The Order of Events: The Council of Eight

by Haines, C. J.

  -Chapter 11-

  Present

  As the journey carried on upon the three, Sen ran at the head, leading Samana and Kurlank through the wilderness of the sands as they rushed ahead in hope of catching up with those who they had placed their pursuit heavily upon.

  As the day had begun to break through the rabid winds and clouds of orange, shafts stretched down in mighty beam as Sen held a sharp hand out, bringing attention to a structure of wood and commotion echoing out not far from where they stood. “Look there! A small town or at least what used to be. It looks like it’s seen some rough times!”

  Samana and Kurlank took Sen’s side as the braided-haired girl looked upon the cursed one in question. “You don’t think it was the Keraij, do you?”

  Sen craned his head in curiosity as he looked ahead and scraped a sharp claw on the back of his neck to scratch. “I don’t know. It could have been. I’m not fully in tune with this whole thing. My senses aren’t totally there yet. I have to focus really hard to be able to connect with the mass. There’s only one way to find out for sure, let’s go take a look!”

  All three were in agreement and rushed ahead across the sands as those of the small mass of housings were working to fix broken fences, doors, and windows, carrying wounded to places of rest and burying those who had been slain during the time of the attack.

  A tall one, bearing an ax, tough and sturdy, stood at the outer fence, slamming a stake down into the sandy ground with the side of his ax tiredly. Stopping for a bit of breath, he looked outwards and saw the forms of the three heading towards the housings in rush.

  Feeling alarm, as he thought that those who brought approach were to attack, the tough one took his ax and called out to the others amongst the town, in a loud and deep voice.

  “Everyone!!! Bring arms here, there’s someone coming this way!”

  All work and repairs had stopped as those of the housings took the side of the tough ax-wielder, forming a good line of defense of able-bodied men to take on those who they thought were a threat.

  Samana looked ahead and saw that it seemed a defense was being formed. She turned to Kurlank as he pounded steadily ahead at her side and spoke in his echoing manner.

  “Looks like they think we’re taking arms against them, young Samana! They surely were attacked recently.”

  Samana nodded in agreement as she spoke, looking upon Sen as the three began to slow down their approach as they neared the wooden wreckage. “It seems so. Sen, stay to the back, I don’t want them to think we’re any trouble, and with your looks, they might scare and then attack us. That okay with you?”

  Sen looked upon his form and nodded in agreement as he took the back of his companions, as they met the wall of defenders. “You’re right. I’ll take the back, as you say!”

  The great armored one, Kurlank, stood tall before the ready defenders and stood serenely with Sen at his back as Samana stood before the defenders and spoke. “We’ve come in peace. We wish not to harm you!”

  The head of the carpentry faring defenders stepped ahead of the mass and gestured their weapons low as he turned upon Samana and spoke. “I see that you are no monster. As you can see, we have suffered an attack, fierce and violent, not too long ago.”

  Samana looked beyond the forms of bodies behind the speaker, seeing broken wood, shattered glass and blood flecked across the dusty ground as she spoke in return.

  “That is why we are here. We have come hunting the very creatures that have attacked your town. Do you know where they went?”

  The sturdy ax-wielder gestured his head grimly into the northern distance and spoke.

  “That way, they went north! It was the strangest thing, really. They came upon us in ambush, out of nowhere! Then just as soon as they had attacked us, they left to flee! They could have killed all of us. Even though we are carpenters, and strong, we are not warriors!”

  Samana looked out to the northern distance and nodded in return to her metal fashioned companion as he nodded upon her. The defenders returned to the town to continue their effort as the tough one stood still, speaking to the travelers that stood before him. “I hope you have good luck and find those monsters! They deserve the worst for what they’ve done here. Slain women, children, old and young…so many lost.”

  Samana took the hand of the tall carpenter and smiled in promise as she spoke.

  “We’ll catch them and stop them. I promise that!”

