The owl placed a caring hand about the shoulder of his veiled and royally clothed friend, as her bands of streaming cloth blew royally in the wind as his words came once more upon her. “Do not wonder of the future’s intent. None will ever know all that lay ahead, even as some look upon the stars, they can tell what is at place now, but rarely the future of one’s fate can they tell from these wonders of the sky.”
The Mother smiled beneath her veil and ran her fingers across the feathery grasp of her friend as she spoke. “It is as you say, my friend.”
The two friends stood hand in hand on the balcony, looking out to the stars above, the Mother’s eyes strongly fixed on those of the seven shining above as she thought very much of what they held in meaning.
As the two stood together in shared silence, footsteps cut the lapse of noise as Mensh produced her self upon the balcony and went to the rail to lean out upon it, watching the sky as she spoke to the elder two. “Beautiful night, look at those seven stars, up there!”
Mensh held her hand out in pointing manner as she too spotted the seven stars shining above, the Mother and Hoosun watching the young one as she spoke her impression of them.
“Those are beautiful. I wonder-”
As the two elder figures stood watchful of their young friend, Mensh turned around and rested her back on the rail and stretched her hands out to rest upon it as she spoke. “What do you two think those stars could mean? You know, like the future or something?”
The owl shook his feathery head in amusement as the Mother smiled beneath her veiled headdress. Resting a caring hand upon that of Mensh, she spoke calmly and serenely as she looked out to the seven stars of beauty. “I’m sure they hold a purpose of their own, young one. As for the future, in time we will come to know!”
As the night shown above in beauty, the Keraij had been set about in silence as Sinfus stood on a grassy hill, the ground under his stance set about with ashy patches as long ago it had been burned and tread upon by wolves of burning purpose.
As the moon let down a shaft of gleaming beauty from behind swirling tips of passing clouds, the leader stood with his mind fixed on inner thoughts as his council were spread amongst the mass of cursed in their own solitude.
Mastaba loosened his hood and removed his jacket as he sat, the blade upon the strapped hood looking dull to his eyes, and soon meeting a rock to grind upon as he sharpened its curved blade of deadly purpose. His eyes glimmered gold as he picked his mouth open with a sharp finger to allow his tongue to sway in sickening motion as his sadistic eyes watched his feat in entertainment, upon his reflective blade.
The twins sat asleep, using the giant Karkor as their place of rest, his bulky form of arms and ill-muscle providing a firm padding to their backs as they lay.
Fenra stood tall amongst the Keraij. His snout held up in attention as he sniffed the air for signs of life and found that none seemed near them, as they sat in the wide mass of hills and patchy grass, strewn with ash. The bear of human quality took off through the mass of Keraij to make way to his leader, as from afar he saw his cursed form upon the hill’s tip.
Sinfus stood stargazing and looked upon the seven stars beaming justly in the night sky, their silver forms bright and beautiful as his council wears. Fenra took place at his side, the tall figure of the bear standing tall and speaking his thoughts as his snout was held sealed and serene. “Reading the stars are we, my friend?”
Sinfus turned in thought to his council and spoke his mind as his golden eyes kept their attention ever higher upon the sky in their wandering fashion. “Just thinking of what Samana said before she died. She couldn’t be right, could she?”
Fenra held his head in a wise stance and stood firmly with his hands in sleeves as he spoke his thoughts upon the leader of his purposeful stance. “What do the stars say?”
Sinfus searched the stars, looking past those of the seven, as he searched for an answer, but found none as he answered through thought to his companion at side. “I do not see an answer to my question.”
The tall form of Fenra stood at the side of Sinfus in firm stance as he too surveyed the stars with golden glance. “Perhaps the answer you seek cannot be found amongst the stars. Try looking for another answer, if you bear another question upon your mind.”
Sinfus knew a question he wished answered, and looked for a sign amongst the stars, the vast garden of flourishing lights, dim and bright before his view as he spoke his mind.
“Does Gelga live?”
