Suddenly there was a trembling in the whole of the pyramid and the two exchanged startled glances. Mirrortac was finding it hard to focus his eyes as everything around them faded in a strange and mysterious manner. He blinked several times, trying to shake off the illusion that the chamber had changed shape but the illusion continued to take form, giving the chamber the appearance of a regular and alien dimension. Spectres of demi-gods and goddesses fleeted between swaying pillars, crying in despair and terror. The illusion alternated with the reality of the pyramid chamber, filling both Mirrortac and Bleethu with fear. Mirrortac could see the vision of a sea of burning stone and a noise like the sound of a thousand thunders. The illusion vanished as suddenly, followed by an immense calm and a great feeling of loss. Bleethu wore an expression of incredulous shock.
‘I have seen the faces of spirits of Nerthule!’ Bleethu hesitated with mouth gaping. ‘They are as Utlontees. I cannot accept this; my mind cannot accept...’ Tears escaped the brown eyes and fell upon the close fur of the meretee’s cheeks.
Mirrortac reached his hand out to him. ‘I have seen this vision also. Yea, my mind too finds this vexing,’ His forehead was furrowed with concern.
There was no explanation for the illusion but Mirrortac suspected that the people of the Utlontees on their world of Nerthule had come to some swift and catastrophic demise. Somehow, they had picked up a passing vision of the disaster. The two comforted each other in an embrace. The trembling had stopped along with the vision but there was the sound of many frightened voices within the hallways. Shubek burst into the chamber.
‘Bleethu,’ he said. ‘You must go now to your feasting task. Put fire to the lanterns and be waiting in your chamber until another task be given. Go now!’
Bleethu did not hesitate and left without saying another word, brushing tears from his eyes. Shubek faced Mirrortac and sighed.
‘You have seen the vision. The Utlontees?’ he asked. The erfin nodded and Shubek continued. ‘We have all seen this vision who are within the pyramid. You are not keeper of the brethren of the Astellites. You are erfin and keeper to none but yourself. The brethren will not accept you in the Great Talk. But I spoke well in your favour. Tell me what did you see of this vision?’
‘I saw the falling of great pillars and the cries of demi-gods and goddesses, and stones of fire yet rolling in the way of water. My ear could hear a sound like many thunders. Then the vision was gone and there was a calm of sadness,’ Mirrortac said.
‘How does your mind see this?’ pressed Shubek, waiting for words which would qualify the erfin for audience with the Ra-finelles.
‘It is vexing. There is sadness in me,’ replied Mirrortac, pausing as though his next words would be too bold. ‘It be,’ he said. ‘It be in the liking that this place of the Utlontees is destroyed. It is no more.’
Shubek sighed with relief. ‘It is as the serenetees tell. You are keeper who knows not his keeping. When the first darkness comes, you will be in the Chamber of Ra. Wait now. I will send servants to clothe and prepare you for the Sacred Psalming of Ra!’
Shubek was gone before Mirrortac could ask him anything. He sat down again, nibbling at some of the harder fruits that were still in the basket. He unsheathed Moongleam and examined the shining silver blade and the gems moulded into its hilt. There was no hint now of the monstrous flesh that had yielded to it, only an ancient sense of the warrior who once used it to battle other peoples and slay nite-wolves at the borders of Eol. The sword had served him remarkably well. Now, in this tranquil world within a greater world, Moongleam had become a mere tool for slicing fruit off trees or slashing through thickets of vines that shielded the way. Mirrortac replaced the blade in its sheath. In his ponderings, he had not noticed the female meretee enter the chamber, but when he looked up, she smiled at him and bowed.
‘Welcomeness, stranger of far land. I am Wush, servant to the keepers of all meretees. I am asked to prepare the one who is keeper without keeping. You must follow me now.’
