They walked back down the hall to the large entryway.
“I love that crystal the most,” Maureen said, pointing to a large carving etched into a clear-blue slab that hung above the fireplace. “It looks like something’s carved into it; don’t you think? I love the color. Look, there are more up there. They’re so beautiful.” she said, pointing to crystals hanging on the wall. Light bounced off them and made a pattern on the wall. “I wonder what they were used for. It’d be fun to know. It’s old and cool.”
Tahendra nodded. The crystals were unusual. They were mysterious and felt alive.
“My father loves the ancient carvings because he wants to understand their unusual energy. He said they told the story of another time that doesn’t matter anymore. He wants to use their energy in his inventions,” Maureen said. “He’s quite excited about them but gets long winded. I do hope you enjoy staying with us.”
Tahendra nodded. “Of course, I will. Thank you.”
“Tonight, Charles is coming for dinner. He and my dad work together. They want to make our world more modern. They want to capture the energy sources for their inventions. That’s what they talk about.”
“That sounds good. At seven thirty I must be at Beacon’s for campfire. I can stay until then, though,” Tahendra responded.
“I have an idea,” Maureen said. “What if we make a trade? We each give the other something cool from our worlds. Nothing valuable. But a memento.”
“I like that. Okay,” Tahendra said, grabbing her change purse and pulling out a quarter, a fifty-cent piece, a dime, and a nickel. “What do you like best? All of them is fine too if you want.”
Maureen picked them up and looked closely, turning each one over in her hand. “I’ve never seen anything like this. They’re so cool. The big faces are the leaders, huh?” She looked at the fifty-cent piece with intrigue and looked at the eagle on the back. Then she picked up the quarter. “Ooh, I like this eagle the best,” she said, showing Tahendra the quarter. “Eagles are my favorite bird. It’s fun when they’re etched in things. Thank you.”
“This is what I have.” Maureen opened a wooden box filled with thin polished slices of stones. Some were clear as glass in the center. Many had small designs in them. They were about the same size as the quarter and the fifty-cent piece.
“Anyone you want. I have so many,” she said, holding up a milky-white stone with teal veins running through it. Another had gray and black accents. Then she showed Tahendra one with a zigzag design that looked like a lightning bolt. It was a deep teal around the outside edge with a black zigzag, across the clear center.
“Wow. I like that one,” Tahendra said. “Are you sure it’s okay? It’s so nice.”
Maureen nodded. “It’s really beautiful. I want you to have it.”
Tahendra briefly looked through the other stones. She had made her choice.
“Thank you, Maureen. This is incredibly special.”
The two girls smiled at one another, feeling a little closer from the gift exchange.
At dinner Maureen’s father, Joe, and his associate Charles sat across the table from Maureen and Tahendra. The two spoke openly of their welfare project for the people.
“The common good is what we care about,” Charles said.
They were planning their biggest project yet—a Crystal Moon Room.
“It’ll be a huge transparent structure that will float like a chandelier in the night sky, visible from every direction. The large crystal room will hang right in the light of the moons. The glowing crystal orb will be seen along with Kalendra’s Brother Moons in the night sky. It will be perfect for growing our moonlit crops. We’ll call it the Kalendra Chandelier and it will grow food year-round,” Charles explained.
Charles looked directly at Tahendra.
“Farmers will be freed from the burden of slow-growing crops. They can spend more time on other tasks and live in my lovely Bog villages. So much needs to be done there. Doesn’t that sound like a great opportunity, Tahendra?” Charles asked as he took a sip of tea.
“That sounds like it will help prevent starvation. Is that your goal?”
Joe and Charles both looked at one another surprised, then nodded agreeably.
“Yes. That’s exactly right,” Joe said enthusiastically. “Prevent starvation.”
