The Order of Events: The Council of Eight

by Haines, C. J.

  The owl stood royally before the Mother as she removed her hand from her head and spoke upon the owl, her eyes glowing visibly beneath her veil as she spoke in a soft manner of bravery. “I would not wish that, my friend. Only I shall stand and fight these cursed creatures. You are brave and strong, but you would not last against them. Their numbers are too great.”

  The owl shook his feathery features and spoke as Mensh stood before the two, listening closely as the exchange of the two companions carried on. “I’m willing to die fighting, with you. You don’t have to be alone on this.”

  The Mother clasped the owl’s feathery grip in hold and spoke as her glowing eyes were openly locked upon the soft and brave features of her beastly, yet humane friend. “On this day, I wish to be alone. We have shared friendship. But if it comes, today I wish we not share death. Please take shelter when the time comes, for me.”

  The owl stood in hold of his friend and clasped his hand over hers as he spoke in a calm and soothing manner of respect. “As you say, I shall do, my friend.”

  Mensh stood watching the two and looked out to the distance as the clouds took a glow of yellow, melting with their mass of grey to bring an eerie design, the young Mensh taking to the balcony ledge and speaking upon the elder two as she took glance outward. “When do you think they’ll come for us?”

  The Mother and Hoosun took to the side of Mensh, the Mother speaking from beneath her veil as she looked out across the vast sky. “Soon, you two must take shelter, for I feel they are very close. As the sun gives dive to the horizon, they will be here!”

  The three stood looking out to the sky, the sun taking rest beyond the view of clouds, in wait for the fall of its form to the horizon as the day carried on, all friends and companions, cursed and free, rushing and waiting, with much in mind as the future was unsure, but one thing was certain; all would come upon the Order, and after this day, much would change and never be the same.

  -Chapter 12-

  Past

  Far below the structure of Oomer, in the catacombs, a matured Sinfus wandered the darkness of the catacombs by torchlight, every curve and twist of the dark passages that had haunted his childhood bringing closer the thoughts of his fallen father.

  As the leader of the Council proceeded onward, he found himself coming to a familiar bend in the cavernous mess and turned to his followers, one of which was a young, pale and beautiful woman that took place at his side and grip of his arm as he spoke. “I think we’ve made it. We should be near my father’s body. Then I can claim his sword and use its power against the Elushu, alongside the Dawn Bringers, as my father wished to, so long ago.”

  The female at the side of Sinfus spoke as she held herself tight to his form.

  “An honorable cause we serve, my love. Let’s carry on.”

  Sinfus nodded to his wife, Gelga, the Council following their leader in pursuit through the mess of tunnels and turns as soon a resounding motion was heard from within the cave, the four-armed Karkor standing tall amongst the Council in speech as he looked about with his single eye. “Do you hear that?”

  Sinfus looked about and felt panic grip him as he spoke. “Could they still be here?”

  Gelga gripped the attention of Sinfus and spoke as both of their eyes were fixed with one another, her voice urgent but soothing upon him. “No. The monsters aren’t here anymore. Don’t be afraid.”

  As the Council took to surrounding their leader in defense, their forms looking about in curious motion, Sinfus began to feel calmed.

  The twins, Fisu and Kisu, shifted about in the dark, one knocking the other’s arm to allow a torch to leave grasp and fall upon the ground. Kisu shook his head at his sister and went for the torch as she did, both bumping one another, once more, Kisu falling forward onto his stomach as Fisu balanced herself.

  Karkor shook his head upon the two and lifted Kisu from the ground as he delivered a severe glance of stern manner upon Fisu as he spoke. “Be silent. There’s something in here!”

  As Kisu was set down next to his twin sister, the two kept silent as the giant had spoken, Karkor taking to the side of Sinfus as he spoke in worry. “There’s something about these caves, Sinfus! Should we turn back?”

  Sinfus looked about as he spoke return upon the four-armed figure. “No. We’ll keep looking, but if anything happens, I want you to take Fisu and Kisu and ru-”

  As Sinfus spoke, a small piece of rock fell from the ceiling and to the floor at his feet, Karkor looking up as quiet shifting and scratching was heard about the cave. The twins, feeling uneasy, took to the back of Karkor as he spoke upon Sinfus. “Is it them?”

