Joelnar and Rafe directed the wyverns the group was using to land amidst the trees near the Forest of Reflections, the Aurisens’ home. At first the wyverns seemed hesitant, but after circling several times, they finally found a space large enough to accommodate their wings, so could comply with their riders’ command. The beasts gently touched down, emitting a soft grunt as they did, then folded their wings back as they settled in to wait for their riders’ next command.
Once everyone had dismounted, Rafe and Joelnar sent the beasts back to the castle. They didn’t want any of d’Oessler’s men finding the Forest of Reflections because they had allowed the wyverns to linger here. Meanwhile, Marek had found a small depression near the root of one of the larger trees, and was piling his weapons there. Joelnar and Rafe added their weapons to his, then they covered all of them with leaves and sticks. They would have preferred to wrap the weapons in some oiled cloth or other type of protection from the elements, but they could only hope that the scabbards and sheaths would protect the blades for the short time that the weapons would be out here. They had learned the hard way, that weapons couldn’t pass the barrier into the Forest of Reflections, therefore, they had to leave them out here.
One of the last things they did was to pile several rocks together to indicate where they had left the weapons so they could more easily retrieve them when their business inside the Forest of Reflections was finished. That done, they all walked through the dome of light, which indicated the boundaries of the Forest of Reflections, and entered the Aurisen home.
Joelnar was immediately hugged by an anxious Phessari, who was waiting for them as they entered. “I was so worried about you,” she stated quietly. “I am so glad you are back safely.”
Joelnar held Phessari close, relishing the way her curves fit in his arms, “We’re fine, but we’re not so sure about Danaria,” he commented.
Phessari pulled back just enough so she could see Joelnar’s face, “What do you mean?”
He released her from his embrace, “It means we probably need to speak with the Ethereals,” he tugged at the too small collar of the uniform, “but not until I change into something else.”
Marek laughed, “You look like a man attending his own joining ceremony, the way you keep tugging on that collar.”
“Trust me, I will squirm less then, than I do now,” responded Joelnar.
Phessari teased Marek back, “Let us see how well you do on our joining day, dressed in your uniform of leadership.”
It was Marek who now squirmed, and Rafe and Joelnar chuckled at his discomfiture. Marek had promised Joelnar and Phessari earlier that he would do the joining ceremony for them, and Joelnar knew how much that promise meant to Phessari. But Joelnar also knew how, as warlord, Marek was more a man of action, so didn’t really care for the pomp and circumstance required for a joining ceremony.
Rafe threw in his own comment, “I personally can’t wait to change clothes, either. Only it’s not the fit that troubles me, it’s the uniform itself,” he plucked at the insignia on the sleeve. “I hope I never have to wear this hideous thing again.”
Joelnar looked over at Rafe, “I know what you mean. Maybe we should have our own ceremony. A freedom ceremony and we’ll burn these,” he pointed at the uniforms they wore.
“Sounds good to me,” Rafe agreed.
*****
They all headed toward one of the larger pavilions that the Aurisens had let them use while they were in the Forest of Reflections. The tented structure was divided into sleeping chambers, as well as one large central chamber where the companions took their meals and made their plans. The central chamber was filled with cushions for sitting or lounging, and several low tables, which always seemed to contain pitchers of fresh, cold water and bowls with delicious fruits and nuts.
Rafe and Joelnar went into the sleeping chamber they shared with Marek, to change out of the windrider uniforms. The others headed for the central chamber.
“So, did you get the key?” Phessari asked Neerah and Marek.
“Yes, but unfortunately we were not able to bring d’Oessler out to face a tribunal where he could admit to what he has done,” Marek replied standing near one of the tables and reaching for a piece of fruit.
“We’ll never be able to clear Darkwind’s name if we can’t capture d’Oessler,” Neerah stated angrily, plopping down on some cushions.
“Did he get away, then?” Phessari questioned, as she delicately sat on one of the purple- and rose-colored cushions.
“Not exactly,” Neerah sighed, “He fell into a vortex, and when he came back out he was so strong we couldn’t defeat him. Of course, it didn’t help that we couldn’t stop squabbling, either,” and she eyed Marek.
Phessari looked puzzled, and probably would have asked more questions, but Rafe and Joelnar came into the room just then.
“Maybe we should ask the Ethereals,” Joelnar was saying.
“You think they’ll know?” Rafe asked.
“Ask them what?” Neerah queried, breaking into their conversation.
“Ask them if they know anything about closing the gateway and keeping that XirRoq thing from coming into our world,” Joelnar answered.
Phessari looked worried as well as confused, “What gateway, and what’s a ‘XirRoq thing’?”
