by Jeremy Dwyer
The visible energy that rose up from the burning remains of Fallavakara was seen from afar, and sensed, as well. Prince Kirdothet knew that the fire he had given had now been given back, and the one to whom he had given it was dead.
CHAPTER 24: Dreams of Condemnation
Halina whispered into Taesa’s ear: “It is time to leave. You have seen what you were brought to see.”
They had been concealed in the darkness – as Halina was a drinker of the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean – and they were standing behind a stone pillar that was an element of the town’s sundial: every town in Revod had to have one for proper timekeeping.
Halina and Taesa saw the events unfold while peering around the pillar, yet they were unseen. The Jenaldej archers drank the waters of the Lujladia Ocean which did give them some power to see into the darkness and see around corners as well as to have quick sight. However, they were not looking in that particular direction, as they were focused on the enemy intruder and the red blood haze, and so they did not see Halina or Taesa.
The pair of them left the town and made their way back to the northern shores and boarded their small boat. The demon named Matatirot – who was the master of the Ahitan Empire – sensed that his servant, Halina, was now upon the water. He opened a portal and instantly transported the boat – with Halina and Taesa on board – across the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean to the shores of Av’Tovenka Island.
From there, Halina continued to provide the cover of darkness to herself and Taesa and they made their way back to the hills where the temple was located and entered the temple. There, they met with Victoria in the Scout’s Room, where she had been awaiting the spy’s report.
“We have seen much: a witch having blood powers was defeated at the hands of the Jenaldej Prince Emerond, along with his officers,” Halina said to Victoria.
“What of this witch? Who was her master?” Victoria asked.
“That, I do not know. A Gradaken drinker stilled the shield of blood that surrounded her, covering the witch in blood. Archers struck her fatal blows. The prince crystallized the blood around her. Yet, the body burst into flames. No action of theirs accounted for this,” Halina said.
“Taesa, did you notice anything – any interesting detail?” Victoria asked.
“One of them – a religious woman named Romana – said that it was likely the power of demons that filled her. After the body burned, a visible energy rose into the sky,” Taesa said. She remembered the argument that her mother had with Romana over the existence and goodness of God. Taesa didn’t take sides at the time and only listened in order to learn. She still wasn’t convinced, either way.
“That energy rising into the sky, and the body of the witch bursting into flames, are signs of the source of her power. I am not sure what that source is, and I will need to consult with the wisest and eldest woman,” Victoria said.
“Halina, you said that Prince Emerond was there,” Victoria said, changing the subject for the moment.
“Yes, he was present,” Halina said.
“Taesa, did you see him?” Victoria asked.
“Yes, I saw him,” Taesa said, and she smiled, which immediately gave away the attraction she had toward him.
Victoria saw this and was pleased.
“You found him to be handsome, didn’t you?” Victoria asked her, looking to pursue this much further.
“He is a handsome man, I’ll admit that,” Taesa said.
“Would you like to meet him? To speak with him?” Victoria asked.
“How? He’s a prince of an empire. He has responsibilities, and has to defend his empire. He was there in battle,” Taesa said, feeling little hope of meeting the prince in person.
“You are a special young woman, with an enchanting voice. Your songs can enchant him, and he will want to know you,” Victoria said.
Taesa began thinking about this, and said: “I’ve sung songs to heal people, and to find hidden things, and seek knowledge. I’ve sung songs to remember the fallen, and to teach the ways of the waters. Never a song to get a person’s attention – not to like me, anyway,” Taesa said, unsure of how to go about this.
“You can. Of that I have no doubt. Do you have doubts?” Victoria asked.
“I’d like him to be interested in me – to talk to me, anyway. A song can be powerful, and I want him to like me, not the song,” Taesa said.
“Do you want him to like your looks, instead?” Victoria asked. Taesa, in her opinion, was merely borderline acceptable in her feminine appearance. Victoria knew what men liked, and had seen far more attractive woman, with finely sculpted and athletic figures and long hair. Taesa’s small frame, short hair and undistinguished form made her a female, but hardly a pretty woman.
