Spring Showers Box-set

by Avell Kro

  proudly.

  “Yet when Atlans are stranded in the wilderness, they are completely helpless,” grumbled

  Damell sternly. “For instance, do you know how to make textiles water-resilient using natural

  materials found hereabouts?”

  Progress of the Wind tugged at his short beard as he looked around. “I admit, I am

  helpless,” he said with an exaggerated shrug of his shoulders.

  “Certain wood burnt in the proper manner shall produce tar, which can be smeared onto

  most surfaces to adhere and make water resilient,” Damel said. “Come, young man! Assist me

  with this fallen tree! You must learn to adapt!”he said enthusiastically, taking some metal tools

  from a pouch he had carried.

  “I can help!” said Panapu, coming up behind them.

  “Yes, you certainly can!” said Damell with a broad grin as he handed him the largest of the

  axes.

  Rhuna watched as the most able-bodied men hacked branches and fallen trees, while

  Damell walked around giving directions. “Now we require thick textiles to cover over them,

  acting as a roof,” he said, and Rhuna went towards the heavily-laden wagon to retrieve them.

  Before long, several huts were finished,while others had prepared a place to cook and prepare

  food. Two others had even erected a small screen wall near the flowing water for privacy while

  bathing.

  “Aaaah! Some privacy at last!” sighed Goram happily when he examined one of the huts

  only large enough for a couple.

  “And I can finally wash my hair!” Lozira chirped, examining the screen and gingerly

  stepping into the cool, clean water.

  Within a few short days they had settled into a comfortable routine, and Rhuna began to

  feel less anxious as her energy level returned to normal. She observed the spring in the step of

  many others, especially Aradin. The Guardians of Knowledge kept to their own small groups, as

  before, and Rhuna noticed that they frequently sat silently together, as if practicing some form of

  Inside Focussing. Even stranger, she thought, was Seeker of Knowledge, who always sat by herself

  and appeared to prefer the solitude. At times, she disappeared from the encampment for a

  considerable length of time.

  Rhuna also returned to her daily routine of breathing exercises and Inside Focussing, as well

  as summoning messages and images by means of the Gazing of the Waters. She had been

  reluctant to summon any visions of Tozar, even though his actions and consequent condition were

  never far from her daily thoughts. It was with trepidation therefore, when Tamer of Fire appeared

  in the water’s surface, responding to her question about Tozar.

  “Keeper of Wisdom, it is indeed very magnanimous of you to desire speaking a kind message

  to Harbinger of Solace,” he began, still looking slightly uncomfortable and emotionally drained.

  Rhuna wondered what impact Tozar’s derangement must have had on the entire Atlan Council.

  “His condition has not yet been fully assessed, and his Healers are not consentient where

  interaction with others, particularly you, is concerned.” Tamer of Fire paused as he looked down

  and frowned deeply. “Perhaps you have not observed his state…” he said slowly. “Harbinger of

  Solace does not speak or respond to any sound, although it appears he is fully aware of his

  surroundings. His Carers have only recently succeeded in coaxing him to partake of nourishment.

  He has yet to wash himself, and his Healers have advised to limit physical contact.”

  Rhuna was taken aback by this description, and struggled to imagine Tozar in such a terrible

  state. Everything she heard was in complete contrast to the memories she had of him, and this

  newknowledge of his present state pressed heavily on her chest.

  “Therefore, we suggest you speak your message to him before arriving in Varappa, and his

  Healers shall determine when he may be ready to summon it…if at all.” The tired man looked down

  again as he spoke a few more words of farewell, and then the image faded.

  During the main meal of the day, when everyone had gathered around the food preparation

  area, information about summoned visions and messages was shared. Rhuna enjoyed this time of

  day when everyone appeared to enjoy the afternoon either resting or engaging in all manner of

  conversations.

  “The other group has arrived at the Great Sea,” said one of the Guardians of Knowledge.

  Rhuna asked about the small group that returned to Safu, and Progress of the Wind eagerly

  described his summoned visions of the New Arrivals and several other Atlan Masters who were

  treated respectfully by the Ubanti leaders.

  “I hope that continues,” said Aradin.

  “We have made the wisest choice,” said Charmer of Snakes. “The Ubanti would not tolerate

  any of us among them in Safu now.”

  “They have settled into all the vacant Atlan homes,” said Rhuna.

  “Safu shall never be as we knew it,” nodded Seeker of Knowledge knowingly.

  “My attempts to precisely locate Voyager of the Ocean have been successful,” said another

  Guardian of Knowledge. “The fleet consists of seven large, wooden ships, unlike any I have seen

  before.”

  “How frustrating that Varappa resists any summons by means of the Gazing of the Waters!”

  said Goram. “We must rely on the descriptions by three people who once resided in Varappa many

  solar cycles past.”

  “I heard that Varappa surpasses Safu and even Atlán in many aspects,” Lozira added.

  “This is so,” Damell nodded, and described the advanced city plan and irrigation works.

  “They have also attempted to replicate the Golden Pyramid, only on a smaller scale,” he added,

  looking at Possessor of Discernment.

