The Order of Events: The Council of Eight

by Haines, C. J.

  -Chapter 13-

  Present

  The day had come to the Order.

  The sun had shown brightly as it crept over the horizon, sending bright beams of light carrying across the land, to bring view upon the lands, patched of life and death, ash and grass.

  Inside the library, the three companions continued their effort upon the pile of caved stone, as they had all night. Henk slumped and backed away from the pile as it seemed to be never-ending, and sighed as she spoke, tiredly. “It doesn’t seem like we’ve gotten anywhere!”

  Mensh rose and placed her hands on her back, and bent to resounding cracking as she spoke in a manner similar to that of Henk. “We’re getting somewhere, it just remains unknown exactly where we’re getting!”

  Henk smiled and took a seat, along with Mensh, on a table that had been pushed to the wall, and slumped tiredly as she used one arm as a support for her head. Her voice was quiet and serene as she spoke, with eye lids giving in to the heavy weight of her tiring effort.

  “I’m sure we’ll get there eventually.”

  As Henk began to fall asleep, she saw blinking motions of Amen surveying the pile and then giving rise to lean his weight upon the wall, tiredly. Henk dozed off, but for a moment, and then was awoken as she heard a cry from Mensh and a heavy crumbling, echoing the chamber.

  “AMEN!!!”

  Henk stood, wide-awake and alarmed, as she and Mensh left their seat and took to the former place of Amen’s stance, but he was no longer there. What remained was a hole in the wall. As Amen had put his weight upon the wall, it had secretly been weak, over all this time, and had fallen in under the pressure of his weight.

  Henk looked through the dark hole and saw that it was quite clear, giving way to a dark chamber as she spoke. “Amen!!! Amen!!! Mensh we need to see if he’s okay!”

  Worried too, Mensh agreed and stuck her head into the opening and looked around in the darkness. Taking a torch from the chamber that which they stood in, the two entered the opening and stepped down upon broken pieces of stone, shifting beneath their feet with scraping sounds as they looked about for Amen and found he was not anywhere to be seen.

  Fear of harm upon the silent one taking over Henk, she held the torch and rushed ahead through the dark stone surroundings as she called out his name, in echo.

  Mensh took pursuit of her, calling ahead as she kept a careful tread about her.

  “Wait up, Henk!”

  As Mensh followed the glimmering light that grew to the distance, Henk pushed onward and then found she had come to a pause as she found herself entering a wide arch, and coming upon a sight of wonder and amazement.

  Mensh took her side and huffed out tiredly as she stood, bent over, speaking low in breath. “I told you to wait! Henk?”

  As Henk stood still, Mensh gave rise and looked upon the sight which was staggering Henk into silence. A great multitude of shelves, made of green stone and well-fashioned, filled a great and wide chamber. The room was lit, not with torches, but by a light as natural as it gets. Blue fireflies hung encased in crystal holdings that hung from silver chains planted in the ceiling, dipping down to bring light to those who took place in the chamber of knowledge, for this was truly the library of the Order.

  Henk looked ahead, and saw Amen standing amongst the shelves, and rushed to him, avoiding fallen pieces of stone as she made her way to him, across the vast chamber.

  Mensh followed in shared stride, as the chamber was beautiful and lit justly, but also garnered with spires of stone, which dipped down from the ceiling, dangerously, while many shelves lay crushed by fallen stone as the library had indeed caved in, long ago.

  Henk dropped her torch by her meeting of Amen and wrapped her arms around him as he turned his attention upon her. She had been so worried about him, fearing he had been injured or worse.

  The silent one looked upon her deeply as she smiled, Mensh taking her side as Henk spoke. “I was so worried about you, Amen! I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  Amen held Henk tightly in caring hold, as she surveyed his features and found that he had a good scrape from his fall, marked on the side of his temple, giving blood the allowance of a weak release.

  Henk looked upon the wound closely and spoke to Mensh, who had in mind exactly what she was to say. “It doesn’t look too bad. Mensh, could you get some-“

  Mensh cut in and finished her sentence, as she turned from the two and started her way to the entrance, which Amen had formed out of accident. “Yeah, I’ll go get some bandages and treatments from the infirmary. You two stay here, okay?”

