“Really? You don’t think…?”
“What?” asked Aradin.
“Could it be…a curse?” she said, choosing her words carefully because they were not in the special room.
“It would make sense,” said Aradin with a deep frown. “You should try to learn more…” he hinted. Rhuna immediately stood up and entered the sleeping chamber where she practiced Inside Focussing, which allowed her to summon mental visions.
An image of Beacon of the Night appeared, and Rhuna recognized the small side chamber of the subterranean meeting room in which they had held a brief discussion. By dim candlelight, the leader of the Guardians of Knowledge was by himself, assembling a few small dolls with fine details, including white Master’s robes on each. Rhuna immediately knew that they represented the new Atlan Council of Safu, and held her breath as she continued to let the mental images appear to her.
Beacon of the Night proceeded to place the dolls in a thick, murky liquid, moving his head back and sideways in a manner indicating that the liquid exuded a foul odour. When the dolls were immersed, he spoke several odd phrases which Rhuna did not understand, and then sat for a while with closed eyes.
Rhuna immediately stood up when the visions had finished, calling Lozira to accompany her to the special room where Aradin already stood waiting. He moved the lever near the door as soon as they were all inside.
“Beacon of the Night has put a curse on the entire Atlan Council of Safu!” Rhuna said forcefully, looking sharply at Lozira.
“They have digestive disorders with painful cramps,” Aradin added, turning to Lozira as well.
“He did it for me,” she said. “So that they would leave me alone and not try to force me to go back to Atlán!”
“You think he did something good?” asked Aradin, almost amused.
“I do not think it is so very bad,” Lozira replied innocently.
“Their ailment is temporary,” Aradin said. “What will Beacon of the Night do next, to prevent them from sending you back to your father?” he asked of Lozira.
“This is only the beginning of their curses and what they can do!” Rhuna said emphatically. “Sooner or later someone will die!”
“No, he would not do such a thing!” Lozira protested, and angrily strode out of the room without switching the lever.
“Be calm!” cautioned Aradin as Rhuna moved to go after her daughter. She stopped and nodded, then took a calming deep breath before walking slowly out of the room and towards Lozira’s sleeping chamber.
“Lozira,” she said softly, opening the door to her room. Rhuna saw her daughter sitting on the edge of her bed, head bent down and long hair shielding her face like a golden curtain. When she did not respond in any way, Rhuna sat down beside her, carefully placing her arm around Lozira’s shoulders and taking another deep breath before speaking.
“You know that it’s your happiness and wellbeing I care about, don’t you?”
Lozira nodded and sniffled, then wiped a tear from her cheek.
“What do you expect me to say? I’m your mother, and I want to keep you from being hurt…and this involvement will hurt you in some way, sooner or later. You see that, don’t you?” Rhuna said gently.
Lozira shook her head vigorously, her long hair swaying wildly. “No!” she blurted. “How can it hurt me?”
“The kind of man he is…what he does, and what he has done…it’s all so contrary to what you’ve grown up with, what Atlan people believe in, and the Atlan way of life. Sooner or later something will happen, something will upset and hurt you because of the kind of man he is.”
When Lozira remained silent, Rhuna continued to choose her words carefully.
“Like, for example, if you wanted him to be your husband…but he wanted to be free…because that’s how he has lived all his adult life. Just living for himself, without responsibilities to others. That alone would make it hard for a man to become a good husband, apart from the other things…like the way he lived…having only brief and shallow involvement with many women. And now we’ve heard what else he stands for, what he’s obviously very passionate about. Being the leader of the Guardians of Knowledge might be much more important to him than making you happy and being a husband to you.”
Lozira suddenly burst into tears, and Rhuna squeezed her tightly, wishing it had not been necessary to say so many hurtful things to her daughter.
“What do you expect me to-to do about it then?” Lozira stammered through sobs.
“Put an end to your involvement with him – the sooner the better, before you get involved any deeper!” Rhuna urged.
