“I beg to differ,” Paul muttered. Winn shot him a sour glance. Mira ignored them all.
“The skills are latent in her blood,” the young warrior declared. “And she will go not into battle untrained, or unarmed. She will have her M’ntar Lord and she will have me. Together we will train her.”
“You?” two voices, Tom, and Paul questioned in unison.
Jeanne, who’d kept her own counsel up to this point, held up a hand. “Wait, that’s not such a bad idea. Mira is obviously from another time, likely quite close in arms and fighting style as to that which we hope to be journeying. We have Finn and Ny-mo to teach us their style of fighting, but can you imagine the added bonus of having Mira instruct us in the nuances of medieval warfare? She could make the difference between life and death, victory or defeat. That is, if you’ll help us,” she added almost humbly, looking to the newcomer for some sign of agreement or disagreement.
“I can’t believe you’re even thinking of this, Jeanne... She’s just a kid!”
“No, Tom, she’s not,” Jeanne declared firmly. “In our society, maybe. But not in Mira’s. She’s young, but she’s no child. Look at Mira, obviously, she’s fought and killed. Even more obviously, she’s survived. If she can teach us to do the same, what are you griping about?” This silenced Tom. Clearly, he didn’t like it, but he was too smart to argue with this line of logic.
Mira, turning now to Winn, asked - “Are you willing, my child? Willing to learn what you must? Willing to fight, to lead, to become a M’ntar Rider?”
Winn still had no real idea what that meant, or what it might entail. But when Mira put the question to her, she felt a pull in her blood, a confidence, a strange knowing that this was right. “Yes,” she said aloud, eyes never leaving the stunning violet ones locked with hers. “I am.” So it was, the matter settled.
“I wish now to speak with the plains warrior and your two Brosynan, can this be arranged?”
“How…?”
“Wintergreen told me.”
“No I didn’t.”
“You told me with your heart, my child, for a long while now have I searched to find you, since we once connected for a moment, mind to mind when you were but a child. I fear the yearnings you have had for all things magical and the malady you have suffered these last few weeks has been my fault, as I sought to make a true connection with you.”
Winn nodded, understanding showing on her face, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
Wow! I’ve seen a real purple dragon.
“Do you want to go to the place where the Brosynan are, or would you have me bring them here?” asked Jeanne.
“I will to them.”
“I’ll see to it,” she turned towards the house, “Just let me get my keys.”
Tom followed. “Want me to come with?”
“Yep, and the two kids, we’ve left them out of too much, do Winn good to catch up with Ny-mo.”
~
“Wow,” Winn breathed, alone with Mira and Paul for a moment as they waited for the two adults to return. They had just re-appeared, when Mira turned to Winn, “Take thee mine hand.” Winn did as she was bid.
Tom, Jeanne and Paul a few feet away heard a loud pop.
~
Winn and Mira had disappeared.
45.
GODS OF THE LIGHT
The Northern Plains.
It was midday. The sky an upturned bowl of burnished brass, the heat reflecting off the dark green obsidian rocks around her. It seemed like ages since she had been able to relax, her eyes felt as though they were clogged with grit as she scoured the shimmering distant horizon from her vantage point.
Shasa flicked her gaze down to the sheltering company, her eyes searching for her beautiful companion, Hei-tiki. The dapple grey mare was crouching at the base of the cliff, eyes fixed on her young rider, her long hind legs tucked under her, ready at any moment to spring to her companion's side should the need arise.
There was a hoot from her right, fifty yards away Bodan signed 'It's beginning'. She passed the message back down the cliff face, and smiled as the well drilled machine that was her brother Pavel's company sprang into battle readiness. Hei-tiki reacted to the silent commands being issued around her, and bounded up the almost vertical cliff face to Shasa's position.
The young trooper vaulted onto the mare's back, gripped tightly with her knees as the dappled mare leapt back to the valley floor in a single sinuous bound. Bodan on his big golden mare was a heartbeat behind her.
'Move out' Pavel signed over his head. The company separated into three troops and galloped from the valley without raising a puff of dust. Once they reached the plains they split into Patrols, each with a lead rider and tail-ender, and assumed line abreast.
