the door forestalled his response. Wolloh’s nod sent Stebben to open it. The Major Domo’s back tensed. He stepped aside. A kcalo-draped figure strode into the room. He threw back his hood, exposing a rugged face filled with despair.
Wolloh grabbed his cane and rose from his chair. “Narrtep, what is it?”
“The Sebborr have taken the Atrilaasu Oracle. WoNadahem Mardree is their prisoner. She told me if anything happened to her, I was to come to you.”
A chilled silence settled over the room.
Brie felt only a deep sense of calm as Desirol’s grip tightened around her throat. A momentary loosening of his arm sent air into her lungs in a rush of fluid coolness. The space around her faded. Bone and flesh melted into the shimmering liquidity of water. She flowed from his grasp over the floor into a pool at the feet of the Statues of Sinnttee.
Water filled her senses. Heady with delight, she relished its cool silkiness. Somewhere in her last remaining speck of Human awareness, she knew that water was all she ever wanted to be.
Even as a droplet from the statue of Ceeconni’s bowl splashed from the basin into her pooled essence sealing her to humanness, Brie felt her water self swirl into the resulting eddy and spiral upward.
Esán could not take his eyes off the rising form. Composed solely of water, it gradually assumed a feminine shape. The ConDria’s glistening eyes opened in Brie’s fluid countenance. Her smile flowed into being. Curls the color of liquid glass fell in a waterfall down her back. She held up her right hand and touched the center of her palm with her left forefinger. It rippled and calmed. Laughter surged from her throat and became a song so full of beauty it made his heart ache. When she turned away, Esán knew he would die of loneliness.
With mercurial grace, and as crystalline and shimmering as Evolsefil, she flowed to Desirol and touched the knife in his hand. Efillaeh slipped into hers. Offering it hilt first, she sang out, “If you take a life with the sacred knife, it will end your own. If you save a life, it will fill your heart forever.”
He backed away, bumped into a bench, and sat down with a jarring thud. Sobbing, he buried his face in his hands.
Brie’s watery form trembled. Her silver-blue eyes glinted brighter. A single tear slid down her cheek. She caught it and watched it merge into her fingertip. A distant voice called her name. WoNa’s eyes gazed up at her from the palm of her hand.
“Shift, Brielle.”
The transition from water to matter left her shaken. Her eyes found Esán. She opened her mouth, but WoNa’s voice, not hers, filled the temple.
“You must all go to Shu Chenaro. Wolloh knows—” The Oracle’s alto tones were chopped off mid-sentence. Brie crumpled to the floor, a spasm of despair tearing through her.
Corvus was at her side in an instant. A quick touch on her moist brow cleared her confusion. She grasped his arm. “WoNa is in trouble.”
“I know. And so are we. She left a message in your subconscious, Brielle. Will you allow me to help you uncover it?”
“How?”
“Close your eyes and let yourself relax.”
Again, he touched her forehead. Her eyes grew heavy. A red curtain filled her vision. Sand whirled around her, whipping and slapping her kcalo and bringing tears to her eyes. She rotated slowly, straining to see. Gradually, the wind ceased its bansheed-wailing. The sand, pelting to the desert floor, settled. On the horizon, dark specks inched upward and grew bigger. Horses , she thought. Horses, Nissasa is traveling this way . The scene changed. She now crouched on the top of the outcropping at Eissua. Below her, men in dark kcalos crept through the palm trees. One lifted his face. Dahe’s eyes trapped hers. Wind tossed sand between them. When it settled, she looked frantically for her friends. Only desert stretched for miles in all directions—blood-red sand and the dark, menacing shapes moving toward her from the horizon.
The sound of WoNa’s voice called from the distance, “Brielle? Brielle. Beware…”
A cool touch sent the remnants of the storm flying into nothing. The horses and Nissasa’s men scattered over the sand. A face came into focus. “You did well,” Corvus said. “Nissasa is closing the gap. He will be here soon. We have to get you away from Nesune.”
Ira, Torgin, and Yaro were standing behind him, their faces filled with questions.
