Elion was sitting on the ground next to Siard. There was nothing more he could do. Lumea sat down opposite him and shivered.
“Are you cold?”
She nodded. Elion took his own cape and put it over her shoulders. He then looked up at the canvas and nodded approvingly.
“You were gone for some time, that last time you returned to the wreck.”
Lumea told him about her attempts to make it look like an accident on the lake.
“Oh, that was very clever,” Elion said. “Well done!”
The compliment made her blush, and she was glad that the canvas colored everything green, sparing her embarrassment from scrutiny. She was sure Siard would have done the same thing with their shelter, but since he could not, she had taken the duty upon herself. Looking at his still form, she hoped that they would not be found. He was going to need time in order to recover.
Taking turns, Elion and Lumea guarded the young man’s body. As the days passed, the weather seemed to quiet, though there were still moments when it stormed heavily. Siard’s condition did not improve.
During the lonely hours while it was her turn to watch, Lumea relived the time she had spent with her grandmother in her imagination. She managed to forget for a little while where she was when she heard the woman’s voice again. “A very, very long time ago, when there were no humans, the world consisted only of water. The Creator rose up out of the depths and shaped the land and the sky, the animals and the plants, and finally mankind, first the woman and then the man.”
The memory was so real that the old woman seemed to be sitting next to her, and she listened to the familiar voice. Of course, she knew the story. It had been the first story the woman had ever imparted to her, explaining how the world had been created. It was the first story that Lumea could remember, though many more had followed. Lumea listened attentively, when she suddenly realized that the voice she was hearing was her own. Lost in the memory, she had unconsciously imitated her grandmother’s voice, dusting off the old words as she retold the tale. She suddenly laughed aloud, but Siard, her only audience, remained still.
The Omnesian, as down-to-earth as he was, always approached things scientifically, like his father had. He said the earth had started because of something he called the big bang, after which matter evolved into the world they knew. Animals, and even humans, existed purely because of chance. Lumea did not understand his viewpoint. The concept of chance did not play any part in her world, whereas Siard did not believe at all in her concept of destiny. A long time ago, or so it seemed now, when they had sat around the campfire, she had noticed how their views on the world were quite almost polar opposites, and here she was, telling him the story of Creation, and he could not talk back. If he had been conscious, he would have never taken her seriously.
Her laughter passed, making way for grief. She realized that, like Siard, she herself had not always shown respect for the lessons that her grandmother had been trying to teach her. She had not immediately taken to her grandmother’s faith, and she had not always respected the old woman’s opinions. Only now did she realize just how valuable those lessons had been, and how she turned to them for support in such a chaotic world. She was sure she had hurt the old woman very much, but that knowledge came too late. Her grandmother was many years dead.
Lumea had been upset by her passing, because she had really loved her grandmother. She hoped that if the wise old lady could see her now that she would be proud. The young woman felt the tears stream down her face, but when Elion woke up, she quickly wiped them away, even though they probably were not visible in the darkness.
Some time later, Lumea decided to tell Elion about her Ankéabi vision. Much had happened here in Hydrhaga that she was uncomfortable with and she hoped that the elf could help her straighten out her thoughts. The primary reason for telling him, though, was a need for him to understand her reaction on the day he had killed the worker. They had more or less made up after that fight, but she still wanted him to understand her anger.
“Elion.”
The elf looked up immediately at the earnestness that her voice carried.
“I would like to tell you what I saw during my Ankéabi.”
“I am honored. I know you wouldn’t tell me if you didn’t trust me.”
Lumea nodded and Elion waited for her story.
“The day the Kunci knocked on the door of my parents’ house, the weather was lovely. It was a warm, spring morning. From my room, through my open window, I could see how my father opened the door for them. When I heard them talking about me, my heart filled with joy. I had been waiting for this day for a long time, the day my Ankéabi would begin. Soon enough, my father opened the door to my room and I followed him without a word. When the Wise Women took me between them, I did not look back, though I knew that my mother had come to stand beside my father. She had some trouble accepting that I had to go. She thought I was too young.
When we reached the edge of the village, I was blindfolded, and we started the long trek to the temple. It’s really harder than it sounds to trust the people who are guiding you, if you can’t see the road ahead with your own eyes. I tripped over roots and stones, but my guides never let me fall, and they warned me when the terrain became rough. I felt helpless, like a newborn babe who depends solely upon others to care for it, a whelp whose eyes have yet to open, for whom each and every sound is new.
“When we came to the temple, the blindfold was taken away. Before my eyes had time to adjust to the bright light, the Kunci had left. I looked around. The temple was built upon a rocky outcropping, jutting out severely from the mountainside. There was no path from there to the top, because the side of the mountain was too sheer. I turned my back to the mountain and looked to the right. The forest that spread out over the mountain started almost next to the temple.
