Architecture & Adversity

by Jeremy Dwyer

  “What is it? You still look distressed,” Drystan asked.

  “Something’s not quite right, but don’t you worry about it,” Indigo said.

  “Tell me. I want to help you. I’m here for you,” Drystan said.

  “I hear something strange – a strange sound among the stars,” Indigo said.

  “Like when there was darkness? The sound that was painful for you and you couldn’t follow the stars?” Drystan asked.

  “No. This time, it doesn’t hurt me. It sounds like the star itself is in pain. I know that doesn’t make any sense,” Indigo said.

  “None of it makes sense. But you can feel it, and it bothers you, so I want to know,” Drystan said.

  “I can still hear the sounds of the regular suns – the blue, yellow and red ones. They’re fine – they’re moving as usual. This sound is something else…like a different sun altogether,” Indigo said.

  “You mean there’s more of them?” Drystan asked.

  “No. That’s what’s strange about all this. I don’t understand it, either,” Indigo said.

  “Why are we here, anyway?” Drystan asked.

  “To meet with someone who might give us another clue about what causes the darkness, and how to prevent it,” Indigo said.

  “What do you mean by clue? What clues do you already have? You still haven’t explained any of this to me,” Drystan asked.

  “Don’t worry about it. You wouldn’t understand, anyway, because you don’t drink the Atrejan waters to hear the star sounds. Just know that there are dangerous people who want the world to be dark again so they can steal and murder while they’re unseen,” Indigo said.

  “Who are these people? How do they plan on bringing the darkness back? I can help you deal with them if you can tell me more,” Drystan asked.

  “If I told you too much, it would be even more dangerous, because it’s bad enough that somebody might read my thoughts. I don’t need them reading yours. Let’s not talk about this anymore, so no one overhears us,” Indigo said.

  “I love you, Indigo. I want to help you, but you have to tell me more,” Drystan said.

  “I love you, too. Now trust me and be quiet about all this,” Indigo said.

  “I’ll be quiet,” Drystan said.

  “Make your thoughts quiet, too,” Indigo said.

  “Can I just think about you?” Drystan asked.

  “Yes. Think about me. I like that,” Indigo said. She looked at the handsome young man – whose fine features were greatly enhanced by the Trerada waters he drank – and felt her desire awaken, but she had to tame it before becoming distracted from her purpose.

  “You like this?” Drystan asked and kissed her.

  “Yes,” Indigo said and kissed him back, having a difficult time resisting. The urge to have him again swelled within her, and she nearly lost sight of her mission, seriously considering opening herself to receive the young man’s vigor.

  “How about this?” Drystan asked, while kissing her neck and running his hands down her thighs.

  “That is nice…too…nice. Much...too…nice. But…we…have…work to do…first. Come on,” Indigo said, pulling herself away from the young man and struggling to temporarily cool the growing desire she felt.

  “Now that’s all I can think about…me and you,” Drystan said.

  “Good. Keep thinking about it…just don’t get too distracted. I need your help,” Indigo said.

  Indigo and Drystan put on their traveling clothes and boots and left the rented room. Indigo kept the eight (8) luminaries with her, on a long chain around her neck that hung low and out of sight, below the vial, which did remain visible.

  They traveled the marketplace along the river and visited a shop where a blacksmith was hard at work.

  An older man stood near an anvil and then drank anew of the waters of the Kazofen Ocean from his vial, becoming energized. He was able to work the crystal structure of the metal bars he had and bend them into various curves and angles.

  Indigo approached the blacksmith and asked: “Hello, good man, would you have time for a small job today?”

  “How small or large? Some work that appears small is a great deal more effort than what appears to be large,” the blacksmith asked.

  Indigo held her fingers apart several seven (7) inches and said: “I need an iron rod, this long, this thick.”

  “That may be quick, if you’re not too particular,” the blacksmith asked.

  “Just a bit particular. I need it encased in black tourmaline, for a fine luster,” Indigo said.

  “That will cost you, but I can do it today. You’re lucky that I stock so much of the cheaper gemstones,” the blacksmith said.