She scrunched her forehead, straining to remember. “Ohhhh…” “Dahe is…” The image eluded memory. “The storm is almost over,” she told her listeners, “Where’s the Mindeco?”
Esán knelt beside her. “The Mindeco is closer. He still hasn’t found the passage to the temple, but it won’t be long. What about Dahe?”
Frowning, she shook her head. “I can’t remember. I…” She scanned the faces of her friends. “Where’s Desirol?”
Esán’s eyes glazed over and refocused. He scrambled to his feet. “He’s heading for the Mindeco. I’ll go.”
Corvus stopped him. “I’ll go after him. You teleport everyone to Shu Chenaro. Do you know the raptor center?”
“I know it, but what about the energy trail?”
“Wolloh will deal with it. When your get there, stay hidden. Someone will meet you, probably Stebben. Don’t let anyone else know you’re there. Do you understand?”
“I understand.” Esán quickly gathered his belongings. “We have to hurry. Grab your packs and hang onto me.”
Brie slipped her hand into his. Ira put his arm around her and a hand on Esán’s shoulder. Torgin grabbed his kcalo and backpack and joined them with Yaro in spider form clinging to the inside of his flute case.
The last thing Brie saw before her eyes blinked to adjust to the dark interior of the raptor center were the flashing eyes of the Statues of Sinnttee.
Corvus allowed his internal radar to guide him through the passages leading to the temple’s lower level. Not far ahead, he could hear the soft tread of Desirol’s footsteps. A low growl rolled through the darkness. A gasp smothered into silence. Corvus carefully cloaked his movements and inched forward. The stench of fear and the sound of rapid breathing alerted him to the boy’s presence a short distance ahead.
Training his eyes beyond Desirol’s immobile form, Corvus picked out the crouched shape of the Mindeco. It raised its ugly head; its single eye bored a hole in the dark; its wide-nostriled nose sniffed the air. A rumble of satisfaction ricocheted off the walls, crumpling the boy to his knees. With the speed of a cheetah, Corvus shot forward grabbed Desirol by the back of his kcalo and teleported.
Their sudden appearance in front of the Statues of Sinnttee in the upper temple left them both staggering. Desirol rounded on Corvus, his face pale and his dark eyes flooded with horror. “Why did you save me? I betrayed you.”
Corvus propelled him along the marble path. “We’ll talk later. Right now I have to get you to safety without leaving a trail for the Mindeco.”
A loud snarl made them both glance back. The huge creature lumbered into the main temple and straightened to his full height. A booming roar heralded its triumph. Corvus’ eyes locked onto Desirol’s. Sheer terror screamed back at him. Grabbing the boy’s hand, he charged down the path, veered right, and leapt, pulling Desirol after him into the Abyss of the Dead.
45
ConDra’s Fire
Myrrh
A lmiralyn loved the Dojanack Caverns. The sense of antiquity engendered by stone always calmed her nerves and put her in a contemplative state. History resided in these caverns, the history of Old Earth…its shattering…its return to life with the birth of Myrrh.
She skimmed her fingers along the rough wall as she walked, touching the treasures of another age. The muffled sound of her footsteps sang a song of centuries past. Secrets in the lightless depths of the caverns called to her, enticed her to leave the worries of The Unfolding behind and discover the hidden mysteries of forgotten times.
The door to the Cavern of Tennisca be
ckoned. Her responsibilities demanded that she enter the place where she had fought the DiMensioner in her shifted form. She had not revisited the cavern since her capture and ultimate return through the heart of Evolsefil.
Stepping onto the landing at the top of the Stairway of Retu Erath, she took a moment to breathe in the air and to place her memories into their proper perspective. Today, her journey was a different one. Today she planned to bring Elcaro’s Eye back into being.
Beneath her feet the stone stairs tingled, sending a pulsing message up her legs and along her spine. Continuing her descent, she tuned her vibration to that of Tennisca. Ancient whispers caressed her cheeks and filled her mind. Initiation…resolution…release and acceptance, all were necessary for a traveler on the Stairway of Retu Erath. She opened her heart to the ancient power until she stood at last before the entrance to the Cave of Canedari, the home of the Evolsefil Crystal.
