by Avell Kro
reported, and then spoke a specific summon to identify the cause.
“If the ailments of your people were caused by a curse, we would see images of someone in
the act of creating the curse,” Rhuna explained, recalling the images she had summoned only
recently of Beacon of the Night. In that moment, she realized that she could not summon the
secret activities of the Dark Ones by means of the Gazing of the Waters without revealing her
special ability, and that doing so would expose the fact that many things can be hidden from regular
summoning.
Rhuna watched with bated breath as the images appeared on the water’s surface, showing
first a large room where the ailing were lying and being attended by carers, and then revealing a
large communal kitchen and food storage area.
“Why are the images showing ordinary things like this?” Uxbana asked sharply.
“Sometimes not everything is revealed clearly…” Rhuna stammered and knew Uxbana
sensed her discomfort.
“My father can help me investigate further,” Rhuna said, trying to assure Uxbana as her face
creased with more suspicion and anger. She politely requested Uxbana to wait while she quickly
dashed upstairs to consult Damell.
“We have to find out what happened,” Rhuna said as she burst into his chambers, assuming
correctly that her father was already aware of the situation.
“Everything is possible in The Infinite,” her father replied calmly.
“If Goram is responsible…” shaking her head with fury.
“We shall enter The Infinite together,” Damell said. “An important matter as this must be
investigated thoroughly.”
Rhuna needed to do a few special breathing exercises to relieve her tension before she
could release her Extended Consciousness into the Infinite.She carefully listened to Damell’s
instructions for accessing past events in The Infinite, and then reclined on the cushions to release
her Extended Consciousness. At first, Rhuna thought she had entered the wrong plane, and she
felt more disoriented than usual.
“I am here,” came her father’s reassuring thought-words, and Rhuna felt relieved. The past
had a strange light in The Infinite, with vague forms blurred in places, but clear enough to
recognize people, places and objects.
Rhuna concentrated on the cause of the Ubanti people’s debilitating illness, and found her
Extended Consciousness moving around in a food preparation area which she recognized from
the image she had summoned by means of the Gazing of the Waters. She moved around to see
water and open sewerage drains nearby. Damell’s shimmering form pointed to the water jugs in
the kitchen, and Rhuna projected her Extended Consciousness towards them. Before she saw
anything, her senses perceived a foul odour, and she concluded that the water was very dirty.
After an indefinite time in The Infinite, hovering around the Ubanti commune food area,
Rhuna sensed that her father was ready to return his Extended Consciousness to his body.
“The Ubanti people’s plight is due to contaminated water in the food preparation areas,”
Damell stated as Rhuna sat up from the reclining cushions.
“I’m relieved,” said Rhuna. “I was really afraid Goram had put a curse on them!”
“The Ubanti may not be so easily convinced, in view of everything that has already
happened,” Damell said gloomily.
“But they know that Atlans would never start a war with any other people!” Rhuna scoffed.
“Do they? They judge Atlans as they judge themselves, according to their own precepts.
They do not understand that Atlan mentality precludes any hostility towards another being.”
Rhuna remembered Uxbana’s surprise when she told her that Atlans simply do not spy on
others or misuse the ability to summon visions by means of the Gazing of the Waters.
“This could be a serious situation,” Damell continued as he began to pace. “We shall
observe the Ubanti carefully.”
Rhuna hurried back to the Attendance Hall where The Reigning One and Uxbana still sat in
uncomfortable silence.
“The illness is due to contaminated water!” she announced.
“What is that word?” Uxbana said with a frown.
“It means that the water in your food preparation area is dirty, and this can cause the
symptoms your people are suffering from,” explained Rhuna.
“Dirty water causes illness? I have never heard of such things!” Uxbana scoffed.
“But of course!” Rhuna said emphatically, and then attempted to explain why dirty water can
be dangerous to people’s health.
“It sounds like the water has been cursed!” Uxbana stated adamantly.
“No, no! Our summons showed only the dirty water, not someone making a curse! My
father would have discovered any curse!” Rhuna said forceful y.
“Really? You are certain of this?” she said skeptically. “Who is your father that his word
should have such weight and authority?”
“He is a valued friend of many solar cycles,” interrupted The Reigning One gruffly. “His
word is as law to me.”
Rhuna was pleasantly surprised by The Reigning One’s statement, and gave him an
appreciative smile.
“My uncle and brothers await my report,” Uxbana said. “You have not convinced me that
this is not an act of war by the Atlan people towards the Ubanti people. Previous events favour this
conclusion. Furthermore, even if you convinced me otherwise, my uncle and brothers make their
own decisions and deliberations.”
“But I assure you,” Rhuna began shakily, “if it really were a curse, then only by a few
individuals, and not on behalf of all Atlans!”
“Why do you tolerate those ones who make curses?” Uxbana challenged.
The Reigning One grunted.
“If we had such ones among the Ubanti people, they would be punished, and probably
killed!” Uxbana continued.
