by Jason Tesar
The boat came to rest next to the pier and the six men secured the ship to the dock with ropes. Ukiru extended a walking plank from the ship to the dock and motioned for the young men to exit the boat. As they did so, the six men on the pier formed a single file line, shoulder to shoulder, parallel with the pier. Kael wondered whether these men were monks or soldiers as he walked down the plank and finally stepped on to the pier.
Luckily, Coen had the same thought. “Are these men monks as well?” he said in a hushed voice to Ukiru, not wanting to offend the men by speaking about them in such close proximity.
“No,” Ukiru answered, matching Coen’s hushed tone. “These men are guards of the High Temple, soldiers in a way.”
After everyone was assembled on the dock, Ukiru led the group up to the island. They walked in single-file following a raised deck that passed between buildings and led to the southern entrance in a straight line. Kael glanced behind him to see the six men no longer standing at attention, but hurriedly unloading their supplies from the ship.
As they made their way into the cave, the gray light of the overcast skies gave way to the flicker of torchlight. The cavern was enormous in size. The ceiling was at least thirty feet overhead and it stretched a hundred feet deep before disappearing into the shadows.
“First, I will show you around the temple and you will see how close it is to being fully restored. Then we will have our evening meal.” Ukiru directed his words to no one in particular, although Jorn’s stomach was growling audibly. “This is the supply storage area and as you can see, the temple can sustain many people for over a year without the need of outside assistance.”
Kael tried to estimate the number of wooden boxes lining the walls of the cavern but quickly gave up. The boxes were stacked four high and four wide in columns that lead all the way to the back of the cave. They were not labeled and so their contents were a mystery, but Kael thought that they must contain food in order for the temple to be independently sufficient.
This time it was Soren who questioned what he was looking at. “Why is it necessary to have this many supplies?” His voice echoed slightly.
Ukiru didn’t stop and only turned his head as he kept the group moving. “Oftentimes, a temple will become a place of refuge for its worshippers. We already know that the world is not friendly to the All Powerful and his followers, so every precaution must be taken to ensure that they always have a refuge.”
The group moved through the cavern and made its way to the back where the torches on the wall did little to illuminate their surroundings. The silence was broken only by the sound of their own footsteps on the stone beneath them. It took a few seconds for Kael’s eyes to adjust, but eventually he could make out a wide doorway at the top of a short flight of stairs toward the back of the cavern.
Ukiru walked up the steps and paused for a moment when he reached the doorway, waiting for the others to catch up. “Stay close to me and don’t wander; it is easy to get lost here.”
Everyone proceeded through the door and down the spiraling staircase on the other side. The steps were wide enough for two people to comfortably walk side by side. Kael found himself at the end of the line and decided that he would prefer to walk alone so that he could get a good look at this place without having to carry on a conversation. Something about this place unsettled him. Maybe it was the black stone walls, or the way he felt all alone when he lagged behind, as if the world had passed him by. He ran his fingers along the wall and was surprised at the smoothness of the stone. Suddenly he realized that the others had gotten ahead of him and he quickened his pace.
The staircase ended at a hallway that branched into three directions. At the intersection stood a guard, dressed like the others from the dock, but holding a spear at his side. He didn’t even move to acknowledge their presence. Ukiru passed by the man and nodded, taking the path on the right. This hallway seemed to stretch forever with doorways lining both sides. As they walked, Ukiru explained what most of the rooms were used for and even offered a little history as to their original design. After what seemed like an hour of walking, which didn’t make sense to Kael who thought that they should have reached the other side of the island already, Ukiru turned to the left and followed a narrow passage. Everyone had to duck to keep from bumping their heads except Jorn who walked all the more tall under the circumstances.
The narrow passage opened into what seemed like a gigantic cavern. “This is one of the major passages in the mountain through which large groups of people would pass in order to make their way to the temple,” Ukiru explained.
“I thought we were already in the temple,” questioned Horace.
Ukiru’s smile wasn’t visible, but Kael could hear it in his voice.
“Not yet. And you will not get to see it right away. It is still being prepared for the ceremony. But I will take you to the entrance.”
Ukiru again turned to the right and began to walk at a brisk pace. Kael finally understood the reason that they had never reached the other side of the island. This enormous hallway, like the previous one, curved slightly to the left making a large circle. They were closer to the center of the island now and the curve of this passage was more noticeable than the last. The torches flickered much more in this passage and the air seemed fresher.
