Gelga had taken place between two trees and sat looking upon the stars with her beloved Sinfus in thought, her eyes surveying the stars as she held his memory close and then her head low in meditation as she attempted to reach out to him in thought, though in her weakened state.
Sinfus stood atop the patchy hill, in silence, the wind blowing serenely over the scene to sway the cloaks of the Council as they sat upon the plain, behind him, as he soon felt something grip his mind tightly as words were spoken in a voice he found greatly familiar, as it was that of Gelga. “Sinfus!”
Sinfus looked about sharply in the moonlight, his eyes glowing with curiosity, mixed with excitement, as he surveyed the encampment of Keraij and council, his thoughts speaking in return. “Gelga, you’re alive?! Is it truly you?”
As Sinfus stood awaiting the voice to return, the wind had died out and left the scene calm as the voice came once more to his thoughts. “It is, my love. You thought me to be dead?”
Sinfus took to the grassy ground and sat as he spoke his thoughts in return to his wife.
“I thought you didn’t make it, after the cave in. I couldn’t feel your thoughts, until yesterday. I had the slightest feeling you were still alive, and now I know it is true! But where are you, my love?”
As Sinfus sat awaiting answer, it soon came upon him in good time. “I am in the Forest of Urkelai. But I am not alone. I am with Samana and her companions!”
The cursed features of Sinfus flexed eerily as his eyes glimmered wildly, his thoughts speaking to his wife. “Samana, she’s alive, too?!”
The voice of Gelga came once more in thought as Sinfus sat in wait. “She is. Sinfus, they’re coming to stop you from reaching the Order. She knows that your affliction can affect the Keraij and she thinks that you will lose control one more!”
Sinfus shook his head as he looked out to his council, his thoughts reaching out to his wife. “I will not lose control again. The Council’s giving me their blood, in turn, so that I do not have to worry. Gelga, come and be with me. I long for you so much. The very thought that you could have been dead nearly destroyed me. The only thing that kept me going was what you told me, to avenge our people.”
As Gelga sat in silence, her thoughts reaching out, she felt warm inside to the words of her beloved, her thoughts reaching out to him in return as she spoke. “Our council is devoted to you, as am I, my love. I will come for you and we shall avenge our people, together!”
Sinfus held Gelga close in thought as he spoke his mind upon her, curiously. “Has Samana said anything to you of the Dawn Bringers?”
Gelga held her head in hands as she kept her mind reaching far to her husband, her strength beginning to dwindle as her wounds, and the pain that they dealt, were making it harder for her to withstand any strain. “She has. Her words feel truthful and I’ve never known Samana to be a liar. But at the same time, I have not been given any reason as to how our Oomer was destroyed, that, and the knowledge that Druskele is still alive, tell me what she says may not be true. My love, we can only truly know by looking for ourselves!”
Sinfus nodded his head as he heard her thoughts, and stood up as he brought the Keraij into motion. “And we shall see, my love. I will be on the move, now. Leave their presence as soon as you can and come for us!”
Gelga held agreement and devotion in her heart, and opened her eyes to view the resting place of Samana and Sen, her eyes wandering as she soon caught the image of Kurlank, standing ever watchful, atop the hill. She had to escape unnoticed so that no suspicion would be taken upon her, with these thoughts, she stood up and kept her back to the trees and began her tread through the mixed foliage.
Sinfus stood atop the hill and had gotten all to rise as he called his thoughts upon those of his view. “My council, we leave, now. But before we do, I have great news. Gelga is alive!”
The Council all stood in surprise and disbelief upon the thoughts of their leader, Hersei spreading his thoughts wide in search as he felt anger envelope his cursed body, for any progress that his plan was garnering seemed to have been taken away. It now seemed hopeless that he would ever take control of the Keraij as he too felt Gelga was alive, and spoke his mind of it, upon the others. “What Sinfus says is true. Gelga truly lives. I feel it.”
All stood before their leader as Karkor called his thoughts out to Sinfus. “Then now we must go to the Order, and mend your father’s sword!”
