Rhuna, The Star Child

by Barbara Underwood

  “I so much wanted to tell you! I needed to talk about it, but after what you said about him, I was afraid you’d be angry,” Lozira said, turning and wiping the tears that had begun to flow down her face. “And if you also criticize and disapprove of me, like Tozar, I shall…”

  “Oh no!” Rhuna said emphatically as she remembered Aradin’s words of caution. “I could never disapprove of you, Lozira! It’s Beacon of the Night I disapprove of, and…”

  “But it’s the same thing!” protested Lozira.

  “What is? How is it the same thing?”

  “Tozar doesn’t understand you, what you did, and thinks you are a bad influence on me, and now you also think the same way about Goram…I mean Beacon of the Night…you don’t understand him!”

  Rhuna decided she could not tell her everything about Beacon of the Night without the protective field of the special room, so she determined to silently comfort Lozira until her tears stopped flowing.

  “You can talk to me now,” she said softly as she moved Lozira’s long golden hair away from her face. She stepped towards the seating cushions and waited until they were both sitting comfortably.

  “It’s so hard!” Lozira said, anguish in her face as tears welled up in her eyes again.

  “Tell me how you feel, Lozira…what is so hard?”

  “I did not think love could be like this,” she answered.

  “Like what, exactly?”

  “That it hurts! It hurts all the time when I cannot be with him, and then when I am, it hurts in a different way!”

  “Tell me how it started,” she asked her daughter. ”When did you start to love him like this?” Lozira began to release her pent-up emotions as Rhuna stroked her hair and listened to her description of several outings on beautiful days, with tender sweet kisses and conversations unlike any she had ever had.

  “He was so open and direct about everything he told me,” Lozira explained. “And I felt I could tell him absolutely everything, and that he would always understand.” Rhuna nodded and smiled, holding back the misgivings and turmoil broiling inside her.

  When Lozira had unburdened herself and dried her tears, Rhuna explained to her that Sun of the Morning was waiting for her to act on this matter before the Council stepped in on Tozar’s request.

  “The first thing I have to do is go talk to Beacon of the Night,” Rhuna said decisively as she stood up.

  “What will you say?” Lozira asked alarmed.

  “Whatever is necessary,” Rhuna answered.

  “They cannot stop me from seeing him!” she said with renewed vigour. “They cannot send me back to Atlán!”

  “No, they can’t,” Rhuna said reassuringly, and then told her daughter to stay home and comfort Shandi. When Lozira had reluctantly agreed and gone into the nearby rooms, Rhuna entered the room in which Aradin had been summoning visions by means of the Gazing of the Waters.

  “He has seduced many women throughout his life,” Aradin said gloomily, and then described the visions he had summoned as he accompanied Rhuna outside.

  “What are we going to do?” asked Rhuna as they walked along the paved road.

  “Forcing her to do something against such strong feelings usually causes even worse problems,” Aradin said.

  “We’ll tell Beacon of the Night to leave her alone,” Rhuna suggested.

  “Do you really believe he would do anything we ask of him?” Aradin snorted.

  “We have to at least try,” said Rhuna, deflated.

  “Such a decision has to be made by her, not you,” explained Aradin.

  Rhuna reluctantly agreed after a moment’s thought. She stopped as they neared the house in which Beacon of the Night resided, and Aradin squeezed her hand reassuringly.

  “Keeper of Wisdom and Keeper of Justice!” Beacon of the Night exclaimed with genuine surprise. “Welcome inside my home!” he said with a sweeping gesture of his arm, guiding them through the entrance way and into the first main room. He stopped in front of a large window overlooking the garden and turned to face them with an expectant look.

  “We have just found out that you’ve been seducing my daughter!” Rhuna charged at him. “I forbid you from ever seeing her again!”

  “A-ha,” he said nodding, and paused to prepare his defensive speech. “This reaction was to be expected, and therefore I shall harbour no offence or resentment,” he began. “You despise me, and you cannot tolerate any personal involvement between your daughter and me,” he said nodding again, and then slowly paced across the room in front of them.

