The message gave Rhuna mixed feelings of elation but also awe because this news revealed to her the magnitude of a healer’s responsibility. A brief moment of judgment of a patient’s condition could result in either life or death. She felt the heavy burden of such a responsibility, and suddenly understood Tozar’s anxiety for the welfare of Chipka much better. But in that moment, she also respected and treasured him much more due to the strength and integrity with which he bore this responsibility, and it lightened her own burden.
That evening, as they relaxed in their cozy cottage, Rhuna nestled up warmly to Tozar and listened as he described the scout party’s report about the immediate surroundings of Chipka and its safety against fire or attack. He said that the new clearings being made served as a suitable fire barrier, as well as deterrent for any approach by stealth to poison food or drinking water. Furthermore, the ridge leading to the summit peninsular of Chipka was narrow and no alternative easy access to the settlement was found. Rhuna relaxed in the knowledge that Chipka was safe in general, and that Tozar had made such thorough investigations.
After one lunar cycle in Chipka, Rhuna had made more than twenty dolls, taught various Arawana men and women how to sew and how to make soap, and watched as more elderly or frail people were given homes. She had managed to begin treating several ailing ones with herbal tinctures for their general poor condition, and gave them the mixture to drink from a small bowl before food was dispensed. Tozar had made a stone basin using solar heat to soften the stone and a metal tool to scoop out and shape a nice round form. He placed it in the far corner of their cottage where it was most suitable for summoning the Gazing of the Waters. He communicated frequently with Revealer of Brightness and several other Council members regarding the progress in Chipka and the required supplies of materials and food.
The second party had arrived from Atlán bringing the requested supplies of food and other materials, and the newly-constructed houses were fitted with glass windows. The party of only forty-two men and women then returned to Atlán with their donkeys until the next journey to deliver supplies.
Rhuna had continued to summon visions of the Dark Master by means of Inside Focussing, but saw no further significant images to indicate his location or intentions.
As the sun was half-way down its descent, heavy clouds formed over the mountain peaks as usual for an afternoon, but one day it produced a violent storm. Lightening streaked over the mountain tops preceding a loud bang like the crack of a whip. Rhuna watched the storm’s movements, but was distracted when she heard screams from the lower tiers. The Arawana were huddling together in fear and many screamed each time a bolt of lightning or a crack of thunder jolted the peace.
Rhuna went down to them and called out. “Don’t be afraid! Go into your houses or under your shelters!”
“The Black Priest has found us! He has come to take us back!” shouted a terrified voice from the crowd.
Rhuna approached them and told them the storm was a natural occurrence and had nothing to do with the Black Priest.
“But he makes the bright light and loud bangs! He did them when we didn’t do what he wanted!” said another desperate voice, and several others joined in to create a babble of screams and wails.
Rhuna felt heavy in her heart when she saw their fear and confusion. Tozar had approached behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
“They think it’s the Dark Master creating the storm,” she told him. Tozar stepped onto a raised platform nearby so he could address the crowd. He raised his arms and called out to them.
“Listen, Arawana! The Black Priest is very far from here! This is a certainty! He cannot produce lightning and thunder claps. He has fooled you with his power and tricks! He cannot harm you any longer, there is nothing to fear!”
The crowd began to fall into silence as they all looked at Tozar, and then at Rhuna. She stepped up next to Tozar and said that his words were true, and that she had even seen the Black Priest going in another direction, far away from Chipka. The Arawana stopped crying and wailing, and some moved to find a seat under the sheltering roof, but most of them still jumped at the sound of the thunder.
“I want to treat them with violet solar light as soon as possible,” Rhuna said to Tozar. “They’re in a terrible state.”
Tozar nodded. “Your pyramid is ready.”