Wush was taller than any of the meretees Mirrortac had seen to date and the manner of her dress was of an elegance that was almost alien. She wore white satin and the sheen of her robe was fine, the same fabric as the capes of the serenetees. Her hands and feet were less webbed while her eyes peered out in dramatic ellipsis, accentuated by purple highlights. Wush led Mirrortac to the top of the hallway where there was a closed door and another hallway leading down to the opposite end of the feasting chamber. They walked part of the way down the hallway and entered a marblelite chamber where a fountain of cool water bubbled into a shallow pool hollowed out of the stone and polished to make a smooth place in which to bathe. Three other females, dressed in the same manner and of similar appearance, were waiting, each holding urns with handles and extended lips for ease of pouring. Wush pressed against the erfin as if to hug him but loosened his belt instead, having it and the sword within her grasp before the erfin could protest. Mirrortac did not feel endangered and submitted to entering the shallow pool for the bathing ritual that was about to begin.
The water of the pool was fresh and mildly scented, submerging all but the erfin’s head and shoulders. Wush took a blue urn from off the floor and poured its contents over his head, soaking him with a scented liquid that was of oils gathered from various plants. She massaged the oils into his shoulders and worked her way down his body. Each of the three other servants poured water over him, singing a kindly melody together as they worked.
‘Waters of Ra
waters of Ra
soothe the body
Suhtnarama
flower of Love
flower of Ra
soothe the spirit
the spirit within.
Shine on keeper
shine on fur
flower of Ra
Suhtnarama.’
When Mirrortac had been bathed, Wush dried him with a mat of absorbent fabric then dressed him in a full robe of white satin, first allowing him to replace the belt and sword beneath the robe. She produced a purple face stick and daubed the corners of his eyes, emphasising the erfin’s already large green eyes. He felt discomforted by the restricting nature of the robe that was stretched tight over his broad frame. Wush led him out into the hallway again and up the entrance to the Chamber of Ra. Two lanterns marked the lines of the almost black timber of the arched door. There was a single symbol carved into the whole of the door - a circle enclosing a cross – and there were no guardians. Wush placed her hand through a hole in the centre of the door and waited.
‘Why is it that you place your hand through the door thus,’ asked Mirrortac, regarding Wush with a quizzical expression.
Wush’s whiskers quivered with a hint of mirth. ‘It is not to grasp at glurks,’ she replied, expecting the erfin to know better than to ask.
‘Nay,’ he said, glancing around with uncertainty.
After some moments, she withdrew her hand and the door opened from the inside. Wush caught the erfin’s eye for a moment. She was half smiling and mocking him with her eyes. He understood. The hand signalled her intention to enter to those within the chamber. As he shifted his gaze back to the doorway, his eyes fell upon the face of a bizarre being who greeted them from within.
‘Welcomeness daughter. Welcomeness Mirrortac. You may go now Wush,’ said the being, dismissing the female with a flourish of a hand. Then addressing Mirrortac he said: ‘Be within the Chamber of Ra, Mirrortac. I am Ix of the Ra-finelles.’
Mirrortac was startled at the god-like bearing and dress of the meretee. Ix wore a brilliant white satin robe overlaid with the repeated pattern of crescents and twelve-pointed stars. A yellow belt with green cross-staves was tied about his waist and on his head he wore a crown of crimson-gold metal that rose above his head in three high flames. His eyes were highlighted and he was tall. He guided the erfin into the chamber - a room dominated by an ornate carved timber table with a covering of white satin in the same pattern as the robe. This chamber was smaller than the fe
asting chamber, being a little larger than the sleeping chambers, but far more incredible than either. The chamber formed a pentangle with walls of exceptionally smooth flawless crystal. Mirrortac was startled by the movement of his own image, which the wall conveyed to him with clarity beyond that of the calmest pool. He stared back at his image with mouth agape, amazed at how it reflected not just his image but also the image of the room and those in the room and himself as reflected off the opposing walls. The walls created a series of images receding into the infinite. There were twelve Ra-finelles, himself and Shubek in the chamber but the magic crystal walls created the illusion of an immense chamber populated by hundreds of Ra-finelles, Shubeks and Mirrortacs.
Shubek grinned up from his place at one end of the table. ‘See! Did I not tell you of the wonderness here?’
Mirrortac was shown to one of the spare seats where he sat, regarding the god-like assemblage. He was still fascinated by the fabulous reflecting walls as Ix took his seat at the head of the table, bowed and addressed them.
