Song of the Earth: Book Four of the Firebird's Daughter series

by Kyrja

  The crystal! It was a part of her now, as much as she was a part of it. It contained all the memories of every living being within it since her father, Sov, had created this planet. Surely that meant that … No, just more wishful thinking, she was sure. But … what if … what if she was right? What if she had the answer to releasing Giya? If she had all of the memories of every living being, that would include Lumas and what she had done in order to create the barrier around Jikangai …

  Chapter Thirty-Two – Step by Step

  “She’s a lot bigger than I thought she would be,” Nieva remarked to Oculis, watching as Deiserin made her way towards them. “Do you think she would mind very much if I tried to talk to her?” They were sitting on a pile of rocks together, near a tree with low branches. Raito was standing a short distance away, in the gathering twilight, trying to see if he could use his connection with the moon to determine what was going on, on the other side of the barrier. He wasn’t certain if he would be able to, because, as he’d said, there really wasn’t any consciousness in the moon itself. He didn’t want to have to leave Jikangai to return to the moon unless he had to, and wasn’t even certain he could, given the edict that only the dead could leave, so he was making an attempt while she and her grandfather sat quietly, waiting to see what would happen.

  Nieva had felt unnerved looking at the translucent wall of the barrier. Not being able to see through it made her feel trapped, even though she could see the skies clearly above her. And she could also see a little way further into the center of the plot of land that was considered Jikangai. Not too far, though, since everything was overgrown. She had thought she was uncomfortable with the barrier because she had almost died crashing into it, but her grandfather said he, too, felt trapped. When she had asked why they had been able to see each other so clearly when she had first emerged from the portal, but couldn’t now, neither her grandfather nor Raito had an answer for her. They had all made guesses, each more far-fetched than the last, but none of them knew for certain why the barrier seemed so much more dense now than it had before. Agreeing they would feel more comfortable in their human forms, Nieva sat with her grandfather, watching Deiserin emerge from the sea.

  “Well … “ Oculis considered. “If she does mind, she can’t very well do anything about it, can she?”

  “Why do you do that?” Nieva frowned, making sure to look her grandfather in the eyes. “Say things that are mean? How do you think you would feel if you were trapped like she is?”

  “Nieva,” Oculis sighed. “I’m not “nice” like you are. You can’t expect me to be.”

  “That’s an easy way to get out of trying to do better, isn’t it?” Nieva pressed. “Just tell everyone you’re mean and it’s too bad if they think you are.” Oculis said nothing, but his face crumpled into a frown.

  “Am I making you uncomfortable grandfather?” Nieva asked, taunting.

  “Yes you are,” Oculis nodded his head, continuing to frown, as if he was beginning to feel angry.

  “Good! Because that is how you make me feel when you say mean things. Uncomfortable. Unhappy. Like I don’t want to spend time with you anymore. And I hate that more than anything, because we have been very close. Friends even.”

  “I’ve never really cared about anyone’s feelings before,” he said, shrugging. “I’m still learning that it matters to me what you think, and how you feel. Especially about me. But I sometimes feel angry that you can’t love me just the way I am, without me having to change so you will be happy.”

  “I do love you, Grandfather,” Nieva stressed, “but I don’t always like you very much. And I don’t like to be around people who do or say mean things. That’s something I am learning about myself.”

  They were silent for a moment, sitting side by side, when Oculis said, “I think Deiserin would like it if you talked to her.”

  “Do you?” Nieva asked, sounding hopeful.

  “I think you should do it,” Oculis told her, smiling.

  “Then I will,” she giggled a little as she stood up, then held out her hand to him. “Come with me?”

  “I’m just going to sit here and catch my breath, but you go on. I’m getting old you, know,” he chuckled, and fell in love with her all over again she smiled at him. “I’ll watch from here!” he called after her.

