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Spring Showers Box-set

Page 43

by Avell Kro


  with long, angry strides.

  Later that day, as gentle rain soothed Rhuna’s ragged nerves, she took the position for

  relaxation techniques and special breathing to restore her mental energy.Before she could start,

  she heard the high-pitched screech of Shandi’s scream and lunged through the doorway, her heart

  pounding at the terror in her small child’s voice. She burst into the adjoining room and swooped

  onto the small cot where Shandi had been sleeping. The little round face was bright pink and

  contorted by cries which quickly abated when Rhuna wrapped her arms around Shandi, cooing

  and speaking words of comfort.

  “What is it, Little Honey Cake,” Rhuna asked, still shaken by the intensity of Shandi’s cries.

  “Lozira,” she said between sobs. “Lozira crying, crying!”

  “What happened?” Aradin asked as he descended next to Rhuna and stroked Shandi’s head.

  “I think she’s had another vision,” whispered Rhuna, and began to wipe Shandi’s tears.

  Then she reached for some of Shandi’s toys, hoping that some playful distraction would soon quell

  the terror of what the little girl had seen.

  “She saw Lozira crying badly,” she told Aradin in a whisper as Shandi began to play

  normally with her animal toy. “It has to be that scoundrel, Beacon of the Night – he’s going to

  make Lozira cry!”

  “Yes, probably,” Aradin agreed. “Shandi is too young to describe her visions, so we can’t

  find out more.”

  “I’m going to watch him very closely. Maybe we can change what will happen, or at least be

  prepared!” Rhuna said, determined to protect her daughter from emotional harm.

  Rhuna struggled to keep up a pretense of a normal daily routine, frequently watching

  Beacon of the Night by means of the Gazing of the Waters, and then by summoning mental visions

  when she appeared to be merely practicing Inside Focussing.

  In most visions, Beacon of the Night was going about usual activities in his workroom

  making various items of jewellery, some of them with orrichalcum, the reddishgold of Atlán. At the

  middle of the day, Rhuna observed him meeting with two Atlans for a meal, and with whom he

  shared normal every-day conversation. The low light in the eating hall made Beacon of the Night

  appear much younger in this particular image, reminding Rhuna of how he looked when he was

  her teacher in Atlán. The sudden rush of memories reminded her that she had liked him when she

  was his student, and that those qualities which had appealed to her then had now attracted Lozira.

  When the long and depressing day became unbearable, Rhuna decided to visit her father at

  The Reigning One’s residence. Abu-Malech greeted her with his usual friendly manner and

  respectful bow, and Rhuna tried to appear cheerful as well. She ascended the wide stone stairs to

  her father’s chambers, once again recalling her first lunar cycle in Safu when she resided in the

  same rooms. By now she had become accustomed to her father’s foreknowledge of her visits, and

  she opened the door without signaling her arrival.

  Damel was sitting in his usual position near the window, looking at the door expectantly.

  Rhuna walked towards him but stopped abruptly when she saw the light cast deep creases and

  shadows across his face. She knew instinctively that he was deeply concerned about something.

  “He has discovered our secrets, and discovered my existence,” said Damell gloomily.

  “The Dark Master?” asked Rhuna as a chill raced up her spine.

  “Much worse,” answered Damell. “Tozar.”

  “Tozar?” Rhuna repeated, not understanding.

  “Tozar is our most dangerous enemy,” Damell said with a slow and heavy nod of his grey

  head.“He has been scrutinizing every action taken by you, every word spoken by you, in all this

  time,” Damel began to explain with a long sigh. “He is the reason I have been shielding my

  existence for as long as possible.”

  “But why? You were friends in the past!” Rhuna said, alarmed and confused.

  “A lifetime ago, My Child,” Damell said with a dismissive shake of his head. “Friendships

  change and die,” he added on a bitter note.

  “How can you say that Tozar is a much more dangerous enemy than the Dark One?”

  “Who presides over more people and commands much higher esteem and influence? Is it

  not Tozar, whose long-standing reputation excuses his shortcomings, whose superior wisdom

  intimidates his peers, and whose mere position as the longest-serving senior member of the High

  Council of Atlán fills most people with awe so that his words and actions are never questioned,

  criticized or scrutinized?”

  “Yes…but how exactly is Tozar dangerous?”

  “You have not been observing him since your ways parted,” stated Damel , and Rhuna

  shook her head.“You must do so now, Rhuna. You must see for yourself what has become of him.”

  “What has become of him?” she asked nervously. Rhuna thought about the things Lozira

  had said, and which she had dismissed as merely Tozar’s lack ofproper information about Rhuna’s

  circumstances of several solar cycles past.

  “He still thinks I’m irrational and a bad influence on Lozira,” Rhuna replied, but stopped

  when she saw Damell shake his head gloomily.

  “I can summon a vision of him now, then,” Rhuna suggested.

  “Yes, and then visit him with your Extended Consciousness by which means you shall

  experience and observe much more accurately and intimately,” instructed Damell.

  Rhuna obediently approached the water basin in the dimly-lit corner of her father’s

  chamber, and with great trepidation focused her thoughts on Tozar.

