He shook his head, “sometimes it saves my life.”
Ajorel kept those penetrating eyes on him. He seemed to be a man in his mid to late forties, his face hard and drawn from what must have been days, weeks even, of enduring the perils of a prophet.
“In these times the light of El is drawing men to Him,” Ajorel was saying, “seeking hearts that are open to the light of Him while rejecting the darkness slowly filling Saharia. You have the light of a prophet upon you. If you choose, El will use you to bring the kingdom of El to Saharia. You Jahreed will play a great part in this.”
Jahreed’s gaze snapped upward and his frown returned, “the kingdom of El you say. But… Aldor is El’s kingdom.”
The man nodded, “El’s kingdom is where his people dwells, El’s kingdom is where he is honoured as king and his way is the only way. A new day is dawning in Saharia, will you stand on the side of El in that day?”
Jahreed nodded, “surely,” he said, “I will follow El always but… I do not understand what I can do. I am just a shepherd.”
“Who you are is of no consequence,” Ajorel said firmly, “what matters is who El has made you to be.”
“What must I do?” Jahreed asked, desperation in his voice. He had so longed to quell the yearning in his heart, to understand that part of him that had frustrated him for so long.
“Kneel.”
Jahreed dropped to his knee without hesitation and lowered his head. The man stepped toward him and withdrew a flask from his satchel.
“When the source of El came to Saharia, the heavens testified of his origin and he was drenched with waters from the sky. Likewise, I baptize you as a mark of your commitment to El and how he cleanses you to be a vessel of light. Receive now within your heart the power and wisdom of El’s light, cleansing you from the presence and power of the darkness.”
Jahreed felt a trickle of water fall over his head, rushing down his face in cool rivulets. He closed his eyes as the prophet continued to poor the water on his head, feeling it drench his sheep skin tunic. While the prophet spoke, his mind was racing with questions, the source of light was a person? The heavens were testifying? What did it all mean? But as the water touched him, his mind was instantly stilled and a peace rested upon him in a way that he had never experienced. A warmth washed over him, building almost to a burning heat, but never becoming unpleasant. He welcomed the pleasantness of the experience, even as his heart felt like it was simultaneously bursting with joy and breaking with sadness. Then it ebbed and the warmth flowed from him, so that all that was left was the chill of the water as the breeze blew through the woods. He blinked and opened his eyes.
“Arise son,” Ajorel said.
He stood up and found himself looking into the smiling eyes of the man. He saw a kindness within the depths of his wise dark-brown eyes as he reached out and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
“You have been born of the water and the light today, in the presence of the guardians of El. Go forth with the light. You will find your friend at Conar’s Inn.”
Jahreed blinked and reached up to wipe the wetness from his cheeks, wondering if the man knew that the water that had drenched his clothes was mixed with his tears.
“Can I not stay with you? Follow you? There is so much about what you said that raises questions in my mind.”
Ajorel smiled, “not right now. They will come for me soon and the followers of the way of El here in Stone Vale, will soon be pursued, just as it was in the days of Enol. You are needed elsewhere. When you return to the North, I urge you to seek out other followers of the new way. I will send word ahead.”
Jahreed nodded, “okay,” he replied, still too dumbfounded to voice his questions.
The man turned away from him with a good-natured smile, leaving Jahreed to wonder what he had just experienced. Whatever it was, it was not of this world but surely from the God of Aldor.
Jahreed found Feather at Conar’s Inn. She was not excited to see him. She descended the stairs and pulled him towards the back hissing at him for almost making a scene with the Innkeeper. This he had fully intended to do, had she not appeared.
“How did you find me?”
Jahreed glared at her, “so you really had no intention of returning home with your father. Or even telling him of your plans to stay?”
Feather lowered her gaze guiltily, “I… I couldn’t risk it.”
Jahreed frowned, “But why?”
He gathered it must have had something to do with why the Innkeeper was so secretive and protective of Feather. It was only when Jahreed started raising his voice, ranting about a father mourning in the streets because he came with a child and must now leave without her, did Feather come running down the stairs to shut him up.
“I have… chosen a different direction for my life Jahreed.”
“Your father does not know about you joining the Community, does he?”
Feather bit her bottom lip and shook her head, “he speaks openly against it. My neighbour joined the Community in the North and was preaching to my family about the new way and the source of light and the direction of Aldor. My father was offended by it, he said its blasphemy and unaldorian. It didn’t help that our neighbour’s son also married a Bosau refugee and shortly after joined the way. But then I met Merc when I came here with my father to sell and he invited me to a gathering. I admit I only went the first few times to see Merc, it took me a while to fully grasp the teachings but… slowly it was like something lit up in me and I had to have more of it… more of El.”
“So, you joined the new way, that is why Ajorel knew where you were.”
Feather perked up at the prophet’s name on Jahreed’s lips, “you saw him?”
Jahreed nodded, “we spoke about the new way, the source of light and the kingdom of El.”
She looked at him eagerly, “and?”
“And he poured water on my head.”
