The Order of Events: The Council of Eight

by Haines, C. J.

Samana released her hold on the boy and turned to Hatchlen, taking his scaly hand as he bowed to her. “Thank you for everything, Hatchlen. I’m sure I’ll see you again, hopefully soon.”

  The lizard bowed his head and released his frill widely as he spoke, looking from Samana to the owl. “I am thankful for your heroic acts and your powerful will, young Samana. Thank you. I know someday we will meet again. I shall watch the boy here, and see that he keeps in good health.”

  Samana nodded in thanks to the red lizard, and then the time was upon her and her metal friend. They were to leave. Kurlank dealt a bow of his head to those in the room and was the first out of the chamber, standing outside, awaiting Samana, who looked upon those she was to leave at this moment; the lizard who had showed great hospitality, wisdom and had given his friendship. The boy who showed up at the city and revealed a purpose for Samana and her metal friend, while giving off promising vibes of his own, ones of a willing heart, and then there was the owl…Hoosun. The one that had adopted her as his own child, and then raised her since her father and sister were gone. He was truly loved by her and was a great influence upon her life, and would always be that most important figure to her. Smiling upon him, she went to his mass and gave him one great last embrace before taking her leave, speaking a soft sequence of whispered words into his feathery head as he leaned into her form by her grip.

  “I love you, Hoosun.”

  As she released her hold, the owl smiled upon his adopted daughter. The human in him had been brought out by her in the many years of their friendship and overall relationship. It made him much more than just a beast and man’s soul in one, it made him feel loved. As she left the room with a farewell wave of her hand, the owl watched her go as she was to move on and throw herself upon another purpose, which he knew she would pursue justly as she had her previous challenge.

  The city gates creaked to a shuttering halt in the distance behind Samana and Kurlank as they made a firm tread upon the ground. The metal one noticed a look of sadness upon the young heroine as she was at his side. He spoke through his metal confines to her. “I see you are sad to leave them already, Samana?”

  Samana attempted a smile while keeping her face in worried disarray and spoke as she tread onward with her armored companion. “I am, do me a favor Kurlank, when we get through this ash and ember and get to some stars, remind me to make a wish.”

  The metal one nodded his head with promise and looked ahead as he echoed his next words. “What is this wish, may I ask?”

  Samana looked out ahead as she felt embers falling and baking on her pale and clear skin. The distance ahead was vast as the two continued their newly donned journey. “That I see Hoosun again, Kurlank. I have the greatest fear that I will not see him again.”

  The metal one kept to her side and spoke as the sky was rent with embers and ash dropping like deadly snow upon their forms. “Whatever fate may bring, I know that a purpose shall be bound tight to it, as surely as I stand here at your side, young Samana.”

  Grateful to have her companion with her on the journey, Samana smiled upon his metal frame and tapped his armored shoulder with care.

  Heading far into the great distance, the journey had begun for the two companions. They were leaving behind friends, old and new as they aimed their tread ahead, thoughts coursing through Samana. The cost of the journey’s start was to leave friends behind, but what costs awaited at the journey’s end?

  -Chapter 7-

  Present

  As ash dropped, serene and dark upon the great City of Murta Sota, the great white owl stood on the balcony, speaking to his lizard friend as the boy sat listening from his bed.

  “I am to leave now, my friend. Take good care of the boy. I shall return to check his condition as soon as I can!”

  As the owl spread his wings in flight, the lizard spoke, his open-frilled head blowing in a soft and ember full wind as he called to the owl taking distance. “I shall, my friend. Be steady in your strides, you’re not as young as you used to be!”

  As the owl left the city, his wings bursting with purpose as he shot out to the east, the lizard left the balcony and was at the side of the boy, speaking as he looked upon a face of disappointment. “Rest, young one, and cheer up. You’re lucky to be alive. Better to be resting in bed than sickened and dead!”

  Waving a cautious claw at the boy, the lizard nodded severely and spoke as the boy listened. “So rest, young one, I have my duties upon me. I cannot spend all my time upon one when I have a whole city to hold in care.”

