Spring Showers Box-set

by Avell Kro

  “You put some kind of love-curse on her!” spat Rhuna, and Aradin placed his hand on her

  arm in a calming gesture.

  Beacon of the Night threw his head back in laughter. “In all honesty, my Friends, I had

  never thought of such a thing…but what a splendid idea!” he said beaming.

  “You are a philanderer!” Rhuna charged. “We have summoned visions of your philandering

  life by means of the Gazing of the Waters,” she said as she began to tremble with emotion.

  Beacon of the Night hooked his thumb into the top of his kilt as he ambled around the

  room. “Naturally, you would inform yourselves of my past activities,” he said casually.

  “Was it really so, that she was attracted to you first, for no reason at all?” Aradin asked

  suspiciously.

  “Why, is it so difficult to imagine?” asked Beacon of the Night as he stopped walking and

  looked at them with a grin. “Am I such an unappealing man? Your summoned visions of my life

  surely attest to the fact that I am attractive to women, do they not?”

  “Then you took advantage of a young woman’s first experience with love,” Rhuna stated,

  angry at the man’s laughter.

  “Only for a brief moment, as I admitted,” answered Beacon of the Night. “While in

  conversation with this delightful young woman, who has intelligence and maturity farin advance

  of her peers, my feelings became sincere,” he said.

  “You kissed her,” Rhuna said, shuddering at the memory of the visions she had summoned

  by means of the Gazing of the Waters.

  “Yes. And she kissed me. We kissed each other,” he stated casually. “That is not your worst

  fear, however,” he said with a mischievous grin. “You are horrified by the mere thought that I

  would force physical intimacy on her, are you not?”

  Rhuna remained silent, swallowing hard as her body became rigid with strong emotions.

  “You have not been tempted to do so?” Aradin challenged.

  “Oh yes!” laughed Beacon of the Night. “Oh yes indeed! Such a desire is purely natural, yet I

  have thus far managed to restrain myself.”

  “So you admit that you are merely philandering with our daughter,” challenged Aradin.

  “Not at all!Not at all, My Friends! Were it so, she would have been in my bed long before

  already!” he said as his pace quickened. “The excessive restless energy that motivated such a

  manner of behaviourin my youth has now been re-directed into other activities of a purely

  ethereal nature, and such…philandering no longer appeals, nor satisfies my deepest innermost

  needs,” he said in serious tone. “Furthermore, I have informed Lozira of my past activities, and

  she is wel aware of my life’s course thus far.”

  “You lie,” said Rhuna bluntly.

  “Yes, sometimes.”

  “She has very strong feelings for you,” Rhuna said with difficulty.

  “Of this I am very well aware.”

  “This is her first involvement after eighteen solar cycles of emotional security and

  harmonious environment in Atlán where such philandering is unknown. Her pain would be severe

  and long-lasting, damaging her emotional fiber and wellbeing…”

  “This matter, also, has not escaped my comprehension,” Beacon of the Night said, standing

  still and meeting Rhuna’s gaze without a blink.

  “Were it so, as you wish to believe, Keeper of Wisdom, then I should not have restrained

  myself, nor given respect and consideration for your daughter’s wellbeing,” he said, and continued

  to pace again. “However, I value her happiness and emotional wellbeing above my own, and

  therefore shall not act upon any personal desires until proper circumstances permit,” he said.

  “There will never be proper circumstances!” Rhuna lashed out. “We know that you are the

  leader of the Dark Master’s followers, and that you nearly caused Lozira’s death when you tried to

  cause the Atlan fleet of ships to be wrecked in a giant storm!”

  Beacon of the Night stopped in his tracks and raised his eyebrows in astonishment. Rhuna

  felt a hot surge pulse through her body as she realized her mistake, and then heard Aradin’s sharp

  intake of breath next to her.

  “You know this?” Beacon of the Night snapped sharply as his eyes darted back and forth

  between Rhuna and Aradin. “Very impressive!” he exclaimed after a moment of tense silence, and

  then a broad smile spread across his face. “It appears I have under-estimated you once again.”

  Rhuna remained silent, determined not to divulge any further secrets.

  “May I ask how you come to know of this?”

  “No,” Rhuna said, and snapped her mouth shut again.

  “Our intention was to cause the ships to return to port,” Beacon of the Night said in a

  defensive tone. “We abhor the taking of human life, and in fact, our quest is to improve life for

  everyone,” he stated firmly, and then a flash of understanding illuminated his eyes.“You!” he uttered

  breathlessly. “You caused the failure of our attempts to create a storm!” Beacon of the Night stared

  at Rhuna wide-eyed for a moment, and then his face broke into a devious grin.

  “Keeper of Wisdom! You have my deepest respect and admiration,” he said with an

  elaborate bow. “We were not aware that our activities could be observed, much less influenced by

  outside sources. We are humbled in your presence! Teach us your skills, Keeper of Wisdom!”

  “No!” Rhuna stated adamantly.

