Araman's Aria

by Suzanne Embree

  The crooked man clapped his hands together. Six pairs of hands removed Brea from Araman as the others flanked her. The elder issued directions to another who began running ahead of the procession yelling.

  “Santari!” Araman bellowed.

  “They are taking her to the sacred flow of the trees. Just a minute.…”Araman was losing patience. “There is a remote translator link around some where. You can use it to communicate with. I’ll link up your brain frequency with it.” Another brief pause. “Okay. Go.” Araman caught up to the elder within six large strides.

  “You need not fear. We can help only to wrap the fractures. It will help. She is not meant to go to root yet.” The old man said. “I am called Dy’ Nar. I am the healer for my kinsmen and spiritual guide into the life flow of the trees.”

  Araman looked up away from Brea to the man beside him “You live up here?”

  “The trees provide us with all we need. The white death surrounds us and keeps us with the trees. Here we have the essence of life, including fire. The trees do not burn and only sway in storms. The white death you see beyond the leaves takes life from the ground to feed upon and grow. The trees protect us.

  It was the trees that found you and brought you up. We do not have the strength,” Dy’ Nar waved his hands, “to achieve such a feat. Even in numbers. Your God seems powerful to speak with such clarity to both of us.”

  “He is not a God. He is a man like you and I with a tool to help him.” Araman explained. He looked around his surroundings to the flowers and birds the trees provided for. Nestled in thick branches were large red berries the size of a Terrian grapefruit. The path seemed to spread its foliage for the procession making its way to their final destination.

  In the middle of a canopy of broad-leafed trees, a pool of water fed by a waterfall sat in the middle of the glade. The fragrant combination of the exotic flowers permeated the humid air. Pearly rocks glistening in the kiss of sunlight tickling the site framed a path leading up to the mystical waterfall.

  “How is this?” Araman questioned out loud.

  “We do not ask how, we are thankful it is.” The healer left his side as the six men with Brea pulled away and took her into the water.

  Dy’ Nar stepped into the water and took a deep breath. He placed his staff in front of him and pointed the end to Brea. He closed his eyes then exhaled. He concentrated for a moment then furrowed his brow.

  “You.” He pointed to Araman. “You need to release her to me. In the water please. Come hold your mate.”

  Araman was unsure if he should pull back his energies as he stepped down into the warm water. The men left Brea’s side as he took her in his arms. He gazed down at her. He couldn’t lose her. He promised her he would die before she would.

  “I will not lose her. Her time is not now.” The bent old man reassured Araman. “I will catch her. We are frail only in body. It is our energies that hold the power. Now release her!”

  Araman yanked on the tendrils feeding Brea’s aura. He stepped back when Brea rose from his arms and levitated into the middle of the pool. Dy’ Nar stepped forward and pointed his hands to Brea.

  A pink glow surrounded the healer and his patient. As it washed over Araman he could feel his senses tingle. The pink turned to blue as the healer increased his flow. With a jolt a stream of pure energy was felt cascading down on all in the water. The air went green as the stinging of electricity crackled around them.

  “It is the life flow of the trees you feel. They also heal you.” Dy’ Nar’s voice penetrated Araman’s brain. “When you are ready under the energies of the trees, reconnect with you mate.”

  Under the green cloak, he moved towards Brea who was floating downward. She was placed back in his arms and when Araman felt the reconnection the trees had added their strength to hold the web within together.

  When the strange green glow faded, the healer was at the side of the water’s edge stepping out. In silence Araman stepped out and was circled by the dark warriors. They were escorting him back to the ship without any detour.

  Santari stepped out of the ship as the first of the warriors stepped through bowing leaves to see Brea still in Araman’s arms.

  “Are we ready Sir?”

  “Are the repairs done?” Araman raised an eyebrow.

  “Not by my hands. A strange blue light glided over the entire ship and each thing was fixed where it touched. I would not have been able to complete the repairs in such a short time.”

