by Jeremy Dwyer
“It is a tiara – the crown of a princess – a princess of the Maelstrom, that is,” Lavakara said.
“A crown has jewels. Where is its might?” Jaguar asked.
“The magic is in its blue jewels. There is one (1) jewel on it for each of the thirteen (13) oceans, giving her command of all of their powers. The oceans are supreme. It will be death to you – and to me, and to the Chroniclers, even – when its power is fully realized,” Lavakara said. He referred to all thirteen (13) oceans as having power, even though only twelve (12) of them were known to have specific magical powers and the thirteenth was the Dead Waters Ocean, not known to give any power at all. Lavakara suspected that there was more to that ocean, although he wasn’t sure what it was.
Judith doubted anything would happen to the Chroniclers, personally. She did not know what this legendary tiara could do, however. Still, according to what the wisest ones in Emeth were saying, it was likely a weapon capable of causing immense suffering and death.
“When will this power be full?” Jaguar asked.
“When the suns in the sky grow dark, which will be soon,” Lavakara said.
“There was a light in the sky – and a sun has left its path. Is that a sign of the suns growing dark?” Jaguar asked.
“I believe it may be the first such sign. Tell me, is this Havatissa a deity of yours?” Lavakara asked.
“He is our god,” Jaguar said.
“Does he have a destiny for you after this life? You’re going to need it,” Lavakara said, returning to his mocking tone.
“Our spirits shall join with his, and become one,” Jaguar said.
“Are you looking forward to this? Do you expect eternal pleasures when you become one with this god of yours?” Lavakara asked.
“We hope. There are mysteries we must wait to see,” Jaguar said.
“That doesn’t sound very promising,” Lavakara said.
“Do you doubt Havatissa?” Jaguar asked, angrily. He was not prepared to combat Lavakara, but was angry at the suggestion that he might not have an eternal existence.
“I doubt you are ready to become one with your god. And you are clearly not ready for combat,” Lavakara said.
“You defeated me, Lavakara. Do you have a plan to defeat this woman?” Jaguar asked.
“Yes. I do. I believe that this woman can be destroyed – albeit, with great difficulty and requiring a great many wounds which would individually prove fatal to anyone else,” Lavakara said.
“I wish to deliver one of these wounds, or many, to this woman. How can this be done?” Jaguar asked.
“She must be pierced in the heart, and the head, and the neck, and the wrists, no less. This will weaken her. Multiple strikes in these same target locations may even be needed,” Lavakara said.
“I, along with my warriors, am prepared to strike. Our spears will land truly at these places upon this woman,” Jaguar said.
“You must find her, and get to her. Can you see in dark places? Can you cross oceans?” Lavakara asked.
“We hunt in this jungle and its caves,” Jaguar said.
“The waters of the Nabavodel Ocean, which you clearly drink – as I can tell from the speed and strength of you and your warriors, despite your inability to defeat me – are to the west of here, outside the jungle, past the desert. How do you get to them?” Lavakara asked.
“There is an underground river of the waters we drink,” Jaguar said.
“Excellent. This river will make you stronger,” Lavakara said, thinking of the strategic value of an underground flow of water that could be used as a place from which to launch an attack.
“You disappeared in battle against me. Are you a dark one? Are you a god?” Jaguar asked.
“Neither. I have powers you do not understand, from a source you cannot know. Show me this Havatissa whose blessing you seek,” Lavakara said.
“There is a temple. I will take you, and only you,” Jaguar said to Lavakara.
“Very well. Wait here,” Lavakara said to Judith and Serafina.
Meanwhile, Serafina had managed to stop the bleeding, but was obviously weakened and ashamed of her own failure. Lavakara was amazingly fast and fierce, and the superior of any combatant she had ever seen, which made his earlier rebuke sting even worse.
“Under the Chronicler’s Oath, I wish to follow you,” Judith said to Jaguar before he departed with Lavakara.
“The location of the temple must be a secret,” Jaguar said.
“I will keep it in confidence, under the same Oath,” Judith said.
“Then you shall come with us,” Jaguar said.
The three (3) of them – Jaguar, Lavakara and Judith – made their way to the temple. Jaguar led them on a winding path through the jungle to the temple, which was in a muddy hill. Inside, there was the same sixteen (16) foot tall statue that Silvius had seen earlier. It was a statue made of several different precious stones and shaped like a jaguar-snake hybrid. Judith recorded the precise directions to this place and drew a rough sketch of the statue that she saw – she still had not become a skilled artist, but she made the best outline that she could in her book.
“This is magnificent. A work of art that is stunning in its precision of design and execution. It is worth immeasurably more than the sum of its precious parts,” Lavakara said.
Judith was also impressed by the craftwork of the statue as a material object. However, she knew very well what it was – an idol paying homage to a spiritual being that was not the One True God – which meant that Jaguar and his people were likely demon worshippers.
“I do wish to meet this Havatissa someday,” Lavakara said. He wanted to understand the nature of the being, and had his own suspicions of what it was.
