Rhuna said that this was worthy of celebrating, and that she and Faleesh had already prepared some delicious food. The friends gathered around the table and cheerfully discussed the variety of food, the fragrant smell of the garden, and the prospect of a return to idyllic Atlan life.
“Once the new Atlan Council of Safu has gained full knowledge of facts and past events, it shall act to remove all Dark influences in Safu society,” said Designer of Works.
As the merry conversations continued, Rhuna began to feel more uneasy, even slightly angry that their friends were avoiding the subject of Tozar and the attack on Goram. When she realized that no one had inquired into the wellbeing of Lozira, she felt hurt, sad and puzzled.
The food plates were almost empty when the lively conversation at the table was interrupted by a commotion from the house. Rhuna turned to see Damell enter the garden with Abu-Malech and several attendants representing The Reigning One behind him.
“The Ubanti are preparing to invade Safu!” Damell announced with urgency. Rhuna felt as if a thunderclap had shaken her house and garden.
“Black man coming!” piped Shandi, repeating the words she had spoken before, and began to cry again. Rhuna quickly swept her up in her arms and kissed the top of her head. She felt as if she had entered a dream-like state and was observing everything from outside her body.
“Tell us what you know,” Aradin told Damell as he shot to his feet in alarm.
“They have stealthily sent soldiers to crucial areas all around Safu with the appearance of merely undertaking general work on roads and irrigation channels, while in fact they hide weapons!” Damell paused to catch his breath and look around at the stunned faces.
“Furthermore, they appear to communicate by some kind of code, knowing that we can observe them by means of the Gazing of the Waters. Certain construction directions are actually orders for tactical maneuvers!”
“How cunning!” exclaimed Designer of Works with awe.
“Such consequences should have been foreseeable, yet I was too distracted by the most recent event and its repercussions to pay the proper attention! Forgive me, Daughter!” Damell said, shaking his head and looking at the floor in humble defeat.
“But you still found out in time, Father!” Rhuna said as she laid a comforting hand on her father’s arm. Shandi reached out for her newly-discovered grandfather, and he briefly took the small hand and kissed it. Faleesh approached them, confusion and helplessness in her face. Rhuna instinctively placed Shandi into her open arms, and Faleesh took the child into another room while serious matters were discussed.
“Rhuna, they have almost outsmarted us and succeeded in a surprise attack!” Damell said with desperation.
‘But why attack us?” asked Divider of Fortunes, wide-eyed.
“They think Atlans caused a serious illness-curse on their population,” Rhuna answered. “This, coming after so many attempts by the Guardians of Knowledge to stop merchants and emissaries from Ubanti coming to Safu to learn our ways…”
“Beacon of the Night admitted he caused the Atlan Council of Safu to become ill!” interrupted Designer of Works angrily.
“There is more,” Damell said gloomily, taking another deep breath. “Many Ubanti people have succumbed to the disease which they believe was an Atlan curse. Several of the dead are members of the queen’s own household!”
“This is terrible, terrible news!” Echo of the Evening twittered nervously.
“Do we really need to leave our homes?” asked Softness of the Clouds looking around helplessly at her fellow-Observers and then at Reaching the Moon who sat next to her.
“Would they really harm us? We did nothing to them!” Reaching the Moon protested.
The Dark Ones using Dark Forces - they are the ones who have brought Ubanti hatred and anger upon all Atlans!” Revealer of Truths spat angrily.
“But don’t they know that most Atlans living here in Safu had nothing to do with those attacks on their people?” Aradin insisted.
“They are carrying all manner of weapons,” Damell answered, shaking his head. “We cannot risk remaining in Safu, lest the Army has been instructed to harm or even kill all Atlans!” he said, his cheeks flushing pink.
“The only way out of Safu is to cross the Great River and go in the direction of the rising sun,” Damell explained. “The Reigning One’s attendants are preparing extra ferries to facilitate the crossing of the river, as well as supplying us with pack animals and goats for milk and food. Inform everyone to meet at the port where the ferries shall transport us across the river,” instructed Damell.
