by Avell Kro
nothing can be achieved without some forceand resistance to the restrictive limitations set upon
us by the High Council of Atlán!”
Beacon of the Night paused for a moment as people clapped or nodded their approval.
“It is incomprehensible foolishness to condemn the New Knowledge!” he continued with
renewed vigour. “Their stubborn refusal to adapt and change shall lead to their own demise in the
near future when the younger generations are born without any Atlan abilities.”
“Therefore, the future of the Atlan legacy is in our hands, Brothers, Sisters and Friends! We
must bear the heavy responsibility of carrying forward the knowledge to provide acceptable
standards of living, lest humankind reverts to living a mere step above animals. Inhabitants of
some remote and isolated lands have stagnated and reversed into such savagery, and their life
hasreduced to mere survival in wilderness among animals.”
Rhuna recalled her childhood on the remote island of Chinza, where the Zao people lived a
primitive life and struggled to survive. She shuddered at the thought of living her entire life on
Chinza without even knowing of a much better world beyond the horizon. A deep pang of guilt
distracted her thoughts as she realized how grateful she was to Tozar for rescuing her from such a
dismal fate.
“Their inaction shall cause them to stagnate in the mire of their own self-righteous
verbosity!” Beacon of the Night spoke triumphantly, then paused to allow the audience to laugh,
clap and cheer.
“Let us not forget to whom we owe our state of enlightenment, Brothers, Sisters and
Friends! Gatherer of Sage, known in the entire Atlan Empire as ‘the Dark Master’ has shown us the
way, and indeed, continues to guide us!”
Rhuna was shocked by the words spoken by Beacon of the Night, as well as the audience’s
reactions to them. She had never heard such things before, and wondered how she and her fellow
Observers had overlooked the important matter of the Dark Ones’ precepts and ideals.
“His work continues in ethereal realms, while we, on this material plane, accomplish the
necessary tasks to nourish his Ethereal Being, namely the spilling of small animal blood to release
the life force which is transformed into sustaining ethereal energy.”
During the brief pause, the audience clapped and murmured words of support and
approval.
“Recounting our accomplishments thus far,” Beacon of the Night said, then paused for
effect. “We are working surreptitiously with the new generation of Atlans who do not possess
traditional powers, and who seek to imitate works of the First Atlans with work of the hands;
namely devices, contraptions, chemical reactions, energy converted and conveyed to cause
movement. LightningForce energy, like the lightning in the skies, shall be contained and controlled
to heat and soften stone, then to move heavy metal knives and saws to cut and mould the stone.
Soon we shallhave the ability to build pyramids like the First Atlans without any of their given
skills of mental powers of elemental transformation!”
The audience clapped again. “Furthermore, we are making great advances in other
directions as yet unknown to the Atlans, which makes us superior, just as our Master is superior.
Levitation, mind control over others, manipulation of matter, advances in alchemy, herbs, new
sciences of physics, mathematics and sound – sonic energy to cause weightlessness, instead of
mental manipulation of the Forces used by the First Atlans.”
“This ensures that the Atlan ways may continue into the distant future, even when there are
no more Atlans born with traditional mental powers. This combined Knowledge of the First Atlans
and our Great Master must continue to survive through generations, to guide the world of
mankind, to provide the necessary structures and provisions for a comfortable and rewarding life
for every individual.”
“However, Brothers, Sisters and Friends; a problem looms on the horizon!” Beacon of the
Night said with a sudden raised voice, and Rhuna felt the attention of everyone in the room
sharpen in anticipation.
“The people of the Land of Ubanti desire our Knowledge for their own use!” Rhuna sensed
the rush of low whispers sweeping across the audience as Beacon of the Night paused.
“This must not occur!” he shouted. “The Knowledge we have developed, with great effort
and sacrifice, long days of experiments and frustrations to reach our goals, all under the guidance
of our Grand Master who leads us from ethereal realms. This Knowledge must remain under the
control of a select few – you, my Brothers and Sisters – who are competent in the responsible use
of this Great Knowledge. Any other course of action would be like throwing pearls to swine!”
Beacon of the Night said with angry outrage, and the audience responded with shouts of approval.
“They would destroy others and themselves by the misuse and abuse of this Knowledge. It
therefore must, at all costs, remain the possession of our people, The Guardians of Knowledge!”
Rousing cheers and claps erupted and reverberated in the close confines of the
subterranean room.
Beacon of the Night held up his hands for silence.
“We have successfully intercepted attempts by Ubanti emissaries to gain knowledge of our
work,” he continued in a normal tone. “Some have experienced debilitating ailments; others have
encountered mishaps, even attacks by crocodile and hippopotamus, so that they are becoming
afraid to venture into the land of Safu. We shall continue to prevent the Ubanti from approaching
Safu for the purpose of acquiring our Knowledge.