  * * * * * * * *

  Raito saw Nieva get up and knew where she was headed without having to watch her go. He, too, looked forward to being able to interact with Deiserin, but first he needed to find out what efforts were being made on the other side of the barrier. When he had decided to come to Jikangai, he didn’t have any idea others were also on their way here. Nieva had told him that Jarles, the Sea God, had traveled with her, as well as Giya’s apprentice, Eruitt. She had told him the names of others who were also be here, but didn’t recognize any of their names. There was so much he didn’t know about what was going on in the world his celestial body orbited day after day. That thought had made him feel lonely again, until he realized that he was not alone now, and that he had better not squander the opportunity to enjoy having people nearby.

  Too, he wondered whether it really mattered what any of the others were doing on the other side of the barrier. All that really mattered was bringing it down, and releasing everyone trapped inside. He had told his sister, Siri Ventus, that the blood of Deiserin’s firstborn son would stop the tortoise’s slow march around the perimeter of her prison, but that it wouldn’t release her. He’d also told her that the Earth Goddess would still be trapped and that Ozahm would defeat her, and Denit too. He had refused to help her unless she agreed to join him. Standing here, now, on the soil of the planet, he regretted those words. Deeply.

  When he’d been on? In? his moon … such a strange thing to have to consider how to think about himself. He was truly two separate entities now. He could no more divest himself of the moon than he could his leg. Before he had come to the planet, he had watch Deiserin, knowing she was lonely. As the moon, it was easy for him to phase in and out of both circles of Jikangai. Or, at least his perception and his ability to observe were easily done. The moon itself continued on its path unaffected by his own thoughts, feelings, or observations. Even as it was doing now. But he was able to watch any particular area of the planet in way that wasn’t easy to explain, even as the moon itself continued on its orbit past the horizon. Perhaps this was part of being a god, he considered. At least, that’s what he was counting on. Since the moon was a part of him, and he was the moon – at least its consciousness – then he should be able to retain his ability to observe the planet from the same perspective as he’d always done since becoming the Moon God.

  “Oh look! Look! Grandfather! Raito! The barrier is becoming clear again!” he heard Nieva shout. Annoyed at being interrupted, Ratio looked up from his contemplations only to discover the girl was right! How odd! Here, dusk was upon them, with night falling rapidly, while on the other side of the barrier, it looked to be midday. And here, the plant life was lush and abundant, with grass, and trees growing at an alarming rate. There, though, only a few paces away, it seemed almost barren by comparison. Ratio was sure the other side would be considered normal, while his own side was thick and overgrown. What was most-surprising though, was the sheer number of people who were just as astonished to see him, as he was to see them.

  “It looks as though we are all assembled,” he heard a voice behind him say. Turning around, he saw it was Giya, the Earth Goddess. Although he had never met her, there was no mistaking exactly who she was. It looked as though this was a day of surprises, as he hadn’t expected that she would be accompanied by a girl at her side.

  “My Lady,” Raito immediately bowed.

  “You are more charming than your sister let on, Raito,” Giya said. Hearing the chuckle in her voice, Raito smiled. Then his smile broadened when she laughed out loud as Nieva came running to hug her. “I am delighted to see you Nieva!” the Earth Goddess gushed, obviously genuinely happy to see the gi
rl. “Oculis!” she exclaimed, as her eyes flew open with surprise. “I should have known you would be here with Raito. We will need everyone working together to undo what has been done here.”

  “We need to hurry,” the girl who accompanied Giya said. “He should have already been here.” It was obvious the girl was frightened, despite the fact that she was in the company of the Earth Goddess. There was much more going on here than even he knew.

  “Let me talk to everyone at the same time,” Giya said, moving past Raito to get closer to the barrier. And he could see that everyone on the other side had already taken note of Giya’s arrival, so had gathered closer together as well. He found himself surprised yet again, though, as she walked past him. Instead of stepping over the thick grass as everyone else was doing, careful where they placed each foot to avoid turning an ankle on any unseen rocks or branches, she seemed to walk right through it. Nor did the grass move with her passage. Each path was clearly marked where the others passed through, leaving a trail of bent grass, even though it sprang back into place as each person moved to their next step. Where she walked though, the grass was undisturbed, with nary a footprint in evidence to say she had been here.

