“She should know of what her intended husband is capable,” she said firmly.
Goram grabbed her arm again and jerked it.
“You shall not reproach me from your imagined self-righteous superior elevation!”
he spat venomously. “Such sanctimonious hypocrisy sickens me! Did not you yourself cause the death of Shelter in the Storm without any such intention?”
“That was different! The energy came out of me in a moment of intense emotion, and since then I’ve learned to control my feelings,” she retorted angrily. “But you…you intentionally and deliberately caused a curse, for no reason other than immature jealousy!”
Goram shot her a hateful look, and then vacillated before he spoke again in a low tone.
“It is correct to say that I am as a child in matters of true love,” he said nodding slowly. “Allow me to tell Lozira what I have done,” he added quietly.
“I was beginning to trust you with my daughter…” Rhuna began.
“You can trust me completely with her happiness and well-being!” Goram shot back.
“We’ll see. Your wound has completely healed already. You don’t need my attention as a Healer any longer,” Rhuna said gruffly and then walked away.
A short time later, the now-familiar clang signalling the midday meal prompted everyone to gather at the fire where food was being cooked and served. As Rhuna stood waiting, a group of Atlan Masters approached her.
“You must surely be aware that your daughter has chosen a man of considerable ill-repute,” said one of the older women. “It can be prevented,” she added, and then introduced herself and her companions. Although Rhuna did not recognize any of the individual faces, she remembered meeting people in Atlán who were neither Masters nor members of a Council, yet desired to dispense advice and counsel where the need was apparent.
“Although he has done a great deed for the Atlan people by confusing the Ubanti Army, there is already speculation that it was by the use of Dark Powers. His past shall continue to mar his reputation, and your daughter would suffer the consequences,” he said.
“There’s nothing I can do to prevent it,” Rhuna responded, feeling slightly threatened by the group of eager assistants. “She would not respond positively to anything you or I could say,” Rhuna told them.
“We have already tried everything we can think of,” added Aradin.
“It would be best if you did not interfere,” Rhuna said politely, and thanked them for their concern and offer of assistance. She watched them leave, and then turned to Aradin at her side and sighed deeply. “I just have to trust him with my daughter.”
“That’s a giant leap across a chasm,” Aradin said, but nodded understandingly.
Rhuna continued to summon mental visions while sitting in the Inside Focussing position during the day, when there was enough peace and quiet in the crowded Atlan encampment. As well as summoning the more important events in Safu, she also observed her home and neighbourhood, curious to see what had transpired there.
One of the mental visions of her Safu home revealed Faleesh cleaning the food preparation area, her face downcast and her body movements sluggish. Another vision showed Faleesh in one of the rooms sitting with her daughter, who also worked as a maid for The Reigning One. Rhuna surmised that Faleesh had asked her daughter to move in with her for company, and she was delighted with this development. She was deeply fond of Faleesh and hated seeing her unhappy and lonely.
On another occasion when Rhuna summoned mental visions of her home, she saw the Benshi colleague Aradin had asked to carry on his business, and watched him discussing trade matters with a client. She told Aradin that their home was in good hands, and that his clients were being attended by his colleague. Then she summoned mental visions of the neighbourhood, and was taken aback at first to see Ubanti families already settled into some of the houses vacated by Atlans. She focused on Goram’s house, and saw a family of at least three generations already happily sharing a meal in one of the rooms.
As she wondered whether she should tell Goram about the new residents of his house, she decided to summon a mental vision to ascertain whether he had confessed to Lozira what he had done to indirectly cause the youth’s death.
“Forgive me, Lozira!” she heard Goram plead in her mental vision. “My love for you overwhelms me at times, that I lose balanced perception and must act on my overpowering emotions,” he said as he bowed his head towards her chest. Rhuna watched as Lozira took his head in her hands and kissed his forehead, a tear beginning to fall from one eye.
“Of course I forgive you,” Lozira whispered. “I love you! I could not live without you!” she said, trembling slightly. Goram raised his head and then lunged tempestuously into a passionate kiss which Lozira returned in like manner.
That night, as Rhuna snuggled close to Aradin, she told him about her vision of Goram and Lozira. “So intense and extreme somehow,” she said.
“Maybe because what happened to them was intense and extreme,” Aradin replied. “Such extraordinary events cause imbalances and intense feelings.”
Rhuna remembered some of the patients she had healed with Solar Light Healing to restore the balance of emotions after some extreme event. The following morning, she began to plan the exact procedure of treatment to heal Lozira’s condition when Damell approached them excitedly.
“Rain of Refreshment has received a message from a Varappan man of Atlan heritage who has received our call for assistance!” he said cheerfully. “Prepare a basin of water, that we may all witness this message.” Aradin promptly reached for the shallow basin he had been using to soak some dried fruit, and filled it with clean, fresh water.
Damell focused his concentration on the water, and without the need for powders or spoken incantations, the water began to swirl in vibrant colours. Rhuna squeezed between Aradin and Possessor of Discernment low to the ground while Goram and Lozira stood behind them, leaning over to view the message.