“This is what happened before already,” Rhuna began, looking at The Reigning One whose
Army had killed the previous group of Dark Ones.“We, I…and the new Atlan Council are doing
something, but they are sick. .”
“What? They are also sick?” Uxbana’s eyebrows shot up, and her lips twitched. “Also from
dirty water? Why would they use such water when they believe it causes such severe illness?”
“It was…something else,” said Rhuna, flailing for the right reply.
“It was a curse!” Uxbana shouted angrily.
Rhuna was taken aback by her loud outburst, and failed to give any answer at all.
“And you do nothing? Nothing but talk, summon visions in the seeing waters,”spluttered
Uxbana outraged.
“That is a different matter!” Rhuna protested.
“Your daughter has a liaison with their leader!” spat Uxbana viciously. “How can I trust
your words when you condone such a union!”
“I do not condone it!” spluttered Rhuna, feeling her composure crumble.
“My emissaries report that she engages in sexual relations with him every single day!”
Uxbana shot at Rhuna.
“I have t-tried everything…” Rhuna stuttered, shocked by Uxbana’s words andfeelingutterly
defeated in front of both Uxbana and The Reigning One.
“Hmph!” Uxbana grunted as she stood and left the Attendance Hall without a word. Rhuna
excused herself a
nd hurried home, her eyes stinging with unshed tears.
Finally in the comfort of her home, Rhuna had barely finished changing clothes when she
was assaulted by another unpleasant feeling. Shandi came waddling towards her wearing a new
red dress, and Rhuna instantly recalled the vision Gamu-Bet had foretold several solar cycles past.
“Black man coming,” Shandi shrieked, and Rhuna promptly swept the little childup into her
arms. Aradin appeared from an adjoining room and embraced them both.
“Gamu-Bet’s vision,” she whispered to Aradin as she stroked Shandi’s hair and face, quickly
comforting her little daughter.
“Yes, I know,” Aradin answered, and kissed the top of Shandi’s head.
When Shandi appeared to have recovered, Rhuna cheerful y commented on her pretty new
dress, and then turned to tell Aradin about the upsetting events at The Reigning One’s residence.
“The Ubanti people have waged wars before,” Aradin said looking into the distance as he
recalled what he had heard.
“You mean, they are not as peaceable as Atlans, or even the Benshi?”
“Definitely not!” said Aradin shaking his head.
“We should tell our friends, and observe the Ubanti closely, just like Damell said,” Rhuna said
solemnly.
Rhuna and Aradin diligently summoned various visions of the Ubanti people in the
fol owing days, fearing reprisal when many succumbed to the disease, including several members
of Uxbana’s immediate family. Rhuna observed by means of the Gazing of the Waters how Uxbana
and her family wailed and grieved, then held a sombre ceremony for the dead. Everyday life slowly
returned to the land of Ubanti, and the ailing ones who did not perish gradually recovered.
Rhuna concentrated her summons on Uxbana’s uncle and brothers, wondering whether they
still believed the illness to be an Atlan curse and act of war, but they appeared not even to discuss
the matter anymore.When she summoned visions of the Ubanti’s water and food preparation
area, the images revealed that they threw out the old water and replaced it with fresh water from
the river.
Damel became a more frequent visitor to Rhuna’s home, much to Shandi’s delight, and
when the little girl had her daytime nap, Rhuna expressed her concerns.
“If only we knew exactly what Shandi foresaw when she said that a black man was coming,”
she said. “When I asked her several more times, she only repeated the same words.”
“At the time we thought she might have seen one of the Dark Ones,” Aradin recalled.
“Goram, perhaps?” Rhuna offered.
“Or one of Uxbana’s men?” Aradin said. “But all our summons reveal nothing out of the
ordinary in the land of the Ubanti.
“That is unusual,” Damell said frowning, and Aradin mumbled some words of agreement.
“Perhaps their grief has overwhelmed them,” Rhuna suggested, but Damel dismissed her
words with a wave of his hand.
“On the contrary,” he said shaking his head. “One would expect them to be more determined
to mete out justice on those they hold responsible,” he said. “It is almost as if they know we are
watching…”
“They know we can watch them!” Rhuna exclaimed, recalling how she explained the Gazing
of the Waters to Uxbana in lengthy detail. “I wish I had not done that!”
“You did nothing wrong, My Precious,” said Aradin soothingly, and Rhuna showed her
appreciation for his kindness with a gentle touch.
“Let us continue to be vigilant, lest the Ubanti are merely letting the passage of time dull our
alertness to their plans,” Damell advised.
“Does Lozira reveal any knowledge of the Dark One’s activity?” Damel asked after they had
partaken of fresh fruit and beverages in the courtyard garden.
“No. She only talks about how much she loves him,” Rhuna said with a deep sigh.
“She sits with us to share the evening meal, but her thoughts are always with him,” added
Aradin.
“But I keep observing them, and also the other Dark Ones,” said Rhuna, and Damell nodded
in approval.