As the rest of the young men tried to keep pace with Ukiru, Kael couldn’t help but wonder how this temple was constructed. He looked to the ceiling, which was more than fifty feet above him and marveled at what it must have taken to carve such a large amount of stone out of this place. His gaze drifted to the walls and quickly fixed itself on a hole to his left. It was far above the ground, almost at the ceiling and he could almost smell the fresh air coming in through it.
“Stay close,” echoed Ukiru’s voice from farther ahead than Kael realized.
As he jogged to catch up he noticed another hole in the wall ahead. By the time he reached the group he could see it more clearly. This one was slightly lower than the previous one, but still too far away to see if it led to open air. As the minutes went by, Kael watched as the holes continued to appear at the same frequency, with each one being slightly lower than the one before. Finally, the passage ended at a large doorway, blocked by a wooden door that seemed as solid as the mountain itself. Kael looked up and saw the last of the windows only nine or ten feet above the ground. It was completely dark, but fresh air was definitely coming in through it. The window was circular and looked large enough to fit a grown man through.
A loud clank startled Kael and brought his attention back to the group. Ukiru was pushing the door open and beckoned for the young men to follow. They all stepped into a well-lit, dome-shaped room with two doors. The one straight in front of them was ridiculously large and covered by a thick curtain. The other door to the right seemed to be the only thing in this whole mountain sized appropriately for normal human beings.
Ukiru walked to the smaller door and knocked. “That curtain covers the entrance into the temple. We will eat our evening meal first and then I will take you inside to meet the High Priest.” The door opened and Ukiru walked through.
Immediately, the smell of food came to Kael’s nose. The rumble of Jorn’s stomach brought a bit of hushed laughter from Donagh and Horace. As they followed Ukiru into the small room, Kael noticed the man holding the door was dressed in robes like the monks at the monastery, only his were all black.
Inside of the small room was a ring of large pillows circled around a pedestal. Ukiru motioned for everyone to take a seat. Being the last in line, Kael was the last to find a pillow. The intimacy of the setting was strange and made him feel uncomfortable.
Ukiru looked at ease sitting on his pillow with his legs crossed. He extended both arms out to his sides and addressed the group. “We have come to the end of our journey and I’m sure that you are all hungry.” At these words, the monk who was holding the door approached the group and placed a silver tray of cheeses and bread on top of the pedestal. He walke
d back to the corner of the room and opened a wooden chest, producing a silver goblet and filled it with wine from a bottle. He walked back to the group and placed the goblet next to the tray of food.
“Is that all there is?” asked Jorn, sounding sincerely worried.
“My dear Jorn, your question is an honest one.” Ukiru paused, thinking of the right words to say. “This is only a small meal to take the edge off of your hunger. But in a few minutes, you will meet the High Priest who will lead you in a meditation where you will be met by the All Powerful. Please believe me when I tell you that food will be the last thing on your mind. In fact, I doubt that you would be able to keep anything in your stomach if you were to eat too much.” Ukiru took the tray and handed it to Jorn. “Take a few pieces and pass it around.”
As each person chewed on the small amount of cheese and bread, Ukiru continued. “Until this point, I have attempted to show you everything that I know about how to protect yourself, lead others, and be a useful tool for the work of the All Powerful. The time has come for all of you to meet him. This is a great privilege, reserved only for a select few. And everyone who has come into his presence has been unable to keep his grip on consciousness, including myself. I do not say this to scare you, but I want you to realize that after this experience you will feel a presence in your life that will guide and protect you. The All Powerful will accomplish great things through you and you will never experience a greater life than this one which has been given to you. I have shown you everything that I know in our time together, but after tonight there will be another who will instruct you.”
Ukiru isn’t going to instruct us anymore? Kael felt a tinge of sadness. He tried to imagine what the next part of his life would be like.
It seemed that they had only been in the room for a few minutes before Ukiru stood and waited for the others to do the same. “It is time,” he stated and walked toward the door. The monk who had fed them opened the door and the group followed Ukiru out into the dome shaped room. Ukiru waited by the large curtain until everyone was present.
Again, Kael was the last in line. There was a tension in the air that made him feel uneasy. It’s probably just the anticipation of an important event. But it felt more like something terrible was about to happen. He looked around at the others to see if he was the only one who felt worried, but they only seemed excited.