“And?” she was holding his gaze with joyful intrigue.
Jahreed extended his hands, “and I felt the light of El warm my heart and ignite a part of me I never knew existed.”
As much as he tried to appear nonchalant about it, he could feel his heart speed up with excitement over what he had recently experienced. It was hard to be disgruntled now, even more when Feather’s smile was wide and her eyes twinkled with joy. She reached out and embraced him, squeezing him tightly.
“You believe. Then you know I am not crazy for wanting to leave my old life behind.”
He reached a hand up to tap her mid back awkwardly, wanting to share this moment with her, but still so concerned about this very serious decision she had already made.
“There is still a lot I do not understand Feather.”
She took a step back and smiled, still holding his hand in hers, “then we will teach you. We are leaving Stone Vale tonight, going to a refugee town. The people tend to be less hostile to the new way there. You can come with us and we can learn about the source of light together.”
Jahreed withdrew his hand from her hold and shook his head, “no not together, never together. You have chosen Merc. I get that and I will respect it.”
Feather frowned, “I don’t understand. You are my very best friend.”
Jahreed nodded, “and you were supposed to be my wife one day.”
Feather looked confused, “you never indicated.”
Jahreed lifted a hand, seeing that his words were stirring up outrage in her.
“I respect that Feather, and I understand that I never gave you any reason to believe that I would be interested in you like that. That was my fault. But even if I wanted to stay with your group, I can’t. Ajorel has already directed me to return home. Besides, someone has to tell your father that you are okay.”
Feather nodded, the sadness in her eyes touched his recently warmed heart. He reached out and touched her cheek, reassuringly.
“I will ensure that he is okay.”
Feather nodded, “thank you,” she sighed,
taking a seat on the rickety steps of the back entrance of the inn.
“I would have rather liked for you to be there for me… at my wedding.”
Jahreed froze. It was all happening so quickly. But he should have expected it. New way or not, the community would not allow her to travel so freely with a man who was not her husband.
“When?” he asked.
“As soon as we arrive in Paisden.”
He nodded, “I am sorry I will not be there to witness such a precious moment in your life Feather. Any of us for that matter.”
She nodded and a tear tumbled from her eye, she quickly wiped it away with her hand.
“I guess this is where we part ways.”
Jahreed nodded, “for now,” he whispered as he joined her on the step, there was just enough room for the two of them.
“For what it’s worth… I rather like that Tawnee girl for you.”
Jahreed chuckled, “first you break my heart and now you desire a life of torture for me.”
Feather laughed, “Oh stop. You know she is lovely. Beyond that pious frown and straight-backed walk, might just be the woman you need.”
Jahreed considered it for a moment, then shook his head. He doubted he would ever see Tawnee again and even more so now that he had committed to the new way. She had clearly expressed last night how she felt about that.
“Well one day I will tell you all about it,” he said.
Feather nodded, “Yes please. Put it in a song.”
Jahreed nodded.
“I should go, we have to leave as soon as possible.”
“Why the rush? Ajorel seemed preoccupied as well.”
Feather sighed, “someone informed the king about what we were doing and…about Ajorel. He anticipates that it won’t be long before they capture him.”
Jahreed frowned he wondered if Tawnee had used her influence to do this. He sighed and reached for Feather’s hand, “Go with El my friend. I pray his hand of protection over you and your future husband.”
Feather smiled, “give my love to the North. Until we meet again.”
✽✽✽
“Oh no, no, no. You cannot be here.”
The high priest entered his private chambers with a lamp held out before him. The harvest offerings were due and soon Aldorians would start bringing the offerings of their lands and livestock for him to burn on the altar of sacrifice. Once those were done, he would be required to enter the high place of the temple, a place that they knew to possess a semblance of the presence of El. It was only a pin prick of El’s presence but yet it had the power to render a man lifeless should he enter unworthily. Given the presence of the creature in his chambers, the high priest knew without a doubt that he would not survive in El’s presence. But sure it must be a mercy compared what Haddin and his minion had in mind.
Sitting at his desk, with grotesque fingers steepled beneath his chin was the monstrosity that was Haddin’s henchman; the dark rider they called him.
“Did anyone see you?” he asked frantically.
The semblance of a man shrugged, even in the dimly lit room he was hard to look upon.
“Does it matter if anyone saw me? In a matter of weeks, I anticipate that this place will be nothing but a pile of rubble.”
“Rubble? No one said anything about destroying Stone Vale, even Haddin knows what a strategic acquisition this city is. I thought… I thought…” he sputtered his eyes darting about their sockets wildly.
The Dark Rider smirked, clearly amused by his dilemma, “you can say it you know, say it oh great high priest.”
As he spoke, he arose from the chair, narrowing those dark soulless eyes at the shaking man. “You though that we were only going to dethrone your precious king, well clearly he’s not so precious to you.”
The priest glared at him, “you monster!”
The Dark Rider laughed, “You will get that and more, you will see your precious Stone Vale in ruins and you will know it was at your hands. Now do you have something for me? Because I sure have something for you.”