When the heavy rainstorm had passed, Rhuna and Tozar walked along the narrow grassy path to the site where Tozar had constructed the pyramid. She told him that it was very finely made, and that she was delighted. The position of the evening’s moon and stars promised considerable energy from various sources, and Tozar cautioned her not to stand on the pyramid for long. He waited nearby as she carefully stepped up the even tiers onto the top platform. She felt good as soon as she stood atop the small structure, and she gave Tozar another contented smile.
Rhuna closed her eyes and began to relax, letting her mental faculties be refreshed and intensified by the cosmic energies flowing towards the earth through the specific pyramidal shape in harmony with the surrounding landscape. She waited a while, then sensed a mild tingling in her arms before the familiar pulling and tugging sensation began in her legs. Before it reached her body, she decided to finish and opened her eyes. Tozar had just begun to approach the pyramid, also feeling that the time was sufficient.
“I didn’t feel much,” she said quickly as she stepped down.
“Your conscious awareness does not always bear on the quality of energy received,” he reminded her.
“I’ll try to project solar light as soon as the sun shines tomorrow,” she said as they walked back to their cottage.
That night, Rhuna saw the torch fires around the Arawana’s shelters burning brightly, and it weighed heavily on her heart that these people lived in such fear. She sat down near Tozar and began her practice of Inside Focussing, and once more summoned a vision of the Dark Master’s activities. The images appeared quickly and clearly, and Rhuna believed this was due to the pyramid’s harnessing of cosmic energies to enhance her concentration ability.
In the vision, the Dark Master prepared an evening camp by a fire, but he was crouching a distance from the light of the fire, digging in the ground. Rhuna continued to focus and observed the hollow he had scraped in the earth into which he placed a cloth of some kind, then poured water into the depression. He waited for the water to settle, then began to speak an incantation. Rhuna opened her eyes.
“He’s using the Gazing of the Waters!” she said alarmed.
“Of course!” said Tozar unimpressed. “He spies on everyone constantly.”
Rhuna said she knew this, but it was the image of the Dark Master using it that startled her. She decided to relax and enjoy the rest of the evening by finishing yet another doll for the Arawana children.
The morning sun shone through the cottage windows and greeted Rhuna with the promise of an eventful day. She sprung up from their simple bed of thick padded blankets on the floor, and began planning the mass projection of violet solar light for the traumatized Arawana folk. As she looked at her instrument to harness solar energy, she realized the holes would not suffice to cover the area she had envisioned, and she felt dismayed.
“What is it, My Dear?” asked Tozar.
She showed him the holes and explained that the solar light emitting from them would only cover six people at a time.
“Is this not enough?”
“I think I can do it another way,” said Rhuna, remembering earlier attempts at extracting coloured solar light without the use of the instrument. “I still want to try healing as many as possible.”
“The use of coloured solar light is limited to temporary emotional and mental imbalances, is it not?” asked Tozar looking down in thought.
“Yes, but it should remove a giant barrier that’s preventing them from progressing,” replied Rhuna.
“This is true, however…”
Rhuna waited for him to finish, but instead he raised his
head and motioned for her to go outside and try projecting violet solar light.
The Arawana were preparing to gather for the morning meal, and most Atlans were assembled around the food preparation area. Rhuna thought it was a good opportunity to project the light because all of them were assembled in a smaller space. She explained her intention to Shelter of the Forest, who looked puzzled and nodded weakly. Then she found a low wall on which to stand and address the Arawana. She spoke in their language again, telling them she would like to produce a coloured light which would make them feel better. The people stood silently with anxious gazes fixed on Rhuna as she closed her eyes to concentrate.
Rhuna visualized the extraction of intense violet solar light waves from the white solar light above the crowd in front of her. She raised her arms as if to embrace the gathering, then projected all her mental energies towards this space. She sensed a humming in her head, but kept her eyes shut.
Within a few short moments, she heard loud gasps from the people in front of her, but resolved to continue the projection of light for the required time. More sounds of awe and surprise burst forth, and when Rhuna lowered her arms and opened her eyes, she saw a deep and heavy cloud of violet light settle upon the large crowd of Arawana people. Some of them dropped to their knees, and others looked at Rhuna and raised their hands towards her. The sighs, moans and exclamations from the people became louder and more frequent.
