by Jen Valena
Feron frowned. “Ithia thinks Dag meant to kill her.”
Tyrsten removed the leftover bread from his pack and went into a trance-like state. “Ithia’s instincts are correct. Her bread is poisoned.”
Huldo wrung his hands together. “We need to be more careful with our handouts.”
Tyrsten’s jaw tightened. “He tried to kill her.”
Feron grabbed Tyrsten’s shoulder. “I am sorry. He was my contact.”
“We all trusted him,” Huldo said to assure Feron. To Tyrsten, he added, “He will meet his Fate without your help.”
“I should have sensed it and checked our food. If I had been in tune with my instincts—” Tyrsten took a deep breath and unclenched his fists. He said to Ithia, “Dag does not like the regime, but he must fear you more. You threaten his way of life.”
“Why?”
“You exist.”
“Gee, sure, I get on people’s nerves, but most don’t try to kill me over it.”
Huldo chortled. “I am going to enjoy having you around.”
✹ ✹ ✹
They traveled at a slow pace into the evening. As their own shadows lengthened once more Ithia sensed a rogue shadow following them.
“Tyrsten,” she said, unsure, “That thing is back.”
“I know.”
“You know?” Her eyes widened. “What is it?”
“A question for you to answer. It is following you,” he said. “Time to camp.”
Tyrsten took Ithia by the hand and led her back along the trail where the cover of the trees was dense. He found a spot secluded from where they were setting up for the night. “I want you to sit here alone and find out what it is.”
“Are you crazy?” Ithia stumbled over her words. “It might—it could—kill me!”
“Do you think I would put you in danger?”
“Can you rephrase the question?” She folded her arms.
“I have not intentionally put you in danger,” he corrected. “Sit and meditate. When you feel ready, ask for what is out there to reveal itself.”
“I’m not ready for this.”
He took both her hands and exhaled gently. “Relax.”
The tension that had built over the last couple minutes faded. “How do you do that?”
“I will tell you, after you do this.”
“And if it shows up?”
“Ask why it is here.”
“Do you know what it is?”
“Yes.” Tyrsten paused. “And no.”
“Are you always so cryptic? It isn’t going to hurt me?”
“I sure hope not.” He smiled and sauntered off.
“You aren’t making me feel better!” Ithia shouted at his back. She said to herself. “You’d think I’d know better than to listen to strangers.” Reluctantly, she sat down against a small tree.
Ithia drew deep, even breaths, like her Gramps taught her years ago. He had insisted on her learning to meditate since she had a temper. She never practiced, other than the occasional attempts to calm herself down. Now centered, she whispered, half hoping it wouldn’t hear her, “Whatever is out there, please show yourself.”
Slowly emerging from the copse of trees, a sable-colored shadow, almost liquid in its movement, drew near. Soon the golden eyes of a very large, black cat materialized. This was no ordinary cat. It was a jaguar. It stood three feet high, over six feet long.
Ithia’s heart thumped.
“What do you want from me?”
She heard an answer, in her head but from the beautiful beast.
“This is about what you need from me. I am here for your protection, your guidance. I am you and outside of you.”
“That’s a bit of a paradox.”
“In a paradox, one may find truth.”
“My guidance? Like Native American spirit animals?”
“Many cultures on many worlds have guides. I am always with you. You will learn when to call upon me, but you must remember what you have forgotten. Tyrsten will help you to remember as will others on your path. However, speak of me to no one, except for Tyrsten.”
“Why?”
“Anyone with knowledge of me would know your strengths. And your weaknesses. That would give them power over you.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“I am you. I am Jaguar”
Jaguar approached Ithia. Its intoxicating eyes locked onto hers. Jaguar moved forward, ever closer. Its steps fluid. “Do not be alarmed.”
It came so close, Ithia wanted to squirm away, but she was transfixed. Jaguar’s nose penetrated her chest and the rest of its long sleek form followed into Ithia, until it merged with Ithia’s body.
“Tyrsten!” she yelled when the initial shock wore off.
He came running to her side.
“It just—went into me.”
“Good.” He smiled and sat down next to her. “Are you allowed to tell me about it?”
“How did you know?”
“I hoped. What appeared to you?”
“A black jaguar with golden eyes. I thought I was going to be dinner, but then it talked to me—in my head. What was it?”
“She is part of your spirit, expressed in the qualities of that animal.”
“I’m a big, black cat?” she asked with disbelief.
Tyrsten forced back a chuckle at the simplicity of her statement. “Part of you is similar to that of Jaguar.”
“What does having Jaguar spirit say about me?”
“She represents reclaiming one’s true power.”
Tyrsten leaned back against the same tree that supported Ithia. Their shoulders touched. Ithia was acutely aware of the contact but didn’t shift away, which surprised her.
“Jaguar is solitary. She is drawn to others that are solitary.”
Ithia clarified, “Kind of a loner—hanging out occasionally with another loner? Makes sense. I do have a hermit quality.”
He smiled and arched his brow. “They also possess great sight and hearing, suggesting you have extra-ordinary skills in these areas, which you have proven with your ability to see and hear the energies around you. You should have a great sensitivity of touch. Take notice of how others feel to you when you make a physical connection.”