  As soon as the water cleared, she saw Tozar pacing angrily in his private rooms, muttering

  to himself and expressing frustration at not being able to summon certain things. Rhuna had

  never seen him behave in this manner, and she found the vision very disturbing. The next image

  showed Tozar marching towards the other members of the High Council of Atlán who were

  gathered in the Council’s private discussion chamber.

  “Do you not comprehend that my message to the innkeeper at the land of the isthmus was

  intercepted? It could only be she, who has such power and ability!”

  “We agree that it is highly irregular,” said an Atlan woman in a Master’s Robe, nodding

  solemnly and walking around uneasily as Tozar spoke.

  “We must find a way to stop her! Where is her knowledge and power coming from? She is

  in league with the Dark One himself, I tell you!” Tozar growled, shocking the Council members.

  “Harbinger of Solace,” said another Atlan Master. “Your preoccupation with Keeper of

  Wis…”

  “Do not speak her name!” Tozar spat venomously.

  “How can I not be preoccupiedwhen my daughter is in her grasp? She is being deluded,

  misled and turned against me as well as all Atlan principles! Such a course can only lead to misery,

  depravity and even death!”

  “Surely you are overreacting, Harbinger of Solace!” said one of the Council members whom

  Rhuna remembered from her past in Atlán.

  “What does she do in the guest chamber of The Reigning One? There is something most

  sinister and uncanny about it – have you not observed?” Tozar continued his rampage.

  “Yes, and we concluded it was of no importance,” answered another
of the Council

  members. “…and there are other matters the High Council of Atlán must discuss, weigh and

  debate…if I may point out, Harbinger of Solace, you have not been present…”

  “Of course I have been present, what are you saying?”

  “Present in body,yet you have been absent in mind and spirit for some time already. We

  have been concerned and even discussed it…”

  “You have been discussing my manner in secret, even conspiring against me?” bel owed

  Tozar.

  “Conspiring? Why no, Harbinger of Solace,” exclaimed the Council member.

  The image shifted to another time in a similar setting, and Rhuna noticed with horror that

  Tozar looked unkempt and unwashed.

  “It is Avenger of Justice!” Tozar spluttered with outrage.

  “Pardon me…he died many solar cycles past…” stuttered one of the Council members.

  “Evidently he did not, and he has been deceiving us!” Tozar scoffed loudly. “He and his

  daughter are a far greater threat to the Atlan Empire than the Dark Master ever was!” declared

  Tozar, and Rhuna realized he had summoned specific visions, such as incidental comments with

  Faleesh about her father, and drawn the correct conclusions.

  “What kind of power enables one to be unseen by visions, and be able to observe mentally

  with such accuracy? It is the power she has inherited from her father! She experienced these

  mental visions at an early age already…”

  The image faded and Rhuna exhaled loudly. She stood at the water basin silently for a while,

  thinking about what she had just seen.

  “He seems so different,” Rhuna said.

  “Indeed.”

  “He seems…unbalanced and obsessive,” Rhuna said, choosing the words carefully.

  “Exactly,” Damell responded with a grave nod of his head. “Yet there is more, Rhuna.

  Summon visions concerning his close scrutiny of Lozira.”

  She turned back towards the water basin and concentrated on Tozar’s obsession with their

  daughter’s wellbeing. The familiar coloured swirls appeared and then cleared to reveal Tozar, deep

  creases across his brow and his beard unkempt.

  “My daughter is being seduced by the new leader of the Dark Master’s followers!” he shouted

  at several other members of the High Council of Atlán. “Her mother knows it and does nothing!”

  The Council members nodded in agreement, and one of the women reached out to place a

  comforting hand on his arm.

  “Be assured, Harbinger of Solace, that the new Atlan Council of Safu shall take firm action in

  this matter!” said the woman.

  “This is proof that my daughter’s mother is affiliated with the followers of the Dark Master!”

  Tozar thundered as his whole body trembled and spittle appeared on his lower lip and beard.“I tell

  you, they are dangerous and must be stopped! Intercepting messages, placing so-called curses on

  innocent people, and now the leader himself has taken my daughter!” he said desperately.

  “We have examined Beacon of the Night’s activities closely, and agree with you that he is a

  grave threat to the Atlan Empire, and certainly to innocent and naïve individuals such as your

  daughter,” said Tamer of Fire, the red-bearded senior member of the High Council.

  “Beacon of the Night and other Atlans calling themselves the New Arrivals in Safu are

  developing these new powers by seeking knowledge unfamiliar in Atlán,” said the woman who was

  attempting to calm Tozar.

  “I declare this to be Forbidden Knowledge!” Tozar shouted hoarsely.

  The vision ended and Rhuna sank to the floor where she sat in silence for a long time.

  Part Six (Beacon of the Night)

  Rhuna used a head-covering to hide most of her face as she walked to the Red Lion statue

  to attend the meeting of the Guardians of Knowledge.

  “I can’t believe we’re going to one of their meetings!” she whispered to Aradin.