Joe became more animated. “It would expedite things to use that crystal wasteland over by the Divide. I’m sure it contains the moon crystals we need to make this project happen. Think about it,” Joe said, “Moonlight must have soaked into that stone for a millennium. There must be a lot of moon energy there.” Joe turned to Charles. “We should make it a matter of public policy that those old lands feed the people and prevent starvation. Right now, that crystal’s just laying around, doing nothing. We should put it to use. I’ll speak to the Chancellor right away. What do you say, Charles?”
“I’m inclined to agree with you. But I’m not sure people will accept the changes there. Some people live in those lands. And tourism is growing every year. I’ll have to think if it’s in our best interest to request more land there, to be honest. I like the tourism.”
“What can we do? We need the moon stone to build this wonderful food-growing chandelier. Isn’t that enough for the public good? The Chancellor will be on board.” Joe said as he grew red in anger.
“Have you spoken to the shaman there, Joe? We must be careful. They might look into this deeply if you catch my drift,” Charles said sternly. “We must consider all the consequences.”
Tahendra felt uneasy with Joe’s quick temper, but Charles was dangerous. He was measured and smart. Tahendra felt that Charles was covered in a substance she didn’t understand. A moon garden to grow food sounded like a good idea, but she couldn’t shake the feeling something else going on.
“Where will the materials come from to build the Crystal Moon Room?” Maureen asked.
“We’ll find some sort of crystalline wasteland that no one cares about.” Charles chuckled. “People get into such an uproar,” he said with disgust.
Joe turned to Tahendra and asked abruptly. “What are you doing over at Beacon’s anyway?”
“Well, to be honest, I’m not sure. My friend’s uncle invited us to visit. He told us about the wonderful people who live here. He said we’d be most inspired.”
“You’ve come as tourists?” Charles said.
“Yes. We’ve come to learn from your wisdom,” Tahendra said to both men.
Joe relaxed a little. “Learn? What do you want to know?” he asked.
“Well, um, let’s see. Describe your best day.” Tahendra said. She’d been asked that question earlier today and Beacon had patiently waited until she and her friends each answered.
“Well, I love to make the day go smoothly. That’s why I invent things. I like to serve the people,” Joe said. “May I share some of my inventions?”
Maureen looked Tahendra in the eye, imploring her to decline.
“That sounds interesting,” Tahendra responded politely.
A lemon chiffon dessert arrived at that moment, served by a young Kalendrian woman wearing traditional clothing covered in stylized animal designs. The images reminded Tahendra of the rock carvings she’d seen on the trail. The four ate their dessert in silence.
When the plates were cleared, Charles reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a small blue marble, which he held up to the light. He shook it in his hand like he was about to throw dice, then rolled it quickly across the table at Tahendra. Maureen grabbed it off the table triumphantly as if they were playing a game and she’d won that round. Tahendra was completely taken off guard looking between the two of them.
“Nice play, Maureen,” Charles said. “Allow Tahendra to have a turn.”
Maureen took the marble to begin the next round. She warmed it in her hands and blew on it subtly. “It’s so cold,” she said as she warmed it with her breath again. “Are you ready? It’s like ice. I’m going to drop it. Then you can fli
ck it across the table.”
Doing as she was told, Tahendra used her thumb and index finger to send the marble back to Charles. He picked it up and quickly tucked it back into his pocket, smiling with satisfaction.
Tahendra excused herself to go to Beacon’s for evening campfire and turned to leave the room. Joe thought he recognized something familiar about her. When she’d closed the door, Joe turned to Charles.
“Do you think she could be that girl – the one who hurt the Chancellor years ago?”
“Not a chance,” Charles said with a laugh. “She didn’t react when she saw or even touched the Blue Montis.” Charles said pulling the marble back out of his pocket. “That girl has no memories related to this stone. That gentle touch would have burned her deeply. She can’t be that one. I had to check for myself. As you know, the One is moon blood. My Blue Montis is my great equalizer, stops them in their tracks,” Charles said with a sneering laugh. He excused himself, grabbed his jacket, and bid them good night.
Once the door closed, Joe turned to Maureen.
