by Clive Ousley
Warriors stood at intervals around the periphery of the room. Malkrin highsensed them quickly and realised their presence was more ceremonial than intimidating. A shadowy figure moved purposely in the background. Unexpectedly, a dazzling beam lit the room, as if the sun itself had entered the building. A concentrated lance of gold light focused onto a great horseshoe shaped table inset with reflective panels. These rays were like sun reflecting from rippling water – straight into Malkrin’s eyes. Beyond the glare and behind the table sat shadowy robed figures. All wore ornamental chains around their necks bedecked with faceted jewels. The gems caught the searing yellow light, multiplying the many beams. Light splashed around the room with a lancing, blinding glare. If the figures moved or even when they breathed, facets of the jewels sent numerous light arrows flashing around. Parts of the large meeting hall were highlighted then dimmed in a dancing display of bright colours.
Malkrin looked to Halle and Seara who were lit in a multitude of flickering light points. They flashed and played over Halle’s hairless head and simultaneously Seara’s hands and clothes. Everything was yellow and gold, then red, then blue, always superimposed by searing white. Even the shadowed faces around the table were tinted with gold shafts that shifted and swirled. The effect was awesome and would have intimidated lesser people. Malkrin highsensed the Senate’s test and squinted, following the beams back to their source. He realised a strange bowl shaped glass object below the turret created the magic. That wasn’t magic at all. It gathered the light from turret windows and split it, sending narrow beams around the hall. He shielded his eyes and the figures behind the dancing light came into focus.
Halle touched him on the shoulder and whispered.
‘Sire, I see their thoughts. They are testing us. They believe lowly folk will be awed by their cleverness.’
Malkrin nodded in agreement. Then turned to the Council, ignoring the dazzling lances and set his face to show the unconcern of a powerful warrior. He crossed his arms, set his legs slightly apart and stared at each face as if nothing unusual was occurring.
The Senate leader in the centre of the horseshoe spoke without emotion.
‘You are welcome strangers. What is your business here with the masters of light?’
‘Do you usually welcome strangers by blinding them with trickery?’
‘We are the Council of light; the great sun bends to our will.’
‘Such a simple ruse does not impress us. You are the Brightwater Senate first, masters of light a poor second. Goddess Jadde would not be impressed with your trickery.’
‘Goddess. We do not believe in such things here.’ He flicked a hand in dismissal, ‘we have harnessed the sun to provide light to our lives and dwellings.’
‘The Goddess decreed we should seek higher virtues and understanding. But you seek to blind guests with cheap trickery.’
Malkrin heard an irritated sigh behind him.
Suddenly Seara moved toward the bowl shaped object and pulled a chord that moved a thick cloth back over the channelled rays. The entire council looked stunned by the bold move as if no one but them could have worked out how to extinguish their magic. The guards merely stood rigidly and awaited orders.
Malkrin suppressed a smile and nodded to Seara. Well done, he thought. Then he turned back to the Senate. They were now revealed in natural colours, and had recovered from Seara’s brave action.
No warrior moved to arrest Seara and no one moved to reopen the curtain.
The spots before Malkrin’s eyes receded and the council were revealed to be two women in their middle years with sparkling jewels lacing their grey hair. Alongside them sat seven men with neatly trimmed beards and moustaches. All the Senate wore heavy ceremonial gowns of pale cream with flashes of brighter yellow. Under the gowns were glimpses of simple clothing in grey and black. They all wore gold necklace chains woven around a myriad of jewels which still glinted in normal light. They stared curiously at Malkrin and his companions. The most authoritarian man, in the centre of the Senate, rubbed his chin as he silently examined them. Then he shrugged.
‘Forgive us. I can see you are not ordinary folk easily impressed by such things. What do you seek from us?’
‘We wish no harm to you and your people and travel in peace. We seek only information.’
‘We wish you and your companion’s peace also.’
The preliminary testing appeared over. The head of the Senate leaned closer and peered intently at Malkrin. ‘Before we discuss urgent matters, what information do you seek?’
Malkrin searched the faces, highsensing no animosity, more a kind of pent up urgency clothed in curiosity.
‘What information do you seek?’ the man repeated.
‘We search for two things. First, we seek the great Goddess Jadde. Do your priests have records telling of the Goddess Jadde and her journey through your lands and perhaps her whereabouts?’
The Senate leader frowned, ‘We only have reference material, some of which is ancient and unintelligible. We have no need of priests, only scholars, so know of no actual goddesses. I will consult with our principal scholar to answer your question.
The robed leader turned to an elderly man on his right and they whispered for many minutes.
Seara became bored and moved to a corner of the hall, to a globe set within a wooden pedestal. Halle gestured and she reluctantly returned to her father’s side.
The Senate elder finally finished his discussion and turned back to them.
‘The Light of Souls Library within the Lighthouse Bridge is where we keep our records. Most have remained in readable condition for countless lifetimes. Nalbar, my Principle says we have two old documents mentioning the name you seek. They will be made available for you to read. But why you seek one of the ancient gods is incomprehensible to us.’