  Sinfus looked about and saw a shape move past a distant spire in the cave and spoke.

  “I think it is! Karkor, I think maybe you’re right. We should ru-”

  But before Sinfus could finish, it was too late.

  The Council had been completely surrounded by the creatures of Sinfus’s past, the dark and twisted shapes illuminated in the torchlight as they leapt upon the Council and tore into them with sharp claws, Karkor, the strongest of the Council, falling beneath their mass as they leapt upon him and tore deep into his flesh.

  Sinfus had fallen amongst all of his council as screams and shouts of pain mixed with the sound of rhythmic movement that echoed about the chamber. The Council was unable to do anything to save themselves from a soon cursed existence as the cursed creatures of the catacombs did not wish to kill, but to transform.

  Above ground and away from Oomer, Hoosun flew away from the battlefield of Arndu, his feathered form blowing wildly in the wind as the sands shifted below his flying form. The figures of Dawn Bringers and Elushu, the image of warfare below, disappearing as the sands shifted and left none left to view

  As the owl felt loss in his heart by the fall of the brave warriors who fought in defense of Oomer below, the sands shifting had caused an imbalance in the atmosphere, adding greater horror to an already fear filling storm and greatening its multitude of lightning and harsh winds to further destructive will as the storm burst off through the sands and for Oomer.

  The owl flew after the storm as he saw it heading for Oomer and attempted to beat it to the city and warn the people of it’s coming, but failed.

  Hoosun was once more helpless in flight as he saw Oomer destroyed by the massive storm, the stone structure torn apart and shaken to a cracking image as everything was crumbled and shaken apart by the intensity of the storm.

  As he circled the outer rim of the storm for hours, he soon found it had died down and searched the wreckage for survivors and failed to find any. The battle of Arndu was for nothing, and the lives of many were gone and wasted.

  The owl took to flight from the city, leaving the destruction behind as he held the fall of the Dawn Bringers and the fall of Oomer in his heart, as he head home for the Order of the Aura.

  -Chapter 20-

  Present

  As the sun gave motion to lowering, Samana and her companions pushed ahead bravely as their purpose kept them well-garnered with strength and the will to carry onward.

  The vast plains of green grass and ash were passed by at royal pace, as Gelga did not take to crossing the land by tread, but by flight, her cursed form flying ahead at great pace as the wind tore at her form, her dress swaying about madly as she kept her thoughts ever focused on her beloved Sinfus as she carried on.

  Samana had taken the head of her journeying companions and kept her gaze ever forward as she tread, her voice calling out as she pointed ahead with one hand, her eyes catching the sight of the crowning foliage of the great towering tree of the Order, breaking the horizon and giving rise to her view as she spoke. “Look! I can see the Order! We’re getting there! Keep pushing ahead!”

  As Kurlank and Sen pushed harder along with their leading heroine, the armored one spoke in booming fashion as he tread heavily and swiftly at the side of the young braided-haired girl. “We’re making good time!”

  Sen kept to flight and spoke
as he scratched his face, his lips beginning to seal with bands of flesh which muffled his tone of speech, his claws cutting them to allow clear but bloodied words from his mouth. “You’ve got that right! We’ll make it in no time, surely before the sun falls!”

  As the three carried ahead, Samana spoke, keeping her pace ever swift in tread, her voice filled with enthusiasm. “As surely as I have the very best on this journey with me! Come on! Let’s show those cursed creatures how it’s done!”

  The three carried on ever steady and swift as they kept the image of the Order ever in glance, as it grew closer and closer with every step.

  Below the Order of the Aura, in the deepest reaches of its form, Henk and Amen sat upon the steps that took meeting with the resting place of the Mother Shirindul.