“What do you know about that girl? There’s something about her; I can’t place it but she’s familiar. Keep an eye on her and let me know everything she does. Beacon—he’s always up to something. I’d love to be a fly on the wall and learn what they are doing over there.”
“I wish I was invited,” Maureen replied. “Maybe when they get settled.”
“Yes. Good idea. Let’s see what we can do about that. I want to know who they are and why they are here.”
Chapter 8
“Before we begin, I’d like to have everyone’s attention,” Kelne said. “I told you in the Wenderfaren Valley that we’d debrief your experiences in the Winds of Doom soon. There are additional skills and insights we’d like to address,” Kelne looked across the room to Beacon who nodded to the four of them. “We’ll teach you to be solid here,” Kelne continued. “I want to cover some basic groundwork, because I have a feeling you are going to need every bit of magic you can muster. Something unusual has happened in our world, and that is the reason you were all summoned. Every one of you is here for a reason,” he met each in the eye. “I promise you will learn, grow, and thrive while you are here. It will be challenging and worthwhile.”
“To survive in Kalendra, you must learn to observe your thoughts and the world as it is before you. You must understand your role. Our plan is to start all this by processing fears. They can be such a problem,” Kelne shook his head. “Over the course of the next few days, you’ll develop new skills. As a group, and individually.”
Beacon walked to the center of the room and bowed. “Are you ready? My presentation tonight is called ‘Hiding in Plain Sight, how our habits help us hide from ourselves.”
“How can you hide from yourself?” Tahendra said. “We’re with us.”
“Being disorganized is my personal favorite,” Beacon said. “If you’re always on the verge of a crisis, unable to sit down and concentrate, maybe you’re avoiding something. I know I was. But the chaos felt so real, and it was.” He chuckled. “I was wasting my time panicking and missing opportunities because I was afraid - of everything, I think. Were people going to like me? Was I good enough? All of that. See what I mean? When I wasted time finding things, I was avoiding getting what I wanted. It wasn’t fun or rewarding. In fact, I beat myself up for being disorganized and messing up. It was quite a cycle to break.”
“When I finally decided what I wanted, I was able to focus on my goals and create opportunities. I wasn’t scared of anybody or who thought what. I got organized, prepared and opportunities opened. I was ready.” Again, he smiled at his audience.
“Do you see what I mean? Hiding from yourself means being distracted, not optimized for the task at hand. Neglecting your health, your feelings, your goals. It’s all fear. Are you afraid your ideas will be struck down by some opinionated person? Boy have I been there. I know that one thoroughly.” Beacon whistled a slow high whistle that sounded like an explanation mark. “You’ve got to access all your inner resources here. Take responsibility for how things go – and allow your own opinion to count.”
Beacon walked to the fireplace and faced Tahendra and her friends.
“We are going to be one fine, strong team. The best, I’m certain ... All the permission you have ever wanted to do things your way is officially granted. No if’s ands or buts. You are trustworthy. You must trust yourselves.” Beacon held up his staff and the end flashed. “From now on, your way is the right way.” He held his staff high over his head and lit the room a second time. “Never forget. Do I have your agreement?
“This is Kalendra. Think about it. If you don’t do it in your way, how are you going to do it? Get directions from someone who has never done what you’re attempting because, because, because? Do not please people who do not intimately and respectfully understand and value your goals. We’re all taught to automatically please and demure,” he said as he waved a handkerchief and curtsied. “That’s a problem. Yes? Discerning is your superpower. I’m not talking about the trustworthy people. I’m talking about the people who make you feel like you’ve got to hide. You don’t have time for that.
“In this world of Kalendra, you’ll discover quickly what I mean. You must trust yourself and know your strengths. You see, that is exactly how you optimize your powers. It begins in your mind. Beacon looked at his audience to see if they were following.