  “Then may I suggest that you attend our next gathering tomorrow at sunset?” he suddenly

  said in a bright, cheerful manner. “Attendance at our gathering shall provide all the information

  you seek in order to know exactly what we are doing, and for which purpose. Bring Lozira, and

  any others whom you have told about my clandestine activities,” he said.

  Rhuna felt stunned, and then looked at Aradin whose face had paled and contorted with

  fear and apprehension.

  “You are trying to subvert us, using Lozira to force me to compromise my position and

  stand against you!” Rhuna said, trying to hide her trembling.

  “Your manner of thinking appeals to me!” said Beacon of the Night with a flash of white

  teeth. “Yet my intentions are entirely of a congenial, co-operative nature. Come as guests to

  observe and learn about our ways in order to establish whether we are your enemies or allies.”

  “There is no doubt that you are our enemy, since your allegiance is with the Dark Master!”

  said Aradin shakily.

  “The Dark Master and his followers corrupt and degrade everything that is good,” Rhuna

  said. The difference between us is like night and day – and The Dark One even chose a black robe

  to show his opposition to the white Atlan Master’s robe!”

  “This minor detail is true,” said Beacon of the Night. “Your other conclusions are not

  correct, however. Do you not agree that one must embark upona proper and thorough

  investigation into all aspects of a matter before making such a severe accusation?”

  “We will come to your gathering,” Rhuna said decisively.

  “Good, good!Thereafter, may we discuss your acquired knowledge, ideals and quest – which

  I suspect are not as divergent from ours as you may believe. And above all, on a purely personal,

  selfish level,” he said slowly in a different tone, “…I wish Lozira to gain a full understanding of the

  perso
n I am, so that she may decide. It has been weighing heavily on my mind,keeping this part of

  my life secret from her. It is time for everything to be revealed.”

  “Very well then,” said Aradin, preparing to leave the house.

  “Should she decide to continue our involvement, however, then you cannot prevent it,”

  Beacon of the Night said sternly. “I, for my part, shall not terminate our relationship on your

  request, no matter how persuasive your attempts…or would you injure or even kill me, too?”

  “That was not my intention!” Rhuna exclaimed.

  “Exactly! Exactly as it was not my intention to harm or take a life, yet at times it happens

  nevertheless,” he said, his pacing more agitated again.

  “Summon the visions, or whichever means you have used to acquire knowledge of my

  secret activities, to ascertain that I am telling the truth. And if, by any means, you are able to

  confirm the genuineness of my feelings for your daughter, then do so,” he said raising his hands in

  surrender.

  “Be present at the corner of the Red Lion by the setting of the sun tomorrow,” Beacon of

  the Night said as he escorted them to the door. “Wear a head and face covering, that you may not

  be recognized,” he said to Rhuna in a stern whisper as she brushed past him.

  “Don’t say another word!” Aradin hissed as they stepped onto the road and walked home

  with a brisk pace. Despite Lozira’s anxious expression when they entered their home, Rhuna

  rushed past her and into the special room where Aradin promptly threw the switch to activate the

  protective field.

  “Oh, what have I done, Aradin? Have I put us and The Observers in danger? I wasn’t

  thinking – those words just came out!” Rhuna wailed, feeling deflated and unworthy of The

  Observers, having so carelessly revealed their secret in a moment of intense emotion.

  “Let’s think this through carefully,” Aradin said as he paced around the small room. “We

  didn’t reveal that there is a group of us, so I believe there’s no immediate danger to The Observers

  – but we will be under much closerscrutiny from them now as they try to find out how we know

  what they are doing.”

  Rhuna’s skin prickled at the thought of being so closely observed by the Dark Ones.

  “In fact, in view of that, perhaps we shouldn’t even contact them right away or else Beacon

  of the Night will surmise that they are our colleagues,” Aradin continued as his pace quickened.

  “Maybe I shouldn’t go see my father either, if they are going to watch us so closely,” Rhuna

  said solemnly, and Aradin agreed with a firm nod.

  “Let’s go about everything as usual,” he said decisively.

  “Maybe I could observe what Beacon of the Night does, just with my mental summoning

  skil ,” Rhuna suggested.

  “Good,” said Aradin taking a deep breath. “And now you need to tel Lozira,” he said as he

  opened the door and ushered Lozira into the special room. Rhuna moved the switch as soon as

  Aradin stepped out, and then released a painful sigh.

  “Lozira, I couldn’t tell you before…oh, this is like a nightmare!” Rhuna began.

  “What’s wrong?” Lozira asked breathless with anxiety.

  “Beacon of the Night is the leader of the Dark Ones! He is the Dark Master’s apprentice!”

  Lozira looked at her mother wide-eyed and speechless.

  “That’s why I told you not to see him!”

  “Oh,” Lozira said faintly.

  “But now I’ve made a terrible mistake. I got so upset talking to him that I told him we know

  about the things he and the other followers of the Dark Master have been doing…”

  “You told him about The Observers?” Lozira said, still dazed.

  “No. But I said enough in just one outburst, and now everything has changed! And it’s all

  my fault!”

  “What will happen now?” asked Lozira in a shaky voice. Rhuna shook her head and said

  she did not know.

