by Jeremy Dwyer
“Open your eyes and you will see many more things, child,” Tanith Orenda said to Adele.
Victoria looked at Tanith Orenda, with the same puzzled expression as before, still wondering what the purpose of all of this was.
“Open your violet eyes, many thousands great granddaughter, and greet our guest, eye to eye,” Tanith Orenda said.
At this, Victoria focused her violet eyes and stared into the eyes of the Verifier, Adele, who looked into her eyes.
“…and she will accept all that which we command her,” Tanith Orenda continued saying.
Adele saw the violet eyes and lost all will to resist. Her mind – as powerful and well trained and energized by the Medathero Ocean waters as it was – could not overcome the power of the violet eyes. She was placed into a trance.
“Tell her to obey my instructions,” Tanith Orenda said to Victoria.
“All that she tells you, you must obey. She has authority over your thoughts and your words,” Victoria said to Adele.
“You will not remember this place. If anyone asks of your whereabouts while you were gone, you must tell them that you were in search of a purer water, so as to be a more effective Verifier. I will have my servants leave you on a ship in the Medathero Ocean. The ship will be chartered to take you to Emeth, where you will resume your duties as a trusted and perceptive Verifier,” Tanith Orenda said.
Victoria was beginning to understand the old woman’s tactics, suspecting that Adele was going to be used to introduce information into Emeth by verifying a report that otherwise would have been rejected. She looked to Tanith Orenda to see if her next words confirmed this suspicion.
“In time, you will be visited by Danielle,” Tanith Orenda said, gesturing toward her.
Danielle stepped forward and Adele looked to see who it was. Although her will was subdued, Adele retained her understanding.
“All that Danielle reports to you, you will verify as worthy of recording in the halls of Emeth. It will be outside of any confidence, for immediate revelation,” Tanith Orenda said.
Adele listened and understood all of these directions.
“Give her pure Medathero Ocean waters, so that she may resume her duties reliably. Then, place her on a ship chartered for a voyage to Emeth,” Tanith Orenda said, looking toward the scout and the two (2) armor-clad warriors who were still restraining Adele.
“As you command,” the scout said.
~~~
At this, the scout and warriors left and went to the Ocean Room. There, the scout reached into their stock of highly purified great waters, filled a vial with the Medathero Ocean waters, and gave it to Adele, to energize her mind for logical reasoning. Then, the scout drank from her own vial which was filled with the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean. She was energized, and generated an aura of darkness, surrounding herself and Adele. They left the water-worshipper’s temple, unseen by anyone who might have been on Av’Tovenka Island, and made their way to a small ship hidden away in one of the many inlets of the island. The island itself was in the Ikkith Tar Ocean, and the boat rested on its waters. When the demon, Matatirot, sensed that they were in his domain – the waters themselves – he opened a portal and transported them to the distant waters of the Medathero Ocean.
There were near the Glivoran Trail, which was the land bridge that connected the southeastern corner of the continent of Revod to the northeastern corner of the continent of Ihalik. There, the scout steered the ship onto the land bridge. She took Adele to a sea port located there and paid a ship captain one (1) platinum coin to transport Adele to nearby Emeth, which he did.
The scout then returned to her own ship, and, with the demon’s power to open portals between the oceans, returned to the Ikkith Tar Ocean, and then to the water worshipper’s temple.
~~~
Danielle remained and awaited her instructions from the old woman. Victoria also remained, curious as to the overall plan.
“As you know, our master is the spirit of the waters, which are the greatest power – only fools deny that,” Tanith Orenda said.
“Indeed,” Danielle said.
“Our enemies are those who give worship to the sun. Many such persons exist, in various sects and cults around the world and through the ages. Thousands of sun-worshippers have been killed, having been struck down by different forces who object to their religion. At times, it has been by various devout atheists, who despise anyone who holds a belief in a deity. At other times, it has been by groups like the Pilgrims of the Burning Road, who believe that they have the right to deal out judgment, but who are no better than anyone else. At times, even we have dealt the sun-worshippers fatal blows, when they offended our master or interfered with our plans. On occasion, they are killed by secular forces interested in territory. Yet, the sun-worshippers live on,” Tanith Orenda said.
“Are you planning to eliminate more of them, many thousands great grandmother,” Victoria asked.
“In a way of my choosing, yes,” Tanith Orenda said.
“I would be delighted to know of that way,” Victoria said.
“By giving, and then taking away, at the crucial moment. There is a certain sect known as the Warm and Beloved Children of Many Suns. They are utter filth – not worthy of the air they breathe. Yet, they are numerous, and have never directly interfered with our plans. Hence, I have let them live until now, waiting for a most appropriate time to end them. Their doom, however, is fast approaching,” Tanith Orenda said.
“Shall we spill their blood and drink of it?” Victoria asked.
“I have a more fitting demise planned for such as these. There is a major sea port in Haza’Kedro’Maral Island in the Pirovalen Ocean. It is one of the world’s great financial centers. Many kings and nobles desire control over it, so as to levy taxes upon its wealth. It is also geographically desirable, with high mesas that are ideal for sun-worshipper’s to build their temples. Control of this island is much sought after,” Tanith Orenda said.
