Bledlus shook his head in a sorry manner as he opened the chamber door, the three taking confinement inside the housing of stone that was the infirmary, Bledlus speaking as he was the last to enter. “We’ll have to search for him. He can only go for so long without blood. But let us take care of the child first.”
As the three walked about the infirmary, it was well-lit with lanterns hanging about from the ceiling. The walls were of blue stone, radiating a cool tone as the three made their way past tables and seatings of stone. Their three forms soon came upon a stone podium that stood firmly built into the chamber, a figure, well-fashioned in blue and silver, craning over the massive structure to speak upon the three in a questioning tone. “What brings you here? Oh my! I see you have a wounded boy, and very wounded at that! He looks to need help right away. Let me call someone!”
The figure atop the podium was a bird named Hawkthird. His feathers were brown and royally pinned into his flesh as he bent his head back and released a resounding call, the three watching as the hawk of human manner turned his view back upon them and spoke once more.
“It will be but a moment. Please wait here, master and lord, Bledlus! If you need anything else, be sure to call upon me.”
Bledlus bowed his head in thanks and spoke upon the loyal hawk. “Thank you. We shall.”
The three waited about the chamber patiently and were soon met by the help that which Hawkthird guaranteed was to come. A beautiful lady, dressed in a blue cloak, made presence upon the three, rushing to them from the confines of an archway that gave leave of a corridor. The lady spoke as she looked upon the boy in the hold of Kaimana, her voice calm but rather high in tone as she surveyed the boy’s wound, her stomach vast in manner as she was pregnant. “Oh my, look at that. You better follow me. I’ll have this treated immediately.”
The three had watched the caring woman the entire time she used her healing talents on him, having treated the boy’s wound with a soft paste made out of healing herbs. She wrapped it in a tight bandage and left the bedside of the boy, speaking upon Bledlus as she stood before his afflicted form. “You say Sinfus did this? Poor boy, he must be scared to death. I can imagine anyone would run after doing something like this and being unable to help themselves!”
Bledlus nodded and spoke upon the pregnant woman as he smiled. “Yes. We’re going to make a search for him. Thank you for taking care of the boy, Shale. How are you feeling?”
Shale smiled and had her hands upon her stomach as she spoke, Kaimana sitting in the corner upon stone seating, his father standing at his side as the woman’s words had come.
“I’m doing well. Hersei says they’re to be twins!”
Bledlus smiled sharply and bowed his head upon Shale, his voice one of congratulations as Kaimana had heard the words “twins” and felt a strange comfort come over himself as he liked the idea that which twins stood for. “I am glad for you. I hope the children are born without error. I know you will take great care of them. Is Hersei still here?”
Shale nodded and gestured to another chamber as she spoke. “He’s in there. I must be going, now. I’ll check up on the boy later. All he needs right now is rest. Good luck with your search.”
Shale took bow upon Bledlus before leaving, the leader of Oomer doing the same to her in accord as he took to the chamber she had gestured upon, Kaimana and Kermana taking pursuit of him as they soon took view upon the Council, Hersei standing at the bedside of an ill looking man. Bledlus spoke upon Hersei as the single-eyed council soon took note of his presence. “Hersei, I heard Shale is to have twins. That is glorious news indeed.”
The Council nodded in agreement and spoke return upon Bledlus in apologetic manner.
“Indeed. About earlier, during council, I’m sorry that I seemed againt your actions. You are right. It is only that I know the cost of battle and the loss that can be granted upon you that I stood against you. As for Sinfus, I’m sure he will lead us well if the unwished happens.”
Hersei stood resting his hand where his other eye once rested. It had been lost in battle, as his face was also scarred horribly from many wounds. The view of the Council turned upon the restful figure in the bed as Bledlus spoke acceptingly of his friend and council.
“It is quite okay, my friend. I understand your cause. How is Morlana?”
Bledlus had turned his view upon the resting form of Morlana as well, Hersei shaking his scarred head as he spoke darkly. “I’m afraid he won’t make it much longer. His own son Mastaba hasn’t even come to see him, in days.”