The violet light began to disperse and disappear while Rhuna observed the people with great anticipation. The people looked at each other and some spoke excitedly, then they unanimously kneeled and bowed their heads to the ground towards Rhuna.
“Rhuna! Priestess Rhuna!” they called out in unison. “Rhuna! We are yours, Priestess Rhuna!”
Rhuna was horrified. She turned to Tozar whose darkened expression confirmed her suspicion.
“Stop it!” she shouted to them. “I am not like the Black Priest! You don’t have to bow to me like this!”
The people fell silent, but remained bowed to the ground before her.
“What have I done?” she asked Tozar, who had moved to stand beside her.
“You healed them of specific emotional injury, not of learned and accustomed ways,” he said solemnly.
“You expected something like this?”
“It came to mind,” he said seriously, “however, their progress may now be swifter, as you purposed. Do not be alarmed,” he said to her softly, then touched her arm reassuringly.
“Priestess Rhuna!” called out a man from the crowd of bowed heads. He raised his head but kept his hands flat down on the ground. “Please give all of us a Rhuna-doll to protect us!”
“We want dolls for all of us, not just for the kids!” called out a woman who also raised her head slightly.
Rhuna felt horrified once more. “The dolls are only toys, they can’t protect you! We Atlans are here to help and guide you, that’s all you need now!” she shouted at them desperately.
“Rhuna-dolls, please give us the white Rhuna-dolls!” came yet another voice, whose words were repeated by various others.
“To them, the dolls represent you and Atlan society,” Tozar told her.
“This is awful,” she whispered back to him.
“Let it be for the present time,” said Tozar, pulling her away from the crowd.
The Arawana began a rhythmic chant. “Rhu-na! Rhu-na! Priestess Rhuna, we are yours! Rhu-na! Rhu-na! Give us dolls, please, Priestess Rhuna!”
“I’ll give you more dolls!” shouted Rhuna, then turned away despondently.
Behind her, the entire Atlan parties stood mesmerized by the spectacle they had witnessed. They had abandoned their food preparation, and faint black smoke smouldered out of some ovens. Rhuna looked at their stunned faces and then quickly turned to Tozar as tears sprung to her eyes. He stroked her head and laughed gently.
“Be of good cheer, My Dear! Their devotion to you shall facilitate your complete healing of them, and they shall receive enlightenment and assistance from us more readily.”
Rhuna nodded and quickly dried her tears, then looked at Shelter of the Forest who stood nearby.
“Nevertheless, it was an awe-inspiring spectacle,” said Shelter of the Forest numbly. “Almost would my knees have bent before you, also,” he said to Rhuna. “I was not aware that solar light could be projected in such a manner!”
“It is not the usual procedure,” explained Tozar. “My wife has exceptional skills.”
“This we have already observed!” said Shelter of the Forest as he regained his usual cheery manner.
The Atlans slowly returned to the preparation of the morning meal, and Rhuna looked back to the Arawana who were still close to the ground and muttering among themselves. Once more she felt a heavy burden of responsibility press on her chest, and she turned to Tozar again.
“It is far more beneficial for them to be devoted to you, than to the Dark One,” he said, then chuckled quietly. “Now we must provide them with five hundred Rhuna-dolls!”
“I can’t make that many dolls,” said Rhuna, still feeling disquieted. “Is that really the right thing to do?”
“Yes, for the present. It is our Atlan principle to allow other peoples their natural course of customs, habits and beliefs which do not conflict with the higher principles of preventing mental or emotional harm to another,” explained Tozar. “When they have been enlightened and become independent, they shall no longer require any dolls. Come, let us ask the others to assist you in the making of the dolls until that time of independence.”