Rhuna continued her daily practice of Inside Focussing, special breathing techniques and
exploring The Infinite with her Extended Consciousness. She had begun to hone her skills in
manipulating matter on the level between the material and ethereal planes, but on one mild and
pleasant afternoon, she felt like simply observing the people of Safu randomly.
Once she had fully relaxed her body and allowed her Consciousness to rise freely, she
roamed aimlessly in her immediate vicinity in the paved and tree-lined avenues of the Atlan part
of Safu. Suddenly, intense alarm overwhelmed her, and she focused on the movement causing the
ripples in The Infinite. She was shocked to recognize her father running with great urgency, his
tunic flapping and his breath rasping with effort. Rhuna focused her Extended Consciousness in
the direction he was running, and immediately saw Lozira and Goram walking out of his house
onto the street. She sensed the state of bliss that emanated from them, and when she found no
reason for her father’s distress, she quickly surveyed their surroundings.
Rhuna observed several people going about their daily routine in the street, and she
scrutinized each person carefully with her Extended Consciousness. Two men who appeared to
be carrying some textiles struck Rhuna as being odd, and before she could examine them more
closely, they each removed a long object from the packages they carried. Rhuna had never seen
such things before, but she immediately knew that they were sharp sword blades, curved and
varying in thickness, with a large hilt.
“Beware! They are instructed to take Lozira and kill anyone who interferes!” Damel
shouted breathlessly as he approached Lozira and Goram.
Gorampulled Lozira behind him and then turned to face the approaching swordsmen.
“What is this?” he demanded of the men.“Put down your weapons!”Goram shouted, still
sheltering Lozira who stood stunned and speechless. Damell stepped to the other side of Lozira,
blocking the men’s approach, but the men raised their swords in readiness to strike.
“No!” shouted Goram as he lunged forward to snatch the sword away from one of them, at
the same time immobilizing him with a hefty kick to the groin. The second man promptly thrust
his sword intoGoram’s abdomen, and then prepared to strike Damell. Rhuna watchedtransfixed as
Goram stoodstunned,blood gushing from his gaping wound. Mustering his remaining strength, he
slashed the sword he had taken from the first man across his assailant’s throat before collapsing to
the ground. A bright red arc spurted from the assailant’s severed throat and landed in heavy splats
on Lozira and Damell. A strange long silence followed, and then Rhuna sensed Lozira’s shrill
scream.
Rhuna forced her Extended Consciousness back into her body as fast as possible, and then
jumped to her feet, breaking into the fastest sprint she had ever done. She heard Lozira’s scream
above her own panting and pounding heart as she ran down the street, and as she turned the
corner, she saw Damell holding Loziraasseveral people also came running towards the bloody
scene.
“Rhuna! He is mortally wounded!” Damell said horrified.
“Lozira!” Damell shouted as he sho
ok her out of her state of shock and perpetual screams.
Rhuna dropped to the ground next to Goram and looked at his pale face and unfocussed eyes.
She heard his rapid and raspy short breaths as a pool of bright red blood expanded around him on
the ground.
“Goram! Goram!” Lozira wailed with such anguish that it tore Rhuna’s heart apart. She
fel to her knees and took Goram’s head in her hands as dry sobs racked her body.
“Rhuna!” screamed Lozira, her face contorted in red and purple desperation.
“I can’t heal this wound!” Rhuna cried with dismay, realizing that his life would ebb out of
him within a few short moments.
“Noooo!” cried Lozira with such torment that Rhuna felt a sudden violent gush of heat come
over her. She recognized the feeling of hot power and loud vibrations throughout her body, and
quickly pushed her hands onto the bloody wound. She closed her eyes and felt the hot current
pass out through her hands, like it had on two previous occasions when intense emotion allowed
her to heal an incurable Benshi girl and a woman.
“Rhuna! What is happening?” Lozira shouted with horror, looking down at the man she
loved. His breathing had slowed and his eyes had closed. Rhuna quickly touched his wrists and
neck.
“He’s breathing normally, but he’s very weak,” she said, and then tried to inspect the
wound. Damell handed her an item of clothing which she used to quickly soak up the excess blood
so that she could inspect the wound.
“It has stopped bleeding,” she said with awe, knowing that such a deep wound could never
be healed,nor the blood flow staunched by normal means.
“Will he live?” screeched Lozira desperately, her shaking hands stroking his cheeks and
then his hair.
“Yes, I think so,” Rhuna answered. “We have to treat his blood loss, and make sure the
wound heals properly, without infection.” As she spoke, she became aware of agitation around her
as more people approached and shouted to each other. A warm hand gripped her shoulder, and
she knew without looking that Aradin stood reassuringly behind her.
“Take that man to The Reigning One,” called Damell, and Rhuna looked up to see three of
The Reigning One’s soldiers running towards them. They grabbed the second man Goram had
incapacitated, and then dragged him away. “Three more men with orders to kill are nearby –