“No! I cannot!” she wailed as she shook her head. “I just cannot do that! I love him too much to even bear thinking about it!” she said as more tears began to gush down her cheeks.
Rhuna continued to embrace Lozira tightly as she heaved and sobbed.
“Then we’ll just get through this together, one day at a time,” Rhuna said at last.
During a quiet time later in the day, Rhuna reclined in her sleeping chamber in the position to release her Extended Consciousness. The process had become quick and easy with regular practice, and she only experienced slight disorientation when her Extended Consciousness reached a certain plane. She knew that this was the first step before willing her Consciousness to journey to a particular place or person.
Rhuna thought of Beacon of the Night, and willed her Extended Consciousness to observe him. Almost instantly, she recognized the Red Lion, and sensed his presence beneath it in the musty, low-ceilinged meeting place. She willed herself to pass through the thick pinkish stone and down into the room where five members of the Guardians of Knowledge were gathered.
“Brother Goram, we missed you at our last informal gathering,” said one of the female Dark Ones whom Rhuna had not yet met. She was able to observe aspects of each person with her Extended Consciousness that could not be observed with the physical senses. A strange, black cloud emanated from her mouth as she spoke, and Rhuna instinctively felt that this meant her words were impure and full of unclean emotions. She wondered why this should be so, but then saw Beacon of the night radiating a crimson and purplish aura as he spoke.
“Other matter required my attention,” he answered curtly.
“The time is approaching for the giving of animal life at the fullest moon,” said Charmer of Snakes. Rhuna examined the man she disliked, expecting to see dark or mismatched colours, but her Extended Consciousness sensed nothing particularly unusual.
“Before the sun sets, I shall be present to prepare the sacred chamber for the service,” said Beacon of the Night, his aura changing to green.
“Then you must leave promptly, Brother, as it is a considerable distance to the Pyramid!” said one of the other Dark Ones huddled in the shadows.
Rhuna willed her Extended Consciousness to return to her body, excited by this opportune observation. She hurried to prepare herself for the long walk to the pyramids, taking a small portion of food and a water pouch, and then tying the appropriate footwear to her ankles. She walked briskly at first, until she recognized Beacon of the Night in the far distance ahead of her. As they neared the pyramids, Rhuna quickened her pace so that she could see exactly where Beacon of the Night entered the subterranean chamber, hoping that he would not turn to see her on the open plain between the city of Safu and the pyramid structures.
Rhuna approached the area at the base of the second pyramid where she had seen Beacon of the Night enter, but saw no doorway. Remembering the secret door and latch of the golden pyramid which she entered several solar cycles past, she looked for a similar ridge in the wall. Her fingers soon felt an irregularity in the finely-cut stone blocks, and knew she had found the side opening. She bent down to lift the latch that she suspected was at the bottom of the doorway, and felt triumphant when she instantly found it, hearing the familiar scraping sound and smelling the dank air escape from the gloomy cavern.
As s
oon as the secret door closed behind her, Rhuna was engulfed in total darkness. She felt along both sides of the narrow passage for the guide rope she expected to find, and after some fumbling around, her fingers grasped a solid thick cord. Then she slowly moved forward and downward, one small step at a time, until the oppressive darkness gave way to a gentle and warm flickering light.
She heard the echo of shuffling feet ahead of her.
“Who goes there?” hissed Beacon of the Night.
Rhuna approached him without a word until the dim light illuminated her face.
“Rhuna!” he exclaimed with disbelief.
“I want to talk to you,” she said.
“An exchange of thoughts is precisely what I seek also,” he answered calmly.
Rhuna looked around the dark room, recognizing it from her visions of the Dark Ones’ most secret and sinister activities. Beacon of the Night had donned the black ceremonial robe, and had been going around the room lighting candles and small lamps.
“This is where you and the others perform all your activities for the Dark Master,” she stated.
“How do you know this? How, Rhuna?” he asked urgently.