Sinfus nodded his cursed features and spoke his thoughts in return as he looked upon the single-eyed giant. “Let not another moment be wasted. Let us take flight with purpose, upon this night!”
As soon as Sinfus had spoken, he took lead upon his council and Keraij, as all flew speedily in northern fashion as Sinfus felt his confidence ever greater upon knowing that Gelga was truly alive, as his love for her would never die.
Back at the Forest of Urkelai, Kurlank stood royally upon the hill, the light beaming brightly off his metal form as he stood fixed in a watchful stance, his view wandering as he soon saw movement in a patch of bushes, not far from where Samana slept.
The metal warrior left the hill and charged down with his hands at hips, ready to unsheathe his dual blades as he came upon the site of the movement and found none.
Kurlank surveyed the forest canopy, foliage blowing softly in the wind as he stood to survey, and soon heard rustling, not far from his form. Rushing for the bushes with great speed, he battered tree limbs aside as he charged ahead.
As the bushes and foliage parted before the armored warrior, he found himself coming upon none other than Gelga, the cursed one turning in surprise as she did not expect to be spotted by the armored warrior, her face still as the metal warrior spoke upon her curiously.
“Where are you going?”
Gelga tore her face open with a sharp run of her finger, across her face, and spoke upon the armored warrior of etchings. “I was just going for a-”
But Gelga was cut off as loud screeches echoed the surrounding forest, Kurlank turning as he spoke in an urgent manner. “We’re not alone! We need to get to the others. Follow me!”
Kurlank rushed off through the forest, Gelga standing still as she watched him go. She would not follow him as she had her own plans and purpose.
Kurlank came hurtling upon the open ground, of where Samana and Sen had been sleeping, and found that the two were upright. The young heroine had weapons drawn as she looked about the forest with great attention, her voice speaking upon the metal one as he took to her side. “We’re being surrounded, Kurlank. I think I know by what, too.”
Kurlank stood steady at the young heroine’s side as he spoke in his booming manner.
“Khaggeys! Perhaps they caught you’re scent and came for revenge?”
Sen stood with claws hanging low, his back arched, and eyes gleaming gold as he surveyed his surroundings with a craning neck and spoke. “I’m guessing you’ve come across these things before, then? And by the sound of it, I don’t think you left them very happy!”
Samana nodded as she watched the trees and spoke. “Not at all, Kurlank gave them a good physical learning, last time. Where’s Gelga?”
As Samana had surveyed the forest about her, she had not seen Gelga at all. The metal one spoke as he looked upon the forest curiously. “I thought Gelga was following me. I found her wandering the forest alone.”
Samana held curiosity and suspicion in her voice as she spoke upon her metal friend.
“You don’t think she’d-”
The metal one held his stance firmly as he saw the forest becoming wild with movement as dark figures could be seen making approach, the armored figure speaking in echoing fashion as he kept his watch forward upon the trees. “She’s left? It’s possible, but we have bigger problems, right, now. Look ahead!”
The three companions stood ready to fight as the trees before them produced a great multitude of small, beastly creatures, human like in stature, but short, with long, pointy ears, crooked and sharp teeth jutting from their jaws as they la
y open with the promise of flesh from the girl. Their skin was tightly bound to their flesh and colored a sickening green as bones and piercings riddled their body in crooked fashion about their scarcely armored and clothed forms.
Samana stood with her long sword at the ready as the Khaggeys made a steady approach, the cursed form of Sen speaking as he looked about the encircling forest. “This is going to be a good time, for sure. They’re got us surrounded!”
The three companions stood ready to fight as they sighted Khaggeys taking place, all around them, their numbers growing around the three as Samana held her blade, ready to fight as she spoke. “A good time indeed, well, here we go!”
As Samana found a Khaggey coming into the reach of her blade, she cut him down swiftly and soon left three to meet the same fate as she and her companions went into a tearing frenzy through the massive horde, Sen’s claws cutting and slicing and tearing, while Kurlank’s blades cut madly as he dealt death to all who took stance before him.