Malkrin thought it best not to admit that they had no knowledge of written letters and words. He hoped a scholar could read the holy documents to them. At last the thought of finding out where the great Goddess actually resided, filled him with impatience. He disguised it with outward calm.
‘I thank you Senate Leader, we look forward to seeing the holy documents.’
‘The leader laughed humourlessly, ‘they are not holy, just dusty and faded. Possibly rewritten from times when survivors settled here from the dead cities. Now, speak of your second request; then we have two of our own. If you answer satisfactorily you will be free to stay as guests or leave our villages unhindered.’
‘We are being sought by men adorned with three highsense suns, do you know of them?’
‘Your terminology is strange. But yes three strangers passed this way asking of people meeting your description. They stayed overnight and left heading south and into great danger. They believed you journeyed in front of them and sought to rescue you before the dark legions engulfed you.’
Malkrin ignored the references to danger. He’d mastered the fear of death many years ago and was immune to threats to his life. But what were they going to be rescued from? He put the ‘rescue’ word to one side for now.
‘Why do they seek us and where were they from?’
‘They proclaimed that all three of you are important to them in the coming ordeal. When we asked from where they hailed they pointed north in the direction of the distant cold mountains and said High Nirfana.
‘North is where?’
‘The direction you travelled from.’
Then they must be Brenna, Malkrin thought in relief. But High Nirfana was not a place in Cyprusnia and therefore another puzzle. He risked one more question.
‘What of the great danger that threatens to engulf us?’ He added pieces of information together. ‘The danger threatens to engulf the High Nirfana people and you?’
‘I will answer your question with our first question. What do you know of the advance of the Archenemy?’
Arch enemy? Did he mean the Archgry? Malkrin wondered. ‘You talk of the Archgry?’ The continued referral back to
the Seconchane’s enemy in the ancient scriptures was becoming alarming. First the Skatheln’s reference now this. He began to realise how closeted his people were from outside influence and reality, and just how many references to life outside Cyprusnia the holy scriptures contained.
‘Recently a large number of strangers from the far south have passed through our lands. They tell of the return of the Harvesters of Humanity. These destroyers are known by many names. The one you mention is but one name; also they are the Archegrie or the Arachnid-men, Beetle-men or the Arch-devils. But one thing is for sure; they have again risen from the depths of the scorched lands. Out of a pitiless ancient era they return to destroy all in their path.’
‘All who flee before them say they are heading this way,’ added one of the Senate with foreboding.
Malkrin thought for a moment, highsensing his companions foreboding as they pieced together the information.
‘I only know that a tribe called the Skatheln flee toward the Seconchane lands. They are now a destitute people from the lush forests far to the south. Their Gods have deserted them.’
‘Gods, paa!’ As if possessing only one mind the Senate waved and laughed dismissively.
‘No such beings exist, certainly none that will help us all now,’ the leader said.
‘I seek the Goddess Jadde. She fought and defeated the Archgry and will do so again.’
The Senate leader replied patiently, ‘your people have beliefs and scriptures based on the ancient war of all wars. I suspect our records will be found to be similar.’
He looked gravely at Malkrin. ‘Now my second question to you.’
‘We are led to believe – from the ones that search for you, that you have certain hidden talents. They are what? We need to list them and add these abilities to our plan of action. Every conceivable defence must be considered as we prepare for the coming struggle.’
‘Our talents, should we have any, are our own to use or give as we see fit. They are not for others to manipulate and cannot be defined as they fail us as often as they succeed.’
‘I see . . . You do not fully realise the gravity of the ordeal we must all face before another year passes. Soon all the tribes – your own included; will be engulfed in a tide of half-men-half-demons who know no mercy. It is very possible none of us will survive. Our entire peoples could become as the dust of our ancestors – extinct and forgotten for all time.’
Malkrin glanced to his companions. Their eyes showed sudden concern; something evil really was coming this way.
‘Should the time come to repel such an enemy, I and my companions will add our meagre talents to the forces of good, and fight alongside you.’
The Senate spokesman bowed slightly.
‘That is all we can hope for – for now. You are all free to stay. Our principle scholar will allocate a learned researcher to show you the documents that tell of the Goddess Jadde.’
Malkrin nodded in thanks. The Senate rose and each gave a strange ceremonious sign either of farewell or deference. Then the seven men and two women rose from their seats and followed each other in a procession of rustling gowns through a door in the far corner of the chamber.
Malkrin turned to his companions, exchanging a look that said, what next? They waited and shortly an official appeared through the same door the Senate had gone through.
‘Peace to you, friends, my name is Praled Litsky. I will show you the records you require and where you are to sleep and rest. I will answer all your questions to the fullest of my power.’
‘We thank you Praled Litsky. What is your status in the Brightwater people?’
‘I am a librarian and seeker of knowledge. I have been recently appointed to research old documents relating to how the Demon-men were defeated in ancient times. We hope to recreate the victory and save our people from the hardships the old-people endured.’
‘We have a lot to learn from you and your people,’ Halle said.
They walked through the narrow lanes weaving past the numerous turf roofed buildings and homes. Malkrin kept one ear tuned to the conversation and took in the sights of a settlement so different to Cyprusnia.