“Did you require something?” Lillith of Mooncloud, one of the Aurisens that had been helping the companions, came into the central room of their pavilion.
Rafe went to pour himself something to drink, while Joelnar merely said, “We got the key.”
“Shall we go then to release the souls?” She started to turn away, but sensing no one making a move to follow her, she stopped. Turning back to Joelnar she asked, “Was there something else?”
Joelnar cleared his throat as if in preparation to speak, but it was Neerah who blurted out, “There’s something we need to talk to the Ethereals about.”
Mooncloud looked confused, “You wish to speak with all of us?”
“Uhh…no,” Joelnar replied, “What she meant was that we need to speak to the Numinousens.”
“And you would do this now?” She looked at Joelnar, then at each of the others questioningly.
“No,” Joelnar shook his head, “that’s not necessary,” he spoke for everyone. “I think it can wait until after we release the enslaved souls.”
“Very well,” Mooncloud responded. Turning toward to exit the pavilion, she beckoned them to follow her.
Phessari and Neerah got to their feet, as Marek walked to the entry of the pavilion. Joelnar waited for Phessari, and Rafe put the glass of water he had been sipping back on the table. When they got outside, Mooncloud was waiting for them. As a group, they followed the meandering path through the Aurisens’ gardens, which led to the Keeper of the Sanctuary orb and pedestal.
Joelnar noted how much the Forest of Reflections had changed since the Aurisens had returned. The flowers and gardens seemed so much more vibrant and the bird calls much more musical. Also, the sky inside the dome of light was no longer a plain gray. Now, it imitated the world outside, by mimicking day and night—although Joelnar had found that a single Danarian day and night was equal to somewhere around two or three days (and nights) in the Forest of Reflections. Yet, instead of feeling as if the days were speeding by, time spent in the Forest of Reflections seemed slow-paced and easy.
*****
When they got to the pedestal, Phessari watched Mooncloud remove the Keeper of the Sanctuary orb, then accept the black pouch that Joelnar had gotten from d’Oessler. She opened the pouch and removed a tubular-shaped crystal. Carefully, she placed the clear crystal, pointed end down, in the center of the pedestal.
“I will invoke the crystal, releasing those souls trapped by the creator of this key. Those whose bodies are still alive will be drawn back to them by a guiding light or thread. However, those whose bodies are no longer alive, will be directed here, to this key,” she explained.
She looked at each of the companions in turn to make sure that they understood, before she asked, “Who will be responsible for directing the lost ones to their next destination?”
Eyes and heads swiveled as the group looked at each other. It was Phessari who took one step forward, “I will, if you tell me what I need to do.”
“Those without bodies will remain here in this world, lost. They do not know that they are dead since they were not connected with the body when it died. Therefore, they are unable leave until they are told that they need to move on, and shown where to go,” Mooncloud explained.
“Where do they go?” Rafe asked.
“To the transitional plane,” Mooncloud responded. “When someone following the path of physical life, dies, they must transition between the life just ended and their next choices.
“For some souls the life just ended is their last one, so they move on to something else, such as another plane of existence. For others, more lives are wanted or needed, so they must decide what type of life they want. Then, while they wait for the appropriate circumstances to come together for them, they can contemplate some of their previous experiences. When everything is the way they want it, then they leave the transitional plane and take on a new life.”
“How do I direct them to this transitional plane?” Phessari queried.
“Use this,” Mooncloud handed Phessari an iridescent orb about the size of a large marble. “Direct the lost ones to touch it, and it will direct them to where they need to go.”
Phessari nodded, and Rafe reached out a finger to touch the small orb, “Interesting,” he muttered, “it feels tingly and cold.”
No one seemed to have any more questions, so Mooncloud placed her hands above the key and began a slow musical chant. None of the companions could really discern any words to her chanting. It seemed to be just a series of tones that she sang. The inside of the key began to glow and with every change in pitch, the color of the light would change. It shifted from clear, to white, to blue, purple, red, orange, yellow, green, and then cycled through again.
As she increased the rapidity of the chant, the key began to echo her. Finally, the tones coming from Mooncloud and the key joined and became one. The glow of the key became a cascading rainbow, shifting in rhythm with the tones. The tones and colors were mesmerizing and the companions had to force themselves to look away.
When the first misty creature appeared, everyone except Mooncloud was startled and took a step backward. The features of the specter were blurry and soft, but recognizable as a face. The bewildered eyes stared around at the companions looking extremely forlorn.
Phessari stepped forward again, and held out her palm with the small orb in it. “You need to move on now,” she spoke compassionately to the misty image before her. The specter’s eyes seemed to stare beseechingly into hers, and she tried again, “Your life here is done. You must now move on.” She held out the orb encouragingly, “Please touch this and it will help you find your way.”