  Henk sat holding the silver bound book in hold as the beaming light from above shown about her and the silent one at her side. Henk, having flipped the last page, sealed the book and held it in hands, trembling, her head shaking as she stood up and tossed the book in a frustrated manner to land upon the chamber floor, to a glowing, dusty resolve. The eyes were ever watchful of the two, as Henk threw her weight back upon the silver image of Shirindul and spoke out in loud, echoing frustration. “There’s nothing in there! There’s nothing in there!”

  Amen stood up and took the side of Henk, and took her arm in hold as he tried to comfort her and remove her frustration with his hold, but found himself looked upon with eyes filled with frustration and words called upon him as Henk spoke. “Don’t you get it?! I’ve failed! I can’t fix you!!! Don’t you see?!”

  Henk stood looking upon the silent one as he removed his hold of her and backed away in silence, the frustrated Henk staring upon him with teary eyes as he shook his head. Glowing dust was falling about them as Henk stood in silence, holding a hand to her mouth as she found regret upon her words, Amen drifting away slowly as she spoke in a sorry manner. “Amen! I didn’t mean…don’t go. I didn’t mean to say that. I don’t think you’re a problem.”

  Amen had his back to the entrance of the bright chamber and held his head low, and reached into his bag of kerchiefs and pulled one out, as Henk attempted to approach him, but was cautioned away as he tossed a kerchief before her and left the chamber, leaving Henk alone amongst the falling dust and beaming shafts of light as she called out to him. “Amen!!! Don’t go…I didn’t mean what I said…you don’t need to be fixed.”

  Henk felt tears coursing down her face in great mass and approached the kerchief which had been tossed upon the ground, and looked upon its image. It was that of a smile, the cloth it was drawn upon torn in half, down the center. Henk shook her head sadly and gripped the kerchief with one hand as her other strayed to her neck, where lay the necklace she always wore, her hands gripping the object of the black cords attachment as she knelt on the chamber floor in sorrow.

  The eyes of the watchful figure were ever upon her, as sharp claws scraped and then left the stone ceiling to give fall to the creature. The crying Henk curled up on the floor, hearing a resounding shuffle of stones and gave slow rise as she continued her sorrowful dive. Her vision was blurry with tears as she looked about the chamber for the cause of the sound, her voice echoing in an upset manner as she spoke quietly. “Amen…is that you?”

  As Henk surveyed the chamber, she found nothing, rubbing her eyes with her shoulder to swipe her tears away as she stood up and wandered the chamber, the kerchief still in grasp as she called out. “Is someone there…Amen?”

  Henk looked about the darkness and found nothing upon her surveying pursuit.

  The brown-haired girl looked about the chamber in wandering manner and found nothing upon her view, but as she looked without discovery, something roved in the darkness behind her, the crumbled stone shifting under the form of the figure as it made approach.

  As Henk stood surveying the chamber, she heard stones shift behind her and turned to meet an eerie sight, cold fear running down her spine as she stood frigid to watch the beaming light from above rain down in shafts, cast about the figure as it removed itself from the darkness and was before the young Henk, her eyes wide and unblinking as blue shafts danced upon long vicious claws as they produced themselves from the darkness, leaving Henk unable to speak as she stood in fear.

  As the claws were out of the darkness, the mass of the figure produced itself in full form and was found upon her view to be a beast, furry, hunched and dark furred.

  Henk stood staring upon the fear filling sight, in silence, and soon found the beast producing words in a calm and soothing manner, its voice echoing about the chamber as it addressed the young one. “I’ve been awaiting your coming, young one!”

  Not far beyond the bounds of the stone walls, Sinfus and his council flew speedily across the open lands of patchy grass and ash, the wind blowing at the back of their forms as they flew ever forward. Sinfus was leading the horde as he felt something was near and took landing upon the ground, the Keraij following their willful leader in accord as the Council also did so.

  Sinfus looked about the vast land. The Order was not far from his cursed horde, and was visible to his eyes in the distance as he stood waiting, Karkor taking the side of the leader and speaking his mind in question upon the watchful Sinfus. “Why do we stop, lord Sinfus?”

