The Edge of Hope: Wrak-Ayya: The Age of Shadows Book Eleven

by Roberts, Leigh

  With the midday meal over, the High Council members had assembled. With the attendance of the Brothers’ Chiefs, the Healers and Helpers, and Haan and his people, they’d had to find a far larger private room than they had used before. Haan stood at the back, easily seeing over the heads of those seated in front of him. At his side stood Qirrik, his High Protector, and next to him, the Healer, Artadel. Though she was his Third Rank, Haaka had elected to stay behind with Kalli.

  Once settled, Urilla Wuti opened the meeting, first asking for business from any visitors petitioning the High Council.

  Larara, sitting in the back, quietly stood. She looked around the room, spotted her mate, and glanced back at the new Overseer.

  “I come to petition for Bak’tah-Awhidi from Kurak’Kahn, my mate.” She looked around nervously.

  “Kurak’Kahn,” said the new Overseer. “Your mate has asked for Bak’tah-Awhidi. Since you are here, I must ask if you object.”

  Kurak’Kahn rose, “I do not object. Please grant her freedom.” Then he sat as quietly as he had stood.

  “Since there is no objection, you do not need to provide cause,” said Urilla Wuti. “Your pairing is hereby dissolved. You are both free to search for happiness on another path.”

  “Please,” Larara said, “I have another request.” Then, in the silence that followed, she continued. “I wish to ask the help of the other communities, including those of the Brothers. My niece, Linoi, bore a son. Out of avarice, her mate took the offspring. We do not know where our great-nephew is. Our niece is dead. Whether by the act of another’s hand or her own, or by accident, we do not know. Nothing can relieve the heartache of her loss, but if the offspring could be recovered, it would ease some of our suffering. Please.” Then she turned to Khon’Tor, “I am thankful to you, Khon’Tor, for your efforts to find the offspring.” Then she looked back at the crowd, “Though U’Kail has not been found, Khon’Tor did find proof that my daughter’s mate perished.

  “Please be mindful of this tragedy, and should there be any sign of U’Kail, please send word. Perhaps, by some miracle, he was not murdered by my daughter’s mate. Perhaps he is safe somewhere, rescued by someone who does not know where he belongs.” Then Larara put her hands to her face to cover her tears.

  Adia went across and put an arm around Larara, who leaned for a moment against the Healer’s shoulder. Then Larara straightened up, thanked Adia, and made her way to the back of the room. High Protector Awan opened the door and then silently closed it behind her.

  “Anyone else?” Urilla Wuti asked quietly.

  Kurak’Kahn stood. “There are limits to how much heartache one can bear. My presence is only adding to Larara’s pain and suffering. I, therefore, ask for acceptance into another community.”

  “Who here will open their community to Kurak’Kahn?” asked Urilla Wuti.

  After a moment, Gatin’Rar of the Little River stood, “You are welcome at our community.”

  Kurak’Kahn thanked him. “I have everything with me that I wish to take. If you are agreeable, I will travel with you when you leave.” Then, one last time, he regarded those watching him, many of whom he had once led in his position of Overseer. He purposefully kept his eyes averted from Khon’Tor and Acaraho before finally leaving the room.

  With the private matters resolved, Urilla Wuti asked the Brothers’ Chiefs to share on behalf of their villages.

  One by one, the Chiefs stood up. One after another, they spoke of trouble brewing with the Waschini. Tales of intimidation, riders coming close and circling the villages. Some altercations in which the Waschini had engaged outright with their braves. Tales of formidable weapons brandished about, of women and children terrorized by the intruders. Everyone listened reverently, with heavy hearts.

  As their stories came to an end, Urilla Wuti spoke. “We are all saddened by this news. We feared there would eventually be a threat from the Waschini, but we did not know it had progressed so far. The People’s existence is hidden from their knowledge, but we might well wonder for how long. We must pray together, now, for your protection and welfare. And for guidance from the Great Spirit.”