“I have special abilities, different and stronger than most Atlan Masters,” she began to explain. “I can summon visions mentally that can’t be summoned by means of the Gazing of the Waters.”
“Yes, I remember that your skills were exceptional and quite extraordinary already at the time you attended the School in Atlán, and when I was your teacher,” he said nodding slowly as he recalled the past.
Rhuna was relieved that Beacon of the Night appeared to be satisfied with this explanation already.
“How did you sabotage our attempt to create a storm around the Atlan fleet?” he wanted to know.
“Also with my special abilities,” Rhuna answered.
“Obviously,” said Beacon of the Night with annoyance. “You shall not elaborate? Did you utilize some new or unknown power to assist in this sabotage?”
Rhuna remained silent.
“Why have you come, when you refuse to engage in a proper discussion?” he said tersely.
Rhuna took a deep breath before she spoke. “If you really love Lozira, then quit the Guardians of Knowledge and the Dark Master,” she said firmly.
Beacon of the Night stared at her in astonishment for a long moment.
“Why?”
“Her involvement with you puts her in all kinds of danger,” Rhuna said emphatically.
“No harm shall befall her!” he exclaimed, and Rhuna thought she saw a flash of light illuminate his green eyes.
“You can’t prevent it!” Rhuna shouted. “Not only could she be banished by the High Council of Atlán, but The Reigning One is watching you, and he didn’t hesitate to execute the last group of the Dark Master’s followers!”
“The Guardians of Knowledge do not resemble the former Atlan Council of Safu in the slightest,” Beacon of the Night protested. “We perform nothing of the nature which could incur wrath or punishment.”
“Stop lying! I know everything you’re doing, and I am able to stop you…and I will! And if you and the others want to kill me, I can also defend myself, as you well know!”
“Wait, wait!” Beacon of the Night held up his hand. “We do not wish to kill anyone!”
“Followers of the Dark Master have killed before, just as he himself did when he was alive,” she replied. “You lied when you said that you intended only to force the Atlan fleet to return to land. I observed you with the others, planning and discussing the making of the storm and that it should capsize the ships!”
Beacon of the Night looked away so that Rhuna could not see his face.
“Be that as it may,” he answered reluctantly. “We never intended any harm towards you, however,” he said emphatically. “Have you been afraid of us? Of me?” he asked teasingly.
“After what the Dark Master did in the past, and then what the last Atlan Council of Safu did, who were his followers…of course we were afraid for our lives!” Rhuna said defensively.
“You speak in the plural sense. Who else assists you in this endeavour to resist us?”
“I won’t say. I won’t put their lives in danger, too.”
“Rhuna!” Beacon of the Night exclaimed with laughter. “Stop this nonsense! You have never been in danger from us, of this I can assure you!” Beacon of the Night began to walk away and continued lighting a few more candles.
“No, no, Rhuna,” he said as he walked. “We have not given you or any of your associates a single thought. Our concerns lie with The Reigning One of the Benshi people, and the Ubanti,” he explained. “We know we are in no danger from you, whereas the armies of both the Benshi and Ubanti pose a formidable physical threat. You have been unnecessarily concerned for your own selves, while the true threats lie elsewhere!”
Rhuna paused for a moment to collect her thoughts.
“Will you stop your involvement with the Guardians of Knowledge for Lozira’s sake?” Rhuna pleaded.
“She shall be protected by me,” he answered gruffly.
“You can’t. You just said that the Benshi and Ubanti armies are a threat, not to mention the new Atlan Council of Safu. They have already come to me twice, threatening to take Lozira away and send her back to her father! He is more determined than ever since finding out about her involvement with you!”
“This is so? The severity of her father’s distress had evaded me,” he said with a frown.
“I didn’t tell Lozira everything about her father so as not to upset her,” Rhuna explained. “Sun of the Morning will keep trying to force us, and would have already come again if not for the illness that has struck down the entire Council - the curse that you put on them!”
