Overture

by K R Schultz

  “We estimated we brought enough water to last us five or six days. Can we find water before it runs out?” Aibhera asked.

  “The last week was the toughest. By then, our ancestors were afoot with little water left. Most of the deaths occurred that week. There should be a canyon ahead with pools of drinkable water. If we find the canyon, we should be fine,” Eideron replied.

  “And if we can’t?” asked Simea.

  “In that case, we shall depend on the mercy of the Creator or your abilities to Shift.”

  “We must either find water soon, turn back, or learn to Shift? Glad we have options. Sounds easy enough. No pressure, right, Aibby?”

  They set out in the direction Eideron chose and picked their way through the broken lava and the scrubby brush that grew in cracks and crevices. The sun was a merciless burning eye that stared down on them out of a pale blue sky. They stopped to eat at midday in the shade of a boulder.

  “Master, we must rest here until the heat of the day passes. We are using up the water too fast when we exert ourselves in this heat.” Simea stowed their rations in their packs,

  “I agree, Sim. We did not sleep enough either. We should nap before we continue.” In response to Eideron’s suggestion, they unpacked their blankets.

  “Master Eideron, you look worn out.” Aibhera scooted over to help Eideron smooth out a sandy spot and adjust his bedroll.

  Eideron smiled a weak smile as he stretched out on the bedding. “I will agree to nap if you try to Shift while I rest.”

  To the youngsters, Eideron’s easy acquiescence highlighted his failing strength.

  “Yes, it’s an excellent idea,” Aibhera said, and Sim nodded in agreement. “What do we need to know?”

  “It is difficult. If you focus on your breath, it should help. Then call upon the Creator and hold a memory of the location in your mind. I know the theory, although no one has Shifted in centuries.”

  “But Master, we know only one other place—Abalon. We can’t go back there.” The task overwhelmed Aibhera, who pulled her knees up to her chest and circled them with her arms.

  “That is true. You might Shift home, but your dreams of late are vivid. You could Shift to their location if they are vivid enough, but you should try something more modest. Last night’s campsite is enough.”

  Aibhera sat on a big slab of stone, closed her eyes, and concentrated on a uniquely shaped rock that fixed last night’s campsite in her mind. She slowed her breathing and reached toward it with her mind. Before long, her concentration faded, and her head nodded as she nearly drifted off to sleep. She jerked upright.

  “I can do this.” Not sure if I’m trying to convince them or myself.

  “Try again.” Eideron placed a hand on her head. “Creator of all, give her strength.”

  “Maybe I should try it,” Simea said.

  “No, it’s fine. I’ll keep trying.” Aibhera shifted position. “I’m having trouble picturing the campsite. It keeps slipping from my mind.” She rolled her shoulders and tried to find a more comfortable position. Panic knotted her stomach. If I can’t focus, we could all die out here. Failure is not an option.

  The rustle of windblown sand, the crackling fire, and her companions breathing suddenly drew her attention. “Could you two move away from me or stop breathing so loud. I can’t concentrate with all the noise you’re making.”

  She shook out her arms took a deep breath to calm herself as Simea and Eideron moved to the far side of the fire. Here goes nothing. After several minutes which seemed like hours, she had still not succeeded. This is not working. I need to try something else.

  “Do you think I’m focusing on the wrong thing? Eideron, you said that our Quickening’s come from the Creator. Perhaps I should focus on Him instead of on the campsite.”

  The old man’s face looked haggard and wan. “As good an idea as any I’d say.”

  This is harder than anything I’ve ever done. Aibhera wiped her clammy hand on her thighs, took a deep breath, and tried again. She suddenly remembered the cradle song her father sang to her when nightmares plagued her. It reminded her of home and always calmed her. To calm herself, she hummed the melody.

  Let the trumpets sound.