  Araman turned to Dy’ Nar. “It seems I owe you more than I can offer in return.”

  “You have left us with your energies in the life flow of the trees. They gained your knowledge; you have gifted us as well. It is always an exchange. Your mate will make it back to her healers. You hurry though. Wounds can unwrap.”

  Araman looked towards Santari heading into the ship then back to the tribal healer. “Will we cross paths again?”

  Dy’ Nar gave the large man a sad smile and shook his head. “We come when we sense our need. It is the unbalance within a far greater web we are all a part of that we feel through the life force of our world. It is the way of the trees.”

  Araman gave the healer a salute then turned and brought Brea in the small ship. Once she was strapped in safely he took his seat beside Santari who was already settled in punching buttons for lift off. He glanced out the window to see the last of the strange lithe warriors disappear behind the bows.

  “Co-ordinates locked in?” Araman dragged his eyes from the site to the console screen in front of him.

  “Locked. Ready?” Santari asked bringing his hand to the keypad. At Araman’s nod he entered the code and the engines roared to life.

  The ship shot out into space like a bullet from a gun. When it cleared the planet’s atmosphere nothing but empty space lay before them.

  “What happened to the asteroid belt?” Santari asked gazing out on the black spotted with twinkling dots.

  “I don’t know, but the entire thing, the planet included has disappeared.” Araman hit the console looking at the navigational data. “According to this we are almost to Shinwa.”

  “I think the tree huggers liked you.”

  “What ever they were, I owe them an eternal debt of gratitude.”

  Chapter Twelve

  A single silver moon hung in the backdrop of the indigo Shinwa sky. Tiny specks of stardust rolled like a tide above pearl gray clouds performing a slow game of charades as they lolled along the night. Underneath, the calm sea reflected the vision above as it rippled against the black sandy shoreline.

  The water against Araman’s fingers was softer than any fine Pix silk he had touched. His fingers gliding along the surface reminded him of Brea’s soft skin. His fist clenched abruptly rising. He slowly turned around to see Santari approaching with a grim look on his face.

  “Any word on Brea?” He asked.

  Araman shook his blonde head. “Only what was said when they took her. The Cin’ Goh will call for me when I am needed.” He had barely stepped off the ship when Brea was pulled from his arms.

  Various heights of bronze skinned men in long flowing belted tunics blocked Araman from seizing Brea back. They stood with their arms crossed as the ones who took her rested her on a levitating reed cot. She was escorted away. All but one followed.

  He was a dark somber man proudly standing with his back rigid. He keened on Araman; raised his chin with a challenging expression, then spoke.

  “You were wise to return Breaha,” her name in his language softened it even more, “to her web. We sense when one of the web is becoming severed from the rest. She will be taken to the wisest of the healers. You will wait here until you are called.”

  “Araman!” Santari’s voice cut in to Araman’s brain.

  “What?” he growled.

  “Herse wants a report.” Santari told him. “I managed to catch a weak signal but it’s a fader.”

  “Strengthen the signal and give one.” Araman ordered.
<
br />   “It’s a little more complicated than that.” Santari snarled back. “If by chance I do get a stronger link up, what do you want me report? We lost our target? Were kidnapped by Oleander? A tree planet that disappears? Or the fact that we are now here waiting for someone to heal some web within Brea?” Santari clenched his jaw.

  “I don’t give a Frigg what you tell the General.” Blue eyes narrowed into glints of ice.

  “You had friggin’ better, your authorization is on that report.”

  “The only thing I care about is that woman!” Araman erupted at Santari. “Every friggin one, Santari, I lose. Two, now by my hand!”

  “You didn’t kill her.” Santari said softly after a moment of silence. Araman looked over to him.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You didn’t kill Sonya.”

  “Yes I did.” Araman argued. “Then whose hands were around her throat?” he questioned when Santari shook his head.

