“Oh – thank you!”
“I did not do it for you, but for our realm. I have taken similar precautions with William, and in the past with any and all who were not able to protect their own minds. Now, shall we return to your questions?”
“Ah, yes.” I pause a moment to organize my thoughts, “You said, before you took me up, that the state of one's mind was important while ascending the… Path. How so?”
“It gives to the ascenders differently, depending upon what they seek.”
“So, if one seeks knowledge, it gives knowledge, and if one seeks power it gives power, and so on?”
“Oh no. It judges one by what is sought. If, like young William, you approach it with wonder and a thirst for knowledge that has no deeper, less pure motivation, it gives freely to the ascender. If, as more commonly happens these days, one approaches it with gaining power foremost in the mind, it does give the illusion of having done so, but it does not give all that it could; and to such a person it never will. What is truly important, though, is that the first experience within it is burned into the very being of the ascender. One who ascends with good intentions is bound to always be good for the realm. If one initially seeks sheer power, that person will always seek it, and will never truly be all that they could have been if they’d had better motivations, no matter what method of learning they pursue.”
“So, what happens if one approaches it as I did?” My mind floods with feelings of love and amazement as I think of the experience.
“Ah, it wouldn't be fair to tell you, you should have the joy of learning that yourself.”
“But you intermixed our blood! What does that mean, how did that effect my… ascension?”
“It affected both of us. You are now a small part of me, and I of you. You would not have been able to ascend without my blood, you were too damaged, and no one ascends to the great forest without my assistance. Now it will always accept you, to a greater extent than most, for the Tree of Life blessed you. You belong to it now, child, much as I do.”
“What does that mean?”
“You will learn, in time. Do you have any further questions?”
“Yes! Do many ascend to the forest?”
“No, very few. Of those currently among us, only certain members of the Nebulaean line have done so; although that will change some, in time.”
I almost recoil, “You mean, Novanus has done so?”
“No, aside from the Seraphim and those past Emperors who chose more active roles, that experience has been limited to the women of your line, to those who have a specific destiny to fulfill and need to know of it in order to do what must be done. That too, will change.”
“You keep saying that things will change, why do you say that?”
“That you will learn soon enough. Now that you have finished eating, tell me, what have you learned in these last few days?”
“Last few days?”
“Why do you think you were so exhausted? After a full day of misadventures you chose to push quite hard to make your new clothes. So what have you learned?”
“That you can be the most astoundingly annoying individual I have ever met!”
She laughs, “Now that is called 'Biting the hand that feeds you.' But yes, I have far more experience in that area than anyone else in our realm.”
“Why have you been tormenting me so?”
“Because it occurred to me that you aren't a researcher, you're a doer. You weren't going to figure out how to practice your skills on your own – you needed crises to deal with. I was only trying to help.” Her expression is serious, but I see a glint about her eyes. “Once again I ask, and this time I would appreciate a serious answer – what have you learned?”
“Well, I'm practically indestructible.”
Her expression turns slightly concerned, “That isn't entirely true, but you are rather difficult to injure, yes. And your condition can cause quite the case of indigestion! Now get to the point, girl, what have you learned about Harmony?”
“I seem able to reorganize things in far more drastic ways than I have in the past.”
“YES! That is one of its uses – a most important one. I believe you also learned something else?” She looks expectantly at me; I can't quite discern the expression.
“One can ask questions with it. Ask if what you want to do is… acceptable.”
“That's what you were doing!”
I don't understand her surprise, “Don't you do that?”
“Me? Stars no! The Universe would be a much less interesting place if I did. But, those were different times, and I was far more knowledgeable than you when I started changing things. I suppose, for you, it is a very good idea indeed. Perhaps in the future, I might give it a try myself.” Her expression changes from playful to serious. “Can I trust you to carry these lessons forward in the outside world if I let you go? Can I count on you to continue pushing yourself to learn new ways to accomplish tasks?”
“YES! I promise, I'll use every opportunity to advance my skills, just let me out of here!”
She looks at me critically, then her eyes seem to deepen, as though she looks inside me. “Hmm… I don't know. You seem overzealous – which you should know can lead to trouble.”
RATS! “No, please, I'll be careful and innovative, I swear!”
“Well… there is one more task for you to complete, then, if you are good, I will let you go. Keep practicing. And when you return home, try to not give evidence to your enhanced skills; they would not understand, and therefore would distrust you further.”
“I will…” I'm talking to no one, and all the dishes are gone, it's as if she was never here. “But… what is it that I have to do?”
The disembodied voice returns, “Try asking.”
~~~
Try asking, she says. The last time I asked, I spent days at it. No, that isn't true, the asking was only a small part of that task, it was the doing that taxed me. I should be fine, but just in case, I think I'll eat more. In the orchard I take some large leaves and using Harmony, make with them a bag to carry food, just in case things don't go as planned… like usual. Ask, she says, but how? Before I had a clear idea of what I wanted to do, and merely needed to learn if it was acceptable, but now; how do I ask what I should do? Perhaps it would be easier to figure out what I should do if I first find where I should do it? I slowly begin spinning as I listen to this place, thinking, 'Where should I go?’ Around and around I turn, and everything sounds beautiful. Slowly one direction begins to sound better than the others. I open my eyes and feel momentary relief – I am facing away from the ocean.
