Mirrortac nodded wisely. ‘Merma-mead,’ he resolved. ‘You have drunk the juice of a berry that gives you strength, among other things.’ He glanced out the door, calling to one of the servants who was passing. ‘Is there somewhere we can go where we will not be disturbed?’
The servant, a female, surveyed the two with accurate assessment. Smiling politely, she motioned for them to follow. ‘I know of just the place for you,’ she said confidently. ‘I am sure the princess will not mind the princeling from using her ... er ... special chamber.’
Mirrortac and Yenic followed the servant down the hallway and into the Sacred Chamber. A gleam of sunshine created pearls of light along the flowers of the vine hanging down from the triangle in the roof of the chamber, enhancing the air of romance rekindled between the two. The servant climbed the steps to the three thrones and crouched down. She knocked on the wood of the stage and waited. Sounds of activity could be heard from under the floor and soon a part of the stage lifted up, revealing a hollow space out of which emerged another she-faug.
‘This is Princess Emeritta’s personal servant, Misha,’ she said. ‘She will guide you below to the chamber and leave you to be within the great Spirit here.’
Mirrortac greeted the servant then followed her down into the pit. Yenic clung to him all the while, giggling. A ladder descended to a series of inner chambers, hidden from the light and the halls above. Tree-wax lanterns lit the hallway and the chambers that opened out from it. The sweet scent of Yu resin filled the air and all the walls bore the carved relief of the sacred design of Yu. Misha guided them to another pit where a stairway descended into a single bedchamber. There Yenic and Mirrortac were shut in and left alone with each other.
The perfume of Merma petals and of many flowers of the forest sifted up from the potpourri that lay in a thick bed upon the Yu-wood floor. The dim light of the lanterns shone on the carved reliefs of faugs cut into the wall. Yenic took the erfin’s hand and led him the final few steps into the bed of soft petals. She regarded him closely. ‘It feels so right that we are here now. Come.’
They sunk down together and were joined many times in the silent sanctuary of the chamber. The carved figures of faugs seemed to dance as though rejoicing. Yenic drew her fingers up Mirrortac’s furry chest and sighed. They slept together then in each other’s embrace. The games drew to an end above and Luma sought its extinguishment once more beyond the edge of the world. The two were together for all the night and until the morning when Misha came and opened the latch to the chamber.
‘Beg you my interruption, Princeling,’ Misha called. ‘You may both break your joining fast now. The fruit room is prepared.’
Yenic stretched with satisfaction. ‘Mirrortac of mine. Come, let us eat,’ she said, stroking his head.
Mirrortac yawned and gazed sleepily at his wife. ‘With such beauty do the flowers on the trees take their instructions.’
Yenic sighed happily and helped Mirrortac to his feet. Misha escorted them to a chamber that opened out near the stairway to the Sacred Chamber. Prince Chen greeted them warmly from the head of the table where he was seated.
‘I am pleased to see you and your she-erfin together,’ he said, addressing Mirrortac. ‘This is a sacred joining. Princeling erfin, you have given your children voices to praise the sky! May you eat hearty now and enjoy our company.’
Chen smiled with a paternal love. Mirrortac felt now the sense of kinship between them and was pleased more than he had been for a long time. Yenic nuzzled him and sighed softly. ‘We had grown so used to each other, and when Fentil and Wynper came, we had lost the closeness. Now, I can nought describe what this place of the birds has done to us. We are renewed!’
She cast her eyes upon the place of her womb and placed her hand over it. In the eyes of the erfin, she was more beautiful now than the sweet perfume of all the Merma flowers in the forest or the melody of the pink bird that had so touched his heart.
‘Yenic, greatest flower of the Faug Forest,’ he pronounced. ‘I too had forgotten your loveliness. You fill this erfin with greater joy than even the bird that danced with a shining rainbow on its tail. I shall be with you always,’ Mirrortac’s voice wavered with the emotion he knew only in younger days.
‘You speak of the Cooit, erfin-friend,’ the prince ventured. ‘It is favour indeed that brought you the sight of this bird. All who see it are twice blessed with the kind love of our Yu.’
