by Jeremy Dwyer
Hesperos made himself useful, helping carpenters cut wood and raise frames for small dwellings. He did this until nightfall, so as to win the trust of those around him.
When it was too late to work and the laborers began to retire for the night, Hesperos left the area and searched for nearby swampland. Therein, he used his telepathic abilities granted by the Elanatin Ocean waters and found the thoughts of Pandaros, as well as those of Abrax, who had moved with him. Hesperos followed his sense of their thoughts and discovered a cave.
“From my exploration in Emeth, I bring knowledge of another luminary, though partial,” Hesperos said.
“May it not be a trail leading to a dead end,” Pandaros said.
“I read the thoughts of a librarian – a woman named Portia – who had a set of vases. Some were filled with poison – the venom of a cobra – while others were filled with the dead waters. Each vase was numbered, and the number of those which were not poison denote coordinates on a map,” Hesperos said.
“I trust that you know which numbers are which,” Pandaros said.
“Indeed. The price was paid and the numbers are these,” Hesperos said, showing the numbers on his vials that he had marked and the travel log.
“You have succeeded – partially – it seems. Yet, I will succeed completely. These numbers are from a great atlas, identifying maps and positions thereupon,” Pandaros said.
Pandaros then opened up his backpack and took out some of the books and maps he carried. He looked up several maps according to which numbers corresponded to vases which contained the nonpoisonous drinks. He paged through these and then used the remaining numbers to identify which of the areas from the map were to be visited.
Hesperos read Pandaros’ mind as he did this, trying to understand the process. Pandaros knew many things about ancient maps, but this troubled him. It seemed as if there were at least two (2) different ways to interpret the numbers, leading to very different conclusions. Knowing that Pandaros was unsure, Hesperos was cautious not to say anything that might upset him.
“There are two (2) plausible interpretations to these numbers. Yet, only one (1) of them is meant, I believe,” Pandaros said.
“Which are they?” Hesperos asked, already knowing and not letting on about his prying.
“A region of Javanda is one (1) of them. The other is in Revod,” Pandaros said.
“Which shall we search first?” Hesperos asked.
“Neither,” Pandaros said.
Before Pandaros explained, however, Hesperos already knew what this meant.
“I am going alone. You are to wait here with Abrax and protect the luminaries which we have already,” Pandaros said.
Pandaros then left the cave, returned to the village and then went to the seaport. He booked passage on a series of ships heading northwest toward Javanda, traveling slowly for seven (7) days on a journey that took him across the Nabavodel Ocean, the Medathero Ocean and the Ikkith Tar Ocean along the way, with the Colossal March Warpath and Prince Jalvin’s Crossroads land bridges in between them.
~~~
Romana, Portia, Alonso continued their journey on the ship on which they had booked transport to Javanda. It was a slow voyage, taking six (6) days to complete due to many navigational difficulties.
Along the way, Romana spoke to Portia, and Alonso listened, recording their conversation into his book.
“This life you led, hiding this secret, was too much pain,” Romana said.
“It’s a valuable secret. Don’t forget the danger we’re in. It’s only going to get worse if someone lights the next luminary…much worse,” Portia said.
“Your soul is valuable. Give it to the One True God,” Romana said.
“Who is this One True God of whom you speak?” Portia asked.
“He created your life from nothing. He is why you are here,” Romana said.
“Did he create Victoria? Did he create every other despot that ever lived?” Portia asked.
“He created the people. They created the evil. Look to them for reasons. You know there are many studies of person and purpose in Emeth – they can tell you what some of those people were doing and why,” Romana said.
“If a Chronicler was there, then maybe,” Portia said.
“There are other ways…sometimes other information is recorded,” Romana said.
“Sometimes there’s nothing. When there is no chronicle, there’s nothing to be read, and nothing to be put in Emeth. Then what? How can we know why the evil was done?” Portia asked. She was annoyed and wanted answers. She didn’t know what answer she wanted, because she wasn’t prepared to accept any excuse for the suffering she had lived.
“Evil comes about when people doubt the Perfect Wisdom of the One True God,” Romana said.
“What does that mean?” Portia asked.
“Each of us is given purpose and power suited to that purpose. Some, however, change their purpose to serving themselves, even at the expense of others. They use their power improperly, and then the world is made to suffer,” Romana said.
“If the One True God had Perfect Wisdom, He would have known this beforehand, and stopped them,” Portia said.
“He did know, and He could have chosen not to create them. Yet, His love is so great that He did not want them to miss the opportunity to exist,” Romana said.
“What about those whose lives are carrying heavy burdens…the pain, the secrets, the fear? Don’t they matter?” Portia asked.
“Of course they matter,” Romana said, trying to soothe her.
“Then it should all be taken away, by His Perfect Wisdom. If the other people are greedy, let them destroy themselves. Leave me out of it. I just want knowledge and understanding. This is all too much. Soon, we’re all going to be suffering in darkness, and know nothing,” Portia said.
“Don’t be so sure,” Romana said.
“You’re confident we’re going to get this luminary before someone else does?” Portia asked.
