“So you doubt what Syton said?”
“Emilia…perhaps Sytons’ words were not meant to be taken in their full form.”
“All we have are his words. If we do not believe them then we might as well end our union here.”
“You are proposing we part ways?! Just because I do not entirely subscribe to your interpretation of Syton’s words?” Marcus was somewhat stunned.
“Marcus, my personal capabilities to help you ended at Tanvar. If we cannot trust and utilize the words of Syton then it is time for another to take my place. Perhaps that is the purpose of the fates, for our separate journeys to commence from here.”
“Could we…could we postpone acting on that until the morrow?” replied Marcus weakly.
“Yes, there is no rush to act on that tonight. Anyway, based on Sytons words, there are still two days left before the prospect of finding the Oracle of Ouy passes.”
A veil of uncertainty, fear and sadness shrouded them as Marcus and Emilia went about their evening ritual of fixing their campsite, preparing food, and – on his insistence – Marcus lit the fire. Although it took him nearly an hour Emilia did not interfere.
Marcus did not sleep well that evening. He saw himself traversing through forests, then deserts, followed by marshlands before stumbling back into the forest he first found himself in. He awoke to find that the forest in his dream was not dissimilar to the one they were at.
He lay down for what he knew would be another restless bout on his mat. Falling asleep, he soon saw himself back in Aelon but now he was king. He sat upon a gilded throne from which he took in the vaulted ceiling of the grand hall and was surrounded by a cheering and adoring crowd. His best plans and visions for his reign had come to pass and he could now afford to be more at ease. He ordered a servant to fetch him a drink to quench his thirst.
A gold and jewel encrusted goblet was brought forth filled with excellent wine, a fitting means to mark the end of his days of hard labor in raising up the stature of Aelon. He drank the entire contents of the golden cup but as he finished consuming the wine he realized that his thirst had not abated.
He called for another drink and now a larger, grander chalice with a fist size diamond at its base was brought forth. He marvelled at the vessel and with delight brought it to his lips. But when he had finished drinking there was still no relief to his thirst.
He was enraged and summoned all the wine stewards. They came into his throne room bearing a variety of pitchers of wine.
Instantly the great hall was lined with attendants bearing magnificent carafes of assorted wines from all the corners of the known world. Each was better than the last but none satisfied Marcus’ thirst. In the end he found himself alone in his throne room. The floor was strewn with spilt wine and golden bejeweled pitchers and goblets.
Marcus’ thirst grew and as it consumed him he began to wail then cry for he knew and had come to realize that his power, prestige, and wealth could not satisfy something as simple as his thirst. He had everything but nothing that mattered.
It was still dark when Marcus awoke in tears and had difficulty breathing. Emilia was sound asleep, but for some reason he was driven by a compulsion to get up and ramble through the forest. He did not know where nor was he concerned with what might happen. He just had to move away and so his feet took charge while the rest of him was unceremoniously brought along.
For hours Marcus wandered aimlessly without a clue as to his location. This would have been a concern had he cared. All he knew was the more he walked the more tired he became and the deeper he breathed…and breathing was all that mattered to him at this moment. It was as though he lived only to draw his next breath.
After a few hours Emilia woke up before the sun rose. She realized that Marcus was not there and as she stood up Titan approached.
“Something is not right isn’t it boy? Even if Marcus slipped away he would not do so without bringing his satchel.”
She surveyed the area, noted the grass depression where Marcus had fallen on his hands and knees. Then the broken twigs and trampled plants that led away from where they slept.
“I think we better try to find him.”
In a rush, Emilia threw their belongings into satchels which she then flung unto her loyal steed. She however, did not get on Titan’s back as she applied her training and began to track Marcus down by following the trail he had left.
Chapter 11 A Thousand Kisses
Exhausted from his mindless trek through the forest, Marcus found himself halfway up a mountain. Regaining full control of his intellect he decided to rest on a patch overlooking the valley below. As he took cognizance of himself he realized that he was muddied, his clothes torn with splatters of blood possibly from briers and rocks that he walked through or stumbled upon.
He had cuts and bruises all over his person; he then felt a sharp pain rise from his ankle which upon inspection he saw was swollen yet thankfully not broken. But before he could breathe a sigh of relief his whole body ached as joints which he did not realize he had made their presence known and he screamed in his mind,
“What have I done? What possessed me to do this to myself?”
After a short while he evaluated his predicament. He knew he was lost, but noticing that the sun was at midday he realized that he had been ambling directionless for at least eight hours.
As he surveyed the peaceful terrain and the beautiful surroundings, it dawned on him that it was futile to even try to go back.
Thus, even though his body ached and throbbed with pain, he quieted down his soul and pronounced, “Not a bad place to lie down and die.”
“Not if I kill you first!”
He knew that voice. He turned to see Emilia, half relieved and half irate. Some distance behind her Titan was grazing in the shade. Never before this moment – though battered, bruised and tired – had Marcus felt more safe and at ease.
