by Jeremy Dwyer
The spirit world was torture for him, and he heard screams constantly: they were his own screams, as he was being tormented by the restless spirits of others seeking vengeance. He never dealt with demons, so he was confined there, rather than to the Maelstrom of Vengeance.
He soon longed for the sounds of music that he so often silenced while he was alive. It seemed like a thousand (1000) years of torture, yet it was only one (1). Then, the old duke ensnared his spirit into a body of diamond and gave him the name Zalaxadin the Eighth. His directive for atonement, after his spirit was encased, was to explore and record and then return the information to the duke’s castle. It was now time to continue his exploration, so he boarded the larger boat. This was almost certainly better than the torture of the spirit world. Zalaxadin the Eighth recorded images of all that he saw into the diamond body, whose crystal structure was designed to capture and hold information.
The larger boat began moving of its own accord. After three (3) hours of travel across the ocean, it arrived at an island with many structures, including pyramids, towers, a fountain and various other buildings. Zalaxadin the Eighth left the boat and began walking around the island, recording all that he saw and wondering what it meant. He had a directive to record, but not necessarily to understand. In his prior life, he gave little thought to understanding. Now, however, he wondered if this city – if it even was a city – was ever lived in. It seemed more like a museum to him, like the city of Emeth was. He knew that place, if only to find prey to follow back to their homes and strike when they were most vulnerable.
~~~
Anan, Desmond, Celio and Jaguar placed the citrine torches back on the obelisks where they found them and walked back towards the octagonal tower.
They saw a figure shaped like a man approaching. As he came closer, they could see that he was no man.
“He is made of diamond. A creature of the gods,” Jaguar said.
“It could be an illusion. There may be someone here – a Lujladia drinker – with the power to manipulate light in strange ways to create false sights. Do not believe all that you see,” Anan said.
“Or it could be made of diamond, and someone – a Kazofen drinker – is manipulating the crystal,” Celio said.
“That would be quite a feat, requiring a rare level of skill with crystal. Look at how fluidly he moves,” Desmond said.
The creature made of diamond – Zalaxadin the Eighth – walked right up to the men and recorded their appearances and then walked right past them.
“Who are you?” Anan asked.
The creature made of diamond did not answer and kept moving.
“He didn’t attack us,” Celio said.
“We are beneath him. He serves a god, and we are nothing,” Jaguar said.
“That may be what he thinks,” Anan said.
Desmond began to walk after him. “I’m interested to see if he finds anything that we could not,” he said.
“Fair enough,” Anan said and began following Desmond who was following the creature made of diamond.
“I suppose there’s not much more to lose,” Celio said, and he began following Anan, who was following Desmond who was following the creature made of diamond.
“He may kill us if we interfere,” Jaguar said.
“Then don’t interfere,” Anan said.
Jaguar began following the others.
Zalaxadin the Eighth wandered the city for hours, looking at the structures and even walking down the staircase around the octagonal tower. He recorded the inscription but understood little of it.
“We looked at this before. The numbers in the inscription may correspond to the numbers of statues in the temple,” Desmond said, hoping that the man of diamond might respond.
“I still see no way to enter. Nothing about the numbers suggests a way to use them to access the interior of the tower,” Anan said.
Zalaxadin the Eighth said nothing, but recorded what was being said to him and around him. Then he walked back up the stairs and toward the large fountain. He walked through its flowing waters and they wrapped around him and returned to their normal flow when he left. Nothing interesting occurred, but he recorded what he observed into his diamond body.
Then, Zalaxadin the Eighth promptly walked toward one of the boats with tattered sails at the edge of the city and the others followed him. The boat began moving across the ocean.
Along the way, Anan wondered out loud, saying: “There is no breeze in this cavern, so the means of propulsion of this vessel is not clear.”
“It may be an underwater cable tied to machinery that is activated by the pressure of our weight,” Celio said.
“That is a reasonable notion. Just as enigmatic, if not more so, is the source of illumination in this cavern,” Anan said.
“I don’t think any of us has the expertise to assess that. Someone with a keen understanding of light or darkness may need to come here and examine it for themselves,” Desmond said.
“I intend to return with numerous assistants to survey this location, the structures, the water, and even the ships. With experts of both light and darkness, as well as crystal-bending alchemists,” Anan said.
“I’d be glad to join you, for what it’s worth,” Desmond said.
“As would I,” Celio said.
“I’ll return to Emeth first. And begin making preparations, and acquiring supplies and tools. I suggest that you do the same,” Anan said.
“Agreed,” Celio said.
“And do some research,” Desmond said.
“I will return to my people. I will not visit this place again. There will be a curse,” Jaguar said.
“Do what you believe is best,” Anan said.
After three (3) hours of traveling across the ocean on the larger boat, they reached the rocky ledge that was the coast. They were near a cave entrance different from the ones any of them had come through to enter this place.