“I want him to like my personality, my feelings, my thoughts, and my interests,” Taesa said.
“Good. Your songs do reflect your personality, your feelings, your thoughts and your interests. They are you, at your best,” Victoria said.
“But I only wrote some of the songs. Others are classical songs, and I only performed those at the request of others. The Waterbound song isn’t about me, it’s about the oceans. Forever Valiant is so sad – it’s for fallen soldiers. One song I did write – like Hope Lights All Skies – is for healing the sick. Wanderer is for seeking higher knowledge. Those don’t really seem appropriate to the moment,” Taesa said.
“Then write a new song, that’s appropriate for the situation. You’re very creative,” Victoria said.
“That takes time,” Taesa said.
“It takes inspiration, and situation. Allow it to happen,” Victoria said.
“I can’t force inspiration,” Taesa said.
“I know. You should sleep and dream. Then, the inspiration will come. Think of the prince, and why you want to meet him. Do you know why?” Victoria said.
“He’s handsome,” Taesa said. She couldn’t believe she heard herself just say that – but she did. Something had come alive inside of her – an unfamiliar but very welcome surge of interest in this man who was clearly capable, responsible and successful. Prince Emerond was young enough to be handsome, yet older than her, which made him more interesting. She believed that meant he would be mature enough to take interest in her talents, thoughts and personality.
“Yes. But that’s not the most important part, is it?” Victoria asked.
“He’s powerful,” Taesa said.
“He’s somewhat powerful. That is important, but still, it’s not everything,” Victoria said.
“He confronted a danger to his empire, and he won,” Taesa said.
“Now you’re getting closer to what is most important. Keep thinking,” Victoria said.
Taesa considered this, and said: “He is noble and lives a life of service to others,” Taesa said.
“Yes. That is what matters. If he comes to know you, and learns to like you, he will serve you,” Victoria said.
“He has a large empire. He has to serve all of them,” Taesa said.
“He is one of several princes, and is responsible for only a portion of the empire. Yet, you will hold a special place in his heart,” Victoria said.
“How can you be sure about him?” Taesa asked.
“I know men better than you do. This is a man whom you should befriend,” Victoria said. However, what she was really thinking was that Taesa should bewitch and bedazzle this prince, rather than befriend him. The magic of her music would be necessary, because the charm of her feminine physique was lacking.
“I’ll need to go to meet with him in person. Not just secretly watching him,” Taesa said.
“Give it time. He will come to you,” Victoria said.
“I don’t understand. He doesn’t even know me yet,” Taesa said.
“You’ve seen so many things. You need rest. You need to sleep and dream. Follow me, and I will make sure you get that rest,” Victoria said. She walked into the Voyager’s Room with the stone bench that had the ornate carvings and Tae
sa followed along.
“You will find what you seek when you sleep and dream,” Victoria said.
“I don’t always dream,” Taesa said.
“You will. There is meaning in all dreams. You just need to remember the dreams, and think about them,” Victoria said.
“I’m not really tired yet,” Taesa said.
“Try to rest. Let your thoughts go to where they will, and they will carry you off to where you need to be. Lie down in confidence, not in doubt, so that the greatest possibilities of your future emerge and increase, rather than disappear or decrease. Let hope awaken,” Victoria said.
Taesa sat on the bench, and then moved into a sleeping position and rested her head, and fell asleep within a few minutes.
~~~
Victoria went to the Great Granddaughter’s Room, and then knelt down. Soon, Tanith Orenda entered, as she often did to receive Victoria’s reports. In millennia past, she had awaited reports of other of her descendants regarding their missions.
“What is it, many thousands great granddaughter?” Tanith Orenda asked her.
“Many thousands great grandmother, Taesa has observed the Jenaldej prince prevail over an enemy and she has interest in him,” Victoria said.