‘Be at peace brethren. Our visitor is Mirrortac of the land named Eol and whom Shubek tells is keeper without keeping. As keeper he has tasking to know the Divine Secrets of which Ra speaks in the dawning of Plumer-Ra and the small lands of Flamyll, Qui-ess, ulb, si and all the rufs of meretees. But first allow the names of your selves to be known to him then we will speak of the vision.’
Each of the Ra-finelle brethren introduced themselves in turn; there being uz, zox, yt, ex, mu, wy, twx, wo, Ing, ti and ut. Shubek bowed, dressed now also in white satin and calling himself Shu, keeper of the Children of the Divine Green and servant of Ra under the Pyramid of Ra-Los. As Ix rose to his feet again, his measure was like a giant; such was the power in his bearing. He paused and passed his eyes over each of the Ra-finelles and to Shubek, resting his eyes lastly upon the erfin who waited in patience for his words. The Ra-finelle finally spoke with slow and grave emphasis.
‘The Greater Sky is rent. The fabric of all the worlds is changed.’ he paused, sucking in a long breath. ‘Ra has joined Utlontees in the place of the fish. The fish is reigning in the place of the burning sea. Ra brought fire to the earth and the earth shook. Earth has returned to the sea. Utlontees are no more. Blessings to the spirits of the Utlontees.’
Ix sat down and bowed his head low while uz rose to speak next.
‘We see not the warrior of the Nerthule Greater Sky but we live upon the place of his belt. The Utlontees did not know us. They are more of the Nerthule blood now. Gone is the Celestial Flut. The expanding is no more with them.’
Uz sat down and zox rose.
‘The lesser gods are diminished. They be shadows of the Greater Sky. They are not of Nerthule. The spirits of the Utlontees will seek other forms, other names. What is ended is but a seed that casts off the flesh of fruit. The new Green begins!’
‘The measure of the Green honours you, zox,’ Shubek interrupted.
‘Blessings my Shu. The Green brings rewards of favour to you that I would not match,’ Zox said, resuming his seat.
Yt stood. ‘Who be these Utlontees?’ he said, his voice loud and abrupt, challenging. ‘I know not whose vision we saw in Ra-Los. They are of Nerthule as uz tells. They claim the name Utlontees but possess not the expanding of the Celestial Flut. Where lies this flut? The Greater Sky is void of it. I know the numbering of this pyramid; I can speak of the moment that a new rool begins, but of Utlontees. These be strangers!’
‘Strangers to you yt, perhaps, but it is the Utlontees who brought us the great expanding in the Dawning Days.’ Ex spoke without the formality of standing. ‘My form is of later days so bide my sitting, brethren,’ Ex continued, shaking his long whiskers that hung down over his sagging cheeks. Yt sat down.
‘Tens of hundreds of rools passed here in Mareos since the Dawning Days of the meretees. We are too born of the burning up-way and in the Changing, Plumer-Ra will also be no more. Ra speaks not of the day but the Green will know if we ask of it. I will soon be joined in the place of the spirits. One day, all will return to the sea of Sufra Mere.’ Ex went silent and nodded to mu who sat beside him.
Mu rose, his thin ageing frame incongruous with the glint of fire in his eyes. ‘I speak of rools that number for those who reap the fish, the blulloop, which is their sign and that of the one who comes in Ra’s name. It is a Changing as you say. Nerthule will be expanding.’
‘But what of Mareos, wizing one?’ asked yt, unable to contain the question burdening his youthful mind.
‘All is Changing as is said,’ Mu deliberated, holding the gaze of everyone in the chamber. ‘Mareos is changed. The furry one here is keeper of part of the changing.’ Mirrortac pricked up his ears. ‘That is right, Mirrortac. You be keeper to part of the Changing. You walk the pathway of changing but you are neither path nor the Changing.’
All eyes shifted between the erfin and mu. Mirrortac struggled with the uncomfortable feeling that yet another world would need his saving. Mu smiled, seeming to read the erfin’s thoughts.
‘Mareos will not be needing the sword of Mirrortac now. Do not be frowning, warrior. There are many fruits for stomach and mind in Plumer-Ra. The spirits of Ra tell mu that when the fur of this one falls as the leaves of the Green, then in the greening, he will be in the Betwixt-way.’