  The boy sat back restfully in his bed and spoke as he closed his eyes. “I understand, thank you. Go take care of the others. I’m quite alright, here.”

  The lizard nodded and left the chamber, the door shutting quietly as the boy sat up and looked out through the balcony opening to the distance. The girl he had met, and the journey and danger he had brought upon her were weighing heavily upon him as he thought. Could he really just stay in the ember full city of stone, as the young heroine tread onward to danger? That was a question he knew the answer to, as it was well-fixed in his mind.

  Back at the Order, the day was bright and clean. Sun shafts beamed down heavily as Mensh made her way across the fruitful grounds, passing running children and harvesters as she made her way to the great, towering tree at the center of the many walls.

  The Mother Dhahn sat in her chamber, deep in thought. As she sat in silence, it was soon broken by the welcome appearance of Mensh. Standing to greet the young, curly-haired girl, the Mother dealt her a welcoming nod as she spoke. “Good morning, young Mensh. What brings you up here?”

  Mensh had a look of distress on her face, as she seemed hesitant to speak at first, but then spoke out in a worried and rushed fashion. “Mother, Henk is going to try and search Amen’s thoughts again, today. She seems rather willful to continue on with it!”

  The Mother put a soft arm behind Mensh as she led her out to the balcony, the sun beaming down upon them through the heavy crown of foliage as she spoke. “Amen wants his past returned to him. She only wants to help him. But I sense you feel something is wrong with this?”

  Mensh nodded and spoke to the veiled one. “Yes, the other day she was doing it and went into some kind of shock. I had to wake her! Afterwards she said she didn’t see or find anything, but I feel she is lying. I think she’ll try to get the past out, no matter what happens, and if she keeps pushing, she could end up hurting herself!”

  The Mother nodded and closed her eyes as she stretched a hand out to feel the hot shafts of sun upon her pale skin, a soft breeze running over the chamber tongue to bring her ceremonial clothes to drift as she spoke. “I see and agree with your point, young Mensh. But we cannot stop her, as she wishes to help him, even at the cost of herself. That is a great sign of the kind of devotion and love that we should all show to others.”

  Mensh shook her head in agreement and looked out across the balcony as she spoke.

  “I know. You’re right. I just feel concerned for her. I don’t want her to end up with the same problem as Amen.”

  The Mother turned upon Mensh and shook her head as she spoke wisely. “You think Amen is troubled? His manner, although different than others, is not a handicap or a curse.”

  Mensh felt shamed and spoke apologetically. “I’m sorry, Mother. I didn’t mean it that way. I just wouldn’t want her to have to suffer and be unable to express herself to Amen. I know she cares for him deeply, and I wouldn’t want to suffer that way for someone I cared for!”

  The Mother smiled and stroked the young Mensh’s hair affectionately as she spoke.

  “I’m sorry, young Mensh. You are right in the care of your friend, but please heed what I say. Do not stop her, if she so wishes to risk such a sacrifice upon her being, for him, then that proves that she has a love for him stronger than any, and a will powerful enough to withstand any obstacle.”

  Mensh smiled upon the Mother, and bowed, the Mother feeling discomfort, for she did not like peop
le bowing to her. After this action, Mensh took her body in turn to exit the chamber in leave.

  “You are right, Mother, and I shall not stop her. If she so wishes to help him, even at her own risk, I shall speak encouragement of it!”

  The Mother nodded her head and clasped her hands together as she called out to the distancing image of Mensh through her veil. “I know you will do what is right, Mensh.”

  Having been left on the balcony alone, the Mother went to the edge and looked out upon the distance, her hands rested on the stone railing as she felt the distant presence of darkness, brewing, waiting to move.

  Henk and Amen were alone, and in a room garnered with gold lit walls, graced with dangling lanterns. The silent one was in meditative manner as the young Henk held her hands upon him, focusing as she searched his thoughts for the past which she had caught a glimpse of only the day before, and wished to fully discover this day.