  The carpenter nodded thankfully, and walked away from the travelers to continue his share of work in restoration of the wooden housings and the burying of the dead, calling back as he rested his ax in grip on his shoulder. “I pray that good fortune follows you.”

  Samana watched the carpenter walk away and turned to look north as Kurlank looked far out and spoke in his booming voice of echo. “The Mountains of Khergy, what a dangerous route they’ve chosen. Whatever or whoever leads them must be crazy to travel that way!”

  Samana felt the hilt of her long sword at side and spoke as she had a look of cold vengeance on her face. “The only thing that’ll make things dangerous up there is me! When we catch up to those creatures, I’m not planning on leaving time for questions!”

  Sen produced his cursed form from behind Kurlank and rubbed his claws together as he spoke to his companions. “Let’s get going then. I wouldn’t mind dealing a little vengeance myself!”

  The armored one boomed out through his visor and spoke as he felt the tension building in his companions. “Let us go then, but be wary my friends. As the driving force of these creatures is still unknown and anything can happen upon those mountains.”

  Samana and Sen nodded upon their armored companion as they began their tread from the sands to the mountains, Samana speaking as she felt her energy rise with the thought of catching up with the creatures. “Whoever or whatever it is leading them, I won’t hold back!”

  As the three companions rushed ahead, the sand lands were lit gracefully by shafts of white light, protruding the often orange skies of the lands, to garner those who were soon left behind in memory to work upon their place of living.

  The sun beamed shafts of bright light down, beautifully upon the balcony stretching out from the mouth of the high chamber of the Order. The Mother Dhahn stood in her chamber, looking at the very place of souls and life that stood grown and stretching out from the wall of her great chamber, flecks of green wisps flying out like embers from its edges to dance playfully upon the stretching grip of wrapping tree limbs that offered protection to the light of greatness, the Aura.

  The owl made his way into the chamber and caught the Mother in his view, and took place at her side, watching as she looked over the beautiful light that which was her duty to guide and watch over.

  The Mother spoke as she was quite aware of the owl’s presence, running her hand through the green light as she felt the calming touch of its power. “I can sense the Keraij coming ever closer, Hoosun. It will only be days until they reach our Order!”

  The owl spoke as he too took view upon the glorious light in gaze. “I suppose we should tell the Order of the coming threat.”

  The Mother turned upon the owl and looked upon his white features of feathers as she ran a caring hand across his face and smiled beneath her veil. “I suppose we shall, my friend.”

  As the owl felt the kind touch of his friend, he took in her thoughts and spoke as he felt her hand leave his features.

  “Your mind seems troubled. You are worried about Samana, as am I.”

  The Mother turned back to the gleaming light and spoke as she stood serenely before the might of the Aura. “Yes I am. It is not by lack of faith in her that I feel she is in danger, but something deep within me calling out in alarm…out of fear.”

  The owl grasped the hand of the Mother and smiled through his beak as both stood before the great light that glowed so majestically. “We all have fear, my friend. It shows us what is worth protecting. Even a Mother must have fear. Do not fear emotion, my f
riend.”

  The Mother smiled and turned to her feathery friend, and grasped his hand tight in a vice of her hands. “Yes, I suppose I cannot be without some emotion. I only wish not to cloud my judgment, my friend.”

  The owl smiled and bowed his head lightly against the royal headdress of flowing cloth and silver upon her head, and spoke. “I trust your judgment more than anyone’s.”

  The Mother smiled and spoke as she looked into the eyes of the owl. “As I trust yours, now let us go and tell our people of the situation upon us!”

  Both took each other’s hands in hold and walked from the Aura to the balcony edge, the Mother raising her hand out and calling below in a thunderous voice as she called all in and out of the walls to attention, the grounds filling below as doors opened to empty their confines of girls and boys, men and women. Those working to pick fruit, or doing other chores, or watching children, bringing their attention to the voice from above they knew so well.

