by Jeremy Dwyer
~~~
On Ixilonotu Island in the Kazofen Ocean, Haltavna’Sytoris sensed the growing darkness, and now she was alarmed beyond what she could accept. She was energized by drinking the waters of the Atrejan Ocean from her vial, and she could hear the sounds of the red suns in the sky – sounds of pain.
“The darkness is advancing. The suns are in pain. Do you not see it in the skies, Pelathata?” Haltavna asked.
“I do see it. Things are different. Yet, why do you say there is pain? You must be careful, Haltavna,” Pelathata said.
“I must go to discover its cause. This is more than dangerous, and I cannot wait for the darkness to become total,” Haltavna said.
“Where will you go?” Pelathata asked.
“I will travel east, to the Glivoran Trail. From there, I will journey south to Emeth, that I may learn what the scholars may have found,” Haltavna said.
“We have to serve the travelers by remaining on this island,” Pelathata said.
“The suns are no longer quite so clear to me. The time has arrived that I am very nearly unable to serve the travelers, as I do not have the power to hear the paths of the suns and thus guide those who sail the oceans,” Haltavna said.
“You must do what you believe is proper to enable you to serve. I will summon a ship for you by my light,” Pelathata said. She drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from her vial. She was thereby energized with the powers of light. She projected a beam of light that went far and called to a ship which passed by the island.
Haltavna boarded the ship – paying two (2) platinum coins for transport, even though Redfire Sentinels were generally given the courtesy of free travel, as they helped so many other ships – and traveled east for a day to the western coast of the Glivoran Trail land bridge.
Once she arrived in the seaport, she sought out transport to the City of Emeth. The city covered significant portions of the land bridge known as Emeth, which gave the city its name and which connected directly to the Glivoran Trail land bridge where she found herself. However, it was too far for her to walk, especially given the mountainous terrain of both land bridges.
~~~
Ismene traveled through the Glivoran Trail, meeting with the people who worshipped the stones, and helping them with their final preparations for their dead relatives who had been killed in the tempest or in the ordinary course of life. Although, Ismene wondered, what ordinary meant. Some of the people she was burying were drinkers of the Ursegan Ocean waters and had reached four thousand (4000) or more years of age, so that they could live long, like the stones.
One of the tribes of people she met with took a dead man to be buried in the shadows of the stone heads, and laid the man down in the center of a circle of twenty two (22) heads, each thirty (30) feet in height.
“The shadow of the stones will be cast upon him, and then he will return to Ralithos, Eternal King of all Mountains and Stones,” a tribal elder said.
Lady Ismene drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from one of her vials and she was energized. She tried to guide the man’s spirit but things were not right – the spirit did not move.
“His spirit – it is not moving,” Lady Ismene said.
“That is because he is not in shadow,” another tribal elder said.
“The sky is dark…too dark,” the first tribal elder said.
Lady Ismene looked upward and said: “That is true…like I have never seen. In the darkness, the stones will not cast their shadows.”
“Why are all of the suns dark? Is there a spirit of evil about? Has a demon taken the sky?” the second tribal elder asked.
Lady Ismene sensed the spirit world, but could not detect a demon in the sky, so then she said: “I do not sense the presence of any demon in the sky. The cause for the darkness is unknown to me.”
“His passing is not complete. If the shadow is not upon him soon, he will be lost forever…truly dead,” the first tribal elder said.
“Then I can no longer help your people, because the darkness upon the suns is not subject to me,” Lady Ismene said.
“We must now prepare to truly mourn for this man,” the second tribal elder said.
Lady Ismene knew that there was a great danger, though she did not have any understanding of its nature. She left the mountainous area and made her way toward the seaport on the western coast facing the Kazofen Ocean. She remembered something that had been said, and thought that it might be more than relevant to what was happening in the sky. At first, she had considered going to Emeth, as the world’s news passed through that city, and the sages would sometimes have guidance. Now, however, she thought about a different source of knowledge, which had given secrets in the past.
When Lady Ismene arrived in the seaport, she sought transport heading south, into the Trerada Ocean, where she hoped to meet with a former contact who possessed many secrets. She asked around for transport to a certain area of the ocean – one with numerous undersea mountains – and kept hearing about difficulties in travel.
“The stars speak strangely. Finding our way will take time, if we find it at all, old woman,” one captain said.
“There’s just mountains there. Why would an old woman want to sail to the mountains?” another captain said.
Lady Ismene had no intention of telling them her plans.
She didn’t need to.
A blue fire fell from the sky and took the form of a man with blue skin.
He stood in the middle of the seaport, and the travelers who were walking through the port scattered away from him in fear – except for two (2) travelers who did not.
“Have you returned to do evil? Victoria is now gone, I know. The world does not need your violence,” Ismene said to the man with blue skin.
“Do you bring news from the sky kingdom, Blazer? The darkness of the sky is filled with screams of pain of even the red suns,” another woman, who appeared to be around fifty-five (55) years of age, asked.