  “Those were yours. But you didn’t kill her. I walked in to you choking your wife and I pulled you off. You kept repeating ‘She’s the one.’ I shot her when she pointed her pistol at you. The computer was hit with her laser fire and malfunctioned. The walls fluctuated as she fell back. Over she went.”

  “No.…” Araman stopped for a moment. He never could remember what happened exactly. There had always been a blank spot induced by his rage at the betrayal. “Why was I never told?”

  “You were there. You saw me shoot her.”

  Araman shook his head searching for the memory. “I don’t remember it. I just remember the rage inside, Santari. And the men she led to their death.” He let out a sigh and looked to his Commander. “The fact still remains, I have lost every woman I have touched.”

  “It is because you are Chatam Pritam.” A soft voice came from behind. The two men whirled around to see an older woman. Her locks of dark gray and white were held back in a loose tie. She stood straight with a smile. “The males of the Chatam Pritam are not permitted mates and therefore will suffer the losses. Males usually discover they are Chatam Pritam at a very young age. They avoid the pleasures of flesh and heart until they are ready to seek out their female Chatam Pritam.”

  “Now I understand why Brea talks like that. They all do.” Santari muttered under his breath.

  “Work on the signal and if it happens, make the report to Herse.” He stopped for a moment and thought, “And report everything.” Araman instructed emphasizing his last word.

  “Yes Sir.” Santari gave a curt nod, leaving his Commandant with the curious woman.

  “Your brother is very loyal to you Araman.” The woman commented. “You have grown into a fine man.”

  “Should I know you?” He took a step closer. Her fragrance smelled familiar. It was warm and calming like lavender.

  “Ah,” a sad sigh escaped from her, “has it been so long that a son can not recognize his mother. I should not have gone when you were so young.”

  “My mother is dead.” Araman said not quiet sure of his own statement. His father had only said she was disposed.

  “I suspected you would be told such a thing. I worried about you being raised with Olean traditions.” She held out her hand to him. “Come with me. I was sent to bring you to the Cin’ Goh. They are not ready yet but I wished to see you.” She cocked her head at him.

  “You look so very much like your father and yet I sense you are Shinwa in mind and spirit. And yet you have had no guidance.”

  “Brea.” Araman spoke her name tenderly. “She taught me what she could and explained when she couldn’t.” He looked at the tiny woman. “Why did you leave?”

  Sadness filled her eyes. Pale gold green eyes looked out over the sea. “Your father sent me away.”

  “Frigg!” Araman swore.

  “Not for the reason’s you think. Your father loved me.” Araman’s mother said sternly. “He was protecting me.”

  “From what? Olean has never been attacked.”

  She let out a nervous laugh. “Not all things are as simple as the strategies of war Son. The matters of the heart are far worse to battle.”

  “My father never loved a soul in his life. He only cared about military regulations.”

  “He raised you a soldier as he said he would. Do not think your father did not have a heart. He did and it was mine.”

  Araman wondered now about the man who raised him. There had not been father and son moments. His father was rarely around. It slowly dawned on him; his father was a Commandant. Araman’s reasons for not wanting a concubine or a family were the daunting duties that kept him away. The same duties that Araman’s father was responsible for.

  “I asked him about you. I was told you were disposable. It was how he felt towards women.”

  The woman smiled and put her hand in the crook of his elbow. She pointed Araman along a black sandy pathway. “Walk and I will try my best to explain.”

  Araman begrudgingly let her escort him along.

  “Shinwa is not as isolated as Oleander has led all to believe. When I met Diago, I was escorting my father in a diplomatic mediation. We are not as primitive as outsiders are led to believe. Your father and his comrade, a man named Herse, were placed as my escorts to keep me safe. I understand Terra has not improved with the years.

  I fell in love with your father and he with I; we became lovers. Olean law would not allow any foreign women as wives only as concubines. I have been informed that the laws have since changed. That is good. Then what happened between your father and I will not happen to other young lovers.”

  “What happened?” Araman demanded a little more harshly than he intended. “Sorry.” He offered sheepishly.

