The dwarf nodded. “Sure. How far?”
“I’ll tell you when to stop. You should also cover your ears, and don’t let them go.”
“Why does he need to cover his ears?” Anahita queried. “And why does he need to move back?”
“You’ll see, Anahita. For now, I want you to focus. I’d like you to tell me when you feel like the weakness has left your being.”
With Dorick out of range, Anahita eventually announced that she was feeling better.
Without saying a word, the Source’s movements were swift. He lifted his claw and brought it down, crushing Anahita beneath it.
With the weight of the dragon’s foot causing a vast area to tremble, the dwarf lost his balance. He fell to his backside and watched as Anahita disappeared, but he did manage to keep his hands over his ears.
A few moments passed before the Source pulled back his claw. Anahita was lying flat on her back at the bottom of the crater. She was unharmed, and even her feathers were intact. Her whole body had been smashed into a perfectly shaped alcove that outlined her form.
The Source smiled. “Some lessons are best taught through experience. Don’t you agree?”
Anahita did not reply. Instead, she remained flat on her back.
Dorick ran to the side of the crater and looked down. The imprint left behind was so deep that it was nearly twice the height of his body, and Anahita was at the center of the imprint inside her alcove. “Are you okay, Child?”
The angel’s eyes looked up at the dwarf and then slowly moved to the Source as she processed her situation. After lifting her hand in front of her face, she made a fist and then slowly peeled back her fingers.
The Source broke the silence. “Should I show you again?”
Lowering her hand onto her stomach, the angel replied. “I bet you think you’re funny, don’t you? Is stepping on someone some kind of dragon humor?”
The booming laugh of the dragon forced Dorick to cover his ears again as Anahita sat up. Once the laughter subsided, Anahita continued. “As clever as you think you are, stepping on me doesn’t tell me why stasis effects angels differently.”
“You’re right,” the Source conceded, “but I never get tired of demonstrating my point.”
The Source searched for an analogy to answer Anahita’s question. “Let’s say Dorick was a dog who could run swiftly. If you were to take the dog and stop his motion, it wouldn’t take him long to return to speed after he was released. Now, Anahita, let’s say you were also a dog, but you had the ability to run at the speed of light. If your motion was stopped, it would take you longer to return to the speed at which you were previously traveling.
“Everything in an angel’s body functions at a much higher rate of efficiency, or speed, if you will. When you’re stopped as stasis stopped you, it simply takes longer for you to return to your maximum efficiency.”
Dorick was the one to respond. “If Anahita can survive you stepping on her, then she must be one of those immortals you spoke about.”
“Yes. She cannot perish, but she can cease to exist.”
An inquisitive look appeared on Dorick’s face. “What’s the difference?”
“To perish, Anahita’s body would stop functioning naturally,” the dragon explained. “But to cease to exist, a strong enough force could destroy all signs of her existence ... even her soul.”
“How can she be destroyed when someone as massive as you isn’t able to squash her?”
The dragon lowered his head back to the ground. “That explanation would require a lengthy conversation. For now, I’ll say this: if I had wanted to end Anahita, she would’ve been ended.”
The dragon rolled his eyes off the dwarf and focused them on the angel who was now standing in the imprint of her body. “There’s much to do. Take the dwarf by the hand and teleport to the top of my snout. I shall lift you up so that you may acquire a better view. The moment for you to reshape this Heaven has arrived...”
Meanwhile, Northern Grayham
The Tunnel Leading to Hydroth
Fellow soul ... once the food from the Tormalian’s side of the cavern had been retrieved and brought into the tunnel, Shiver asked the High Priestess to comfort Medolas while he and the ruby eyed man spent the night speaking with the officers of both armies. On the Tormalian side, only two high ranking officers had managed to clear the roof before the hollow collapsed.
When morning finally arrived, it had been determined that the bodies swept away by the ocean as it rushed in to fill the cavern would not be retrieved. Since the perished of both cultures were cast into the water anyway, it would be too costly to recover them all and transport the ended to Gesper, only to turn around and cast them back into the sea.