  And songs of joy break forth

  The mighty King is coming

  As we proclaim his worth

  The King of glory

  He comes in blazing virtue

  With fire in his eyes

  He tears apart the heavens

  Descending through the skies

  The King of glory

  The enemy’s defeated

  And you shall fear no more

  Let all mankind embrace him

  Praise worship and adore

  The King of glory

  Lightnings flash and thunders roar

  The King of glory

  Who was and is forevermore

  The King of glory

  Stretch out your hand and touch his face

  Creator, King of glory

  As she reached the last line, her surroundings changed. She connected to a powerful ancient creature while she floated in a sea of ever-changing colors.

  When the being spoke, the rumble of its voice sounded both noble and sad. “Be careful, little sister. You fell short of your goal. Fortunately, you reached me and not one of the Dark Ones. I am Shel’gharim of Naom’han’s cohort.”

  Aibhera shook like a leaf in a windstorm. She broke her connection to the Aether and plummeted back to the campsite below, gasping like a winded runner.

  “What happened? Aibby, what just happened?” asked Simea in a panic. “You disappeared for a moment and then popped back again.”

  “I reached up like Eideron told us to, and I contacted someone named Shel’gharim. I panicked, and I shot back here.”

  “Shel’gharim of Naom’han’s cohort?” Eideron’s mouth gaped in disbelief.

  “Yes. Why?”

  “Shel’gharim was the Aethera ally of the Sokai in ancient times. He can help us. You must try again when you are ready.”

  “Shel’gharim warned me to be careful. He said I must avoid meeting the Dark Ones,” she answered, afraid to try again.

  “Well, we will rest and continue when the heat diminishes. Sleep now, while Simea watches over us.”

  Aibhera awoke to the sound of Simea’s and Eideron’s voices.

  “Is it time to continue?” she asked.

  “Yes, we debated whether to wake you. Have a drink, and we will leave.”

  The day continued as it had begun. They stumbled across the plain’s broken crust, the sun burned their skin, and sweat stung their eyes. They discussed and dissected Aibhera’s experience while they walked. Simea suggested he try next. Sim explained his plan to Shift back to last night’s campsite, where he left his medallion. When nightfall approached, they gathered brushwood for fire and took shelter in one of the small craters that dotted the wasteland.

  While Eideron huddled by the fire, he had abandoned the pretense of vitality, Simea and Aibhera prepared the meal.

  “I don’t know which will give out first, Eideron, or the water. Both are depleting faster than I expected. I thought we had brought enough to last for five or six days.” Simea leaned close to Aibhera and lowered his voice to a whisper, “Two days into this desert, we are over halfway through our supply. We have enough if we turn back now, but if we walk one more day, we cannot return to Abalon.”

  Aibhera managed a weak smile and joked, “Unless we master Shifting. No pressure. Right, Simea?”

  “None. Let’s eat. I’ll try Shifting while the master rests. Even if we turned around now, he wouldn’t survive the return trip. This is harder than he expected. Eideron should have stayed in Abalon and lived out his life in comfort. It’s hard to remember that a tenday ago, I feared him. Now I fear for him.”

  They ate in silence while Simea prepared for his Shift to their previous campsite.

  After he finished his food, Eideron broke the silence. “
You should leave me here and continue alone. Take the supplies with you. You will get farther without me. I use up your resources and slow your progress.”

  Simea said, “We will discuss this in the morning once you have rested, Master, but not before I find out if I can Shift.” Eideron failed to argue with Simea, which exposed how exhausted he was. With that settled, Simea began the process Aibhera described. He reached up for the Creator and contemplated his medallion.

  Although Aibhera was unsure what she should watch for, she stared at him for signs of distress. Aibhera, more tired than usual, observed the regular rise and fall of Simea’s chest. Her eyelids drooped as she fought to remain alert. The short trip into the Aether earlier, combined with the day’s exertions, tired her more than she expected.

  The master had warned them not to linger in the Aether. If her brief experience sapped her, she feared the exhaustion involved in an extended visit. Aibhera’s eyes closed, her head dropping forward onto her chest. A pop followed by a slight puff of air shocked her back to wakefulness. Aibhera opened her eyes and expected to see Simea in front of her, but he had disappeared.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Vanished

  In the first moments after lurching awake, Aibhera thought Simea had given up the attempt to Shift, and wandered off to relieve himself. A careful search proved he was nowhere nearby. Aibhera returned to the fire, hugged her knees, and tried to quell the fear and the sickly ache in her stomach. “It will be fine. Simea will find his way back,” became her mantra.

