A little while later, they walked towards the High Council building which reflected the last rays of the setting sun in a warm glow that reminded Rhuna of orrichalcum. Tozar walked through the empty hall towards a small door in a corner which Rhuna had not noticed until then. It led to a much smaller chamber with a lower ceiling directly behind the main High Council hall. Torches hung from the walls casting long shadows on faces that were already drawn with expressions of foreboding. Rhuna wondered if they already suspected.
“Be warmly greeted, Harbinger of Solace,” said one of the women in a flat tone.
“Be welcomed, Adopted by the Rain,” said another voice from the circle.
Tozar silently sat down in the empty space, and motioned to Rhuna to sit next to him. She felt the tension from the circle and her eyes quickly scanned across the faces. She realized most of them were at least Tozar’s age and older. It was the first time she had seen them under such circumstances, and their faces looked foreign to her.
“During our sojourn in the Zitán territory,” began Tozar boldly, “we encountered specific information that reveals…that the Dark One is still active in this land,” he continued quickly.
A few members sucked in their breath, but no one moved. Rhuna felt paralyzed by the heaviness in the room.
Tozar breathed in deeply and continued. “It is certain that he was active in the remote region beyond Xoratán two solar cycles past.” He paused. “The Zitán inhabitants fled their original homeland due to his work,” he added with finality.
A few members breathed out loudly, and Rhuna realized she had also held her breath.
“Perhaps we all suspected it,” said a low voice from the far end of the circle. “I, for one, always feared he merely fled to regions beyond the scope of the Empire.”
There were a few sounds of agreement, then silence.
“We must begin deliberations without haste, lest the Dark Influences spread quickly and infest peaceful colonies,” said another woman seated near Rhuna.
“May I ask, Harbinger of Solace,” spoke a grey-bearded man in a high and shaky voice, “why your wife is present? Does she bear direct evidence of the specific information you speak of?”
“Yes,” answered Tozar. “She is, in fact, the key factor in this revelation,” he said reluctantly. Then he summarized the conversation Rhuna had with Mikkel, their attempts to summon the High Priest he spoke of, and that Rhuna received a vision of the Dark Master when she was aboard ship to Atlán.
“You knew of this vision at that time, almost one solar cycle past, and yet you remained silent?” asked the man with the high and shaky voice.
“I deemed it to be the wisest course at that time,” answered Tozar, and lowered his eyes to the floor. There was silence again. Rhuna felt that the whole discussion was somehow all about her.
“Adopted by the Rain,” said the shaky high voice, “are you not the child of Avenger of Justice?”
“Yes,” answered Rhuna nervously.
“This explains your receptiveness to such visions,” said the man. “Perhaps you shall receive other visions, and shall describe them to the High Council?” Rhuna felt Tozar jerk beside her.
“I don’t know… I mean, I don’t know if I’ll have any more visions,” she said quietly.
“It would be most advantageous if you should,” said the high voice.
Tozar jerked again and interrupted. “Esteemed Colleague, the vision was most distressing and surely further visions would even prove harmful!”
“Nevertheless, should any visions be forthcoming, it shall be imperative that the High Council be informed,” said the high voice in a determined tone.
“The Esteemed Colleagues may excuse us,” said Tozar quickly as he moved to stand up, “we have barely returned from a ten-day walking journey.”
Several voices approved, and Rhuna also got to her feet. The other members remained seated and began talking as she and Tozar left the small chamber.
Outside, the dark of night had lain a tranquil sheet of quiet over the city, and Rhuna heard the loud echoes of their footsteps as they crossed the empty paved courtyard. Tozar gripped her hand tightly and walked with fast and heavy strides so that Rhuna struggled to stay at his side. He stared silently at the ground a few paces ahead of him and was not aware that he was almost dragging Rhuna along.
“Let us bathe,” said Tozar flatly as they entered their home.
Rhuna projected her concentrated thought energies to some of the candle-like torches set in hollow glass cylinders, and watched them quickly spring to light. They shed a bright warm glow across the spacious rooms, and it comforted her. Tozar’s brooding silence had unnerved her, so she went into the Gazing of the Waters room to summon a message from Morning Glory while Tozar prepared his bath.
The happy chirping of her friend lightened Rhuna’s mood, and she spoke a responding message to Morning Glory before she left the small room, telling her only about the interesting things she had learned on their journey to the Zitán territory.
Rhuna lifted the small metal sliding door that let her bath water flow out through channels in the stone walls, and then slipped on a soft cotton gown she had received at the market for one of Tozar’s small pieces of gold. When she left the bathroom, she saw Tozar still sitting on floor cushions with only a drying cloth across his lap. He stroked his beard absent-mindedly, and Rhuna felt her stomach tighten.
“Come to bed,” she said as she lifted his arm.
“I cannot,” he said, still looking at the floor ahead of him. The cramp in Rhuna’s stomach worsened as she realized this was the first time Tozar had not responded to her. She dropped to her knees beside him.
“I am vulnerable,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“I have become vulnerable due to you,” he said, still looking ahead. “It has come to my attention that I have acted in a manner unlike my usual and previous course when I was unattached.” He turned to face Rhuna. “Your presence in my life has altered my motivations. I respond emotionally, not rationally.”