  “This is correct,” the old Atlan responded. “It is a ful y-functioning pyramid in the style of

  the First Atlans.”

  Rhuna wondered what this meant, but as the shadows were growing long, they slowly

  dispersed and returned to their individual activities or shelters, and Rhuna turned to her father

  who had been sitting beside her.

  “I haven’t been able to access The Infinite,” she told him. “My thoughts are too distracted

  with concern for Lozira…and also Tozar.”

  Damel nodded and smiled understandingly. “It is better to yield under a great burden than

  to break one’s back resisting it.We are suffering the effects of displacement,” he said. “Now, in the

  privacy of our small huts, we shall slowly rebuild our skills.”

  “There is something I have to do,” Rhuna said, and walked away to a place she had

  discovered while exploring one afternoon. She sat down at the tree on the edge of the rocky

  outcrop overlooking the sea where she felt sheltered. After closing her eyes for a little while, she

  opened them and began to speak a message to Tozar.

  “Tozar,” she said and then paused, the words sticking in her throat. “I…I feel as if I’m

  talking to a stranger…” She quickly closed her eyes and recalled memories of happy times only a

  little over three solar cycles past, before her journey to Safu.

  “I want you to know that I can understand your distress over Lozira’s wellbeing. And

  before, when you misunderstood me and I wasn’t able to tell you the truth and explain what I was

  doing. You became unbalanced and irrational because of me first, when I chose to st
art a new life

  with Aradin, and I still feel bad about the hurt this must have caused you,” she said with difficulty.

  Taking a deep breath, Rhuna continued her message to Tozar. “And then Lozira, coming here and

  meeting Beacon of the Night and I…I feel partly responsible for what has happened to you now,”

  she said with a deep sigh and then opened her eyes.

  “Tozar, if you can, summon what I’ve done to prevent Lozira’s involvement with Goram –

  Beacon of the Night. I tried reasoning with her in all sorts of ways, but she is strong-willed and

  determined. Sending her back to you would have only caused her emotional harm…although she

  has been damaged now, by what happened…” Rhuna stopped to swallow hard and wipe a tear

  from her eye.

  “I spoke to Beacon of the Night, and I believed him when he said that he was not seducing

  her. If it had been a passing attraction for Lozira, and philandering by him, then the problem would

  be easily solved, but you see, they really do love each other, and no one can change that! So I tried

  to make the best of the situation and asked him to leave the Guardians of Knowledge. He said he

  would do whatever is necessary to keep Lozira safe and happy, and I believe him. He isn’t like Bold

  as the Falcon and the other Dark Ones who were here when I first came to Safu. His motives are

  different, and despite his…un-Atlan ways, I think he will be good to Lozira. She is already so happy

  and healing from the traumas because of him.”

  Rhuna paused and looked across the sea. “We are waiting to be taken to Varappa. Beacon

  of the Night has been forced to take this course, along with the other Guardians of Knowledge and

  some New Arrivals. Queen Uxbana has invited me to return to Safu with my family to establish

  Atlan roads and buildings in her land. I miss my home there so much, and would do almost

  anything to go back and live there in peace. Uxbanaoffered me a position of power and wealth,

  but on the condition that Beacon of the Night not come with me. And of course, Lozira refuses to

  be separated from him, and I can’t leave her all alone with him in a strange new land! This is the

  sacrifice I have to make for our daughter.”

  She paused again and took a deep breath. “I promise you, Tozar that I will be close to her all

  the time to make sure she is safe, well and happy. You can’t summon visions of Varappa, so you

  might not be able to observe us there. And I don’t know how long we’ll stay there…” she stopped

  as tears welled in her eyes again. “I don’t know what will happen, what lies ahead for us, and I’m

  scared, but I’l take care of Lozira, no matter what happens, I promise, Tozar! I promise!”

  She let the tears fall down her cheeks until her fear and sorrow had dried up.

  Rhuna slowly walked back to the encampment, where she saw Possessor of Discernment

  playing with Shandi, while Panapu sat nearby, watching and laughing. Damell mingled with some

  of the New Arrivals and Guardians of Knowledge, discussing complex matters as wel as mundane

  things such as whether to add a certain herb to the evening meal. When this issue had been

  settled, Damell turned and walked towards Rhuna.

  “Father, I believe Possessor of Discernment intends to reveal the secrets of the Pyramids to

  you!” Rhuna said in an excited whisper.

  “Really? My assumption would be that you are the intended heir of such knowledge!” he

  said, eyes sparkling.

  “Oh no, not me, Father!” Rhuna laughed. “You are the obvious choice!”

  In the evening, a celebration for Goram and Lozira took place. The Guardians of Knowledge

  had found rocks and sticks to beat out a rhythm while some of them performed a popular song for

  couples. Others had been busy preparing a special meal with the basic ingredients under

  primitive circumstances.

  “Best food we could conjure, under the circumstances,” said Charmer of Snakes with his

  usual crooked smile that Rhuna detested.

  “Conjure?” repeated Goram before laughing heartily.

