As she stared at them, her large eyes didn’t blink. Her lips were full and tense, and her face was surrounded by long, black hair that gave her paler skin a pleasing contrast. The green band around her head may have symbolized that she had something to do with the sea. Her light brown complexion wasn’t common among the people they’d seen so far—most had darker tones.
She wore a green tunic over a red one with short sleeves with thin, blue streamers hanging down, and blue shorts that fit snugly on her legs. Her red boots matched her red tunic.
The young girl’s gaze was so intense that Tenashar couldn’t pull his eyes away from her. It was as if she locked him in her gaze, keeping them frozen while she approached. It was sort of a scary experience. He had never encountered anyone quite like her. She focused her attention on Tenashar, making him rather uneasy.
She came right up, smiled, and introduced herself as Jarviashar.
Tenashar and Knode smiled back.
Marhidium asked what she wanted, and she answered that she was interested in where they came from and was curious about how they would go back to Sahaynaivium.
Her words surprised them all. It was obvious she knew of their coming trip. Jarviashar had been watching and studying their body language, as well as the way they dressed, spoke, and acted. She said she was trying to put together all the things that she had observed so that she could help Tenashar and Knode face the council. This was also her way of helping the council to understand their problems.
Jarviashar said, “I’m the daughter of a council member. My father never conveyed to me about your situation. You see, I found out everything about you on my own, just by observing your movements and emotions.”
“Jarviashar you’re quite an interesting person yourself. I believe that you will follow your father and eventually become a council member,” said Tenashar.
“No, I have no desire for the council,” she declared simply. “I am more interested in learning what people are all about. Besides, I learn things in an unconventional manner. Few people in Honazal understand the things I know about. When I saw the three of you, I felt something very special.”
Tenashar introduced himself, Knode, and Marhidium to Jarviashar.
“Where are the others?” the girl asked them.
“They are taking a rest,” said Tenashar. “Jarviashar, we want you to show us around the city. Would you do this for us? Stay with us. You are hinting that you wish to go to Sahaynaivium. No one said anything about this. We are just asking you to show us around the city.”
Jarviashar agreed. “This is my home. People from other parts of the world were very interesting and they gather here to see the wonders.”
She darted to the center of the square and extended her hands and arms out to symbolize the wide expanse of her world.
“This is what you know as the square, but what no one told you was that it was once filled with water to represent the sea. Long before that, this was a sandy beach. Some of the ocean waves used to come right up to where we are standing. The water was soon drained to allow people to walk here.” She was animated and enthusiastic when talking about the city.
“Was there always a council building here?” inquired Tenashar.
“Once the council met at that building there.” She pointed. “I’ll show it to you later. This building here was once the home of a great chief. Some called him a king. This king’s home was composed of three towers, something like the one you’re staying in. It was built in the water. He became cruel to his people, so that is what brought him down. His people banished him from the city.
“Our people weren’t the first to live in this land. That ancient king, for instance, once presided over a vast domain that covered the plains, mountains, Honazal, and the north. The people who once lived in these lands were called the Locizim. They were an ancient people who resided far in the distant past but are now only folklore and mythology. Nothing is known of the Locizim except the folklore that surrounds their existence. And the ruins of the king’s residence once stood where the council building is now located. Their world seems lost, but most of the culture still exists here in Honazal. It is deep in our being and comes out in our art. The Locizim were once a people who were one with the sea.”
Honazal stretched to the distant northern mountains and into parts of the vast forests in the west but was not an urban sprawl. Buildings were interlaced with sand and shore, foliage, and grass, and a stream of fresh water passed through the extreme southern quarters.
The most important central place of the city was the square and the council chamber. Indeed, once you knew what to look for, the square did look like a pool, with the cylindrical benches that encircled the square and the steps that led downward into it.
But that wasn’t all there was. Some remains of the Locizim towers could still be seen, such as an arched doorway and some pieces of ruined wall that were once part of the foundation of another tower. These ruins were so harmonious with the square that most people never took notice.
Around the back of the Home of the Leaders, Tenashar and his friends saw things shaped like nautilus shells. They glistened in the sun that showed itself through the now mostly overcast sky. Jarviashar explained that the nautilus-style entrance led into the council chamber through a spiraling passage and that it was one of the many entrances into the Home of Leaders.
She led them away from the Home of Leaders, saying it was the most boring part of the village. Tenashar, Knode, and Marhidium found it the most fascinating part.
“Let’s walk down to the shore and look at the ships and boats.” Jarviashar took them straight down to the shore.
“You know, when I looked down from the tower, I couldn’t see any boats out on the water,” said Tenashar.
“They are housed in protected underground places,” replied Jarviashar.
“What protected places? I don’t see any!” said Knode.
“The only things you can see are the rough waves that we should stay away from. Am I not right? The city is protected by a transparent wall shaped like a wave, constructed in such a way as to keep the ocean from the land. The wall keeps us safe from harm. You see those long, narrow things over there? That’s the home for the ships and boats.” Jarviashar pointed off to strange structures that looked like elongated tubes. It was difficult to see where the boats were housed—sand, rock, and other manmade structures obscured their view.
