by c a king
“There are an unusual amount of children this cycle who will be coming into their powers. Jade has suggest it may be a nice gesture and the girls are happy to see to all the details. I don't see any reason not to allow them a small celebration for their generation. Of course all of the castle will be invited to join in the fun,” Nebulah rebutted.
“And the children from the town?”
Nebulah's face seemed to have to work a little harder to keep the smile while she answered. “Of course the boys of town will receive invites and can bring a date of their choice. There are a few young ladies who don't own a dress or know how to dance. We don't want to pressure them into something they may find uncomfortable to say the least.”
Malarchy interrupted before anyone else could reply. “To vote then, in favour?” he counted the raised hands then added, “Against?”
Nine of the thirteen voted in favour, three against, being Aurora, Zebulon and Lynnea and one, Ozias, was asleep.
“A dance it is, but before the new cycle begins, so no unusual abilities arise at the event. I think that is best.” After a slight pause Malarchy added, “Is there anything else to discuss this evening?”
Zebulon stood and asked to speak from the other side of the table. He was a short round man. One could not deny that he enjoyed the bakery a lot more than the vegetables. He had brown curly hair and a full beard, well trimmed and tidy. His clothing wasn't exceptional but he did adorn his fingers with rings of various gems, which he claimed aided him in his interpretation of the skies and the meanings of symbols and signs.
“I think we should revisit the prophecies.”
The faces of all the others became stern and uneasy as each one turned and stared at the man still standing. Zebulon took his seat to wait for an answer, which didn't take long.
“We have dealt with the prophecies already,” Malarchy snapped.
“I agree, we took steps to try to change the course of the future, but there are no longer any prophets left in our world to ask if we succeeded. What if we set in progress the fate we so desperately tried to avoid? Should we not take some action to prepare in case? Perhaps a Plan B, since we are talking about the complete destruction of our homeland.”
Malarchy looked as if he was becoming more and more annoyed. Red slowly crept into his cheeks as he answered, “Are you not the symbol interpreter? What do the skies say? The pictures on the wall?”
Zebulon's face looked solemn. “The wall has gone quiet. The pictures are gone and the skies offer no answers. The stars do not rise at night to form any signs, nor do clouds hold visions. I can no longer see anything pointing to any future.”
Malarchy motioned to his wife to check the carved pictures in the walls inside the castle while the rest of the table sat quietly anticipating news. There was no smile when Nebulah returned and she simply nodded 'yes' to her husband who turned his attention back to the small plump man.
“And what do you suggest we do? We have no prophets anymore and now no symbols to interpret.”
Staring down at his hands interlocked together on the table Zebulon replied, “We revisit the prophecies, look at them again, see if we can find any clues we may have missed and then decide on a plan of action should any of it still come true. Perhaps there is something we can change.”
“And are you willing to answer questions which will arise as to the decisions the Council made?” After looking at several Council members each nodding, Malarchy added, “Very well then, Lynnea would you mind?”
Lynnea was Zebulon's wife and sat beside him at the table. She was what one might call mousey. Her hair was a dull grey which she unsuccessfully attempted to spice up with silver and crystal hair pieces. She looked awkward. Her clothes were always a bland colour, a shade of beige or tan and often untidy or buttoned in the wrong holes. She was shy and quiet, often not speaking a word to anyone except her husband and even then nothing more than whispers. She did, however, have an unusual ability which allowed her to take the minutes of every meeting. She could save pictures of everything she saw and replay them onto the face of water for others to see as well.
She nodded and stood directly in front of the large bowl of water. Looking directly into the bowl she raised her arms, hands wide open to the sky and the water followed forming a large cube over the table. After a few seconds, an image came into view on each of four screens of flowing water. It was a woman with long midnight blue hair.
The picture focused on the upper body and head. She was wearing what appeared to be a black uniform made for combat. The top was a sleeveless vest and on each of her arms just below the shoulder were pictures on her skin, a single wolf on each side. She had a distressed look on her face which could have been construed as pure fear. The eyes of all Council members focused on her face intently.
The woman began to speak with a bit of shakiness in her voice. “I have had a vision of the future our world is heading towards and we must take action. There is no time to waste. We have less than nine cycles before we are invaded by an army dressed in black and red. They carry weapons, the likes of which I have never seen before, glowing swords, bows and guns of an unknown power source. There are hundreds of them, if not thousands.”
“They are by far the most cruel, and strongest of enemies we have yet faced. There will be people murdered in the streets and others taken away as prisoners. Stone statues will crumble as a storm fills the skies and the weather turns deadly, with booms of thunder and lightening strikes more severe than I have ever experienced before. The gardens destroyed and the forest ablaze with fire. In the end nothing remains except for destroyed and deserted ruins. No life remains.”