  The room became silent as each heart and soul reached out in their own way, beseeching the One-Who-is-Three, the Great Spirit, for answers.

  Urilla Wuti opened her eyes and looked across the room, waiting for the others to raise their heads. Finally, she spoke, “We will adjourn now as it is nearing evening meal. Please relax and enjoy yourselves. Healers and Healer Helpers, after we have eaten, we will meet alone here. Thank you.”

  Oh’Dar was sitting with his grandparents and Nootau when the High Council members returned. Soon his parents, Nadiwani, and Iella joined them.

  “Have you eaten?” asked Adia.

  “Yes, just finished,” said Oh’Dar. “How was the meeting?”

  “Some general business,” said Acaraho. “Then the Chiefs shared. Every one of them reported trouble from the Waschini. Even threats of being driven from their homes. Threats of taking the land of their livelihoods.”

  Oh’Dar thought back to the threat made by the man, Tucker. “The Waschini believe they can own the land. Just as my grandparents owned thousands of acres at what they call Shadow Ridge.”

  “How is that possible?” Nadiwani asked.

  “It is a concept, a thought, that they made into an agreement—like a law. They claim portions of the land as their own. Much like we and the Brothers accept and respect the boundaries of our own territories.”

  “It feels different,” said Adia.

  “It is different. Because we are willing to honor the fact that certain areas are used by the Brothers, and certain areas are used by the People. The Waschini go a step further and draw up a written agreement, and put a value on the land they then own.”

  “How can you put a value on land? It is a gift of the Great Spirit, along with everything else on Etera,” Adia said. “I find this difficult to grasp.”

  “Once someone owns that area of land, they believe they have the right to control who comes onto it, who gets to hunt on it and otherwise use its resources,” he explained.

  “So the Waschini seek to drive the Brothers from their homes in an effort to take over the areas they inhabit?” clarified Acaraho.

  “What can we do to help the Brothers?” asked Adia.

  “I cannot think of anything we can do,” said Acaraho. “The Waschini must never know of our existence, and that ties our hands.” Then he added, “And the same is true of the Sarnonn.”

  Urilla Wuti approached the table, and they made room for her next to Adia.

  When they had finished eating, Urilla Wuti suggested that she, Adia, Iella, and Nadiwani return to the meeting room. She started to lead them away but then returned to the table. “Nootau. Come with us.”

  Once everyone was seated, Urilla Wuti explained why she had asked them to meet collectively. It took quite a while to fill everyone in on how, for years, she and Adia had been working together to enhance their abilities. She told them about the Ror’Eckrah, the One-Mind to which the Sarnonn connected to open Kthama Minor, and the release of energy that had followed.

  Adia shared how her own abilities had become augmented since that time. She wove it into the story of the Wall of Records and the transformation of the twelve Sarnonn into Guardians.

  Urilla Wuti then asked Iella and Nootau to step forward. She introduced them and told the group about Iella’s new-found ability to communicate with animals. She explained that Nootau seemed to pick up messages, though, at present, these messages came only at their own bidding. Then she asked if any of them had noticed anything peculiar themselves.

  Though none of them shared anything specific, all agreed that their abilities also seemed to be growing stronger.

  Finally, Urilla Wuti closed by sharing her vision of communicating across distances and her work to that end. She had intended to speak of the Corridor but instead spoke of the Dream World.

  “While you are here,
Adia and I want to work individually with any of you who feel drawn to this idea. We hope that when you leave, you will practice what we show you and continue to develop your ability to enter the Dream World.”

  Just as Urilla Wuti finished, one of the Healers spoke up. “Excuse me, please, but the male you introduced who is paired to your niece—is he a male Healer? If so, that is unheard of.”

  Adia stepped forward to answer, explaining how they had learned from the Wall of Records that Healers used to be male or female. And that while Nootau was not a Healer specifically, he was showing signs of supernatural abilities. “Nootau has himself recently visited the Dream World.”

