Rhuna- New Horizons

by Barbara Underwood

  Rhuna waited with uneasy anticipation for the evening meal to be finished so that she could attempt to observe the Conjurers and Dark Ones with her Extended Consciousness. She entered the privacy of Damell’s personal chamber and quickly admired the furnishings and wall-hangings.

  “I miss using the Gazing of the Waters,” she said. “Not even my mental summoning of visions appears to work here in Varappa!”

  “Recall my instructions to access a recent past event in The Infinite,” Damell said as he placed the large plush reclining cushions on the floor.

  “Yes,” Rhuna answered as she lowered herself onto one of the cushions. “The recent past appears slightly unclear, like fog at first,” she said, recalling her training with Damell in Safu. She closed her eyes and tried to find the inner dark silence of her mind, but found it more difficult than usual because her thoughts were crammed with vivid images of Judharo, Cha’al and the new acquaintances she had made in a short time. Finally, her Consciousness found tranquil silence, and she was able to release her Extended Consciousness outwards and into The Infinite.

  After the usual moment of disorientation, she willed her Extended Consciousness to move through the planes that hold the layers of events in time, and then focused her thoughts on the event of the lake’s water appearing red. A swirl of colours blended with a haze that engulfed her, until she began to recognize the scenery around the lake and the shimmer of bright red.

  Rhuna recognized the people gathering at the water’s edge, alarmed and agitated as they tried to comprehend the nature of the red water. When everything appeared as Rhuna remembered, she began to focus on the surroundings not visible to people at the lake, searching The Infinite for any activity connected to the lake’s red water.

  Suddenly, her Extended Consciousness was in dense greenery looking at a man hunched in a hiding position and looking out towards the lake. Rhuna noticed the man’s unusual braided beard with streaks of grey hairs, and then watched his grinning face as he continued to look towards the people gathered at the lake.

  “You have succeeded!” spoke a voice from nearby, and Rhuna directed her Extended Consciousness to observe this other person. She was surprised to see a woman because the voice had sounded rather deep.

  “You accomplished it! Well done, Brother!” exclaimed the woman in the same deep and rough voice, and Rhuna had the impression that she was the man’s teacher or superior.

  She continued observing the scene with her Extended Consciousness, but when the man with the braided beard merely turned around to follow the woman away from the lake, Rhuna decided to explore further to determine what they did to cause the lake to appear as blood.

  Rhuna felt herself hovering between two planes of The Infinite, and recalling her father’s instructions, she began to focus on the man with the braided beard, and his recent activity in connection with the lake’s coloured water. She experienced a sensation of moving through water which looked like thick fog, until she recognized the image of a dark, candlelit room ahead of her.

  Rhuna explored her new surroundings, and decided that the dark rooms reminded her of the secret underground chambers used by the Dark Ones in Safu. Suddenly, she saw the man with the braided beard preparing himself for a procedure that required intense concentration. She watched the man close his eyes and appear to put himself into a state of trance by humming a deep and resonant note which made Rhuna’s ears pulse. The vibration of the man’s chant-like hum quickly caused unpleasant sensations, and she had to resist the urge to quickly return to her body.

  Finally, the bearded man finished his chant, and carefully opened his eyes. He turned to his side where a large metal tub was filled with water, and then with slow and deliberate movements removed a vial from within his robe. He closed his eyes once more, and his brow creased with the effort of concentration before he opened the vial and poured the contents into the tub of water.

  Rhuna realized that the contents of the vial was blood, and that he had performed the same procedure as Goram when he created the illusion of many reflections of soldiers to frighten the Ubanti Army away. She decided to return to her body and discuss this dangerous development with her father.

  “It was a feat like Goram’s when he scared the Ubanti soldiers!” Rhuna exclaimed when Damell opened his eyes and sat up from the reclining cushion.

  “Yes, exactly as I assumed,” he grumbled.

  “They are using the same technique to do all kinds of other things,” Rhuna said with awe and horror.

