“Yes,” replied the Oracle in a voice which was soft but which carried to the entire audience hall. “I remember the day High Priest Questor presented himself to my earlier form. It has been long indeed.”
Motioning to a second cushion placed nearby, the Oracle said, “Please, sit down, Priestess Jeehanathoraxen.”
With great dignity, Jeena lowered herself onto the cushion. Once down, she straightened out the rags which served as her clothing before placing the Staff of the Lady of the Tree across her lap. She folded her hands over the staff and looked at the Oracle. He was a human, of course. Every Oracle had been a human since before the Tree of Light was planted. Like the boy, Brachia, Jeena didn’t sense any hint of the uncontrolled emotions which were normally given off by humans. In fact, Jeena sensed nothing at all from the Oracle. Even his aura was invisible to her. She could only wonder at the skill it took to completely hide an aura. Neither High Priest Questor nor even Master Jathar could accomplish such a feat.
The current form of the Oracle was ancient for a human. Jeena thought he must be over a hundred years in age. A thought came to her that this version of the Oracle probably wouldn’t live much longer. She wondered who’d replace him.
Does he even now have an apprentice somewhere in the complex preparing to assume the duties of Oracle? Jeena wondered. Brachia said besides his sister and he, there’s no one else here.
“You honor me, Oracle,” Jeena said brushing her thoughts to the side. “How may the elves of Silvertine serve you?”
“Ah, yes,” said the Oracle with a trace of a smile. “My information was correct. You are one to come directly to the point. But…,” he said as he spread his hands, “I am an old man, so perhaps you will indulge me if I meander a bit.”
Jeena said nothing. She wasn’t sure what to say. Her classes at the priest guild hadn’t covered conversations with semi-mystical beings.
“What is the purpose of the Tree of Light?” asked the Oracle.
The Oracle’s tone reminded Jeena of one of her teachers at the priest guild drilling her on a previous day’s assignment. Jeena was unsure where the Oracle was headed, but she could think of no reason not to follow along. Besides, the answer to his question wasn’t a secret. Every elf child of school age knew the answer.
“The Tree of Light grew from a seed planted by High Priestess Shandristiathoraxen,” Jeena answered. “The Power of the Tree of Light protects a gate hidden beneath the city of Silverton. Without the protection of the tree, our world would be invaded and destroyed.”
“By whom?” asked the Oracle.
“Uh…,” Jeena said trying to give herself time to think. This was where the information from the ancient Letian elves grew sketchy. Filtering fact from myths was a task many a scholar had tried and failed to do over the years.
“Uh…,” Jeena said again. “Some say the gate is a doorway to a dimension of demons. Others say there is no doorway. They say the gate is not a gate at all. Rather, they say, the gate is a source of energy which must be contained else it would destroy all we know.”
The Oracle nodded his head. “Ah yes, the eternal question of trying to separate valid input from corrupted data. The information has been convoluted by a hundred thousand years of half-truths and lies.”
After a pause, the Oracle asked another question. “What do you believe, Priestess Jeehanathoraxen?”
Jeena knew what she believed. Two centuries of hounding the Silverton librarians for information on the ancient Letians had given her a solid basis upon which to form an opinion. It was an opinion which wasn’t shared by many scholars, but she didn’t care. She believed what she believed.
“In my opinion, Oracle, the children’s tales are true,” Jeena said in a confident voice. “I believe the Tree of Light closes a gate to a place of demons and other creatures of great evil.”
The Oracle considered Jeena’s answer for a few seconds. Finally he said, “Based upon my information, I cannot disagree with you. However, would it surprise you to know the gate is both a doorway to other dimensions as well as a source of great energy?”
Jeena said nothing. After a short wait, the Oracle asked a third question.
“Is there more than one gate?” asked the Oracle.
Pausing before answering, Jeena looked at the Oracle closely for any hint of a smile. He seemed serious. While a few scholars over the years had theorized the existence of an additional gate, their theories were basically laughed at by mainstream scholars. No evidence of a second gate existed.
