Spring Showers Box-set

by Avell Kro

  When the swirling colours cleared, Rhuna saw Uxbana seated stiffly in a chair, reminding

  her of The Reigning One. She was startled when the impressive dark woman addressed them,

  looking straight ahead as if she could see Rhuna.

  “I know you Atlans can see me in the water’s reflection when you want to see people far

  away, so I am addressing all of you with this request. We, the ruling family of the people of the

  Land of Ubanti, humbly request that certain knowledgeable Atlans return to Safu as our privileged

  guests to establish the New Knowledge in Safu and to teach others in this Knowledge. Perhaps

  those of you called the New Arrivals would accept this invitation and return to Safu. You shal

  receive generous compensation for your assistance, such as the most luxurious accommodations,

  food, drink, jewellery and whatever else you desire.” Uxbana waved her hands in a gesture,

  revealing the golden chains and bejeweled bracelets on her arms and wrists.

  “Furthermore, I, personally, make a special request for The Star Child to return to Safu at

  my invitation, to assist me in developing the land of Ubanti.”Rhuna watched motionlessly as the

  imposing ruler spoke directly to her alone. “You shall have a position equal to mine,” Uxbana said

  with seriousness, “…to command, direct, oversee projects, direct them, perform your mighty deeds

  such as making large building blocks for our own buildings and so forth. You shall live like a queen,

  with personal servants and assistants, your own secretary, food preparer, chamber maid and so

  on. Naturally, your family is also invited, except for the one who caused the death of my brother’s

  wife and children,” she added, her face suddenly full of hatred, bitterness and sorrow.

  Rhuna exhaled loudly as the image faded, and she sat back on her heels a while to think

  about the words Uxbana had spoken. She looked around at Damel and Aradin, while everyone

  else was engaged in discussions over this new development. The Guardians of Knowledge were

  particularly excited, deliberating amongst themselves and then consulting Progress of the Wind

  and then Goram.

  Rhuna stepped towards her daughter and grabbed her arm. “Lozira, we can go back to

  Safu and live a wonderful life of luxury, live like The Reigning One!”

  Lozira stared at her mother for a short moment before her face reddened in rage.

  “Did you not understand? She does not want Goram to return to Safu!” she spat.

  “Perhaps I can change my appearance and take another name,” Goram began, but Rhuna

  shook her head angrily.

  “Don’t be foolish, Goram! It would never work, and Uxbana’s family would surely kill you!”

  Lozira took a deep breath to calm herself and then spoke in a resolute, firm tone. “I am

  staying with Goram, and shall go wherever he goes.”

  “Lozira,” interrupted Goram sternly. “Heed your mother’s words! Your entire future may

  depend on your decision today.”

  Lozira gaped at him in disbelief.

  “In Safu, your life would most certainly be rewarding and fulfilling,” he continued with a

  deep sigh. “Yet a future with me in unknown lands would be very uncertain and perhaps filled with

  anxiety and turmoil.”

  “What are you saying?” Lozira’s voice began to tremble. “You want me to go back to Safu,

  without you?”

  “If you value a secure and prosperous future among your family, yes,” replied Goram, his

  brow in deep creases.

  “But…but I thought you loved me and wanted me to be your wife!” Lozira protested,

  becoming hysterical. “How can you say this now, after everything you told me?” Lozira began to

  beat her fists on Goram’s chest in anguish.

  “Be calm, be calm, My Treasure,” Goram said gently, as he gripped her flailing hands firmly.

  “It is out of sincere love that I say this,” he said, gripping her hands firmly in his. “My love for you

  transcends my own selfish wish to have you at my side, when your happiness and future wellbeing

  are concerned.”

  “What are you saying?” Lozira screeched.

  “It was an attempt to prevent unhappiness, should you come to regret your decision to

  sacrifice a secure and comfortable life in Safu,” he said softly.

  “No, I shall never regret it!” Lozira insisted desperately. “What use are luxury, gold and

  good food when you are not with me!”

  Goram pulled Lozira to him and embraced her tightly. “This gladdens me deeply,” Goram

  whispered into her ear. She slumped into his arms as she began to sob, and Rhuna felt her heart

  wrenched apart.

  “I cannot live without you!” she whimpered between sobs, and then turned to speak to her

  mother.

  “Even with all the best things of life, I could never be happy without him,” she told her.

  “I thought you might say that,” Rhuna said softly, and then turned to look at Aradin and

  Damell.

  “And what use are luxury and a high position in Safu when my first daughter is far away in

  a strange land, perhaps never to be with me ever again?” Rhuna said, fighting back a few tears.

  Aradin and Damell both gave her an understanding nod.

  “Then we shall all go to Varappa together,” Aradin said.

  “Yes, we’ll all go,” Rhuna repeated, looking at Lozira.

  “Really?” Lozira asked amazed, looking around at everyone.

  “You make such a sacrifice for us?” Goram asked breathlessly.

  “Not for you, but for Lozira,” Rhuna countered quickly.