~
The sky above them exploded, as two huge creatures appeared, and with powerful beats of their wings settled onto the plains in front of the company. The plains runners as one began to trumpet a strange chorus, almost as though they were singing a welcoming hymn as the two massive winged mounts discharged their riders. Mira and Winn walked towards the Company who dismounted as a single being, and stood to attention alongside their still chanting mounts.
The Purple and the Red raised their heads towards the sky and responded with a massive bellow, the Purple then discharged a tongue of flame that blasted a full one hundred paces into the sky. The Company of Brosynan troopers fell to their knees and as one gave a single loud hoot. With a clicked command from Pavel the Runners fell silent, and the troopers re-mounted bringing their long spears to a salute.
Mira with Winn a half pace behind came to a halt before Pavel.
The Purple rider and her Red haired companion both raised their left hands, and gave the greeting signal. As one the Company responded, the silent greeting belying the massive welcoming mental shout that slammed their inner ears.
"Whoa, that hurt," said Winn staggering slightly, raising her hands to the sides of her head.
"Raise your guard, filter out the pain, you must control what you allow through, just as I taught you back in the M'ntar caves."
"It was easy there. Okay, I got it under control now, it’s just I wasn't expecting it."
Pavel fisted his forehead, Mira responded in like.
"Well met Company commander Pavel, I welcome your escort, please lead us into the Clan valleys."
At a single click the entire company spun on the spot and moved once more into Patrol formations, and began a slow high stepping military march towards the north. To their right, Benachee, mountain home of the hated Gargoys smoked gently. Winn and Mira returned to the two M'ntar, and once mounted followed, their two mounts looked ungainly in comparison to the well drilled and sleek plains runners and their riders.
~
Lord Hoolie was waiting as the Tirnano Company in full battle order, with the two M'ntar and their riders towering above them, marched into the valley. The heights surrounding them full of Brosynan youngsters watching silently as the parade approached. The sides of the valley floor were lined by mounted hunters from the hunting patrols.
The Company came to a halt in front of the cave mouth and dismounted in perfect precision. Lord Hoolie and the remainder of the council elders came to attention and snapped fists to foreheads in response to Pavel's. Mira with Winn behind her dismounted and approached the leaders. Dominie and Lusha both assumed miniature size and trotted alongside their riders.
The council members turned as one and walked ahead of the four into the cave, like little tic-toc soldiers, all of them, thought Winn. Reaching the council area the leaders moved to their allotted spaces and sat cross legged on the rugs. Lord Hoolie motioned to Mira and Winn to be seated, the two M'ntar squatted in-between them.
'Welcome to our caves, -- when Company Commander Pavel returned from his patrol, it was told that you would be visiting with us soon. From all of us, we give thanks for the assistance you rendered to our patrol.'
Mira acknowledged with a nod.
> Over the next hour she was assailed with a vast number of questions on the weapons that Pavel had returned. Winn was amazed at her ancestor's knowledge, and her ability to speak to the Brosynan council, each of them understanding her words as though she were conversing using finger speech. Throughout the conversation the M'ntar remained silent, although Winn was aware that telepathically they were following closely.
"Our companions wish to meet with your runners," said Mira following a silent request from Lusha.
'Lord Alion will be pleased to accompany them,' clicked the council leader.
The two M'ntar followed Alion from the council area, pushing their way through the thick leather screens.
'Lady Mira, our spiritual leaders have requested that you and the Lady Winn join them in prayer at sunrise in the morn.' signed the council leader. 'Would you do us the honour?'
Mira turned to Winn and a silent message passed between them, "I got no probs with that, Mom and Dad brought us up to be believers, we always went to church as a family when they was home."
"The honour will be ours," said Mira aloud.
~
The sky was beginning to lighten, but the chill of the night still clung to the ground. The air was crisp and cold as the twelve leaders and the two humans all riding plains runners, made their way deeper into the maze of valleys behind the Clan caves.
"I have not had contact with my beloved this morn, I feel the separation most greatly," said Mira.
Winn riding alongside her was quick to respond, "That big Red galoot hasn't said a word to me either, I wonder where they gotten to."
"I would hazard that wherever they be, it will be not far."
