Luminaries & Lies

by Jeremy Dwyer

  “There is a cave through that wooded area. In it, there is a statue of a man with the head of a snake. There are several jars at the base of the statue and they appear to be empty,” Renato said.

  “This is intriguing, and I should like to investigate, but it has little to do with the present concern,” Genevieve said.

  “It is outside my knowledge, but I believe that the jars are meant to hold water. In some odd way, it may be of use to you, though its purpose is now unclear,” Renato said.

  “I suppose we could take some time now to look into it,” Genevieve said.

  “I will gladly guide you along the way,” Renato said.

  Renato then walked slightly ahead of Genevieve, showing the way through the forest and into the cave.

  Genevieve caught sight of the thirty (30) foot tall statue and found it hideous, though fascinating. “What a horrid creature this represents! It is a man with the head of a snake and it revolts me. It may be some sort of deity, yet I do not know which,” Genevieve said.

  Renato used his powers of light and looked around the inside of the cave. There was an inscription on the cups that were held by the statue’s hands.

  Genevieve’s eyes followed the light as Renato illuminated the cups and she also saw the inscription. “It is a strange thing that is written upon the cups. The first reads: ‘serpent venom, sudden bite, eludes all but the sharpest sight.’ The second reads: ‘pour the drink of spirit’s light to welcome spirits of the night.’ Yet, this means nothing to me,” she said.

  Renato looked further into the cave, seeing that there were jars of water in alcoves. He did not know which water, but the jars were definitely not empty. “I see jars of water elsewhere in this cave, My Lady. Perhaps they are what is meant,” he said.

  “Show me,” Genevieve said.

  Renato walked over to a dark area of the cave, illuminating it by the power of light he had. He took one (1) of the jars and handed it to Genevieve.

  Genevieve took the water jar and poured some of its contents into one (1) of the empty jars and it began sinking, slowly, into the ground.

  “What is this? Is the ground so soft that the weight of the water sank it? That would explain it, I believe,” Genevieve said.

  “That may be true,” Renato said. He was glad that this had caught her attention, rather than her notion of crossing the waters, even if it had little hope of succeeding. He was afraid that wasn’t the same as no hope. The world did not need such power to be introduced.

  Genevieve poured water into the other twelve (12) jars at the base of the snake-headed statue until all thirteen (13) were filled. Each jar sank similarly, reassuring her that the ground was soft, in those areas. “Each jar sinks as I pour a small quantity of water into it. Yet, I am not sinking while holding a jar of the same water. A mechanism – a design – is in place,” she said.

  The jars that had been filled all sank down until their ten (10) inch height was all but gone into the ground. The ground between those jars then began to sink and Genevieve stepped away until she realized that they were creating a small stairway leading down into the darkness.

  “What is it? Where does it lead?” Genevieve asked, surprised and intrigued even more.

  Renato illuminated the dark passageway downwards and saw that it led to another cavern, in which there was a small boat with sails.

  “Beneath us is another cavern, containing a small boat with sails,” Renato said.

  “There is no breeze here. Below us, unless there is a breeze, sails will be no means of travel,” Genevieve said.

  “A breeze may yet present itself in the passage below,” Renato said, hoping not to lose her interest and have it go back to her dangerous experiments.

  “Nevertheless, a place is hidden with purpose, and knowledge of worth may be contained therein. Light the way for me please, Renato,” Genevieve said.

  Renato proceeded slowly down the stairway that had appeared in the ground, which was solid enough that it must be stone, he determined.

  Genevieve followed him, and they found themselves on a riverbank.

  “The sails of the boat are tattered. Even a breeze would be of little use,” Genevieve said.

  “Unless it gave rise to a current in the waters, in which case, the boat may yet travel,” Renato said. He stepped into it with only one foot and pushed it to see if it sank or showed any signs of weakness. He also used his powers of light to scan the boat for any signs of ruptures in the hull, but found none.