“Do you have any idea what you put me through?” screamed Emilia, and as if to heighten the drama, clouds began to form in the sky behind her as she berated him.
“Half-way over I could not believe how far you wandered and the paths you traversed. I lost your trail three times and if Titan had not found further clues I do not know what I could have done…”
At this point Marcus noted that the clouds which appeared behind her converged into a crescent formation that grew darker, which made him wonder if Emilia too had powers over wind and rain.
He did not have to wonder for long because Emilia, noticing that he was not paying attention to her, turned to see what had caught his eye. Upon seeing the ominous formation, she said:
“Marcus what are you doing?”
The realization that Emilia was not the one shaping the cloud jarred his senses.
“What? Are you not the one making that?”
The monstrous crescent shaped cloud began to emit thunder and lightning, immediately followed by a strong downpour as it swiftly approached them.
“Marcus what are you waiting for? Stop it,” yelled Emilia, as she pointed at the cloud.
“Yes, of course.” Marcus brushed his hand towards the cloud but to no avail. He raised his arms at it and with all that he knew commanded, implored, then begged the cloud – which was raining lightning bolts almost as much as water – to cease. But it was all for naught.
The two stared at Titan, safely dry and standing beyond the fury of this cloud. The horse was also looking at them attentively, waiting for his mistress’ signal. Emilia knew that Titan would rush through the thundercloud on her command but it would endanger him. She was also uncertain how useful that would be, so she turned to Marcus and said.
“We cannot ride Titan. If he gallops through this terrain he would surely be injured leaving us worse off. We are on our own. We must run for shelter.”
The cloud seemed to be driving them, though being at the clear center of the clouds quarter-moon shape kept them both from being wet and struck by lightning, this formation also prevented
them from going anywhere except in the direction it was pushing them towards. And that direction seemed to be towards a mountain wall.
Trying to deviate or slow down seemed to elicit a thunderous response from the cloud, whose pace and direction did not alter.
In spite of being drenched the two were thankful they were not struck by lightning. Unfortunately they were now scarcely a few meters from running into a mountain face, which meant the lightning cloud would soon envelop them.
Despair was growing fast. They were about to be pinned to a mountain wall, and soon after be skewered by bolts of lightning. But before it took hold of them they noticed a shadow on the peak’s wall.
The rock surface was not solid! There was a space and together they rushed to squeeze into it.
After doing so the cloud’s crescent outline embraced the mountain face, such that leaving from where they entered meant going through the full fury of the lightning cloud.
“Do not worry,” said Marcus as he gasped, “That cloud will eventually dissipate.”
But after what felt like a disproportionate amount of time the two realized that the cloud was not abating, nor did it seem to be moving away from its position.
“Maybe there is a way through this cave,” suggested Emilia.
“What do we do for light…”
Before Marcus could finish his question, Emilia held up two fingers from which a small ball of fire formed, and with that the two of them went about exploring the cave for a passage through.
There was more to this cave than they had initially thought, the deeper they went the bigger it became and as they rounded a corner they came upon a chamber that was illuminated by sunlight.
Emilia brought her hand down for there was no further need for illumination. In this chamber they could hear the thunder and notice flashes of lighting along with water that trickled in.
Gazing up at the mountain wall they became conscious that there were small multiple openings from which light, wind, and water passed through, and the ground they stood on was not rock but earth.
A flash of realization came to Emilia causing her to solemnly whisper. “Marcus, we are in the chamber.”
“What makes you think so?” replied Marcus, not in disbelief, but in the desire for certainty.
“Just look around. The lightning and the sun’s rays, fire. The breeze represents wind. The rain, water and…” stooping down Emilia took some dirt in hand which she raised eye level before speaking,
“…Earth. We are in the chamber of the Oracle of Ouy.”
“Then…what are we to do now? I am sorry my mind did not conceive that we would find it, and now I do not recall anything that Syton said if we did.”
“Maybe not your mind but your heart did,” said Emilia with a smile.
“Whatever do you mean?”
“As I tracked you I realized something about the way you moved and the pace by which you did. You were erratic but quick, you had to be to cover so much distance. That is something your wary, cautious mind would not allow and as for finding the chamber I dare say that it was the fates that, in their own fashion, drew us in.”
“That does not make sense…but it feels right,” replied Marcus, now smiling.
At that they went about surveying the dimly lit chamber, touching the walls where their gaze fell in order to be more certain that they did not overlook anything of significance.
The cavern wall was cold, but as Emilia’s hand passed an area she detected warmth.
“Marcus over here, this portion of the wall seems warm.”
Marcus touched the wall and yes, Emilia was right. Just above her hand the wall was cold. Then as Marcus continued to survey that portion of the wall, he realized something.
“Emilia, move your hand further to where mine is.”
As she did so she realized that the wall was warmer. They looked at each other. Soon Emilia said, “Follow the warmth.”
They felt their way up and down the cave face, when it became cooler they would retrace their path until what they touched felt warmer. They found themselves being led to the back of the cave and at an obscure portion of the wall there was a crack wherein a hand could fit. Moving away from the crack they realized that the warmth lessened.
