by Susi Wright
The other young men, alert and on their feet at the first noises, had run out of the cave to help their brother fight the beast as it carried him along on it’s back. There was little anyone could do to stop a starving animal, except perhaps with bow and arrows, extreme skill with a sword, or very powerful magic. They had none of those things. . .and Sumar, their protector, was not there.
The group gathered, heads bowed, around their sister’s lifeless body, invoking the Ancestors to care for her soul. The young women cried silent tears. Losing yet another of their clan even after so many deaths never became easier. The Elder Woman, eyes dry but full of sadness, came forward and put her hand on Sumar’s shoulder, silently reassuring him not to blame himself, or the Ancestors. It is simply the way of Nature. You know this. Blood or clan – it is all the same!
The woman left Sumar, still on his knees beside the body, struggling to gather his composure. She nodded respectfully to the newcomers, acknowledging Churian as an elder.
“Thank the Ancestors for our meeting! I am Nerisse, Sumar’s aunt. We welcome you. You bring some good news, I think. By the Ancestors – we sorely need it!” She glanced back at the sad and gruesome scene with a forlorn smile.“But you know, for some strange reason – if one has to die – I think I prefer this, to war!”
“Yes, you are right,” agreed Churian. “The unnatural is the tragedy. Nature is what it is. So is Fate – and I am Churian, proud to be the bearer of the good news you await!” He placed his fist over his heart in sincerity.
Sumar, self-disciplined as ever, managed to regain some eqilibrium, came to his feet and joined Churian. The proud elder stood poised for the Telling, flanked by his young warriors, to impart the news of the Alliance. One by one, the others left the lifeless body of their sister for the present moment and gathered around to listen. . .in quiet hope, about a new life.
CHAPTER 5
Farewells
The sun had already plopped behind the dunes when Xandor and Zenth arrived on the beach. They had only bagged three scrawny sand-rabbits and a goshawk after a full day’s hunting. They lit a roaring fire from driftwood and the meat was almost cooked when the others arrived on foot, from the eastern end of the beach. The new clan appeared, escorted by Churian’s group, trudging in the deep shale, a forlorn and subdued company; some limped and none could fly. Their feather cloaks had been too badly damaged by the storm. They still wore their tattered garments around their shoulders, remnants of their proud heritage, hoping they could repair them later. Their physical injuries had been dressed that morning with some Prian paste so would already be healing. Churian and the others who were able to take to the air had kept them company for protection every step of the way. It had taken them all day walking along the beaches with a few relays of being carried for short distances by the fliers. Cloaks were not designed to carry passengers for more than a few minutes at a time.
Tired and footsore, they flopped down around the campfire, acknowledging the new brothers, Xandor and Zenth, and paying due gratitude for the food they had supplied. After suffering a long period of extreme hunger, they all tucked in to a welcome meal of roasted wild game. Later there was a sombre Telling about the encounter with the zabuk and the loss of their sister at the caves. Other stories from both clans followed until well after midnight, when they settled to sleep on the warm sand next to a fire, kept burning and guarded by two well-armed warriors. Sumar insisted, categorically, that he be one of them.
At first light, they doused the fire with sand. Each took a long drink of precious fresh water from a small spring that had been coaxed to the surface by one of Churian’s men. The two water-skins brought by Churian group were filled ready for the day’s journey. They all thanked the Ancestors for their powers. Most Gaians were proficient in using one or more elements such as air, earth or water; some specialised in only one. The Supreme power to control Fire belonged by birthright to only one lord from their entire scattered race. Finally in touch with their heritage, Sumar’s clan now knew an ancient prophecy was fulfilled. They had learned from Churian, the previous day, that the title of Lord of Fire was held by Lord Luminor who offered them a place under his protection. They were all more than eager to accept a new life in Baram.