“You are entering the temple of the All Powerful and so I will remind you that I expect the highest level of respect from all of you.” With these words, Ukiru pulled hard on a thick rope to one side of the curtain and it glided slowly sideways to reveal a dark tunnel. The effect was a little anti-climactic and the boys looked back and forth at one another, clearly expecting something different. “Follow me,” Ukiru added, and proceeded into the darkness.
For a few seconds, Kael was unable to see anything and had to rely on his sense of sound to guide him, listening to the footsteps ahead of him. But slowly, a soft glow began to reflect off the walls and the silhouettes of the figures ahead could be made out. The glow quickly grew into a flicker of sharper yellow light and the echoing sounds of footsteps diminished. The tunnel ended at a large wooden cage set into a hole in the wall.
Ukiru grabbed hold of the cage and opened the front like a door. “Everyone in,” he instructed.
With hesitation, the others walked into the wooden cage and moved to the rear. Kael followed, while Ukiru brought up the rear after closing the door. Then, grabbing hold of a lever on the ceiling of the cage, Ukiru pulled it sharply and the cage began to descend.
As their descent began to quicken, Kael’s stomach began to tighten.
“What is this?” asked Rainer.
Ukiru, still holding the lever, turned his head. “It is a lift that is used to transport supplies between the various levels within the mountain. It is also the quickest way to the temple.”
After several minutes of watching the stone walls and occasional tunnels pass by, the lift began to slow. Kael watched Ukiru’s hand on the lever as he controlled the speed of the descent.
Ukiru began to apply more pressure to the lever until the lift stopped completely. Then he walked to the front and unlocked the door which swung outward over another smooth stone passage.
The group exited the lift in the same order they entered it. Then the young men waited for Ukiru to close and latch the door.
When the instructor was finished, he walked to the front of the group and proceeded down the short passage that ended at another thick black curtain. Without hesitation, Ukiru reached up and pulled the curtain aside. The passage gave way to an enormous cavern that stretched away so far that the other side was lost to the shadows.
“Ouch,” Horace whispered as someone bumped into him from behind. The group had unknowingly stopped a couple steps inside, unable to walk and appreciate the majesty of their surroundings at the same time.
The cavern was spherical from the ceiling down to the walls, ending abruptly at a sand floor, smoother than the beaches of Kael’s childhood. Around the perimeter of the cavern were enormous statues of creatures with great wings reaching out to either side. They looked almost like men, but their features were stretched lengthwise. There was a bonfire burning a short way out into the cavern, from which heat could be felt even at this distance. The most visible thing in the whole place was a large hole in the roof where moonlight streamed down in a column to illuminate a circular stage at the center of the sand floor. The stage was surrounded by a moat of still water that reflected the moonlight onto the cavern ceiling.
In front of the fire was the silhouette of a man. He was tall, a full head taller than Ukiru who immediately started walking forward. The High Priest, or so Kael assumed, spread his arms wide in welcome, revealing the draping of a heavy cloak covering his entire body, including his face. Ukiru stopped short and knelt before him. The straggling group behind him followed his example and knelt in the sand.
“My lord, High Priest of the All Powerful, I bring you ten young men from the farthest reaches of the Empire. All ten have been raised in accordance with the instructions given to me. All ten I now present to you as gifts to the All Powerful.” Ukiru rose to his feet and the young men did the same.
Suddenly, the High Priest, who had been completely silent until now, spoke with a commanding voice. “Young men, present yourselves.”
Kael stepped forward with the others and assembled into a single line like they had been instructed to do on several previous occasions.
The High Priest walked to the end of the line and stood in front of Coen. “Coen, do you present yourself as a gift to the All Powerful, to be an instrument for his glory on this earth?”
“I do,” Coen answered uneasily.
Kael’s heart was thudding in his chest as he waited for his turn. After Berit and Donagh, his turn came and he answered the same as all the others. When the High Priest moved on, Kael felt no sense of relief. His nausea persisted. Jorn was the last to answer, after which, the High Priest moved back to the center of the line and faced the group.
“Come with me,” he said and began to walk across the sand to the center of the cavern. As they approached what now looked like a stone dais, Kael could see arched bridges attached to either side, which extended across the moat to disappear into the sand. It was at one of these bridges that the High Priest stopped the group. Once again they gathered in a line as they were accustomed to doing from all of their time at the monastery. The man in front of them walked three steps up the archway and turned to face them.