  “That is Commandant in you. You are like your father, a born leader.” She grinned at him. “I went with your father to Olean as his concubine not wanting to be away from him. We had hoped because I was not a prisoner that we could be permitted to be married by Olean vows. Your father had been fighting for our rights, when he was sent on an extremely dangerous mission. I was to be with him.

  Diago didn’t want me there. I was never told the reasons but I trusted your father. If it wasn’t that mission there would always be another. The only way to protect me was to give me up as disposable and send me to another man. But you know about Shinwa women and your father could not do it. I was his and he was mine. We had a son and wanted to be a family but your father could not leave me behind on missions.

  A diversion was created and a ship was reported missing in action. The only official survivors were Diago and Herse. We didn’t know the repercussions of our actions until your father passed and I was considered dead. And you were all alone.” Her voice cracked.

  “I was sixteen and in the academy. I was considered an adult and on my own.” Araman said hoping some how it would reassure her. “Herse kept an eye on me.” He smiled.

  “I was never disposable in your father’s eyes. “ Araman’s mother rested a hand on his arm. “Your father loved you and was so proud of you. When you were old enough, you were going to be brought to us to learn about your Shinwa web.”

  “No wonder Brea had the effect on me she did.” Araman said. “Do you know how she is?”

  His mother shook her head. “I am afraid, Son, that I removed myself from Brea, in order to be with you. The Cin’ Goh who heals her is very powerful and is much stronger than I.”

  They stopped in the middle of a courtyard. Araman had been so involved in his mother’s story he had not been aware of his surroundings. Large natural columns from granite like rock framed the small square patchwork of soft moss. Araman could feel the energies of the enclosure.

  “Here is the heart of the web.” His mother explained gesturing with her hand. “This is Shinwa’s heart chakkra and we are connected to it. What we take, we return. We take life from here and here is where life is returned. Only the most knowledgeable and strongest of the healers are able to interact with the aura of our world.”

  She pointed thr
ough a small archway. “Brea is this way.” She let her son take the lead.

  Araman hesitated before moving. He took a deep breath as Brea had taught him, inviting the energies he felt to fill him. He did not understand why, but just felt the need to do so. He wanted to feel the energies flowing through, as though it were a deep craving unsatisfied. In his second breath he felt the energy fill him and strengthen the inner core of his heart chakkra.

  He opened his eyes and looked to his mother waiting for him to move and took her hand in his before taking a step.

  The archway led into a solid rock tunnel that descended downwards. Light was bounced off the craggy walls from tiny flecks of metal in the marbled milky surface. In the distance a chanting and drumming softly reverberated against the solid earth. A spicy sweet scent tickled Araman’s nose.

  He watched his mother frown at the scent. “They are using Tunneling Seed flowers to enhance the spiritual connections.” She explained.

  A flickering light from a fire exposed the entrance into the chamber that held Brea. She was laid out on a glowing slab of floating slate. She wore a sheer white sleeveless tunic that clung to her body. The air around her was energized and crackling amid the soft beat of the drums.

  The Cin’ Goh stood at Brea’s head. Her hair was hidden in a tunic wrapped around her head and fastened by a large black diamond. Her light bronze skin was freckled with copper specks. Around her, smoke from the tunneling incense surrounded her as she focused on the center of Brea’s forehead.

  Her eyes flew open and she stared at Araman. “You who are her Chatam Pritam come forward.” She commanded.

  Araman stood himself in front of the healer. He could feel her power and the strength of the energies flowing through her.

  “I am sorry.” Her words became soft. “She does not respond to me. She will soon meld with the earth and sun.”

  He dropped to his knees feeling the wind knocked out of his lungs. “There must be some way. Can you do nothing? Dy’ Nar said she was not ready to go to root.”

  “Dy’ Nar?” She questioned Araman. “The only Dy’ Nar that I know of does not exist. He is a myth.” The healer shook her head sadly. “I know none who can help her.”