by Jeremy Dwyer
Alyona began paging through Alonso’s book of chronicles, to make an initial assessment of the confidence, but planning to make a more thorough analysis on a second pass. She quickly found what she was looking for, however.
“Alonso, we must speak in private. Librarian Portia, please join us as well,” Alyona said.
“You are not part of the summons, Romana,” Alyona said.
“I’m not sure if I should be relieved, or disappointed,” Romana said.
“Portia, please tell me more when you return. I’d like to understand what things have changed, and this weight that has been lifted,” Gisella said.
Alyona then led Portia and Alonso into the Library of Tedorik, and into the private quarters where Danek ordinarily waited.
“We must speak with the old one,” Alyona said.
Darkness suddenly enveloped the three (3) of them.
~~~
Outside, Romana turned to Gisella and said: “I am going to the annunciation room to hear of recent public reports.”
Romana moved to enter the Library of Tedorik but she heard someone call her name. She turned around and saw her good friend, Lady Onora.
“Romana! We haven’t talked in a while. I think that we should now,” Lady Onora said.
“What is it?” Romana asked.
“The darkness in the skies. It’s part of a prophecy. There are warnings about times when people will turn to false gods, and the world will be plunged into night,” Lady Onora said.
“You’re right. We have to talk,” Romana said.
Romana reconsidered her plans from a moment ago and led Lady Onora toward the Scholar’s Hall rather than the annunciation room. Gisella wanted to follow them, but was required to wait.
~~~
Once in the enormous Scholar’s Hall that housed resident and visiting researchers, Romana took Lady Onora to her own quarters there, closed the door and whispered.
“I know about the prophecy. And I know how it happened,” Romana said.
“That is not what I expected to hear, but I am listening,” Lady Onora said.
“I trust you as a woman of the One True God, because what I am going to tell you has great significance, and may not be best for sharing…just yet,” Romana said.
“I will hold your story in confidence, then,” Lady Onora said.
“You know the librarian, Portia?” Romana asked.
“Yes. The angry woman, who does all she can to mislead and irritate others. She needs to let go of her hate. I’ve been meaning to approach her, and to show her the Love of God which can heal all wounds, but I’ve had many other tasks set before me, bringing His Message to others, in other places, such as Waderav,” Lady Onora said.
“I’ve already met with Portia, and I learned the cause. A man with telepathic powers, from drinking the Elanatin Ocean waters, struggled to break her will, but she resisted. He then began using far harsher words than justified, and I was witness to his barrage of insults. She broke down in tears, letting go of her emotional barrier, and he was able to read her,” Romana said.
“Her barrier was that strong? Is she a telepath, as well?” Lady Onora asked.
“No. She drinks the Medathero Ocean waters. She carefully constructed a web of hateful thoughts to repel telepathy. She is very clever,” Romana said.
“Cleverness to a hateful end is not a proper use of God’s gift of the waters that give such cleverness,” Lady Onora said.
“She was hiding a secret. There were twenty-four (24) vases, each inscribed with a number, and containing a liquid, some of which was venom, and some of which was water. The set of numbers upon which vases held venom and which held water formed a secret code, and that code indicated a geographic location. Portia knew this much, but not which vase contained which liquid,” Romana said.
“That is an insidious puzzle, likely inspired by demons, or those in their service,” Lady Onora said.
“It gets more twisted, however. The telepathic man learned which liquid was which, and broke the code, by compelling innocents to drink from samples of the liquids, many of whom died. Then, he went to the indicated location. Because the poisonous liquid was organic, the Gradaken Ocean waters that I drink allowed me to detect it without ingesting it and being harmed. We then broke the code and went to the indicated location, accompanied by the Chronicler Alonso. Along the way, Portia explained to me the reason for all of her secrecy,” Romana said.
“This story grows more distressing. Be careful of intrigues, and of consorting with those who practice them, for they can endanger your soul while exciting your intellect,” Lady Onora said.
“Portia had been entrusted with the task of secretly safekeeping the knowledge of the whereabouts of a dangerous object – a crystal candle – which was made of onyx and was cold to the touch. It poses a great danger to the entire world. When the wick is lit, the candle gives off, not light, but darkness. Many of these candles – known as the luminaries – are said to exist, but their number is a secret. Each additional one that is lit causes the skies to darken further,” Romana said.
“Portia was concealing her knowledge by her web of hateful thoughts, it would seem. There had to be a better way, because hate endangers the soul. Good intentions mitigate, and the One True God indeed forgives many offenses, but it is best not to make a life of any sin, much less hatred,” Lady Onora said.
“We arrived at that location and found the luminary, in the forest in Javanda, atop a tower of swords. I know not what the tower meant, but it was a hideous thing. I enlisted an animal to retrieve the object. However, another man met us in the forest and exerted influence over a hawk and he sent it to capture the luminary from us,” Romana said.
“Seeing that the darkness is spreading, we must conclude that more and more of these luminaries are being gathered. Did Portia tell you why?” Lady Onora asked.
“No. But finding that luminary and others, and extinguishing their dark flames, is a mission we may need to take up,” Romana said.