  “May I say, Brother Goram; we are all pleasantly surprised!” said one of the Guardians of

  Knowledge.

  “No one is more surprised than I myself!” said Goram exuberantly, then looked into

  Lozira’s loving eyes for a long moment. “Never did I imagine finding an extraordinary woman such

  as this,” he said giving her hand a tight squeeze.

  “Speak! Speak!” the gathering called in unison.

  Goram and Lozira stood up and stood in front of the main fire where everyone in the circle

  could see them. The flicking flames made Lozira’s eyes sparkle,and Goram’s eyes shone like green

  beacons.

  “Most of you know the man I was in the past,” Goram began, keeping his voice level. “A man

  who believed he lived a better life than most, yet never realized how lonely he was.” He paused

  and looked at Lozira, whose face glowed with love and joy. “A man who was not able to love, nor

  could he be loved by anyone. How grateful I am today that I am no longer that miserable, pitiful

  man! And so, today I make it known to everyone that I shall always love Melody of the Dawn,

  keeping her safe and happy, and always by my side.”

  There was a brief silence as the couple gazed into each other’s eyes again, and then it was

  Lozira’s turn to speak.

  “When I left Atlán to reside in Safu, I had great plans for my life and future,” she began, her

  words surprising Rhuna. Suddenly she feared that perhaps she did not know her daughter very

  well at all.

  “I thought my life would be happy and fulfilled if I became an Atlan Master, and then

  learned the Creative Arts and the New Knowledge, but when I met Beacon of the Night, everything

  changed. In my relatively short life, I feel I have already learned the most important thing: finding

  true love is the only thing in life that really matters! And so, today I make it known to everyone

  that I shall always love Beacon of the Night, caring for all his needs, and being at his side always.”

  The gathering erupted into cheers and claps, and Goram and Lozira kissed long and

  passionately, making Rhuna feel slightly uncomfortable by the public display of emotions.

  When the happily united couple sat down again, the food was passed around on plates and

  in bowls, and Rhuna took the foods she had not eaten since leaving Safu. She was impressed that

  someone had made the effort to grind wheat and barley flour, mix various ingredients and then

  bake the barley and date cakes in an earth oven. Despite their circumstances and primitive

  cooking methods, Rhuna thought she had never tasted such good cake.

  The evening became filled with lively and happy banter, and Rhuna took another piece of

  barley and date cake for Shandi. As the child ate the delicious cake, Rhuna thought about her

  recurring vision of a ‘dead man’ and asked her if he was among the people attending the

  celebration for Goram and Lozira. Shandi promptly shook her head with certainty, then looked up

  at her mother as if trying to communicate that which she was unable to put into words.

  “How do you feel?” asked Aradin as he passed another plate of food to Rhuna.

  “I’ve accepted the situation,” she said with a long, low sigh.

  “Better to accept than continually oppose,” stated Damell, who sat on Rhuna’s other side.

  “I’m happy as long as she’s happy,
” said Rhuna with another deep sigh of resignation.

  “Lozira happy!” chirped Shandi.

  In the following days, Rhuna busied herself with mundane yet necessary chores to make

  their wait for the Varappan ships as comfortable as possible, and found exceptional enjoyment in

  scouting through the surrounding greenery for food. She discovered berries, mushrooms and

  some root vegetables which she prepared in various ways, sharing meals with her immediate

  family, as wel as Lozira, Goram, Possessor of Discernment, Panapu and occasionally also Progress

  of the Wind.

  At night, Rhuna felt more secure with a shelter of branches above her, but her sleep was

  light and often disturbed by confusing dreams. On such occasions, Aradin also seemed restless

  and awoke during the night, and Rhuna treasured the long nights they both lay awake, whispering

  to each other until sleep overcame them. Shandi slept peaceful y at their feet, and Rhuna was

  grateful that the ordeal of being displaced and homeless had not affected her badly in any way.

  It was during one such restless night that Rhuna was torn from sleep by a shrill scream

  which she instinctively recognized as Lozira’s agonized voice. Disoriented from sleep, she

  stumbled out of the temporary wooden shelter and groped her way in the dark towards the

  tormented wailing sound.

  “It was only a dream, My Precious One,” she heard Goram whisper urgently. Rhuna cupped

  her daughter’s face in her hands and tried to shake her out of herstate of panic.

  “There is nothing wrong, Lozira!” she repeated in between Goram’s efforts to calm his new

  wife.

  Aradin had approached and handed Rhuna some water to give Lozira, and Damell placed a

  comforting hand on his granddaughter’s shoulder. Rhuna thought she could sense a warmth

  radiate out of her father’s hand and onto Lozira’s shoulder, but then dismissed it as impossible.

  Nevertheless, Lozira quickly calmed down, as if Damel ’s touch conveyed a strong calming effect,

  and soon her breathing slowed so that she could speak.

  “A dream…” she said shakily. “They were coming, the soldiers, to kill us, to kill Goram!” she

  said, becoming agitated at the mere recollection of the dream.

  “It’s normal to have dreams after such an ordeal,” Rhuna said soothingly. “I can prepare