“It is our utmost privilege to safeguard this Great Knowledge, which the Great Master
himself discovered, developed and delivered to us, now from The Infinite. Once he was Gatherer of
Sage, then condemned and called The Dark Master, and although deceased in body, his
Consciousness lives in realms beyond this material world.
“It is a reciprocal relationship. We provide life force energy to sustain his Ethereal Being, in
return for his infinite knowledge and wisdom which guide us, and which in turn shall eventually
guide the entire world of humankind!”
Claps and cheers broke out again, lasting longer than before, and Rhuna realized it was the
end of his address. As she looked around at the faces,she was shocked to recognize more than a
few of them, including women with whom she had a passing acquaintance in Safu.
“What a superb speech!” said an Atlan man seated behind her. “You are Newcomers, I
believe. Allow me to introduce myself,” the amiable man said as he began a lengthy, enthusiastic
account of how he became one of the Guardians of Knowledge.
Beacon of the Night approached them and looked intently at Lozira. Rhuna stepped up
beside her to prevent him from speaking to her.
“May we have a private discussion in the side chamber,” Beacon of the Night said,
directingthem into a dim room with a low ceiling. Inside, Rhuna saw seating cushions and a low
table with various odd items on it.
“Shall you not reveal to me your secret Knowledge, in exchange for gaining ours?” Beacon
of the Night asked Rhuna.
“No,” she replied firmly.
“Do we not share the same goals and pu
rpose?”
“Not at all!” Rhuna protested. “For one thing, I believe that Atlan Knowledge can be placed
in the capable hands of certain non-Atlan individuals who are responsible and have advanced
education.”
“Then the pursuit of higher Knowledge, always gaining and growing,developing higher
skills and understanding…” Beacon of the Night suggested, andRhuna thought of Damell and the
Extended Consciousness techniques she had been learning.
“Yes, yes, maybe,” she admitted carefully.
“With regard to resistance and the use of force, you yourself have demonstrated that these
are necessary at times,”Beacon of the Night argued, and Rhuna reluctantly agreed.
“You see, we are not at such opposing sides after all!” Beacon of the Night stated.
“We have been observing what you do, how you have inflicted pain and ailments on
innocent people, and this is something we would never do!” Rhuna said angrily.
“So, there is also a group of you,” Beacon of the Night said nodding. “Perhaps your group
can be allied with the Guardians of Knowledge, and be united in purpose. A sword sharpening
another sword, each checking the other,” Beacon of the Night said seriously with an intent stare.
“It would be the best outcome for everyone, Rhuna.”
“Don’t use my personal name!” Rhuna shot back. “We’re not family and far from close or
intimate friends!”
“We do not believe in this formality and distance,” Beacon of the Night explained in his
irritating casual tone. “We call each other Brothers and Sisters, and use our personal names. My
personal name is Goram. You may address me thus. It strengthens and deepens the bonds
between us, which is necessary under these circumstances.”
“What circumstances do you mean?” asked Rhuna.
“A strong united force against the Atlans and other individuals who oppose us, try to
undermine us, perhaps even sabotage our activities,” he answered.
“If you have such a united brotherhood, then why did you ask me to hide my face when I
came here tonight?” Rhuna asked. “Didn’t you tell your brothers about me, and that I have
knowledge of your secret activities?”
“You assume correctly,” Beacon of the Night stated flatly. “There was no need to inform
them at this time. My connection with you is through Lozira, and as such, it is my personal
matter.”
“Let’s go home,” said Aradin as he ushered Rhuna to the door of the small side room.
“I want to stay with Goram for a while so that we can talk,” Lozira said to Rhuna.
After a long moment of silence, Rhuna reluctantly turned to leave the chamber and let Aradin
place a comforting arm around her as they left the strange building.
“I wonder why he wants to keep his involvement with Lozira secret from the others?” she
whispered to Aradin as they ascended the dark stairs. She felt his silent shrug, and then welcomed
the fresh, flowing air as the door to the outside world opened for them.
In her safe and conformable home, Rhuna paced around restlessly, anxiety for her daughter
mounting as she thought of her being alone with Beacon of the Night.
“I’ll wait for Lozira,” she told Aradin, and kissed him good night. When the house was dark
and quiet, she decided to summon a mental vision of the events that took place after she and
Aradin left Lozira in the subterranean meeting hall. She sat in the Inside Focussing position and
soon felt her mind calm and quieten before focussing her thoughts on Lozira. She heard the gentle
hum of the vibration that always accompanied her mental visions, and then she watched the
images unfolding in her mind. The image of the dimly-lit room appeared immediately, and she
saw Lozira looking at Beacon of the Night as he approached to stand in front of her, his eyes
exuding a powerful emotion which startled Rhuna.
“You are disappointed in me?” he asked in a quiet voice.