  Lozira threw her arms around her mother and squeezed hard, then turned to embrace

  Aradin and Damell, giving them each a heartfelt kiss on the cheek. Seeing her little sister patiently

  waiting, Lozira got down on her knees to cuddle Shandi, kissing her several times on her cheeks as

  the little girl giggled with delight.

  Rhuna looked around at Possessor of Discernment, who had been seated nearby and

  quietly observed everything. “I shall accompany you,” he told her.

  “But what about the legacy of the Pyramid’s secrets which you have to pass on to someone

  worthy?” Rhuna asked.

  “The answer has already been shown to me,” he said with a gentle and serene smile. “My

  last days shall be among you, in Varappa,” he said.

  The Atlan encampment was astir well before sunrise the following morning as everyone was

  eager to embark on the journey to their new home. Rhuna and the small group in her immediate

  vicinity gathered up all belongings, and after some discussion with The Reigning One’s attendants

  and soldiers, took only one wagon with one donkey. The wagon had only basic supplies of food

  and blankets, and only four of The Reigning One’s men chose to accompany the large group

  journeying towards the Great Sea.

  Rhuna looked at the small group of young Atlans who had decided to return to Safu, along

  with the remainder of The Reigning One’s attendants and soldiers. She recognized many of the

  New Arrivals in the small group, namely Ruler of Numbers and Roaming the Hills. Their faces

  shone with eager anticipation, and Rhuna quickly stepped towards them and wished them

  farewell.

  Returning to her group, Rhuna picked up Shandi who had become restless, sensing the

  significance of the Atlan encampment’s break-up. She looked around at the people who had

  chosen to take the dubious journey to a distan
t and unknown land, and recognized the Guardians

  of Knowledge, some of the New Arrivals and then some strangers she had first seen at the meeting

  of the Guardians of Knowledge. She guessed that they were only about thirty-five people

  altogether, but almost all of them in their prime, without children.

  “We shall travel faster,” Damell said, having made the same observation as Rhuna.

  The simple instruction to walk along the coast of the long and narrow sea was beset with

  obstacles every day, making the donkey-pulled wagon of supplies an impediment.

  “Such an encumbrance, these wheeled contraptions!” spoke a man from behind Rhuna, and

  she recognized him to be the man who had complained about wheels earlier in the Atlan people’s

  escape from Safu.

  Once they had traversed some rocky terrain past some hills, the land levelled again, and the

  wagon rolled along the grassy plains with ease. After several days of continuous walking and

  taking turns carrying Shandi, Rhuna was beginning to feel extreme exhaustion throughout her

  body. As they walked, she was beset with moments of intense longing for her home in Safu with

  all its comforts. Other times, she felt as if their journey would never end.

  She looked along the seemingly endless coast of the great narrow sea, wondering if anyone

  had even walked along its shores before her, so rugged and wild was the terrain all around them.

  At times the fear of going the wrong way surfaced, mingled with the uncertainty of what lay ahead

  in Varappa. Her anxiety heightened one day when the group realized that their ration of water

  was very low.

  “We have not seen even a small body of fresh water, nor a trickle from the hills since we

  parted from the main group,” said Progress of the Wind.

  “My Insights reveal there to be no drinkable water for many days’ walk ahead,” said Damell

  gloomily.

  “Can we not drink the water from the sea?” asked Charmer of Snakes, licking his dry lips.

  “Perhaps someone with outstanding skills can remove the salt!” Damell exclaimed, giving

  Rhuna a hopeful look.

  “Remove salt from water?” she repeated, uncertain.

  “It does not sound too difficult,” stated Goram.

  Rhuna agreed to attempt this unusual feat, and several of the Guardians of Knowledge

  quickly filled all the empty containers with sea water, placing them in front of her.

  Charmer of Snakes scooped a handful of the sea water and splashed it onto his lips.

  “Bah!” he spat. “Very salty, very salty!”

  “Step away, now,” instructed Damell, and allowed Rhuna to sit in her Inside Focussing

  position to gather energy into her mind and body. When she felt sufficiently charged, Rhuna

  projected her mental energy onto the salty water, visualizing the tiny grains of salt turning into

  fine sand. Within a short time, she opened her eyes and asked that someone check the condition

  of the water.

  “It’s free of salt!” exclaimed Aradin, and then let out a triumphant laugh. Rhuna also

  laughed with relief, and then warned them that the water contained sand, which should soon settle

  to the bottom of the buckets and water bags.

  “You are also a powerful conjurer,” said Seeker of Knowledge, who had sat down beside

  Rhuna.

  “Conjurer?” Rhuna repeated. “I’ve never heard that word before.”

  “It is not a new word, yet only used by certain knowledgeable people,” she said

  mysteriously. Rhuna looked at the unusual woman with long, dark straggly hair and fine lines

  around her eyes and mouth.

  “Have you been to Varappa before?” Rhuna asked impulsively.

  “Oh yes,” she answered without expression. “I have been everywhere.”

  Rhuna noticed a hint of an accent, and concluded that she was probably not pure Atlan.

  She suddenly realized that she was very curious about this woman, and was excited at the

  prospect of getting well acquainted with her, while at the same time also fearing such a friendship.