  The chamber door opened and revealed Mensh. Entering quietly, she closed the door and took a seat on a benched table, watching as Henk stood in heavy focus as she used her talent, speaking as she kept her concentration on the silent one and her quest. “I know what you think, that this is dangerous, but I have to do it, it’s the only-”

  Mensh interrupted, and spoke encouragement as Henk searched Amen. “No, not at all, Henk, I think it’s the right thing to do! I’m glad you’re willing to help him.”

  Smiling as she kept her eyes closed and herself in focus, Henk nodded as she was thankful for Mensh’s support. “Thanks. I know I can bring everything back for him!”

  As Mensh watched intently, Henk searched and soon found, through the mass of thoughts, what she was looking for. As Amen’s past came to her mind, it brought fulfillment of her quest, but also a horror, great and fear filling, as she found herself experiencing the scene as if she was really there.

  There was an open plain, wide and eerie. Many stood around a fire as shadows danced across the ground, tents swaying in a soft wind as voices rang out, foggy and in a mess, as it seemed as there was some celebration in progress. Henk wandered the dreamy world and found that the case of celebration was that of the birth of a small girl, a child.

  All stood amongst the child, cheering and rejoicing in their birth, a boy standing before the crowd as he was handed the young one. Henk watched as the boy looked upon the child happily. The boy that she looked upon had a look of familiarity about him. She knew who it was for sure…it was Amen. She appeared to be viewing this memory in sort of an out-of-body experience, which was different than her prior efforts to uncover the truth.

  Watching as he showed great emotion and cheer, Henk smiled to herself. But then the dream was distorted with cries of pain and misery, a flooding mass of steel weaponry and dark bloodied figures ran about the encampment, cutting down woman, man and child. The boy, Amen, ran for safety from the lot, but was caught, beaten, tied and gagged, and tossed to the fireside as the child had been taken from his care.

  Watching in horror, Henk could not do anything, for she was only a spectator upon the horror of the past. As Amen ripped through the gag with his teeth, he cried out to those who had slain those of his friends and family, pleading that they return the child, but they did not listen. A great figure, tougher and crueler than the rest, stepped before Amen, holding the child above his head, tempting him to grab the child if he so wished to have them back.

  As Amen struggled against his bonds, he tried to get the child, but was unable.

  The figure laughed cruelly, and took a blade from his side as Henk watched in horror at what happened next. Amen watched as the child was slain in hold before him, and their blood doused upon his broken body, covering him in a mess of red.

  The figure discarded the body of the child and grabbed the bound Amen as he was overcome with hate and shock, and then tossed upon the burning fire, left to die by the murderous horde as the entire camp was swallowed by flames.

  Henk screamed in pain and horror at the sight of death. Bodies surrounded her as she stood amongst the past, blood mixing with flame as the form of Amen rose from the fire and grabbed the discarded child’s corpse and stumbled out of camp.

  The next sight that Henk saw was the boy burying the child’s form in the ground and then wandering away into the distance as she sat watching, crying in a heap as she felt his pain, and soon…wakefulness.

  Henk was no longer looking upon the past, and stood looking ahead, upon Mensh, who held hands upon her shoulders in care, watching the flinching and tear stained face of Henk as she breathed softly. The vision had brought great pain upon her. It was unbearable. No wonder it silenced poor Amen.

  Mensh wiped Henk’s face as she spoke to her. “Henk, are you okay? Answer me!”

  Henk looked around the room and found Amen holding her hand at her side, bringing comfort and strength to her, allowing her to speak in assurance to Mensh. “Yes, I’m okay…I’m sorry. You were right, Mensh. I shouldn’t try that again. I thought I could handle it, but I can’t!”

  Mensh sat next to Henk and placed a caring hand on her shoulder as she spoke.

  “I’m just glad you’re okay. I can tell Amen shares my feeling on that! Did you find anything through all this?”

  Henk felt worn, and leaned her head on Amen’s shoulder as she spoke, tiredly.

  “Yes, I did…I saw it all, everything that happened that made Amen silent, but…it’s becoming such a blur. I couldn’t bring it back with me…I failed.”

  Mensh looked upon Amen as he held Henk in care, speaking as she stood up.

  “Maybe it’s better not to have done it. If you told him, and he experienced it again, who knows if the shock would reverse anything, it might have even killed him. Let’s get you some air, Henk, and let’s not do this again, okay?”