Bledlus spoke as he rested his hand on the silent one. “The pain he must be going through. There’s no pain like watching those you love slowly fade away to death, is there?”
Hersei shook his head and spoke as both looked upon the depressing form.
“No. There is not.”
-Chapter 15-
Present
The cold wind blew fiercely as the weather raged into a flurry of ice and snow, ripping madly against the forms of the Council and Keraij, as Sinfus stood looking upon the destruction the mountain had brought upon the scene.
His mind spoke in pain to his council as he looked out in a somber state. “I did not wish for her life to be claimed, sacrificed for my people. Yet the mountain took her anyway. In our years of slumber, she lived, and now that I walk again, death has been brought to the innocence of the sands, and now her! She was right, I can’t control them. I am cursed doubly!”
As Sinfus stood pained, Hersei took to his side and spoke his mind of the matter to his leader, watching the scene of desecration through one eye. “It was a price paid for betrayal, lord Sinfus. Was she not the daughter of the very one who turned his back on you?”
Sinfus turned to Hersei in thought, shaking his head upon the single-eyed council as he spoke his thoughts. “No father should ever pay the price of a child! No more innocence should be lost due to my lead of these creatures!”
As Sinfus hung his head low before his council, Hersei felt opportunity in the words that had been spoken, but this was soon discarded before him as Karkor took to Sinfus’ side, wrapping one of his four arms in a band of cloth, as he had given Sinfus his blood to keep him alive. The giant spoke as he pressured the shoulder of his leader, his thoughts kind and gentle in understanding. “It is not your fault. Do not blame yourself for what you are, my friend. There is good that has come from your ailment, would you have met Gelga if not for your blood? Focus on the current, you are alive, and although cursed with these Keraij, you can use them for good. I have faith in you, my friend. It is time you start having faith in yourself! For none other shall lead us, but you!”
Sinfus held the thought of Gelga close within and rested a caring hand on that of Karkor as he sent his thoughts upon him. “Gelga was the best thing I’ve ever had! You’re right, my friend. I have a purpose, and I must fulfill it, not just for Oomer, but for her! Let us go and take our journey ahead!”
As the Council stood ready to follow their leader, Sinfus bowed his head in silence upon the mass of desecration upon the mountain, that which led to the death of the three companions before his very eyes, and spoke his thoughts aloud. “I’m sorry, Samana. Your death was not one that I wished to come! I hope you find peace on the next plain of life!”
As all stood with their heads bowed in memoriam, in accord to their leader, they felt a sweeping thought calling them to rise as he stood before them, his cloak blowing madly in the rush of snow as he spoke his thoughts upon them. “Let us go now, my council! Carry strong and steadily, for we will not be stopped!”
As the Council and Keraij moved ahead, through the wilderness, below lay stretches of catacombs and tunnels that had been confined within the mountainside for many hundreds of years. Light bounced about the wide spectacle as crystal, formed in royal fashion, garnered ceilings and walls as ice and rock were carved formally into pillars, scattered and broken about the wide chamber.
Samana lay on the ground, snow and debris about her as sh
e was unmoving, Sen not far from her form, upon the cold floor as silence filled the room in mass.
The armored figure of Kurlank stood amongst the chamber, surveying his surroundings. He knelt to Samana and found breath escaping her lips to a frosty show. She was alive, but covered in bruises as she had taken a good beating from the fall and collapse.
The armored one held her in his hold and found that she was not too seriously damaged as she came into wakefulness, in a manner of panic, in his arms. She looked about as she writhed wildly, her voice echoing loudly in the chamber as she spoke. “AH! Where am I?! Where are we?! What happened?”
Kurlank held her firmly and still as he echoed throughout the chamber in a calm return.
“It’s okay! Settle down, my young heroine. You’re lucky to be alive. It seems you just can’t be beat, can you?”
Samana was beginning to grow calm as she breathed in and out, steadily surveying her surroundings of bright reflective crystal and ice as she spoke. “Is Sen…? Is he alive, too?”