The Tormalian families would need to find a new way to mourn, and since many of them served a different deity than the Isor, a plan was devised. By the end of the meeting, it was determined that a huge chunk of ice would be harvested from the battlefield near the edge of the cavern and transported back through the Caves of Carne to Gesper. The ice would symbolize the fallen, and the families of those men would be asked to gather in the wilderness above Gesper for the ceremony. The block would be placed above the tallest spire, and the light reflecting off the spire would create an inviting glow as the block was chipped apart. Each family would be given a piece that they could toss into the Sea of Gesper and then pray that their loved one’s soul found the comfort of the Tormalians’ god, Owain, and his heavenly kingdom.
With the meeting complete, Shiver and Gablysin found Medolas and took him out of the company of the priestess and the goswigs. “I shall order the army back to Hydroth. There is no threat for them to face here now.”
“What about Clandestiny? We can’t just abandon her.”
Gablysin responded. “What would you have the army do, Medolas? You know the outcome. Clanny turned against us. To risk the safety of the men, even for our friend, is unacceptable.”
Medolas pointed down the tunnel at a group of men who were nearby. “Their safety? What about Clanny’s? If it wasn’t for her, they would’ve been ended, and you would’ve lost the war.”
“Come with me, Medolas,” Shiver urged. “We should talk this through.”
“Talking will be for naught, unless you intend to find Clanny!” Medolas snapped.
The ruby eyed man reached out and placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “We’re not against you, Medolas. Stop fighting, and converse with us.”
Gablysin led the trio to a group of blocks that had been arranged into a circle. With the group sitting on the ice, he continued. “If Shiver commanded the army to stay and seek Clandestiny, how would they know it was her when they came upon her? You saw the gashtions with your own eyes, Medolas. There were two, and one of them was our enemy and wished us ill will during the battle. Would you have Shiver risk the lives of our men to locate a beast that may or may not be the one we cherish?”
Medolas’ response was swift. “I would give my life for Clandestiny without needing to ponder for a single moment. Why shouldn’t they?”
“They would, if so ordered,” Shiver affirmed. “But their lives are more than 18,000. Just look at the men. Would you have them perish before you’re satisfied?”
“But—”
“But nothing,” Gablysin interrupted. “Eighteen thousand men cannot be sacrificed no matter how much we love Clandestiny. We know you were to unite, but that dream is lost to you now. We can’t even be sure that Clandestiny would be the same soul if she was to return.”
Medolas stood and shouted, “You can’t ask me to abandon her! I can’t do that, and I won’t return to Hydroth without her!”
Many of the faces throughout the tunnel turned in their direction. Shiver motioned that everything was okay and then responded. “Medolas, sit. Your anger solves nothing.”
“You’re not my king! You can’t command me to sit!”
Shaking his head, Shiver remained calm. “Medolas, sit, or you’ll spend
your moments in the dungeon. There, you’ll find the moments to think, and you’ll be unable to search for Clandestiny. Make your choice, Medolas.”
A long series of moments passed while Shiver and Medolas held each other’s stare. Eventually, Medolas lowered to his block.
“A wise decision,” Gablysin encouraged. “I may have an idea that would satisfy us all.”
“And that is?” Shiver questioned.
“It best not involve leaving Clandestiny to fend for herself,” Medolas warned.
The ruby eyed man grinned. “You’re starting to sound like Clanny, Medolas.”
Medolas did not respond.
“Anyway, perhaps the High Priestess and the goswigs could assist in the search. With their ability to teleport, they could each lead a small party until she was found.”
“We don’t know if Clanny survived,” Shiver objected. “She may never return.”
Medolas was about to respond, but Gablysin was quick to hold up his hand. “Whether she lived or not is irrelevant. Clandestiny is our friend. We owe it to her to do something.”