“I’m not so sure. Where we may fail, the One True God will find a way to turn that into a later success,” Romana said.
“That’s not reassuring,” Portia said.
“Even our greatest successes are insignificant compared to His Achievements. We do what we can, but we shouldn’t put our confidence in ourselves,” Romana said.
“We have to put it in someone we can’t see?” Portia asked.
“We can see His Creation, which is a reflection of Him. Would you put confidence anywhere else?” Romana asked.
Alonso noted all of this and said nothing. He wasn’t sure how to understand the difficulties of the world, but, by taking the Oath, it was not his to judge. He knew that the world had plenty of evil over the millennia of his life, and he knew, based on past chronicles, that there was quite a lot of evil before that. Under the Chronicler’s Oath, his duty at the present moment was to record what unfolded before him, whether it was good or evil, and leave the judgment to others.
At the end of their voyage to Javanda, Romana paid the extra fee that the crew demanded for the overlong journey, covering herself and Portia. Alonso, being a Chronicler, paid nothing. They went into the seaport and then made their way across town and into the surrounding forest.
Portia had made careful notes and maps before they left. She started examining them again. “There’s going to be another three (3) day’s journey, by foot, into the forest. It’s too dense for airships, so this is the most appropriate way,” Portia said.
Romana and Alonso followed, while Alonso recorded all that he saw, including the path that they took.
The forest was filled with many types of animals – including wolves and deer and bears – and Alonso took the time to record each one into his book. Because of the waters of the Ursegan Ocean that he drank, Alonso had no difficulty seeing the events around him move more slowly, no matter how quickly they proceeded, giving him time to capture vivid details.
Romana noticed the animals, as well, and she drank an
ew of the waters of the Gradaken Ocean from one of her vials. She was prepared to take charge of the animals in case any proved to be hostile.
~~~
Pandaros arrived in Javanda at the end of his journey. He entered the seaport after leaving the ship, and then went into the nearby forest. He was particularly quick in his travels through the thick forest, being well-versed in exploration and being highly physically fit. Though he didn’t have the speed or strength of a drinker of the Nabavodel Ocean waters, nor the health of a drinker of the Trerada Ocean waters, he exercised thoroughly by virtue of traveling to many places across many terrain types. This trek was easy for him, and his machete made quick work of any inconvenient tree branches or foliage.
He noticed the many types of animals in the forest, but they were not the seekers of the luminary, he knew, and he paid them little mind. He was approaching the narrow area in which the coordinates indicated the luminary might be – if he had read the coordinates correctly.
A hawk flew over Pandaros’ head, startling him, and its talons grazed him. He watched it land in a nest in a tree. Pandaros wondered if the animal was trying capture him as food, or to warn him away from its nest.
Pandaros watched the hawk, who was watching him, as well as many other areas on the ground. He then had the idea that the hawk’s approach was best – he should seek a higher vantage point.
He looked for a tree with a number of branches that appeared to be sturdy enough to climb and he found one whereby he could ascend fifty-five (55) feet up and look down at the ground. He could also see other trees, and other hawk nests. He also saw an extremely thin tree: no leaves were on it, and there were branches on it, but on these branches were hanging the carcasses of animals – snakes, ferrets and other tree-climbers – which looked as if they had been pierced by swords. He squinted and thought that they just might be swords – it seemed less like a tree and more like a defensive tower, or even a sacrificial altar.
Atop that thin tree / sword-covered tower, Pandaros saw a black object that had a dark sparkle that caught his attention. He also noticed that, around the thin tree / sword-covered tower, was a high concentration of obviously dead trees as well as dead animals – deer, wolves and even a bear. Pandaros wondered if there were some poisonous berries that the animals had eaten. However, that wouldn’t explain the dead trees. He turned his mind away from this matter, as the thin tree / sword-covered tower was a delightful curiosity, but not related to his present purpose.
Pandaros prepared to climb down the tree he was on when he saw that there were other people approaching along the ground – two (2) women and a man. He did not know why anyone would be out in this area of the forest. As carefully and stealthily as he could, he made his way down this tree and then hid behind its trunk.
~~~
“How close do you believe we are, based on the coordinates?” Romana asked.
“Within twelve (12) miles,” Portia said.
“That’s quite a large area. It’s going to take a while to find anything. Is there no other relevant – however seemingly insignificant – detail you could share?” Romana asked.
“This is all that I have. I’m sorry. We are close – it can be found…with diligence, of course,” Portia said.
Suddenly, a hawk flew by, but Romana wasn’t surprised by it. She held out her arm, and it alighted on her.
The waters of the Gradaken Ocean that she drank gave her command over the plants and animals, and compelled the creatures, even the birds of prey, to respect her.
She made some gestures to the hawk, and it flew off of her arm and up into the air.
“What are you doing? What did you tell it with your hand signals?” Portia asked.
“To be our eyes up high, and to look for the same thing we’re looking for,” Romana said.
Alonso recorded all of this, even Romana’s hand signals, though he did not know what they meant precisely.