The bear looked upon his leader as he stood well-stricken with pain and suffering, attempting to hold it inside as to not allow his pain to spread through the others by their shared affliction. The bear spoke his mind as he looked to the stars. “It seems to be another question, without answer?”
Sinfus searched the vast sky and hung his head low as he spoke his mind, having found no answer to his question. “It seems so.”
The bear hung his head low to that of Sinfus and spoke his mind as he was peaceful in appearance, even though he was so cursed with the disease of the Keraij. “Hold peace, my friend, not pain. Her passing has saddened all of us. Release your pain and do not hold it in.”
Sinfus shook his head and shared a golden glance with the one of his council as he spoke his mind to the one of beastly figure. “I cannot release my pain, my friend. I could not risk you losing your minds over my pain. It is far too great for any of you to handle.”
Fenra stared into the eyes of his just leader and stood in tall form as he spoke his mind, in return. “What of your mind?”
Sinfus stood upon the hill and spoke his mind to the one of questioning manner, a slight wind picking up to sway their cloaked forms. “My mind can take the pain. I’ve been carrying memories of pain and loss for a long time, my friend.”
Fenra stood feeling the breeze upon his form, his eyes glistening bright as he welcomed the cool wind upon his back, his thoughts reaching out to his leader. “I only hope that your mind carries no heavier load, my friend. Not for my sake, but for yours.”
Sinfus stood atop the hill, flourished with the night breeze upon his cloaked form as he gave a nod upon the thoughts of his friend, and spoke thoughts of his own as the moon beamed down upon their cursed forms. “Thank you for your care, my friend. I’ll hold steady, for all of you, for I fear for your safety and peace of mind. Not mine.”
Fenra shook his head in silence and bowed as he spoke his thoughts. “You are a just leader, Sinfus. Your father left us with a greater leader than we could have wished for!”
Sinfus held memory of his beloved father close, his death ringing through his thoughts as he blamed himself for it, but as these thoughts had come, the memory of peace and kindness that was ever upon his father, in his years, came to his thoughts and brought peace upon Sinfus as he spoke his mind in return to his council…to his friend. “Thank you, Fenra. Go now, and rest. We’ll be leaving here on the dawn, and should make it by the sun’s fall.”
Fenra bowed and spoke his mind as he took leave from his leader’s side. “As you say, my lord, I shall go.”
As Fenra left his side, Sinfus stood bathing in the moonlight from above as he felt the calm breeze growing wild, ripping at his cloak, as he stood to stare through his golden glance upon the great distance as the Order was not far from his reach.
At the Order it was calm and quiet, all were in and restful, their housings well-stocked as all were ready for the coming threat.
As all were at rest in the walls, there were two who had not found rest taking their time, but a search instead.
The library was filled with piles of books, pulled from shelves, everything even hinting at cures or medicinal value had been pulled and searched for answers, but left in stacks upon stacks as none were found. Henk placed another book onto a stack as she had finished reading it and fell back onto a pile of books in frustration and wear as she was seemingly getting nowhere, and spoke of the manner openly as Amen sat atop a shelf to listen. “It seems hopele
ss, Amen! I don’t think we’re going to find anything here. We’ve searched almost anything that could help us and found nothing. What will we do?”
Amen leapt from his place of seating and took to the side of Henk as he took her hand and stood staring, a kerchief without anything upon it on his features as he seemed loose for ideas.
Henk smiled upon the silent one and leaned back tiredly as she rested her back on a stack of books, the stack giving way and crumbling as she soon found her body rained upon by books, Amen removing the books in swift fashion from her form as she sat still beneath the pile.
The silent one removed book after book, and soon had Henk out, heaving her from the crumbling mass of bound paper, dusty and old, as she stood before him, dusting herself off as she thanked him. “Thanks. That wasn’t very fun.”
As she dusted herself off vigorously, something had caught the attention of Amen as he leaned over and took a book in hold.
It seemed that Henk would never remove the dust from her jacket, so she decided she would not bother to continue as she put her attention upon the silent one as he held a tome in his firm grip, her voice curious with question as she spoke. “What’s that you’ve got?”
