Jana moved to intercept a witless men, who was charging toward Grandfather Lute. The hamstrung slaved man lunged from the ground and grabbed her leg pulling her down. He crawled up her body and locked his hands around her throat.
Three slaved men rushed Grandfather Lute. He blocked, turned, blocked again, and stabbed. One man fell.
Bell moved forward to help and saw a blood rider running up behind Big Red. “Behind you, Big Red!” she shouted, too late.
Big Red turned to her defense, the blood rider crashed his staff down on her neck and shoulder. She fell to the ground. The blood rider pulled a glob from his pocket. The wounded blood rider retrieved his glob. The globs flared bright. The pair advanced.
Grandfather Lute was holding off two attacking enslaved men, and Bell moved in to help him. He shouted at her, “The blood riders are going for the Altar Stone.” He hacked down his opponent and turned to engage the nearest blood rider, who jabbed his staff into Grandfather Lute’s chest and sent him crashing to the ground.
Bell stood alone before the Altar Stone. Her connection to the One Wave allowed her to know the blood rider’s next move. She stepped forward and turned slightly. The blood rider found empty space instead of Bell. She snatched the glob from his hand, slipped the gem into her pocket, and tangled his feet with her short staff. He fell forward, his head crunched into the base of the Altar Stone.
The second blood rider had gone around. His outstretched hand held the glob toward the Altar Stone. He would get there before Bell. Scary, who had followed behind the action, seeing his Bright One in danger sprinted past Bell and dove at the blood rider. He struck hard and the glob was launched straight up in the air, directly over the Altar Stone. Tangled together, Scary and the blood rider tumbled away.
The image of her family and friends killed by the exploding glob filled Bell with the burning the need to protect them. The One Wave shimmered and propelled her to the Altar Stone. Her feet touched the top of the Altar Stone, and she grabbed the falling glob before the gem landed on the stone top.
The glob concussed. Bell’s whole being was enveloped in dark red light, tainted light. Grinning with delight, Noster appeared before her with Bast at his side. Bell was being sucked in, devoured. She fought; the Grotto Altar Stone filled her with power. Bell infused the tainted red light with her own white inner light until she glowed with a brilliant amber aura. She wrested the power of the glob away from Noster. “You will not have the Grotto Altar Stone,” Bell said with warlike defiance. Noster screamed with rage and leapt to the Altar Stone and grabbed Bell by the throat. The second glob in Bell’s pocket exploded. “By the One Wave,” Bell commanded and, propelled by the explosion, the power of the Altar Stone surged through Bell, the wave of amber brilliance blasted Noster away from Bell to the stone floor of the Butte chamber. He lay motionless. The countless blood riders their connection to Noster violently severed began falling to the floor dead. Bast lay unconscious by the Altar Stone.
Bell shimmered in glorious union with the One Wave. She knew all, could see all. She stood on the Altar Stone. Her image, glowing in amber light, flicked across the City Bay Region and, like the opening of a fan, she appeared to many people. The vibration around her formed into a melody heard by those who saw her. She spoke to some, or so they believed. She transmitted the feeling of peace to most who saw her. Bell smiled and disappeared.
Twenty-Two
Tanan Shrine
Olive shielded her eyes against the amber flare that cast Noster back. The glowing young woman standing on the Altar Stone looked at Olive; a sweet melody filled the Tanan Shrine. “Mother Yil,” the glowing woman said, smiled and disappeared. Olive stared in wonder.
“The Red Priestess,” Rose declared, “that was the Red Priestess right out of the reading deck. She was glowing.”
“Was that Noster?” Clay asked just to make sure.
“Noster, indeed,” confirmed Master Akien, “and I believe we were seeing the Altar Stone at the Butte.”
“Who was the beautiful amber girl?” Clay asked. “Is Noster dead? And who is Mother Yil?”
“You heard her say Mother Yil? I thought she was only talking to me,” Olive said.
“I heard also,” Rose said, irritated. “There is Goddess Yil in the Tanan rhymes; I guess she could be Mother Yil.”