  There was a murmuring of excited chatter.

  Then another female slowly stood up. “Please forgive me, Healer Adia, but we have heard talk of your new son. Will we be given the honor of seeing him before we leave Kthama? Is he— We were told he is some type of Guardian. One of those who have the power to protect Etera.”

  Adia sighed, any idea of shielding her son from the limelight vanishing. She nodded, “Yes. If you wish, I will bring him to the general meeting on the last day.”

  “What of the adult Guardians? Will we get to meet them?”

  “There is much to cover in only a few days,” said Adia. “But I have no doubt you will all meet some of the Guardians before we part.”

  “Only some of them? But we heard that there are twelve,” another Healer said.

  “An’Kru cannot be in the presence of the twelve Guardians until an appointed time,” Adia shared. “Great care must be taken to keep them from proximity to each other.”

  “Why? What will happen?” someone asked.

  “I do not know,” answered Adia. “We are only given bits and pieces of information over time.”

  Eyes widened as the mystery enchanted them all.

  “We are blessed to be living in such mystical times,” a Healer Helper shared, and nods passed through the gathering.

  Adia was doing her best to welcome the interest in her son, but inside she was struggling. I do not want to share An’Kru with everyone. How can I protect him if he is the constant focus of attention wherever I take him? How will he ever grow up to be normal? But that is just it—he is not normal, and he never will be. And why does Haan not come forward and freely tell us all he knows? And where is Pan?

  She stopped ruminating because she could feel Urilla Wuti watching her.

  “It has been a long day,” the older Healer said. “Tomorrow has been set aside for socializing and any other business to which we need to attend. During the day, therefore, Adia and I will work with those of you who are interested in learning how to enter the Dream World.”

  When the others had left, Urilla Wuti spoke to Adia. “You must take some time tomorrow to be by yourself. Promise me you will.”

  Adia sat down and slumped over, holding her head in her hands. “I cannot make peace with this. I cannot make peace with an unknown future for Nootau and An’Kru. Now both of them are to be caught up in this! And these other feelings I am having—jealousy for one. Jealousy that Nootau now confides in you. Petty jealousy that he gave you that beautiful fluorite crystal. I do not want to be like this!”

  Urilla Wuti sat down next to her and took Adia’s hands in hers. “Look at me. Look at me,” she repeated, and Adia lifted her gaze.

  “You have been brought through everything so far. There is no reason to believe you would be abandoned now or that you will lose all you hold most dear. You cannot live in fear; however you do it, you must reconnect with your faith that things are unfolding as they should.”

  “Why does Haan not tell us everything he knows? It seems we only get a piece here and a piece there. How can I not fear that next he will reveal something terrible about An’Kru’s future?”

  “I cannot answer that; perhaps Haan is the only one who can,” Urilla Wuti suggested quietly.

  The next morning, Adia woke to find Acaraho already gone. She was grateful he had let her sleep but now urgently wanted to find him before he became embroiled in the day’s activities.

  She gathered her food selections and sat at the usual table. For a while, she listened to the idle chatter of her family, but it did not distract her from her worries.

  “You were asleep when I came in last night, Saraste’” Acaraho said to her. “And sound asleep this morning when I left. You seem unusually tired of late.”

  Adia looked away, trying to hide her emotions.

  “What is it, Mama?” Nootau asked. “You are filled with worry.”

  Adia looked at those seated with her. My family. I always feel I have to be so strong. But if I can never lean on them, then I am truly alone.

  “It is many things. I cannot shake the feelings that seem to dominate me now. Fear. Anxiety. Doubt.”

  “You are worried about An’Kru,” Nootau said.

  Adia nodded. “And about you,” she admitted.

  “Then let my faith shore you up, Mama. I am not afraid of what is to come. Whatever it is, we will handle it together,” Nootau continued. “Just as we have everything else.”

  “I have so many unanswered questions,” she said. “And Haan never gives enough information to understand the whole story. Why is he not telling us all of what he knows?”