Taking a risk of being ridiculed, Jeena decided to answer the Oracle’s question as honestly as she could.
“No one has ever found hard evidence of a second gate. However, from my readings, I believe such a gate does exist. I believe High Priestess Remozorz closed a second gate to stop the undead armies of the Northern Mages.”
The Oracle smiled. Jeena stiffened and mentally prepared herself to be laughed at. But the Oracle didn’t laugh.
“Yes, Elf Friend Remozorz,” said the Oracle as he nodded his head. “I remember when she came here asking for advice as if it were yesterday. Like you, she believed there was a second gate. I concurred. How do you think the Elf Friend was able to close the gate?”
“Uh…, I’m not sure,” Jeena admitted.
“Then let me answer my question for you,” said the Oracle. “She closed it with the aid of the staff you now hold in your hand.”
Jeena involuntarily looked down at the blackened and brown-stained length of wood. The blue gem at its tip gave off a soft glow even in the brightly-lit room. Jeena could feel the Power of the staff pulsing through her hands. She knew the staff had Power. However, since the fight with the human bandits, she hadn’t been able to call upon the staff’s Power again.
“Would it surprise you to know a third gate exists on Portalus” asked the Oracle. “Or rather I should say a third gate used to exist a hundred thousand years ago.”
Jeena didn’t answer, but her surprise must have registered on her face.
“Don’t feel bad,” said the Oracle in a kind voice. “The gate existed before the Letians even began storing their writings in a sleepy little village called Silver.
Jeena thought back to her history lessons as a child. The city of Silverton had once been a village called Silver. As the population grew, its name was changed to Silver Town. Eventually, it became the city of Silverton, the capital city of Silvertine, the land of the high elves.
“Pardon my impatience, Oracle,” Jeena said attempting to be tactful, “but I’ve spent the last three weeks traveling here at great peril. Is there a reason you’re telling me about a gate from the past?”
This time the Oracle did laugh. But Jeena sensed he was not laughing at her. It was almost as if he found her impertinence refreshing.
“Yes, there’s nothing quite like youth to make an old man stick to the point,” said the Oracle. “I mention the third gate because it’s the purpose of your visit.”
Jeena became instantly alert.
“Ah,” smiled the Oracle. “I see I have your attention again. The third gate was on a continent located on the other side of Portalus. I say was, because the gate was brought into existence by a race of beings called Dragars a hundred thousand years ago. However…, their gate was, and is, much more than a gate. It’s also a time-bubble.”
“A time-bubble?” Jeena asked. The term was only faintly familiar to her. She’d once come across the term while reading an ancient scroll discussing the rescue of the seed parts by High Priestess Shandristiathoraxen. Unfortunately, the writer must have assumed the readers of the scroll would be familiar with the term, because no explanation was given.
“Yes, a time-bubble,” said the Oracle speaking in a very soft and patient voice. “A time-bubble exists in all time at the same time. The Dragars use their combination gate and time-bubble to acquire sources of energy from the future in the physical dimension.”
“You say ‘use’,” Jeena said. “Don’t you m
ean ‘used’? And while I’ll admit I enjoy hearing and reading about historical events, I’m having difficulty understanding how it affects us here today.”
Jeena was beginning to wonder if High Priest Questor had sent her on a wild-unicorn chase.
The Oracle smiled as if guessing her thoughts. “Bear with me but a moment longer, priestess. We have almost reached the purpose of your quest.”
Jeena composed herself. This was the Oracle after all. Despite her title of priestess, Jeena was well aware she was a mere tenth-year acolyte.
“Because the third gate is also a time-bubble,” explained the Oracle, “it exists both a hundred thousand years in the past as well as today. It also exists in the future. The Dragars are hiding in the past while they acquire energy from the future to fuel their armies. One day the Dragars will attempt to use their gate to bring their armies to our world in our time. It will proceed a time of a great battle when the fate of three galaxies will hang in the balance.”