“Where shall we go? There is no land in that direction,” said Aradin, his usual jovial expression replaced with queasy paleness.
“The Reigning One has offered to send a troop of soldiers to escort us safely out of Safu, and others with horses and wagons shall follow to provide us with food and shelter,” Damell told them.
“This cannot be real!” said Softness of the Clouds as her eyes filled with tears.
“We must prepare to traverse wilderness for many walking days,” Damell said with rising urgency. “We must be prepared to be self-sufficient for some time, until we have observed the situation.”
The Observers finally rose to their feet after looking at each other in fear and disbelief.
“Pack only the essentials which you are able to carry on a long walking journey. Warm clothes for the cold nights!” Damell ordered, and then turned around to instruct The Reigning One’s attendants who stood at the doorway to assist in packing and carrying necessities.
“Relay this message to all Atlans in and around Safu,” Damell told The Observers as they prepared to hurry to their individual homes and pack belongings. “Speak messages to Atlans everywhere, so that they may assist and guide us through this predicament! Go with haste!” he shouted after them.
“My herbs and other cures,” Rhuna said, trying to get a grip on reality. “I’ll pack the most important ones only,” she said, showing one of the attendants which tinctures and dry herbs to pack in a special sack.
“I have a patient who cannot walk. He will need a carry-seat large enough to lie in,” Rhuna told Abu-Malech, who nodded and turned to quickly make arrangements.
“My Benshi colleague!” said Aradin breathlessly. “He can take care of my business and this house in our absence!” Rhuna nodded and then quickly embraced her husband tightly, telling him that she will meet him at the ferry dock as soon as possible. Aradin gestured towards a pile of clothes and items he wished to be packed, and then dashed out the door to find his business colleague.
Rhuna looked at the long row of body scents and oils among her personal grooming items, then across at the garments of fine and exotic textiles she had accumulated during three solar cycles in Safu. She reached for soap, brush, towels and other basic necessities, and wondered why she felt no sadness at leaving her luxurious possessions behind. As she packed, thoughts of her father, Lozira, Tozar and her new family overwhelmed her with emotion, and suddenly she understood that the people she loved were all that mattered to her.
With renewed resolve, she finished packing and then entered the room in which Faleesh was playing with Shandi, pretending everything was normal in order not to alarm the small child.
“I go with you!” Faleesh exclaimed as tears welled in her eyes.
“No, your place is here, in Safu,” Rhuna stated firmly. “With your daughter, and your sister and her family. The Ubanti have no issues with the Benshi, so you can stay here safely.”
Faleesh began to shake her head as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Where will you go? Where will you be safe? And little Shandi!” Faleesh asked as anxiety overcame her.
“I don’t know yet,” Rhuna answered truthfully. “Maybe we can come back soon. Look after our home while we are gone. Keep living here and go on as usual,” she told the Benshi woman as she embraced her. “I hope we can come back soon
!”
The woman nodded sadly and wiped her tears.
“Black man coming!” screeched Shandi, and Rhuna immediately swept her up into a firm carry hold.
“Yes, Little One, the black men are coming, so we have to go away for a while,” she said as calmly as she could, and then walked out the door, wondering whether she would ever set foot in her beautiful home again.
Rhuna had only taken a few steps on the street outside her home when she looked up and saw The Reigning One approaching.
“My soldiers and attendants shall accompany and assist you,” he said with his usual blank expression. “I have dispatched all the men I can spare.”
“We are very grateful,” Rhuna said, her voice quivering with emotion. “What about you and your Benshi people?”
“The Ubanti have no issues with the Benshi,” he replied. “Provided the Ubanti do not disturb the lives of my people in any way, I shall strive to maintain peace for all.”
“You are a great leader,” Rhuna began, then swallowed hard to stop sudden tears. “I hope we can come back soon,” she said shakily. “I will miss you!”