  Nootau looked off across the room. Finally, he said, “Haan cannot.” He brought his gaze back to his mother. “He cannot. Because he does not know any more than what he shares at the time. These are coded memories, deeply embedded in some type of ancient memory. He does not know the information until it surfaces. Until something triggers it and a certain amount of information is suddenly available to him.”

  Adia stared at her son.

  “How do you know this?” Acaraho asked.

  “The same way I know the other information that has been given to me; I hear it in my mind. Perhaps the same way it is for Haan,” Nootau suggested. “He is not withholding information from you, Mama. He simply does not know it until he knows it. He cannot will it to appear.”

  Urilla Wuti and Adia exchanged glances.

  “Thank you, son,” said Acaraho.

  “Do you feel better now?” Iella asked Adia. “It seems like you do, somewhat.”

  “Yes, that helped a lot; thank you Nootau,” Feeling some of her faith return, Adia reached across the table and touched her son’s arm. Haan is not withholding what he knows. It is given to him at the appointed time. There is a stronger power behind that which we can see.

  Chapter 14

  It was the last day. All the matters before the High Council had been settled. The Leaders had met to talk about the bloodline challenges that faced all their communities. They had also been given ample time to meet in small groups and to mingle with the others at the High Rocks, inhabitants and visitors alike.

  Urilla Wuti and Adia had met with some of the other Healers and started work with them. The two made sure each had the knowledge to practice alone once they returned to their own communities.

  Khon’Tor had been involved in all the Leader meetings. It had been worthwhile coming, yet he did not understand why it was so crucial for him to have been there. He was relieved the last day had come; like it or not, he was returning to Tehya and Arismae at the Far High Hills. He often wondered if Nootau had talked to Acaraho yet about who had truly seeded him.

  Once they were all in place in the Great Chamber, Chief Cha’Tima stood and asked to address the crowd. With Acaraho’s approval, he walked to the front of the room. He asked for Haan to come forward and join him.

  Chief Cha’Tima raised his own staff in the air and waved it back and forth before turning to face Haan. “Truth about the betrayal of our people long ago has been spoken by you, Haan, Leader of the Sarnonn, who now walk among us. We believed that the haired ones were long-gone from Etera—those who were once believed to be our protectors.

  “The secret of this betrayal was known only to a few Chiefs. We have waited for generations for the sins against our ancestors
to be acknowledged. And now, an apology has been offered. I and the other Chiefs assembled here have met long and privately about this matter. Before we adjourn, at the request of the Brothers’ Chiefs, I accept the apology offered by the Sarnonn Leader on behalf of the Ancients. We are, after all, sons and daughters of the one Great Spirit. May there be only peace between all our peoples from now on and forever.”

  The assembly was about to adjourn. As promised, Adia had brought An’Kru to the Great Chamber. Somehow, a line had formed of everyone who wanted to see the offspring, and she had stood with him in her arms as each person remarked at his striking looks before moving on. Finally, it seemed everyone had been given a chance to look at An’Kru, and she was relieved to wrap him up and remove him from the prying eyes.

  Despite the curiosity over her son having been temporarily satisfied, Adia knew there was still something everyone was waiting for—the promised appearance of the six male Sarnonn Guardians who were scheduled to arrive at the end of the meeting.

  Acaraho stood at the front, the Leader’s staff in his hand. He thanked the visitors for coming and the People of the High Rocks for extending such hospitality. He promised the Brothers the unwavering support of the People and pledged that their peril at the hands of the Waschini would remain at the forefront of everyone’s thoughts and prayers. He added that the People’s Leaders were committed to help look for a solution.

  Finally, it was time.

  From the back, Haan entered with the six Guardians. Acaraho signaled for them to come forward, and as one, they moved to join him at the front.

  The room was absolutely still as hundreds of eyes silently took in the giants standing before them with their luxuriant white coats and their silver-grey eyes.