“Oh my, that be a very long time ago. We were married when I was but a woman new, over two hundred and twenty harvests past,” Moona replied reminiscently.
Moona continued telling the boys of how she and Codger met in her twenty-third harvest. Moona had an herb shop in Rivenwood and was working one day when a then younger Codger of Dravenport, came into her shop looking for particularly rare and dangerous ingredients.
Never one to get involved in another’s business, Moona naturally inquired as to why anyone in their proper brain would be looking for such things. She of course, butt right into his business and after finally agreeing to acquire what he asked, told him to return in one cycles time. Moona being the self-professed expert in herb work and base mixing set about figuring out what he wanted them for. Moona actually had the requested items in her stock, but being both nosey and smitten had to keep this fine asipu around.
At cycles end, Codger returned to her cluttered shop with high hopes. She gave him the ingredients but told him that if he was looking for it to work it would not. He was after a love potion and she explained that business of the romantic could not be created to last. They argued into the late day and before long the spark between them was ignited.
“If you are wed so-o long, then where are your sprats now?” Mally asked.
“We were only ever to have one sprat, a boy,” Moona said blankly. “He was young and handsome, but only mildly talented in the Essence.”
“Where is he now?” Inquired Shuran.
Moona stood staring at them for several moments before Codger interrupted.
“He was taken from us before his twentieth harvest.” He left no indication that there was anything more to discuss.
Moona quickly changed the subject. “Now boys, we’ll be reachin’ home by this time on the morrow. There are some things we need to set down as rule before then,” Moona said.
She told them about the need to keep to themselves and not draw attention. The Land’s Guard will be still looking for an old woman and they mustn’ be caught weaving or using the Essence. It is against the laws set by the Great Meddlin’ Council, to practice without sanction and any under age of fifteen would be taken by the Council for testing and either trained or hobbled as they saw fit.
The boys nodded in agreement with no true understanding of the importance, but listened and intended to obey.
The Melammu Nanna lurched forward as it finally came to rest on the sandy beaches nearest they could get to what was to become their new home, Moona’s cabin in the Birchshire woods.
Codger lowered the plank to a rocky outcropping that served as a natural pier before heading ashore to tie down the ship. The party gathered their belongings and headed off into the woods for the long walk to the cabin. When they arrived Moona was both excited and shocked by what she saw.
The Cabin looked the same as it had the day she left. There were animals in pens off behind the place and her herb gardens were hearty, if not a bit over grown. She decided that would be the first thing that needed doing. She entered the cabin to find all her old things exactly where she left them. She systematically began checking every room, every cupboard, and every corner. Not a single thing had changed in over one hundred harvests since last she was here.
“Had friends look after the place any time I left,” Codger simply said.
“Don’ think that gets you any special privilege if you catch me!” Moona said as she eyed him suspiciously.
“Smoke your pipe woman! I wouldn’ want that wrinkly dried up ol’ mess any how.” Codger grumbled with a half grin as he turned from her and headed out of the cabin.
The next morning Bastien, from the family Codger had look after the place, showed up to tend the cabin and animals. He was not surprised to find Codge at home since he had been down by the shore earlier in the morning. Bastien was a young boy of the same age Shuran physically developed into. Bastien is a mundane having no gift for the Essence or it has not yet surfaced. Shuran and Bastien hit it off immediately.
With a look to Moona for approval he ran off into the woods with Bastien to explore the area. Moona had already told Shuran to remain mindful of other peoples business and that included repeating his own. She did not think to worry though since Codger knew Bastien and the boys would be to busy mischiefing, to gossip like young ladies of leisure.
Shuran wandered around the forested area touching trees and picking up stones. Bastien and Shuran finally made it around to a rock outcropping that hid a small cave that Bastien recently discovered.
This cave would serve as their private hide out; no old folks allowed.
Shuran wondered at the dance of light against the crystal formations in the rocks inside the cave. This was a wonderful hideout he thought.
The newly formed family of sorts spent the next days getting settled. Moona and Codger grudgingly agreed to share their old room, but Moona insisted on changing the bedding arrangements. She separated the pushed together beds, to opposite sides of the space. The boys claimed the other bedroom and went about gathering things to spruce up the room and make it their own sanctuary.
Over the weeks that followed the boys settled into a routine of early morning chores followed by lessons and lunch. Afternoons were spent with more lessons in the herb garden and potion making.
Codger had build what was called a buffering ring in the yard some fifty paces from the main house. It was a deep trench dug in a circle around a central area he called the practice ground. He filled the trench with clay and baked it under conjured flame. The trench was then filled with water. Codger explained that water creates a natural barrier to the use of certain magics and would help keep what they did from being felt outside their new home.
Life carried on and they would all spend the next few years enjoying a family life while it lasted. Bastien came by every other afternoon when he finished his own chores at home.
Moona looked on at the boys playing outside and Codger grumbling at them to stay out of the garden half-heartedly. She felt a sudden pit in her stomach knowing for certain their joyful days were limited.