  “Their progress shall be rapid,” observed Damell somberly.

  “It’s worse than in Safu because they don’t have to hide, and there are many more of them,” Rhuna added. “What should we do, Father?”

  “Perhaps we cannot do much more than observe at this time,” he said cautiously.

  Part Three

  (Suchinda)

  Rhuna looked out across the tranquil lake at the mountains in the distance, then breathed in the fresh and grass-scented air with a sigh of relish. Acquiring furniture and other items for their new home had been a pleasant distraction from the frightening activity of the Conjurers she had observed with her Extended Consciousness some lunar cycles past.

  “This is the most beautiful home I’ve ever had!” she said to Aradin, who stepped onto the verandah beside her. “I love living so close to the water,” she said softly as she looked down and saw her reflection in the lake’s calm waters.

  Aradin’s arms folded around her waist from behind her, and Rhuna closed her eyes to fully appreciate the feeling of joy.

  “It’s even more beautiful than how I remembered it from my childhood,” Aradin said softly into her ear. Rhuna was about to turn around to embrace Aradin when a loud splash broke the soothing silence. She opened her eyes and felt cold water slap her face and upper body.

  “Goram!” Aradin shouted. Rhuna wiped her face with the sleeve of her gown and looked to see Goram’s head bob up from the water’s surface. He released a roar of exuberant laughter, then playfully splashed water up at the verandahs of the house.

  Rhuna looked up and saw the long golden tresses of her daughter dangling out over the upper balcony rail, and then she heard Lozira’s light and happy laughter. In an instant, the laughter was echoed behind her as Shandi joined in, giggling and imitating the laughter she heard around her.

  Rhuna looked at the glowing faces of her family, and thought how effectively the past few lunar cycles in their new home had erased all traces of their traumatic exit from Safu.

  “Are we going to the big place?” Shandi asked excitedly as she rushed up to Rhuna.

  “She wants to paint with the other children,” Lozira said, showing her eagerness to accompany Rhuna and Aradin to Judharo. Rhuna suppressed uneasiness about leaving their serene home, isolated and distant from the bustle of Judharo and its potential problems. She looked at Goram readying himself for their excursion to the big city, and silently hoped they would not encounter Yarqi or the other Dark Ones again, fearing they might lead Goram astray.

  “Papa-nu come, too!” called Shandi as she scurried across to the vegetable garden where the lumbering giant was gently tending to fledgling plants. She took his enormous hand and escorted him back to the house to join the others.

  Kitlamu waited for them further along the lake’s shore, where she often landed her RTE on a regular basis, conveying messages and carrying small supplies between Judharo, the Chaal Valley and several other places. Rhuna said she looked forward to seeing her father, and then visiting the special place where children paint and express themselves creatively.

  Rhuna watched with keen interest as Kitlamu operated the RTE, navigating its direction and then gently setting it down in a special open area within Judharo’s city walls where other Rapid Transport Enclosures frequently set down or departed.

  “You really enjoyed that, didn’t you?” Aradin whispered to Rhuna as they left the open area for RTEs. Rhuna nodded and smiled, happy that Aradin always knew how she
felt.

  “Maybe Kitlamu can teach you to operate an RTE yourself,” he suggested with a grin, and Rhuna could no longer contain her excitement over the prospect of becoming an RTE operator. She hugged him and let out a laugh of joy, looking back at the various RTEs and contemplating the prospect of having one of her own.

  Rhuna’s buoyant step came to an abrupt halt when a large man with a great deal of bushy hair stepped out in front of them, holding up his hand in a gesture for them to stop.

  “You are not wearing any Identifiers,” said the man frowning from beneath thick and bushy eyebrows.

  “We have only recently arrived in Varappa,” Aradin said defensively.

  “Nevertheless, it is advisable to procure an Identifier as soon as possible,” he said with stern authority as he looked at each person in Rhuna’s group. “The little one, also,” he added, looking down at Shandi.