Lady Ismene was surprised to hear the other woman address the man with blue skin without fear.
“The darkness upon the suns has spread further, to even the blue suns, and the Torches of Majesty are sworn to uphold the glory of the Sky’s Nine (9) Kings. I, Blazer Endrit, am here to fulfill that vow,” the man with blue skin said.
“The source of the darkness is unknown. Yet, in Emeth, they may know,” the woman said.
“You are a great danger, Blazer Endrit. I know you are not an ally of anyone but the blue suns to whom you are sworn. Against even the agents of good you have acted,” Lady Ismene said.
“They serve the blue suns of the sky. Why do you accuse them of plotting evil?” the woman asked.
“To worship the blue suns, as they do, is one of the great evils. How do you not know this?” Lady Ismene said.
“I am Haltavna, of the Redfire Sentinels. I watch the sky, and I know who the Torches of Majesty serve. The blue suns are not evil. Their good is so great that it is far beyond your understanding,” the woman said.
“I am Ismene, and I see the spirit world. By my senses, I have gathered much knowledge from the spirits. By this I know that the blue suns and those who serve them are more dangerous than you can fathom. Do not be so quick to believe in their majesty or their goodness,” Lady Ismene said.
“Does the darkness of the sky not trouble you, as well? They seek answers, as do I,” Haltavna asked.
“The darkness is trouble. Yet, the answer is not to be found in Emeth,” Lady Ismene said.
“Have you been there of late to be so sure?” Haltavna asked.
“Where, little woman, is the answer to be found?” Blazer Endrit asked.
“What do you know about darkness, if you only see the spirit world?” Haltavna asked.
“Find a ship that will take us to the mountains of the Trerada Ocean and I will show you. Perhaps, then, you will understand the truth,” Lady Ismene said.
“I will secure a ship. However, if this is a trick, you will be de
stroyed,” Blazer Endrit said. He proceeded to board one of the ships in the docks and Haltavna and Lady Ismene followed him.
Blazer Endrit approached the captain of the ship and said: “Take us where she directs. I will light the way.” At this, Blazer Endrit reached out his hands and pulled a stream of water up from the ocean toward him. The water turned to fire in his hands, and the fire burned bright.
The captain saw this as a threat, and was powerless to do anything. This man with the ability to turn water into fire was too fast and too powerful for him to contend with.
“Tell me the way,” the captain said, looking to Lady Ismene.
Lady Ismene drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean in her vial and she was energized. She reached out into the spirit world to find the path to the place she had been before. There were energy lines in the spirit world and she could sense them going in many directions. She spiritually followed them to the location in the mountains and she knew the way to travel.
Lady Ismene then gave the captain directions and they sailed for a day over the waters of the Trerada Ocean until they arrived at a mountain range where Lady Ismene knew to go.
“These mountains hold the answers,” Lady Ismene said.
“The answer is in these mountains? How could that be?” Haltavna asked.
“I warned you not to deceive us,” Blazer Endrit said.
“This is no deception – I am truly leading you to where answers can be found. Take the ship around that mountain, until you see an entrance in its side,” Lady Ismene said.
According to Ismene’s directions, the captain steered the ship around the mountain and they saw a cavernous entrance in its side.
CHAPTER 41: Wisdom of the Spirit in the Castle
“This ship can’t go in there, if that’s what you’re thinking. The waters at the cave entrance are too rough, and the ship will be torn apart,” the captain said.
“Do you have a way to enter? Will the spirits be of assistance to you?” Haltavna asked, doubting Ismene.
“If the answers can be found by entering through there, then I have a way,” Blazer Endrit said. He called forth another stream of water and turned the water into fire in his hands. He then sent forth flames to the surrounding mountains about them, and the flames melted some of the rock into lava, which flowed over the Trerada Ocean waters according to the path he set forth by the movements of his hands.
Blazer Endrit then created a path of lava that led into the cave. After this, he ended the projection of flames and allowed the lava to cool in the Trerada Ocean waters.
“Walk with me,” Blazer Endrit said, and he stepped off of the boat and onto the newly created pathway of cooled lava.
Lady Ismene was surprised by what he had done – she knew that the Torches of Majesty could turn water into fire, but she had only seen it used for violence, and not for building a bridge to walk across. It was a show of great skill, and she was impressed. However, this did not make the Torches of Majesty good in her eyes – only a more powerful evil.
“Their powers are impressive,” Haltavna said, smiling at the abilities that Blazer Endrit had demonstrated. She was committed to the red suns and only listened to their messages. Yet, those who served the greatest suns – the blue ones – were to be admired. On occasions like this, they proved themselves worthy of such admiration. The Order of Redfire Sentinels, of which she was a member, were watchers and guides. The Torches of Majesty, she knew, were a force of authority.
“I’ve seen them before – and their violence. Do not be so quick to admire them,” Lady Ismene said.
Lady Ismene drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from her vial and was energized once again. She attuned her spiritual senses to the key location within the mountain. She then left the ship and walked on the cooled lava pathway side by side with Blazer Endrit. Haltavna followed behind them.