“Good. Enable her to meet with him, and guide her to bind with him and produce an heiress,” Tanith Orenda said.
“She sleeps now, to dream of a song with which to enchant him,” Victoria said.
“This first song must be one of hope and warmth. She is to present herself, and sing this song, but then depart, quickly. The prince will then seek her out,” Tanith Orenda said.
“When the song is ready, I will arrange the presentation, many thousands great grandmother,” Victoria said.
~~~
Taesa dreamed of the handsome prince, but he was angry in the dream.
“Why have you murdered the world? Who are you, in truth?” the prince asked in her dream. She knew that he was speaking to her.
“What happened? Who was murdered?” Taesa asked in her dream, having no idea what had occurred.
“The waves of water. The storm. The darkness. All these things – you brought them. Are you daughter of a demon? Why is your love so deadly? You are a liar! And I thought you loved me!” the prince said in her dream.
Taesa awoke from the dream, crying hysterically.
~~~
Victoria entered the Voyager’s Room where she saw Taesa awake and crying.
“What is it?” Victoria asked her, concerned that the girl was greatly distressed, rather than joyfully romantic.
“I dreamt of the prince,” Taesa said, sobbing.
“What went wrong? Why are you crying about meeting the prince? Are you afraid of love and intimacy?” Victoria asked, mystified.
“He asked me why I murdered the world,” Taesa said, still crying.
“This was not the prince of whom you dreamt. This may be a ruse, planted in your mind by that blood witch. She was an enemy of the prince, and would want to deny him your love,” Victoria said, completely fabricating this at that moment. She wasn’t sure who the witch served, but had to encourage Taesa to like the prince.
“He asked me why my love was so deadly. He asked if I was the daughter of a demon,” Taesa said, crying even harder now. She wasn’t convinced by the explanation of the blood witch affecting her dreams.
“Her magic was powerful. When the body burned and the energy left her, it must have attacked you. It came in your dreams,” Victoria said.
“He said there was a storm, and waves of water, and darkness,” Taesa said.
Victoria’s heart almost stopped at hearing this. This girl knew something more, but Victoria wondered how.
“Stormy seas and dark skies are symbols of anger, and the blood witch was angry. In this world of many oceans, those symbols are powerful,” Victoria said.
“But why was I the villain in this dream? What did I do to hurt anyone?” Taesa asked.
Victoria wondered this herself – was Taesa secretly guilty of something that her spies had not noticed?
“Think back. Is there anything that happened, that was dangerous or hurtful, that you might not have realized at the time you were doing it? Did you ever hurt someone’s feelings? Did you ever harm someone?” Victoria asked.
“No…Yes. My mother. Her boyfriend – Sebastian – is still with her, as far as I know. He’s a liar, and he’s rich but he stole it, like you said before. I went to the archives in Emeth and found evidence. I was trying to prove it, so I went to that island,” Taesa said.
“Please, tell me more,” Victoria said.
“We couldn’t find our way to the island on the dark seas,” Taesa said.
“The Ikkith Tar Ocean, you mean?” Victoria asked, to be sure.
“Yes. I sang a song, and the sky changed, and suddenly, we could see by the light of the suns,” Taesa said.
“What song did you sing?” Victoria asked, suddenly afraid.
“It was Let Many Suns Shine Down – a song I wrote, to ask for help,” Taesa said.
“No!!!!” Victoria screamed and shrieked.
Victoria became violently angry and pounded on the walls, still screaming “No!!! No!!! No!!! Why?!!!”
“I’m sorry! I just wanted to see by the light of the suns! I didn’t know it would bring him!” Taesa said.
“The sunfire creature is your fault!!!! You brought this on us!!! How could you sing any song to the suns???!!!!” Victoria screamed.
“I never knew the power! I asked for guidance!” Taesa said, scared at Victoria’s anger.
“You are the murderer of the world!!! That’s what the dream was really about!!!” Victoria said.