“The edge of the forest was close by, and under the trees it was dark and foreboding. I didn’t like the look of it, so I looked before me. There was a wide vista there. I walked to the edge of the rock and looked down. Far down below, I could see a river. The sky was clear and the view magnificent, but though the landscape fascinated me, it did not feel like the right direction for my Ankéabi.
“Then finally, to the left, I could see the mountain sloping gently away. Its base was littered with rocks, and here and there were bushes growing among them. It was a neat, tidy view, and it comforted me, for some reason. I sat down, facing in that direction.
“Immediately, a strange feeling came over me. This was the place where my future would be decided. I was excited, but at the same time I was incredibly nervous, afraid that I wouldn’t understand the message of the gods, or worse, that they would not send a message at all. I tried to bury that feeling and put my trust in the gods, but I still couldn’t help thinking that maybe my mother was right and I was too young for the trial.”
As she talked about the landscape, she tried to think of the right words to use. She wanted to describe it as best as she could, for as unbelievable as the events were, they were completely real to her. How would Elion react when she explained her vision to him? She took a drink and continued.
“It was around noon on the second day when Wolf came to me. I did not feel afraid when he approached me. He sat down in front of me, and I knelt down to him. He licked at his coat, and I waited, not moving. Then, he spoke, and I could hear the authority in his voice.
“‘Girl, I brought you a present. Sit down and listen to what I have to tell you.’
“I obeyed, and when I sat down again, I saw the sword that Wolf had put down in front of him. I looked into his golden eyes and waited for him to speak. He chose his words carefully, and because of that he spoke slowly.
“‘Girl, it is not safe to be out tonight. There is a demon on the loose and he wishes to destroy our world. You are part of this world, and therefore you will be subject to the same fate. It might be wise to turn around and flee. You have that choice. Not a soul would blame you, becaus
e it is likely to be the best choice. Should you choose to stay, however, I give you this sword, so that you may defend yourself.’
“Then, he stood up and calmly left the rocky outcrop, and I saw how his thick fur waved with every step that he took. I stayed behind, alone.
“When the sun had set and darkness fell, I felt decidedly uncomfortable. I had the feeling that a thousand eyes were watching me. Bats kept swooping down over my head, and in my fear I remembered that bats were omens of death, but I forgot that they were also a sign of a new beginning. What was I to do? Go back and not finish my Ankéabi, or stay and defy whatever came to me this night? I decided to stay. If I went back now, I would never get another chance, and I wanted this more than anything. I banned the fear from my heart and just waited for whatever would come.” The young woman sighed.
“Suddenly I heard a snarl, like that of a wild animal, and I saw a creature—half-man, half-beast—come up the mountainside. I don’t know how else to describe the thing, as any animal that I could compare it with would be insulted by the association. I felt his malice; he had no purpose but to destroy. His bloodshot eyes peered at me and I felt a cold chill shoot down my spine. I decided to kneel again. The demon laughed at me.
“‘You came to honor the gods, and instead you kneel to me? You fool, soon this world will be destroyed and my own will overtake it. Your Ankéabi is meaningless. You should have left when you had the chance, for now it is too late.’
“The thing attacked me, with claws outstretched and its maw opened wide. I dodged the attack and drew the sword that Wolf had left for me. Again he came at me with agile movements, attacking unpredictably, because one moment he moved slowly and the next he was as quick as lightning. All the time he spoke, telling me how he would destroy the world, and how he had the power to do so. His voice was calm, controlled, hypnotic. What had I gotten myself into?
“That question made me realize that all this had been my own choice. Wolf had warned me. I could have rung the bell. I had chosen not to do that, so I had to bear out the consequences. I had to stop this demon or I would die. His next attack missed, and he stood with his back turned toward me, so instead of waiting for him to come at me again, I attacked him instead, and my sword found the mark. I managed to wound him, though he dodged most of my follow-up attacks. The fight was slowly draining me of endurance, whereas my opponent showed no sign of tiring. He flung me backward, and I felt the air rush from my lungs when I slammed against a pillar of the temple.”
In the moment’s pause that followed, Lumea swallowed audibly. Elion was listening attentively.
“In that instant, I knew it was over. Fear of death crept through my body, paralyzing me. The demon approached slowly, and his grin was wide enough to bare all his teeth. He bent over me and pushed me against the pillar. I smelled death in his breath, a musty stench like stagnant water. It made me nauseous. I felt his teeth pressing into my neck, I actually heard my skin being pierced and felt hot blood running down onto my shoulders. He was going to rip my neck open like the lions do with their prey.
“How long would the Kunci take before they came for me if I didn’t ring the bell? And how would they find me? Would I look maimed or would it seem like I had passed away from hunger and thirst?
“I felt panic at first, but then my head cleared suddenly, and I regained control of my body. Using all of my strength, I pushed the demon away, braced against the pillar. He rolled back to the edge of the rock. I used his momentary confusion to grab my sword. The battle had suddenly turned in my favor. I was the one bending over him, my sword at the ready. All I had to do to kill him was lower it. He dared me to do it, and the contempt was clear in his eyes. Instead of killing him, though, I took a step back, though I didn’t lower the sword. He sat up, hesitantly, and I said, ‘Tell me, why do you want to destroy this world? Why can’t there be a place for you to live alongside everything else? There has to be a way for everyone to live together.’