  “However, may I make this one fact clear at the outset, namely that I am not seducing, deceiving or misleading Lozira,” he said firmly. “It is true, for a brief moment I was indeed tempted when I realized that such a young and innocent woman looked at me with interest and desire…”

  “You put some kind of love-curse on her!” spat Rhuna, and Aradin placed his hand on her arm in a calming gesture.

  Beacon of the Night threw his head back in laughter. “In all honesty, my Friends, I had never thought of such a thing…but what a splendid idea!” he said beaming.

  “You are a philanderer!” Rhuna charged. “We have summoned visions of your philandering life by means of the Gazing of the Waters,” she said as she began to tremble with emotion.

  Beacon of the Night hooked his thumb into the top of his kilt as he ambled around the room. “Naturally, you would inform yourselves of my past activities,” he said casually.

  “Was it really so, that she was attracted to you first, for no reason at all?” Aradin asked suspiciously.

  “Why, is it so difficult to imagine?” asked Beacon of the Night as he stopped walking and looked at them with a grin. “Am I such an unappealing man? Your summoned visions of my life surely attest to the fact that I am attractive to women, do they not?”

  “Then you took advantage of a young woman’s first experience with love,” Rhuna stated, angry at the man’s laughter.

  “Only for a brief moment, as I admitted,” answered Beacon of the Night. “While in conversation with this delightful young woman, who has intelligence and maturity far in advance of her peers, my feelings became sincere,” he said.

  “You kissed her,” Rhuna said, shuddering at the memory of the visions she had summoned by means of the Gazing of the Waters.

  “Yes. And she kissed me. We kissed each other,” he stated casually. “That is not your worst fear, however,” he said with a mischievous grin. “You are horrified by the mere thought that I would force physical intimacy on her, are you not?”

  Rhuna remained silent, swallowing hard as her body became rigid with strong emotions.

  “You have not been tempted to do so?” Aradin challenged.

  “Oh yes!” laughed Beacon of the Night. “Oh yes indeed! Such a desire is purely natural, yet I have thus far managed to restrain myself.”

  “So you admit that you are merely philandering with our daughter,” challenged Aradin.

  “Not at all! Not at all, My Friends! Were it so, she would have been in my bed long before already!” he said as his pace quickened. “The excessive restless energy that motivated such a manner of behaviour in my youth has now been re-directed into other activities of a purely ethereal nature, and such…philandering no longer appeals, nor satisfies my deepest innermost needs,” he said in serious tone. “Furthermore, I have informed Lozira of my past activities, and she is well aware of my life’s course thus far.”

  “You lie,” said Rhuna bluntly.

  “Yes, sometimes.”

  “She has very strong feelings for you,” Rhuna said with difficulty.

  “Of this I am very well aware.”

  “This is her first involvement after eighteen solar cycles of emotional security and harmonious environment in Atlán where such philandering is unknown. Her pain would be severe and long-lasting, damaging her emotional fiber and wellbeing…”

  “This matter, also, has
not escaped my comprehension,” Beacon of the Night said, standing still and meeting Rhuna’s gaze without a blink.

  “Were it so, as you wish to believe, Keeper of Wisdom, then I should not have restrained myself, nor given respect and consideration for your daughter’s wellbeing,” he said, and continued to pace again. “However, I value her happiness and emotional wellbeing above my own, and therefore shall not act upon any personal desires until proper circumstances permit,” he said.

  “There will never be proper circumstances!” Rhuna lashed out. “We know that you are the leader of the Dark Master’s followers, and that you nearly caused Lozira’s death when you tried to cause the Atlan fleet of ships to be wrecked in a giant storm!”

  Beacon of the Night stopped in his tracks and raised his eyebrows in astonishment. Rhuna felt a hot surge pulse through her body as she realized her mistake, and then heard Aradin’s sharp intake of breath next to her.