“The fact that you failed to keep the one (1) that you already found suggests that the prophecy of darkness is not yet fulfilled, but is soon to be. The skies may have to grow much darker before the light is restored,” Lady Onora said.
“Are you suggesting that we not help to find them?” Romana asked.
“I am suggesting that we first pray to the One True God before undertaking this mission,” Lady Onora said.
Romana and Lady Onora joined hands and prayed. Lady Onora led, saying: “We pray to Thee, Our Loving Creator, that we receive Your Divine Guidance to voyage under these dark skies to fulfill Your Purpose, for we do not know Your Plans against these false lights. We pray, then, that You in Your Mercy and Grace will show to us Your True Light. Only then can we succeed.”
“What do you believe we should do in this darkness?” Romana asked.
“We will work to help return the light to the skies. If it is according to His Divine Will, then these luminaries will be found and their false lights extinguished,” Lady Onora said.
~~~
Daven was most at home in Emeth, in the Twelfth Hall. There, he studied music, learning many different singing techniques and he considered how he could apply the melodies to the purpose of inspiring others. His instrument was his voice, although some musicians did play harps, lyres, horns, drums, organs, pianos, guitars, flutes, and various other instruments, including ones that utilized water.
Out of fascination and curiosity, Guillermo occasionally accompanied him, listening to him practice different songs and melodies.
“Are you looking for something specific? Some words or a melody?” Guillermo asked.
“Music has purpose, but it’s made of many parts, and it’s best to have a vast assortment of them ready at any time. A song can change the world, or it can change a heart. It can move light or darkness, or even speak to animals. It can call out to water or fire, but it has to be the right music for the moment, made of the right parts, if it’s going to be
effective. I’ve spent years researching music in many forms in this hall: first as a young student and then later as an instructor, sharing my knowledge and techniques with my own students,” Daven said.
“Yet, you are still learning, which means you never stop being a student,” Guillermo said.
“Anyone who stops being a student isn’t ready to be a teacher. There’s always more to learn. Music is so vast, and so wonderful, and I’m glad it’s that way. There is an endless world of harmonies and melodies,” Daven said.
“An endless world of knowledge is waiting to be discovered, here, and in the other halls, and outside this city,” Guillermo said.
“Indeed it is. Still, the greatest purpose of music is to inspire,” Daven said.
“Inspire whom? To do what?” Guillermo asked.
“Inspire those who have no hope, or who have lost their joy for life, to keep going,” Daven said.
~~~
Portia, Alonso and Alyona found themselves being escorted through the darkness by mysterious figures. They suddenly emerged from the darkness into a room with a very old man seated upon a chair.
“You have news of worth, Verifier Alyona?” the old man – Sava’Tzefanya – asked.
“Indeed. Alonso brings news of a luminary, a black onyx candle which – when lit – brings darkness. It is but one (1) of an unknown number, and their combined powers spread the darkness farther across the skies,” Alyona said.
“I know of these luminaries, and that their locations were concealed for ages, by anonymous keepers of the secrets,” Sava’Tzefanya said.
“Alonso’s book reported that he saw one (1) gained, and then lost, in the forest of Javanda. Its location was kept secret by a puzzle, and Portia guarded the knowledge of that puzzle by virtue of her intentionally disagreeable persona,” Alyona said.
“Tell of the gain and the loss,” Sava’Tzefanya said.
“A man with telepathic powers and foul words unraveled Portia’s thoughts to learn of the puzzle’s existence. He then solved it to discover the luminary’s location. When it was realized that the secret was exposed, she pursued it in the hopes of gaining the luminary first,” Alyona then said.
“Romana – a drinker of the Gradaken waters – accompanied me to Javanda and called a hawk to retrieve the luminary from atop a tower of swords. A different man soon met us there, seizing the luminary by commanding another hawk to seize it after we briefly held it,” Portia said, looking to tell her own story.
“The captured luminaries must be extinguished quickly. They can bring the deepest darkness, for a likely ruinous intent, although its precise purpose I do not know. Nor am I aware of the identities of the other keepers of the scattered secrets, or I would send agents to protect them,” Sava’Tzefanya said.
“I don’t know where to begin,” Portia said.
“I do. For there is one (1) luminary whose location I am aware of, being the keeper of its secret,” Sava’Tzefanya said.
“After what I’ve already been through, I don’t want to hear about any more, but I have to hear it anyway,” Portia said.
“As do I,” Alonso said.
“Remain here with me for the moment and I will share it with both of you. The Verifier, however, is not needed,” Sava’Tzefanya said.
“I will return to my post, and await other Chroniclers, with whatever news they bring,” Alyona said. Much as she arrived, Alyona was suddenly cloaked in darkness by hidden figures, then escorted along an unseen path back to Danek’s private quarters in the Library of Tedorik, where she reappeared. She then went back outside, awaiting other Chroniclers to bring their books.
~~~
Rayner had waited on board the Sun Lynx at the port of Aklaravin in Baradaxa, but Daven and Guillermo had never returned from their travels. He left and then returned ten (10) days later, but they still weren’t back.