Most of the group were escorted a few furlongs overland by Churian, who had knowledge of the whereabouts of the blue-gull moulting grounds; the nimble fingers of the clans-women would repair the damaged cloaks from the piles of discarded feathers. The new clan, led by Elder Nerisse, could eventually continue north by air, guided by Salvo with his bow and arrows for protection. He would introduce them to Lord Luminor.
Churian, Troyan and Zenth were to go west, heading towards the border of Siva and Lealand, and spend several days searching there, while Xandor and Sumar investigated the lead to the girl on the Isle of Angels, possibly picking up other useful information on the way. If that mission proved successful, they would bring her with them when they all met up again in Siva city, or nearby, at the appointed time.
Churian had some advice for Xandor before they parted company, the same advice he had given every pupil under his tutelage many times before. “Do not lose your focus. Remember, this, the first rule for achieving the higher skills. For protection, for any amount of success. . . focus. Focus!” He smiled in encouragement, making the sign of protection and reciting the code. “Think true, have courage and use your powers wisely!”
Nerisse had her own farewell for her nephew. She had quickly assumed a motherly role after the passing of her sister, more poignant since she’d never been lucky enough to conceive a child herself. “Sumar, be careful! You are like a son to me. My sister’s precious only son. You are brave and skilled in Perception, and you have led our clan to a new life of safety. We expect your safe return to us in Baram!” She embraced him, confident the future held a new life for him. He truly deserved it. He did not need to reply, the familial Link was very strong between them. Both knew they would see each other again.
As the sun began its vigil in a clear sky, the group divided and went in separate directions. The main group sallied forth on foot, north over the dunes; Xandor and Sumar launched themselves into the air on an offshore breeze, over the Southern Sea.
CHAPTER 6
The Shift
Luminor’s vivid emerald eyes glittered with emotion as he gazed reflectively through the open window of his study. He watched with proud affection as his beautiful human wife, Fralii, her lithe body blossoming again in pregnancy with their second child, walked hand-in-hand with their little daughter Espira in the magnificent spring-flowering gardens. As he had countless times since they had met, he thanked the Ancestors for the gift of his soul-mate, Fralii. He loved her far beyond this Existence. Then again, for his little daughter, ever a source of wonder. Now Fralii carried a son. He had sensed it from moment of conception whilst transported deep in the Link between them. Their life was surely blessed with happiness and comfort – very different from the lives either had known before the Alliance. Luminor had never before known the permanent comfort of a dwelling of his own and Fralii had spent her youth enduring the rigours of a trader’s life on the road with her father.
Their villa, perched on a hill, faced south toward the bustling city. Through the open window, he surveyed the expansive view over the Capital. They all belonged here, humans and Gaians living together in harmony. After the treaty had been signed, so much had been achieved by this co-existence. The Council had given the couple this place for their new home, one of the many tokens of gratitude awarded to them since Luminor had slain the Flame Adder and secured a safe future, for Gaian and human alike, under the Alliance.
After almost three years of working alongside his human counterparts and achieving great progress in many projects in the major cities of the Capital and Splendo, Lord Luminor had become an eminent and extremely well-respected member of the Baram council, appointed as representative of his clan. He retained his Gaian title, ‘Lord of Fire’, even addressed as
such by an admiring human public; he was well-known throughout Baram, and perhaps even beyond its borders by now, for his unique power to control Fire. It had been their salvation more than once.
Tucking an errant strand of long, bright blonde hair behind his ear, he felt reluctant to continue with some pressing documents. He had been poring over mundane paperwork for hours and it was growing tiresome. Luminor’s attention wandered yet again from his reflections and his work, through the window of his study to the happy scene in the garden. Espira had begun her daily antics. She launched herself onto a gust of wind, making use of the new little feather cloak, which her parents had given to her that very morning, having decided it was high time she had one. The little girl, now almost three years of age, had surprised everyone in so many ways, her development on all levels had exceeded every expectation. Her very birth had embodied the budding hopes of the Alliance, securing a future for the survival of the Gaian race – at least in human-hybrid form – with the majority of their women born in recent decades, barren. A pure-blood Gaian child was extremely rare these days, perhaps may even become completely impossible. Many of Luminor’s warriors had followed his example and chosen human brides. Espira had also been proof that Gaian powers could not only be passed on but, in some cases, multiplied mysteriously in a hybrid child.