Chapter Five
Salmetu was growing at an even more alarming rate than Shuran. Since she was taken by the Order of Chaos and elevated to become their Priestess, she was subjected to a multitude of dark spell weavings, potions in her food, and dark artifacts. The changes brought on by these efforts resulted in her maturing physically to that of a sixteen harvest young woman.
Female zealots of the Order were attending Salmetu since she arrived at the secret keep outside the city of Drakkfoth. She frightened most of those who serve, educate, and attended to her every need. She has a short temper and can become easily enraged by the simplest of missteps. One person has been able to calm her.
Her primary care taker was an older woman who was employed to act as her mother figure. She also had a cat that she was given as a kitten. The old woman and the cat were the only friends she had and that gave her comfort. She knew her mother died giving birth but that was all she had been told about it.
Where Shuran was experiencing growth, however quickly, by a more natural means, Salmetu was being forced into growth by spell work. From the time she was brought to the keep, Salmetu was fed enchanted food, laid in a bed carved from Dragon Glass, and surrounded by zealots spelling power into her. The combination of these things caused rapid growth. Along with her growth in body came the growth in her power.
As a toddler she began setting fires upon things that would normally not burn, anytime she became upset. Deep fissures formed in floors and walls when she cried out from sleep terrors. Her powers were moving along quickly, but not so much as to please the Assinnu Isten. Something needed doing in order to speed her progress. Incentive he thought as he watched her play with her furry little friend.
The zealots of the Order feed Salmetu lie after lie about the nature of the world they lived in. The people out in the world wanted to destroy order and discipline. They wanted nothing more than to destroy the Order a
nd all the good they do.
Peace and order are the promises the zealots provide but the people of Aurderia rebuke their gifts and choose to live under the thumb of the Order of Light, who does nothing. She has been taught that the worshipers in Britengate give thanks and reverence to false Gods that do little to protect them.
Where the Order of Chaos offers long life, prosperity, and above all, justice. The Order of light watches people die. This she is told is why they let her mother die giving birth. The zealots told lies of how they tried to save her, but were stopped by the light.
Today Salmetu had a terrible time in her lessons of water. She was unable to force the contents of a large basin full of water to her will. The object of the lesson was to force the water to gather in the center and rise up into a column. After several failed attempts where the water would begin to slash about the basin but not answer to her demands, in a fit of frustration and rage she screamed out.
“AAHHHHRRR!” The room burst with steam, and of the four weavers in the room with her, only two thought to shield themselves while she worked. The other two lay on the floor-shriveled husks with all the moisture leeched out of their bodies.
Later that evening when she was crying into the nursemaid’s shoulder she sobbed. “I just wanted all the water to do as I said. I wanted it all in the center of the basin.” Salmetu was fragile and still a young girl in her older body.
“We must harden the child inside the woman!” Demanded Isten when reports of the latest in a long line of mishaps were brought to his attention. Isten was greatly impressed however, with the manner in which the zealots had been dispatched.
Ideas began forming in his head as a wicked grin spread upon his face. “Setup for a dead rising! We shall see how well the girl performs this weaving when she has something to lose.”
***
Shuran was having a restless night. His dreams were full of scattered and horrifying images. Shuran found himself standing in the middle of a dark room. There were robed figures standing around a raised stone table.
One of the robed figures approached the table and pulled out a sack that wiggled and screamed a screech that sent shivers through Shuran.
A feeling of dread and despair overcame him as he watched the scene through another’s eyes. The figure before him was an older man from what he could tell though his vision was growing cloudy as if looking through tears. Realization shot through him as the events unfolded in his mind. He heard himself crying out with a woman’s voice to stop.
It was too late. The robed man took the animal out of the sack and stabbed it with a dagger.
“Now bring it back to you!” The man ordered.
Deep sadness began to mix with desperation. A feeling of power and life surged through his body and mind until it leapt forth from hands that were not his own and into the prone animal on the table.
Rage boiled on the edges of his disembodied visions. As he looked down at the reanimated cat before him, a realization that it was changed and no longer the same loving creature it had once been, stirred more power. Flames erupted from all around and as he reached out to engulf everything in reach with hatred fueled fire, Shuran awoke surrounded with living flame and Mally shouting for help as he used powers to douse the essence born fire that erupted around Shuran as he slept.
Once the fire was extinguished and Moona fussed over Shuran, Codger called for all to come to the common area to find out what had happened.
Shuran explained what he had seen in his night visions. “It was so real like I was there, but only someone else,” Shuran sobbed.
Codger began to say something before Moona glared at him and cut him short.
“This may be a vision or simply a bad dream, it is too early to tell,” she said. “Have you had others like this dream or vision?”
“I see things sometimes when I sleep but nothing so clear or so real,” Shuran answered. “In the dreams I would be working Essence and moving elemental forces. Sometimes other things came in the form of nightmares.” Shuran shuddered and did not elaborate.
Morning comforted him, and since no one was able to go back to sleep they all went about starting the day.