Beacon of the Night looked at her with mock surprise, and then a broad grin slowly spread across his face. “They believe it was the food they shared in the Eating Hall,” he said with a chuckle.
“And Lozira thinks you did it for her,” Rhuna said bitterly.
“It was indeed for her,” said Beacon of the Night. “They have no right to force her to return to her father in Atlán!” he said with sudden anger.
Rhuna paused and then took a deep breath. “Goram,” she said, using his personal name for emphasis. “She is in danger because of you!”
“You do not know what you ask,” he said. “It is not a matter of merely performing certain acts and speaking certain words,” he said with a low sigh. “Rather, the Master’s Service is an all-embracing mentality that permeates one’s entire being, guiding and directing one’s every thought, word and action.”
“I understand that,” said Rhuna flatly, and turned to leave.
“My feelings for Lozira are sincere,” Goram said resolutely as Rhuna began to ascend the steps. “It has caused me considerable distress, this unexpected emotion…” he said in an uncharacteristic uncertain tone, waving his hands dismissively. “…distracting my thoughts, making me vulnerable, causing me to abandon my own needs and desires…”
“You did not abandon your desires the night of the gathering,” Rhuna remarked.
“It was the first time…and it was her desire, also,” he said defensively.
“I know…she told me,” Rhuna said, and then continued to ascend the stairs.
“I could have seduced her any time I wanted!” he called after her, but Rhuna silently continued on her way out of the dark and oppressive underground room.
Rhuna arrived home to learn from Faleesh that their friends had come to visit, and that Aradin had been entertaining them.
“They are in the special guest-meeting room,” Faleesh said innocently, and then informed Rhuna that Shandi had been asking for her. Rhuna hurried into Shandi’s sleeping chamber where Lozira was still playing with her little sister. After kissing both her daughters, Rhuna hurried to the special room, eager to tell her fellow Observers about the latest developments.
“You conversed with him secretly, alone?” asked Divider of Fortunes, alarmed.
“You should have told me!” said Aradin shocked. “I could have gone with you!”
“It was an instinctive decision,” Rhuna responded. “I had to try to do something.”
“Of course,” nodded Revealer of Truths. “Your daughter’s wellbeing and happiness are bound to this man.”
“Beacon of the Night said that they are not concerned about us because we pose no threat to them. We’ve been worrying unnecessarily all this time!” Rhuna said with emphasis.
“Such reassurance is to be expected from the leader of the Dark Ones,” said Designer of Works firmly.
“Indeed, it is a common tactic…very common…to create the illusion of safety while plotting subversive deeds,” agreed Echo of the Evening.
“No doubt he is actively planning his next steps in view of your revelation, Star Child,” said Revealer of Truths.
Rhuna described the words Beacon of the Night had used to express his sincere feelings for Lozira, and said that she believed them. “Someone who can love truly cannot be so bad…”
“No, no!” interrupted Divider of Fortunes in his deep and resonating voice. “Such a person seldom changes. Once given to indulgence of self-serving, personal desires without consideration for others, the course of life is firmly set,” he said shaking his head.
“After our last discussion,” began Divider of Fortunes, “I took the liberty of summoning specific visions of this man’s activity, and he has given such assurances of sincerity to others before. Once, he adamantly professed true love until he received certain rewards from the father of the young woman in question. Once he acquired the coveted items, he left without even a word of farewell.”
Rhuna felt an ache in the pit of her stomach as she thought of the devoted love Lozira displayed for Beacon of the Night.
“My summons by means of the Gazing of the Waters has revealed that he appears to have indeed left this manner of behaviour, as he assured us,” said Aradin, placing a gentle hand on Rhuna’s arm.
“Understand, that we must nevertheless be on guard and suspicious of anything the followers of the Dark Master might say,” said Revealer of Truths. “It sounds too idyllic, especially from a personal aspect, that your daughter’s lover may not be as ruthless as it appears.”
Rhuna, The Star Child Page 20