“But is that bad?” asked Rhuna, unsure of what Tozar had said.
“Is it bad?” He managed a smile and put his arm around her. “It is a challenge.” Then he paused and spoke in a tone Rhuna had not heard before. “Are you content with me, Rhuna?”
Rhuna looked at him with surprise. “I’ve never even had to ask myself that question,” she answered, still slightly bewildered by his words and manner. Tozar closed his eyes and pulled her closer to him.
“You are more precious to me than even my own life,” he whispered against her cheek.
The next morning Tozar accompanied Rhuna to the school in order to discuss the latest developments with Seer of Worlds. She had been anxious about this meeting and feared her teacher’s disapproval of her summoning in a manner he had forbidden her. Seer of Worlds was not surprised when he saw them at the door to his rooms, but hesitated when Tozar suggested they take a seat for discussion.
“There are serious developments of which only the High Council members have thus far been informed, but as they directly concern my wife, your student…” began Tozar.
“Yes, what is it?” said Seer of Worlds agitated, as he sat upright and looked at them both.
“It is a revelation concerning …” began Tozar reluctantly, then looked directly into the teacher’s dark eyes.
“No!” Seer of Worlds sprang to his feet and clenched his fists.
“He was active in a distant region of the land merely two solar cycles past,” said Tozar quickly.
“We are doomed!” spluttered the tall man as he began to pace the floor frantically. Tozar reached to hold Rhuna’s hand. “I have always known it!” boomed Seer of Worlds. “It has left me no peace in all this time!”
Tozar and Rhuna sat silently and watched the stooped man pace wildly.
“I assumed this,” he then said in a calmer tone, “due to the impediment when summoning the Gazing of the Waters. It is my t
heory that his active thought energies cause this interference when a summon is connected to him,” he began to prattle, “and had he perished as we all desired to believe, our summoning of him would no longer be impeded.”
“You are wise and discerning, Esteemed Colleague,” said Tozar. “Therefore my decision to approach you privately with this matter, and discuss further issues with you concerning my wife.”
Seer of Worlds stopped his pacing and looked wide-eyed at Tozar and Rhuna.
“Yes, yes,” he said as he returned to his seat. “I may assume your heightened abilities played a role in this revelation,” he said to Rhuna.
“Yes, Esteemed Teacher, but only by disobeying you,” Rhuna began shakily. “I wanted to summon information concerning a Zitán inhabitant I had spoken to, and who told me of a High Priest in his homeland who…” Seer of Worlds sucked in his breath, then continued to penetrate Rhuna with his sharp eyes. “I…I used a past time summon for him… of two solar cycles past… and then the blow knocked me off my feet…”
Seer of Worlds looked aghast, but before he could speak, Tozar jumped in. “I am to blame! It should have been paramount in my thoughts that her enhanced sensitivity causes far greater vulnerability to the Dark One’s forces! I had summoned the High Priest in question and met with the impediment…”
“But I wanted to show him what I had learned so I talked him into letting me try…” spluttered Rhuna.
“Enough!” shouted Seer of Worlds as he sprang to his feet again. “The only one to carry blame is He!” He clutched his hands behind his back and began to pace again.
“There is also a matter of a vision of the Dark One,” said Tozar in a calmer tone.
“What?” snapped Seer of Worlds as he stopped and spun around to them.
“I had a vision of the Dark Master when I was on the ship coming to Atlán,” said Rhuna.
“When?”
“She told me of it, however I deemed it the wisest course to wait…” began Tozar as Seer of Worlds glared at him. “Your reproof of my irrational judgment in things concerning my wife is well justified,” added Tozar.
“Hm!” Seer of Worlds looked at Tozar from under his lowered brow. “You placed yourself in a conflicting situation when you took her as your wife.”
“Of this I am now aware,” said Tozar in a low tone.
“However, “ said Seer of Worlds thoughtfully, “you may be the greatest asset in this situation,” he said to Tozar. “Your intimate knowledge of Avenger of Justice…”
Tozar interrupted and said that he had not told Rhuna much about her father yet, and had hoped it would never become necessary. Seer of Worlds nodded understandingly, and raised his hand in submission to Tozar’s request. Then he turned to Rhuna and asked her about her vision of the Dark Master.
Rhuna explained what she saw, and that she received it while practicing Inside Focussing. Seer of Worlds frowned and looked at the wall in front of him.
“It would be harmful to stimulate any more such visions!” said Tozar desperately.
“Of course!” said Seer of Worlds angrily. “Be at ease, Esteemed Friend. Be assured that I place my student’s wellbeing above my own in this regard.” He paused and moved to shake Tozar’s hand. “It is good that we have discussed this matter. I may be informed of further developments and High Council decisions?”
“Of course,” said Tozar, returning the hand-shake.
Rhuna left with Tozar to meet with the High Council again, leaving the question of Rhuna’s further lessons until after they knew what had been discussed in the small chamber during their absence. They entered the small chamber again where the High Council members had already reassembled. Tozar greeted them and then apologized for their hasty departure of the evening before.