For a brief moment, Rhuna thought she saw the stiff face twitch, and his eyes express depth and feeling. She waited for the response which she thought was struggling to come out, and then suddenly understood that his silence already spoke more than words.
“Fare well,” he said reaching out a hand and grasping Rhuna’s firmly for a long and meaningful moment. Then The Reigning One blinked hard and turned around to leave, his measured body movements unchanged.
Running as fast as she could with bags hanging from her shoulders and Shandi on her hip, Rhuna went directly to Goram’s house, patting her daughter’s head to calm her down.
“We have to leave Safu immediately!” Rhuna called out as she burst into the room. Progress of the Wind sprung to his feet, and Goram groaned as he tried to raise his upper body. Lozira looked at her mother bleary-eyed and without comprehension.
“The Ubanti Army is preparing to invade Safu! It’s an attack on Atlans because they think we caused their illness and wouldn’t give them what they wanted…and now we’re not safe here!” she spluttered.
“I am unable to travel!” exclaimed Goram. “Rhuna, take Lozira and flee! When I have recovered sufficiently, I shall follow,” he croaked with effort.
“No! I will not leave him!” Lozira shouted, her face turning deep pink.
“You’re coming with us or else they will probably kill you!” Rhuna told Goram directly. Lozira gasped in horror at those last words.
“I’ve already organized a carry-seat to take him with us,” she told her daughter.
“Once again, I am grateful,” Goram said, and then squeezed Lozira’s hand reassuringly.
“Black man coming!” said Shandi in a high-pitched wail, and Rhuna tightened her grip on the child.
“We cannot resist such a mighty force,” Progress of the Wind said, and Rhuna assumed he meant resistance with the Dark Powers.
“This is our doing, Brother,” Goram said to Progress of the Wind. “Although we are innocent of the illness-curse, we have nevertheless aggravated them into this attack on all Atlans,” he said as his breathing became laboured again.
“In our arrogance, we neglected to consider the consequences of our actions,” admitted Progress of the Wind with a thoughtful nod of his head.
“We must do what we can to correct this error,” Goram said weakly.
Rhuna quickly summarized the message Damell had given her about what to pack, and where they would be going, with the instruction to relay this information to all other Atlans in Safu.
“Save your energy, Brother,” said Progress of the Wind. “Allow me to contact the Brotherhood and convey messages to all our friends,” he said as he prepared to leave with haste.
As Progress of the Wind hurried out the door, Rhuna heard commotion outside on the streets and turned to look. She saw Atlans using trumpets to sound the alarm, and people were coming out of their houses and down the streets to hear the announcement, which was then relayed by each person to yet more people further away.
“Lozira, pack your things – only what you need and can carry!” Rhuna said urgently as she turned back into the room where Goram struggled to sit up.
“Don’t try to sit,” commanded Rhuna. “Tell Lozira what she can pack for you, and save your strength...or else you could still die,” she added solemnly.
Goram looked at Rhuna for a long moment in silence, and then squeezed Lozira’s hand. “We shall do what Rhuna says,” he told Lozira reassuringly. Rhuna watched as her daughter obediently left the bedside to pack their necessary items, and then looked expectantly out of the window until she saw four of The Reigning One’s attendants arrive with a carry-seat. She instructed them to enter and assist Goram onto the seat, while Lozira fussed about cushions to make him comfortable.
Rhuna was delighted to see that one of the four attendants arriving with the carry-seat was the bald man with the muscular neck who had carried her to the Commoners’ part of the city, and who had been enchanted by Shandi.
“I go with you,” he said nodding and revealing crooked teeth behind thick lips. Shandi recognized him and seemed happy as she raised her arms in a gesture of welcome towards the rugged man with a gentle nature.
“Sweet Cakes, would you like to ride on the carry seat?” she asked Shandi. Her tears had dried up and her round face expressed excitement at anything new. She nodded and then reached out for Lozira, who hugged the little girl and then placed her at Goram’s feet.