Zalaxadin the Eighth walked toward the cave entrance.
“This is not the way I entered,” Anan said. He had noted the outward appearance of the cave through which he had entered and did not recognize this one.
“It’s not the same cave I came through, either,” Celio said. He remembered the position of it, being very spatially aware in general, as astronomers needed to be.
“We definitely came through a different cave entrance,” Desmond said, recalling the rough, rocky details of his own entrance. He made a habit of paying close attention to little things, like stone formations, and this was definitely a different cave.
“So as not to miss this opportunity for learning something new, I suggest we follow this strange creature made of diamond to see where it goes,” Anan said.
Zalaxadin the Eighth – whom the men only knew as the creature made of diamond – boarded a small riverboat with tattered sails after entering the cave, and Desmond, Jaguar, Celio and Anan joined him.
After a moment, the riverboat began a slow voyage upstream in the darkness of the tunnel through which the river flowed. It was considerably more pleasant than the voyage downstream – the sudden drops were replaced with slow climbs.
After forty-eight (48) hours of this slow ride, however, they had grown weary of it and longed for daylight, and they were rewarded with a light at the end of the tunnel.
The riverboat trip came to a halt and they walked off the boat onto the bank of the river. They found themselves in a cave and walked outside to see themselves on a ledge of a mountain in an ocean.
Celio held out a small telescope and looked up at the sky to identify where they were. He made a few mental calculations after cross referencing the sun positions with a chart that he carried and he announced: “We are in the Trerada Ocean.”
“Where in the ocean?” Anan asked.
“Approximately the geographic center of it,” Celio said.
“How do you know such things?” Jaguar asked, impressed.
“Mathematics,” Celio said.
Zalaxadin
the Eighth began walking along the ledge of the mountain and toward another passage in the side of it. His diamond body been instilled with a homing knowledge – and this place was close to that home. He walked into that other passage and Celio, Desmond, Jaguar and Anan followed him.
CHAPTER 4: Intrigue in the Shadows of Emeth
Danek was in his private chambers in the Great Library of Tedorik and considering the testimony that had recently been given. He was troubled by the account given about the girl named Taesa, whose voice was used to sing the Sail to Me song and lure millions into the tempest, and thus to their deaths. Alyona – a Verifier of the Oath – was with him.
“Do you strongly believe the claim that Victoria indeed had the power to control the girl’s mind?” Danek asked.
Alyona considered this and said: “As they were able to kill Victoria, it is likely that they would have the ability to put Taesa to death, if they had seen fit. Additionally, Onora would not withhold truthful words of condemnation of the girl if she believed her to be guilty, even if she was a former student.”
“You know that you answered a different question from the one that I asked,” Danek said.
“To believe in the girl’s innocence, a basis had to be found. The claim of control that Onora stated was that statement of the basis. Additionally, and more consequentially, Judith claimed it in her chronicle. She was present earlier in the conflict than was Onora,” Alyona said.
“Judith wrote what she believed, which was true according to her perception. Yet, Chroniclers can honestly misread. It is not a violation of the Oath to write what you believe. Rather, it is a failure of human limitation. How convinced are you?” Danek asked.
“I am zero point four two (0.42) confident that Victoria had the power to control the girl’s mind. As the tiara was capable of using the water it was near – according to our understanding – and she was in the Pirovalen Ocean at the time of the ensnaring song, there is considerable doubt that the tiara could have been the means by which the girl was being controlled. The claim of Victoria’s eyes being capable of placing someone in a trance is lacking in evidence,” Alyona said.
“Given that, why do you have as much confidence as you do?” Danek asked.
“It is possible – even probable – that a drinker of the Elanatin Ocean waters was nearby, controlling the girl, compelling her to sing. The Ahitan Empire was not a single person. Nor do I believe that they have been eliminated with Victoria’s death,” Alyona said.
“Your confidence in the girl’s innocence seems poorly founded,” Danek said.
“It has a weak foundation. Yet, why did they not pursue her? It would have been a small matter to issue a condemnation against Taesa, and order a fleet dispatched to bring her death,” Alyona said.
“I believe that her death may already be an objective for some,” Danek said.
Suddenly, an aura of darkness surrounded both Danek and Alyona, and they found themselves being escorted by powerful figures.
“The old one wishes to see both of you,” a voice said.
They were guided to a place by a route that neither could see. Just as suddenly, they emerged from the darkness, along with the two (2) Hidden Paladins who had escorted them in the darkness.
Sava-Tzefanya was waiting in his secret room, the location of which was a mystery to all but a few.
“The singing girl may indeed be innocent – or her offense is pardonable – and no judgment is to befall her,” Sava-Tzefanya said. His ancient mind was as sharp as ever. The clarity that he had was not despite his two hundred forty-eight thousand eight hundred thirty-two (248832) years, but because of them. The Ursegan Ocean waters he drank gave him his longevity, and his patient disposition was amplified by this long term perspective. He knew that many things were more complex than younger minds could contemplate. Even Danek – who was, at fourteen thousand two hundred fifteen (14215) years of age, highly experienced, wise and calm – could not match the old one in knowledge.