“That is no help, Rose” Olive chided. “I got the feeling that Mother Yil is a person not a legend.”
“I agree,” Clay said.
Master Akien smiled at their exchange and said, “Mother Yil is a Wizen living somewhere on Solitary Mountain. She is getting on in years but still lives alone. She is the only master I have been able to confirm has survived the Dead Wind. None of the others can be found.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Something must have happened to them during the Dead Wind. Mother Yil believes they were cast into another vibration an alternate Bay Region.”
“But why would the Red Priestess say her name to us?”
“I do not know,” Master Akien said, “but I would advise you to concentrate on Scout School. We do not know if Noster is dead or even injured. Your training is paramount.”
“Yes, Master Akien, we understand,” Olive said, and then she asked, “Did anyone else hear the music?”
They continued to revel in the appearance of the Red Priestess.
The City
Bartok was startled awake. Had he heard an explosion? Floating above the bed in the air was a young woman, radiating amber light, and music filled the room. She smiled down on him, a stern smile he thought, one a mother would give a wayward child. She spoke, “Who’s the Trickster?” Bartok gasped but then screamed at the fading image, “I am! I am the Trickster!”
Nance burst into the bedroom, “Did you see her, sir? Did you see the Red Priestess?”
“Red Priestess?” Bartok struggled to sit up. “I saw a glowing woman.”
“From the reading deck, look.” Nance held a card in front of Bartok’s blood shot eyes.
“Looks just like the girl I saw,” Bartok confirmed. “Did she speak to you, Nance? What did she say?”
“I saw her lips move, but I heard only music.”
“Nothing about the Trickster?”
“No, only a melody. Are you all right, sir? Maybe you better lie back down,”
“Yes, yes, I think you are right.” Bartok put his head on the pillow and Nance left the room.
On the patio of the Glassworks, as Michael poured tea into the three cups, he looked up at the bright flash of amber light. Music filled him. Cara gasped at the glowing young women in the air before them. “The Red Priestess,” she exclaimed. Ronzal stood from the chair his mouth agape. The image looked down on them and spoke.
Michael heard, “Tok the singer, Tok the healer.”
Cara heard, “Continue.”
Ronzal heard, “Hide from the storm.”
The Red Priestess smiled on them and disappeared.
They looked at one another with wonder. Cara said, “I spent a year in Bottom studying the building and art of the area. That was the Red Priestess from the reading deck.”
“What did she mean when she said ‘Hide from the storm’? Ronzal asked a puzzled look on his face.
“She said, ‘Continue’ to me,” Cara said.
“I heard ‘Tok the singer, Tok the healer,’ Michael said. “Obviously we each received our own message. But what do they mean?”
“Maybe yours has to do with healing melodies,” Cara said to Michael. “You are a musician, Tok the singer, and you are interested in healing melodies, Tok the healer.”
“Yes,” Michael agreed, “I think you may have something there. I think your message is to keep doing what you are doing. Your art is a treasure to us all.” Cara nodded, and they both looked at Ronzal.
“Hide from the storm,” Ronzal quoted, “No doubt a warning, but what storm?”
“I suppose you will be able to recognize a storm when one occurs,” Cara offered with a smile.
The
Oak Vine Inn
The image shimmered into clarity. An enraged old man grabbed the throat of a young woman and squeezed. An incredible burst of amber light blasted the old man back. “Maggie!” Cobb called, “Do you see?”
“I see, Cobb. I’m right here.” Maggie said gazing at the beautiful glowing figure.
“Continue,” the young woman spoke, smiled and disappeared and the music faded.
“Continue?” Cobb mused.
“Yes, my dear husband, with joy, we continue.” Maggie said bumping Cobb with her hip. “You know, that young woman looked like the Miller girl, Bell; grown up since we last saw her.”
“Well I don’t know. Could be. She gives me courage, whoever she is. I do believe that was Noster coming after her. I hope she killed him dead.”