Not wishing to miss out on other business opportunities, Rayner returned to Emeth and hoped to offer his transportation services to any interested travelers. However, he soon found himself desperately in need of a navigator. The skies were growing darker and darker as the weeks and months passed by, making sight navigation impossibly difficult. It was even worse, given that the Atrejan waters he drank were no longer of any use to him: hearing the sounds of the stars – which usually indicated their position and direction of travel reliably enough that he could steer by the stars – was now worse than useless. Instead of hearing the sounds filled with information, the sounds were filled with pain that was debilitating.
Rayner realized that it was time to venture into the City of Emeth and find someone – with some expertise and who drank the right waters – whom he could hire as a navigator.
After asking around, he realized that the navigators who drank the Lujladia Ocean waters were in great demand, as they were best suited to cope with the darkness by generating light. Unfortunately, there were already hired at considerably elevated prices, far beyond what he was willing to pay. An alternative that some captains were pursuing was to hire singers who drank the Pirovalen Ocean waters, using the power of music to guide ships, but he didn’t yet understand how much that could help – he knew that music was powerful, but that didn’t mean it could be used to chart a course at sea.
Rayner knew that the Twelfth Hall of Emeth was the archive of all things musical, and that singers in great numbers and with varied levels of skill could be found there, so he went to that enormous building. Before long, he caught sight of some familiar faces.
“Daven! I waited, left and then came back, but you disappeared on me. I was hoping to get more work out of you,” Rayner said.
“We ran into some difficult times,” Daven said.
“Worse than the tempest? How?” Rayner asked.
“Not worse, but different, and harder to understand,” Daven said.
“And I would like to understand why you would be in this hall,” Guillermo said, still keeping company with Daven.
“Navigation by the stars isn’t happening – unless I want to navigate my way to the grave. The light waters drinkers are too expensive anymore, and I’m in business to make money, not lose it. So I heard that music can be used to find a way around at sea. Maybe you could tell me how, because I don’t get it. Still, I’ve heard your best performance – up against fire and water – so I’ll keep an open mind,” Rayner said.
CHAPTER 14: Deepest Mysteries of the Sky and Sea
The small riverboat traveled slowly up the river through the dark tunnel leading out of Thalkalana. Genevieve was on board, along with Tristan, Tomiko, Alistair, Nina, Stephan and Carter and the Chronicler Tofa.
Tomiko held a small torch to light the way. However, Carter noticed something remarkable: “It’s lighter now than before. This tunnel is brighter than it was on the way down,” Carter said.
“How do you know?” Alistair asked.
“Look at the walls of the tunnel. You can make out all the details, the cuts in the stone,” Carter said.
“Ah! I see. That makes sense, I guess,” Alistair said.
Tofa also noticed this, and began writing and sketching in her book what was said and what she saw.
“Those aren’t cuts. They look like burn marks,” Tristan said.
“Burn marks? If true, what could that mean?” Tomiko asked.
“I don’t have any theories as to the cause, but the result is clear enough. The stone in these walls has been burned, severely,” Tristan said.
“Now I think I understand. The luminescence of this water is why it’s bright in the tunnel. And almost certainly the source of illumination in the cavern…an entire ocean of this,” Genevieve said, holding up the vial of water she took from the ocean surrounding the island and the water was glowing brightly – as much as the torch that Tomiko held.
Tristan looked at the vial of water Genevieve held and then looked at his own and saw the same glow on the water that it contained.
“This water lights the cavern. That’s almost certain
ly why we could see down there,” Tristan said.
“What is that water? We need to know. Not even Lujladia Ocean water glows like that: a little bit, but not that bright, unless you drink it and use its powers to make light,” Tomiko said.
Tristan drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from his own vial and was energized. He then had the power to manipulate – and examine in minute detail – crystal structures. He looked deep into the glowing water and said: “It’s most certainly nothing like the structure of Lujladia waters. It’s very volatile, going in all directions, much more wildly and irregularly than the Lujladia waters do. I don’t see a pattern to the crystal movements. Not that it doesn’t have one, but whatever it is differs greatly from that of the Lujladia water crystals.”
“Could you draw a sketch of it?” Tofa asked. She wrote into her book the fact that the water glowed, because that was an observable fact. She also wrote the fact that it was claimed by these people to be the source of the light within the cavern and the tunnel, but not that the claim was true, because inference was not allowed by the Oath, however logical or likely or obvious.
“When I get back to the surface, I’ll do better than that. I plan to measure it, draw it and experiment with it,” Tristan said.
“I’d like to join you in that. I’ve got notes from my own experiments, but I’ve never had this water, whatever it is,” Genevieve said.
“I intend to examine your notes,” Tofa said.
“Please do. Just be ready to write a lot, and more is coming,” Genevieve said.
“This all sounds very interesting, all this science, but how does it help us? I’ve got things to do, places to go, money to make. Some considerable payment is still owed to me, if you remember,” Alistair said.
“Don’t you understand? This is water entirely unlike anything we’ve ever seen. That is profit…new knowledge,” Tristan said.
“There may be immense financial profit in that…once it’s determined what power it holds,” Tomiko said.
“The water could give all kinds of powers. What if it gives more than one (1) power?” Stephan asked.