Mirrortac smiled, completely at ease, his eyes shining green and bright ‘This seems so,’ he said.
They were soon joined by Witherelle and Princess Emeritta who feasted with them on the fruits of the forest. ‘The princess has shown me the wonders of Greenfaug Halls,’ Witherelle beamed. ‘She speaks the erfin tongue well.’
Emeritta acknowledged the compliment with a nod. ‘Mateote has blessed you with good counsel, sacred one.’
After their meal, they all ascended to the halls above. Gorgret had prepared more games but this time the erfin was happy to tolerate the faugs’ amusements as he sat alongside his she-erfin. The game with the archers was played and when the two winners were decided, they both glided out into the sky; each armed with arrows and a bow. At Gorgret’s command, they nocked their bows with an arrow each and aimed to one side of the other. The object of this game was for each of them to catch the arrows shot from the bow of the challenger then continue shooting and catching arrows as fast as they could make it. The victor returned with nine arrows while his challenger had caught two less.
Many more games were played before the day was out, and as each day dawned, more games were prepared. Mirrortac stayed close to Yenic, sharing intimate moments between the games and feasts. Life had indeed brought much pleasures in this sacred tree-top community.
*****
The moon had waxed three times since the joining of Yenic and Mirrortac and many had been the games that were played. Witherelle had returned to the Cavern of the Silver Springs to assure the others that it was safe to come to Greenfaug. The erfin seed now clearly marked its place in Yenic’s womb but Mirrortac was growing impatient and restless with the games, spending much time carving vainly at Yu-wood, in imitation of the work done at the hands of the daughters of Greenfaug. Nobody knew of a Well of Lost Memories.
Before the waxing of the sixth moon, all the erfins had been taken to Greenfaug where space had been made to house them. Fillytac’s grim face soon showed itself to Mirrortac as he was plied with questions about “This den of demons” whose incessant grunting he could never understand, therefore deeming them as inferior to erfins. Fillytac was especially suspicious of the obvious intoxicating effects of the merma-mead upon those who partook of it, refusing to have anything to do with it. When he heard Mirrortac communicate in the same grunting tongue, he was convinced that something had bewitched him, as none of the other erfins were able to negotiate the difficult speech patterns of gutteral sounds.
Upon the death of the eighth moon, Yenic gave birth. Mirrortac’s joy was renewed as he looked upon his three children - two males and one female. They were named Mitac, Ezof and the female was named Treetam.
Mirrortac gazed into his she-erfin’s eyes and she smiled. ‘Three times blessed are we, Mirrortac,’ she said. ‘My purpose is complete. Now you must continue with your mission.’ Yenic lifted her hand to his face and touched his cheek. ‘Mirrortac of mine, I am happy in our sharing but the time of our parting is near.’ She let her arm fall to her side as her eyes scanned the erfin’s face as though desperate to memorise every detail of his features.
The furrows of the erfin’s brow knitted with concern and bemusement. ‘Why must we part rainbow of my heart? Are you called away?’ He searched her face for a reply.
‘Nay, Mirrortac Princeling. Do not trouble your heart. Remember that love and praise are never destroyed, only changed.’
Yenic was hesitant with her breathing. Her face paled and she struggled to keep her eyes open. Mirrortac was wrenched with an aching that gripped him in
his chest, and his eyes were wet with tears.
‘What final cruelty is this?’ he cried, slumping his head into her lap.
‘Mirrortac my beloved. Shed no more tears. Fentil and Wynper must nought see me like this. I know they will be given the love they need here. Yu is a kinder spirit then is our Mateote.’ Yenic released her breath, shutting her eyes in the final stillness of death.
Chapter 5 – The Restless Erfin
‘From womb to womb
Yenic, Child of Eol
daughter of Mateote
lie down now
beside Yu
and be with us always
in the sacred places
of our hearts.’