Bottom
Boh placed the Red Priestess across the Goddess Yil card and in a blaze of golden white light; the Red Priestess stepped out of the card and loomed above the table. Boh stood and stepped back as the radiant amber light filled the reading room. The young woman, the Red Priestess, smiled and said, “Look to Yil to shed some light; she knows how to set it right,” and the vision was gone.
Boh sat in the chair again, stunned. Look to Yil? She sat forward and looked again at the reading cards. She had just placed the fifth card of the six-card Cup of Blood spread. The fifth card was in the obstacle position. The card was the Red Priestess, which usually meant help, protection from a strong person, most often a woman. Sometimes the card meant a spiritual experience or even a brief, fiery love affair.
The Red Priestess is a strong card, Boh reflected; especially when the image comes to life and quotes a Tanan rhyme. “Look to Yil”? Yil was the first card she had placed, in the position that represents the energy of the one being read. Yil, the earth goddess, is one of the more powerful cards in the order. Boh had been pleased when Yil appeared to represent her.
Above the two center cards was the past position, which held the Vulture, old evil, to be sure. To the right sat Anaso the Trickster in the present position. Below, in the future, was placed the Burning House. Bad omens all. Together Yil and the Red Priestess were strong enough to stand against such ill forces, but there was still one card to play, the outcome card. She pulled the top card from the deck in front of her and placed the card left of center: the Hermit Tok.
“The Hermit Tok?” she asked aloud, “Now what, by the Blood, does that mean?”
Sometimes the Hermit was a funny old man, playing practical jokes; sometimes a wise teacher. The card was as strong as Yil, stronger than the Red Priestess. Boh felt she could hope for a good outcome, but you could never tell when the Hermit Tok was involved. One thing was for sure: there would be trouble along the way.
Boh picked up the Red Priestess card. “Look to Yil,” she had said. Boh just hoped that Yil would bring a lot of help.
The Butte
“The Red Priestess,” Iris cried, tears flowing down her cheeks. The image flickered and was gone. Iris could now hold hope for herself and her fellow prisoners.
At the Butte Altar Stone, Bast struggled to his feet. All around the chamber Noster’s blood riders lay dead, and Noster was sprawled on his back. Bast crouched and studied Noster. He looked old and frail. Suddenly Noster’s hand shot up and grabbed Bast’s shirt. “Bring me food,” he said in a croaking voice. “Bring me life force to eat now, or I will devour you.”
Bast pushed himself away and ordered the guard to bring prisoners for Noster to feed on. The situation was a disaster, Noster depleted and his blood riders dead. The shipment of tea to the City would have to be delayed until Bast was confident Noster was recovering. Curse the Red Priestess. Now all of their plans were in jeopardy.
Woodside Mill
Bell leapt to the Grotto Altar Stone and snatched the glob out of the air. The glob concussed. Suddenly, Noster was at Bell’s throat, strangling her life energy from her. Then a radiant blast of amber light hurled Noster away from Bell. All of the enslaved men and the two blood riders were struck dead. Bell shimmered in her amber splendor, speaking, smiling, and then disappearing.
Jana, Big Red, Bill and Slim heard Bell say, “Bottom to the Butte.”
The twins heard, “Scout School.”
Grandfather Lute, Mark and Matt, Harp and Shell all heard, “Continue.”
Big Red checked the bodies of the blood riders. “Both dead,” she confirmed. “So are all the enslaved men,” Slim reported.
Jana picked up a glob the blood rider had dropped. “No inner light.” She took the glob Olive had found from her pocket and looked. “I think the globs are dead also.”
But there was one blood rider left. Scary had crept into the shelter of the trees. He had heard his Bright One command him to go to Bottom and the Butte. He would stay hidden and listen to their plans.
“Grandfather Lute,” Book asked. “Did you hear Bell tell us to go to Scout School? How can we go to Scout School? We are not old enough.”
Page said, “We almost are.”
Jana said, “As First Scout I will grant you admission to Scout School. We will return to the City before we head for Bottom. You can come with us if Grandfather Lute agrees.”
“Yes, of course, we must follow Bell’s wishes,” Grandfather Lute said. He moved to the Altar Stone and placed his hands on the top, tears falling from his eyes. “Bell is gone. How can I ‘continue’ with Bell gone?”