As I walk I continue listening, occasionally stopping to spin and ask, just in case I've missed something. I never have to make any corrections, though; the harmonies always lead me true. The question is, just how long will I have to do this, it's been hours! Enough – I sit down and use a ring tendril, riding it with my mind and listening, for once giving the tendril directions on where to go depending on what I hear, instead of letting it seek blindly. What is this island, a continent? I hadn't noticed such expanse before; it would have taken me weeks to travel this far. Finally, the seeking song reaches a most beautiful resolution, and oddly, the tendril itself seems to not want to continue. How strange.
Now what do I do? I wonder… my transport crystal doesn't respond to me anymore, or have I simply not been using it as I am supposed to here? If I provide it with enough information, could it take me to a location of my choice? The ring tendril almost jumps to life, providing me with an astounding level of detail on the place it seems I should go, and my own mind listens to every tiny harmony of the area – I know that place, I've dreamed of it. I even recognize the shield that surrounds the area. It is almost exactly like the shield around this world, this has to be where I'm supposed to go!
Next question; how do I give all this information to the jewel? I try adding the sum of the harmonies to a facet of the jewel, and then, using Harmony, will myself thro
ugh. I feel strange, did I just commit a terrible error? My stomach lurches; but my location changes!
I stand at the edge of a tremendous, beautiful forest. Where the shield exists there is the largest wall of rock I've ever seen. If I'd never seen Lumina, its scale would be unbelievable, and near where I stand there is… a cave entrance? There's a man standing in the cave! He's… perfect. Very tall, beautifully muscled. His hair is nearly black and his eyes the most vivid blue I have ever seen, like the sky on a perfect, cloudless morning. He steps forward, breaking the spell his sight has on me, but he stops just within: the barrier has him trapped. He places his hands against the shield, his need for freedom clear to see in his eyes. I slowly walk forward and place my hands just opposite his, I have to reach up rather far, he is taller than I had originally thought. How could anyone as small and insignificant as me help such an amazing being? The look in his eyes tears at my soul, I know I must try. I close my eyes and concentrate on the harmonies of the barrier – they are indeed much like the one around this world. In my mind I dance within those harmonies, doing all I can to become one with them. I try to bring down the barrier; but its creator has made it too well. I'm not strong enough! It crackles angrily as I keep trying to break it, but the thing seems self-repairing.
Maybe I can get through it? I concentrate harder still, but the effort starts to make me feel weak, I need more energy; I try to draw upon the link I have with the Spire, try to pull more on the energy that makes it nearly impossible for me to sleep. Power floods into me as my glow increases, and I renew my efforts to breach the barrier. I create my own shield, this one as much like Cailli's as possible, and try to make the harmonies mesh, to become complementary songs. My fingers touch the man's – it's working! He grasps both my hands and I extend my new shield around him. It's hard to maintain the song with the extra body, his harmonies are very strong and difficult to mask within my shield. He must realize the source of my problem, for he suddenly seems to diminish, becoming quieter. I stabilize my shield and slowly begin to draw him toward me. I can feel he is anxious to leap out, but I simply have to move slowly – if I don't it could all fall apart.
Finally we are through! The man pulls me into his arms and holds on to me as though I am the first person he has seen in a very, very long time. It feels so nice I forget to drop my additional draw upon the Spire for a few moments. Almost immediately after I remember, I realize my mistake – his embrace becomes much stronger as I collapse in his arms.
~~~
Oranges… why do I smell oranges?
“Here, you should eat.”
Who does that amazing voice belong to? I open my eyes and see the beautiful man, holding me in his arms as he sits on the ground, waving an orange segment under my nose. Embarrassing or not, I eat the orange slice, and everything else he offers me; my improvised pack lies on the ground beside us, nearly empty now. Finally, I think to ask, “Who are you?”
His expression becomes formal, and I find myself shifting out of his arms. “I am Llywelyn, Eldest son of Emperor Augustus, and his rightful heir.”
I pull away slightly more, but smile warmly. “You're Gwenllian's father!”
He leans closer, his expression intent, “You know my daughter? Is she in good standing in Lumina?”
An odd question, “Yes, I know her. She is the younger generation's representative to the Emperor. She misses you terribly, though she does not admit it in so many words.”
“That doesn't seem a very good position for one of her obvious talents.”
Doesn't he care that she misses him? “The Emperor… prefers those who were born to him later, if they don't step out of bounds.”
His expression is quizzical, “You don't like my father, do you?”
“I don't like his current heir, Vespasian. Your return will be very good for Lumina, and all existence, for that matter.”
“I thank you for your confidence, and for rescuing me.” He reaches for my hand, “And you are?”
His amazing eyes capture mine and I can’t seem to look away, “Shi'ahn.” My voice is all wrong – airy and filled with awe, I must sound like a fool. He lightly kisses my hand, his lips are soft and his mustache and beard tickle pleasantly.