“It had been an arduous journey and distressing experience, and I was concerned for my wife’s wellbeing,” Tozar said to them.
“Naturally,” answered one of the members understandingly.
“She has barely reached twenty solar cycles and matters concerning the Dark One are deeply disturbing for even the most mature and hardened among us,” continued Tozar.
“It is not necessary to explain,” interrupted the high shaky voice. “However, she should perhaps be present to hear our further deliberations.” Rhuna felt Tozar tense beside her.
“At this stage, our resolutions remain unchanged from twenty solar cycles past,” said one of the women. “They comprised the two options: a protective barrier to safeguard the helpless and innocent under our jurisdiction… or to… kill him,” she trailed off.
“It is not possible to kill him!” spat Tozar, surprising Rhuna.
“It is extremely difficult to approach him in order to kill him,” corrected another voice. “Furthermore, the issue of taking a human life has caused many lengthy and tumultuous debates among us. Most deliberations at the time resolved that should the Atlan Empire decide to take a human life, no matter how justified in the view of many, our statutes would be permanently altered, and a precedent would be set for further executions.”
The open discussion of killing the Dark Master shocked Rhuna, and it frightened her that the High Council had debated this issue at such lengths. And she realized there were things she still didn’t know about Tozar.
“A third resolve arises at this time,” spoke a deep voice from another part of the circle. “We assume he has been active in lands beyond the scope of the Empire for the past twenty solar cycles, and to this day there arises no justified reason for us to take any action. The peoples under our jurisdiction are not directly affected by his Dark Influences, hence no responsibility on the Capital to serve and protect. This precludes no serious ill-effects on the Zitán inhabitants,” he added, looking at Tozar.
“My party shall present their findings to the High Council in one lunar cycle,” said Tozar. “Perhaps it is wise to postpone any further deliberations until these findings are made known. And I propose the dispatch of other parties to outlying territories to establish the extent of Dark Influence on the peoples in those bordering settlements.”
“I agree to this proposal,” spoke the shaky high voice sharply. “In past solar cycles we have focussed our attention on new colonies across the Oceans and thereby neglected uncharted terrain on our own land.” Rhuna remembered her lessons in Medíz about the golden pyramids and giant plasmos which were often discussed in school and other places.
“Second agreement to the proposal put forth by Harbinger of Solace,” said a woman, and the meeting was dissolved until new information was received.
When they left the small chamber, Rhuna asked Tozar if this was a good outcome, and he said he thought it was. He then asked her if she wanted to attend any lessons while he and some other High Council members began preparations for sending parties to certain distant regions. She decided she wanted to attend her music lessons that afternoon, and resume her other lessons the following day.
That night, Rhuna once again lay awake next to Tozar as she thought about the morning’s talk with the High Council members. She turned to him and he roused himself for more of her questions.
“Why did you say it’s not possible to kill the Dark Master?” she asked him.
“It is a true statement as far as we are concerned,” he answered. “Many of us wish his demise, but would be unable to take his life. I include myself…and your father… in this majority.”
“You told me that my father went after him to kill him.”
“Obviously he did not succeed, as I expected.”
“Can’t we find out what happened to my father?” asked Rhuna, thinking of the things Seer of Worlds had said. “If it’s true that someone has to be alive to make the impediment in the summoning of the Gazing of the Waters, then doesn’t that mean my father could still be alive somewhere, since we can’t summon anything about him either?”
Tozar was silent a while. “This is not a wise course of thought,” he said bluntly. Rhuna waited for more, then told him
how she felt.
“I didn’t care about it before because I never knew anything about my father, but since I keep hearing things about him that affect me directly, I think I should know more about him. It’s as if a big part of my life is being kept secret from me when people don’t want to talk about my father to me,” she explained.
Tozar moved to kiss her head. “Forgive me once more, My Dearest. I failed to consider your feelings in this matter,” he said. He was silent a little longer. “When the Dark One began displaying his awesome powers, your father attempted to develop similar strengths by enhancing his sensitivities and abilities. He believed this was the only means to hinder or counteract the Dark One’s actions. He practiced… projecting his concentrated thought energies onto various objects… and also small rodents.” Rhuna held her breath and urged Tozar to continue. “He succeeded in breaking large objects or casting them through the air with a mere focussed thought, and the small rodents died almost instantly. He was able to counteract some of the Dark One’s actions and protect some people… however, this only served to drive the Dark One away into other territories where he expanded his dark forces on helpless and ignorant peoples. So your father pursued him…believing he held the only solution to the problem. His abilities… the skills he developed… they…affected him negatively,” said Tozar with difficulty. “He was not able to…contain those strengths and skills emotionally, and it… he became unstable, unbalanced. Do you understand?” Tozar had become agitated.
“Yes,” she said.
“As a result, he would not listen to reason, and pursued the Dark One alone, believing the safe future of the Atlan Empire lay in his hands.”
They lay silently for a while.
“What do you think happened to my father,” asked Rhuna at last.
“I assume the Dark One killed him… perhaps as easily as he killed many others.”
Rhuna, Keeper of Wisdom Page 18