“I have an idea,” the High Priestess announced. As she and the goswigs rejoined the group, she pointed. “The men sitting not far down the tunnel, just over there, spoke of a prophecy.” Refocusing her attention on the ruby eyed man, she continued. “They say a man with the ruby eyes was prophesied to be the savior of your people. But from what you’re to be saved from, they couldn’t say.”
“They believe in a pretense,” Gablysin rebutted. “With their future so uncertain, they seek comfort in fables.”
Fosalia extended her arm and used her power to retrieve a hide that was near the wall of the tunnel. After laying it on top of one of the blocks, she took a seat directly opposing the ruby eyed man. “Prior to my mother’s passing, she said there would come a Peak when I would need to bestow the blessing on a member of the Isor.”
“Ha! What good is a blessing that doesn’t work?” Medolas queried.
“Agreed,” Gage added. “I was told Clandestiny was blessed as a child, yet she was unable to control the power and turned against us.”
“Without Clandestiny, you’d be expired!” Medolas defended.
“She also would’ve ended us if the other gashtion had not called her away,” Gallrum rebutted.
Medolas, Gage and Gallrum would have spent the next few moments arguing, but Shiver cut in. The king’s voice was firm. “No man would dispute Clandestiny’s contribution, Medolas. The men are appreciative of how Clandestiny saved them. I would, however, dispute your claim that the priestess’ blessing was invalid.”
“Dispute if you must,” Medolas retorted, “but I saw the result.”
A few intense moments passed before the king refocused his attention. “Priestess, your mother’s blessing was meant to protect Clanny once she assumed the form of the gashtion, was it not?”
Fosalia nodded. “Correct. Clandestiny should not have turned against the army no matter the desperation of her mental state.”
“It’s not Clanny’s fault!” Medolas barked. “She would never hurt her friends in good conscience.”
“No one said it was her fault, Medolas,” Gablysin refuted.
Medolas crossed his arms. “I can see where this conversation is leading. You need someone to blame.” He motioned to the king. “What about your father? How can we be sure that Thoomar would not have lost himself while fighting the gashtion? Perhaps the power is too much for anyone to bear.”
Shiver shook his head. “You’re wrong.”
“How could you know that?”
Gabs spoke up. “Medolas, if you’re unable to be productive, perhaps you should leave and allow a more relaxed set of minds to seek a solution to the problem.”
“I am relaxed!” Medolas sneered and then reclaimed Shiver’s gaze. “Stop avoiding the answer. Is it possible that Thoomar would’ve lost himself just like Clanny?”
It was easy to see the irritation as it covered Shiver’s face. “If you were any other man, Medolas ... any other.”
“Well, I’m not! So answer the question.”
Shiver shook his head. “If you must know, I was only nine seasons when my father took me into the wilderness to teach me to hunt. On one of our outings, we slew a bearogon, but when we skinned the beast, the gashtion could be heard in the distance. As he often did, my father roared to ward off the beast, but on that Peak, the gashtion didn’t flee.”
Gallrum leaned forward. His wings stopped flapping, and his eyes were full of anticipation. “What happened next?”
Gage struck his cane against Gallrum’s tail. “Hush! Let him speak.”
After a brief smile, Shiver did just that. “I watched my father change. I was frightened, and I remember falling to the ice as the weight of his new form made the ice quake.”
“Did the other gashtion attack?” Gallrum questioned.
Again, Gage thumped his cane against the serwin’s tail, but during this moment, it was much harder. “I said, hush.”
The serwin would have responded, but he could see that all eyes in the group were staring him down. He acquiesced, “Continue.”
Shiver refocused on Medolas. “As I was saying, I remember falling to the ice. I also remember watching the gashtion flee as my father chased it beyond a berg that protruded from the shelf. Though I was unable to see the battle due to the size of the berg, I could hear the fight.”