When the water cleared, they saw a brown-skinned man with striking features and black hair greeting them with a broad smile of pearly white teeth.
“Be Greeted, My Fellow Atlans! My name is Voyager of the Ocean, the captain of sea fleets on the coast of Varappa,” he said bowing his head. “Your messages of dire straits have been heard, and we have responded as promptly as possible. Regrettably, your current location is a great many sea journey days from Varappa, despite our best efforts to accelerate our travel. Therefore, I suggest that you proceed along the coast of the long, narrow sea to a pleasant area on the shores where water meets sand, and trees grow in abundance. There you shall also find food and fresh water running from the hills, as well as unusual animals roaming the grasslands. A fine place to settle comfortably and await our arrival!”
The man ended his message with a broad grin and bow of the head.
“At last help has arrived!” said Aradin with relief.
“We’re going to Varappa then?” asked Rhuna, unsure what she felt about this new development.
“Do we have a choice?” Aradin retorted, looking around at the others.
Lively chatter broke out among the people in and around Rhuna’s huddled group as the prospect of journeying to Varappa was discussed.
“We must first consult the High Council of Atlán,” said Rain of Refreshment decisively.
“We would be so very far away from Safu and other Atlan colonies!” complained a woman standing behind Progress of the Wind.
“Naturally, I am very much in favour of proceeding to Varappa, my old homeland!” said Charmer of Snakes with a snide grin.
“The area indicated by Voyager of the Ocean is indeed as agreeable as he described,” Progress of the Wind announced, adding that he had also summoned visions by means of the Gazing of the Waters pertaining to their rescuer. “Voyager of the Ocean has been around the water all his life, and is therefore very knowledgeable in all matters pertaining to ocean navigation, ocean cu
rrents, sea-faring vessels and the temperament of the ocean. He took over the trading routes from his father and added several new ships, establishing new routes further away from Varappa. He appears to be very successful, especially for his reasonably young age.”
“Surely we are in capable hands,” commented Aradin.
As the day progressed, Rhuna noticed that the rift in the Atlan encampment had become obvious, as people moved their sparse belongings either closer to Rhuna’s personal site, or in the opposite direction.
Finally, the Atlan Masters taking the lead, and who had been consulting the High Council in Atlán, received an answer by means of the Gazing of the Waters.
“Reports from the High Council of Atlán indicate that the Ubanti leaders are not considering a change in attitude towards Atlans, and therefore great danger awaits any Atlan who returns to Safu,” reported Rain of Refreshment.
“We cannot stay in this wilderness much longer!” someone called out desperately.
“Advice from the High Council of Atlán is to turn left from the course we have been taking, and by the end of this lunar cycle we should arrive at the coast of the Great Sea. From there, we can choose our new place of residence, or wait for the next Atlan fleet to arrive,” Rain of Refreshment said with a strong and even voice. Excited chatter quickly followed, but Rain of Refreshment held up her arms to signal silence.
“There is also a message from the High Council warning against going to Varappa,” she said in a stern tone that caught many people’s attention. “Varappa has been viewed with extreme caution due to the inability to summon visions of any events in that land,” she continued in the same tone. “Stories of uncanny powers unknown in Atlán abound among knowledgeable Atlans. Varappa is shrouded in dark secrets, and is rumored to nurture the Dark Arts.”
Rhuna wondered about the expression ‘Dark Arts’ and how it was apparently in frequent use by some Atlans.
“While they do not give any command or instruction, they nevertheless advise to proceed with the utmost caution, and recommend that you choose another destination as suggested earlier, namely along the coast of the Great Sea.”
Turbulent mumbling and worried chatter erupted as soon as Rain of Refreshment stepped down from her rocky podium, and Rhuna once again mingled to hear what people were saying.
“No city, not even a settlement in many days’ walking distance,” said a man carrying a small child.
“We shall have to roam the wilderness to find a new home!” wailed a woman nearby.
“At least along the coast of the Great Sea an Atlan fleet can meet us,” said someone more calmly.
“Some of us shall depart in the opposite direction,” said Charmer of Snakes, and Rhuna noticed that most of the other Guardians of Knowledge had already assembled at his side.
Suddenly, Rhuna sensed that someone was standing behind her and she spun around.
“Where you go?” asked Panapu looking down at her. In that moment Rhuna became aware of his enormous size and wondered why she had not noted it earlier.
Rhuna answered that she did not know yet, and that her family would have to discuss it.
“I go with you,” he said smiling, and then adjusted the cloth he had wrapped around his bald head.
“Don’t you have to return to Safu, to The Reigning One?” she asked, puzzled.
The gentle giant shook his head. “Reigning One say we – the older ones – can leave his Service, go with Atlans, find new home,” he said, then revealed his uneven but congenial smile again.
“Then I would really like it if you came with us!” she said, suddenly feeling safer at the mere thought of his continued presence.
After half a day of agitated discussions, the Atlan throng finally calmed down a little so that Rhuna could meet with her family group in peace. Shandi had been playing with Possessor of Discernment again, and then Aradin played with her before handing her over into Rhuna’s arms.