“What do I do? How can I fix it?” Taesa asked.
“Wait and wonder. Do not sing again, until it is a song of love. I will return,” Victoria said.
~~~
Victoria returned to the Granddaughter’s Room and reported this to Tanith Orenda.
“Many thousands great grandmother, I now know why the sunfire creature came. Taesa sang a song asking for the light of the suns to guide her across the dark ocean, and this brought it down. We are in danger because of her,” Victoria said.
“Excellent! The girl has command of the suns by her voice. I did not know who brought it down, but we are stronger now, because we control her,” Tanith Orenda said.
“She had a dream of the prince, where he accused her of murdering the world. There was a storm and dark skies and waves of water,” Victoria said.
“That is troubling, for someone may be warning her against us,” Tanith Orenda said.
“Who could have warned her?” Victoria asked.
“I do not know who it was. However, we must take this opportunity regarding the girl’s error. Play to her guilt for the presence of this sunfire creature, though it is only partly her fault. The many suns were a nemesis long before she entered the world. Make her atone for what she has done,” Tanith Orenda said.
“How shall I do this? This matter is very dangerous!” Victoria asked.
“Tell her that she will have to have many children, so as to rebuild the world whose ruin she has begun. Give her hope that this will work, so that she does enter into despair. Tell her that she is forgiven as she did not have an evil intent. Tell her that she is not pardoned, however, because she must first work to correct that damage which she has done,” Tanith Orenda said.
“As you instruct, many thousands great grandmother,” Victoria said.
~~~
Victoria returned to the Voyager’s Room where Taesa was waiting, with tears still in her eyes.
“All people make errors, however great. If your intentions were not evil, then you are forgiven,” Victoria said.
“Forgiven? How?” Taesa asked.
“I cannot hate you, or stay angry with you. You are my daughter, now, and I love you, despite your failure,” Victoria said.
“I did fail. I sought guidance to my destination, but it was dangerous,�
�� Taesa said.
“This creature will take many more lives, as it already has. It is a murderer, and your song gave it entrance to our world,” Victoria said.
“I can’t give back the lives lost. I’m so sorry! The prince in the dream was right! I did murder the world!” Taesa said, feeling the terrible guilt. She started sobbing again.
“Tears will not atone for this wrong you have done. You are a young woman, and not a child. You must work to make amends for it,” Victoria said. She was pleased that Taesa now blamed herself for the sunfire creature, and did not understand the true meaning of the dream, with its symbols of powerful water and weak suns in a dark sky.
“How? What can I do? Please tell me!” Taesa asked, hoping for a chance to make things right.
“When lives are lost, new lives must be given. You must bear many children so as to renew the world. You will need a fine husband – a prince,” Victoria said.
“How? He hated me in the dream!” Taesa asked.
“No. Your own guilty conscience was the accuser in that dream. The skies were dark because you called out to the evil. The seas were stormy because you used the power of the waters in one of them – the Pirovalen Ocean – to sing your song. Now, do you understand?” Victoria said.
“Yes! You’re right!” Taesa said.
Victoria rejoiced inside. She had won, by deftly following the advice of Tanith Orenda. The dream – that was probably from an enemy who was trying to warn Taesa against Victoria – was reinterpreted to fill the girl with guilt, making her easy to manipulate.
“You need to be sorry, but not to be filled with sorrow. You need to have hope, not despair. Let this hope fill your spirit. Then, write your song to your prince. I will give you time,” Victoria said, and she left Taesa alone in the Voyager’s Room. Victoria went back to the Great Granddaughter’s Room.
~~~
“Many thousands great grandmother, the girl now believes that she is guilty of bringing death, and must atone by bearing many children through this prince. She believes that the stormy seas in her dream were because she used the magic of the song waters to sing to the suns,” Victoria said.
“Good. Her guilt will make her, and her powerful music, belong to us,” Tanith Orenda said.