He lifted a satchel and swung it temptingly before the priest.
“Fair exchange, right?”
The priest licked his lips almost involuntarily, “yes,” he said breathlessly, hating his own weakness.
He turned towards his bookshelf and removed a scroll, handing it to the intruder with trembling hands.
“This should take you to her.”
“Should?”
“I mean… I am certain. Only a few were entrusted with the knowledge of Luska’s banishment. Only two who are in Stone Vale, myself and the king. It was the one time we worked with Dravia to rid Saharia of a common enemy. But… you know that this is not enough, I may have the map but Kalgary has the key.”
The cruel looking man stepped toward the priest and snatched the scroll from him. He then grabbed his limp hand and into his sweaty palm, he shoved the satchel, closing his fingers over it. His cruel accusing gaze never leaving the older man’s face.
“Don’t you worry about Kalgary’s key.”
The high priest lowered his eyes in shame, knowing the yearning that was reflected there, his heart broke even as his fingers trembled with anticipation over the contents of the bag, now held firmly in his hand. He despised his ungodly addiction, but he had stopped fighting it years ago. Dravia was forever in him and finally his failure had come knocking at his door and would mark the end of the kingdom he served.
“I assume this is the last I will see of you until then,” he said, “I already kept up my end of the bargain, I got you past Aldor’s defenses and I got you what you wanted.”
The Dark Rider nodded and for a moment, he thought he saw a hint of the man he once was. He remembered seeing him around with the Royal guard; a once proud and arrogant boy, who’s good looks might have made him a favourite among the village girls. Now he was nothing but a feared fiend, cursed to roam the lands doing the dark prince’s bidding, a sight no one dared to look upon. The priest’s shame intensified. They were not too different from each other, both had brought shame to the blood flowing through their veins, the only difference was that the man once known as Serin, wore his iniquities on the outside, while the priest was cursed to walk among friends pretending to be of them.
“If I need you, I know where to find you. Lift an offering for me,” Serin whispered as he eased past the old man.
Chapter 17
With the return of the Questers, there was a sense of urgent bustling inserted into everyday life at the palace. For the first time Topaz felt like she was the only one standing still while everything and everyone rushed by her. At some other time perhaps, she would have taken great joy in the state of things. It was a time when she knew her presence could easily go unnoticed, but she dared not sneak out to the city, least she missed something; least someone finally decide to share with her what was really going on.
She knew that something terrible had happened with Deswald, from what Ruby managed to share in her despair. But she knew that it could not be sufficient to have her father, brother and Royal guard so preoccupied. It irked her that in the midst of this however, she was still expected to resume her duties and training. The council had taken an unusual interest in her life all of a sudden and it was beginning to take a toll on her; she was actually starting to miss living in Ruby’s shadow. It had never occurred to her how much Ruby had been dealing with as the older more popular sister, until Ruby was banned from all official royal duties and she was selected to stand in her stead. This was weighing heavily on her and now she wished she had not left things the way she had with Jahreed. Of course, she had gone back to their spot hoping to find him practicing and had walked through the stalls hoping to see him among them. But to her dismay he was nowhere to be found. She knew that this meant that he had returned home without saying goodbye. She could not blame him however, not after the way she had treated him. But in that moment in the woods, her duty to her king and father far outweighed whatever loya
lty she was developing towards their natural friendship.
She sighed as she continued along the corridor, she hoped that she had done the right thing in telling her father about what she had witnessed in the woods. He was so bothered by the news she had brought, that he did not even scold her for sneaking off with strangers. Instead, he had called up the general and had started barking orders to send out a team to find this Ajorel.
“Do not think that this in any way excuses your actions Topaz,” he had said firmly, “but I am glad to have finally gotten a name for this man. We have been trying to locate him for a while now, but the people have been very protective of his identity.”
“I am sorry father. But… what will you do when you find him?”
Her father had looked at her with those thunderous eyes, she knew that what she had told him about Ajorel and his teachings had stirred up great distress in his heart, but she was not sure why. They had had all sorts of dissenters and false prophets over the years claiming to be servants of El, bringing gloomy predictions about Aldor’s future. But her father seemed particularly perturbed by this particular man. Thinking back now on what she had witnessed in the woods, Topaz concluded that maybe her father was right to be concerned. This man, Ajorel, was not only capturing the people’s hearts with his teaching but, he seemed to somehow command some kind of magic, capable of healing. She had not told him that part, for fear that he might think she was embellishing what she had witnessed. But once she had told him about his teaching that the source of light had already come and that El was doing a new thing by dwelling in the hearts of men rather than in temples made by kings, her father did not have ears for anything else.
She sighed as she opened the room to her bed chamber, she hoped that she had done the right thing. Based on everything she stood for, she knew she had. But there was a part of her that felt troubled over the sequence of events that she knew her actions would trigger.
✽✽✽
Kingdom's Darkness (Gemstone Royals Book 2) Page 14