  As moments passed, she found it more difficult to convince herself that nothing was wrong. Aibhera considered waking Eideron, who still slept in front of the fire, but she discarded the idea. Eideron is exhausted. Simea must find his own way.

  More time passed, and fear took hold of her mind. Without Simea, I’ll fail. We did everything together, even shared the same prophetic dreams. We’re doomed. Eideron’s old. I’m alone. I’ll die out here alone, and no one will know.

  In desperation, she prepared to search for him the only way that stood any chance of success. Aibhera reached for Shel’gharim again with her mind, as she had earlier in the day. Aibby’s thoughts scattered like clouds before a mighty wind, and she couldn’t control them. The tempest of fear overcame her, and she failed.

  Miserable and driven by desperation, Aibhera tried again. She hummed the tune that her father sang to calm her after a nightmare. Under the familiar melody’s influence, the storm inside subsided, enabling Aibby to reach up and outside herself again. Within moments she drifted in the place of shifting colors where Shel’gharim, a gigantic ethereal creature of light, met her.

  Her fear of him had vanished or merely lay buried beneath the more deep-seated fear of losing Simea. A profound power and calm dignity emanated from him. If an Aethera, a created being, radiates such splendor, the Creator must be blindingly beautiful. She bowed before him in worship.

  “Rise! Do not commit blasphemy! Only our Creator is worthy of our worship. Your ignorance can be pardoned this time, but never repeat your mistake,” Shel’gharim thundered as he pointed an accusing finger at her.

  Aibhera rose, trembling, on wobbly knees. “I’m sorry. I promise it won’t happen again, but your presence overwhelmed me.”

  Shel’gharim held out his hand to steady her. “Be at ease. You are forgiven because you acted innocently. For what purpose have you returned, little sister?”

  Aibhera’s words came out in a torrent. “My friend got lost, and I need help. Simea tried Shifting to our last campsite. I fear for his safety. Please help us.”

  “It has been almost a thousand of your years since your kind has ventured here. Longer still since one of you tried to use the Aether to travel. I shall find him and bring him to you if I am able. Your kind is too fragile to survive here.”

  “Master Eideron warned us, but may I stay longer to search with you?”

  “You are not safe here. The region under my guardianship has limits, and you are near the border of the Nether.” Shel’gharim pointed out the dark region at the edge of her sight. “Stay here, if you must, and call out to Simea with your heart. Do not enter the Nether. The enemies of light and life who travel there will consume you.” Shel’gharim’s spirit shrank and vanished. Without his presence, the area darkened, and the utter blackness of the Nether appeared closer.

  Aibhera noted her surroundings. Music so vibrant it formed clouds of brilliant colors filled the space around her. The Aether sang with life, pulsed with energy, and infused her with strength. Vitality cascaded through her body in ecstatic waves. All her fears and insecurities vanished under the influence of the Aether’s energy. In the distance, the dark border Shel’gharim pointed out earlier blotted out everything beyond it. The impenetrable darkness devoured light and life. It tugged at her and tried to absorb her power, but she resisted its pull and searched for Simea instead.

  Aibhera looked downward to see what supported her in this place. Her feet stood on an energy barrier like translucent quartz, and below her, the shadowy shapes of the landscape appeared.

  Eideron and their previous campsites became vague distorted images below her. Even Abalon became visible, although other locations remained concealed by the barrier. I could step from the Aether anywhere on Aarda. This is how we Sokai Shift. We zip into the Aetherial Realm and then step into Aarda again somewhere else. If we can find it, we can go there.

  Aibhera focused her mind on home and sang the song “Aamori’s House” from her childhood, and Abalon grew closer. I could go home… right now. She shook her head and hugged herself. I can’t abandon Simea and Eideron or our quest.