'OF THAT YOU MAY BE ASSURED, BELOVED' came Lusha's mind speech, 'WE COMMUNED WITH OUR DISTANT KIN, THE PLAINS RUNNERS, DEEP INTO THE NIGHT, MUCH THAT WE KNEW NOT OF THEM, HAS BEEN MADE CLEAR, NOW THEY WISH TO SPEAK AS WE DO.'
'How would you help them to accomplish that task?'
'IT IS NOT THE RUNNERS, FOR THEY ALREADY HAVE THE ABILITY,' it was Dominie who now assailed their minds, 'AMONGST THEMSELVES AND TO US THEY CAN CONVERSE OVER SHORT DISTANCES, BUT THERE ARE AMONGST THE LITTLE ONES SOME WHO HAVE THE GIFT BUBBLING CLOSE TO THE SURFACE, IT WOULD TAKE BUT A TINY OPENING, SUCH AS WE PERFORMED UPON YOU BOTH, IT WILL BE UP TO YOU TO CHOOSE WHO TO GIVE THE GIFT, BUT BE SURE YOU CHOOSE WISELY, FOR AS YOU KNOW IT CAN BITE BOTH WAYS. QUEEN LUSHA AND I GO NOW TO FEED, WE SHALL RETURN THIS EVENING TO GIVE YOU ASSISTANCE SHOULD YOU HAVE NEED.'
"I gave a partial mind tweak to two of the Tirnano when I met them a few days ago," said Mira.
"Is that where you went, I did wonder, sneaking out of the cave in the middle of the night."
"I was sure you were yet still asleep, for the noise you made was reminiscent of an old warthog with his nostrils stuck in a mud hollow."
"I do not snore!" said Winn in mock anger, "If I wern't spending all my effort trying to stay on the back of this lizard, I'd show you."
"I'm sure you would try, but it will be a long while before you can best me at sword play," taunted Mira.
"Ha, it won’t be long grandma, and I'll be whuppin you real good."
"Grandma, grandma, huh? I'll teach you..."
The two were forced to break off their banter as the group came to a halt in front of a crack in the face of a cliff.
Mira gasped in horror, "I know this place," her face had paled, "This is where the Baron and I met the evil one."
"Are you sure?"
"Truly, through this cleft is a beautiful enclosed valley, and directly across is the mouth of a cave where an evil devil resides, you will see."
"I hope not," Winn responded, she had never seen her companion so affected, the normally stoic and unflappable Mira was visibly moved, and not in a nice way.
The Brosynans dismounted and began filing through the cleft; the two girls followed hesitantly, Winn almost having to drag Mira. "C'mon, that was another time and place, surely you can't think she will be here," she said. In her shock Mira had dropped the shield which held the memory hidden, in an instant Winn knew intimately all that had happened to her ancestor.
~
Unlike the rich and verdant dale that Mira had expected, the enclosed space was an expanse of blackened earth and twisted rocks. A strong smell of sulphur hung in the air, wisps of acrid yellow smoke issued from a narrow crack less than a hundred paces to their left. The Brosynan council leader beckoned for them to hurry. They sprinted as quickly as they could across the broken ground towards an obsidian tower which stood almost in the middle of the crater, a crater, Winn thought, that's what it must be, and it’s still active, God, what if it decided to blow right now?
'FEAR NOT BELOVED, IT HAS NOT ERUPTED IN OVER A HUNDRED YEARS, IT'S NOT LIKELY TO DO SO NOW,' a powerful impression from Lord Dominie formed in her mind.
"I hope not, my mom would be a bit miffed if my boots got spoiled."
"Your Grandma wouldn't be too pleased either; it took me a long time to make them."
The two sprinted after the Brosynans, surprised at the speed the little people managed to attain.
"Phew, they can’t half shift when they need to," Winn gasped.
The two girls followed the last of the council members into an opening at the base of one of the slim standing rocks. A rough stairway cut into the rock led downwards into a vast cavern. The dark was heavy, hot, oppressive, and all encompassing; the only light came from high above at the top of the staircase. The floor of the cavern was flat, covered with a light dusting of fine sand, reminding Mira painfully of Darcia's cave. How long ago was that, she thought, a life time, or less than a year?