Ithia laughed inside, she wasn’t about to go around touching everyone to see how they felt. Although, she did note his touch was now comforting and calming.
“Jaguar is the symbol of the feminine—Death and Rebirth.”
“I am the symbol of death?” She visualized herself as the Grim Reaper, scythe and all. She wasn’t pleased with the idea.
“Death is a transition into a new reality, the end of one way of being, the beginning of another. Also, Jaguars respond well under pressure, quick and decisive. You have already shown evidence of that, but you will need to recuperate afterwards.”
“It’s weird. The only pet I ever had was a large, black cat.”
“It was your way of connecting with the energies in a subtle way.”
“How did you learn all this?”
“My teachers—at the Vihar. It is like a monastery.”
“On Earth, a monastery is meant for monks.”
“It is similar. The Kian Vihar is one of the smaller, older schools to teach Magian doctrine.”
Tyrsten picked up a fallen leaf and after letting it float to the ground, he continued, “Traditionally, a Vihar’s primary function was to teach Magian ways. The Vihars were used for our people to discover their callings and also for the long-term education of someone becoming a Magian. We should be safe there since few know of it anymore.”
“Why isn’t the Kian Vihar known by more people?”
“My particular Vihar fell out of use over forty solar-turns ago. My teacher was one of the last to be officially trained there. I suppose they closed it down because there were fewer students. It was rarely used or visited by the Magian population anyway because of its remote location. Since so few Magian teachers knew Kian’s exact site or its
secrets, it is now essentially hidden. Thank the Stars.” Tyrsten turned toward Ithia. “After Garrick’s rise to power, about fifteen solar-turns ago, my two teachers reopened the school in secret. Master Quanen found my family in a nearby village privately following the traditional ways and uncovered my Magian nature. He entrusted me with the knowledge of the Kian Vihar’s existence, and I was brought there to be trained. My teachers also brought a few students, like Huldo and Feron for a traditional education in life callings. Most of the recent students have stayed there seeking refuge and doing what they can to fight the atrocities committed against Magians and those that follow the old ways. Now our teachers are all gone. The last disappeared recently.”
“Oh.” Ithia watched him carefully. “And am I a Magian?”
He tightened his lips in hesitation. “I worried I somehow made you have those eyes, with the desire I had for it to be so. Although that should not have been possible to do anyway. However, now that you have exhibited your talents, I am convinced your eyes are as they should be. You are meant for the Magian path.”
“How was I able to help you yesterday?”
“My teacher told me it is similar to what Earth calls hands-on healing. The Universal Energy Field exists all around us. It can be funneled and directed by our intentions, balancing our weaknesses, in this case, neutralizing poison. When you get hurt, your hands automatically go to the injury, do they not?”
“To protect myself from further injuries.”
“Yes, but we also send the intention to heal the injury. Some part of you knew it was possible to heal me to that degree. Maybe it was because Samara healed you.”
Ithia glanced around, sensing other things following her, watching, besides her Jaguar spirit. As her mind put her attention on these voyeurs, she had the vague feeling that one could be malicious and the other, felt somewhat maternal.
Tyrsten sensed her unease but misread its source. He jumped up and pulled her up from the ground by her hands and then let his hands fall to her waist to stabilize them both. Staring straight into her eyes, he said, “Believe in yourself.”
Startled, Ithia pushed his arms away from her hips.
“I did not mean to—” Tyrsten crossed his arms over his chest, shocked at how he acted so impulsively around her. “We should return to the others.”
Ithia could see as clearly as day with her unique vision and squinted at the night’s bright luminescence. She hurried back to camp. Deep inside, she worried about a darkness that seemed to be following her.
✹ ✹ ✹
Tyrsten accompanied Feron on a hunt for dinner.
Once they were out of sight, Huldo said to Ithia, “I hope I did not upset you when I made my kissing comment last night.”
“You were trying to lighten the mood.”
Huldo snapped a twig and threw it onto the building fire. “I said it because I see something between you.”
“We don’t even know each other.”
“I am a hopeless romantic.” Huldo wiggled one eyebrow suggestively for effect.
Ithia laughed. “Sorry to disappoint. I’m a hapless one.”
“So…” Huldo poked the embers. “Tyrsten is not up to your standards?”
“It doesn’t matter. And, well, guys don’t notice me like that either. Tyrsten has already said as much about not being interested in me in that way.” Ithia flicked a stick into the flames. “There is no point to this conversation.”
“I am certain many men notice you.”
She determined Huldo wasn’t hitting on her. He was rather, solving her as a puzzle.
“I’m an oddball, and that isn’t considered much of a catch.”
“I get it—you do not get out much.” Huldo giggled in such a lyrical way that Ithia joined in, even at her expense.
“And I’m not the easiest person to get close to.”
“But not the hardest either.” He took Ithia’s presence in for a moment, evaluating her. “Tyrsten does not hold your interest then?”
“He is interesting, in that I have never met anyone like him. But I also haven’t been on this world very long.”
“True, and he is not as handsome as his brother.” He winked.