  “What’s an Identifier, and why should we each have one?” Rhuna asked, looking first at Aradin and then at the hairy man.

  “I remember hearing about them in my childhood,” Aradin began with uncertainty. The big man held out his hairy arm, showing them the colourful design on the back of his hand. Rhuna noticed that it was attached to his hand with loops for two fingers and straps to tie around the wrist. On the outside Rhuna was stunned to see many small and coloured balls set onto leathery material.

  “What is this?” Goram asked, examining the item on the man’s hand closely. “Such jewellery is completely foreign to me,” he stated.

  “It is not jewellery,” explained the man in a friendlier tone. “It is an important symbol of status and identity worn by all Varappans.”

  “What status?” asked Lozira puzzled, and the bushy-haired man looked up in surprise.

  “Ho! You really are new here!” laughed the man, and then took on a serious expression again. “In Varappa it is important for fellow citizens to know who you are,” he explained carefully. “Being an Unidentified immediately casts suspicion on you. Varappans insist on knowing who it is with whom we are conversing.

  “Suspicious?” Rhuna asked. “What would people be suspicious about?” Rhuna asked innocently, and watched the man’s bushy eyebrows raise and then lower into a deep crease.

  “Untoward events befall people…we attempt to guard ourselves,” he said reluctantly, and then held out his Identifier again.

  “This Identifier conveys the status of the individual by the colour and design of the small marbles,” he said, pointing a thick finger at the delicate design.

  “Marbles!” Shandi repeated.

  “Yes, Child. Like the ones you play with, only much, much smaller,” the big man said indulgently to Shandi.

  “It is required to show people one’s Identifier?” Goram asked angrily. “It does not appeal to me,” he stated firmly.

  “Everything really is so different here!” said Lozira.

  “Hrmph! Then suffer the consequences,” the bushy-haired man said brusquely and then went on his way in large and lumbering strides.

  “I don’t like it either,” Rhuna said after a while. “Let’s ask my father about them,” she suggested as they slowly continued on their way.

  Before long, they arrived at the building dedicated to children’s development, and Rhuna was told to ascend to the fifth level. They walked the comfortable staircase which wound around the building, while admiring the view from within metal-framed glass windows and shelters.

  The fifth level surprised Rhuna with its spaciousness and bright sunlight due to the open areas and abundance of glass. The atmosphere was instantly calm and inspiring, and the sight of many small children of Shandi’s age all preoccupied in various activities impressed her deeply.

  “We welcome you,” said a woman to Shandi, and then looked up at Rhuna and her group. Rhuna thought it was unusual to greet the child first until she remembered how important Varappans viewed children and childhood.

  Rhuna introduced them and then asked whether Shandi could join in the activities.

  “Of course!” the woman said adamantly, and then beamed down at Shandi again. “What would you like to do, Shandi? Play music, make things of clay, paint with colours, arrange beads, tie coloured…”

  “Paint with colours!” Shandi answered confidently and smiled up at the adults.

  “What are the rules she must obey?” asked Rhuna, and was taken aback by the woman’s scornful expression. She brushed her short yellow hair away from her cheeks and stood defensively in front of Rhuna.

  “Children neither require nor receive discipline or teaching!” she said firmly. “It is essential that we allow them to grow and develop on their own, guided only by their inner light.”

  Rhuna quickly said that she understood and accepted this, and after a brief, forced smile, the woman turned to guide them to the painting area. Shandi ran ahead towards a large low table in the middle of the area on which pots and plates of various colours were laid out. Rhuna watched her young daughter’s eyes sparkle with delight at the sight of the many colours, and then she observed Shandi interact with some of the other children.

  “I like yours,” Shandi said to a girl who painted swirls of blue and green, flecked with black. The girl answered in the manner of comfortable familiarity with Shandi, and Rhuna smiled.

  “You cannot stay,” said the woman sternly as she hovered nearby.