The walls of the cavern began to glow with a pale green fluorescence. In the dim light the two humans could make out a group of young Brosynans seated in a circle on the floor of the cave. They began humming a low continuous note, the pitch constant and unique, to Winn's ears it sounded off key, but how should I know, everyone says I'm tone deaf anyways, she thought. The note began to waver, rising and falling, rising more than it fell, before long it was almost a high pitched call, it stopped suddenly. Against the wall of the cave stood a number of figures, figures that moments before, had not been there.
To Winn the figures were the stuff of nightmares, some easily nine foot tall, some were human in shape, but some were definitely not.
Mira gasped at the sight of them, for to her they were not strangers, to her they were well known, she had seen their images many times as a young child, drawn, etched and painted on the walls of every ancient monument in the land of her birth.
"Ra, the god of the sun, with the head of a falcon. Sekhemet, the god of destruction. Horus with the head of a hawk. Thoth, the god of wisdom with the long beak and head of an ibis. Others are standing amongst them, Nut, dressed in blue, Ma'at with the feather in her hair. Standing behind them is Anubis, god of the dead; his jackal head is taller than all the others. And there at the front, the dwarf god Bes, we know that shape and stature well, for he is the ancestor and protector of all Brosynans." She named the gods, pointing them out to Winn.
Ra strode majestically towards the prostrate Brosynan priests, totally ignoring the council members and the two human girls.
"BEGIN!" he said, his voice thundering around the cavern.
The priests stood and clasped hands in a circle, their minds rose as one.
~
‘Homage to thee, O thou who hast come as Khepera, Khepera the creator of the gods, Thou art seated on thy throne, thou risest up in the sky, illumining thy mother Nut, thou art seated on thy throne as the king of the gods. Thy mother Nut stretcheth out her hands, and performeth an act of homage to thee. The domain of Manu receiveth thee with satisfaction. The goddess Ma'at embraceth thee at the two seasons of the day. May Ra give glory, and power, and truth-speaking, and the appearance as a living soul so that he may gaze upon Heru-khuti, to the KA of the Osiris the Scribe Ani, who speaketh truth before Osiris, and who saith: Hail, O all ye gods of the House of the Soul, who weigh hea
ven and earth in a balance, and who give celestial food to the dead. Hail, Tatun, who art One, thou creator of mortals and of the Companies of the Gods of the South and of the North, of the West and of the East, ascribe ye praise to Ra, the lord of heaven, the KING, Life, Strength, and Health, the maker of the gods. Give ye thanks unto him in his beneficent form which is enthroned in the Atett Boat; beings celestial praise thee, beings terrestial praise thee. Thoth and the goddess Ma'at mark out thy course for thee day by day and every day. Thine enemy the Serpent hath been given over to the fire. The Serpent-fiend Sebau hath fallen headlong, his forelegs are bound in chains, and his hind legs hath Ra carried away from him. The Sons of Revolt shall never more rise up. The House of the Aged One keepeth festival, and the voices of those who make merry are in the Great Place. The gods rejoice when they see Ra crowned upon his throne, and when his beams flood the world with light. The majesty of this holy god setteth out on his journey, and he goeth onwards until he reacheth the land of Manu; the earth becometh light at his birth each day; he proceedeth until he reacheth the place where he was yesterday. O be thou at peace with us. Let us gaze upon thy beauties. Let us journey above the earth. Let us smite the Ass. Let US slit asunder the Serpent-fiend Sebau. Let US destroy Aepep at the moment of his greatest power. Let us behold the Abtu Fish at his season and the Ant Fish with the Ant Boat as it piloteth it in its lake. Let us behold Horus when he is in charge of the rudder of the Boat of Ra, with Thoth and the goddess Ma'at on each side of him. Let us lay hold of the tow-rope of the Sektet Boat, and the rope at the stern of the Matett Boat. Let Ra grant to us a view of the Disk the Sun, and a sight of Ah the Moon unfailingly each day. Let your Ba-soul come forth to walk about hither and thither and whithersoever it pleaseth. Let our name be called out, let it be found inscribed on the tablet which recordeth the names of those who are to receive offerings. Let meals from the sepulchral offerings be given to us in the presence of Osiris, as to those who are in the following of Horus. Let there be prepared for us a seat in the Boat of the Sun on the day wheron the god saileth. Let us be received in the presence of Osiris in the Land of Truth-speaking - the Ka of Osiris Ani.’
The Tirnano - Book 1 'FINN' Page 30