Shiva XIV

by Lyra Shanti

  Ayn felt his entire being split in two.

  “NOT MY LAN!” he screamed. “NO! NOT MY LAN!”

  --

  "Wake up, Ayn. Wake up, please!” Pei begged as he gave his student a gentle shake to the shoulders. Ayn awoke to see the worried, pale face of his second teacher, sitting beside him on the bed. It calmed his heart to look at Pei, his brother-in-soul.

  Ayn sat up and wiped his face. He could feel the wetness of tears and wondered why.

  “Was I crying in my sleep?” Ayn asked, confused.

  “Yes, my Ney, you were,” answered Pei as he got up to pour Ayn a glass of water.

  “Strange,” Ayn quietly replied.

  “Yes, very,” Pei remarked before giving Ayn the glass. He then looked at his student carefully. He could tell Ayn was already deep in the act of forgetting, a device his brother-in-soul seemed to use more and more as of late. It worried Pei greatly, though he kept his thoughts to himself.

  Ayn looked at Pei and smiled at him, as if nothing had been wrong. Perhaps he is excited about his birthday today, Pei wondered.

  Just as his thought ended, Ayn’s smile turned to a frown. Reading Pei’s mind, Ayn pouted and said, “I had forgotten about that.”

  Pei did not know why Ayn dreaded the celebration so vehemently, but reminding himself how easy it was for The Bodanya to hear the thoughts of others, he scolded himself for thinking too loudly.

  “It will be a glorious day, Ayn. You will see,” Pei said with a comforting smile. Ayn wished he could believe his secondary teacher, but a strong sense of dread lay deep in his mind.

  Pei got up and walked over toward a large closet. He opened the purple veils that hung as drapes, and then turned to look at Ayn with a hint of a smile. “Which robe shall it be today, my Bodanya Shiva?”

  “None,” said Ayn, covering his head with a sheet.

  Pei looked at Ayn and gave a sigh. “Come now, my Bodanya. Today you will be crowned, and all of Deius will rejoice in your name. It is not something to be sad about.”

  “I’m not sad,” Ayn mumbled under the sheet.

  “What are you then?” asked Pei as he uncovered the sheet from Ayn’s head.

  Ayn looked at Pei with a frown.

  “I’m worried.”

  “Worried about what?”

  “About everything.”

  Pei laughed and said, “Ayn, you cannot worry about everything. There is far too much in this world to think upon the entirety of it. Why don’t you tell me what in particular is worrying you today?”

  Pei looked at Ayn who was pouting and looking away. Taking Ayn’s silence as a test of will, Pei further prodded, “Are you nervous about the ceremony being complicated? You must remember, it will mainly be the priests who will be doing the chanting and reciting. You do not have to do much, except to stand and be crowned.” Pei’s attempt at cheering his little brother-in-soul did not seem to work. Ayn just sat in silence.

  Pei was about to focus once more on choosing a robe for Ayn to wear when Meddhi-Lan swiftly opened the door.

  “He’s awake?” asked Meddhi-Lan.

  “Barely,” Pei quietly replied.

  Meddhi-Lan looked at Ayn, who still seemed to be in some far off land. “Come Ayn, you need to be ready soon,” said the high priest. “You must bathe and have something to eat – something small, just to get you through until the coronation feast.”

  Ayn heard every word his Lan said, but he was terrified of looking at him. He did not want his dream to be like the others - the prophetic kind. He was afraid if he made eye contact with Meddhi-Lan, he would be inviting an unnecessary evil into their lives, forcing fate’s hand.

  “Ayn,” said Meddhi-Lan as he walked over and sat in a nearby chair, “what is wrong?” Ayn could not help but succumb to his desire to tell his Lan about the dream. He began describing the rain and the petals and the twelve white eyes. However, as soon as he came to the hanging of The Adin, he could no longer bring himself to speak.

  Pei sat upon his knees on the floor near to his teacher. He looked at Meddhi-Lan, as if asking him for help to decipher what Ayn was describing. Meddhi-Lan put his hand on Pei’s shoulder, then sat by Ayn on the bed.

  “Go on, Ayn. You must not be afraid to open the door to your hidden feelings,” said Meddhi-Lan in a sympathetic tone.

  “Is that all they are? Feelings?” asked Ayn with a panicked vulnerability.