Her development had been so rapid it was almost frightening, her parents and tutors struggling to keep up with correct education and control of her burgeoning powers. She could not be allowed to become unruly. This was far more precarious than raising a normal Gaian child, and far more dangerous than educating a human one. Her magical antics with the elements, which at times were fascinating and entertaining, were also sometimes a cause of anxiety, and whether intentional or merely by accident, capable of creating a great deal of damage.
For example, once, she had a tantrum because Fralii chastised her for directing the outside water fountain to inundate the main living room of the house in a playful experiment. She had stamped her feet in temper and caused a small landslide downhill of their property, narrowly missing other houses. Luckily, or not, depending on one’s viewpoint, Espira’s perceptive skills were advancing at a similar rate and it was hoped that faculty would provide the necessary balance. She understood so much for one so young, possessing innate charm, compassion and focus, strongly sensing emotion and intention in everyone she met. This was challenging to all concerned as she quickly overcame childish inhibitions; curiosity drove her development of mental projection in an unsettling way, and made everyone around her strive to develop transparency and purest intention. Even Luminor, with his excellent mental-cloaking skills, had difficulty keeping some things hidden from her. Fralii, though her senses had been greatly enhanced by her connection to Luminor, was still human when all was said and done, and had no hope of keeping a secret.
Espira had been the first Gaian-human child born in history, so the degree of every new skill she acquired was observed with amazement by all and sundry. Noting her unprecedented early development in Projection, Luminor and her other various tutors had consulted at length. It was considered that with practice and correct education, complete telepathy, something never before achieved even by the Gaian elite in Perceptive skills, might one day be possible in this new race of people.
During the years since the beginning of the Alliance, many interracial marriages had taken place, giving Gaian warriors who had followed Luminor’s example, by choosing human brides, the chance to have families. Hybrid babies were being born with happy regularity, all seemed to inherit their fathers’ luminous looks and special power, with potential to develop to some degree in one talent. This allayed Gaian fears which were prevalent before the Alliance, that all magic would eventually be lost along with their entire race. Although all these matches were mutually loving and happy, there was an additional genetic boost that mysteriously happened, as in the case of Luminor and Fralii, when soul-mates found each other and that rare spark occurred known as the Link. In Espira, and the few offspring more recently born to other Gaian-human soulmates, could be seen a miraculous superiority of talent. Luminor sensed these children were destined to be the sentient Elite of the future. Once educated in all the Gaians arts, virtue and ancient wisdom, in addition to the best traits of humanity, they would hold the key to an enlightened and extremely powerful civilization.
He felt humbled to have been instrumental in the birth of such a civilisation.
The ability to conceive was still unfortunately not commonplace for Gaian women who chose a husband of either race – the genetic damage had proven too severe, even for soul-mates – but those couples, like Luminor’s sister Rihann and her human husband Simban, happily adopted children who had been orphaned by the ravages of the Flame Adder. They adopted two such orphans, a girl, Ana who was now twelve summers, and a little boy named Ji. Now there was a happy family! Completely contented and loyal to the ideals of the Alliance, they lived on their samblar farm in the outskirts of the other major city in Baram, Splendo. Simban, a born samblar herder, had earned a good reputation and made a lucrative trade, breeding, training and selling top-quality mounts.
Luminor sighed contentedly, feeling lucky to be alive in such a wonderful age, though his appointment to the Council had not been without challenges and his responsibilities were numerous as Lord of Fire to the Gaian people and the representative of an entire race. Only a mere two hundred lived under the protection of the Alliance. The remaining, ever-dwindling numbers of Gaians were scattered the length and breadth of the Known World. They lived in hiding. Separated. Lost.