Twenty-Three
The Alternate Grotto
Abruptly, Bell found herself back on the Altar Stone. It took her a moment to realize that she had come to rest. Slightly dazed, she cautiously climbed off the stone. Oddly, no one was about.
Slowly she took in the Grotto. The place looked the same; the vibrancy of the One Wave was as strong and peaceful as ever. But where was everyone? Why hadn’t they waited for her? Bell hoped they were all right.
The thought struck her that all she had to do was walk down the mountain trail to Woodside Mill and she would find everyone there. She headed for the trail between the big standing rocks at the outer edge of the Grotto. She stepped beyond the stones and found a shimmering wall of vibration that prevented her from moving forward. It even caused her to bounce back a step. She put her hand out and touched this glass-like wall, and her hand was stopped. She tried to push her hand through. The wall gave a little, but her hand couldn't penetrate the vibration. She pushed again, harder, with both hands. Still, the wall stopped her.
Feeling panicked, Bell filled herself with the One Wave and pushed against the wall with all the power she could muster. The wall gave and she popped through, only to find herself, not on the trail, but standing next to the Grotto Altar Stone. She ran back between the entry stones and pushed through the wall again. She found herself back at the Altar Stone.
Bell shuddered; she was trapped. Fighting down fear and panic, she tried pushing through various spots around the perimeter of the Grotto, always with the same result. Wherever she pushed through using the force of the One Wave, she would be brought right back to the Altar Stone. She fell to her knees and laid her head against the Altar Stone, sobbing with loneliness and terror. The reality that she was trapped started to sink in. She shook with fear. She was alone and confused. Would she ever see her friends and family again?
About the Author
Dennis Monaghan was born and reared in San Francisco, California. The San Francisco Public Library (SFLP) awarded him a first place ribbon for a drawing at the age of eight. While Dennis was in the fifth grade he won another ribbon from the SFPL for one of his short stories. Dennis loves the San Francisco Public Library. Although Dennis has devoted his life to art, writing and music he has won no other awards. He is a veteran of the Viet Nam war and has studied and participated in various forms of martial arts including boxing and stick fighting. Dennis plays golf and the ukulele, not often at the same time. He lives in Sonoma County with his wonderful wife, Andrea.
Website
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Excerpt from
The Way of the Tanan
Book Two
The Red Priestess
One
Alternate Grotto
Bell woke to the smell of warm porridge. She leaped up from the moss-covered ground beside the Altar Stone and ran through the portal of the stone hut. Her hopes sank when she saw Grandfather Lute was not in the room. No one was. A pot of cereal cooked on the hearth, and on the table was a pitcher of fresh milk and a place setting for one.
Bell remembered the explosion on the Altar Stone and her battle with Noster. Was he dead? The blood riders were, she was sure. She had felt them die when they lost their connection to Noster. She remembered appearing to many people around the Bay Region; some called her the Red Priestess. Somehow when the energy dissipated, she had found herself in this Grotto. The Altar Stone here vibrated with the same peaceful energy, but Bell was trapped. She was unable to escape the shimmering wall around the Grotto.
Bell let herself flow into the One Wave and the energy of the Grotto. She struggled against her fear. She knew this was the Grotto, but in the past she could leave the Grotto at will. Now she was trapped here. And she was alone.
Bell was perplexed. The table and two chairs in this room were the same as those in the Woodside Mill Grotto; the sleeping area had the same rugs, pillows, and thick woven grass sleeping mats. The shelves contained the usual array of bottles and jars, but were they the same? Were they in the same place? She couldn't be sure. Bell went back through the portal into a strong morning light. Shrouds of fog draped the trees. Were the trees bigger, smaller? She sat down on the moss next to the pool. Droplets of water glowed in the morning sun as they streamed across the sheer rock face and splashed into the water like giggling children. The Grotto radiated with the beauty of the One Wave, and Bell allowed herself take rest in its perfection. How could anything be wrong here?
The Dead Wind Page 24