“Who controls it now?” Victoria asked.
“No one does. It is in open waters, and any attempt to assert control over trade there would be responded to by many opposing kingdoms wishing to prevent financial advantage from being gained by an economic rival. Hence, it remains neutral,” Tanith Orenda said.
“What am I to report to the Verifier?” Danielle asked the old woman telepathically, referring to the earlier instructions given.
Victoria did not know what was transpiring, as she was not telepathic, and the tiara had to be worn and she had to be standing in – or at least near enough to – the proper water, to have any such powers.
“You are to report that the island does, in fact, have an historical rightful owner. Queen Vasanta ruled that island twenty-three thousand eight hundred nine (23809) years ago. She was a fertile woman, with many husbands, and begat many children. This is all true. You are to add to this report that, in fact, the Warm and Beloved Children of Many Suns are descendants of Queen Vasanta,” Tanith Orenda said, out loud.
At hearing this, Victoria began to understand her plan.
“Leave now,” Tanith Orenda thought, and Danielle read her, telepathically, and then departed.
“This claim of rightful ownership may spark conflict for control over the island,” Victoria said.
“It will gather together several of our enemies, such that we may strike them all at once. In time, the greatness of my plan will become clearer to you,” Tanith Orenda said.
~~~
Danielle wrote into her a book a statement of what the old woman had said. She drank anew of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean from her vial, so as to be energized once again for her journey. She would need to have her telepathic powers always at full strength. They not only allowed her to read minds, but to shield her own from being read by another telepath.
She was escorted by a scout, who shrouded her in darkness using the scout’s own power from drinking the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean. Together, they left the water-worshipper�
��s temple and went to the boat in the hidden inlet. From there, the demon, Matatirot, opened a portal and transported them to the distant Medathero Ocean. Then, they sailed to the land bridge that contained the city of Emeth, and Danielle was left to make her report. The scout waited for her.
~~~
Danielle entered Emeth and entered the Library of Tedorik. There, she met a number of Verifiers, including Alyona and Adele.
“Greetings, visitor. There are many halls in this city for you to visit and conduct research. However, in this library, there is an annunciation room for you to hear public announcements from the Chroniclers, if that is what you wish,” Alyona said to her.
Danielle held out her book and said: “I have report of observations in my book that I wish to be recorded in Emeth.”
“I do not recognize you, so I am confident that you are not a Chronicler of the Oath. Of that I can be even more confident, by observing small details in your mannerisms and attire. I need only check your name against the register of Chroniclers to confirm my doubts,” Alyona said.
“My name is Danielle. You are correct that I am not a Chronicler of the Oath,” Danielle said.
“Are you then an Obscure Watcher? I can deduce that you are not that, either, as they hide in the darkness by drinking the Ikkith Tar Ocean waters. You do, however, drink the waters of the Elanatin Ocean – that much I can tell from the markings on the vial you wear on the chain around your neck. You listen to the thoughts of others, and report on these, I then surmise. Yet, are their thoughts certain to be correct? Whatever is written in your book must be carefully verified,” Alyona said.
“I am a scribe of sorts,” Danielle said.
“I shall verify the writings. If a falsehood is present, it will surface by its inconsistencies,” Adele said, and she reached out to accept the book from Danielle.
“We will remember you. If even a single fact in your book is proven to be false, you will lose your life by bringing lies to this place. Chroniclers know this, as do the Obscure Watchers. Do you still wish to make this report? Before we open this book, you have this opportunity to take back the book and leave, without its contents being subjected to the Verifier’s test,” Alyona said.
“I stand by my writings in this book,” Danielle said.
“Very well,” Alyona said.
Adele took the book and went to her quarters to review it. As she was still under the spell of the violet eyes, she followed her instructions that the book from Danielle was to be accepted. It was rated with a measure of confidence – a number that was greater than zero (0) but less than (1) – which was calculated according to the number of facts consistent internally in the writings in the book and externally with what she knew from her own readings in Emeth.
The confidence rating for the report in Danielle’s book was zero point eight three (0.83). Only proven mathematical theorems were ever allowed to be rated with a confidence of one (1). A document with a confidence of zero (0) was a lie and would not be recorded at all; rather, the presenter of the document would be executed for their deception. Ratings in between zero (0) and one (1) meant that a researcher reading the documents would have to weigh their confidence when combining the information with any other information they found, and be cautious about drawing any conclusions. Emeth was a place of truth, but one of life’s truths was uncertainty, and that had to be accounted for. Mathematical measures of confidence were the means of accounting for it.
After an hour of review, assigning the rating of confidence, Adele returned from her quarters and met with Danielle again, saying: “Your report has been accepted, visiting scribe.”
~~~
At this, Danielle left the Library of Tedorik and made her way back to the ship where the scout was waiting. They sailed out of the sight of other ships, and the demon transported them from the waters of the Medathero Ocean back to the waters of the Ikkith Tar Ocean, near the hidden inlet on Av’Tovenka Island. From there, they left, under the cover of darkness that the scout provided, and returned to the water-worshipper’s temple to report the completion of the assignment.