“Boys if you would meet me out in the yard I have a task we need to do today,” Codger said seriously. “We must surround the cabin similarly as we did the practice grounds. This will help Shuran sleep should more visions come unwanted,” Codger said without further explaining.
The boys just looked on with confused expressions but did as they were instructed. Over several days they worked at the hard packed rock filled ground.
On the fifth day Shuran stopped digging and picking with a frustrated grunt. “This will take us ’til next harvest come and gone before we complete our task,” he grumbled.
“You know faster methods of digging then please share or get back to it!” Mally replied between breaths while shoveling. “If we have not made progress when Moona and Codger return from town, Moona will give us both a good whack!” Mally jested with a serious expression.
Mally suddenly paused in his labors at a feeling on the edges of his being. He turned abruptly to see Shuran kneeling with his hands laid upon the earth, eyes closed and humbling to himself.
The ground began to groan beneath them as Shuran stood and lifted his arms. With a sudden burst, the ground surrounding the rest of the cabin rose forth from the edge where they had shoveled. The ringed ditch around the cabin was complete.
Shuran, arms raised high in the air, gestured and the raised dirt, rock, and clay moved over them to an area off to the end of the property where they had carted the ground they dug earlier.
Mally stood in awed silence as Shuran stood above the new trench. Without effort Shuran separated the clay from the ground and brought it forth to a smooth form around the interior. He baked it hard with elemental flame. Next he called forth water from the shores of the Great Sea nearly two hundred paces away. A flowing stream of salty seawater poured into the trench. Another gesture and planks of wood previously cut, flew through the air and lay across the trench at evenly placed intervals.
More planks and boards crossed parallel to the supports. Dirt and clay from the pile came up to cover the area smooth and then grasses and wild flower sprung from the ground and blended in with the surrounding area to completely hide the deep salt water filled trench that laid below.
On the path back from town Codger stopped his horse abruptly in front of Moona. “BLAST!
What are you about ya ol’ fool?” Moona yelled.
“Something has happened couldn’ you feel it?” Codger puzzled.
“You know damn well I can’ feel nothing since… for a long time.” Moona scowled as she hurried her horse past Codger toward home.
A look of regret and apology came over his face as Codger urged his own steed after her. “Sorry Moony I just felt something odd. It was not terribly strong so it must have been far away.”
“It could have been close as well and you know it Codge! Now move that horses arse and bring the steed with you!”
Mally stood in stunned silence. Only when Shuran fell to the ground did Mally snap back to his wits and run to his side. “Shuran! What is wrong? Talk to me.”
“He will not wake for some time I suspect,” Codger said in irritation.
“What is goin’ on here!” Moona asked, frustration clear in her voice.
“The cabin is completely circled in a ring of salt water. I cannot feel things in the home that I should,” Codger replied with a knowing glance at Moona that told her all she needed.
“You head strong fool of a boy. What were you thinking?” she whispered as she motioned for Mally to carry Shuran into the cabin.
As Shuran slept the others sat in the small common area supping on bread and rabbit stew with vegetables.
Mally explained the events of the afternoon with excitement.
“Don’ be so excited Mally my boy. That was nothin’ compared to what that boy is capable of or will be when he c
omes to full power,” Codger spoke.
“What do you mean Codge?” Mally asked but it was Moona who continued the story.
She spoke of the prophecy and the events that brought them all together. Until this was all revealed Mally had just known they were escaping the Inquisitors who were, and still are rounding up Essence wielders. He now knew the truth.
“You must not speak of this now. The time will come but not yet,” Moona explained. “The visions he experiences are likely caused at times by a link he shares with his sister who lived.” The rest of the meal was eaten in silence and they all retired early without a word.
The next morning they were all woken early by a rapping on the cabin door. Moona and Codger shushed Mally as he shuffled into the room still half asleep.
“They couldn’ have sensed anything unless they were close at hand! Codge?” Moona asked.
“I wouldn’ think so but I just don’ know. Maybe if the link is two ways?”
“What link?” Shuran asked as he entered the room.
More rapping came from the door.
“Is someone going to answer the door or not?” Shuran asked as he walked for the door.
“Don’ open that yet boy! Could be an Inquisitor, after your little stunt yesterday.” Moona scolded.
Shuran just shrugged them off and opened the door. “Hello Andra,” Shuran said knowingly and turned to let his old friend in grinning at the others as they made their way to the table.
“I dreamt of your arrival days ago,” Shuran said as they sat eating.
“He was having night visions before,” Moona said.
“Before you warded off the cabin you mean,” Andra responded.
“How did you know?” Asked Mally.
“It is a simple matter for one practiced in seeing what is not there.” Andra could see the puzzled looks and continued. “You created the ring to buffer the Essence and block unwanted visions I am to assume. Salt water is best but the depth to which you created the ring gives more strength to the whole of it. I also sense a lining of clay baked hard by flame.”
Chronicles of Aurderia: The Balance Page 6