  Amen and Henk stood beneath a tree, surveying the people of the Order as they gathered in a great crowd. It was an astonishing sight as most usually kept in the walls to themselves on an average day, but this was no average day as words of great importance were to be spoken. The clouds above loomed lightly as sun beamed down upon those below in a blur, garnering glory upon the scene.

  Mensh left the innermost wall, pushing through a crowd of many as she looked up from under her hood as she was curious as to the purpose of the gathering. Her body was sent to the side by a rude push, Mensh looking to those who owned the committed action in a look lacking surprise as it was her two old friends; Theira and Dred.

  The two hussies turned and stuck their tongues out at Mensh as they pressed on through the crowd.

  As all stood awaiting the word from above, the Mother stood proudly and serene, looking down from the high towering mass of layered green stone and thick tree bark. The great white owl stood at her side, running a feathery finger across his fine, white, round collar as he looked upon her and awaited her word, as those below did as well.

  The Mother was ready to speak and held her hands rested upon the edge of the balcony as she called down in a voice that was peacefully carried down upon the ears of those below by her will. “Everyone…I have gathered you here and now because there is something amiss in our world, something calling out with dangerous intentions and bringing death with it! Some of you may be familiar with the story of the Mother Shirindul, of long ago, and some of you may not be. For those who know of her story, you are knowledgeable of what I am about to speak of. For those who are not, I shall tell you, now. Creatures fierce and dangerous have risen from our past, they carry themselves like a disease, killing and infecting others with their blight! These creatures, having risen once more, will be upon our home, our Order, in only but days.”

  The crowd below murmured in curiousness, fear, and panic as the Mother called down assurance. “Do not fear, we are well-defended here, my friends. When the time comes, I want all in the walls, and hidden. I shall fight this horde of twisted creatures myself. I dare not leave any of you to be in the way of harm!”

  Below there was a murmur of worry as some feared the danger that which would be put upon the Mother. Mensh stood listening on some wall steps, looking over the crowd as she saw Amen and Henk amongst the trees in attentive manner as the Mother’s voice came down below once more.

  “Do not be afraid for me. Long ago, the Mother Shirindul fought these creatures, and though she died, she saved our Order. I too have the same power, but this time with her knowledge to guide me! Her past thoughts and experiences live on in wisdom gifted upon my purpose, with this I will have the upper hand and will be very much capable of destroying these creatures, once and for all!”

  All heard well, and cheered as the Mother’s words brought confidence, her hands stretching out as she called below once more. “I only ask you for this one favor, as our days grow few until the arrival of this danger. Gather as much food as possible, take your fill of the water streams below our great stone walls, and when the time comes, keep yourselves hidden and out of sight. I do not know how long the battle could rage, but I do know this. I will fight until my very last breath and until the very spark of my soul dies out!”

  All cheered madly and in echoing roar, Amen and Henk sitting amongst the trees, the girl smiling, the boy nodding vigorously in agreement as the Mother said her last words of the matter. “So go now, prepare and get ready for the coming days are few.”

  All went there way, scattering amongst the walls, picking fruit to keep themselves fed for the coming battle, and others taking their young ones inside for care.

  Mensh sat up from the wall steps and looked out upon the fleeting mass as she saw Henk appear to whisper something to Amen, the two then leaving the cover of the fruitful trees and heading for the library, to the curiosity of the hood-faring girl.

  Hoosun stood at the Mother’s side, and spoke as she looked out from the balcony of stone and felt a cool breeze coming upon her veil to brush upon her skin. “Well said, well said, indeed, my friend.”

  The Mother smiled upon her friend, speaking as the owl put a caring arm about her shoulder. “Thank you, my friend. It is unfortunate that the time upon us is so short. I wish that all the young ones would have time to share some cheer before the Keraij come, but it seems that has been taken away.”

  The owl shook his head in feathery motion as he spoke in assuring manner of her words.

  “You had to tell them at some point, my friend. If it was any longer until the matter met their knowledge, who knows what would have happened.”