The double doors swung inward, admitting her into the silent emptiness. She made her way to a second set of doors and stepped beyond them. The Hall of Priestesses stretched empty and quiet to the end of the corridor. Her footsteps carried her into the Reading Room, across the carpeted floor, and through a door on the far side.
A flood of warm colors summoned her to an immense stained-glass window that angled away from the room’s center and spanned the breadth of the massive wall. Raising her arms, she whispered a soft command. Pieces of color in rose and green and royal blue flew from the window and scattered across the purple velvet drapes surrounding three sides of the room behind her, leaving the star-spangled heavens framed in delicate panes of glass.
Veersuni, the room established for quiet contemplation and meditation, thrummed with soft, musical chords. Guarded by the Priestesses of Canedari, Elcaro’s Eye would be safe here.
Bowing her head, Almiralyn allowed the music and the beauty to fill her. When she felt ready, she removed the miniature fountain from her pouch and placed it on the floor at the center of the sanctuary. With the window imbuing her vision with stars and moons and spiraling galaxies, she chanted:
“Elcaro, the All-Seeing-Eye,
Return to size that I may spy
Within your depths the heart of things
And all that The Unfolding brings.
Allow your magic heart to be
The center of the Veer-su-ni.
I clap my hands to call you forth.
Spring to size from your true North.”
Three sharp claps melted into velvet and glass as the fountain grew to its normal size. Almiralyn’s gaze traced the silhouetted form of the carved woman on the fountain’s rim. Bending forward, she touched the tip of the Vesen Crystal where it protruded from the top of the alabaster pedestal into the curved bottom of the fountain. Three more claps brought water streaming into the bowl. It stilled. A reflection of the window settled on the surface. It dissolved and reformed to show Almiralyn’s face. She stepped back, observing the beauty of Elcaro’s Eye juxtaposed against the night sky. Gurgling water called her back to the rim. A new image sent a thrill of fear up her spine.
Allynae paced his quarters. The thought of using DiMensionery chilled him. It had been too long since he had made use of his training. He preferred the simplicity of his life without it. The fact that the twins needed him left no choice but to embrace his gifts and get on with it. He and One Man had made the decision to shape shift to the DerTahan hawk. They had both seen one, knew its habits, and felt comfortable with it. Allynae’s question was whether he could actually make the shift. Rather than embarrass himself at the portal, he had excused himself after evening meal and returned to his quarters. He would make the shift here and return to his Human form prior to joining One Man.
Saying good-bye to Sparrow had left him desolate. I will surely see her again, but…there is no guarantee. The Unfolding is in full swing. Everything is in flux. The choices of so many will determine the end result.
He made himself stand still. It is time . Forming the image of the hawk, he let his mind embrace it. The suddenness of the shift sent him gliding around the small cave in a tight circle. As his talons touched the ground, he returned to his natural form. He had forgotten the sensation of flying—how amazing it was to take flight. He paced to the mirror.
“Remember who you are,” he told his reflection. “Remember why you are doing this. Get the job done so you can return to your quiet life.” Even as he spoke the words, he knew a quiet life would be a long time in coming. “I’d best be going.” He stared again at his reflection—water-blue eyes, a nose almost too big for his face, dark brown hair shot through with silver. “I am Allynae, and thus it shall always be.”
Gathering his courage, he left the cave and made his way to the Nervac Portal.
One Man had bid his farewells and promised Merrilea he would be careful. Now he waited for Allynae and Almiralyn at Nervac, the cavern portal. Its destination point would put them right in the midst of Nissasa’s soldiers. One Man felt no fear, only the need to move. His heart told him Esán needed him. He also knew a change had occurred on DerTah, a change that could impact the outcome of The Unfolding. Urgency nagged at him to be on his way.
Allynae rounded the corner. “Sorry to keep you waiting. I needed to practice.”
“And…”
The tall, lanky man laughed. “I remembered how to shift, fortunately both directions. Where’s Almiralyn?”
One Man shook his long, wheat-colored hair back from his face and twisted it into a knot at the nape of his neck. “Still in the Hall of Priestesses.”
“I can tell you’re impatient to be off. Do we wait or go?”
