Cleiadomph asked another vital question. “What about Nainashari? Did Nainashari seem to know anything about the child thing?”
This question brought Tenashar sadness and disappointment that his old teacher wasn’t aware of the child thing, and perhaps without knowing it, he was making more new Orbs.
Tenashar knew it would be difficult to get Geithelasa to admit what she was doing. An Aura-Laei-i would be able to detect an intrusion into what they were planning. If this were true, then Geithelasa would have an advantage over them.
Did Nainashari intentionally or otherwise create these Orbs? If this were true, it would be difficult for Tenashar to deal with this. It was now clear to Obsiesa that the council members should question Geithelasa and make her admit her motives.
No time was wasted. The Salseth made plans to gather scholars and question them. The council would order them to speak the truth about the Orbs.
Tenashar asked the Salseth if he should go back to the continent. Even as he asked, Marhidium tapped him on the shoulder, shaking her head—no. The Salseth decided that certain things should be done first. Tenashar didn’t understand what he meant by this. But the Salseth kindly said that they must all help deal with the same problems, which included his people.
Deep inside, Tenashar trusted Nainashari, believing that he wouldn’t deliberately create Orbs to drain the life from the planet. This kind Aura-Laei-i was always trying to preserve life. It may have been possible that some of Nainashari’s spheres had lost their original purpose. It finally dawned on him that since Nainashari created new spheres, perhaps he understood how to fix the Orbs. But if he did, why didn’t he say anything to Tenashar when he was living there?
The Salseth told Tenashar not to think too much.
Together they would deal with these problems.
chapter 30
In the Midst of the Chaotic Council Chamber
As the council members debated among themselves in groups, news came that on the other islands and in other parts of the world the Orbs were once again creating havoc and destruction.
At the same time, the scholars found fault with other council members, accusing them of keeping the Orbs a secret. The scholars were right, yet so were the council members. Each group accused the other of corruption. The disharmony among the council members and scholar-scientists had been around for many years.
When the Salseth entered the council chamber, he came upon chaotic groups of scholars and council members. Many looked to him for guidance in order to end the strife.
Meanwhile, Lothob gathered his students and other scholars. Tenashar and his friends, including Cleiadomph, had come along with the Salseth to see the arguments.
Tenashar, Knode, Cleiadomph, and the others sat and listened to the councilors and scholar-scientists. Cleiadomph watched Geithelasa intently. She just sat at the council table, motionless and stoic.
Many voices spoke.
“They say Geithelasa brought this calamity down on us. If this is true, then she should explain her mischief to the council,” said a scholar.
“There is no evidence that she has done this, and it is inappropriate for those who don’t know anything to accuse another,” said a senior council member.
“Some fear those who sit on the higher council. They are no different from those who sit on the lower levels of the council. We are all equals,” said a senior scholar-scientist.
Another council member spoke directly in Geithelasa’s face. “I am not sure what you are about, but I want to believe that you are working for the good of the people of Sahaynaivium. So speak now and defend yourself. I don’t want to judge you.”
Geithelasa remained sullen. At times, her anger would peek through, but only for a second.
More and more thoughts and suggestions poured through the council chamber. Sometimes it would come like a storm or a rushing flood, depending on who spoke.
Tenashar watched intently, following the Salseth around the council chamber without realizing it. In the center of the storm of words, Tenashar and the Salseth strode to the center of the council chamber. When this came about, the councilors and scholars fell silent, waiting for judgment from the Salseth.
The Salseth raised his hand to dismiss the council. Some left promptly while others lingered. He walked away with Tenashar at his side. By this act, the Salseth had shown that he didn’t want to provide leadership in the midst of the chaos.
The Salseth said to Tenashar that it was clear to him that the gathering of the council members and scholars wasn’t going to bring any results. Tenashar also realized that Geithelasa would never yield—she had too many layers of hidden protection.
The Salseth advised Tenashar that the only answers had to come from Cleiadomph because he was, at that very moment, mind probing the scholars, many of whom didn’t realize that in a limited way he could read their minds. It seemed that time was running out, so they all departed from the council chamber.
Leineha and Seveaha were being housed and protected by the authorities. Jarviashar asked the Salseth for permission to see them, but he said it wasn’t possible because the council as a whole needed to approve this.
Jarviashar asked sharply, “What is the sense of being the Salseth if you can’t do anything?”
“Once it was true that the office of Salseth had greater authority. But in present times, things have changed.” The Salseth spoke ruefully. “The important thing is to find Cleiadomph and plan what to do next since the council meeting didn’t work out.”
chapter 31
Geithelasa Becomes Aware of Tenashar
While this was going on, Geithelasa was calling her own council with her own Aura-Laei-i and scholars. Away from the council chamber, Geithelasa could discuss in secret what she wanted and planned.
“What you have all discovered is that the others know what we are doing—especially this person from Senetha, the boy they call Tenashar. Even Osinthaph knows what they have found, and Cleiadomph has always suspected our movements. We have to keep them away from us. Otherwise they can report us to the Salseth. By finding ways to control the Orbs, we are helping our people. But remember—control is vital! Nothing else will do.”