  “So…how do you feel now?” Rhuna asked, observing the changes in Lozira’s face as she

  struggled to comprehend the latest revelations.

  “I want to talk to him about it,” she said after a while. “Ask him to tell me what he does, and

  why.”

  “That’s exactly what he suggested,” said Rhuna. “He wants us to attend their gathering

  tomorrow night so that you can see what kind of person he really is.”

  “He said that?”

  “Yes. And then you can tell him you won’t see him anymore!” Rhuna said firmly.

  Lozira’s face scrunched into a rebellious pout. “I want to talk to him about everything

  first!” she insisted.

  “But surely you don’t want to be involved with someone who is working with the Dark

  Master!” Rhuna said sharply.

  “But I love him!” Lozira said defiantly.

  “How can you love someone like that? Like the Dark Master himself?” Rhuna argued.

  “That is the way it is!” Lozira shouted, and stomped towards the door. Rhuna groaned with

  exasperation, and then quickly told her about their decision to continue as normal while being

  under close scrutiny by the Dark Ones.“Be especially careful what you say when we are not in this

  room!” Rhuna reminded Lozira before she pulled the switch at the door.

  “Sooner or later someone will summon a vision of what I said,” said Rhuna when Aradin

  had re-entered the special room and switched the lever.

  “Most probably Tozar, if he’s watching us so closely,” agreed Aradin.

  Rhuna suggested that she summon a mental vision of Beacon of the Night to observe his

  most recent actions. Moving into her Inside Focussing position, she concentrated her attention on

  Beacon of the Night and his activities since she and Aradin left his house.

  In an instant, visions began appearing in her mind, and she recognized the room in which

  they hadspoken earlier. Beacon of the Night stood still, looking out the large window onto the

  garden, and then began to pace back and forth in front of the window, as he had done while she

  and Aradin were there. Rhuna felt frustrated that nothing of significance appeared in her visions,

  so she made a renewed attempt at summoning visions of the man’s activity.

  “He is doing the same as we are,” remarked Aradin when she had described her visions to

  him. “Let us keep observing him closely, in case he contacts the other Dark Ones stealthily, in a

  way we don’t expect.”

  Rhuna barely slept that night, and drifted from one disturbing dream to another before

  awakening at daybreak. Her comfortable home was full of tension as the family gathered around

  the eating table for the morning meal, and Faleesh gave her a questioning look as she brought the

  food.

  “Melody of the Dawn has been seeing someone we don’t approve of,” Rhuna whispered in

  Faleesh’s ear as she helped the older woman bring dishes of food to the table.

  “Aah,” Faleesh said knowingly. “A man.” She nodded her simple understanding of the

  situation, and continued preparing the eating table with a wistful smile on her face.

  The family ate in uncomfortable silence until Shandi began to name the food items in front

  of her. Grateful for the distraction, Rhuna announced that she had many things to do at home

  today. “You’re staying home with us,” she told Lozira, who responded with a glowering look.

  “Stay home with me!” Shandi said
excitedly, and Rhuna felt the heavy tension in the room

  dissipate instantly. Lozira looked at her little sister and smiled happily, and Aradin let out a silent

  sigh of relief.

  After finishing some daily chores, and when Shandi was asleep in the adjoining room,

  Rhuna felt it was the right time to broach the subject of drinking intoxicating beverages with

  Lozira. She entered the wash room where Lozira had been washing some of her new clothes and

  told her that she had seen her drinking the fermented barley beverage.

  “It felt good,” Lozira responded bluntly.

  “But you know that it’s against Atlan principles, and back in Atlán you would never have

  considered partaking,” Rhuna objected.

  “That was then,” Lozira answered in the same blunt manner as she continued washing one

  of her dresses.

  Rhuna touched her daughter’s arm to get her full attention. “What is different here, now?”

  she asked, suddenly afraid of what the answer might be.

  “Everything!” Lozira spat, suddenly flushed with anger. When Rhuna waited silently for an

  explanation, Lozira sighed and shrugged her shoulders.

  “I think Atlan principles are too strict!” she said forcefully. “All the things Tozar said and did

  made me see clearly that it’s not right, even though they keep saying it is.”

  “Your father was particularly strict with you because of me,” Rhuna stated firmly. “You

  mustn’t judge Atlan principles based on how Tozar treated you in recent times.”

  Lozira thought about Rhuna’s words for a moment, and then shrugged. “Besides, Aradin

  drinks those beverages at meal time, and I saw other Atlans in the building where they make and

  distribute it,” see countered.

  Rhuna nodded and said she knew about the more relaxed attitude towards intoxicating

  beverages in Safu, but that this was not the point.

  “What worries me is that you so easily lowered your Atlan standards,” Rhuna said. “And it’s

  because of him, isn’t it!”

  Lozira’s face flushed red again as she pulled away from her mother. “He did not force me to

  do it!” she retorted angrily. “I wanted to try it! I want to be with him! What he is or does makes

  no difference to me!” she shot at Rhuna, throwing the washsoap to the floor and leaving the room