“But–” Jeena started to say while feeling overwhelmed. She still had no idea where the Oracle was headed. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to know.
I’m a tenth-year acolyte, she thought. This is beyond the scope of my abilities.
“But…,” said the Oracle raising his hand to stop Jeena’s protest. “But nothing. You were created as a variable in the algorithm.”
Jeena had no idea what a variable or an algorithm was, but the Oracle gave her no chance to ask. He continued talking in a voice which brooked no interruption.
“Your silver hair and silver eyes declare you as an heir of High Priestess Shandristiathoraxen,” said the Oracle. “The staff you hold was her staff when she rescued the seed parts from the demon Efrestra. The high priestess used her staff to merge the three seed parts together and by doing so created the Tree of Light. Because of her efforts, the first gate has remained closed for nigh-on a hundred thousand years. You must do the same to protect our world.”
Confused, Jeena blurted out, “Do what? I’m just an acolyte. I’m not a high priestess.”
The Oracle smiled sympathetically. “What is a high priestess other than a name? You have been chosen, Priestess Jeehanathoraxen. You must travel to the place and time appointed for you, and you must close the third gate before the Dragars gather their full supply of energy.”
“Close the gate how?” Jeena said.
“By using the Staff of the Lady of the Tree,” said the Oracle as if the answer should have been obvious.
“But…, the staff hasn’t worked in thousands of years,” Jeena protested. “It’s broken.”
“Nonsense,” said the Oracle. “I watched you use it against the robbers who accosted you. The staff knows you. It recognizes the part of its original owner which resides in you. And…, the blue gem on the staff is attuned to something which was placed inside you before you were born. The Lady’s staff has much Power. You can wield it if you will only try. You must use it to close the gate before it’s too late.”
“But it’s broken,” Jeena repeated. She didn’t understand why the Oracle failed to grasp the concept.
“Yes,” agreed the Oracle. “The staff is broken.”
Finally, Jeena thought as a sense of relief washed over her. He finally understands. Now we can set this foolishness of closing gates to the side.
“But…,” said the Oracle raising a hand and pointing a finger towards the ceiling. “But…, the staff is not broken in the manner you probably think. In addition, the assets needed to repair the Staff of the Lady of the Tree back to its full Power are even now in a room above us. You will take the Lady’s staff to them. Once it’s repaired, the assets will send you where you need to go. It’s all part of the algorithm. But we must hurry. The time is short.”
“When? Now?” Jeena asked stalling for time.
Surely he can’t mean now, Jeena thought. Something this important needs to be planned. I need time to prepare.
But even as she thought the words, Jeena had a feeling that months or even years would not be enough time to prepare for the Oracle’s task.
“Yes, now,” said the Oracle. “The time is now. The assets will help you. Give them the Lady’s staff. When they finish repairing it, you will be sent to the three who are one. You will use the staff to merge them together just as your forebear did with the seed parts.”
“The three who are one?” said Jeena trying her best to grasp the situation. “I don’t understand. Are they seed parts? Are you telling me to plant another Tree of Light?”
“No,” said the Oracle. “They are… different. You will understand when the time comes. You must bring them together and end their misery.”
“How?” said Jeena. “I’m a tenth-year acolyte. I can’t use the staff. I don’t know any spells to merge things together. I can’t do this by myself.”
“I will teach you the spell you need,” said the Oracle. “Also, another variable will help you. He will come when you need him. You will help each other. You must help each other. You are a part of each other. It is only logical.”
“What are you talking about?” asked Jeena. “Are you mad? Your words make no sense, Oracle. What is an algorithm?”
“Enough,” said the Oracle as he clapped his hands together. “Go! The assets are waiting.”
Jeena felt a tingling throughout her body. The room and the Oracle moved in and out of focus. Then everything turned black.
Chapter 36 – Insertion
_____________________________________
“Margery, take us in,” said Sergeant Ron.