The king sighed. “Medolas, I believe Clandestiny was not at fault. I believe that her inability to train with Fosalia’s mother may be the difference. This lack of training may be why she was unable to control the power that filled her being as she faced both gashtions. Perhaps the priestess’ blessing was simply not enough.”
The king leaned forward. “I say this for one reason only. After my father returned from chasing the gashtion back to the ocean, he looked down at me and winked before he transformed back into his normal self. I knew he meant me no harm by how he approached, and the expression in his eyes was filled with love ... despite being a beast. Even then, he had the desire to let me know that all was at peace.”
Shiver stood from his block and looked at the badger. “When Clandestiny came after you, you said her eyes were filled with rage. You said it was as if she did not care for your well being.” The king directed his gaze back to Medolas. “If Clandestiny survived the confrontation with Meerum, she may still be lost to us. There may be nothing the army can do to get her back.”
The whole group’s eyes focused on Medolas as they waited for his response, but when one never came, Fosalia spoke. “We have no way of knowing the true reason why Clandestiny was unable to control the power. But I do know the Isor believe in a prophecy, and in that prophecy, you, Gablysin, are said to be the savior of them all.”
“How would you have me save them?” the ruby eyed man queried. “The color of my eyes doesn’t give me the ability to stand against a beast of Clandestiny’s size. Even if she survived, what would you have me do?”
“I would have you sing,” Fosalia replied. “I could bestow the blessing of the gashtion upon you. You could use the Tear to amplify your gift, and you will sing like you have never sung before.”
“What good would that do?” Gabs questioned.
“The Tear possesses many secrets ... secrets my mother would have divulged to Clandestiny if given the chance. I could—”
“These secrets are no good to her now,” Medolas grumbled. “You should’ve made Clanny listen.”
Shiver barked, “Medolas, you were the one who informed the priestess that she wouldn’t like Clandestiny when she was angry. Do you intend to argue all night, or do I need to have you taken away? I’m not here to satisfy your desire to express your disgust.”
“Nor am I,” Gablysin confirmed. “Settle your emotions, or leave.”
Medolas wanted to argue, but he knew one more ill word would get him sent away. “I’m sorry,” was all he said.
Shiver walked across the circle and took a seat
next to Medolas. “We all know you love her. We also can’t fathom how close the two of you became while living with the Ko-dess. But you must trust us. We’ll do our best to find her.”
The king redirected his gaze. “Priestess, tell us your idea.”
Fosalia cleared her throat. “After your men spoke of the prophecy, they also spoke of the soothing sound of Gablysin’s voice. They spoke of his voice as if the weight of the worlds lifted from their shoulders when they heard it. They said you have been singing ever since two beings by the names of Darosen and Blandina passed.”
Shiver grinned. “Gabs, the priestess makes you sound like a terrible friend. You began singing again when my parents passed. How awful of you.”
Everyone in the group laughed, even Medolas who wanted to avoid it.
When the mood settled, Fosalia continued. “Gablysin, with the Tear’s help, you may be able to reach what is left of Clandestiny. If your voice has the effect on her that it does your men, she may choose to reclaim the form of her true self.”
“Even if that were true, how would you suggest I get close enough to sing to her?”
Fosalia pondered the ruby eyed man’s question and then leaned forward. “Perhaps we should try this...”
As Fosalia continued to explain, deep beneath the surface of the Ocean of Utopia, Clandestiny was being drawn to a massive, underwater cave. It was this cave that would take her into an even larger cavern that had been created by previous gashtions.
With the other gashtions’ passing, she was the only one left, and instinct was taking over. Though she did not know why, she felt she had a task to do, but she had no idea what that task was. All she knew was that she had to come this way, and as she entered the cavern, she stopped to study her surroundings.
The slits of her dragon eyes narrowed as she peered through the darkness. It was not long before her gaze found the gathering of eggs that had collected into a pile against the peak of the cavern. Without wasting another moment, she pushed off the floor and swam toward the ceiling. When she stopped, she released a natural secretion that smothered the pile without realizing why she was doing it.
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