The silent one handed the tome over to the outstretched hand of Henk as she soon held the book and surveyed its cover through her spectacles as she read the title aloud. “The Legacy of the Mother Shrindul; her life, teachings, and inspirations brought upon our minds.”
As Henk had read the cover, she proceeded to open the fine binding of the tome as it was silver plated and golden-rimmed with a blue crystal garnering a latch that was bound around its form, which she removed with great care, as she spoke. “Amen, this is the entire collection documenting the life and teachings of the Mother Shirindul! Not many have been able to read from it.”
As Henk looked over the well-bound book, she found herself reading the first few pages as they came to view. “Written by Kheranda, scribe of the Mother Shirindul, and gifted to her successor, the Mother Omegeira. Maybe we’ll find an answer in this book? After all, she was a Mother. Let’s give it a read.”
Amen sat on the ground of the wide chamber of books and shelves, and sat staring upon Henk as she held the tome and sat at his side, a kerchief grinning with promise about his features as he heard her voice echoing throughout the chamber as she read the book aloud, hope in her voice as she felt just maybe this would be the book of their quest, the cure for Amen held within the silver bound pages of her hold.
As the night held strong above ground, below, the three companions and their new cursed friend journeyed ever further through the tunnel, Samana having kept a steady lead without falling sleep or only stumbling, here and there, as she carried herself onward.
Kurlank tread firmly upon the tunnel ground as he felt the ground becoming softer under his tread, his voice booming through the tunnel mass as he looked upon the back of the stumbling Samana. “I think we’re getting close to the surface, my friend. Samana, let me carry you, you haven’t slept since we’ve been down here!”
Samana spoke tiredly, her will strong as she carried herself ever forward, through aching limbs and wobbly legs. “I’m okay. I can make it. Don’t worry about me.”
Kurlank shook his head as he found Samana to be very stubborn at this moment, the armored warrior of etchings walking steadily as Sen kept a short distance from his side and stood with his back arched through wear, and through the curse enveloping him, more and more, with each passing day.
Gelga walked steadily and kept a good pace with the others as she took to Samana’s side and put a careful hand about her shoulder as she slit her features to speak upon the braided-haired girl. “Samana, you must rest. Listen to your friend.”
Samana took the hand of Gelga off of her shoulder, softly in grasp, and spoke as she looked beaten firmly with tiredness. “Don’t worry. I can carry on, Gelga. I’m not taking any rest until I see nice, firm ground!”
Gelga nodded in allowance of Samana, the young heroine strong in will as she carried on through the tunnel to take the lead of her companions.
Sen ran from the side of Kurlank and to that of Samana and pointed ahead as he spoke.
“You can sleep soon and long, Samana. Look ahead!”
Samana followed the gesture of the cursed one and saw dying moonlight caressing the open mouth of what appeared as an exit to the tunnel. Her eyes glimmered with success, her features smiling to beautiful accord. Samana rushed ahead of her companions as she called back to them in excitement. “We’ve made it! I’m going to be the first out!”
As Samana charged ahead, Gelga couldn’t help but feel cheer gripping her as the attitude of the young heroine brought memories of playful experiences back to her, the twins running about in her mind as she watched Samana rush ahead to the light.
Kurlank took a steady pace in pursuit as Sen took chase upon Samana, the armored warrior taking place at the side of Gelga as they both took strides, watching the younger two charging ahead.
Kurlank kept his view ahead as Gelga spoke through a bloodied face to his form.
“They’ve been through a lot, haven’t they? It’s nice to see some cheer about them!”
The metal form of Kurlank shook with agreement as he spoke in echoing fashion about the tunnel. “We’ve all been through a great deal, there can only be more as we still have much to do and far to go!”
Gelga held her head in silence as she watched the two charging ahead, thoughts coursing through her mind as she wondered what was to lie ahead.
As the moon hung high in silence, it brought beams of joyous light down below through canopies of trees, grown ever strong about a forest, wild and sturdy.