“Complying, captain,” replied Margery.
The counter-thrusters shook the Defiant as the ship’s computer slowed the rate of descent.
“I thought this was a mining camp,” Richard said as he watched the details of the built-up area come into focus. “Geesh. This piece of rock is more like a small planet than it is an asteroid.”
“Actually,” said the voice of Margery over the cockpit’s intercom, “most star maps do classify it as a small planet. It’s large enough to maintain an atmosphere of sorts, but I wouldn’t suggest trying to breathe the air unless you enjoy having ammonia in your lungs.”
Richard got the impression Margery was making a joke. Richard had always thought Nickelo was the only computer with a sense of humor. However, after spending the last five weeks on the Defiant, Richard knew he was wrong. The Commandant’s old battle computer had a well-defined sense of humor. Richard enjoyed talking to Margery. In a strange way, Richard felt a connection to his late father just by being around the Commandant’s battle computer.
“Tia,” Richard said. “Are Matthew and you in the Zip fighters?”
“Affirmative, Rick,” answered Tia. “We’ll launch as soon as the Defiant hits the atmosphere. Once we’re clear, you can exit. We’ll cover you on the way down.”
“Understood,” Richard said. “I want the two of you to be careful. We’re not picking up any signs of life, but that doesn’t mean anything. For all we know, there’s a whole regiment down there hidden by stealth shields.”
“We’ll be careful, Rick,” promised Tia. “You’ve made it plain our job is recon, not fighting.”
“Well, I promised both of your parents I’d keep you safe,” Richard said. “Uh…, just be careful.”
“The town below appears to have been hit pretty hard,” said Nickelo using the battle helmet’s external speakers. “But I calculate the Warcats will have no trouble maneuvering through the streets as long as they’re careful.”
“The town looks like it’s in pretty good shape to have been hit by a nuke,” Richard said over the ship-wide intercom.
“I only used the word nuke because I didn’t know how else to describe it,” said Terrie over the intercom. “I told you it was strange energy. It was similar to a neutron bomb. It did very little physical damage compared to the released energy.”
“Roger that,” Richard said. “Don’t get defensive on me. I was just making a comment. Are
Charlie and you ready in the Warcats? I want both of both of you out as soon as the Defiant touches down.”
“Two minutes out, Rick,” said Sergeant Ron. “If you’re going, you better get to the ejection tube.”
“On my way now,” Richard said as he unbuckled from his seat and headed towards the exit.
“And Rick,” said Sergeant Ron.
Richard turned back around.
“Be careful,” said Sergeant Ron with a cockeyed grin. “I’d hate to have to break in a new partner.”
Richard nodded his head. “Take care of yourself as well. I’d hate to have to break in a new ship’s captain.”
Wasting no further time, Richard ran down the steps towards the cargo bay. As he passed by one of the side doors, he saw Angela at the control panel for the Defiant’s primary cannons.
“Give em hell, Rick,” she shouted as he passed. “And take care of my husband.”
Without replying, Richard jumped from the top of the steps onto the cargo bay’s steel floor.
Seal me up, Nick, Richard thought.
The battle helmet’s force field lowered to meet the bottom part of the helmet. The familiar tubes forced their way into his mouth and other body openings. Richard barely noticed. His thoughts were on the possible problems ahead.
True to his word, the duke had released Richard to full duty on the Defiant once Richard had trained six diviners. Finding potential diviners hadn’t been a problem. Due to the abundance of bongo testing on Trecor, Richard had a ready list of Trecorians with strange Power reserves. Two weeks had been plenty of time to train Chloe and another five diviners in how to manipulate the links of pilots so they could perform passive and active scans.
Once the diviners were trained, Richard spent the following three weeks helping Sergeant Ron and Charlie integrate the new crewmembers into the routine of the Defiant. Much to the duke’s chagrin, Richard had selected Tia and her brother Daniel as the Defiant’s newest crewmembers.
Wizard Omega (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 4) Page 37