  “It’s an opportunity to learn more about their ways,” he said, and Rhuna felt grateful for his

  continual positive attitude. She looked to her side and noted the particularly stylish clothes Lozira

  had chosen to wear for this event.

  They walked along several Atlan-built streets, past some prestigious homes with expansive

  and wel -kept gardens, and then along a broad, tree-lined road which led to the lion statue. The lion

  loomed above them as they approached it, and Rhuna examined the fine pinkish stone

  appreciatively.

  “Very rare stone,” said a voice behind them, and Rhuna turned to see Charmer of Snakes

  approaching them. “Beautifully made, truly exquisite,” he said, admiring the colossal statue.

  “We are here to attend a meeting,” said Aradin in a hushed voice.

  “Ah, very good, very good!” Charmer of Snakes responded. “This I had assumed, although

  your faces are not familiar to me.”

  “This is our first meeting,” said Lozira softly.

  Charmer of Snakes smiled in his lopsided way which always repulsed Rhuna. “Come this

  way,” he whispered, and began walking around to the rear of the Red Lion.

  Rhuna wondered where he was leading them when she suddenly realized that he was

  approaching a secret door in the massive rectangular base of the statue. She heard a scraping

  noise as Charmer of Snakes moved something with one hand, and pul ed a door open with the

  other.

  “Bend down until you have walked down exactly five steps,” he instructed, and then he

  disappeared into the black square hole. Rhuna let her eyes adjust to the darkness before placing a

  foot inside the low doorway, and when she had stooped and taken two steps down the stairs, she

  was able to see a dim light ahead of her. She kept her arms outstretched so that she could feel the

  walls on either side with her hands.

  “It smellsdown here,” Lozira said, and Rhuna noticed how her voice bounced off the thick

  stone walls around them.

  Rhuna took several more careful steps on level ground, and then realized that the narrow

  passage took a sharp turn. Around the corner she saw a dimly-lit room and the dark forms of

  people moving about. She recognized the nearby figure standing and waiting for them.

  “This is the usual venue for Newcomers and guests, where we have general discussions

  and get to know our fellow members,” Beacon of the Night explained. Each core member invites

  individuals whom they avouchto use the necessary discretion, and in due course members may

  ascend to the higher levels of power and activity, entering the greater secrecyof the inner circles.”

  Rhuna glanced across the long rectangular room with its oppressive low ceiling, and quickly

  estimated that at least thirty people were in attendance. The smooth surface of the solid stone

  blocks reflected the flickering lights of candles and small lamps, and in each corner of the room a

  small, narrow table held smoking incense.

  We are hidden from any summons by means of the Gazing of the Waters,” Charmer of

  Snakes whispered furtively. “The nature of the large stone above,” he said with his devious and

  crooked grin. When Rhuna looked at him uncomprehendingly, he explained further. “The rock

  contains many small grains of crystals which conduct the Lightning Force and other earth

  energies, and this disrupts any summons!” he said triumphantly.

  “It’s so simple?” Rhuna gasped.

 
; Progress of the Wind approached them with a welcoming smile, shaking hands politely and

  introducing several people to Rhuna and Aradin. After the usual exchange of greetings, Rhuna

  mingled with her new acquaintances and learned that two of them were also attending a meeting

  of the Guardians of Knowledge for the first time.

  “Brothers, Sisters and Friends, be welcomed!” Rhuna turned towards the familiar voice and

  saw Beacon of the Night standing on a pedestal at one of the narrow ends of the room. He wore a

  dark robe with a hood, which cast deep shadows across his face. Rhuna noticed that his green eyes

  sparkled with reflections of the flickering light in front of him, and she thought that in this

  moment his eyes shone like beacons in the black of night.

  Silence fell upon the cavernous room, followed by the shuffling of feet as people found a

  place to sit and listen. Rhuna quickly returned to Aradin and Lozira, who were already seated

  near the back of the room.

  “We are gathered once more in the secretive cover of darkness,” Beacon of the Night began,

  his speech strong and deliberate. The sudden silence of the audience in the gloomy stone dungeon

  sent a chill up Rhuna’s spine.

  “On this occasion, for the benefit of Newcomers and specially invited guests, we shall

  summarize our accomplishments, our goals and purpose,” Beacon of the Night continued. Rhuna

  glanced aside and saw utter devotion on her daughter’s face, her eyes not straying a moment from

  the man she adored. A painful despair filled Rhuna as she recalled Shandi’s traumatic vision of

  Lozira crying.

  “In the beginning, our members were scattered across distant lands, and the Atlan Council

  of Safu was executed at the order of The Reigning One,” Beacon of the Night said, and Rhuna

  recalled the horror of that day. “It was necessary to commence afresh, after these pioneering

  Brothers fel into selfish and unethical ways, bringing the Master’s name into even greater

  disgrace. And so, we have begun anew, as the Guardians of Knowledge, holding the secrets of the

  Master in high regard as we continue his great work.

  “Brothers, Sisters and Friends! Our precepts are superior to those of Atlán! Force is

  necessary!Resistance is necessary! Action is vital! Nothing can be accomplished without action;

 

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