“We must fight this evil at its root before it destroys our very home and spreads its vicious will to all other worlds. Please consult the other seers and interpreters. Ask them to look into our future. I am scheduled to leave to aid Petra's expedition to the main world at sunrise. I have consulted with the guardians as to transferring some of my abilities to the walls of the castle for you to be able to ask guidance and to aid you in decisions. The changing pictures shall help you see what course your future is taking. Be strong friends and train as many as possible in my absence. The more who can fully use their abilities, the better our chances for survival if the portal teams fail to destroy this threat before it reaches our homeland.”
The picture faded and the water fell back into the bowl. Lynnea returned to sitting. It was Aurora who spoke first. “Who was that? Was she a Council member? Where is she now? Should we be worried?”
Malarchy looked at the Council members again, rubbed his face and replied, “Her name is Iris and she was a Council member in the guardian days of our world. After this prophecy, she did as she said and transferred some of her abilities to the castle walls, before she left the next morning to help in another world. Over the next cycle many teams were formed and deployed, to not only combat regular threats to the portals, but also to locate and stop this invasion from ever happening. After news of a battle gone wrong, all remaining guardians and trained teams left to aid the battle. A cycle past...none returned and no news had been received.”
“The remaining Council members decided to take action to protect the citizens left in our world. The portals to other worlds were disassembled and the parts destroyed so that no one could enter or leave. We then appointed new Council members to replace those who were gone. In order to keep the population safe and calm, and considering many had family members who had gone to aid in the battle that had not returned, we made up news of their deaths. We implemented plans so people would forget and not discuss the past. I stand by the decision of closing the portals so that no malevolent force could ever use them against us, by entering our world and invading our sanctuary. The time of the guardians was finished. They would offer us no salvation. We were and still are, left to our own devices.”
“If it was that easy, don't you think the others would have thought of that plan instead of putting their lives on the line?�
�� Aurora was now showing signs of exhaustion, bags had formed under her eyes, her glow was dimming and her face had turned three shades whiter.
“I think we did the best possible. Leaving the portals open would have meant an unnecessary access point to our world for an invasion. Unless anyone else knows how an army could enter to attack us, I don't see the problem.”
Zebulon interrupted. “The problem is there are no signs to a future. We need to do something. Reinstate the training program and advance abilities so people can defend themselves if it does happen.”
“Do you enjoy your life as it is now?” The tone in Malarchy's voice was showing signs of aggravation. “Do you think the good townspeople will not ask questions? Perhaps you believe they will understand the choices we made condemning their loved ones who may have still been alive?”
It was Aurora who rebutted. “Some of us were not involved in any of those decisions.”
“Do you believe this life you have is because you deserve it. You are who you are because we made you that way. We gave you your seat on the Council and your comfortable room in the castle. If you think for one minute people won't turn on you if the truth comes out, if the Council loses control, or if people find out how strong some of their abilities really are, you are mistaken.”
A confused look came over Aurora's face. “You mean our abilities aren't the strongest?”
Malarchy rubbed his temples and replied with a sigh in his answer. “You can't really believe glowing makes you powerful. You can hardly even read the energies you see and remembering pictures that you can play back in water is a nice trick, but hardly threatening. Then there are Rowan's balls of light, which I admit are great to use to see by at night, but would hardly help in a fight.”
Rowan darted a look of dislike at the speaker but remained quiet. He did after all only illuminate Council meetings that ran late and nightly entertainment or events, with circular orbs of light.
“Each of you think about what you can do and what we know towns folk can do. They have displayed great strength, speed, control of fire and ice, control of metals and that only names a few. We don't even know what some of the kids can do yet! Even with my powers of illusion and Nebulah's gift of persuasion we wouldn't be able to hold on to control. We would be overthrown, our families removed from the castle. The life we have would be over. Are you willing to give all this up for something which may never come true?” Malarchy said turning the charm back on.
In an unusual turn of events Lynnea offered, “There is a child who we know can heal. If her power was trained, if she had direction, she could save lives if there was a war.”
“Do you believe that child will bother to save any of us after the way she has been ridiculed? Are you willing to take that chance? Or perhaps the young lad we have juggling at night for your entertainment, learning how much more he can do with his mind. Do you think he will thank you for the ridiculous outfits and exploitation of his abilities for your amusement?” Malarchy snapped back.
“No my friends, if we teach them more, enhance what they can do, they will turn on us. We will lose control. Perhaps we should vote. Now, I don't want to be too hasty. Let's give everyone a chance to think about the lifestyle we have and what could happen, what we could lose... for no reason. So the vote will be in the evening after the fourteenth sunrise from now, unless disaster strikes before then or more pressing business takes precedent.”
“Until then look around, see how life could change not just for you, but for your families, your children. There is to be no talk of the meeting outside the Council and we are each to go on as if none of this has been discussed...everything as normal. We will announce the sixteenth cycle dance to take place on the eve after thirteen sunrise, which should give the girls plenty of time to arrange everything and still be soon enough that we can implement any decisions after. Think hard, there will be no meetings until the vote unless emergency arises. Until then meeting adjourned.”