  The Mother smiled royally as she knew her friend was right, and brushed his feathery face with the back of her hand as she spoke. “You are right, my friend. You are wise and no matter what happens, if the coming days bring my death, or the fall of the Order. I shall find I have succeeded in life, if only in that you have been my friend!”

  The owl grinned upon the veiled figure and spoke as he took a bow, to her displeasure.

  “I am honored by your words, my friend. But I know that day shall not come. The Order will not fall by the Keraij!”

  The Mother took the feathery ones hand in vice and looked out upon the green walls below as she thought of his words. The Order may not fall by the Keraij, but would she?

  Below the great towering tree, Mensh made her way through the fruit-bearing trees, to follow Amen and Henk. She was curious as to what they were to do, as above she heard the heavy pounding of the great white wings of the owl as he flew, encircling the innermost wall and the orchard as he took to land at the side of Mensh.

  The owl stood high and greeted the young one with a bow of his feathery figure as he spoke. “Young Mensh, how’re you today?”

  Mensh smiled upon the feathered one and spoke as she looked out to the library, the owl catching her curious gaze. “I’m heading over to the library.”

  The owl nodded his head and spoke as he thought he knew the purpose of her going there. “Ah…young Henk has asked you to help her then? That is good!”

  Mensh cut a look of curiousness as she looked upon the owl, raising an eyebrow as she removed her hood and spoke. “What do you mean? Help with what?”

  The owl shook his head in surprise as he was apparently mistaken, and drew his head near to that of the young, curly-haired girl as he spoke. “You mean, that Henk hasn’t told you? She hasn’t asked for your help? Most curious.”

  Mensh looked to the library in deep curiosity and then turned her gaze back upon the owl as she felt the need for an answer. “No, she hasn’t. What’re you talking about, Hoosun?”

  The owl craned his head and nodded in gesture to the library ahead as he spoke to the one of question. “Why don’t you go and ask her yourself, young Mensh. It would be better that way!”

  Before Mensh could ask further, the owl took to flight and flew about the tower to the view of the young Mensh left below. Curious as to what was going on, Mensh continued her way to
the library, walking up the stone steps and then entering the vast doors that formed the entrance of the knowledgeable sanctum.

  As Mensh entered, closing the chamber doors behind her, she found herself in the stone entry way of the library. The curly-haired girl walked across the room, passing a counter built into the wall, cushioned seating, and old wooden tables as she made her way to the one she was seeking…Henk.

  Henk stood next to Amen, looking over the caved in entrance of the library, her back turned to Mensh as she tapped the spectacle-faring girl on her shoulder, calling attention.

  “Hey, what’re you guys doing in here?”

  Henk turned to Mensh and looked a bit nervous as she ran her hand over her ponytail, speaking to the one that had dealt the question. “We’re trying to get into the old library.”

  Mensh knew that Henk was one for seeking knowledge, so the idea didn’t seem in question. It didn’t seem rare that she would wish to go so far as to breach the confines of the caved in library for it. Speaking in return, Mensh looked at the pile of fallen and crumbled stone blocking the way. “I see. Hoosun told me to ask you what you were up to when I asked him. Strange, he seemed to think that you wanted my help or something?”

  Henk spoke, leaning on the stone wall as she looked upon the heap of barricading stone.

  “Yeah, you’re welcome to help if you want. We’re just trying to figure out how we’re going to move all of this.”

  Amen was surveying the stone mess as Mensh ran her hand over it in thought, kneeling down as she spoke. “I guess we could do it by hand, but it could take a while. We’d also have to hope that it doesn’t cave in further and kill us!”

  Giving out nervous laughter, the two girls echoed their voices throughout the chamber, and then Henk spoke as she took the side of Mensh on the ground, resting her hand upon the stone pile. “Yeah, I think that would work. Let’s get at it then. If we’re lucky we can get through before the Keraij come!”

  Mensh rolled her eyes and grinned sarcastically as she spoke in response. “Yeah…right! Let’s clear the room a little bit before we decide to just tear through this, okay.”