He smiles a little as he lets go my hand, “I truly thank you, Shi'ahn, for releasing me from my ageless prison. Would you please bring me up to date on what is occurring in Lumina?”
Oh dear, why do I have to be the one to tell him? “Ah… well, an individual that we believed to be the heir of Vespasian stabbed and killed the Magni Dominar. We are now at war with all of Chaos. We have been directed to gather as many armies as we can to help protect Lumina. The situation is urgent.”
“Wars with them haven't been particularly serious in the past.”
“This time their efforts are well coordinated - their entire realm seems to be attacking us.”
“Interesting. Well then, we must return as soon as possible. Do you know how far away the nearest body of water is?”
His questions always surprise me. “There is an ocean several days travel from here. I may be able to take us there faster, but it is a lurching ride.”
“After all I have been through, I think I can handle a brief, rough ride.” His smile is reassuring.
I close my eyes and concentrate on the harmonies of the place I have lived in these last days - I had studied it quite thoroughly, it doesn't take long to complete the profile. Once again I project the harmonies onto a facet of my jewel. I reach out to place my arm around Llywelyn's waist, but he's too large for me to grasp firmly – he places his arm around my shoulders, then I will us through. It isn't nearly as rough a ride this time, and when I open my eyes, they are greeted by the wide-open sea.
He releases me, walks forward and takes a long, almost decadently deep breath. “Ah, to sail the salt seas once again.”
“I don't have a ship, Llywelyn. I have been imprisoned here by Cailli.”
“If we had a ship, do you think you could get us through the final barrier?”
I think back on Cailli's words, and suspect that I have done all that I must do now. “Yes, I believe I could.”
He lifts his head toward the sky, and projects his voice tremendously. “Cailliach! You swore that on the day I reached the ocean shore you would return my ship! I am here now, and I would have you fulfill your oath!” I hear a swell of shimmering music in the distance, but apparently Llywelyn does not. He continues, “Cailliach! I know you can hear me!”
I gently take hold of his arm, “Llywelyn, I hear something out at sea, something approaches.” He looks down at me curiously, then returns his gaze to the waters.
In the last rays of daylight I see something in the distance swiftly approaching.
“Hiraeth!”
“You know her?”
“Yes – it's Gwenllian's ship. She rescued me from imprisonment in Chaos with her.”
He looks proud. “I am glad that she has been of service – may she always be there to rescue you when you are in need.”
“She is aptly named.” Before I can continue his eyes lock on mine, I have his full attention. I continue somewhat hesitantly, hoping I'm not being presumptuous. “Among my people there is a region where the people love their land so deeply that they experience tremendous sadness if they are long away. Some even sicken and die if they cannot make their way back home. The emotion is called hiraeth. Twice now this ship has delivered me from imprisonment, and I can only imagine how you have felt.” For a moment I do indeed see hiraeth within his eyes, it runs deep and strong, but he quickly shutters it away.
“Your homeworld sounds like a very interesting place, perhaps it is a strong echo of one of my favorite worlds. You are correct, that is exactly the meaning of my ship's name. I had noticed long ago that no matter how much I enjoyed traveling, Lumina would always be my true home, and I always grew to miss her deeply. I created Hiraeth so that I could make my journeys with all due speed, so that I could return home as soon as possi
ble.”
Again I see the longing in his eyes and I almost reach out to touch his arm in comfort, but Hiraeth has reached the shore. Once again proving her supernatural abilities, she sails right up to the sand, and casts down her boarding ladder.
“Llywelyn smiles, “After you, my rescuer.” I know he can hardly wait to board her, he offers me quite the honor in allowing me to go first. Once he reaches the deck the ship moves quickly away from the shore, and he sighs. “Finally, I am at sea again. Tell me, Shi'ahn, do you like the sea?”
I suddenly feel myself becoming… comfortable in his presence, as if we are old friends. “Seas, lakes, waterfalls… I love water, no matter the form.”
“What is it that you like so much?”
“I love the way it sounds – the crash of waves upon the shore, the undulating patter of rain on the lake during a storm, the deep, powerful thunder of a waterfall.” Without intending to, I project the sound of each as I describe it, combining it with the music that already plays around me in perfect accompaniment.
Llywelyn’s voice sounds thoughtful, “I like the way the night sky reflects off the surface, warped by each wave and ripple… it reminds me of Lumina and the echoes she casts; infinite in variation. And the lap of waves against the hull of a ship sounds like freedom. Tell me, do you spend much time on the water?”
“On, no… my home is an island. I know of no better way to fall asleep than while listening to a storm on the lake. The crashing waves, the hiss of rain on the water and the leaves of the trees as they’re whipped ‘round by the wind; it's hypnotic. And you just know that in the morning you’ll see that special green that is only ever seen after rain, the intense vibrancy of life in the forest and gardens.”
He is silent for a moment. “I have missed those sights and sounds for a very long time.”
Between Darkness and Light Trilogy Page 32