CHAPTER 11: Baffled by the City of Myth
“If the light on the cavern wall – however far away the wall is over the ocean water – is reflected from somewhere else, we should be able to follow it to the source,” Taesa said, still wondering about the source of illumination that lit her way in the city of Thalkalana.
“Not necessarily. Light can be concealed by darkness, in such a way that its source is hidden, and the light only escapes at the edges of the dark region,” Halina said.
“Then, the light could be coming from any direction,” Taesa said.
“Yes. The glowing cavern walls may or may not be the source of the light. It may even be generated by the light powers of the Lujladia Ocean,” Halina said.
“Someone who drinks those waters would have to be here, then, right?” Taesa asked.
“Yes. However, that’s just one possibility. Another is that the walls are porous, and allow in outside light. Darkness and light are both complex. One is not the absence of the other – they’re opposites,” Halina said.
“The light is powerful and all around us. It seems just as bright in one place as another – not like when you get light from a torch, and you walk away and it seems dimmer in the distance,” Taesa said.
“I know a lot about the darkness, and a few things about the light, but not enough. We should see what it lets us see,” Halina said.
Carried by curiosity, and setting aside the question of the source of the light, Taesa walked through the city of Thalkalana and Halina followed her. The young woman looked about and saw many structures of various sorts, including pyramids and cylindrical towers, other fountains and more of the strange hundred (100) foot tall warrior statues, holding swords and shields, and known by many as colossals.
“The colossals are even here, in this city. I’ve heard different stories about what they are – warriors turned to stone before a great battle, or monuments to fallen soldiers in wars of old,” Taesa said.
“I’ve heard those same stories. I doubt that I know any more than you do,” Halina said. She was telling the truth – the colossal statues were shrouded in mystery. If the old woman knew anything, she hadn’t shared it with her.
“In Emeth, the information is classified and organized and written to be read. I’ve spent years studying there and learned a lot. This city seems to just be a mystery, without any organization,” Taesa said.
“It is mysterious. But it should be interesting to someone like you. Follow me. Let me show you something,” Halina said.
Taesa followed her to an area past the various structures and could see many bright points of light of different colors. As they approached, she realized that there were hundreds of thin glowing crystals – four (4) feet in length – protruding from the ground. There were each several feet apart. They came in various colors: blue, red, green, yellow, violent, orange and indigo. Looking closely, however, she saw some that were black and gave off no light at all.
“These are stunningly beautiful – whatever they are,” Taesa said.
“We call this the ‘garden of torches’ – they’re always this bright,” Halina said.
“Is that where the light on the cavern walls comes from?” Taesa asked.
“No. They’re nowhere near bright enough, not even with all of them shining together,” Halina said.
“How can you be sure?” Taesa asked.
“I can conceal them in the darkness – and the cavern walls still glow. Watch,” Halina said. At this, she exercised her powers of darkness given by the Ikkith Tar Ocean waters she drank. She created an aura of darkness that was wide and the torches all but disappeared from Taesa’s sight. Yet, the cavern did not become dark, and she could still see. After a few moments, Halina eased her powers of darkness and the torches reappeared. “Convinced?” Halina asked.
“Alright. I’m convinced. So what are those dark ones? Did they
burn out?” Taesa asked, gesturing toward the torches that gave no light.
“No, they didn’t burn out. They’re even more interesting,” Halina said.
“What do you mean?” Taesa asked.
Halina reached over and pulled one dark crystal ‘torch’ from the small stone mount in the ground from which it protruded.
“I didn’t know that they could be taken,” Taesa said, surprised.
“They can do more than that. Look,” Halina said, and she held the dark crystal ‘torch’ and waved it in front of one of the bright blue ones, and then, for a moment, both disappeared: Taesa could see through both of them as if neither was present. Then, Halina moved the two apart and they both reappeared.
“What was that? Can you do that again?” Taesa asked, moving in closer to look carefully.
Halina held the dark crystal ‘torch’ in alignment with the blue crystal ‘torch’ and they vanished.
Taesa looked and could see only the portion of the dark crystal ‘torch’ that Halina held in her hand. Everything above it was completely invisible, as was the blue crystal ‘torch’ that was next to it.
“What is happening?” Taesa asked.
“They cancel each other out – the dark and the light, combined, become neutral, and your sight passes straight through them both,” Halina said.
“Is that the same as how the water powers work?” Taesa asked.
“When the powers are equally intense – then, yes. However, if one of them is more powerful, because the water is more pure or the person using it has more innate ability, then one can outshine the other,” Halina said.
“I have no idea what any of these ‘torches’ are for, but they are interesting,” Taesa said, wandering among the ‘torches’, admiring their bright and colorful appearances.
Halina returned the dark one to where she found it, and then asked her: “Can you imagine what it might mean?”
Taesa considered this. The fountains, colossal statues, pyramids, and torches were fascinating, yet she saw no relationship.
“It’s almost as if this is an architectural exhibit from many different cultures – something that Emeth would have. There’s nothing that I can see that connects these things to one another – pyramids, torches, statues, fountains – in a way that makes any logical sense. They each have their own styles and cultural significance, of course. There’s no obvious reason why they’re all here, together,” Taesa said.