  Meddhi-Lan knew Ayn was afraid of his prophetic dreams, but he did not want him to be frightened of his own mind. “Ayn,” he softly said, “not all dreams that you have will come to be. There will be some dreams that are only reflections of emotions and desires. It is best that you learn to tell the difference between the two, though only time and courage will help you do so.”

  Ayn understood his teacher’s words, but did not feel comforted by them; they seemed rushed and determined. “But... my Lan-“

  “Listen to me Ayn,” Meddhi-Lan said with a firm, yet gentle voice, “we have only an hour or two before the guests will be arriving. You must try to concentrate on the positive that is around you.” He looked at Pei and nodded to him. “Do you see how you are surrounded with only our eyes?” Meddhi-Lan looked deeply into Ayn’s eyes. His teacher's dark-blue eyes were the kindest Ayn had ever known.

  Ayn could not hold back his tears and flew into Meddhi-Lan’s arms. “There, there, my boy,” said the high priest. “It is alright. No need for tears today.”

  Ayn looked up at the only father he’d ever known and silently swore to The Un that if anything ever took his beloved Lan away, he would refuse to be The Bodanya Shiva, Second Adin.

  Pei smiled, yet felt a strange sensation, as if he was looking at them through a darkened window. He immediately distanced the feeling and got up, returning to the closet, hoping his teacher would soon make Ayn feel safe enough to face his destiny.

  “Ayn...” said Meddhi-Lan with a hint of a smile, “I was going to give you your present after the Coronation, when we had a moment of calm, but I think maybe now would be best.”

  “Oh, yes, please!” Ayn said as he wiped his tears.

  Meddhi-Lan gave a wink, then pulled something from behind his robe. It was a round, red colored medallion tied to a gold chain.

  “Was is that?” asked Ayn, forgetting all about his fear.

  “It is an ancient artifact that has been in your family for generations. Your mother wanted me to keep it safe until you were of age and ready to protect it with your full strength.”

  “Is it magic?” asked Ayn.

  “Yes, I believe it may be,” Meddhi-Lan replied, grinning. “I would like you to wear it for your coronation so you may remember that you carry your mother's spirit with you.”

  Meddhi-Lan hung the medallion around Ayn's neck, then wiped the remaining tears from Ayn’s cheeks. “There is nothing to fear, Ayn,” he said in a calming voice. “You will be surrounded by joy and admiration, this day and from here on, and I will be with you, always.”

  Ayn smiled, fighting back his fears, then hugged his Lan tightly. He knew nothing could harm them if their bond remained impenetrable.

  Trying his best to hide his overwhelming emotions, Pei turned around and held up two robes for Ayn’s approval. “Do you like the white or the gold?” he asked with a cheeky grin. “Neither,” said Ayn, who bounced out of bed with a renewed spirit. “I like…” Ayn paused as he stroked his fingers across the robes of the closet, “…the blue!”

  Meddhi-Lan was pleased and proud. He reminded Pei that Ayn must be bathed and ready by the mid turning of the sun. Then, he nodded at Ayn and bowed. “See you soon, my Bodanya Shiva.”

  Ayn bowed and smiled, returning once again to his usual joyful innocence. He turned to Pei and motioned for him to close the veils so that he may change into his chosen holy robe. Pei understood and pulled the veils shut.

  “Pei?” Ayn asked as he was dressing.

  “Yes, Ayn.”

  “Will there be, um… many people today?”


  “Oh, yes.”

  “How many?”

  “Quite a lot, my Ney.”

  “Well, how many? More than fifty?”

  “Yes, Ayn... I would say, hundreds will come.”

  “Hundreds?” Ayn poked his head out from the veils. “How can there be hundreds coming? Were they all invited?”

  Pei laughed and looked into the gold-framed mirror that hung near Ayn’s bed. With slight vanity, Pei checked to make sure that his hair was smooth and in its proper place.

  “Well,” said Pei as he finished fixing his long, braided hair, “there will be hundreds from the Kingdom who have desired for many years to witness your crowning. But if you mean only the guests who will be dining with us and those allowed to watch the ceremony-“

  “Yes! That is what I meant,” said Ayn as he came through the veils.

  Pei smiled and said, “Well, then perhaps fifty or so people - only our allies and their close relatives.”