  As if the woman sensed Rhuna’s thoughts, Seeker of Knowledge stood up and said that she would

  avail herself to some of the newly-conjured fresh water.

  After partaking of fresh water, Rhuna used the remainder of water to summon messages

  and visions by means of the Gazing of the Waters. She was startled to find a message for her, and

  more surprisingly, from the High Council of Atlán. She leaned over to see and hear the red-haired

  Atlan Master better.

  “Keeper of Wisdom,” began Tamer of Fire slowly. “It is our pleasure to announce that you

  have been exonerated, and your formal Atlan name has been restored. We are pleased to absolve

  you of the burden of banishment.” The senior member of the Council looked uncomfortable, and

  on closer examination, Rhuna thought that he looked very tired.

  “After lengthy investigation and examination of all the presented information from as many

  sources as possible, the High Council of Atlán has concluded that our previous judgement of you

  was…wrong. We did not have enough information, and we lacked the necessary insight and

  knowledge of new, Dark Powers to understand your predicament during your assignment in Safu,”

  he went on slowly, choosing his words carefully.

  “Should you wish to return to Atlán…to reside or merely visit…then you shall be welcomed.

  This announcement shall be made known to all Atlans, in all the Atlan Empire.” With a humble

  bow of his red head the image faded, and Rhuna sat back on her heels.

  Rhuna stood up to tell her family members who were huddled under the sparse shade of a

  small tree as they slowly gulped more water.

  “I should feel happy, but I feel nothing,” Rhuna told Damell and Aradin.

  “Nevertheless, it is very good news, and we are pleased,” Damell said.

  Rhuna returned to where she had been sitting earlier, and spoke a message in reply to

  Tamer of Fire. She told him that although his message brought relief and good news, she was

  journeying to Varappa with her family, and would probably no longer be able to speak or summon

  messages when she arrived at her destination.

  “Is it possible for Tozar to receive a message from me?” she asked Tamer of Fire. “There

  are some important things I want to tell him before I arrive in Varappa.”

  Rhuna sat in silence for a long time, lost in thoughts of Tozar and the past, until some

  commotion nearby distracted her.

  “A message from Voyager of the Ocean!” announced Charmer of Snakes. Rhuna looked

  around and saw her family gather with some of the Guardians of Knowledge to hear the message.

  She quickly took her place next to Aradin, who squeezed her hand in a gesture of hopeful

  anticipation.

  The water reflection in the shallow basin had turned opaque already when Rhuna arrived,

  and she watched eagerly as the image showed the unusual face of Voyager of the Ocean. His

  generous smile felt cold and unfriendly to Rhuna, but she dismissed her feelings and waited to

  hear his important message.

  “During our last disembarkation, I was able to summon your messages and view your

  progress by means of the Gazing of the Waters. How relieved I am to see that you have almost

  arrived at the designated place without incident, and that your numbers are much less than

  before. Indeed, I was worried how my fleet of ships would transport so many people. Now it sha
ll

  be a comfortable sea voyage to Varappa!” he said smiling broadly.

  “You may expect us in one lunar cycle, due to currents and seasonal winds of the seas still

  separating us. In the meantime, avail yourselves of the plentiful food and fresh water. Build

  temporary shelters, for at night animals from the hills roam around, and rain is not infrequent in

  that area.”

  The image faded and everyone seemed to sigh in unison.

  “At least we know how much longer we must wait,” said Aradin.

  The tired wanderers pressed on through the dismal dry land, and Rhuna provided fresh

  drinking water for them several more times. Finally, on a day when Rhuna had stopped counting

  and watching the moon and stars for indications of time, someone ahead of her shouted out.

  Rhuna could hardly believe her eyes when she saw a true oasis, just as Voyager of the

  Ocean had described. Amongst yellow-brown dirt and dull, dry shrubbery, a lush green pocket of

  land lay sheltered in a large cove, protected by some rugged hills and tall trees.

  As she looked around at the drawn faces of her travel companions, she saw the spark of

  renewed hope and energy ignite in all of them. Their feet became light, and their walk was brisk

  as they hurried to sanctuary from the wilderness.

  When they arrived at the green oasis, Rhuna looked around at the large, solid trees with

  deep shade, the variety of colourful flowers and vegetation, and the creek with fresh water running

  down from the hills.

  “We could even stay here permanently if necessary!” said Aradin cheerfully.

  Feeling elated and relieved, Rhuna and many of the others cheered and laughed happily,

  while others hugged each other and clapped each other on the back in triumph. Shandi started

  squealing with delight, and for the first time since they were forced to leave Safu, Rhuna could let

  the small child run around freely on the lush green grass and then on the soft white sand of the

  beach.

  “We should use the wood of these fallen trees and branches,” Damell said, pointing towards a

  dense cluster of trees.

  “For what purpose?” asked Progress of the Wind.

  “Shelter from animals at night, as Voyager of the Ocean advised,” Damell answered.

  “Atlans are not accustomed to making things with wood,” the young man replied. “Stone

  and metal, and transforming these superior materials are the prerogative of Atlans!” he said