  “The boat appears to be seaworthy, My Lady. There is no apparent damage to the hull,” Renato said.

  “Are you suggesting that we should travel in it, without knowing where it goes?” Genevieve asked.

  “In a world of so much danger and destruction, questions arise, and answers may be hidden beneath us. Death, for sure, surrounds us,” Renato said.

  “That sounds as if you are looking to escape the difficulties of the world,” Genevieve said.

  “Wherever this boat travels will have troubles of its own. Yet, the destination may also have answers,” Renato said.

  “You are quite eager for entry into an unknown, with no basis for believing in its worth,” Genevieve said.

  “I have seen enough to understand that the unknown, when illuminated, is where we must journey in order to grow into that which we could never be otherwise,” Renato said.

  Genevieve thought about this and realized that Renato might just be correct. The opportunity was at hand, and none of it made sense; yet, science often presented the strangest of mysteries, and they had to be confronted boldly in order to discover their meaning. She stepped into the boat with one foot and then another.

  Renato smiled at this and went into the boat as well.

  After a few minutes, the boat began to move on its own along the river and into a tunnel.

  Renato drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from his vial and was energized. He then lit the way and looked down into the water, seeing nothing that might explain the boat’s motion. “I do not see any machine that might be pulling us,” he said.

  “And I feel no breeze. The question of what makes this boat move may itself be a worthwhile scientific investigation,” Genevieve said.

  Renato used his powers of light and looked ahead into the darkness. There, he saw that the river had a downward slope. “The journey will have a downward slope, My Lady,” he said.

  They traveled for several hours in the boat with tattered sails, moving along the river in an alternating series of downward slopes followed by plateaus of level waters.

  “I would hope this journey ends by imparting worthwhile knowledge, rather than this uneven course that would please only a thrill seeking youth,” Genevieve said.

  “I shall look ahead into the distance and seek out the end of it, My Lady,” Renato said. He drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from a vial he carried. He was thus energized, and had the ability to see far ahead.

  “There is an end, My Lady, but it is quite some distance ahead of us,” Renato said.

  CHAPTER 35: Hiding of the Voice of Seduction

  The small ship on which Emerond, Taesa, Caroline, Brant, Zoe and Judith were sailing converted to an airship and traveled over the Glivoran Trail land bridge. The ship then returned to sea level in the Kazofen Ocean. From there, it traveled at sea level, going north toward the southern coast of the continent of Revod. Then, the ship was converted back to an airship and traveled northwest over Revod. The ship soon arrived in the northwestern territory where the Wandering of Shadows land bridge extended north from Revod.

  On the eastern coast of the Wandering of Shadows land bridge, and the northern coast of Revod, was the Ikkith Tar Ocean. On the southwestern coast of the land bridge was the Lujladia Ocean, which extended as far north as the continent of Nataloridivu, which itself ran roughly from east to west.

  As the ship approached, Zoe drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from her vial. She was energized and had the p
owers of light. She could see into the maze of darkness that was created by the vast waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean. She could not, however, see over the maze of illusory light that was created by the Lujladia Ocean. Her powers of light could not penetrate other light, only darkness.

  “I’ve never been to the Wandering of Shadows. I’ve heard stories about it being dangerous,” Taesa said.

  “Of course it’s dangerous! It’s filled with darkness,” Caroline said.

  “No. It’s darkness and light, together. They give rise to the shadows,” Zoe said.

  “Alright. Darkness and light,” Caroline said.

  “Where are we supposed to go in there? Where do we even land?” Emerond asked.

  “I don’t know. Ask her,” Brant said, pointing to Zoe. He trusted her sense in the dark. He didn’t like the idea of this place one bit, because he wanted to see what he was hitting, and to see it before it could hit him.

  “It is going to be dangerous, true enough. Also, we don’t want to approach from the west over Lujladia. We risk getting lost in the maze of lights,” Zoe said.