  “But we don’t want to leave Shandi alone with strangers,” Rhuna began, but the woman’s hardened expression intimidated her. “I mean…we have never left her alone anywhere…”

  “It is the way it is done,” said the woman with authority. “As this is the first time for the child, you may stay a short time, and then watch from a distance,” she added after a moment of consideration. “But remember – no interference!”

  “They do have rules – for parents!” said Aradin in a whisper, watching the woman in charge slowly walk away as she continued her oversight of the children.

  Rhuna watched as Shandi first warily dabbed a finger into a pot of red paint and smeared it on the stretched canvas, and then quickly became more confident. Soon, she was moving both hands and all fingers across the canvas, and Rhuna became intensely curious.

  “It looks like a giant mushroom!” said Lozira with a chuckle.

  “Big cloud!” protested Shandi. “A bad cloud, with big noise!”

  Rhuna was suddenly excited at the thought of seeing Shandi’s visions through her painting, and encouraged her to do more. She reached across to grab several more unpainted canvasses and set them up for Shandi to paint on.

  “Did she paint one of her visions?” whispered Lozira as they retreated again to observe from a distance.

  “Yes. We should pay attention to them, try to understand them,” she answered, and Lozira nodded silently.

  Shandi’s next painting looked like an assembly of big clumps, and Rhuna shook her head and shrugged her shoulders at Shandi.

  “Papa-nu!” she squealed with delight, and then laughed along with everyone else. Panapu had been watching silently from a distance, as usual, and Rhuna turned to see a happy smile on his face.

  Shandi continued to paint with great eagerness, and Rhuna sat back on the seating cushions feeling relaxed and happy. Shandi began chatting with some other children nearby and exchanged paints and brushes with them.

  After a while, Shandi put down her brush and looked towards Rhuna, her face beaming with pride and excitement. Rhuna quickly stepped towards her little daughter and looked at the painting.

  “Oh,” said Rhuna, struggling to find the right words to describe the painting with a light center surrounded by dark outer edges.

  “I know – it’s the sun!” said Rhuna confidently. Shandi shook her head.

  “Hari Tal,” she answered casually.

  “Why does he look like a bright light? Hari Tal has brown hair, dark eyes and…”

  Shandi shook her head and pointed to her painting. “Hari Tal,” she repeated firmly.

  �
��When did you see him looking like that?” Rhuna asked, suddenly intensely curious about her daughter’s visions and view of the world.

  “In the Dreaming,” she answered casually.

  “Oh, in a dream. I see!” said Rhuna, and Shandi silently prepared to start another painting.

  “Is it what you saw in a dream?” asked one of the children who sat near Shandi and shared the pots of paint. Shandi responded with a deluge of words and Rhuna was certain no one would understand her explanations, yet the other child appeared to comprehend perfectly.

  “Looks like she’s going to get along well with the other children,” Aradin observed as he smiled at Rhuna.

  “That’s good, because I think we have to go now,” Rhuna said when the woman gestured for Rhuna and her group to leave. They slowly moved away and reluctantly left the area while Shandi happily continued to paint and chatter with the other children.

  Rhuna was happy to see her father again and expressed her feelings with a long, warm embrace. As she felt his comforting warmth, she realized how rich and full he had made her life in the past few solar cycles. It was painful to even think of her life before, when she believed him to be dead since her birth.

  “What’s this about Identifiers?” Aradin asked Damell as they settled into the seating room to be served beverages and nutty sweets by Hari Tal.

  “Ah, you have been advised,” Damell said nodding.

  “Almost threatened!” Goram interjected.

  “During my absence from Judharo, these matters of personal security and suspicion have greatly escalated,” Damell explained with a frown. “Varappa is not the peaceful, innocent society it once was.”

  “Yes, I agree,” said Aradin, and Rhuna felt sad for her husband whose childhood memories of Varappa had been spoiled by these changes.

  Damell walked towards a wooden cabinet embellished with gold trim, and removed something from a drawer.

  “Examine my Identifier,” Damell said, holding the item out for Rhuna and Aradin to take. Goram and Lozira moved in closer to look as well.