“This opening, there is something about this rift in the wall.” said Marcus.
Emilia stepped back to scan the surrounding rock. She spied what appeared to be scratches and scribbles. She realized they were ancient inscriptions a few feet above the crack. Once again she produced fire so she could properly read what was written.
“I think I found something.”
“What is it?”
“Very old and obscure writings, I can barely make it out…it seems to say ‘lay thy hand, tame thy dread.’”
They both craned their necks and looked at the openings high on the cave face, to note what they currently dread; the thunder, lightning, wind and rain emanating from the crescent cloud outside.
“Tame that?!” exclaimed Marcus
“It would seem so.”
“I could not do that earlier…”
Emilia interrupted, “Marcus, After all we have been through; meeting at the outskirts of Aelon, dashing drenched to the bone back to Tanvar, the forest of Eldor and the lessons of Syton, not to mention the sheer unlikelihood of finding this cave…
“Marcus, we are before the mythical Oracle of Ouy, a legend to all except for a few! Now you and I are among them. The fates have done their part. I believe it is time for you to do yours.”
“Very well,” said Marcus in a resigned tone. Then he cautiously placed his hand in the warm crack of the wall, recalled all that he has learned thus far and applied them all in succession.
About an hour later Emilia said, “Marcus, it’s not working.”
“It has to, I do not know what else to do,” replied Marcus in frustration.
“Marcus let us discuss this for a moment.”
Exhausted, Marcus removed his hand from the crevice and looked at Emilia.
“It is not about control, we have tried that since Eldor. Did not Syton say anything to you in that regard?”
“The mariner and the sea,” said Marcus in astonishment. “Syton said it is all about balance and understanding the nature of the elements and working with the same. But I do not understand its nature.”
“Then perhaps it is time that you tried to do so. Maybe start with how you first were able to summon the rains.”
A burst of realization came upon Marcus’ eyes. He then uttered, “My shy child.”
“What was that?”
Marcus no longer heard Emilia as he turned his back to her. With utmost humility and near tears, he placed his hand back into the opening. He closed his eyes and a flurry of emotions channelled through his arm.
Instantly Marcus found himself in another world. He surveyed the lavender sky with indigo swirls that must be clouds which spun above, around, beside and curiously beneath him. There was no ground yet he did not seem to need it and before he could give this realization further thought he felt a presence.
There was someone with him whom he could not see but whose aura could best be described as that of a familiar stranger.
Before he could react Marcus was overwhelmed by intense feelings of loneliness and desolation, of being unappreciated, ill-understood and unaccepted.
Common feelings known to all yet when one goes through them leaves the impression that no one else could possibly fathom the sheer weight and devastation they inflict.
Then a small figure revealed itself, it was the familiar stranger, and Marcus identified him as the source of these sad feelings. He was tempted to turn away but something inside him said he should not.
He looked at this ghost of a figure and felt sympathy for him. Marcus felt an urge to reach-out but should he? Then, after a moment of apprehension Marcus reluctantly took a step towards it and as he did he noted that the figure simultaneously mirrored his gesture.
He re
alized this specter was also reflecting what he felt as well as his behavior. So at that moment Marcus relaxed and managed a faint smile, as he did so, he sensed the small figure do likewise.
Soon after Marcus felt himself simultaneously emanating as well as receiving feelings of tenderness, kindness, and gentleness. Before long they were exchanging feelings of joy, love, acceptance and peace to one another.
Then, without being sure why, he ran forward to meet this figure which, as he drew closer, he realized was a child. He stretched out his arms and saw the child do the same.
Marcus rushed to meet the child who mimicked him. He was now enthralled in pure delight before realizing that the little boy rushing to meet him was actually his young self.
Upon meeting in an embrace it was as if the young and present Marcus melded into one, and for a moment sheer rapture enveloped his whole being.
Marcus could have stayed feeling this way forever, but alas, the sensation ebbed away. As he awoke from what he now realized was a trance he became mindful of his hand in the opening of the mountain and felt warmth escaping through his right arm. But his hand which was in the crack did not feel at all that it was resting on rock, rather, a warm gentle hand lovingly holding his.
Eventually and with great reluctance, Marcus withdrew his hand.
He was filled with such tremendous peace and contentment. As he was fully opening his eyes he turned to see an awestruck Emilia
“What just happened?” she asked.
Gathering his thoughts Marcus replied, “What do you mean?”
“You placed your hand in the oracle then immediately you looked as though you were under a spell. I tried to approach but I could not, a power held me where I stood.”
“Is that so? Well, yes I believe I was in a trance in which I encountered a being that was so forlorn that I could not help but feel sympathy at the same time dread. I so feared being overrun by his despair that part of me wanted to shun him and just as I was about to turn away I heard my own voice say only I had the means to end his sorrow. As I resolved to help him I felt my apprehension diminish enough that I could recognize who I was facing.”
A Prince of Aelon Page 10