Geithelasa’s Aura-Laei-i was aware of what Cleiadomph was trying to do.
Feiadysium told her, “It would be impossible to attempt complete control of the Orbs because they have minds of their own, and the ancient machinery is unreliable. Nothing we have tried in order to understand these Orbs has worked. The Orbs are beyond us. We don’t have the capacity to understand them as the ancient scholars did.”
“It must be done. The problem will be overcome—by your work. I have no sympathy for failure,” Geithelasa said.
“Look, Geithelasa, we have tried. Besides, others in the council are beginning to blame us for the catastrophes. They suspect what we’re up to. Remember, Cleiadomph is a powerful Aura-Laei-i as well—I’ve worked under him,” said Feiadysium.
Geithelasa’s reply to Feiadysium was that she would not tolerate failure. She also threatened that she would tell the council that he was the only one responsible for manipulation of the Orbs.
Some of the scholar-scientists began to ask why she was so anxious to get these dangerous Orbs under her control. When they asked her for her reasons, she said nothing.
As he turned toward Geithelasa, his dark beard and pale brown skin glistened in the rays of the sun. He wore the shawl and other clothing of the high council.
For he was Feiadysium, once the most enthusiastic of her followers, and was slowly becoming disillusioned at the problems that were being caused by there meddling. He had no desire to challenge the ancients in the art of their technological achievements.
And art was the appropriate word. The ancients had technology that was so great that it ceased being a mere mathematical and scientific discipline. It became a blend of art and science.
Feiadysium covered his face and asked Geithelasa what they should do next. She urged him to prob
e Tenashar’s mind.
“Tenashar has the power to block me if I try to look into his thoughts,” replied Feiadysium.
“Does he know this? Yes or no? Answer me!” Geithelasa demanded.
He spoke cautiously. “He is not aware of his full powers, yet he is already beyond all those who have come before. He is one of the ancient Aura-Laei-i. Perhaps he is a descendant of the old ones of Cashmakil.”
Without hesitation, her fists hit the table. She knew that she was defeated, but she didn’t want to admit it. “How do you know of this Tenashar?”
He admitted, “I sensed so much power in him that I originally didn’t believe it, because it came from such a young person. Most Aura-Laei-i was much older than him. It takes years to reach his level.”
Soon Geithelasa understood that Tenashar was a different type of person—not like the people of the continent. But Geithelasa could not believe that so simple a people as the Senetha could produce such an exceptional person. She had paid no attention to Tenashar before. She began to think that Tenashar was the key to the Orbs and that he might be an Aura-Laei-i who could tame them.
Feiadysium warned her that only certain Aura-Laei-i could train an Orb. This just made her sneer at him. She began to slowly outline her plans to ensnare Tenashar so that he would have to work for her.
Feiadysium advised, “Understand that Tenashar knows about you, so it wouldn’t work.”
Geithelasa became so frustrated that she wanted to be alone. She dismissed Feiadysium and spent the rest of the day in contemplation.
chapter 32
Her Eyes See Far into the Distance
Many distances away, as the debates and schisms were growing in the council chamber of Himoicum, life in the mountains for the Senetha hadn’t changed much. The Orbs were gone. The people had been working hard to rebuild their lives in the mountains.
In a dwelling near a stream, Tansatei continued to practice her lessons. She felt the warm and beautiful sun on her face as she worked to master a lesson that she would need to help Tenashar—levitating a glass, egg-shaped object. To the wise mountain woman, Heitac, this was an elementary skill.
She was comfortable being in this part of the forest, away from her bothersome siblings, but on this day she was not to be alone. Sanashei came to keep her company again. Tansatei was in such deep concentration that she didn’t see him immediately. At first she was startled, and then she looked up and welcomed Sanashei.
“What do you know about the Orbs? Do you think they are from the stars, as some people had once believed?” Sanashei asked Tansatei.
“I know what you mean, Sanashei. I believe that Tenashar has found some of the answers. But they are not complete. I saw it through his mind when he joined with other Aura-Laei-i in the islands across the sea two nights ago. They were trying to find the child.”
“Yes. You are correct,” said Sanashei.
“If this child thing was hidden near Nainashari, who lives in a cave many leagues away, then wouldn’t he be the one controlling the Orbs?” Tansatei wondered why Nainashari hadn’t located this child thing.
Sanashei replied, “He could have made the child thing. It is being held in a sphere of liquid. He may have transferred Asigonth’s essence to the child thing. If they found a child thing near the cave, then Nainashari must be hiding it—or else he doesn’t know it is there. It could be possible that he is the one controlling it. I want you to know, Tansatei, that this man could be many centuries old. Tenashar knows how old he is.”
It shocked Tansatei that Nainashari was so old. She knew that some of the Aura-Laei-i lived to immense ages—she even suspected that Heitac had lived a very long time. A rumor in the village said that Heitac was more than two centuries old.
Tansatei knew that Tenashar loved Nainashari, for she had delved into Tenashar’s mind without him being aware of it.
“What should we do, Sanashei?”