  Amen lifted Henk from the seating and held her close as she clung to his form and spoke. “But what about Amen, his memories?”

  Mensh stood as Amen looked at her. She could tell even in his blank eyes what he was thinking as she spoke. “I don’t think he would want you to risk yourself again, Henk. I know that I don’t!”

  The three left the Den and headed through the inner corridors of the wall to find release outside. The fresh air hit Henk as she felt great appreciation for it. Feeling less lightheaded and ill, she was able to stand on her own, under the bright light shafting through the shade of the great tree.

  Amen was still holding a tight fix on her hand. Mensh held her hood over her head and looked upon Henk in a concerned manner as she spoke in a sharing fashion. “Please don’t worry me like that again, Henk. Leave the past where it is, and don’t bring it back, not just for me, but for Amen, too.”

  Henk nodded in agreement and turned to the silent one as she felt his firm grip upon her hand, her eyes meeting his as she gave an agreeable response to Mensh. “You’re right, it’s best to leave the past as past. I won’t try again, I promise.”

  Mensh took her hand and smiled, as Amen and her led the way through the fruit-bearing trees, Henk taking firm grip of both friends’ hands as she leaned her head on Amen, and closed her eyes under the shade of the foliage. She was lucky to have such caring friends at her side.

  All three took a seat under a tree as Amen picked a fruit and handed it to Henk. She accepted the gift and smiled, running her hand over the round fruit, blue and serene, as she spoke her thoughts to her friends. “I just wish there was another way I could help Amen.”

  Mensh smiled and took a fruit for herself, from the tree above, and spoke as she surveyed it. “I’m sure he’s happy just as he is, as I’m sure he’s happy you are yourself, right, Amen?”

  Mensh and Henk turned to Amen, who wore a grinning kerchief on his face and nodded in agreement. Leaping into the tree above, he began tossing fruit down to them in a flooding manner, as the two girls held their arms up in defense, both yelling out in cries of despair upon the fruit barrage. “AMEN!!!”

  Up above, in the high chamber, the Mother Dhahn stood on the ba
lcony, hearing the playful cheers of those below. It seemed now was a time of merriment for those below, but soon it seemed darkness would darken their light moods as feelings of a coming danger overtook the Mother, for she knew that if the Keraij were truly on the rise, fear and darkness would be spread wide.

  -Chapter 1-

  Past

  Far to the south, and in the lands of grey sand, eastern bound stood the City of Oomer, mountainous in size as it stood in bluish, grey stone form. Its walls were towering in a circling manner as within the confines of its rim was a vast city of well-formed housings made of stone, and at its center stood one giant dome, dressed with pillars, the place at which council was taken, as the city was governed by a grand council of one-hundred.

  This council was loyal to its people, fair and wise in their knowledge, as the head of their purpose were two figures of grand stature and kindness; Hedes, and his wife, Slifus.

  The two great leaders led their city without fault, and one day their love was blessed with the gift of a child. When the child was born, he was given the name of Bledlus, and as Hedes and his wife looked upon their newborn, they soon found in the coming hours he had been cursed with a horrible disease. Blood died inside his body, speedily, and he would soon die, but Hedes and his wife found a way of saving him by offering their blood to his mouth for him to drink, and in doing so, this would restore the blood of his form, but only for a limited time as he would have to drink once more to restore his blood and life.

  As the child grew in the care of his parents and had reached ten years of age, news had come to the city of a gifted child having come upon the Order of the Aura, a child named Omegeira. Hedes and his wife took their son, Bledlus, to the city immediately as they had heard the one named Omegeira held the gift to heal those afflicted with injuries by the touch of her hand to their flesh. Thinking that their child could be cured by this gift, they made way for the Order with hope in their hearts.

  As they had made arrival, Hedes and his wife brought the child before the gifted girl and held silence as they awaited the judgment of the child to whether the boy could be healed, and so the judgment came, the child could not be healed. With all the power that Omegeira had been gifted with, she was unable to heal the boy as his affliction was a curious and rare one, and she held not the knowledge to do anything for him.