  As Mensh left, the two were alone and standing face to face.

  Henk ran her fingers through Amen’s spiky brown hair and smiled as he stared blankly upon her features. The spectacle-faring Henk turned to look upon the vast chamber and spoke as she felt wonder envelope her. “This place is amazing looking! It’s incredible!”

  Amen took Henk’s hand in grip as he stood behind her, surveying the reaches of the room and the shelves of knowledge as she took turn upon him and spoke. “Shall we begin searching?”

  The silent one nodded as they went about the shelves and started searching the books for ones that would seem promising of their purpose and search, ones that detailed cures and healings.

  -Chapter 7-

  Past

  As the night was still alive with darkness, Bledlus made his way up the vast streets of Oomer, leaving the battlements behind, where he had confronted his decision to join Kaimana in battle.

  The leader afflicted with the loss of blood, now seemed afflicted with the loss of his son’s faith as he found himself coming upon the presence of Kermana and Kaimana, the father and son taking a seat on a stone bench that sat outside a calm housing. A table sat between them as they saw the form of Bledlus come upon them. Kermana speaking with his helmet set upon the stone seating at his side. “I’m thankful you’re going to join us in battle. I couldn’t help but hear you and your son, my friend. I am sorry he has taken it so hard.”

  Bledlus shook his head and took a seat at the side of Kermana, his cloaked form leaning heavily on the stone table as he spoke. “It’s my fault. Perhaps I shouldn’t have pressured him with the responsibilities of leading Oomer.”

  Kermana shook his head and spoke as he placed a caring hand on the shoulder of his friend. “You’re never too young to take high responsibility, my friend. He will learn to hold it, and he will hold it royally. Let him cool down a bit, and he’ll come back to you.”

  Bledlus nodded his head in agreement as Kermana had spoken, Kaimana speaking as he sat across the elder two. “Maybe I should go look for him?”

  As Kaimana took rise from his seating to look for Sinfus, Kermana gestured him to sit as he spoke upon his son. “No. Let him be.”

  Kaimana stood still in gaze upon his father as he disagreed and found Bledlus speaking in his favor as the leader of Oomer raised his hand to the young Dawn Bringer. “No. Let Kaimana go. After all, he and Sinfus have been friends ever since they were small children. Let him go.”

  Kermana shook his head in agreement and allowed the leave of Kaimana, the young Dawn Bringer bowing to his elders and then taking leave of their presence as the two sat in the dark street, their forms lit by the soft touch of the moon as they sat upon the stone seating, their eyes watching the form of Kaimana rush off through the street swiftly, the moonlight dancing on his lightly armored form as he ran.

  Sinfus had been wandering the darkness of Oomer for about an hour. He began to feel weak and tired, but why? There was only one reason that made any sense. He was beginning to become dry from lack of blood.

  Kaimana rushed about the city, searching up and down and in every dark corner as he looked for Sinfus, but found himself unable to find him. As the moon hung high in the sky and began to dip, Kaimana began to feel worried as he knew of the affliction that Sinfus shared with his father and that he could only go so long without taking blood, or he would die.

  As Kaim
ana found himself rushing through the streets, bridges above his form passing speedily as he ran underneath their stone forms, he soon found his view coming upon a crumpled form on the ground. Thinking it to be Sinfus, the young Dawn Bringer rushed to the side of the body and turned it over, watching in horror as he found it not be Sinfus, but one who had been attacked by him, a bite in the victims arm as blood pooled from their wound as they lay unconscious.

  Feeling time was wearing down on him, Kaimana could not stop his search for Sinfus and tore a piece of cloth from his wears and wrapped it about the wounded arm of the boy that lay on the ground before him. Rushing ahead, Kaimana pushed himself without faltering to find Sinfus before another was hurt.

  Kaimana was beginning to tire and slowed his pace until he had to take pause and breathe, shafts of moonlight drifting to the ground about him, past bridges that held their forms overhead. A voice came to the ear of Kaimana as he stood hunched and breathing heavily. The voice was one of recognition as Kaimana stood upright and looked about. It was the voice of Sinfus. “How can I lead Oomer when I can’t even control myself?”