The air was filled with cries of pain and suffering, and clashing weapons as the battle fared on, the moon watching above as carnage was wreaked below its watchful form.
Back at the Order, Hoosun stood on his perch in wait, looking out to the great distance as he thought of Samana and her quest. As she had gone to find the Keraij, had she found them? If she had, was she still live? He liked to think so. He had always thought of Samana as his adoptive daughter as he had taken good care in watching her, ever since she had come to the Order.
He could still remember fixing her hands when she had burned them when she was young. The thought of the tattered gloves she always took to wearing burned an impression in his mind as he looked out to the moon in the distance and saw it giving way as the sun began to take a peak from behind its hiding place at the horizon.
The owl stood firmly gripped to his perch and looked upon his shoulder, the spear that which he took in his attempt to save Daimana had rested there, ever since it found place in his shoulder, an ever lasting reminder of his failure as he would never truly forgive himself for not having returned Samana’s twin sister to her.
As the owl kept silence in his thoughts, he looked to the ground below and caught the sight of Mensh at the infirmary door. Leaving his perch in graceful flight, the white owl of great form took to the ground below and took the side of Mensh as she stood in the doorway, speaking to the healer, Maela. “You sure you don’t need anything more, Maela?”
The elder healer came to the door, wiping her hands on an apron and spoke as she gave a nod to the feathery form of Hoosun, behind Mensh. “I’m good, young one. Why don’t you relax for a bit, the danger isn’t going to wait forever, you know.”
Mensh leaned on the doorway with her back and cast a glance of surprise upon the owl. She had not noticed he was behind her as she spoke and stood in the doorway, giving words of return to Maela as she kept her gaze with the elder owl. “I shall, as you say, Maela. But please be careful, alright? Please lock up, and be safe.”
Maela nodded agreeably and placed a caring hand on the shoulder of Mensh as she spoke, her old eyes taking fix with those of Mensh as she spoke. “You’re a good one, Mensh. Maybe someday, when I’m old, you can take over for me, aye?”
Mensh smiled as she appreciated the proposal. She liked doing the work of Maela, very much, and welcomed the opportunity to continue doing it, her voice thankful as she spoke, taking the hand of Maela as she did. “Thank you, Maela. I would love to, but I don’t want you going anywhere, anytime soon. I still have a lot to learn and I don’t know if it would be the same doing it all alone.”
Maela smiled through her old features and patted the cheek of Mensh as she spoke.
“We’ll all leave here eventually, young one. But we’re never gone forever. Go now, and relax, and then take shelter.”
Mensh smiled as she took nod upon Maela and hugged her arms.
The owl Hoosun stood watchful upon the touching scene as he knew Mensh had taken to great care for the older Maela, since they had begun working together, in the infirmary.
Mensh, having released her hold of Maela, took place at the side of Hoosun as Maela began to close the door and then paused as she spoke upon the owl. “See that she gets to the proper place, for me, Hoosun.”
The owl bowed his feathery features and spoke as he placed a feathery grip to his chest.
“As you say, my friend, I shall do. Be safe this coming danger.”
Maela smiled upon the old owl and clasped his hand from the door as she spoke in caring fashion. “I will. Please do the same, my friend.”
As Maela closed her door, a loud locking rhythm resounding from within, the two friends stood outside the door, the owl speaking upon the younger, shorter Mensh as he looked up to the sky. It was getting grey and weary as sunlight cast first beams across its underbelly, causing an orange and yellow hue to resonate wildly. “I should take you inside to your housing now, Mensh.”
Mensh stood before the door to the infirmary and turned to the orchard and spoke as she looked up to the great towering tree, above. “I’ll go later. I’d like to spend the day with you and the Mother, if it’s okay?”
The owl grinned through his beaky features and spoke as he put his arm around the young one, in a caring manner. “Alright, let us meet her then. I’m sure she’ll be glad to see you. I feel her mood of today is dark, and needs to be brightened. There is no time to be wasted!”