“How is it possible for a boat to fit into those tubes? Don’t they have sails? Is there a mechanism to fold them down so that they fit in those tubes?” Knode asked.
“Some of the ships don’t have sails. If they do have sails, they fold up when they get into the tubes. Some of the tubes are so large that a ship with very large sails can be accommodated,” Jarviashar said with pride.
“I’d like to see one of them,” said Knode.
“We’re heading there now.” Jarviashar led them onto a walkway that gradually sloped down toward the water. When they reached the lowest point, the walls were damp with water. Tiny leaks were everywhere. This alarmed everyone except Jarviashar. She told them not to worry, because the walls were used to drain out the ocean water from the tubes.
They stepped out into one of the tubes and saw that the ships had an interesting shape. The front of the ship was tapered and pointed. Its back was wide to accommodate a large group of people and cargo. There was no open deck on this particular ship; it had only an enclosed cabin, like the flying ships. The crew was never exposed to the elements. And the sails opened up like a fan when it needed to be powered by the wind. This made the ship look more like a fly or other insect.
“You know, Jarviashar, these ships almost look like the flying craft that Knode and his crew flew in. Isn’t that true, Marhidium?” said Tenashar with delighted eyes.
“Quite true, but the similarities are only superficial,” said Knode. “There are important differences.”
“Come, they are similar,” replied Tenashar with a laugh.
“No, no—they are very different. Our flying craft has engines that are intricate. The ship can travel at high speeds close to the speed of sound. The ships can hover, and other models can travel into space. And the ship can stay in the air motionless. We can go anywhere,” Knode said emphatically.
“All that is important is that, whether traveling by water or air, it gets you someplace.” Marhidium let out a big laugh.
Jarviashar agreed with Marhidium.
From what he saw of the ships, Tenashar was confident that they would reach their destination.
The ships looked well built. Tenashar could see that the Honazal were good sailors and fishermen and that these vessels could reach Sahaynaivium in a few days’ journey.
Each ship was completely waterproof, made to go into storms and survive. Much thought and engineering went into their construction. These ships were similar to submarines, which the Honazal also built.
All they needed now was the approval of the council, which they believed would surely come.
Also, Jarviashar said that each sea going vessel was generally only for fishing and trading—rarely did they venture anywhere close to the Sahaynaivium islands. If the Honazalian ships did travel far, they would go to the eastern continent, beyond the islands of Sahaynaivium. The fishing was more profitable in those eastern waters. Occasionally, the fishing fleets also went north in the summer.
Jarviashar soon led them out of the damp tubes and back into the daylight. She finally brought them to one of the Honazal dwellings with its characteristic oddly shaped windows. The windows looked like quarter-moon shapes bunched together in a haphazardly irregular manner. There seemed to be no order in the way the Honazal built their houses—just whimsy.
She led them inside; telling them it was her family home that she shared with her father and two sisters, who were out right now. The interior looked very similar to a Veazith dwelling, apart from the ornamental sea motifs, similar to those at the council building.
The home had the irregular organic look that was characteristic of the majority of the architecture of this region. There were four narrow extensions that looked like towers, complete with winding stairs that led up to large egg-shaped turret rooms. These rooms were used for privacy in houses with large families. The ground floor was mainly used for cooking, living, and playing. But the underground levels held their own self-contained environments, complete with trees and water. Nothing was needed from the outside, because their food could be grown indoors. One of these underground floors had a study for Jarviashar’s father, and other, even lower, levels were for the children.
“Children in Honazal rarely play in the streets. Understand that playing in the streets is considered a bad risk. The constant high winds and waves are a threat to the children. In the past, they were lost to natural disasters,” said Jarviashar.
Honazal homes were constructed to create a strong bond of closeness among the family members. Jarviashar had her own area on the second level that couldn’t quite be labeled a room. It was more of a walled partition and a sunken area on the floor for a bed, while the rest of it was a pool of water and natural foliage. It was like sleeping in a forest. On the other side of the level, there were similar partitions for her two sisters. Their rooms all reminded Tenashar of Nainashari’s cave.
Jarviashar took them around the upper stories of the house, where the windows looked out over many parts of the city. Finally, she took them down some stairs and right out into the street.
Jarviashar took them now to a high vantage point where the sea and parts of the city could be observed without obstruction from other buildings. To get there, they had to take an elevator. This elevator was different from the one they used in the tower because this one was mechanical, and it made Tenashar feel very dizzy. An elevator was something Tenashar never experienced before. The sensation made him feel sick. Marhidium and Knode told him it was similar to flying. And Jarviashar felt it was similar to sailing on the ocean.
Tenashar was not anxious to sail to the north. “This is wonderful. For generations, my people have heard of others who are able to fly and sail. And I have always wished to do both. Now, for the first time, I have actually flown in this thing you call an elevator. But I have to get used to this sensation. I hope the feeling is close to flying. How does it work?” he quizzed Jarviashar.