  Kaimana looked about for the source of the voice and soon found Sinfus producing his form from a dark corner, blood flecked lightly about his clothes and across his face as he stood in the moonlight, Kaimana speaking as he approached his friend. “It’s not your fault, Sinfus. Don’t run anymore.”

  Sinfus shook his head as Kaimana stood before him, his voice dark as he spoke return upon his friend. “But it is. I’m just a curse. Don’t you know how mother died? She died from contracting an illness, from my father and I having to bite her all the time, for blood. She could heal blood, but her wounds couldn’t just heal. They got infected and became too much and then she finally faded away. The same thing will happen to the Council as well.”

  Kaimana spoke to his friend in an assuring manner as he tried to calm him down.

  “It wasn’t your fault. She wanted to give her blood and life, for you two. I don’t think she would’ve lived any longer if the two of you died.”

  Sinfus looked at the moon and spoke as he felt a tear caress his cheek in downward motion. “I suppose you’re right. But what of the boy I attacked earlier? Will he live? I still feel the hunger holding me.”

  Kaimana nodded his head assuringly and spoke. “I dressed his wound. He’ll live. As for your hunger, if you still need some blood, take mine!”

  Sinfus looked upon Kaimana, shaking his head in denial as Kaimana rolled a sleeve up and presented his arm before Sinfus, the afflicted boy speaking as he backed away.

  “I can’t. I don’t want you to hurt.”

  Kaimana held his arm still and spoke return upon Sinfus. “I’m willing to give, as your mother was. Please take it. It’s me or another.”

  Sinfus looked upon Kaimana’s arm and spoke as he remembered what his father said, as people were willing to give, he would also have to be willing to accept their gifts, and he was going to do just that.

  As he felt himself dry, Sinfus took the arm of Kaimana and bit into it, drinking the blood from the wound as he felt his veins become moist once more, Kaimana taking the pain rather well as the sharp collected teeth of Sinfus had pierced his flesh, having been filed as his father’s were, so that they could easily get blood when the need came.

  As he was finished taking blood from his friend, Sinfus released his sharp vice from Kaimana’s arm and backed away as Kaimana tore another strip of cloth from his wears and wrapped his arm, the young Dawn Bringer speaking as he looked upon Sinfus, his arm stretched out to the young boy as they stood in the darkness with bridges above their forms.

  “Come, now. Let’s go back to your father.”

  Sinfus shook his head and spoke as he backed away from Kaimana. “No. You go and get the boy to an infirmary. I can’t face father.”

  Kaimana shook his head and spoke as he looked upon the young Sinfus. “Sinfus, you have to face him at some point. You can’t just hide.”

  But Sinfus could, his voice speaking upon Kaimana as he backed away into the shadows.

  “Yes I can. Thanks for helping, Kaimana. You’re a good friend.”

  Kaimana rushed into the darkness ahead and found nothing, his voice calling out as he looked about the streets. “Sinfus! Sinfus! Sinfus!!!”

  But there was no answer. Shaking his head in disappointment and frustration, Kaimana had no other choice but to turn back and help the boy that Sinfus had injured, the young Dawn Bringer soon rushing through the darkness with the young boy in hold as Sinfus rushed through the moonlit streets, heading lower and lower through the city as he tried to find some place he could never be found.

  -Chapter 14-

  Present

  The journey up the mountain, having carried on steadily for the three companions, had tested their strength and will as they climbed ever higher.

  Flecks of snow dropped amongst their progressing forms as they took their pursuit higher, through the thickness of fog and through bitter winds until the companions finally met the mountain top and were upon the mass of snow and bitter cold.

  Samana and Sen had their hoods up over their heads as they stood with the armored one, the rushing wind whistling against his armored form as he stood firmly planted in the snow covered ground, speaking in echoing manner as all three surveyed the surroundings.

  “I don’t think they could fly in this weather, looks far too wild! This could give us a chance to catch up, Samana!”

  Samana nodded agreeably as she held her hood in firm grasp as the wind ripped at her, her voice calling out over the loud winds and rushing mix of snow and ice as the sky was settled, solid white. “It could give us a chance, but we’ll have to push ourselves pretty heavily to get anywhere!”