  “Because time moves much more quickly here than it does outside of the inner circle, there is a thing I must do,” she told them as she continued to move closer to the barrier, then stopped, getting down on her hands and knees. She began humming, then slapping the earth in a rhythmic pattern. To Ratio’s great surprise, a rooster hurried out of the bushes near Giya’s right hand. “I must speak with those gathered beyond the barrier so they can understand me. Will you help me?” The rooster crowed twice, then disappeared, melting into the ground.

  “What happened?” the girl who was with Giya asked. “I’ve never seen her do that before!”

  “She went to gather more Singers to stop time for a short while outside of the circle, Sina,” Giya told the girl.

  “So she was always a Singer,” the girl said, frowning. “I didn’t know.”

  “Come,” the Earth Goddess told them, it won’t take long.”

  Ratio watched as a kind of mist rose from the ground, surrounding everyone outside of the circle, wondering how he would react if he was suddenly surrounded by a fog like that. But then he felt the vibrations and understood. It was a calming melody and as the mist moved throughout the people, he could see as some of them were explaining what was happening to those around them. Good. This was going to work. He shook his head, amazed at how Giya was using the resources available to her – including the people surrounding her.

  “Gather as close as you can without being harmed,” Giya’s voice carried easily through the barrier. “I would like to take a moment to thank you all for your courage in coming here today, and though there is much I would like to discuss with each of you, time – as I’m sure we can all agree – is of the essence. So,” she paused, looking until she found who she was seeking. “Jarles, please come forward,” she said, her face calm, her hands tucked into the sleeves of her robe.

  “I am here, my Lady,” he said, once he made his way to the front of the crowd. Ratio was sure the Sea God surprised her when he bowed to her, because for a split second, he saw her eyes widen. He would have missed it if he hadn’t been watching her, but in that moment in time, he would have sworn her eyes turned into something much different than who he thought she was. Her eyes returned to normal in a blink, but he saw the wild creature there. The savage beast. And though it shocked him, it also gave him a deep sense of relief. Here was a goddess who may remind the casual observer of a beautiful spring day in a field of flowers and butterflies, but she was also the dark creature lying in wait in the depths of the forest for her prey. She made him nervous for the first time, and he was glad for it.

  “In front of all these people gathered here, I am offering you my sincere regret and apology for having wronged you,” Giya said, raising her voice to make sure everyone heard her. “When the Storm Goddess, Amphedia, went to battle her brother Sov, she returned to me what had once been mine – control of all the seas. I should have conveyed that authority to you immediately, but I did not. In that, I was wrong.” Ratio heard faint murmuring from the crowd, not unlike his own reaction might have been if he had been standing next to anyone else.

  “I’m not finished,” Giya said, holding up her left hand for quiet. “When I was reminded of my duty to transfer control of the seas some time later, in your presence, I ignored that advice, and in fact, I threatened you. I was wrong on both accounts, and I am sincerely sorry for my actions and for the harm I have caused you.”

  “My Lady … “ Jarles started.

  “I’m not quite finished,” she told him with a small smile. “It is critical that you understand it was my own fear, and not your lack of qualifications nor abilities. I am entirely to blame, and am grateful you are here today to help me to correct a grave error on my part.” And then everyone gasped as Giya formally bowed to Jarles.

  “Apology accepted,” Jarles shouted loudly, bowing once again. When loud applause erupted, Raito smiled to himself. Well done, my Lady, he thought. Well done.