He had recently obtained permission from the Council to send a squad of his warriors on a quest to find these alienated people, to offer them a place under his protection. Bring them home. The human population of Baram had been more than happy to accept the benefits that Gaian talents provided in the progress of the whole community. Control over the elements, and other magic, was a handy commodity. Mutual respect nourished great advancement for all. They would always welcome new Gaian citizens to the Alliance. Luminor envisaged that the ideals would also spread to other lands in time.
He wondered what progress Xandor, Churian and the others were making. He had not received a message from them for quite some time, but he knew carrier-pigeons cost money, were only available in human towns and cities and much of their travelling would be by air over uninhabited country, grasslands and desert. His men were nevertheless well-prepared to mingle cautiously with other humans outside of Baram’s borders. He knew from the outset that they would be sorely tested in many ways before they could return home, that the quest, in taking on a life of its own, would place theirs in dire danger. He had a nagging feeling it would not be too much longer before they would need his help, because there had been a mysterious shift in the balance of Nature, some question of power, that concerned him deeply.
Suddenly, his reverie was broken by Espira’s shrill call from the garden. “Come! Come, Papa! Watch me fly!” Past ready for a break from his boring desk work, he hurried outside to oblige her request, opening his arms in encouragement to her as she jumped up and down on the spot, a hundred metres away down the lawn. He met Fralii’s smiling eyes and smiled in return, calling out, “Come, Essi, fly. . .to me!”
With a delighted giggle, she flicked up her cloak and launched herself airborne on a summoned breeze, in an unfaltering straight line as if she had always done so, into the waiting arms of her father.
CHAPTER 7
The Isle of Angels
The cloak-flight over the Southern Straits had been blessed by calm spring weather. Xandor and Sumar reached the Isle of Angels on a fast straight wind just before midnight on that first day. They alighted on a dark, palm-lined beach at the edge of the small port town of Tuli, pausing to rest for a while at the water’s edge.
Xandor looked eagerly at Sumar, deferring to his companion’s superior Perception, even though his own senses were buzzing as never before.
Sumar’s eyes
were bright with certainty and he nodded. “She is here. . .she is Gaian.. . .and she is alone!” He frowned. “But, I cannot discern her emotion – if she is happy – until we get closer. I hate to imagine what has brought her to this!” Sumar glanced towards the town. “Brother, how are we going to make contact? I can easily find the place. . .but, is one of us actually going to go in there?” He smiled uncertainly, almost distastefully. Neither had entered such an establishment before. “Then, there is the problem of coin, if one of us were to pose as a customer. Do you have any?”
“Not enough, most likely. . . according to Skrim’s story,” replied Xandor, hazarding a wild guess at what constituted ‘a pretty penny’. He had an idea it might be far more than the few small pieces of silver in his pocket. Remembering Churian’s last advice on leaving the shores of Siva, he lapsed into silent contemplation, joined in silence by Sumar. For the next hour, they remained motionless on the sand, deep in thought, searching for the correct course to take.
Intuition was frequently a friend to a Gaian with open ears, even a novice such as Xandor, and before too long, he was gifted with an idea. Sumar, to whom these things came a little easier, received his inspiration quite early in the meditation but he waited for Xandor to speak first.
Quite excited to be receiving enlightenment for his efforts, the younger man made his suggestion, eager to see what Sumar thought of it. “We could watch and wait for her to come out onto the street. On a busy market day, we could get close, bump into her. Perhaps there will be a chance to speak to her.”
Xandor’s idea was good but needed refinement. Sumar felt able to add something to the budding plan. “If she is being held against her will, if she is even allowed out in public, there will be at least one guard, certainly human, and he will need to be dealt with. . .without too much fuss,” said Sumar, tapping his temple. He was confident in the subtle mental ability to calm or confuse an opponent, in preference to physical force. “That will leave you free to speak to her.”