  “How much?” Indigo asked.

  “Fifty-five (55) silver coins,” the blacksmith said.

  Indigo took some coins out of a pocket in her jacket and began to hand it over to the blacksmith. As he reached out to receive the payment, she asked: “When can I have it?”

  “Within the hour,” the blacksmith said.

  “I’ll wait here while you work. Until then, you can have twenty-five (25) silver coins. The rest when you’re done,” Indigo said.

  “I suppose that will be alright,” the blacksmith said and he accepted the partial payment. He then began working an iron bar to the proper size, molding it as if it were clay in his hands. The anvil wasn’t even necessary in this instance.

  After five (5) minutes, the blacksmith asked “Is this the size you were looking for?” He held the metal bar out to Indigo for her to inspect.

  Indigo looked at it and said: “Yes, that’s it. Now for the black tourmaline.”

  The blacksmith took several small bits of tourmaline crystal from drawers in a cabinet in his shop and molded them like they were clay in his hands, wrapping them around the iron bar, until it had a fine, black luster, taking another fifteen (15) minutes.

  “Is this what you need?” the blacksmith asked, holding the tourmaline-coated iron bar in his hands, twirling it so that the many suns shone down upon its black surface, but their light just barely reflected off of it.

  Indigo stepped toward the blacksmith, inspected the tourmaline coating and said: “Yes. Here’s the rest of your payment.” She handed the thirty (30) coins to the blacksmith and he gave her the tourmaline-coated iron bar.

  “Thank you, miss. Would you mind telling me what this is for?” the blacksmith asked. He was always worried that customers were making weapons that could be used to commit crimes for which he would be partly blamed.

  “Yes. I’d mind,” Indigo said to him.

  Indigo then turned to Drystan and said: “Come on. We’re done here.” She took him by the hand and led him through the town quickly, turning corners whenever she could, so that the blacksmith could not see where they were headed.

  They soon arrived at a storefront with many strangely cut, dark glass panes in the window frame. The door was not open but was welcoming – or attempted to be so – with its gaudy display of brightly-colored gemstones embedded in it, arranged in stripes and swirls. It was tasteless, as far as Indigo was concerned, but she didn’t expect much more. A sign above the door indicated that the location was operated by someone named “Madame Shelena, Spirit Guide.”

  “We’re here to talk to spirits?” Drystan asked.

  “I’m here to talk to this woman. You’re here to help me however you can. I hope no spirits have anything to do with it. These professional spirit-readers are a little bit crazy and dangerous. We need to be extra polite,” Indigo said.

  Drystan reached out to open the door but the door opened before he could touch it and a woman in her fifties – a fading beauty with wild gray-brunette hair and a hint of wrinkles – appeared before them. She wore oversized robes – colored brown, yellow and blue – as if to conceal her true weight and girth and to distract the eyes from the age spots on her skin.

  “Greetings, young travelers. I am Madame Shelena, your guide to the spirit world. Come in to my par
lor and I will chart a course for your future,” the older woman said. She couldn’t take her own eyes off of Drystan, who was young and handsome. Her life was lonely, and male companionship was something she still desired. Indigo watched Madame Shelena’s eyes track Drystan as they entered the parlor.

  “Sit down. Make yourselves comfortable, so that we can find our way together,” Madame Shelena said after closing the door to the parlor.

  Indigo and Drystan sat down on comfortable chairs with cushions, arranged around a circular table.

  Madame Shelena sat down on a chair across from them and said to them: “You are both so young. I love when young people come to visit me. They have such bright futures.” She then focused on Drystan and said: “You also have such bright, beautiful skin…and eyes. I can see good things in your eyes, young man.”

  “We’re looking for help, Madame Shelena. To keep our futures bright, we need some advice from you,” Indigo said.

  “You have come to the right place. A woman my age knows many things. I wish more young people would come here and listen to what I have to say. Too many think they know everything, and then they get a large and painful surprise. This is a dangerous world, you know,” Madame Shelena said.