  Pei found Ayn to be full of questions, even during his bath, which usually made him very quiet. From the time Ayn was a small child, Pei had been assigned the duty of washing him. It was usually a slave’s place to do so, but the secrecy involved with Ayn’s physical oddity made it necessary to break from tradition. However, Pei was never truly comfortable helping Ayn bathe - not so much because of his complex genitalia, but more due to Ayn’s reserved anxiety about the matter. This day, however, Ayn was much less reserved.

  “Will there be anyone from other planets arriving?” Ayn excitedly asked as Pei rinsed the soap from his hair.

  “Yes, I expect a few,” said Pei.

  “And will there be anyone of my age?” Ayn asked, even more excited.

  “I think so, my Bodanya,” Pei said with a smile. “Now rinse yourself, and I will see you downstairs in the great hallway.”

  Ayn suddenly felt frightened again. “Pei?” Ayn anxiously asked as his teacher was about to leave the bathing room.

  “Yes?” Pei replied. Ayn gulped and looked at his teacher, hoping he would understand without words. “Do not fear, Ayn. It is what I had said before… today will be a glorious day.”

  With those words, Pei left the room, leaving Ayn with nothing else to hold onto, except the mere hope that at least some of his dreams would never come true.

  Chapter 7: The Morning of the Coronation

  Meddhi-Lan was not a political man by nature. He was extremely well spoken, and could handle himself with great confidence, but he was not comfortable with the role of diplomat.

  Yet, here he was nonetheless, awaiting the arrival of two very important political leaders. The first, and more welcome, was King Atlar, elected ruler of the neighboring, allied planet, Kri. Thousands of years ago, it was populated by the same scholars and scientists that formed the kingdom of Deius, but it had since become its own vastly rich and prosperous planet. Through the last hundred or so years, Kri had been governed by a family of dignified kings who had tolerated and respected the religious doctrine of The Dei. Meddhi-Lan was hopeful that the current king, who had once been his closest friend, would appreciate and respect the importance of their Bodanya’s crowning.

  The second dignitary whom Meddhi-Lan was scheduled to welcome had a more questionable nature. His name was Lod Enra and was of an alien race from the planet Ohr, which circled near the outer rims of the Un-Ahm galaxy. He was officially an ally, but Meddhi-Lan had heard the Ohrian king was not very fluent in Uni, the native tongue of Deius and the language that most in The Un galaxy accepted as their universal speech.

  Having once been Deius' sworn enemy, the Ohrian government usually kept rather distant. With their unique language full of fluid sounds, as well as their advanced technology, beings from Ohr were a mystery to the priests of The Dei.

  Meddhi-Lan, however, had reasons beyond unfamiliarity to be skeptical and nervous. Lod Enra and his family were, until very recently, considered enemies of Deius, and their visit was cause for suspicion among many in The Dei. Meddhi-Lan, however, remained hopeful that The Bodanya's coronation would bring an end to past grievances and old conflicts.

  Forgetting the past would not be easy for many Deiusians. It had been roughly ten years prior when Ohr had attacked Deius during the infamous Xen War. During that time, it was King Atlar who had been able to force peace upon their three great kingdoms.

  Now, it was up to Meddhi-Lan to keep the peace and bring understanding between their different cultures. With the queen gone, and Ayn still too young to govern, Meddhi-Lan was completely in charge. The Dei had long been the true governing body of Deius, but Meddhi-Lan believed it was the high priest’s job to work with The Shiva, and to bridge the gap between royalty and priest, like balancing the body and spirit.

  As for Ohr, it was known to Meddhi-Lan that the Ohrians did not believe in a higher power, choosing to follow only science and mathematics. This made Meddhi-Lan a bit nervous, for he feared Ayn’s life may be endangered. He assumed it may be a very upsetting concept to any non-believer if The Dei’s prophecy had indeed been fulfilled.

  However, Meddhi-Lan felt sure that the Gods were watching over his beloved Ayn, and it was that very notion that drove him every day, every hour. He would even play the part of diplomat, just for the final moment when all people from every planet would see Ayn be crowned Bodanya and king.

  The giant silver doors of the Holy Temple opened slowly to the sounds of beckoning horns being played by the royal musicians of the palace. Meddhi-Lan stood and readied himself. Only he and two other priests were there to welcome their allies. To his right, stood his elder and former teacher, Amun-Lan. To his left, Pei hurried to find his place.