Thus spoke Prince Chen as he placed the body of Yenic within a deep recess reserved for the dead down in the bowels of the Sacred Tree of Yu. Mirrortac and his children, Princess Emeritta, Fillytac, Witherelle and Misha were with him, standing within a passageway below the royal chambers and the Sacred Chamber. There were many sealed burial chambers along the winding passageway, each bearing the carved likenesses of many princes and princesses who had gone before. Already, an open chamber was prepared for the prince. The body of Yenic was wrapped in a binding of Yu-bark and covered over with Merma and Yu flower petals. Prince Chen placed the carved Yu-wood seal over the opening and the likeness of a she-erfin stared out at them with a gentle and loving expression.
‘With this seal, I yield to Yu that which was our beloved Yenic, joined-one of princeling Mirrortac. Accept her within your womb great spirit and may she remain forever bound in your praise and love.’ Prince Chen bent towards the carved seal and licked the face of her likeness. He turned and nodded to Mirrortac who understood and followed his example. Witherelle brushed the seal with nif-grass as he chanted silently. Misha allowed the children freedom to crawl about while she paid the same respect. The three child erfin-faugs seemed disoriented without her nearby and, seeing her lick the seal, crawled to the tomb and all three emulated the licking of the wood carving. Wynper and Fentil followed, their eyes streaming with tears.
The prince smiled. ‘It is as I hoped. Our Spirit is already within these children. Hail to Yu!’ he shouted and Misha echoed his cry.
Mirrortac cast bitter eyes upon the faugs and his voice trembled with the ache that still pulsed within him.
‘Does death bring no sorrow here! In Eol we shed tears for those whose love has taken our hearts for they will not know us in the next life and we will not know them. It is only through the moon of our births that we know what life we have.’ Mirrortac bowed his head, his voice low. ‘I was born on a late moon. This life shall be my last here. I will never know such love again as that of my Yenic. She is gone to me and all is bitter to my taste. You are less than the faugs who live in the forest below. They at least shed tears for their dead brothers!’
The prince frowned with momentary anger then his expression softened in sympathy.
‘All this time here, Mirrortac, and you still think as an erfin. It is impressed upon me that erfins do not praise Mateote; they praise themselves, for they do not wish to yield their dead fellows to the spirit. I am sure you are mistaken about never being together again. In the rites of our Spirit all that Yu has created shall return to Yu. Surely it is the same with Mateote. I was offended at your loose words of me but thought reveals your lack of understanding. We shall all shed tears for brothers and sisters lost to the darkness of the Snerk for they may never return to Yu who loves us. You are bitter because you see through erfin’s eyes. You have faug eyes too ... use them and throw away this useless bitterness!’
Mirrortac found little comfort in these words. His mind told him ‘These words are sense’ but his heart still ruled and cried out ‘Cruel faugs! Take no heed of him. He is wrong!’
‘I tire of your world of games and the Spirit of Yu who takes when she has no right to take. Why at birth-giving, must a mother die? What joys have these child-fins lost? Why did my Yenic have to die?’ Mirrortac pleaded, tears soaking the new grey fur beneath his eyes.
Prince Chen was out of patience and grunted with annoyance. ‘Stubborn erfin! I will not debate with you any longer in this sacred place. Seek your answers elsewhere. I am taking leave!’
The prince stormed back up along the passage towards the stairway that led to the royal chambers above. Misha, who until now had stood by in silence, spoke to the erfin. The gentle tones of her voice reflected the patience and love that was the way of Yenic.
‘Chen will forget his pains towards you, Mirrortac. Do not be bitter. Let me explain a little then I will guide you to a quiet place where our Spirit can speak her wisdom to you. Listen now and let your heart be silent awhile.’
The erfin nodded for her to continue.
‘When faugs are joined they are all joined with the love of Yu. If this love is not present, there shall be no seed. If this love IS present, there is seed. The measure of Yu’s love is through the number of her seed. If there is one, then the love is the measure of one and the two may be joined again. If there be two, then the love is the measure of two and they may be joined again. If there be three then this is the greatest measure of Yu’s love and the mother has completed her purpose. Whatever the measure, when the third child-faug sees the world out of its mother’s womb then she is given back to Yu in death.’
‘So you see, Mirrortac, Yu has indeed approved of this love with your she-erfin. The love of your joining was greatest in the eyes of Yu and Yenic’s purpose was fulfilled. She did not die in bitterness but in Yu’s greatest love and she is already with you as Yu is with you. Do not doubt this blessed princeling. Be of joy.’