  “We know that all too well. We don’t want to make any big mistakes, or go anywhere without the wisdom that can only come from your…experience,” Indigo said, not wanting to emphasize the woman’s age.

  “Yes, I have much experience. I have brought happiness to many young men…and women: young couples. I know the ways of things, and how the spirits move, so I know the future, with its many possibilities and mysteries. Choices must be made carefully, and there I can help you,” Madame Shelena said.

  “I have confidence in you, Madame Shelena. That’s why we came here,” Indigo said.

  Madame Shelena kept her eyes on Drystan, rolling them back and forth to scan the handsome young man’s physique. She felt womanly desire, even at the age of fifty-six (56). She suspected that the man was likely thirty (30) or more years younger and she couldn’t hope to attract him, but an old woman could dream, she supposed.

  “A woman gets to a certain age and has much experience to share. She also has needs of her own, of course,” Madame Shelena said.

  “And, how can we help you?” Indigo asked.

  “Perhaps a few silver coins for my expenses, my dear,” Madame Shelena said.

  “Would seventy (70) silver coins be fair?” Indigo asked.

  This was much more than Madame Shelena expected to be offered, so she was delighted and said: “Yes, my generous young friend. That shows me you truly care about others. How very sweet of you.”

  “I’ll pay you thirty-five (35) now, and thirty-five (35) more when we have the answers we are looking for,” Indigo said. She took the partial payment from her jacket and handed the coins over.

  “A very wise young woman, you are,” Madame Shelena said as she accepted and counted the coins.

  After a polite pause to allow the older woman to count, Indigo asked: “We would like to know about the sky. It has been dark and then light. During the darkness, the false King Xander reigned,” Indigo said.

  “Yes, that tyrant ruled much of the world, seeking out more power, and enchanting people with the songs of his herald. That was a dangerous time, and the darkness made it worse, so that people went north, to hide behind the wall in Baradaxa, and seek light and protection from the king. And many of them were murdered by the selfish rich man,” Madame Shelena said.

  “There may be more dangers – a return of the darkness – and we want to know if you can see that future, and where the darkness comes from, and how to prevent it,” Indigo said.

  “We shall search together for this answer. Young people should be kept safe, of course, from the many dangers, so their love can grow and endure,” Madame Shelena said. She then drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from her vial and was energized. She felt a spiritual presence near her, yet she did not know who it was.

  Indigo watched and waited for the older woman to do something useful. Drystan sat next to her, watching and wondering, not knowing exactly how this crazed older woman was going to be able to help.

  Madame Shelena took out a deck of cards from a shelf underneath the round table and began to shuffle it. She then dealt out cards, two (2) at a time, placing them on the table, with the second card atop the first in each pair.

  As the first pair of cards was dealt, Madame Shelena announced them, saying: “The Three (3) of Flames and the Six (6) of Shields upon it. The (3) flames are stars, and the shield that stands against them will be twice as great as their brightness. Thus, a darkening is coming.”

  As the second pair of cards was dealt, Madame Shelena announced them, saying: “The Eight (8) of Daggers and the Fifteen (15) of Tombstones upon it. There will be a war – and eight (8) powerful warriors will meet to do battle. The number fifteen (15) is the highest among the cards, so the deaths will be numerous.”

  As the third pair of cards was dealt, Madame Shelena announced them, saying: “The Thirteen (13) of Vipers and the Twelve (12) of Rubies upon it. There is a large serpent waiting to strike, and it guards a vast treasure.”

  As the fourth pair of cards was dealt, Madame Shelena announced them, saying: “The Four (4) of Lyres and the Nine (9) of Lyres upon it. There will be four (4) great songs that change the world. Yet, there will be nine (9) more great songs that change the world in opposing ways.”

  “You shuffled and drew cards to tell us these things. How can you be certain they will happen, or what they even mean?” Indigo asked.