“It works by weights, but some use a thing called magnetic force and light. I’m sorry, but I am not totally sure of its inner workings,” replied Jarviashar.
There was a strong, transparent haze, like a morning haze, though it was now afternoon. It blanketed the whole city, as well as the forest and mountains. The haze was mixed in with sunlight and a fresh, cold breeze that rejuvenated all their hearts. That was precisely why Jarviashar brought them up there.
All around them, the sea was all they could look at. Marhidium and Jarviashar were easily conversing now—finding common ground in being females with a love for the sea.
The ocean was still very rough, and it would become even deadlier as the winter season progressed. Snow didn’t fall in Honazal, but they planned to go further into the north in the coming weeks. Jarviashar explained the changes they could expect in the weather. This would be a deciding factor in influencing the council concerning authorizing a trip to Sahaynaivium. After the extensive tour through the city, the day was coming to an end. The magenta and green twilight silhouetted the strangely shaped homes of the city against the sky, making them look like clumps of fantastic mushrooms. The dwindling light fell on the buildings, illuminating their beautiful details. Then the lights starting coming on through the town, shining through the windows of the buildings and making them look like stars. This made Marhidium, Tenashar, and Knode feel that they were up among the stars of the heavens.
“There is nothing special. I don’t understand your feeling of awe,” said Jarviashar.
Jarviashar went with them to their apartment in the tower to wait for the words of the council. Seveaha said it would take only one day. As they tried to relax, they introduced Jarviashar to A-amar, Una-sei, and Siytai. She was instantly fascinated by A-amar and Una-sei. She had never seen a Sharzeen up close or even talked with one.
Now it was Jarviashar’s turn to be in awe, and Tenashar’s and Marhidium’s turn to laugh. Soon they heard footsteps down below.
Jarviashar was disappointed, because she had hoped to go with them. Yet Jarviashar knew well that the winter in recent years had brought nothing but tragedy for the fishermen.
chapter 14
Twenty Winters Ago, the Orbs Came
It was Seveaha with two attendants.
Seveaha’s words were quite clear and came directly from the council—no ship would sail north for the duration of the winter season. It was considered too risky.
It was clear that Jarviashar was disappointed by the decision of the council. She didn’t know what to think or do.
“Jarviashar, I know you are aware why the council made that mandate.” Seveaha spoke calmly, trying to mitigate their disappointment. “Remember, the waters were not always so violent. The sea has always been our friend, but something unexplained happened, and the waves have become untamed. Truly, this rarely happened in the past. Our guests are aware that it once happened to that village in the forest. Your father, Jarviashar, and the rest of the council believe we need to wait out the winter.”
“But, Seveaha! What if the waters never subside? What happens then?” said Jarviashar. “This means that Tenashar and his friends must be turned back. Or go north on foot, which is hard and dangerous.”
“I will see what we can do,” said Seveaha.
“Seveaha, when did the waters start to become violent?” Tenashar believed such a great alteration must mean something more than a mere change of weather. “Did it start at the time that village was ruined? Even Athtap said that when he was a child, the waters were calmer. There were occasional high waves, but it sounds like it has become very frequent only recent
ly.”
“Twenty winters ago, when I was a child, was about when I remember the seas starting to become very violent,” Seveaha began. “I saw glowing things that looked like Orbs that floated in the sky. As they hovered in the air, some would touch the surface of the water, but they never descended below the surface. We watched these Orbs from the shore, and it seemed to me that they were feeding on something. A tube would come out onto the water and suck up something. It was strange. They would always disappear and then come back again.
“The fishermen were intrigued by the Orbs and watched their beautiful forms, but it turned out that watching was deadly. The waters suddenly became turbulent. The fishing boats were tossed about, and the poor fishermen began to fall apart as if they were puppets being disassembled. Then they disappeared! The Orbs came several more times, and then one day—they never appeared again.” Seveaha concluded with vacant eyes that stared deep into the past.
“I have seen the same thing in my own village. We also call them Orbs,” said Tenashar.
“Can these flying Orbs be responsible for the oceans going bad?” Jarviashar sounded both concerned and excited.
“I’ve heard that ancient writings have spoken of these Orbs.” Knode spoke seriously. “The ancients referred to the Orbs as Guardians of the World. Tenashar, you told me about an Aura-Laei-i named Nainashari who spoke of Orbs?”
“Yes. There must be some connection between Nainashari’s words and these Orbs.” Tenashar remained deep in thought.
“We will talk more later. Rest for now.” Seveaha moved to the light elevator platform. “Maybe there is a way we haven’t thought of to bring Knode, Marhidium, and Siytai back to their homes.” She left with her attendants.
Jarviashar remained. It was already late. She was too tired to go home, and she wanted to see the morning from the tower.
The night passed in solitude. The morning opened with a blue sky and a bright sun. Down below, the waves seemed to have risen since the previous day. Knode noted this with tears in his eyes, thinking of the time that would pass before he could go home to talk with the Sahaynaivium council in Himoicum. His concern was for the Veazith children and the growing violence of the sea.
Journey to the Grassland and Sea Page 10