~~~
Pandaros watched from a distance as the one woman in the group took charge of the hawk and sent it on its flight. He then became concerned as the hawk flew toward the thin tree / sword-covered tower with the black object and then flew back.
Pandaros then watched as the hawk returned to the woman with something in its talons. Stealthily, he moved between the trees, and drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean, preparing a strategy against this potential adversary. He was energized, and had an idea for what to do.
~~~
“It’s returning,” Portia said, pointing toward the hawk.
Romana held out her hands and received a small black object from the hawk’s talons.
“It’s cold to the touch,” Romana said. She then handed the small black object over to Portia.
Portia looked at the item, noting its black onyx form and the candle wick protruding from its top. “Yes. This is the luminary. Its darkness also brings cold. We have to leave, quickly!” Portia said.
Alonso looked at the item and the group turned around and headed back for the seaport.
~~~
Pandaros observed their behavior but did not hear what was said. He caught a glimpse of the object, thinking it might be his prize. From a distance, he couldn’t be sure. Yet, he had to attempt to acquire it.
With the spirit powers that he had received from the Zovvin Ocean waters, Pandaros called out to the spirits of the animals around him. There were many hawks, as well as wolves and bears. These responded and he commanded them to approach the group ahead and attack them.
~~~
Romana heard movements in the forest and turned around, holding up her hands just as a ten (10) foot tall grizzly bear and four (4) wolves were about to strike. The animals stopped in their tracks, but they growled. Two (2) more grizzly bears and six (6) more wolves approached from the other side. Romana held her hands out to all of them, so that they didn’t attack.
Alonso counted all of the animals and recorded these in his book.
“Why did they come for us? Can you hold them back?” Portia asked, panicked.
Romana wasn’t afraid, but she knew that danger was present. These different animals normally didn’t work together to attack people. Someone had to be influencing them.
A hawk then flew overhead, swooping down and taking the black onyx from Portia’s hand, and carrying it hundreds of feet away.
“No! He took it! Why?” Portia said.
Romana looked in the direction that the hawk had traveled and saw a man receive the black onyx from the hawk.
“That’s not the same man as before,” Romana said, having clearly remembered the appearance of the man who spoke unkindly to Portia. This other man who received the onyx looked quite different.
“I fear to know just how many are working together to gather the luminaries,” Portia said.
Alonso also recorded the hawk stealing the black onyx from Portia and give it to the other man. He wasn’t sure if that was the man he saw before.
~~~
When the hawk dropped the small black onyx into Pandaros’ hand, he felt its coldness and saw its shape and its candle wick, so he immediately knew that it was the luminary he was searching for.
He also knew that these people who had momentarily possessed it were adversaries and had to be dealt with.
Pandaros then drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean and was energized further. He called out to more and more animals by their spirits, summoning them to surround and attack the two (2) women and the man.
He then called out to one (1) more animal – a white tiger – and he mounted it and left quickly toward the seaport.
~~~
Five (5) more grizzly bears, nineteen (19) more wolves, seven (7) foxes and even three (3) rattlesnakes approached Romana, Portia and Alonso, surrounding them.
“We are going to die here, aren’t we?” Portia asked, almost resigned to that fate, yet afraid, and fear meant that she had hope that they would live.
Alonso merely counted the newly arrived animals an
d recorded them into his book.
Romana drank anew of the waters of the Gradaken Ocean and was energized further. She commanded each of the animals, this time touching them, and they caused no harm to anyone. Instead, they turned and went back to their dens, out of sight.
“No. Not here or now, anyway,” Romana said.
“When and where does all this misery end, then?” Portia asked.
“I saw that he got away on that tiger,” Romana said, dismissing Portia’s fatalistic question.
“Is there a chance to catch up to him?” Portia asked.
“Possibly…if we can find another tiger,” Romana said.
“You drink the Gradaken waters, right?” Portia asked.
“Yes,” Romana said.
“They let you control the animals, don’t they?” Portia asked.
“Yes, but I can’t reach out to them over a long distance when I can’t see them,” Romana said.
“How did he do it, then?” Portia asked.
“There are other ways: animal spirits can be controlled and telepathy works, as well. Which means he either drinks the Zovvin waters or the Elanatin waters. I don’t know which, though,” Romana said. She didn’t mention the fact that the Pirovalen waters also work, because that approach required using songs to command the animals, and she didn’t hear any singing.
“What are our options?” Portia asked.
“The slow walk back, unless we are fortunate enough to meet a tiger or a bear,” Romana said.
Alonso recorded all of this and the trio made their way, on foot, back to the seaport.
~~~
Pandaros got close to the seaport and abandoned the tiger, sending it away by his spirit powers. He then booked passage on a series of ships, returning to Waderav in a way different from the route that he came, because they had seen him, and he wanted to make any pursuit more difficult.
He first traveled west across the Ikkith Tar Ocean, and the ship’s captain followed the coastline of southern Javanda, which made the dark waters more navigable than they would be otherwise. That leg of his journey ended after the ship was converted to an airship and traveled over the Wandering of Shadows land bridge, returning to sea level in the Atrejan Ocean.