Kael was startled at the volume of his voice when he began to pray. “Mightiest of all gods, the one we call All Powerful, we beseech you to meet us here in this place.”
Kael looked to either side and noticed that some of the young men had their eyes closed. He took this to be the proper conduct and closed his eyes as well.
Suddenly, the High Priest began to speak in a language that Kael had never heard before. Usually he could guess languages, or at least
the region they came from, just by the sounds. But this was one that he could not figure out.
Kael could feel his shoulders and neck muscles tightening with each passing minute. With his eyes closed, he couldn’t help but concentrate on the mesmerizing words of the High Priest and his own heavy breathing. His heart beat in a loud, steady rhythm that fell in line with the cadence of the High Priest’s voice.
Kael was unsure of the passage of time. It could have been minutes or possibly hours since the prayer had begun. Unexpectedly, a soothing sensation washed over him and calmed all of his anxieties. It was a peaceful feeling that changed his mood about the whole situation. Suddenly, the prayer being echoed off the stone walls of the cavern seemed majestic, even if he couldn’t understand any of the words. The air was cool and the sand felt soft beneath his feet. An overwhelming sense of belonging welled up in his heart and for the first time in a long while, Kael felt truly happy.
The beat of his heart, the cadence of the prayer, and the rhythm of his own breathing grew louder and louder until they became one symphony of sound. At some point, Kael lost all sense of direction and feeling of his body, but it didn’t matter because the feeling of intense joy drowned out everything else.
Kael opened his eyes and saw nothing but darkness. The cavern, the High Priest, and all of his friends had disappeared. It wasn’t a scary feeling, but a feeling of intimacy. There was another presence there with him and Kael felt comforted. He seemed to float in nothingness with the company of this other being for minutes before any perceptible change took place. When it happened, it was so subtle that, if he hadn’t been paying attention, he could have easily missed it. It was as if he was at the bottom of a large lake staring up at someone who was talking to him from above the surface of the water. But the change wasn’t anything as simple as a vision. Neither did it make as much sense as words. Instead, ideas floated into his head from somewhere else. Peaceful feelings that made him imagine that he was waiting on the front porch of his home and an old friend was walking toward the house. The friend waved and Kael waved back. A wild excitement welled up inside him, although he couldn’t make out the face of the visitor. After several minutes, the friend stood in front of Kael. His features could not be seen, but his calm presence could be felt. He didn’t speak but Kael could feel that he had been traveling a long distance and wished to come inside and rest. Kael turned and opened the door and led the friend inside. Kael realized that the house was nowhere that he had ever been before, but he knew exactly where everything was located. He showed the man to a sitting room with many comfortable chairs and gave him the best one in the room. As the man made himself comfortable Kael took a seat across from him and eagerly sat down, not knowing why he was so excited to visit with this stranger who seemed so familiar. As he watched the figure across from him, a fleeting thought crossed his mind and vanished just as quickly as it came. There was a sense of being in this situation before, but then he lost the thought and the man was talking and Kael forgot all about it. His words carried no sound, but Kael had a vague sense of satisfaction, as if the communication were making sense. It must have been hours that Kael sat and listened to this man speak, when the memory returned in a flash. Suddenly, Saba was sitting across from him, dressed exactly how the stranger had been dressed. Saba spoke in his soft, gentle voice and Kael smiled at the sight of an old friend. All of a sudden, Saba’s face vanished in a grimace of pain and the stranger sat before Kael once again. His demeanor was different this time, replacing the calm friend was the body language of one who had been severely offended. Kael reached his hands out and pleaded with the man. He apologized for thinking of someone else and tried to explain that he was only reminded of Saba because of his kindness. The stranger didn’t want to hear any explanations and abruptly stood to his feet. Kael ran to the man, but he was too fast. The stranger had already turned and was running toward the staircase leading up to the topmost portion of the house. Suddenly, Kael began to panic, as if there was something up there that he didn’t want this stranger to see. The man was fast and could leap several stairs at once. Kael quickly lost sight of the man, but continued to run as fast as he could. By the time he made it to the top, he could see that the door to the top room had been smashed in. Kael ran into the room and skidded to a stop. The stranger’s back was turned to him and he was kneeling down, about to open a wooden chest that lay in the middle of the floor. Suddenly, Kael became aware of a pitchfork in his hands and a feeling drifted to him from somewhere in his memory, a frenzied sense of protection for what was lying on the floor. Then he ran at the stranger and drove the pitchfork into his back.