“Say, for example, you land in the Bog, of all things,” he said holding his nose with disgust. “The Grizzled Queen will insist you disown yourselves, right? Only do what she wants, no matter how unreasonable her requests. Does that remind you of someone?” The travelers smiled. They all had relatives and schoolteachers who bossed them around and gave ridiculous advice.
Tahendra nudged Jaime. “Remember fifth grade?”
Jaime laughed and nodded. “Yeah.”
Kassara raised her hand. Beacon acknowledged her.
“I’ve been influenced by a lot of people in my life. How can I know which part is me?”
Beacon nodded. “Good question. Let me be clearer. Your assignment is to become more aware of your choices. Of course, you adopt what you love, and you always have. I’m not asking to throw your wisdom away. But to think about which habits get in your way? I want you to notice when you are unstoppable, and when you hesitate or stop altogether.
“Some individuals and even weather systems in Kalendra are intent on challenging your outlook and preventing your success. The Grizzled Queen, whom you may have the misfortune of meeting, specializes in making you feel wrong as if you were born to satisfy her and you have failed. Believe me, under those circumstances, you could pass all your days doubting everything and never taking any action at all. Some people simply cannot wait to help you miss out on your life. Apparently, it would make them feel better.” He rolled his eyes. “Suffice it to say, you cannot afford to be tripped up by negative people, especially if that negative person is inside your own head,” Beacon said. “But I digress.”
“Resolving your Winds of Doom experience is critical if you are going to step into your magic properly. I’m confident you will all succeed. We’ll debrief that soon, but not tonight. In the meantime, there’s an anecdote to the wind.” Beacon said. “Stand around the fire in a circle. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Remember having the time of your life. What were you doing? Who was there? How did it go? Hold that thought in your mind. Give it some space. Feel your happiest memories.”
Jaime closed his eyes. In his mind’s eye, a very animated Uncle Kris stood before him.
Rainbows flew up towards the sky. Planets aligned. The air felt silky smooth on my skin. Then she appeared, Uncle Kris said.
What happened really! Jaime exclaimed; his seven-year-old self hung on every word.
I cannot tell a lie, Kris said. That’s exactly what happened. She nurtured the entire forest. and wore a beautiful headdress that glistened in the sun. She invited me to select a beautiful teal sto
ne from the Crystalline Falls. She said when I held the stone and trusted, everything would feel easy. I would have all the luck in the world. Kris picked Jaime up. I will take you to meet her one day. Would you like that?
Beacon had them open their eyes. “This is the antidote to the Winds of Doom. You see? Your best and warmest experiences calm you down and remind you of your happiest self. It’s better to make decisions from a sense of possibility.”
Chapter 9
Maureen led Tahendra down the winding pathway inside the cliff walls. They were below the plaza across from Beacon’s home. Maureen ran fast down the servant stairs. She had offered to give a tour of the common rooms that were connected to her family’s home.
Then she stopped at the landing. It was brightly lit, and Tahendra could see how elegant the old formal staircase was. It looked Elizabethan but with Kalendrian carvings from a thousand years ago. At the bottom of the stairs, the cliffs were carved out to create a gallant ballroom, trimmed with zig zag patterns. A window to the canyon made it easier to identify where they were. Tahendra looked out the window onto the cliff dwellings and saw porches with flowers and seating.
“Isn’t this place cool?” Maureen said. “I used to play here as a kid. I hid when my dad was in a bad mood. He never found me here ... There’s one other place I want to show you. It’s especially cool.”
The stone Maureen gave Tahendra felt hot in her pocket. She touched it briefly. To her amazement the rock carvings on the wall glowed.
“How long have people lived here?” Tahendra said. “This place is really cool.”
“I know. I think so too.”
Worried the carvings would light up again, Tahendra kept her hand out of her pocket.
“Look in the study there,” Maureen suggested. “Those are some of my favorite carvings.”
Tahendra walked into the small room Maureen directed her to, but as she entered, the walls sealed her in.
Magic Invitation: Kalendra Chronicles Book One Page 4