Huldo was easy to talk to. He had a charm about him that almost required her to divulge her deepest secrets.
“Fine—he has some seemingly admirable traits. And yes, he’s easy on the eyes.”
“He was not easy on your eyes!” He beamed a wider grin.
“Yeah.” A wave of dread washed over her. “Please, don’t tell him I said that. I don’t want any awkwardness between us.”
“Do not worry,” Huldo said, although he didn’t say what not to worry about.
Tyrsten and Feron returned from their hunt. Silence hung tangibly in the air as they ate. Tyrsten was still concerned at how he had acted so forward. Ithia and Huldo settled for exchanging looks of secrecy.
✹ ✹ ✹
The men were up before Ithia. She had hit her internal snooze alarm instead of facing them. Tyrsten kept stealing glances at her peaceful sleep. Huldo noticed and caught Tyrsten on one of his glances back toward the fire and raised an eyebrow and nodded knowingly.
“What?” Tyrsten asked.
Huldo smiled. “You are not the only one with a kind of Sight.”
7 ✹ Tyrsten Awakens
We are the dust of stars, born from explosions, chance, fate.
We are echoes of controlled chaos that swirl as galaxies,
and the thoughts of our minds.
— Tyrsten Naren
The rest of the journey to the Vihar was muted with a heavy blanket of introspection. Ithia thought about her new found powers. Tyrsten thought about his inability to keep his hands to himself. Feron was concerned with keeping them all safe. And dear, wise Huldo contemplated the nature of belly buttons.
“Please tell me there are soft beds.”
“There are beds.” Tyrsten chuckled. “The Vihar should be more pleasant and safe. You will have time to adjust and begin your training.”
“Why do I need training?”
“You need to understand the changes you went through, that you are still going through. Also, if you harness your abilities, we might figure out an answer for your future.”
A dense portion of the woodlands loomed above them. The canopy blocked out the sky creating a perpetual shadow-cast on the gloomy forest floor. Trees grew so close together that it would be difficult for a man to pass through, let alone a horse to navigate.
“Here we are.” Tyrsten smiled at her.
Ithia scanned the area for a building or a gate. “Where?” She laughed to herself, half expecting that he was going to chant Open Sesame and the trees would part revealing a long corridor.
Instead, he entered a narrow entrance, hidden from plain view. Feron followed. Huldo waved Ithia to go so that he brought up the rear. They twisted and turned through the dense brush and tree trunks, passing some offshoots and taking others.
“Is this a labyrinth?” she asked Huldo.
“A labyrinth has one path. This is a maze. A puzzle preventing those who do not know its secret from getting through. Also, the trees warn Magians of intruders that might infiltrate the perimeter.”
For an hour, they worked their way through the forest’s maze, but being in such a confined space, it felt like an entire day to Ithia. The forest finally parted, making way for an open meadow. Before them stood a two hundred foot wide, two-story building constructed of tree trunks. It was no ordinary log cabin. Colossal, living trees wove themselves in and out of the exterior walls. The rooftop was shingled with slate tiles.
To the right stood a separate round building. It appeared to be a temple. Its exterior walls consisted of intricately carved vertical beams. There were no windows; however, the roof was a glass dome.
They rode up to a young woman near the front of the complex. Her hazel eyes complimented her curly, amber hair. “Good to see you safe,” the woman said.
�
�And it is especially good to see you.” Huldo winked at the woman. “Ithia, this is Anise.”
They exchanged greetings as they dismounted. Anise grabbed two of the horses’ reins. Huldo gathered the other two reins and took Anise by the hand.
“We will meet you inside after we take care of the horses and—catch up.” Huldo and Anise skipped off toward the stables, giggling.
Ithia asked, “Are they a couple?”
“For a while now.” Tyrsten gestured to the building in front of them. “What do you think?”
Now closer to the walls, it was evident where the ancient structure had been repaired over hundreds of years due to the slow growing trees that had been incorporated into the architecture. Advancing vines, thick as small tree trunks, stretched up the sides around the dormitory windows.
“This is what I had pictured in my mind when you told me we were coming here. It’s like I’ve been to this place before.”
“Perhaps you have.”
Ithia studied the great double doors to the main hall. “This carving is like the cloak pin that Samara gave me.”
“Yes. People of the Land. The Sauvants that have taught here over the centuries primarily focused on the mysteries of trees, plants and land animals. But all disciplines are—were taught.” He frowned, then quickly recovered.
Tyrsten dramatically threw open the great wooden doors, and all three stepped inside. Trees grew indoors as well. Some grew through the roof in complete harmony with the structure. The interior in the great room was roughly forty feet by fifty. The ceiling was two stories high. Tall windows afforded a magnificent view of the back gardens. Off the great room, a hallway led to the dormitory wing. In the far left corner, a door led to a library reading room. To her right, an archway led to the kitchen and dining hall.
Two men approached. One greeted Tyrsten in a rich baritone, “Celestial’keel! We are blessed to have you with us again!”
“Celestial’keel.” Tyrsten introduced the men to Ithia, “This is Datus and Nolan. They were part of the group that helped liberate you from Garrick’s men.”