“Dead man,” said Shandi, and Rhuna looked at the innocent young child on her lap, trying to hide the horror she felt.
“Maybe she means someone else. Someone who is yet to die,” suggested Aradin, who was seated next to Rhuna.
Rhuna nodded thoughtfully. A chill ran through her at the thought that someone close to her could be the dead man of her little daughter’s vision of the future. She looked at Possessor of Discernment who appeared healthy and even youthful for his near-ninety solar cycles in age.
“What does the dead man look like?” Rhuna asked her young child. Shandi merely looked at her mother, unable to give an answer.
“Is someone here going to die?” she asked with a shaky voice.
Shandi shook her head firmly.
“Do you know what ‘dead’ means?” Rhuna asked, trying a different approach.
“Like that man,” she said pointing to where Peace of the Valley had been buried.
“Is the dead man you see also going to be in the ground?”
Shandi shook her head adamantly. “No,” she answered firmly.
Rhuna remembered the words her father had spoken about Shandi also having insight, which was similar to her own mental visions.
“What does the dead man do?” Rhuna asked, suddenly intensely curious.
Shandi hesitated a long time, her eyes moving back and forth as if she were seeking the answer in another realm where no one else could see.
“Put things in here,” she finally said, gently slapping her forehead with her tiny hand.
Aradin shook his head in a gesture of surrender, but Rhuna placed her little girl’s words securely in her memory.
The evening meal was a turbulent time in the Atlan encampment as everyone discussed which direction they would take the following morning. It had become evident to Rhuna that most of the Atlans were heeding the advice of the High Council of Atlán, gathering closer together with Rain of Refreshment and the other Atlan Masters. Damell had been sitting with them, imparting his wisdom and experience in journeying through wilderness, and answering many questions about his life since he departed from Atlán.
As Rhuna and Aradin cleaned up after the meal, the group of Atlan Masters taking the lead approached them, and Damell stepped behind Rhuna to indicate his position in the inevitable confrontation.
“We have given serious consideration to our plight and the advice given to us,” began Rain of Refreshment with a stern expression. “We desire a start to a new life in a pure Atlan colony without any Dark Forces, meaning those of you called the Guardians of Knowledge and your adherents,” she stated firmly.
“We have inquired and confirmed that Beacon of the Night was banished many solar cycles past, and more recently, Keeper of Wisdom. It can be no coincidence that two banished persons are in liaison!” said one of the Atlan men standing next to Rain of Refreshment.
“The Atlan law in this regard remains constant, namely to shun the Banished Ones completely, lest their influence encroach on the pure Atlan ways!” said another man from the group.
“We insist that they do not accompany us, nor follow us to our new homeland along the shores of the Great Sea!” said Rain of Refreshment forcefully.
“Go forth far from us! We do not want you in our midst!” said one of the women next to her.
“You ungrateful, spineless dissemblers!” Goram roared venomously. “It was I who saved your lives by confusing the Ubanti Army, and this is how you thank me! You are accustomed not to think in reasonable, logical terms because you are so subservient to the High Council of Atlán!”
“It was you who brought this misery upon us!” screeched Rain of Refreshment. “The High Council refused to give the Ubanti what they wanted. Eventually, this conflict of interests would have led to a crisis like this,” Goram countered.
“I hate them!” said Lozira viciously. Shocked, Rhuna spun around to look at her daughter. “They blindly believe whatever the High Council of Atlán says, without thinking for themselves!”
> Before Rhuna could respond, Lozira stepped forward to stand next to Goram and faced the Atlan group that opposed them. “The High Council of Atlán has completely misjudged my mother, Keeper of Wisdom, due to Harbinger of Solace’s twisted and deranged mind!” Lozira shouted. “You should be grateful to her for everything she has done for the Atlans and people of Safu, just as Beacon of the Night saved our lives by scaring away the Ubanti soldiers. But instead you shun them! I am ashamed to be Atlan when I look at you!”
“What a woman!” Goram gushed as he pulled her firmly to him.
Rain of Refreshment paused a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking again.
“Following the direction given by the High Council of Atlán creates unity, and there is strength in such unity, creating a solid, peaceful society in which every individual can flourish. These are the precepts of the Atlan people which are known and held in high regard throughout the entire world. This can only be achieved by adhering to the guidelines, counsel and directions given by the High Council.”
“Ptah!” scoffed Goram.
“Yes, at times they have made errors in judgement,” she admitted. “When evidence is sparse, and a matter can only be investigated from one or two aspects, then injustices may occur, but they are corrected when new insight is gained and…”
“We know all this!” Progress of the Wind interrupted. “The High Council of Atlán is going backwards by rejecting the New Knowledge, and this is something many of the younger generation shall find difficult to accept.”
Rhuna noticed that Progress of the Wind had accumulated a reasonable following of young people who had gathered together to stand behind him.
Rhuna turned to her father for advice. “I don’t want to be separated from Lozira.”
“Then we must journey to Varappa,” Damell said decisively.
“But Father, what about the Dark Forces the High Council warned against? Shouldn’t we avoid Varappa for this reason?”
Rhuna, The Star Child Page 28