  Sinfus spoke his mind in return upon the single-eyed giant as he pointed his hand westward, to bring attention upon a figure coming their way in a speedily manner. “Do you not feel it? Over there! Gelga has come!”

  Karkor stood beside Sinfus, both taking view westward, towards the approaching figure of Gelga, the wife of Sinfus flying with grace and speed as she made her way to Sinfus’ side.

  The cursed leader stood awaiting the arrival of his love and soon had no longer to wait.

  Gelga landed gracefully before Sinfus and threw her arms about him as she nestled her cheek against his, her thoughts coming upon him in a worried manner, as she had missed him so. “Sinfus! My love, how I’ve missed you!”

  Sinfus held his wife tightly, his hands about her waist as he spoke his thoughts in return upon her. “I have missed you, too, my love!”

  The two lovers looked upon each other’s golden eyes, their features cursed deeply with the way of the Keraij, each running a sharp finger upon the other’s face to slice their faces open to share a bloody kiss with each other.

  The Council stood awaiting their leader’s order as he and Gelga kissed in bloody fashion and then let their faces seal as Sinfus turned upon his council and spoke his mind. “We are all together again, my council! The Order is not far, now. Let us go and fulfill but one of many purposes we are to serve!”

  All council stood ready to follow and obey. All took flight in pursuit as Sinfus was the first to leave the ground. Gelga in his hold as they both flew together, ahead of the rest.

  As the clouds were dark and beaming bright with shining patches of gold, the Mother stood upon her balcony with Hoosun and Mensh, her eyes searching the distance as she heard Mensh speak to her in question. “Mother Dhahn. Are they here?”

  The Mother looked out into the distance with her bright, green eyes, ever veiled as she spoke in return upon the young Mensh. “Yes. They are. It’s time!”

  The Mother turned upon the owl that stood next to Mensh and spoke in a calm but urgent manner. “Hoosun, take Mensh down, now. Both of you take shelter and stay hidden.”

  The owl bowed his feathery head and spoke as he placed a caring arm about the shoulder of Mensh. “As you say, I shall do, my friend.”

  The Mother nodded her head and held both her hands to grasp upon the feathery hand of Hoosun as she spoke caringly. “Thank you, Hoosun.””

  The owl held the Mother’s soft hand in care and spoke as he was soon to lead the young Mensh away to shelter in the walls below. “Take care, my friend. You’ll be in my thoughts!”

  The Mother spoke upon the owl as they released grip of one another’s hands. “And I will have you in mine.”

  Mensh
stood at the side of the feathery form of Hoosun and spoke upon the Mother as she took a standing bow, to the dislike of the Mother, as she didn’t like people bowing to her, but at the very least, she appreciated the respect that Mensh offered to her as the young one spoke. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, Mother. Thanks for believing in me and helping me become better.”

  The Mother put her hand upon the chin of Mensh and spoke soothingly upon her.

  “I always knew you were capable of much, young Mensh. I’m proud that you’ve grown so much and become such a good-hearted, young girl. Now, go and make yourself safe, below.”

  Mensh smiled upon the Mother and kept to the side of Hoosun as both left the presence of the Mother and made their way to the entrance of the great chamber, and started their way down the stairs to the ground below. The Mother, having watched them leave, now rested her sight upon the great distance as she felt the cursed mass coming ever closer. An air of destiny swept over the balcony and blew into the great chamber as the Mother took seat upon her stone throne, waiting for the horde to come and meet her as she was ready to take them on at any cost, even at the cost of her life.

  The clouds above floated in glowing fashion. Samana and her companions charged ever closer to the Order, across the open plains.

  Sinfus and his horde grew closer and closer to the Order, it was now only but a short distance away as Sinfus felt tension build up in his heart as he felt his purpose resting heavily upon him, his father’s sword soon to be mended by the power that it was crafted in; the Aura.

  Hoosun and Mensh made their way down the stairs in a careful but speedy manner, the young Mensh speaking to the owl as they made their way down. “Do you think she’ll make it, Hoosun?”

  The owl kept his downward tread as he spoke in return to the young Mensh. “I do. Don’t you?”