Treetam crawled over to the erfin and licked him on the foot. He gazed down at the tiny head with its tufts of grey fur and her gleaming beads of eyes that were so much like Yenic’s. He crouched down beside the young erfin and licked her little cheeks. Mitac and Ezof joined their sister and soon Mirrortac had his arms full with the three younglings. Misha regarded them with silent admiration then they both carried the children out of the passageway and to the world above.
Misha led Mirrortac and the children to a chamber where other child-faugs were playing. They left the children there in the care of the nursery-faug while Misha led the erfin away.
‘Come Mirrortac. I shall take you to the Bower of Yu. It lies above among the highest limbs of the tree but it is safe from the sky and the wanderings of faug-folk. There you may rest alone and be with Yu and the spirit of Yenic. There you may be released of your burden of bitterness.’
Mirrortac accompanied her into Greenfaug Hall and out onto the great platform of the bower tree of Yu. She guided him to the outside of the huge trunk then climbed, calling to the erfin to stay close behind her. Remembering the first time he was asked to climb a tree after his rescue from the thock, Mirrortac climbed without care or fear, his mind bubbling with many questions. They made their way to a branch that rose up above the others, bending to one side then through a clutter of rambling limbs and foliage. The branch formed a sturdy fork at its highest point, supporting a small platform and a bower.
Misha guided Mirrortac up to the bower, which stood secure among smaller branches that surrounded it in a bed of foliage. The bower had not been used in a long time for its entrance was all but obscured in a thick tangle of vines that grew in a mass over the entire bower. Misha tore the vine aside with her hands, holding them apart for Mirrortac to enter.
‘Enter Mirrortac and stay here for as long as it fits you. When the bitterness is gone, return to us.’ She turned and left him, her winged form quickly merging into the foliage below.
Mirrortac sat on the leafy floor of the bower. The air moved among the vines and the Yu leaves rustled with the language of the tree as it spoke to the sky. All that he could hear now was the breeze. Yu bark covered the walls and ceiling of the bower while loose pieces of bark and leaves had accumulated into a natural bed upon the floor. Statuettes of Yu-wood stood in each corner, each carved in the likene
ss of a stately bird that stood perched upon a figure of the tree of Yu. A strong scent of Yu-wood, green leaves and vines drifted in with the breeze. Outside, the sky whispered in the hollow tongue of the wind.
Mirrortac looked around at the emptiness and the morning breeze and began to weep. ‘Yenic,’ he sobbed. ‘How I wish you were here. As sure as I had stabbed Moongleam into you I have killed you who I loved.’
He wished for an answer; to hear the voice of his she-erfin again, but there was only silence. The breeze whistled past hollow limbs; a golden sun sat low in the western sky. The words of the prince and Misha came back to him, but he could not accept them. He was born and raised as an erfin - what right did he have in such a world as this? And as the sun of Luma dipped below a bank of cloud, he whispered: ‘I wonder if she is happy.’
Night came swiftly upon the Faug Forest and Greenfaug. Wearied with grief, Mirrortac lay himself down and shut his eyes. Sleep was elusive. Images of dreams floated into his head but they took no form beyond mere shadows of light that moved about, speaking with dry voices that whispered like the breath of the sky or the mute language of trees and green things. These spectres haunted his restlessness for most of the night but finally, exhausted and spent, the erfin fell into a deep slumber. Then out of the blackness of sleep came a green light like the light at the end of a very long tunnel. And as he watched, the light grew and expanded until he could discern the shapes of leaves and of forest as though seen from above.
With a startling abruptness, the greenness was all around him and it seemed he was afloat above the Faug Forest, appearing greener than it ever had been in life. Beside him flew Yenic wearing a crown of bright red orchids. She smiled at him with radiance and warmth, causing the erfin’s heart to leap with joy.
‘Oh Rainbow of my heart! How I have missed you!’ he called out to her.
The Wizard's Sword (Nine Worlds of Mirrortac Book 1) Page 11