  Aibhera called to Eideron and watched as the old man roused from sleep. He scrambled across the blackened rocks around their campsite, hunting for her and Simea. “Eideron. Help me find Simea. He is lost. I need your help,” she shouted and thought of Eideron standing beside her, and suddenly he was there, wide-eyed and confused at his new surroundings.

  Eideron gaped and turned in a circle. “What happened? Where are we, and how did I get here?” his hands fluttered and shook.

  “We are in the Aether. It fills me with power, so when I called you came, but I can’t find Sim.”

  “You brought me! Impossible.”

  Aibhera tilted her head and threw back her shoulders. “Not impossible. You are here, aren’t you?”

  “Be careful that you do not become drunk with power, it can twist one’s thoughts. Fire provides warmth, but if you stick your hand in it, it will burn you.”

  Aibhera gave a quick disgusted snort. “Nonsense, I have never felt better.”

  Eideron’s forehead furrowed, and his eyes narrowed as he listened.

  She began, “I’m stronger tha—”

  Eideron raised his voice. “Remember your analogy, fire consumes the twig. The Aether will destroy you if you aren’t careful.” He pointed at the black barrier. “Have you looked there in the darkness?”

  “No, Shel’gharim said to avoid it. It marks the boundary of his protection. It’s called the Nether, and it’s unsafe.”

  “I sense a powerful evil beyond the wall. Let us call out together to Simea,” Eideron said. Aibhera and Eideron joined hands. Their voices floated off into the distance in all directions without an echo. Aibhera was ready to give up when a faint cry attracted her attention.

  “Help me. I am trapped,” Simea’s voice called out from the darkness.

  “I hear him, Eideron, he’s trapped in the Nether. We must rescue him.” Aibhera strode toward the dark barrier. “I can’t leave Simea trapped and alone in that evil place.”

  “Stop! Aibhera, I sense nothing but evil from that direction. Don’t,” Eideron shouted. As Aibhera approached the wall, he raced to catch up to her. “Wait. Do not enter. For the Creator’s sake, go no farther.”

  Aibhera paused and turned to Eideron. “I can see him now, Eideron. Help me. He is hurt and can’t escape without help. We must not fail him.”

  “It is a
deception, Aibhera. Simea is not there. If you enter, you will never return. It is a trick of the Dark Ones.” Eideron grasped her arm and spun her around. “Please believe me.”

  “Can’t you see Simea is injured? We can help him. Don’t you care? How dare a man who professes to be our guide and teacher ignore Simea’s pain.”

  Old fool! He may refuse to rescue Simea, but I will not succumb to fear like he has. Aibhera’s anger became stony resolve. “You aren’t strong enough to stop me, you feeble old coward. I dare you to try.” Aibhera tore free of his grip and turned toward the barrier; her eyes blazed red, and shadows played across her face.

  Eideron stepped between Aibhera and the barrier, but she knocked him aside with the back of her hand like she was swatting an insect. Eideron struggled to his feet and grappled with her. Aibhera easily cast him aside again, but this time she stomped after him. When she reached him, Aibhera picked Eideron up as if he were a toy and threw him toward the black barrier. Eideron fell and lay still for a moment. His chest heaved, and his breath came in gasps. He struggled to his feet to face her again.

  She stalked toward him like a predatory beast, and snarled, “Get out of my way, old man,”

  “I shall.” Eideron backed toward the barrier behind him. Black tendrils reached out from beyond the wall as he approached, wrapping him in their greasy coils and draining life from his body. His eyes rolled, and he grimaced in agony.

  “Watch,” he croaked as the life drained from his body. Aibhera stumbled backward. “See what they’ll do to you. Do you believe me now? No one can live beyond that wall.” Eideron’s voice quavered and cracked. The last of his strength vanished. His body turned to ash and drifted down to settle in a heap at the sharp edge of the darkness.

  Sacrifice accomplished what his feeble strength could not. Shock broke Aibhera free of the compulsion that held her captive. Sobbing openly, she dropped to her knees in despair, alone, among the blackened rocks of their campsite once more. I killed him. I lost control to the darkness, and it‘s my fault.