The comment was not surprising to Judith – she knew that Lavakara was almost pure evil, although he was capable of acting against another evil adversary, albeit for intentions that were not noble.
“There are other outside men here, whom we have captured. These are weak ones who study, and they may be of your people,” Jaguar said.
“Take me to them. I wish to meet them for myself,” Lavakara said.
Jaguar led them away from the temple and back to where Serafina waited alongside Jaguar’s two hundred fifty (250) warriors.
“Bring me the two (2) men who study,” Jaguar said.
Some of his warriors left, and soon thereafter returned with the two (2) researchers: Desmond and Celio.
“Who might you be?” Lavakara asked them, genuinely curious.
“I am Professor Desmond, an archaeologist,” one of them answered.
“I am Professor Celio, an astronomer,” the other answered.
“I should very much like to read closely of your recent findings. However, there is no time at the moment,” Lavakara said.
Then, Lavakara continued, saying to Jaguar: “Release these men at once. They cannot render their much needed services while detained here.”
“I will release them, as they have not seen my temple,” Jaguar said.
“Very well. That means they need to see your temple, at once. Take them to it, so that they may study it, and report their findings,” Lavakara said.
“The location is a secret! Only those who are sworn to keep secrets may know of it! They will tell others, who will come and steal the treasures of Havatissa. We will then be doomed by wrath!” Jaguar said.
“Report your findings only to me,” Lavakara said to Desmond and Celio.
“Who are you?” Desmond asked.
“Your only chance to learn anything new. You can remain a captive in this jungle, standing there and learning nothing. Or you can agree to secrecy, and explore this jungle, and report what you find to me. I will be back for you, and Jaguar will release you into my custody. The secrets will remain safe,” Lavakara said.
“Or, you can leave altogether, right now, and return to the outside world. Then, however, you will miss the opportunity to discover this temple and its marvelous contents. W
hich will it be?” Lavakara then asked.
Desmond looked around and said: “There’s nothing out there for me. My family’s gone. I came here for research, and I want to finish it.”
Celio said: “I don’t know about that. I’d just as soon get out of here.”
“Very well. Come with me, astronomer, and I will take you out of the jungle to continue on your life path of cowardly ignorance. I will return for the archaeologist after a time, during which he will study,” Lavakara said.
“You will take him to the temple at once,” Lavakara said to Jaguar.
“Follow me. We must return to our ship,” Lavakara said to Serafina, Celio and Judith.
“Will you help us defeat the woman with the tiara?” Jaguar asked.
“Yes. I will lead her to you. You will strike her when you see her. Be ready, at any moment,” Lavakara said.
“We will be ready. There are many more of us,” Jaguar said.
“Bring only your very best. Their aim must be true,” Lavakara said.
At that, Lavakara, Celio, Serafina and Judith returned to the ship and returned to the palace in the continent of Ihalik the same way that they came. At that point, Celio was sent away, as he was only a rescued hostage and had no standing with them.
CHAPTER 21: Ocean and Truth
Rayner wasn’t use to flying an airship while a quarter (1/4) of it was on fire. Miraculously, it seemed, he had enough control of it to fly it for fifteen (15) miles to the southwest. He brought it down to sea level in the Kazofen Ocean, off the coast of a small island. He, Brant, Zoe and Daven managed to get off of the now half (1/2) burning ship and take a small rowboat – on the end of the ship that was opposite the fire – and arrive safely on land.
They looked back and saw that the fire had spread further, consuming the entire ship, and it sank into the ocean.
“Great landing,” Zoe said.
“We’re still standing,” Rayner said.
“On what island?” Daven asked.
“Let’s walk around and figure that out,” Brant said.
“No. Let’s look first,” Zoe said. She drank anew of the waters of the Lujladia Ocean from her vial and was energized. She peered over several hills and trees that dotted the island, which was only sparsely covered. Along this very bent and broken line of sight, in the distance, Zoe saw a small fire burning underneath a cauldron. She saw that many people were standing around it – perhaps a thousand (1000) people – including women and children. They were all holding cups. Several men were pouring waters into the cauldron.
“We’re not alone. There must be a thousand (1000) people standing around a big cauldron with a campfire burning. Men, women and children are there, holding cups. There are people pouring water into the cauldron,” Zoe said, pointing toward the island’s interior.
“They’re out camping on this island?” Brant asked, surprised.
“This is no campground. It’s just a little island,” Rayner said.
“Can you focus and see more details of what they’re doing?” Daven asked Zoe.
“This island isn’t that big. Don’t the Lujladia waters let you see for miles?” Rayner asked.
“It’s not just about distance. I can see very far in a straight line, but I have to bend light to look around corners, and there’s a limit to how many curves and angles I can use. To see more detail, I have to cut out some of those corners, which means I have to get closer. They’re about a half (1/2) mile that way, so we’ll take it slowly and carefully,” Zoe said.
“How about just carefully? We don’t have time for slowly,” Brant said.