“It said, ‘Kill me. If you don’t, you will die in shame and you’ll be responsible for the demise of the gods. You have the fate of the world in your hands. Kill me, or I will kill you.’
“‘No, you won’t. I’m not afraid of you.’
“I felt a new kind of power rise within me. I knew he could not harm me.
“I told him, ‘I will not kill you, and most certainly not because you’re telling me to. Nobody will die tonight. This world will be like it once was: a peaceful place, with room for everyone.’
“The demon laughed at me, but then the tone of his laughter changed.”
Lumea’s voice changed as well, it sounded proud now, full of awe.
“Its voice sounded chipper. Before me, in the blink of an eye, Eagle was sitting where once had been a demon. It took me by surprise. Eagle is the most important messenger of the gods. I bowed to him and didn’t dare move. I felt his hand lift up my chin. It was warm and soft, like down, and when I looked into his yellow eyes I saw the proud glow in his deep, black pupils. He had changed form, and instead of a bird I saw a man, though wings came from out of his back and his legs were still those of a bird’s.
“He said to me, ‘Sit down, my lady. I want to look into your face. You did a good job here. It required courage and faith, faith in the gods, but more importantly, faith in yourself.’
“I sat cross-legged and looked at him. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him. There was such a sense of... calm... emanating from him. Different hues of blue swirled around him. The movements of his hands punctuated his words, while his wings rustled in the wind. His voice was like the lulling sound of the sea. Calm and soothing.
“He said, ‘I am glad of the choice you made. If you had killed me, you would have learned a different lesson, but now you can learn something truly valuable.
“‘You chose the way of peace, and that is often the hardest way. It may seem like soldiers have courage, because they go out to fight, but they hide behind their weapons and other people’s orders. The truly courageous one is the person who approaches the other with an open heart, because they dare to work to change the world into one where people can live together, in peace.’
“I felt so proud about the compliment that Eagle had bestowed upon me. I had passed his test. I listened to his words very carefully. After a while he stood up.
“He said, ‘Come, Bringer of Peace, climb on my back. I will show you this world.’
“He changed back into a bird and I did as he told. As the rising sun painted the skies, he showed me the world of the gods. It was marvelous. A warm wind caressed my face and I could see fields of flowers and fast-flowing rivers stretching out below us. Sometimes other birds flew with us, and every creature we came across greeted us warmly. Eagle gave me my new name, ‘Bringer of Peace Among the People’, and it was repeated everywhere, by all of the animals. We flew during the days and nights, and I saw Wolf nodding proudly at me. At the end of the fourth day, Eagle flew up to great heights and there, hidden amongst the clouds, on the top of the biggest mountain I had ever seen, stood the palace of the gods. I can’t begin to describe how beautiful it was to behold. Then, Eagle brought me back to the temple, bid me farewell and flew away without me. It was then I rang the bell.”
Silence followed the end of her story. Not knowing what to say, Elion took her hands. During her story her voice had changed its pitch all the time. When she talked about the demon, it quivered, communicating the fear she had felt during that moment to the listening elf. Then she told him about the flight on the Eagle’s back, and she had started talking louder, in more of a sing-song and rapid tone. Not once had she looked at Elion, and even now she was still staring off into space. After a moment she did look at him, and a shadow passed over her face while tears welled in her eyes. She tried to swallow back the tears.
“Everything that happened here in Hydrhaga... did I do right?” The words came out like a stutter. She clenched her fists, closing her fingers over Elion’s hands.
“The gods showed m
e a path, but am I still walking on it? Or did I get lost somewhere along the way? Do I bring shame to my name? Is there something I could have done to stop all those people from being killed? Am I disappointing the gods? It’s so hard to fulfill their expectations, and most of the time I’m not even completely sure of what they want from me.”
Her head dropped, and her shoulders began to shake as she cried. Elion let go of her hands to put his arms around her. He drew her close.
“Lumea, I don’t know the answer to your questions, but I can tell you what I know, what I’ve learned from experience. There are times when you just can’t do without weapons. These people blindly follow their leader. They won’t be swayed by any passing opinions. The demon in your vision only started listening when you had power over him. That was the moment you pulled back and left the choice to him. It will go exactly like that here. As long as this world exists, the people will hold on to their own ideas and values. Things can only change when their leaders no longer makes their decisions for them.”
Elion stroked her back as he spoke. “You’re wondering if you’re not taking the easy route of which Wolf spoke, but from the moment we fled, your road has been anything but easy. I forced you to follow me. You didn’t come blindly, without asking questions. You doubted what Siard and I were doing up until you saw the proof that we were right. Only then did you decide that my path was worth fighting for, dying for.
City of Illusions Page 16