“No, not at all!” Lozira replied emphatically. “I was surprised…and a little frightened…”
“There is nothing to fear!” Beacon of the Night said quickly. “We are in control of these
powers, just as Atlan Masters utilize their powers with responsibility and caution,” he said, and
then reached out to hold Lozira’s hands in his.“So…this has not changed anything between us?” he
asked with anxious anticipation. Rhuna thought that she sensed the man’s deep emotional
turmoil at this moment.
“No, of course not,” Lozira whispered. “I…I understand better, and admire and respect what
you do,” she added slowly.
Rhuna saw the intense relief experienced by Beacon of the Night, and then observed the
emotions that surged across his face as he raised his arms to embrace Lozira.
“I love you, no matter what you do,” whispered Lozira as she wrapped her arms around his
neck.
Rhuna felt the vision torn away by her emotional reaction to her daughter’s words and the
strong emotions that accompanied the images. She stood up and began to pace around the room
again for a while. After busying herself with mundane chores around the house, she became
increasingly restless as the night progressed, and decided to observe Lozira with her Extended
Consciousness.
Reclining on the plush cushions in the main chamber of her house, Rhuna forced the tension
out of her body in order to allow her Consciousness to be released. She realized that her concern
for Lozira interfered with the process, but her emotional need to be with her daughter helped her
to overcome the obstacles.
Finally floating freely above her motionless body, Rhuna willed her Extended Consciousness
to be with Lozira, and in an instant, she recognized the house of Beacon of the Night. She directed
her Consciousness to the area she sensed emotions emanating, and found herself floating above
two naked forms on a bed by dim candlelight.
Rhuna saw her daughter lying on her back with her head tilted back, her arms and legs
wrapped around Beacon of the Night as he sensuously kissed the side of her neck. Her eyes were
closed and her parted lips released sweet moans of ecstasy, while all around Rhuna saw colours of
blues, reds and purples, swirling in tight coils as flashes of gold and silver light sparked in rhythm.
Rhuna felt shaken to the core, and her Extended Consciousness thumped clumsily back
into her physical body. She bolted upright with a groan and panted with heavy emotion as
dismay and defeat washed through her. She remained seated in the dark silence of the main room
and waited for Lozira’s return.
At last she heard footsteps approach the door, and she turned to look as Lozira entered.
“You waited for me?” Lozira said with apprehension as she stopped.
“I just wanted to know if everything went all right,” she said carefully.
“It doesn’t change anything,” Lozira said softly. “Whatever he does, I still love him.” Rhuna
saw the glow of love radiate from her face.
“I also wantedto say that whatever you do, whatever happens,” Rhuna said, with a tremor in
her voice. “…I’ll always be your mother and will always want be part of your life, share your
feelings – good and bad… like before, when you told me about your feelings for Goram. I hope you
can always feel free to come to me and tell me everything…”
“Is everything really all right?” Rhuna asked gently as she stroked her hair and held her
tight. Lozira pulled back to look into Rhuna’s face and nodded firmly.
“Yes, really,” she said softly, a tear gathering in her eye.
“It’s hard for me to step back and let you go,” Rhuna said as tears threatened to choke her
words. “…but I love and respect you, and have to accept that I can’t control how you feel, and can’t
live your life for you.”
Lozira looked startled as she thought about her mother’s words.
“I never thought about how it must be for you, as a mother,” she said, and returned the
embrace.
During the following days, Rhuna made it part of her daily routine to observe Lozira and
Beacon of the Night by means of the Gazing of the Waters. The images she saw were similar every
day, despite showing different surroundings and circumstances. One day, Rhuna recognized The
Reigning One’s beautiful and tranquil Sanctuary Gardens, and another day they were on a barge on
the Great River, but always touching or holding hands. They embraced for a long time, spoke softly
as their cheeks touched, and kissed often. Rhuna thought she had never seen a couple so
absorbed in each other and blissfully oblivious of their surroundings.
Lozira’s face glowed and radiated love every morning as she left the house early, and
returned to share the evening meal with Rhuna and the family. Every evening she allowed Shandi
to comb her hair, and when her little sister tired of combing, Lozira played with her a while before
taking her to her cot and waiting until she fell asleep.
One evening, as Rhuna began to prepare for the meal, she told Aradin about her concern for
Lozira’s immediate future.
“Sun of the Morning is determined to force Lozira to return to Atlán,” she said. “But what
could they really do, besides talk and threaten?”
“Right now, nothing at all – the entire Council is bed-ridden!” Aradin said. “The client who just left told me about it.”
“Really? You don’t think…?”
“What?” asked Aradin.
“Could it be…a curse?” she said, choosing her words careful y because they were not in the
special room.
“It would make sense,” said Aradin with a deep frown. “You should try to learn more…” he