Kurlank nodded to a spot across from where they sat, gesturing to the grounded form of Sen as he spoke in a booming manner. “Yes. He’s over there, still passed out though.”
Samana held tight to her friend as he helped her to get up, the young heroine speaking as she looked upon the pillars that stood crumbled about the chamber. “What is this place?”
Kurlank looked about and let go of Samana as she wandered about the scene, the armored one of etchings speaking as he too took to wander about the chamber. “It looks as if it was once a temple. The Khergy, for who the mountains share their name with, were peaceful people, nomads of the snow who lived within the mountains. Very few have been honored enough to take presence with them or even see their temples though, as they kept themselves secret. But from the looks of it, I’d say they’ve been dead a long time!”
Samana looked upon Kurlank as she wandered the cold chamber and spoke in question upon the armored one, as she ran her hand across a pillar that stood taller than her form. “What makes you say that, Kurlank?”
Kurlank stood at the archway of yet another chamber and pointed inward, his voice echoing about the chamber with words as Samana found her eyes looking upon a sight of horrid manner through the ice stricken arch. “Look in there!”
Samana found herself looking upon a sight of death, as bones and bodies, aged and eaten away, were sealed heavily in ice and scattered amongst the insides of a vast chamber, royal with pillars and dangling spires from the ceiling as she spoke. “It looks like they’ve been slaughtered!”
Kurlank nodded, shaking his metal form as he spoke. “Indeed, the question is what did and when?”
Samana shook her head as she looked upon the frozen horror and spoke as she turned to see Sen rising from the ground. “I don’t know, but I don’t want to find out if it’s still around!”
Sen rubbed his head and craned his neck sideways to a delightful snap as he took to the side of his companions and spoke tiredly. “Where are we and what’re we doing?”
Kurlank spoke as Samana looked over their companion for any serious wounds.
“We’re in an old temple of the Khergy, who seem to have been slaughtered. As for the plan, I think we’re taking leave, the question is, where to?”
Samana found that Sen was not harmed horribly, just bruised well, as she was, and spoke as she took gaze upon the chamber, many tunnels scattered about the walls as some were sealed by crumbling and shifting mountain mass while others were open to breath.
“I say we pick a tunnel and go. There has to be some way out, right? Besides, looking back in that chamber, I don’t think sticking around for anytime would be a good idea. Who knows what could be down here!”
As all stood taking agreement, they looked upon the tunnels and found one they found worthy of their choice and made their way inwards through its cold and frosted confines, making their way ahead in hope of finding release from the mountain, and not danger, as it seemed an ever present guest, upon and in the mountains.
The night was soft and blowing in serene motion, to brush the leaves that crowned the great towering tree of the Order.
The Mother stood on her balcony, watching the night sky as the stars were bright and looming above her. Seven stars seemed to be growing into alignment in the sky as she took view upon their beauty and wonder, the moon craning heavily as she turned upon it and stood intently watching upon it, as a feeling of curious disturbance pinched her upon viewing its shining, white encirclement.
Below the Order, in the library, Henk and her friends sat amongst the shelves and glowing light of blue, which danced about the chamber, as Amen sat with a bandaged fixed to his head, upon the wound he had received earlier.
Henk sat reading through a book detailing ailments as Mensh was a couple rows down, standing upon a fallen stone for support and height as she reached for a book detailing the impression that it was about crafting iron.
Henk found that the book of her search was of no use and sealed it, setting it upon a pile of books she had also searched, earlier, the stack growing ever higher as she read on.
Mensh walked from behind the shelves carrying the book of craft and sat next to Henk as she opened the book and spoke in interest of it. “I bet there are some cool things in here. You find anything interesting, Henk?”
Henk slumped and leaned across her knees, tiredly, as she spoke. “Not at all, what I’m looking for!”
Mensh turned to Henk and caught a glance of the books that stood piled around her, all books detailing cures and medicines. Speaking in a curious manner, Mensh cast a questioning eye on Henk. “I see. What’re you looking for, may I ask?”