The Council members went their separate ways. The majority of them headed to the courtyard for tonight's entertainment. Aurora, however, returned to her quarters, exhausted. Nebulah, Nyssa and Ashley went to find their daughters to discuss the plans for the dance and make up invitations. Even with all the gruesome talk tonight they were all still energetic and excited about the up coming gala their girls would be attending. It meant new dresses, new jewelry, new head pieces to adorn their hair. It meant shopping. Malarchy remained at the stone table for a few minutes collecting his thoughts, even with Aurora's energy boost he had been borrowing, he was far more tired than he had ever felt after a meeting.
His head was resting in his hands, elbows on the table for sometime, when he heard “Sir.” He looked up to see a guard in front of him. He mused to himself he didn't even know the guard's name or if he even had a name.
“What is it?”
The guard replied, “A boy sir, at the gate. He says you told him to come speak to you if he heard anything.”
“Bring him then.”
The guards had been linked telepathically by the ancients to make it easier for them to handle emergencies. Now, however, they used this ability to send messages to save time. He closed his eyes and sent a message to his partner to bring the child up. A few minutes passed another guard appeared with a boy walking beside him. As they drew near it became apparent the boy was Arnold from the orphanage. Malarchy had discovered the boy had a gift he could use. His enhanced hearing was perfect for spying on the town. All the Council leader had to do was offer the boy all of his desires for any useful information he might over hear by 'accident'. Curiosity took over rational thought. Malarchy dismissed the guards.
“You have something to report?”
“Yes, I overheard someone tell the girl, Willow, that Diana Waddington had a story to tell tonight, one that was very important that Willow hear,” the boy offered.
“What is the story about?”
“I don't know sir. The story isn't to be heard till some of the children gather secretly at her house tonight after dark. I have never been to one, but I hear the stories run for a couple of hours. Can I move in now?”
Malarchy laughed. “No child, not yet. First I need to know this information is actually important. It will be dark soon. I want you to go and listen to the story and any other talk you might hear. Watch how Willow reacts. I need to know if there is a message for her and, if there is, if she understands it. Go now and report back here tomorrow. Then and only then, we can discuss your reward.”
Chapter Three
Willow was so excited about the evening's scheduled activities she arrived early. Mrs. Waddington's house was always open. She never wanted anyone to knock since she never heard the knocking anyways. Willow opened the door and headed into the visitor's room where books lined shelves covering all the walls. There was one large chair which looked comfortable but worn where Diana sat to tell her stories. Numerous old pillows and blankets were neatly stacked beside it. Later, the children would take them from the stack and settle into positions on the floor. In the corners of the room were four tall tables, just big enough for a couple of books, where people could stand and read. At one of the tables was Nathan.
Mrs. Waddington's grandson was twelve cycles and short for his age, although tall enough to read from books at the standing tables. His dark bronzed skin and golden brown coloured eyes were identical to the colour his mother's had been. His hair was black with tightly woven curls, each one perfect.
The books on the table were closed. Nathan appeared to be studying the cover of one with some interest. His left hand moved over the book in front of him as if caressing it without actually touching it. Suddenly, a white light like a beam of energy exploded from the book to his hand. He closed his hand and smiled as if he was seeing utopia.
Willow moved forward watching his every move. Aware of her presence as she neared, Nathan looked up at her, the beam of light vanished and he gasped, “Please. Please don't tell anyone. They can't kn
ow.”
Confused she answered, “Know what? What are you doing? What was that light.”
“I,” he stuttered a little, “I was reading.”
“But...”
Nathan motioned for her to stop by shaking his head back and forth while waving his hands in front of him in the same pattern. With a gulp he continued, “About a week ago, I was looking at the cover of a book and noticing the worn spots, where people had held the book in exactly the same place for so many cycles and then it happened. This light appeared and within seconds I knew everything the book said, word for word, fully understanding it.”
Willow smiled and moving closer looked between him and the book. She picked it up examined it and commented, “That's amazing! I wish I could do that. These stories are brilliant.”
“No, no, you don't and I don't either. Gran, she would be heartbroken if she knew. She has such hopes for me to develop a useful ability. This, well if the Council found out they would be less than impressed, especially since they don't want us reading books. They don't want us learning. I can't break her heart. She can't ever know.”
“I still think it's great and don't want us learning is exaggerating a bit don't you think? They just don't want us using all our time reading stories instead of handling our daily duties is all.”
She was cut off by him. “You really don't see,” he said grabbing her arm. “I wish I could show you what I see.”
Both her arm that he was holding and his, began to radiate a white glow. Willow's eyes opened wide as if they had never been opened before and were taking in a wondrous amount of sights to process. Then the glow faded. She picked up the book Nathan had been looking at and opened it. She knew the story, word for word, picture for picture, every detail. She could see images playing in her head the same as if Mrs. Waddington were telling it. She looked at him in amazement.