  Pei was nervous, yet confident Meddhi-Lan would handle the situation with grace and wisdom. He serenely smiled at his Lan who nodded in return. Meddhi-Lan could not show his Ney how deeply unsure he truthfully felt, especially with his previous teacher there beside him.

  The open doors revealed a tall man with thick curls of golden hair. He was standing, arms folded, between two well-dressed soldiers who wore the royal lion-shaped medallions of Kri on their armored chests. “Meddhi! How long has it been, my dear friend?” Atlar loudly exclaimed as he entered the hall and embraced Meddhi-Lan as if they were long-lost brothers.

  Meddhi-Lan did not quite expect such a bold entrance. He had once been close friends with the man who was firmly holding onto his arms, but he had not spoken with Atlar in many years. Meddhi-Lan felt glad, yet slightly uncomfortable.

  “It has been a very long time, Your Majesty,” Meddhi-Lan said with a slight smile. To that, Atlar heartily laughed, then patted Meddhi-Lan on his left shoulder.

  “A very long time indeed!” replied the Krian king. “But, please, Meddhi, call me by my name. We are old friends, and I am honored to be with you again on this triumphant occasion!” Meddhi-Lan half-bowed and smiled. Atlar bowed halfway in return and folded his arms with a twinkle in his eye.

  “Let me introduce to you my daughter, Ona,” Atlar joyfully exclaimed. He turned around, and from behind, a beautiful young woman with dark auburn hair appeared. She bowed and gestured a circle with her hands, which was an ancient Dei symbol for peace and unity. Meddhi-Lan returned the gesture and politely nodded his head. The king then continued; “Her mother, Queen Pira - Gods rest her soul - named her after your planet’s holy flower. Pira was, after all, originally the princess of this wondrous Kingdom of yours.”

  Meddhi-Lan smiled with a knowing nod.

  Pei, who had never seen a woman of his own age with such beauty, was unable to control the rush of fluid that formed inside of his mouth. He gulped and turned his face from her sight. Meddhi-Lan sensed his student’s urgency, but kept his mind on political matters, hoping Pei would try to do the same.

  “I am honored to bare witness to the crowning of the new Bodanya,” she said to all three priests. Her maturity and grace immediately struck them, as well as the depth of her voice: both strong and softly feminine. Pei could not help but stare at her. He had never seen such
smooth waves of dark hair, pale skin, rose colored lips, and piercingly green eyes. He was suddenly lost inside the beauty of the princess who stood before him.

  Meddhi-Lan cleared his throat and said with a smile, “Your Highness, we are the ones who are filled with honor and gratitude.” He turned to Pei, then to his former teacher. “This is the order’s elder, Amun-Lan… and this is my personal student and recent graduate, Pei-Lan.”

  “It is good to see you again, King Atlar. You are most welcome among us,” Amun-Lan replied.

  Pei finally snapped out of his trance as he nodded politely and bowed.

  Meddhi-Lan looked at King Atlar with a smirk, which made the king quietly laugh. Atlar then extended his hand for his daughter to take. “Come, my dear,” he said to her, still amused at Meddhi-Lan’s student, “we have much unpacking to do before the coronation, and I am sure it will take you at least a full season to choose what you will wear.” She took his hand and smiled.

  Pei could feel his heart race as he watched her. Raising the side of her pale blue dress, which hung low to the floor, Ona gave Pei a slight smile, then walked on with her father. He wondered if he had ever truly seen anything as lovely in his entire life.

  “Pei,” Meddhi-Lan said with a direct, commanding tone, “please escort King Atlar and Princess Ona to their guest quarters. Then, I would like it if you could meet me in the Coronation Room for a brief discussion.”

  Pei looked at Meddhi-Lan as if he’d been caught doing something inappropriate. Meddhi-Lan simply nodded politely at him. Pei then bowed and quickly withdrew his feelings from being seen or felt. He motioned for the king and his lovely daughter to follow him. They obliged along with their entourage of guards and servants following close behind.

  --

  In the kitchen, Ayn was sneaking around looking for more to eat. He did not feel that the amount offered to him for breakfast was nearly enough, and he wondered why Meddhi-Lan thought a small breakfast, consisting of only a handful of fruits and a slice of sweet bread, would be enough for the next Shiva Bodanya. Perhaps he thought of him still as a child? Ayn began to get a strong feeling of defiance and walked past various servants, smiling at them nonchalantly.