As Mensh stood on the grassy ground, she soon found herself lifted and set upon the cushioned back of the owl as he took flight upwards to the high chamber of the Mother, Mensh holding onto his form firmly, arms wrapped about his neck as she closed her eyes, the wind blowing against her body in a smooth and rushing fashion as the owl cut through the air.
The Mother Dhahn was standing on her balcony above and watching all that sat below. She felt very dark indeed, the coming threat growing ever closer, her senses reaching out and feeling the very presence of the twisted and their lot. The wind blew serenely over her figure as she stood with her veiled form, her eyes catching the sight of Hoosun below, the feathery form of her friend making way to her with the young Mensh upon his back, a sight very much appreciated by the Mother as she stood awaiting their arrival.
The owl took to reducing his speed upon reaching the balcony and landed gracefully upon it, Mensh sliding from his back and onto the green stone to stand, the curly-haired Mensh taking the side of the Mother, at the balcony ledge, as the Mother took gaze upon her. The owl took to the Mother’s other side as Mensh spoke. “Mother, I thought I would spend the day up here, with you, before the Keraij come. I didn’t want to just sit inside and do nothing.”
The Mother nodded her head in thanks and spoke as she looked upon her owl friend.
“Thank you. Your presence is very welcome. I need all the cheer I can get today, for who knows whether or not it will be my last.”
Mensh looked upon the Mother and spoke in confidence as she took to leaning upon the balcony rail with her arms crossed beneath her, her hood drawn about her head. “I don’t think today will be your last, Mother. I think you have many days ahead!”
The Mother looked out to the distance with her companions at side and spoke as she looked upon the sun, giving rise in the distance. “I appreciate your confidence, young one. But we can only know in time what will come.”
Mensh nodded in agreement and spoke as she felt curiosity overcome her. “How do you think Amen and Henk are doing? Should we try and get them?”
Hoosun shook his feathered features and spoke upon the young one of question.
“No. She knows of the coming of the Keraij, and they shall be safe inside the library, anyway. It is far underground and will grant them great safety. There is also the purpose for which she is down there. I feel it is not yet fulfilled.”
Mensh eyed Hoosun curiously and spoke. “Why exactly did you allow her to go down there, if not to find a cure for Amen?”
The owl looked out to the distance a
nd spoke as he stood royally upon the balcony ledge. “You will know in good time, my young friend, as Henk soon will.”
As the three stood looking out from the balcony, the Mother thought of what Mensh had said as she stood upon the balcony of the high chamber, as she felt there was great truth in what Mensh had said. She would have many days ahead of her, but what of years?
As the three companions stood high above the Order, two sat far below it, in the confines of the great Libray. Henk and Amen sat together, in the library. The spectacle-faring Henk had been reading all night, without rest, and finally found herself turning the last page of the silver bound book, before closing it, and then tossing it into a pile of books from her hold as she clung to her knees and spoke in disappointment. “There’s nothing in there. Nothing to help you Amen, it seems hopeless. Nothing seems to hold an answer for us.”
The silent one patted the shoulder of the worried Henk as she held her head low and removed her spectacles, holding them before her as she spoke upon the silent once.
“Well, what now?”
As Amen sat in silence, staring upon Henk, the brown-haired, brown-eyed girl, fixed her glasses back into place and took the silver tome of her discard and dusted it off with care as she rose from the floor of the vast multitude of shelves and books, her voice echoing in the chamber as she spoke. “I don’t know, either. I’m not sure what we could possibly do next…wait a minute!”
Henk flipped through the first couple pages of the book and spoke. “This book was a gift to Omegeira, the Mother before Dhahn. I should’ve thought of this earlier!”
Amen stood in silence and craned his head sideways curiously as Henk caught his manner and explained to him in words what she meant. “Omegeira had a special gift. She was able to heal people with just a touch of her hand. There was something special about her soul that gifted her with this ability. It was like, a special Aura. Every Mother has some collection of their teachings in a book of some sort, so we just need to find the book of Omegeira and just maybe we can learn something of healing, in there. The question is, where could it be? We found this one by accident.”
The Order of Events: The Council of Eight Page 21