Samana felt the light of the moon on her skin as she had reached the release of her confinement to the tunnels and leapt out in glorious fashion with a burst of energy, her armor plated, golden clothed form landing on the grassy ground as she spread her arms wide to run across the grassy surface as she smiled with happiness to her find. She was finally out of the tunnels and on beautiful, solid ground, thoughts pressing through her mind as she couldn’t help but relate the grass to that of the Order, which she would lay on with her friends, dear and wholesome, Amen and Henk.
Sen soon produced himself from the tunnel confines and looked about the forest with curious eyes as he stood beneath the trees, a breeze giving his hair sway as he closed his golden eyes in peace.
Kurlank and Gelga soon found themselves leaving the confines of the tunnel and looking about the forest as Kurlank held his form sturdy in surveying manner as he spoke boomingly to his companions. “I know this forest…the Forest of Urkelai. Samana, we are close to the Order!”
As Kurlank stood awaiting answer from Samana, he received none. She had fallen asleep on the grassy floor, and none could blame her, as she had spent days walking the tunnels and icy depths of the world, without sleep or breaking motion, until, now.
The armored warrior stood firm and spoke in echoing manner as he found Samana was taking rest. “I’m amazed by young Samana. The strength, will and courage she shows. I’d hold doubt against any that say they could take her in battle!”
Sen stood at the side of Kurlank and spoke as he too was tired. “I agree. Any who try to take her on are sure to be mad!”
As the two companions stood looking over the calm and sleeping form of Samana, Gelga stood behind them and spoke through bloodied features upon them, their attention upon the cursed one as they turned their view upon her. “We should rest. We still have a way to go before reaching the Order. We need all the strength we can get.”
Sen shook his head in vigorous agreement and took place against the form of a sturdy tree to rest, Kurlank standing tall before Gelga as she looked back upon him in a curious manner as she spoke. “Don’t you sleep?”
Kurlank shook his head in a creaking manner and spoke in echoing fashion as he surveyed the cursed one. “I am not by any means alive as you, Samana, or Sen are. Sleep is not of my fashion. I sha
ll watch our camp until dawn comes, and then we shall move on!”
Gelga shook her head agreeably upon the armored warrior as she spoke. “Very well, that’s quite a helpful manner of yours. Samana is lucky to have such a useful companion. I shall rest, now.”
As Gelga made her way to rest between two trees, the armored form of Kurlank took stance on a slightly hilly patch that watched over the three sleeping below, the metal warrior ever watchful as the moonlight set his armored form to glimmer in wild fashion. He had been amongst this forest before with Samana and knew of the dangers it possessed.
-Chapter 11-
Past
Back at the Order of the Aura, Sinul had risen from bed and had dressed herself in Dawn Bringer form, her gold cloth-ridden form standing strongly at horse side as she prepared for departure from the giant, green stone structure.
As Sinul tightened the saddle upon her steed, the Mother Omegeira stood at her side, the sloth Kheranda at the Mother’s side as she spoke upon Sinul. “Be safe in your journey, my friend. I shall hold hope that the Dawn Bringers share a favorable fate, and victory.”
Sinul looked upon the Mother with golden eyes and smiled as a soft wind carried over the walls and caught her red hair, the gleaming strands blowing playfully in the wind as she mounted her horse and spoke to the Mother Omegeira. “I shall, and thank you for your wishes, Mother. I only hope that they come true. Farewell, my friends!”
As gears turned in shared rotation to a creaking manner, the great gate of the Order drew open before Sinul, the Mother and sloth watching as she rode off into the distance, beyond the confines of the walls. The Mother’s green eyes were watching from beneath her veil, as the sloth at her side spoke upon her, the gates closing to the view of both.
“Mother, were we right not to tell her?”
The Mother shook her head and looked up to the sun as she rested a caring hand on the long claws of the sloth as she spoke. “I’m afraid there is no right or wrong about it, my friend. For if we did tell her, the future would not change either way. The stars have made their knowledge known to us, and so Sinul shall find that knowledge herself. I fear the pain it will bring upon her, but it is necessary, as it is destiny.”
The Order of Events: The Council of Eight Page 19