  “You know this?” Beacon of the Night snapped sharply as his eyes darted back and forth between Rhuna and Aradin. “Very impressive!” he exclaimed after a moment of tense silence, and then a broad smile spread across his face. “It appears I have under-estimated you once again.”

  Rhuna remained silent, determined not to divulge any further secrets.

  “May I ask how you come to know of this?”

  “No,” Rhuna said, and snapped her mouth shut again.

  “Our intention was to cause the ships to return to port,” Beacon of the Night said in a defensive tone. “We abhor the taking of human life, and in fact, our quest is to improve life for everyone,” he stated firmly, and then a flash of understanding illuminated his eyes. “You!” he uttered breathlessly. “You caused the failure of our attempts to create a storm!” Beacon of the Night stared at Rhuna wide-eyed for a moment, and then his face broke into a devious grin.

  “Keeper of Wisdom! You have my deepest respect and admiration,” he said with an elaborate bow. “We were not aware that our activities could be observed, much less influenced by outside sources. We are humbled in your presence! Teach us your skills, Keeper of Wisdom!”

  “No!” Rhuna stated adamantly.

  “Then may I suggest that you attend our next gathering tomorrow at sunset?” he suddenly said in a bright, cheerful manner. “Attendance at our gathering shall provide all the information you seek in order to know exactly what we are doing, and for which purpose. Bring Lozira, and any others whom you have told about my clandestine activities,” he said.

  Rhuna felt stunned, and then looked at Aradin whose face had paled and contorted with fear and apprehension.

  “You are trying to subvert us, using Lozira to force me to compromise my position and stand against you!” Rhuna said, trying to hide her trembling.

  “Your manner of thinking appeals to me!” said Beacon of the Night with a flash of white teeth. “Yet my intentions are entirely of a congenial, co-operative nature. Come as guests to observe and learn about our ways in order to establish whether we are your enemies or allies.”

  “There is no doubt that you are our enemy, since your allegiance is with the Dark Master!” said Aradin shakily.

  “The Dark Master and his followers corrupt and degrade everything that is good,” Rhuna said. The difference between us is like night and day – and The Dark One even chose a black robe to show his opposition to the white Atlan Master’s robe!”

  “This minor detail is true,” said Beacon of the Night. “Your other conclusions are not correct, however. Do you not agree that one must embark upon a proper and thorough investigation into all aspects of a matter before making such a severe accusation?”

  “We will come to your gathering,” Rhuna said decisively.

  “Good, good! Thereafter, may we discuss your acquired knowledge, ideals and quest – which I suspect are not as divergent from ours as you may believe. And above all, on a purely personal, selfish level,” he said slowly in a different tone, “…I wish Lozira to gain a full understanding of the person I am, so that she may decide. It has been weighing heavily on my mind, keeping this part of my life secret from her. It is time for everything to be revealed.”

  “Very well then,” said Aradin, preparing to leave the house.

  “Should she decide to continue our involvement, however, then you cannot prevent it,” Beacon of the Night said sternly. “I, for my part, shall not terminate our relationship on your request, no matter how persuasive your attempts…or would you injure or even kill me, too?”

  “That was not my intention!” Rhuna exclaimed.

  “Exactly! Exactly as it was not my intention to harm or take a life, yet at times it happens nevertheless,” he said, his pacing more agitated again.

  “Summon the visions, or whichever means you have used to acquire knowledge of my secret activities, to ascertain that I am telling the truth. And if, by any means, you are able to confirm the genuineness of my feelings for your daughter, then do so,” he said raising his hands in surrender.

  “Be present at the corner of the Red Lion by the setting of the sun tomorrow,” Beacon of the Night said as he escorted them to the door. “Wear a head and face covering, that you may not be recognized,” he said to Rhuna in a stern whisper as she brushed past him.

  “Don’t say another word!” Aradin hissed as they stepped onto the road and walked home with a brisk pace. Despite Lozira’s anxious expression when they entered their home, Rhuna rushed past her and into the special room where Aradin promptly threw the switch to activate the protective field.