  “On the east side, over Ikkith Tar, we’re going to have navigational difficulties, as well,” Emerond said.

  “But I can see through the dark, just fine,” Zoe said, pointing to her eyes, smiling.

  “We’ll approach from the east, then. You guide them,” Emerond said, looking to one of the crew members, who relayed the request to the captain. Zoe followed the crew member, and went to the ship’s captain and pointed out to where he should steer the ship.

  “But, can she see through the shadows when we get there?” Taesa asked.

  “I’m willing to trust her – the light in her eyes lets her see clear enough when it counts. That’s why Victoria isn’t here anymore,” Emerond said.

  “She never misses. She can see stuff far away and around corners, kid,” Brant said.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Emerond said.

  “I’m actually not worried. I just want to understand,” Taesa said.

  “What’s more important is who can’t, or can, see us,” Caroline said.

  “That’s what I’m wondering about, too,” Emerond said.

  Judith recorded all of this conversation into her book.

  The ship returned to sea level in the Ikkith Tar Ocean and followed the east coast of the Wandering of Shadows land bridge. After a half (1/2) day of travel, they arrived at a point where the ship stopped and let them step off onto the land.

  “It is so cold here,” Caroline said.

  “Not over here,” Taesa said, standing ten (10) feet away.

  Judith noticed this difference and found it startling to have a difference in temperature over such a short span of distance.

  “Switch places,” Zoe said, smiling.

  “What?” Caroline asked.

  “Alright,” Taesa said and walked over to where her mother stood, and Caroline walked to where she believed Taesa stood.

  “It is warmer here,” Caroline said, startled.

  “It’s definitely colder here,” Taesa said.

  “The dark and light affect everything,” Zoe said.

  “Lead the way,” Brant said to Zoe. Zoe drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean and was energized. She could see into the darkness, which mixed with light, and that covered the land.

  Taesa, Emerond, Brant, Caroline and Judith all followed her.

  Everything on the land bridge appeared to be in shadow – trees and buildings and hills and mountains cast shadows in many directions. It appeared almost as if shadows had shadows, which was, of course, not possible, as far as any of them knew. The dark haze and light haze mixed and swirled, changing the patterns of the shadows slowly, giving them the appearance of movement.

  “The shadows are following us…like thieves in the night,” Caroline said.

  “You’re right. They might not all be shadows, so be careful,” Zoe said.

  Brant drank anew of the waters of the Nabavodel Ocean from one of his own vials and was energized. He also carried a hefty sword and a metal glove, for cutting and smashing.

  “Where exactly are we going?” Taesa asked.

  “There are plenty of buildings around here, and some of them are abandoned, especially when somebody in hiding gets found, and has to run…or die,” Zoe said.

  “That sounds a lot like my situation,” Taesa said.

  “I find myself in similar circumstances,” Emerond said.

  Zoe used her powers to bend light and see around corners and into structures. She was scanning for a suitable place to wait.

  Judith struggled to see what was to be seen. She had been to the Wandering of Shadows before, and it was just as bad nine hundred fifty-two (952) years ago as it was now. The light and dark mixed and swirled in ways that deceived and distracted her eyes. She could only write what she saw, and could not make inferences about what it really was, as the Chronicler’s Oath forbade such inferences or calculations – only direct observation was admissible. She had come here to follow a young man who was wanted for a debt he could not pay and he was to be burned alive. The man had borrowed money to hire workers on a farm, but the crops had all failed, so he could not make repayment. Unfortunately, he had borrowed the money from a cruel lender.

  What Judith found noteworthy was that the lender was not a criminal organization but an actual central bank. They had hired a vicious collection agent known for abominable treatment, going as far as to murder pregnant wives to intimidate borrowers. Eventually, she lost track of the young man in the shadows. Judith could only hope that the collection agent did, as well. A failed business was hardly a reason to torture or kill a man, though Judith was forbidden by the Chronicler’s Oath to judge right or wrong. The Wandering of Shadows concealed many who did commit genuine evil acts, and they likely escaped justice as well. Judith never liked this place at all: while recording both the good and the evil, the grand and the mundane, could have emotionally jarring moments, she wanted to see them, and not have her eyes tricked by shadows.