“Something has happened on DerTah. The balance of power is shifting…and not in our favor. We need to go.”
Allynae’s expression changed from curiosity to concern and back again. “And you know this because…”
One Man tapped his chest. “The Seed of Carsilem is like radar. When there’s trouble, it lets me know.”
“Then we’d better leave.” His eyes searched the passageway one last time. “I’m glad we said our good-byes already, but I would like to have seen Almiralyn one last time.”
One Man followed his gaze. “She has her own problems, my friend. Come. On the count of three, shift. One. Two. Three.”
They shot into the portal, their hawk wings mere stabilizers in the silent flash of time.
Dom’s shoppe in the Borderlands had been chaotic. Soldiers from both Idronatti and RewFaar had searched Antiques by Q from top to bottom a dozen times. Not one soldier had said a word to him or even hinted that he might be present. He had actually pinched himself to make sure he was still alive and not a ghost. Finally, darkness sent the brigands back to their respective camps, and he snuggled down in his favorite chair with his favorite book and fell asleep.
Pounding on the front door, woke him with a jolt and sent him shuffling down the hall, his slippers flip-flapping against his heels. His interrupted snooze left him groggy. Another volley of fists on the door made him cranky. One invasion after the other . He yanked it open and glared over the top of his spectacles. What he saw made him shove them higher on his nose.
Fadin glared back at him. “Ya gonna let us in, Dom, or leave us on the doorstep?”
He stepped aside. Fadin ushered a tall, well-built black man into the shoppe, closed the door, and bolted it. “Can we chat in your office?”
“O’ course.” Dom scuffed his slippers along the bare boards of the hall. Preceding the men into the office, he hurriedly cleared papers and books from two chairs. He poured a mug of coffee and handed it to Fadin. “How ’bout you? Coffee?” He noted the PPP uniform and pushed his dislike away.
“Please.”
The strain in that one word made Dom look at him more closely. “Ya need sugar or milk?”
“No thanks.” The response was subdued.
Dom settled in his chair. “How can I help?”
Fadin glanced at his companion. “This be Wilith Whalend. Remember t
hem three kids that came through close to a moon cycle ago?”
Dom nodded. “The red-haired gals and their friend Torgin.”
Whalend swallowed a swig of the fragrant, dark liquid. “Torgin’s my son. I need to find him.”
“And you came to The Borderlands…how?” Dom kept his tone even despite his natural inclination to distrust any member of the PPP.
The man opposite him wrapped tapered, black fingers around his mug and stared into its contents. When he looked up, his broad-featured face gleamed ebony. Dark irises, made even darker by the whites of his eyes, held a touch of panic. He inhaled, took another swallow of coffee, and set the mug on the paper-cluttered desk next to him.
“A PPP officer brought me as far as the SunSpire. I came the rest of the way on my own. I have to find my son. The Guardian of Myrrh will know where he is.”
“You had your brain rearranged as a kid. How’d you happen to remember Myrrh?”
Impatience edged the deep voice. “When Myrrh appeared above Thera a few turnings ago, the people of Idronatti received a shock. The mind altering of their childhoods had removed Myrrh from their memories. Its appearance rekindled them. That and a need of the Five Fathers made me realize that my son, who has been missing for three Theran sun turnings, must have accompanied the twins to Myrrh. There has been an occurrence that demands that I find him.”
Dom shook his head. “Your kid’s been missin’ for three Theran turnings, more than a moon cycle on Myrrh, and you’re just lookin’ for him?
The impatience dissolved into fatigue and worry. “Torgin’s mother and I made the decision not to alert the PPP regarding his absence. He has never broken rules of The Plan …his record is clean. We had hoped to keep it that way. We told everyone he was sick. Then I received a summons from the Five Fathers.” He rubbed a hand across his brow. “Soldiers from RewFaar, but not those of the Largeen Joram, had entered the city, demanding to see Torgin. He has something they want. The Five Fathers are being held hostage. If the soldiers don’t get whatever it is that Torgin has, they will kill the Fathers one by one. And…” He pinched the bridge of his nose and dropped his head in his hands.
The UnFolding Collection Two Page 37