Soon, after following the lava pathway deep into the cave leading into the mountain, they found themselves at a rocky formation with a path winding up and around it.
“Atop that formation of rock is a castle. In that castle there is a spirit who holds a great many secrets. He may yet have the answer we need,” Lady Ismene said.
“What spirit is this, little woman?” Blazer Endrit asked.
“That of Duke Hagan. You have heard of him, no doubt,” Lady Ismene said.
“The great architect, who died twelve (12) millennia ago. If his spirit is present, what knowledge will it have?” Blazer Endrit asked.
“And what knowledge will it give?” Haltavna asked.
“We will tell him of the danger in the sky,” Lady Ismene said.
“And hope that he has answers?” Haltavna asked.
“Proceed, so as to prove that this journey is not a waste,” Blazer Endrit said.
Lady Ismene moved into the lead position, walking up the winding pathway until she reached the darkness patch that seemed to hover in the air.
Blazer Endrit had the power of fire with him, and illuminated the way ahead, so that the trio could see and proceed.
“Without his light, how might you have seen?” Haltavna asked, still impressed with Blazer Endrit’s power. She had only admiration, bordering on reverence, for the Torches of Majesty.
Lady Ismene continued following the path, passing through the darkness patch and reaching the top of the rocky formation, where a castle could be seen, surrounded by the colossal stone statues. Haltavna and Blazer Endrit followed her and saw the same.
They approached the castle and saw that the large main door was closed and locked. There was no lever or handle or anything upon the door.
“How is the castle to be entered, little woman?” Blazer Endrit asked. He had his own ideas, but wanted to hear hers.
Lady Ismene expected to see a clever locking mechanism on the door – one which was a puzzle to be solved. Instead, there was the sheer surface of the door.
“You were expecting an open door?” Haltavna asked.
“I can burn through it. Yet, I would have you answer this riddle, little woman, to prove your mettle,” Blazer Endrit said.
Lady Ismene drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from her vial. She was energized yet again and reached into the spirit world. She saw that the door was being held shut by spirits, and that they were waiting for someone to make contact with them.
She called out and said: “Spirits at the castle gate, I seek passage through this door. Hear my plea without long wait. Of the knowledge within, we seek more.”
The door opened, much to the surprise of Blazer Endrit and of Haltavna. In fact, Lady Ismene was slightly surprised, but relieved. She didn’t want them to become irate, and abandon her in this place. Her distrust of both of them was more than balanced by a need for assistance.
Lady Ismene walked into the castle’s main hall and Blazer Endrit and Haltavna followed.
“Where is this Duke Hagan of whom you spoke? Show us the spirit of this great architect,” Blazer Endrit said.
“Follow me, for he can be met in the proper room,” Lady Ismene said, and she walked up the staircase and found her way into the room with many books on bookshelves. Haltavna and Blazer Endrit followed.
Haltavna began looking at the books and was genuinely curious about their contents. She opened several and saw that they were history books. Others were books on economics, and some were on metal work. Others books were about architecture. “This is a small, but impressive library. Still, it is not what we came for, unless the Duke’s knowledge is to be found in these tomes,” Haltavna said.
“No. The Duke’s spirit has spoken to me before, and not through these books. We must proceed beyond here,” Lady Ismene said.
“How? This room leads nowhere,” Haltavna asked. After she saw that Lady Ismene was able to gain entrance through the front door, she was now willing to believe that the old woman may be genuine. Still, Ismene’s condemnation of the suns and the Torches of Majesty was offensive and made her seem untrustworthy.
“This seems quite strange. Why would someone hide their location in such a way?” Haltavna asked.
“He was clever, and remains so, even as a spirit. There are many mysteries, however, in this place,” Lady Ismene said, as she continued removing the books from the shelves. Soon, they could see that there was an opening in the wall behind the bookshelves. Lady Ismene then pushed some of the shelves aside, and Haltavna actually began to help her, once she knew what was going on. Blazer Endrit just waited.
Once an opening had been created through the bookshelves, the trio proceeded through the opening and found themselves in a hallway.
They also found themselves facing a trio of scholarly-looking men ranging from their mid-forties to late sixties and a younger man who appeared to be a jungle warrior. They were standing next to what looked like a sculpture of a man, cut from diamond.
The jungle warrior looked at them and said: “No! A warrior of blue fire! You have come to punish me for entrance into the sun temple!” It was Jaguar and he recognized the Torches of Majesty, and feared them deeply.
“What sun temple did you enter?” Blazer Endrit asked him.
“The one in the hidden city!” the jungle warrior said.
“What hidden city?” Blazer Endrit asked, curious.
“He’s speaking of Thalkalana. We found several passageways leading in, and followed him on a different passage leading out,” the older man said, pointing toward the sculpted man of diamond.
“Who is he?” Haltavna asked.
The sculpted man of diamond walked toward the newcomers and tried to assess who they were, but said nothing. Haltavna was frightened and Lady Ismene stepped back.