On the way out of the Atlan part of Safu, walking next to Lozira and the carry-seat amidst the commotion, alarm and panic, Rhuna recognized Possessor of Discernment walking briskly in their direction. She called out to him, asking if he had understood the urgent announcement to evacuate Safu.
“My responsibility is to the Pyramids!” he said adamantly.
“Your life may be in danger!” Rhuna urged.
“I am too old! Leave me be,” he said shaking his head fiercely. “I am close to ninety solar cycles in age. I would only be a burden!”
“We are taking the old, weak and sick with us!” Rhuna said firmly as she gestured to the carry-seat. “Your knowledge about the pyramids is an essential part of Atlan life, and that makes you an important person! Besides, I need help taking care of Shandi,” Rhuna added, remembering the old man’s weakness.
Possessor of Discernment looked gravely at Rhuna, and then down at Shandi, who held up her favourite long-eared toy from the Pyramids. The white head nodded slowly as his eyes moistened with tears.
“In fact, I would like you to take care of her while I go see the Safu Council,” she said relieved. “Walk slowly with Lozira and the carry-seat, and I’ll catch up with you very soon.”
Sun of the Morning and the other members of the new Safu Council were seated in their private discussion chamber when Rhuna burst through the doors to relay the urgent announcement.
“We have been informed,” she answered coolly. “Such an invasion of an Atlan colony is unprecedented, and there has never been a deliberate attack on Atlans to harm them in any way,” she stated confidently.
Rhuna remembered her childhood on the isolated Atlan colony island of Chinza, and how Tozar had taken her away just as the native Zao people were about to kill the Atlans. Taking a deep breath to calm her agitation, she described her childhood experience to the Council members.
“An isolated incident, under exceptional circumstances,” Sun of the Morning responded with a huff.
“You are wrong!” Rhuna said with sudden vigour, releasing the pent-up anger she had towards the woman. “You are endangering your lives if you stay here!”
“We shall remain in Safu because this is our assignment and responsibility as representatives of the Atlán,” said Sun of the Morning completely unconcerned. “Some Atlans are remaining in Safu also,” she added.
“So be
it then,” Rhuna said gruffly. “I am leaving with my family as quickly as possible!” she said, turning on her heels and hurrying back to the carry-seat, giving the attendants orders to continue walking promptly.
The crowd at the ferry crossing point was like a stormy sea of agitated people talking in panic and confusion. Atlans of all ages stood closely together as the dock area quickly filled up with more people. They held their bags of clothes and other items, some fidgeted nervously, others murmured in discontent and disbelief.
“It is a misunderstanding!” exclaimed a woman holding a leather bag bursting at the seams.
“They cannot drive us out of our home!” said an elderly man next to her. “Safu has been my home my entire life!”
The woman looked around and then narrowed her eyes as she recognized Rhuna.
“Do you have anything to do with this?” she asked sharply.
“No!” Rhuna responded angrily. “I’ve been trying to stop this from happening!”
“You are the one they call The Star Child…the Banished One,” said a man to her left. “What have you done to cause this inexcusable outrage?” he demanded. Rhuna looked at the Atlan man who wore ordinary clothes and held a large bag made from thick textiles. His reddened cheeks glowed in the sunlight as clouds parted in the sky above.
“I have tried to keep peace with the Ubanti!” Rhuna retorted, and was relieved when the man was distracted by his family from continuing his verbal attack on her.
As Rhuna stood in the ever-growing crowd of Atlans, she sensed disbelief above all else, and listened to snippets of conversations around her as people spoke about leaving their homes and what would happen to those who stay behind.
“Do you believe it could truly be so dangerous to remain in our homes?”
“Perhaps the danger has been exaggerated?”
“We should not risk our lives, lest it be true!” replied yet another voice from the jostling crowd.
“Din-Din!” Shandi squeaked, and Rhuna spun around to see Aradin making his way through the crowd towards them. Grateful to see him, Rhuna fell into his arms and held him tightly for a while.
Rhuna, The Star Child Page 24