During the course of the day, Rhuna was able to begin diagnosing the ailments of individual Arawana men, women and children as they readily let her approach and examine them. Many of them asked Rhuna to make them feel better again, as she had done with the violet light, and she assured them she would do so in various ways, if they obediently took their herbal tinctures as instructed. She dispensed many of the common tinctures for cleansing the blood of toxins, as well as a few tonics for liver and kidneys to those older ones who needed such treatment more urgently. Later, she told Tozar that more prepared tinctures would soon be needed, as the herb garden she had prepared had barely begun to produce plants. She also asked him if a Circle of Healing could be erected at a later time to assist in the healing of other conditions. He replied by saying he knew of someone in Atlán with expertise in the skill of placement and construction of such healing stones, and that he would request him to journey to Chipka for this purpose.
As the day drew to a close, Rhuna began to feel lighter at heart, and rejoiced at the many people she had begun to heal that day. As darkness set, she wondered if the torch fires would be needed, and that evening she saw only one light in the middle of the shelter. However, she slept restlessly, and was awoken by a tapping on their cottage door. Both she and Tozar sprang up and quickly put on their robes.
“The Arawana are calling upon you, Keeper of Wisdom,” said Shelter of the Forest who had knocked on their door. “They sit upon their knees and chant!” he said agitatedly.
“Be not alarmed,” said Tozar. “Most probably they expect more healing by solar light, as the previous morning.”
When they stood before the chanting crowd, Rhuna learnt that they did indeed expect another display of healing violet light. She stepped onto the low wall and addressed the Arawana.
“Not every morning! You only need a little now and then!” she told them.
The crowd fell silent a moment, then some of them began to ask for the dolls again. Rhuna shouted in return that she was making them and soon everyone could have a doll. After these words the large gathering fell silent again, but they remained prostrated towards her.
She turned and walked away to the washing area behind their cottage, trying to shake off the disturbing feeling their chanting had once again aroused in her. Tozar followed her and prepared to wash, and while he was doing so, Rhuna returned to their cottage to comb her hair and then summon messages by means of the G
azing of the Waters .
Slightly absent-mindedly, Rhuna summoned messages in the usual manner, and was jolted into alarm when she recognized the face that appeared before her.
“Rhuna, it is I!” said the dark-robed man with a grimace. “You are still observing me, as I am observing you. I was captivated and inspired by your grand displays of power, Rhuna! And how proud I am that you have followed my course in learning the healing arts, Rhuna!” he paused to show another ugly smile. “Now you have experienced how easily a primitive folk submit to your control, and is it not a thrilling experience? They are so devoted to you, they desire Rhuna-dolls! You have the Arawana in your hands now, Rhuna. They would do anything you ask of them - attempt it and see this yourself! Blend Silver-tipped Marsh Reed with the woody stems of Yellow-brown Rodent’s Weed for them, and they shall submit themselves completely to you, regardless of your demands! Do not waste your powers and skills on teaching a people that cannot be taught! It is their nature to submit, obey and be led. It is futile to attempt enlightenment and education with this people, you shall see! It is futile! Remember this, Rhuna! Remember!”
Rhuna sat back on her heels and let a wave of nausea pass over her. She felt a scream rising in her, but the sound of the opening door behind her gave her instant relief.
“Tozar!” she wailed, and let him quickly kneel down beside her.
“Not…”
Rhuna nodded, and hastily repeated the words the Dark One had spoken to her. Tozar held her as she spoke, then squeezed her reassuringly.
“He said he was proud of me for following his course…”
“He attempts to persuade you to his course!” said Tozar sharply. “It was his usual ploy when still among us, twenty-five solar cycles past. It is a cowardly and vindictive assault!”
Rhuna relaxed and let her agitation subside. “Can the Arawana really be taught properly?” she asked him.
Tozar thought for a moment. “It is true, people do not possess equal capacity for acquiring skills and knowledge, however, those with limited ability may be guided with wisdom and understanding… as you are doing,” he said with another reassuring squeeze.
Rhuna, Keeper of Wisdom Page 32