“I am not intending to pass judgment. I do question her relationship to Victoria, and the circumstances of the song,” Danek said.
“As do I. Taesa was in the company of Victoria, as to have been under her influence. I have little doubt that she was in the presence of the old woman, as well,” Sava-Tzefanya said.
“You believe the old woman to still be alive, and of significance?” Danek asked.
“She would be well-guarded, unless treachery from her own line brought her end. If Tanith Orenda is alive – which I suspect is the case – then her influence would be of great significance,” Sava-Tzefanya said.
“Would you have us send Chroniclers or Verifiers to investigate this matter?” Danek asked.
“No. Not at this time,” Sava-Tzefanya said.
Then, to the two (2) Hidden Paladins, Sava-Tzefanya said: “Bring me Taesa, expeditiously. Protect her. Attempts will be made on her life very soon. They are to come to nothing. Her mother should be brought as well, so that she does not conclude us to be an adversary or fear her daughter’s demise.”
“If she asks the occasion, or who it is that is sending for her, what should be said?” one of the Hidden Paladins asked.
“That there are questions for her that must be answered in Emeth. And a fierce judgment – not from Emeth – will be passed on her if she is found by vigilantes,” Sava-Tzefanya said.
“What would you have us do?” Danek asked.
“Find the false one who has been doing a disservice in Emeth. Contradict that one, that the lies may not spread far and wide,” Sava-Tzefanya said.
“I will seek out who is false. Yet, do you have a specific person in mind?” Alyona asked.
“You will first need to understand what is false and what is true, and then you will find the false one, and know how to proceed,” Sava-Tzefanya said.
Alyona didn’t know how to take this, as she was a trained Verifier, experienced and skilled in separating the false from the true, and measuring the shades of partial truth in between. The Medathero Ocean waters that she drank amplified her logical thinking skills, so that she could reason quickly and precisely. Yet, this ancient man – she was certain he was no younger, and probably older than, Danek – was calling into question her logic. He may be filled with knowledge, she thought, but age did not make one clever, and a person can simply be full of information without the ability to derive any new information from it. She suspected that the old one was playing a dangerous game to test her. If this false actor in Emeth was any true danger, the old one would want to put an end to it without delay, and not lose time and allow the damage to spread waiting for her to figure it out.
“If there is a danger in the words or actions of this false one, then I should know immediately, lest grave consequences befall the world from a misleading statement issuing from Emeth. Is there something that you can share with me now, in the interest of expedience?” Alyona asked.
“If you do not understand so as to find that which is false, then you will not understand so as to know how to speak against it,” Sava-Tzefanya said.
“I seek, then, your clever insight,” Alyona said.
“You must logically extend your own thinking. And you must leave…now. You each have your instructions,” Sava-Tzefanya then said to all of them, specifically looking at the Hidden Paladins.
At this, the darkness aura from the two (2) Hidden Paladins surrounded them, as well as Alyona and Danek, and they disappeared from the sight of the old man and from each other. The Hidden Paladins carried them along a route unseen by them and Alyona and Danek reappeared in the Great Library of Tedorik in Danek’s private chambers. The Hidden Paladins remained in the darkness and went on their assigned mission to find Taesa and bring her to Emeth.
“We have our work cut out for us,” Danek said.
“He doesn’t trust me,” Alyona said.
“He doesn’t trust anyone. He knows too much about the world. His views are…reserved. If there is a false agent in Emeth, we will ha
ve to identify them. We should begin immediately,” Danek said.
Alyona drank anew of the waters of the Medathero Ocean from the vial she wore on a chain around her neck. She was energized, and her logical mind became more so by the water’s power. She began formulating models of partial truth and conditional probability so as to be able to recognize likely impostors or false claims that may be a complex combination of many statements. She knew that lies can hide truths, and truths can hide lies.
~~~
On board the Everlasting Pain, Captain Pradrock turned to Caroline and Taesa and asked: “I’m sure you don’t want to spend much more time at sea. Rest may be the proper answer, and this may be the proper time. Where would you have me take you?”
“Meridianus. That’s where were from. That’s home,” Taesa said.
“Yes. That is home,” Caroline said.
Pradrock looked to Akylas who drank anew of the Atrejan Ocean waters from a vial he carried.
Akylas concentrated – more intensely than usual, as he was met with unclear sounds that had to be filtered out to hear the true sounds – and he inferred from those star sounds the positions of the red and blue suns. The yellow suns were still too faint to be of much use. By those red and blue sun positions, he was able to chart a precise course heading southwest from the Dead Waters Ocean to the continent of Meridianus. He sketched it out on a map very carefully and gave it to Pradrock.