  “Oh, what have I done, Aradin? Have I put us and The Observers in danger? I wasn’t thinking – those words just came out!” Rhuna wailed, feeling deflated and unworthy of The Observers, having so carelessly revealed their secret in a moment of intense emotion.

  “Let’s think this through carefully,” Aradin said as he paced around the small room. “We didn’t reveal that there is a group of us, so I believe there’s no immediate danger to The Observers – but we will be under much closer scrutiny from them now as they try to find out how we know what they are doing.”

  Rhuna’s skin prickled at the thought of being so closely observed by the Dark Ones.

  “In fact, in view of that, perhaps we shouldn’t even contact them right away or else Beacon of the Night will surmise that they are our colleagues,” Aradin continued as his pace quickened.

  “Maybe I shouldn’t go see my father either, if they are going to watch us so closely,” Rhuna said solemnly, and Aradin agreed with a firm nod.

  “Let’s go about everything as usual,” he said decisively.

  “Maybe I could observe what Beacon of the Night does, just with my mental summoning skill,” Rhuna suggested.

  “Good,” said Aradin taking a deep breath. “And now you need to tell Lozira,” he said as he opened the door and ushered Lozira into the special room. Rhuna moved the switch as soon as Aradin stepped out, and then released a painful sigh.

  “Lozira, I couldn’t tell you before…oh, this is like a nightmare!” Rhuna began.

  “What’s wrong?” Lozira asked breathless with anxiety.

  “Beacon of the Night is the leader of the Dark Ones! He is the Dark Master’s apprentice!”

  Lozira looked at her mother wide-eyed and speechless.

  “That’s why I told you not to see him!”

  “Oh,” Lozira said faintly.

  “But now I’ve made a terrible mistake. I got so upset talking to him that I told him we know about the things he and the other followers of the Dark Master have been doing…”

  “You told him about The Observers?” Lozira said, still dazed.

  “No. But I said enough in just one outburst, and now everything has changed! And it’s all my fault!”

  “What will happen now?” asked Lozira in a shaky voice. Rhuna shook her head and said she did not know.

  “So…how do you feel now?” Rhuna asked, observing the changes in Lozira’s face as she strug
gled to comprehend the latest revelations.

  “I want to talk to him about it,” she said after a while. “Ask him to tell me what he does, and why.”

  “That’s exactly what he suggested,” said Rhuna. “He wants us to attend their gathering tomorrow night so that you can see what kind of person he really is.”

  “He said that?”

  “Yes. And then you can tell him you won’t see him anymore!” Rhuna said firmly.

  Lozira’s face scrunched into a rebellious pout. “I want to talk to him about everything first!” she insisted.

  “But surely you don’t want to be involved with someone who is working with the Dark Master!” Rhuna said sharply.

  “But I love him!” Lozira said defiantly.

  “How can you love someone like that? Like the Dark Master himself?” Rhuna argued.

  “That is the way it is!” Lozira shouted, and stomped towards the door. Rhuna groaned with exasperation, and then quickly told her about their decision to continue as normal while being under close scrutiny by the Dark Ones. “Be especially careful what you say when we are not in this room!” Rhuna reminded Lozira before she pulled the switch at the door.

  “Sooner or later someone will summon a vision of what I said,” said Rhuna when Aradin had re-entered the special room and switched the lever.

  “Most probably Tozar, if he’s watching us so closely,” agreed Aradin.

  Rhuna suggested that she summon a mental vision of Beacon of the Night to observe his most recent actions. Moving into her Inside Focussing position, she concentrated her attention on Beacon of the Night and his activities since she and Aradin left his house.

  In an instant, visions began appearing in her mind, and she recognized the room in which they had spoken earlier. Beacon of the Night stood still, looking out the large window onto the garden, and then began to pace back and forth in front of the window, as he had done while she and Aradin were there. Rhuna felt frustrated that nothing of significance appeared in her visions, so she made a renewed attempt at summoning visions of the man’s activity.