  “Now!” Giya announced, clapping her hands together once, “there is the small problem of actually transferring those powers we spoke of. It is important that we do this before we attempt to release the barrier, because if it proves to be an impossible task, you must have control of the seas in order to keep them, and our people, safe and healthy. And!” she emphasized the word loudly, “everyone here must bear witness to my edict that if my … existence … “ she paused then, frowning. Continuing, she said, instead, “If my life,” she added emphasis in a way that Ratio thought was a purposeful declaration, “is ended, my apprentice Eruitt will become the Earth God!” Ratio was stunned, as it seemed everyone else was too. The silence following her announcement must not have been what Giya was expecting, as she added, “Hail Eruitt! May you never have to take up this mantle, but if you do, you are ready!” When everyone started yelling “Hail!” and applauding, Ratio saw Giya smile, satisfied.

  “Now! Jarles!” she said, turning back to him, “You may be glad to know your grandfather was wrong when he told you that you must sacrifice what you love most in order to gain control of the seas. He was right that Amphedia was required to do so, but that was a different time, with different circumstances. Because you are, indeed, a god,” and here Ratio saw her lips form a smirk he didn’t understand. But when he saw Jarles’ eyes were amused, he let it pass, “you may enter the inner circle of Jikangai, freely. Together, we must devise a way for you to leave once you have gained the powers.”

  “Giya!” Raito turned when he heard Nieva’s voice calling out, surprised such a young girl would be stepping forward at such an important gathering. Obviously, he considered, he still had much to learn about humans. Nor did Giya ignore her. Instead, she invited the girl forward. “What is it Nieva?”

  “My Grandmother the Goddess said to tell … “ she shrugged, “well … she didn’t say who to tell, but that when the time was right, I was to say, ‘Only the blood of her firstborn son will stop death’s march.’” She paused again. “I thought now might be a good time to tell you, while you were thinking things through.”

  “Siri Ventus gave you this information Nieva?” Giya asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Oh yes. She was unhappy that I was leaving her, but she was proud of me for being … well … brave,” Nieva smiled then, although it was a smile tinged with sadness.

  “I gave her that information, my Lady,” Raito volunteered. “To Siri Ventus, my sister. It was something that I … recalled … when she asked me about Deiserin.”

  “Recalled?” Giya pressed.

  Raito sighed then. Spreading his hands in a gesture of frustration, he explained, “When I was young, I witnessed a great number of events through the crystal seed’s influence. The crystal is what made me insane, exactly as Lumas intended, until she needed me to take her place here, as the Moon God.”<
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  Giya nodded her understanding, then asked, “Is there anything more you can recall? Anything that might be helpful at all?”

  “My Lady!” a woman’s voice called out from across the barrier. “My name is Zaria, from Nohoyo. The goddess Borja told us,” she said, pointing at the woman standing next to her, and then herself, “that only a descendent of Binti’s line can replace the tortoise. Binti was the adopted daughter of the first empress, as you probably already know. But not everyone else here does, so I thought it was important to say. Anyway, we brought the Emperor of Bila, who was supposed to be the last in Binti’s line. But he’s dead now, and someone else – Sahil – do you know him?”

  “Yes,” Giya assured her, nodding.

  “Sahil said that the Emperor isn’t really from Binti’s line because the healer, Qoraa, who delivered Binti’s child, switched the babies as revenge for Binti having killed her adopted brother and sister.”

  “Enough!” a man’s voice called out. “I am Rajesh. I alone am the firstborn child of Deiserin, the first Empress of Bila. It was my throat which Deiserin sliced when I was three days old to honor the promise of peace she had made with Lumas, the Goddess of Beauty. It was my death which drove her mad. And I will be the one who will take her place or sacrifice myself, or whatever is needed in order that she may be released. But none of this will transfer the powers to control the seas. First we must do that. And then we will see.”

  “I will give you my life, Sea God,” a woman stepped forward. I am Shio, a True Child of Amphedia. My mother has killed me many times over to pay for having stolen the seas from Giya many long centuries past. It is only fitting that I be the one to complete the circle. Go!” she pointed at Jarles. “Do what you must. When you have control of the seas, come back through the barrier and I will give you my life,” she said, holding out her Tear.