“We don’t have time to get caught and thrown in that cauldron. This could be a human sacrifice ritual,” Rayner said.
“You’re sick to say it. But you’re right,” Zoe said.
“How quickly can we build a new ship?” Daven asked, just a bit afraid.
“Out of what?” Rayner asked.
“I was hoping you had an answer. You travel at sea,” Daven said.
“You were hoping against hope,” Rayner said.
“I know,” Daven said.
“Come on. Walk with me, and I’ll tell you what I see,” Zoe said.
They proceeded about a quarter (1/4) mile and Zoe could see more clearly because her line of sight was not obstructed as much and fewer bends of light were needed. The men were pouring waters from cups inscribed with different markings – those markings indicating the different ocean waters – all into the cauldron. Then, they started stirring it. The people around it were holding their cups, and approaching the cauldron with the burning fire underneath it and the all-water potion in it. The water was boiling and bubbling tempestuously.
“They’ve got cups with markings of the different waters, and they’re pouring them all into the cauldron.” Zoe said.
“That’s poison for everybody,” Rayner said.
“You’ve got that right,” Zoe said.
“If they drink a drop of that potion, that’s suicide,” Daven said.
“Why would they want to die?” Brant asked.
“Maybe they don’t think they will,” Zoe said.
“Huh? Everybody knows about crix, don’t they?” Brant asked, referring to crixalethicis.
“They should know. But maybe the kids don’t,” Zoe said.
When Zoe heard herself say this, she suddenly started getting upset and said: “We’ve got to stop this!”
“What happened to moving carefully?” Rayner asked.
“Those kids are going to die…horribly,” Zoe said.
“If they grab us and force us to drink it, so will we. They’re crazy!” Brant said.
“You’re right. We’ve got to stop this,” Daven said.
They started moving forward quickly.
Zoe called out “No!” and the people around the cauldron looked up and so did the men who were stirring the waters in the cauldron.
“Who are you to say no to us?” one of the men asked. He was wearing robes that were many-colored.
“Do you know what these waters are?” Zoe asked.
“They are the great waters of power! The water from the twelve (12) oceans,” the man in the many-colored robes said.
“You can’t mix them all together and drink of them. That’s poison to everyone!” Daven then said, sharing her concern.
Brant was waiting for them to attack and put his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“We must have all powers. No one (1) ocean is enough. The seasons are changing, and great evils are gathering. Only those with the might of all of the oceans will stand against the approaching storm of wickedness,” the man in the many-colored robes said.
“Everyone who drinks this will die…horribly,” Zoe said.
“Do you not have a proper understanding of the oceans, or their laws? You can only drink the water of one (1). You must learn to use their powers separately and individually. Then, you can join together and combine their effects in cooperation. But each of you can only have one (1) of the ocean waters within you,” Daven said.
The people started looking toward the man in the many-colored robes and asked: “Thomas, is this true?”
“The fire shall burn and bind the waters together, so that we may drink of them and have all of their powers,” Thomas – the man in the many-colored robes – then said.
“The fire is not greater than the waters!” Daven said.
“You got that right!” Brant said.
“It’s not even as great as the waters!” Zoe said.
“What do you mean by these things? The fire is mighty. It will keep us safe, and our children will become mighty,” Thomas said.
“You’re going to lose your children this way! Please don’t go down this path. You cannot drink more than one (1) water!” Zoe pleaded with them.
“Do not believe these servants of our enemies. They want you to doubt the fires and reject the powers of all of the waters and be weak. They want to defeat you with their lies. Do not let the
m. Come and drink of all of the waters,” Thomas said to his people.
At this, the people walked toward the cauldron and started filling their cups. They believed in Thomas because he was their eldest, and had given them true advice in the past.
“The waters are the greatest powers. I will teach you their truth…and their law,” Daven said. He drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean from the vial he carried. He began to sing a powerful song, which he had studied in Emeth. It was an ancient song, meant to teach the truths of both the powers and the limitations of the ocean waters:
Across every ocean,
Increasing speed and strength of hand,
We drink their waters and become,
Rulers over even distant land.
They quench our thirst, they bind us.
They allow us to see every hidden thing.
They flow around us and within us.
Greater wisdom is what they bring.
Across every ocean,
Underneath the many suns that always blaze.
We drink the waters and we gain,
Knowledge of the sky at which we gaze.
They quench our thirst, they bind us.
They allow us to bend stone and light.
We drink the waters and we gain,
The music and the dark of night.
Across every ocean,
Out to where spirits are found,
We drink the waters and we gain,
The path beyond the solid ground.
They quench our thirst, they bind us.
They allow us to live ancient days.
We drink the waters and we gain,
Health and rule of nature's ways.
Across every ocean,
On waves of water as they flow,
We drink the waters and we gain,
All we love and all we know.
They quench our thirst, they bind us.
They give dominion over anything.
Yet only one may be chosen.
The choice of kingdom by the king.
The children felt the power of the song within them, as did their mothers. Their emotions were stirred, and their minds were opened. They started asking questions of Thomas.