Henk cut a nervous gesture and stood up from her seating as Amen could be heard several shelves down, in rummaging manner, as she spoke. “I’m looking for…”
Henk stopped mid-sentence, leaving Mensh to close her book and set it upon the table as she took to her side and spoke. “I know what you’re looking for. You’re looking for a cure for Amen, aren’t you?”
Henk turned to Mensh and shook her head quietly, as Mensh sighed and made as to look over the tall shelves to Amen as she made speech. “Does Amen know that’s what you’re looking for?”
Henk looked to the source of echoing pursuit of knowledge, traveling from beyond shelves and spoke as she pulled her ponytail softly. “He does. I told him. Why wouldn’t I?”
Mensh shook her head and looked upon Henk as she spoke. “I don’t know. Why are you still looking for a cure? I thought you gave up on this?”
Henk spoke return upon Mensh as she put a hand upon a shelf for a restful stretch.
“I did. But then I thought we could find a cure down here, and Hoosun said it was okay. Why does it matter? What does it harm to look?”
Henk felt impatience in Mensh’s words as she stood with her arms fixed together.
“Well, Amen almost got hurt pretty bad getting you in here! Besides, I’m concerned for your reasons for doing this!”
Henk spoke defensively in return as she stood with the shelf at her back. “That was an accident, and what do you mean?!”
Mensh spoke directly as her words were lacking a manner of patience. “I’m saying I thought you cared for Amen, but I’m beginning to wonder as you’re so eager to change him!”
Henk was flustered with frustration and spoke as her eyes had a look of insult in them.
“I’m trying to help him!”
Mensh sunk her head and shook it in a sorry motion as she spoke her next words.
“I can’t have any part of this. I’m sorry, Henk. But it doesn’t seem right to me, to go and change him.”
Henk curled her lip sadly and too sunk her head as she spoke, a tear leaving her eye in sad frustration. “Fine, you don’t need to help anymore. I’ll do it myself!”
Mensh took her leave quietly and turned as she took pause and spoke. “Promise me one thing. If you do care for Amen, please tell him!”
As her words were sai
d, Mensh left the library, leaving Henk amongst the shelves, dusty and saddened that her friend had abandoned her aid.
Henk took her spectacles off and rubbed her eyes to dry as a progressing sound came from around the corner, revealed to be Amen as he held a huge stack of books, detailing the promise of cures upon their bound forms as they were set upon an old wooden table, between shelves.
Amen stood tapping the pile promisingly as Henk put her hood over head to attempt hiding her saddened eyes under the darkness as she put her spectacles to use and spoke.
“Find anything good?”
Amen nodded in vigorous agreement as Henk took to his side and looked upon the books as she spoke. “Alright, I’ll get reading then! I’m sure we’ll find something at some point.”
The two continued their quest for knowledge, alone, Amen unknowing that Mensh was no longer to aid them as Henk leaned her weight back on him as they both sat, the spectacle-faring girl searching the pages in the hope of finding answers as she questioned herself in wonder. Would she ever find a cure? And if not, would it be enough for her that Amen remained silent as he was?
This she did not know the answer to.
-Chapter 9-
Past
As Hersei and Bledlus stood in the infirmary, the time had come. Bledlus spoke, leaving the side of his council as Kermana and Kaimana followed his lead. “I must go now, Hersei. I need to find my son.”
Hersei looked upon Bledlus curiously as he spoke in question. “Find Sinfus, is he missing?”
Bledlus nodded his head as he took to pause at the archway with the two Dawn Bringers at his side, his voice urgent as he spoke. “Yes. He didn’t take the news of his rule very well. Tell me if anything happens with Morlana.”
Hersei bowed his head as he watched the three leave, his view upon them in pursuit as he spoke. “I will do as you say.”
The three had entered the entrance chamber of the infirmary, the hawk leaning over from his podium as the three passed by, his voice ringing out through the chamber as he spoke.
The Order of Events: The Council of Eight Page 16