  “I am guided by spirits when rearranging and drawing the cards, yet even I cannot be completely certain of events that are yet to come. There is always some doubt and mystery, young woman. Wait and you shall see,” Madame Shelena said. She then drew a single card and announced it, saying: “The Ten (10) of Lyres. One of these other eight (8) cards is false, and this ninth card is the truth that will be revealed in its stead.”

  “I have seen many painful events in my travels, and I’ve read many accounts of the recent conflicts when I visited Emeth. Still, I have no concept of what any of this truly means. It’s very frightening,” Indigo said. She wasn’t sure whether to believe the old woman’s card tricks or spirit magic, but the world was truly dangerous. The oceans gave great power to evil people who drank of their waters – and the tempest that raged across every ocean little more than two (2) years ago was beyond tragic, as was the infamous Sail to Me song that lured millions into the storm to die.

  “Even I am afraid. Very afraid. Look at me – I shiver,” Madame Shelena said. She began to shiver at the thought of the terrible things her cards supposedly predicted. The spiritual presence next to her came closer, and she felt colder as it touched her skin.

  Indigo saw this as the moment of opportunity. She nudged Drystan and said: “Be gentle and mindful of our friend. We can’t let her be filled with fear like this.”

  Drystan stood up and walked over to Madame Shelena, standing beside her and putting his hands on her shoulders. He began to massage them and the older woman began to relax.

  “Yes, that’s just what I needed,” Madame Shelena said.

  “Take care of her needs, that she might remember us well until our next visit,” Indigo said. It bothered her to say this, because the young man’s intimate affections belonged to her alone. Still, she had a mission and it was more important than even romantic loyalty: supposedly more important, anyway, according to a certain someone who wasn’t here at the moment. She didn’t fully believe in making a personal sacrifice of her lover’s loyalty to accomplish something she didn’t fully understand, and was planning on taking time to meet her personal needs later.

  “Come over here, sit down with me, and help me relax, my handsome young friend,” Madame Shelena said.

  Indigo looked at Drystan and nodded, so he joined Madame Shelena as she moved over to a soft couch. There, he continued to massage the older wo
man’s shoulders from behind while sitting beside her.

  “Right here is so cold. It am stiff, and sore,” Madame Shelena said, pointing to her thigh, so Drystan massaged her there. When he did, her body tensed at first, filled with desire, anticipating sensual intimacy she had so long gone without.

  “That’s so very thoughtful, my young friend. I’ll need you to keep that up for a while until my aches are all gone,” Madame Shelena said. Drystan continued to care for the older woman, and she continued to enjoy his attention. Her mind turned away from the turn of the cards and any ominous portent they might have signified. Yet, she still felt cold – the spiritual presence did not leave her.

  Indigo, meanwhile, rummaged the room with her eyes, fixating on anything of the proper size, shape and color. She stood up, stretched, and attempted to be inconspicuous while she scanned the disorganized parlor’s contents. Soon, her eyes were caught by a gold jar on a shelf. The jar’s lid was propped up by something she couldn’t quite see.

  Madame Shelena didn’t give much thought to the cards, but to the physique and attractive features of the young man. “The cards told a frightening tale. My heart beats quickly, young man. Feel that,” she said, gently placing her hands upon Drystan’s hands and guiding them to her chest. When he touched the older woman’s chest to feel her racing heart, Madame Shelena felt a burning urge swell within her. Drystan felt the rapid heartbeat, not knowing for sure what was bothering the older woman. Her movements did indicate, however, a flirt, and he was not unaware of this, so he played along.

  Indigo approached the gold jar and placed a finger between the lid and the jar, feeling something cold that also appeared to be dark. She gently removed the lid and saw the cold, black, cylindrical object that rested within the jar. The object had what appeared to be the wick of a candle, and she became convinced of its authenticity – it was a luminary, cold to the touch and dark like onyx. She placed the tourmaline-coated iron bar into the gold jar and replaced the lid, judging the iron bar to be an adequate forgery of the luminary, which would require close inspection to detect the ruse. Then, she took the cold, dark onyx luminary and placed it on a mount on the long chain that hung low under her clothing, hidden from sight.