  Zoe continued walking, looking ahead and around corners and then said: “There’s a dense area of darkness coming up ahead. Stay close to me and to each other. Brant, did you bring the rope?”

  Brant uncoiled a length of rope he carried on his belt and handed one end of it to Zoe.

  “Hold on to the guide rope, so that you don’t get off course,” Zoe said.

  “You sure came prepared,” Emerond said.

  “I know this place well enough not to take too many chances. Getting lost here might be our purpose, but there are some dangerous places you don’t want to stumble into – and some cliffs you don’t want to stumble off of. And that isn’t even the worst thing that can happen,” Zoe said.

  “That’s reassuring,” Caroline said sarcastically, grabbing a section of rope just behind Zoe.

  Taesa grabbed the next section and Emerond grabbed one after her. Brant took the next section of rope and handed it to Judith, saying: “I’ll take up the other end.”

  Brant then grabbed the tail end of the rope, which was twelve (12) feet in length.

  Zoe looked ahead some more, navigating over rough terrain, slowly, saying: “Watch my steps: the placement of my feet. There’s some rocks here that are safe to step on, and some muddy patches that’ll give way. Just one (1) broken ankle will slow us all down.”

  Everyone – including Judith – watched Zoe’s movements, following her footsteps across a long series of stones on a dirty, muddy road where they found themselves.

  “Up ahead, it gets better,” Zoe said after twenty (20) minutes. Another five (5) minutes after that, the road became a more solid, if uneven, terrain, where they didn’t need to precisely mimic Zoe’s steps and could walk at an even pace.

  After another five (5) hours of their journey on foot, everyone – including Judith – was a bit tired. Yet, the entire time, she managed to map their travels into her book. The Chronicler’s Oath was demanding – even when a Chronicler w
as tired – and details had to be captured as accurately as possible. Judith enjoyed interesting stories – especially those with good outcomes – but this trek across mud and rocks and then a dirt road was drudgery, and did not, in any way, make her happy to be a Chronicler. But she had been through far worse and come out unscathed, so she didn’t let it get to her. She wasn’t afraid of this, however; she was only annoyed. Now would be a good time, she thought, to have drinks with a friend or even alone, and record the events of the world unfolding around her.

  “Is it day or night? And, speaking of night, where do you think we should spend it?” Emerond asked.

  “Tired? Living as royalty doesn’t build the muscles much, does it?” Zoe asked, chiding him slightly. She wasn’t bitter towards him, as he made a decisive move in the battle against Victoria that enabled Zoe to get the fatal strikes against the woman. Outside of that battle, however, she knew that Emerond lived in a different set of circumstances.

  “The Jenaldej Empire doesn’t treat princes like royalty – believe me when I tell you. I’m responsible to make things go right, and personally fix them when they don’t,” Emerond said.

  “Waderav is the land of poverty. And struggle. And backstabbing,” Zoe said.

  “And bandits, and murders, and slavers,” Brant said.

  “We lived our lives trying to fix that, fighting everywhere we went,” Zoe said.

  “And it was everywhere,” Brant said.

  “A culture that has little structure and few principles has those kinds of problems…and then the innocent have to either fight or flee or just accept it,” Emerond said.

  “There are principles. There is structure. But a lot of powerful people don’t have a drop of decency in them,” Zoe said.

  “I mean consistent structure and balanced principles, applied everywhere, would solve a lot of that. When everyone is trained well – to the best of their abilities – the thieves and murderers don’t have an advantage,” Emerond said.

  “You mean like in the Jenaldej Empire, where they force everybody to go through their trials?” Zoe asked, annoyed at the suggestion of that kind of controlling regime.