Mirrortac was wise enough not to question mu’s talks with the spirits of Ra but how could he be privy to what was not yet reality? How could there be a gateway beyond the numbering of the days? And this reference to him shedding his fur. Mirrortac considered this for a moment then stared back at mu as realisation dawned. The two occasions when he had shed his fur had immediately preceded his departure from one lesser world to the next. He must continue his quest for the land of mist and waters; perhaps he had arrived. Then where was the Well of Lost Memories? Lost in his thoughts, he awoke to what was happening in the room and found mu scrutinising him from the other side of the table as wy stood up from his seat. The Ra-finelle prophet had a disarming look about his eyes that seemed capable of unlocking the secrets shut in the minds around him. Mirrortac looked away.
‘The wizing one speaks well of changing. As keeper of the rools-lore, I know more of the Dawning Days than any of you, my brethren. I have seen the vision of those days when the meretees lived all as serenetees on the lands of ulb, Qui-ess and Flamyll. These were the entire world before the rising of Plumer-Ra. Our people reaped the blulloop and spoke with the tumu-Ra. Then the great fire of the waters came and Zu-laire spoke with the voice of thunder and fire. Out of his mouth came Plumer of Ra and a new place was made. Darkling clouds filled the sky until the sky was no more. Mareos shook with thunder below and above. Fire fell all about in those days, and Ra called many to join the spirits. There were those who cursed the coming of Ra and these were consumed in the fire of his displeasing. Many eyes were moist with the displeasing and many rools passed in tears and despairing.’ Wy paused, pressing his webbed palms into the tablecloth.
‘But Ra’s ways are expanding and Ra brought a new plan for his meretees. He sent a silent brethren of Green people out of the cooling earth of Plumer-Ra, feeding them with the streams of his own tears. They were fruitful and abundant, quenching the thirst of the meretees and filling their stomachs and hearts. Ra rewarded their patience with seven upon the numbering of their bounty before these days and all gave blessings in psalming.
‘These were the first days of the Dawning, brethren. In the second days, Ra sent explorers from the Greater Sky - hairless ones who were children of the gods and spirits. They were named the Utlontees of the Celestial Flut that sailed between the secret worlds in unseen places. The Utlontees brought the word of Ra and of the Great Expanding. They brought the expanding of the Sacred keeping and told of the twin world of Nerthule where they made a new living place. The Utlontees advised of the keeping of the Green and of the Greater Sky then brought the numbering ways to prepare for the building of the Pyramid of Ra-Los upon the zero junction: the centre of the world of Ma
reos. Seven rools passed in the building until all was right with Ra. Ra was pleased and told his Utlontees to make a sacred brethren of the pyramid - finelles of Ra. He expanded their minds in the secret ways of Ra and in this way, the new Plumer-Ra was joined in the absorbing of the Ra-force and all the worlds of the Greater Sky and Nerthule were joined. This is the vision of the rools-lore. In the last words of the Utlontees before they departed, they said – “Som na du cum may” – “We return at the Changing.” The Changing IS.’
The light was growing dim in the chamber as the brethren considered wy’s words. But Mirrortac came to a quick conclusion.
‘They have returned Within!’ he announced.
The Ra-finelle brethren exchanged surprised glances but it was mu who spoke.
‘Mirrortac perceives well,’ nodded mu.
Shubek winked at the erfin with satisfaction and rose to speak to the council. ‘I would agree with mu. Mirrortac speaks right. The Utlontees did not say they would return to Plumer-Ra but would return at the Changing. Ra accepted them to the place of his spirits and perhaps Nerthule is within a new Dawning. I know my Green brothers of the Divine Green and they speak not of ending. The ending is within Nerthule not Mareos, but the Changing brings new expanding to all the worlds. I am not concerned of the rising of the fire-orb in the next dawn. This day is Shu’s only concern. The glistening nests not before it finds a mate. It is concerned first for a mate for the nest will follow in its own place.’
The Wizard's Sword (Nine Worlds of Mirrortac Book 1) Page 27