  Sen stood hooded in his snow riddled red bearings and itched his face as it was sealing more and more with every passing day, his voice speaking out over the wind. “Let’s get going then! I can feel my senses becoming stronger with the Keraij as we press onward. They can’t be far from us, now!”

  It was just as Sen had spoken, the Council was not far ahead at all, for the weather had grown harsh and ever bitter upon the Council’s tread, forcing them to find cover in a cave between the very twin formations they had sighted earlier. They would rather prolong their journey than to risk death by the cruel weather.

  Sinfus sat with Gelga resting upon his form as he looked about the ice ridden vastness of the cave that they took shelter in. The Keraij hung from walls and ceiling, their claws fixed deep as the Council sat in a circle on the frozen floor. Most seizing the opportunity to take rest as the weather outside blew cold and undyingly cruel.

  Sinfus stood watchful of his surroundings as he felt the chamber shake in slight motion from the pounding wind outside, his eyes began to fall slowly as his efforts outside had taken a hold of him firmly, putting him to well-deserved rest.

  As his thoughts were quiet and of peace, Sinfus felt calmed as he saw memories of his father appear before his eyes, the tall, slender figure of well-fashioned cloth kneeling down to a young Sinfus in bed and placing a firm hand upon him to speak in a gentle tone. “Wake up!”

  Sinfus awoke in the icy chamber and found himself soon brought to panic as the entire chamber was shaking vigorously, small debris of ice and snow falling from the ceiling as Sinfus took rise and spoke urgent thoughts to all of his council, to bring wakefulness upon their forms.

  “Everyone, wake up!”

  All of the council members stood to attention as they surveyed the shaking chamber, Karkor spreading his thoughts out as he tried to gain support for his heavy figure upon a wall. “The storm’s growing harsher. We have to get out of here! It could cave in!”

  Sinfus spoke his mind as Gelga stood at his side, his lover holding his arm tight as all heard his thoughts. “Not yet, the weather is far too bad outside. We’re going to have to wait it out before we risk going out there again!”

  As Karkor brought question upon his leader, the chamber began to s
hake even more insanely as the ceiling and floor began to splinter ice. “Lord Sinfus, we don’t have time to wait! It’s falling apart, in here!”

  As Sinfus heard the thoughts of his council and was to speak his mind further, he found the ground underfoot shift and crack severely as the ceiling too began to shift apart, releasing chunks of ice and rock as the mountain began to shake immensely with tension, Sinfus speaking in thoughts of urgency to his council. “Very well, we’re out of here!”

  Taking Gelga in tight hold, Sinfus ran across the chamber as his council charged ahead, the Keraij flinging their forms from the inlet as chunks of debris fell from the ceiling, crushing few as they sped out

  Sinfus was at the back of the horde as he and Gelga rushed for the only safety they could attain, which lay outside in the harsh storming weather.

  As the ground beneath foot, and the ceiling above, splintered in sharp protruding forms of ice and rock, Sinfus and Gelga held strong to each other’s grasp and dodged the incoming obstacles as they looked ahead to see the Council having exited the cave safely.

  As they too were soon to join them in safety, a sudden jutting form of ice shot from below the two lovers and broke their grip as it shot into the side of Gelga and sent her slamming into the chamber wall, unconscious.

  Sinfus felt his hand broken, but was more concerned for Gelga as the chamber was surely to collapse fully, in but moments. Charging back for the unconscious form of his wife, upon the icy floor, Sinfus ran speedily, dodging splinter and shale as he made his way to her, through the mess of rock and ice, but soon found himself meeting defeat as a giant shard of ice slammed down into his back and cut through his shoulder, pinning him down to the cold floor, within only several feet of reaching Gelga.

  Reaching out desperately, Sinfus tried to touch Gelga but found failure as he was too far and stuck in the ground. It seemed it was the end for them as the ceiling crumbled heavily, the golden eyes of Sinfus watching in sheer horror and pain as the floor and ceiling crumbled, swallowing Gelga in a mess of ice, rock, and despair.