He advised her to wait and see what would happen. Then they would gather the other neighboring tribes. Tansatei asked what Sanashei meant by this.
He replied, “We must prepare for the time when our people and those of other tribes will need to make their own sphere worlds to reside in. Others will stay here in this world, residing underground like Nainashari. Some of our tribe will live in the spheres and call them home. If the land dies, their children will learn to make it live again.”
Tansatei’s eyes widened. “Then Tenashar is to fail?”
“No! This is what may be. Our world may die. Perhaps it is part of the process for greater things in the future.” Sanashei’s words were encouraging, but for Tansatei, it sounded like they must leave the world she had known from birth, and that was sad.
Sanashei had once before made preparations by letting his tribe know of the course they had to take—building themselves a new place in the mountains. Once more, the tribe would have to start all over again.
Tansatei shuddered at this thought. She realized that it meant that some of the tribes would have to move and live in dark and fearsome places. Sanashei assured her that this would not be.
The tribal council had already sent messengers to Nainashari, as had the other tribes. If the Orbs remained undefeated, the tribes would band together with the help of Nainashari to build underground communities and develop sphere worlds to reside in. Even Heitac was readying herself to live a different way, advising the tribe in their eventual move.
It was believed that even if the child thing were not found, the Orbs would eventually die. Sanashei sensed that, very far away, similar plans were being made for survival. Yet even Tansatei wasn’t sure of Nainashari, who lived in a cave far away. Did she dare trust him?
Sanashei’s advice was that the tribe had to get something from this man who lived in a cave. Tansatei wanted to see this cave that was so full of marvels.
Someday Tansatei would become a teacher through the practices given to her by Heitac, taking the old woman’s place.
For now, Tansatei remained at peace in her little world. Sanashei, at her side, warmed her heart because this man was becoming a second father to her.
She needed all the support she could get for the tasks and responsibilities that would challenge her in the years ahead.
chapter 33
The Secret Departure Back to the Continent
Cleiadmph was bathed in bright sunlight, concentrating on assembling a small device. He whispered to himself as he put the parts in their proper places. The Salseth entered into his abode, and Cleiadomph’s eyes moved and then returned to his task. Tenashar asked what he was doing.
“This device might bring the Orbs into submission and redirect them to do the right thing,” he replied.
“But you’re not sure of this?” asked Tenashar.
“True,” Cleiadomph admitted as he continued working.
When he finally put the device down, he told them, “I gathered the other scholars and asked for their help. Then I advised them to try to persuade Geithelasa and the council. But the scholars also ran into an impasse with her. The only thing they wanted to do was go to the continent and finds this child thing, if that was possible. And if this was successful, Geithelasa couldn’t have any control of the Orbs.”
“That’s fine, but when this child thing is found and destroyed, it may also create a vacuum for Geithelasa to move in and control the Orbs,” said Knode. “Either way, we must do something and try to deal with the situation.”
Knode said he was going to order a flying craft to be ready to travel to the continent, but Cleiadomph raised a hand to stop him. “If you try to escape to the continent, the council will send a flying ship to bring you back. The only way to get out of this dilemma is to send back the delegation from Honazal.”
At this suggestion, Jarviashar smiled. “This is great. When do we go? But to do this, we have to get to the ships unobserved.”
“I heard from one of Geithelasa’s disillusioned scholars that she already knows about Tenashar. She believes th
at he is very knowledgeable about the Orbs,” said Cleiadomph.
Tenashar only shrugged when he heard that Geithelasa was trying to find out where he was. Marhidium and Knode asked Cleiadomph where he had heard this.
Cleiadomph replied, “I am not certain. I sensed that it was someone who had come to this dwelling that I didn’t know about. Perhaps it was someone who came with Obsiesa.”
Tenashar and the others looked at one another. The Salseth said that Obsiesa was not the one, because he was not an Aura-Laei-i.
Tenashar realized that there was more of that Aura-Laei-i.
Cleiadomph said, “Yes. There are many more of them than one could imagine. Few people truly understand who or what an Aura-Laei-i is.”
Marhidium asked Cleiadomph who else might be an Aura-Laei-i, but he didn’t know.
“Can an Aura-Laei-i recognize another of his kind?” Jarviashar pressed.
“Many times it is difficult to tell who is an Aura-Laei-i. Someone has to tell you that he is one of us,” the Salseth said.
Pointing to Tenashar, Cleiadomph said, “Tenashar has powers to sense things around him, even though he doesn’t believe he has these abilities. I suspect that Geithelasa might try and take Tenashar away, hoping he can give her a greater advantage as she tries to find the child. It’s imperative for us to get to the continent right away.”
The time was fast approaching for Tenashar to leave Himoicum; he knew that it was time go.
One of the hopes for Sahaynaivium was that if many of the scholars left Geithelasa, her support would dry up, and her attempt to control the Orbs would fall apart, leaving her helpless. It was surmised by the Salseth and Cleiadomph that someone or something, in turn, was controlling her, —and their suspicions pointed to the child thing. If this was true, then this child thing could influence the mind of anyone.
Journey to the Grassland and Sea Page 23