‘You also have a library from the times of the old people?’ Praled asked Halle.
‘Yes, we have indeed, a few of the writings are dedicated to Jadde and I believe somewhere her deeds are written in words.’
‘We ordinary folk cannot . . .’
‘. . . Tell me of your people and how you run your community,’ Malkrin interjected, fearful that Halle was about to give away their inability to read letters.
They exchanged information as they walked through the community. The village was far larger than was at first apparent. A gap had been hewn through a rocky buttress. Through this arched opening Malkrin glimpsed a second and larger village in the valley beyond. Around the gently sloping hillsides more buildings and dwellings occupied their individual niches. Malkrin estimated the combined Brightwater villages were larger than Edentown.
‘I have many things to show and tell you,’ Praled stated proudly.
Malkrin listened intently, and along with Halle and Seara learnt from Praled of the lands and people of Brightwater. They had harnessed sunlight to heat and light their dwellings and they were trying to rediscover the ingenious skills of the ancient ones. But they had not yet found a way to stop the Archenemy plague destroying them.
The three paused frequently to stare wide eyed at unusual features and decorations. Praled explained the items were: fountains, statues and the strange animal shaped shrubs were called topiary. Then in astonishment they stopped to view an elderly man treading inside a giant rotating wheel. It was coupled to a leather band that ran a spinning metal device which trapped a length of wood. A man was using it to fashion wooden chair legs with a sturdy knife.
‘It’s a Ferris-wheel coupled to a lathe, from an old book that has decayed. We worked out this contraption from a mildewed picture,’ Praled explained.
As they progressed through the streets the Scholar pointed out other inventions incorporated into the Brightwater people’s everyday lives. He showed how painted and enamelled bowls were fired in kilns. How mashed wood turned into thick parchment called paper. He took them to where strange tools called ploughs were fashioned in an open fronted barn.
‘These,’ he explained, ‘are used to till the soil by tamed beasts called bufflo’s. They looked confused so Praled led them into a recently constructed stone tower and up to the open top.
‘A lookout position,’ he explained, then led them to the far corner. From there he pointed to a valley where the beasts could be seen creating long furrows with their masters guiding them. Malkrin recognised the beasts from the distant herd he’d spotted in the plain nearer to Cyprusnia.
In the end it became too much for Malkrin to take in. These people were surging ahead of the Seconchane in many ingenious ways. He realised just how much they had to learn.
The Brightwater people manipulated light everywhere. Most buildings contained beautiful coloured glass windows set into the grass turf. The interiors shone with the sparkling light of summer streams and winter ice. Malkrin could see Seara was totally enthralled by the time they had climbed the spiral staircase to the library in the Light Bridge. He watched her enter the yellow domed room with eyes darting from one curiosity to another. He noticed fogged glass in a wooden door frame which shielded the document area from direct light. Praled explained it contained a filter to reflect harmful rays, keeping the documents dry and pristine and kept further text-fading at bay.
Malkrin nodded impatiently, the documents describing the great Goddess’s abode were beckoning him with a tangible power.
‘My grandfather rescued these from a damp storeroom,’ Praled explained. ‘It has proved a continuous revelation since then to relearn some of the archive’s contents and attempt to use this ancient knowledge.’
By now Malkrin and Halle were conversing freely with the kind old man. Malkrin instinctively knew he
could trust him and was becoming convinced his people were trustable too.
‘What made you realise the necessity to relearn them?’ Malkrin asked. ‘I gather you started years before you found the Archenemy existed.’
‘Like your people we had a priesthood; another all smothering sect. They ruled over the people and defeated the Senate in every ruling, for lifetimes they constricted us with superstitions and supernatural threats. They took the brightest boys for acolytes, the best food, the fairest serving girls, and the healthiest livestock. Collectively, we had had enough. The Senate gradually shifted from being subservient puppets allowing the totalitarian priesthood to smother our souls, to an organised council promoting active resistance. Then the priesthood abolished the Senate and the people erupted in revolt. The priesthood were slaughtered and religion was banished. My ancestors sought a new direction, a new beginning. This search led them to the old document storeroom. Since then we have restored and then consulted the old peoples’ books.’
‘How long ago did this happen?’ Malkrin asked.
‘In my grandfather’s time just before my father was born.’ Whilst explaining, Praled removed a dusty leather volume from a shelf high up on a battered metal rack. ‘This has been little studied. It is the diary writings of a priest from many lifetimes ago. It is written in the priesthood’s convoluted language on goatskin parchment. We believe it to be re-worded, violated from the originals by pious misguided hands. But if I remember right, it contains the words of the Goddess called Jadde.’
Praled placed the volume before Malkrin on the worn table.
He felt a hidden knowledge emanate from the document and opened the cover, respectfully holding the page edges gingerly in his fingers and scanned the squiggles they contained. Some of the letters were especially ornate and stood out, they often appeared to be the same symbol, but he had no idea what it was. Halle and Seara peered over his shoulder both looked as confused and frustrated as he felt.