The misty image reached out a spectral hand, which the orb passed through. A brilliant beam of white light speckled with gold flowed from the top of the specter’s head upward toward the heavens.
The specter smiled and began to fade into the light, it flowed higher, growing indiscernible from the light beam around it. As it rose higher, the light flowed with it until neither the soul nor the light was visible any more.
Phessari repeated this task at least a hundred times before growing weary. Sometimes there was one soul, other times there would be many, but they always disappeared in a bright beam of light.
Eventually Neerah took over so Phessari could rest. The whole group was aghast at how many of the soul-enslaved people had been killed. Neerah did at least a hundred, before she passed the orb onto Marek.
No one had any trouble until Marek was doing the directing. Then one specter came through the key, but refused to touch the orb or leave. It was as if there was something that it wanted or needed, but without a body, it had trouble communicating its need to them.
It finally drifted over to Neerah, where it hovered in front of her. Like a gentle breeze, it moved the tendrils of curls that decorated Neerah’s forehead. Then it placed one of its spectral hands against her lips. When Neerah met the specter’s eyes, she knew who it was. She whispered, “Marmian?”
The specter cupped Neerah’s cheeks with both hands, and smiled.
Neerah whispered, “I love you, Marmian.”
The specter released her and floated back over to Marek where it touched the orb in his hand. Then it disappeared in a beam of light.
The task was eventually passed back to Phessari. Joelnar and Rafe didn’t participate because it was felt that their windrider appearance might be too upsetting. So, they stayed in the background where they hoped none of the lost souls would notice them.
The cycling glow in the key began to slow and fade, as the last of the lost souls was directed to the transitional plane. Phessari was a bit fatigued, and they were all a little depressed and exhilarated at the same time. It had been an interesting yet disheartening experience to see so many ruined and lost lives.
*****
Although, tired and somewhat disheartened, they still needed to meet with the Numinousens as soon as possible, to discuss the open gateway and the possibility of XirRoq coming through. Therefore, they waited as Mooncloud swapped the now depleted key crystal with another sphere. The crystal she placed on the pedestal now, was similar to the one that Joelnar carried, and which lets him contact the Ethereals or open the fold of space in which they lived.
Mooncloud placed her hands around the small, clear globe as it sat on the pedestal. She focused all her attention on the globe, and soon the sphere began to glow with a blue-white light. The glow grew brighter and larger, until it encompassed the pedestal and Mooncloud. A beam of light was emitted from the sphere creating a wavering image of a path lined with trees. They could see some large crystal domes at the end of the path. Joelnar and a trepidatious Phessari stepped through the image finding themselves on the path with the trees and looking back at the others who were still standing around the pedestal. Neerah stepped through next, followed by Rafe and then Marek.
They walked toward the domes, and entered the first one they came to. As Joelnar led Phessari into the domed world of the Ethereals, Phessari stopped and stared in amazement. Luminescens soared above them, frolicking like children. The dome itself was filled with wonderful chords and musical sounds. Rafe also stood spellbound by the majesty and mystery of it.
He whispered to Neerah, “Is this heaven? Are we dead?”
She smiled, remembering her first time and shook her head, “We’re not dead, but it’s very much like heaven.”
Yarrie, one of the Numinousens, a being comprised of golden light and music, entered the dome accompanied by several Luminescens. He floated over to them, since Numinousens only had a vague humanoid shape. He gave each companion a hug, enveloping them in his golden glow. When he hugged Phessari, he lingered a moment before releasing her. Then he looked at Joelnar and Phessari, studying them, before speaking. “So, you found that which was needed to free you from that bubble of space.”
“Yes, and I truly thank you for the wisdom you offered me, then and always,” Joelnar replied.
Yarrie bowed his head, then turned to Phessari and, speaking so only she and Joelnar could hear, said, “You must use caution when dealing with this shape-shifter, for the child within you is very special indeed.
“The child creates a block around you, which prevents XirRoq from possessing you. However, this child cannot protect you or itself from being consumed by XirRoq.”
Phessari gasped and placed her hands protectively over her abdomen. She hastily looked around to see if anyone had noticed, but they were all either whispering to each other or gaping at their surroundings.
At that moment, Lail waved everyone into the next room where cushions and refreshments awaited them. The group entered the room, but Phessari and Joelnar hung back to question Yarrie further, “Do you think this creature will seek me out? After all, the Globe of Souls no longer exists,” Phessari asked.
“That is true. However, this is a creature that feeds on resonance and energy. It relishes the destruction of what you would term positive energy, and does, therefore, seek these energies most vigorously. Your being is of a very strong positive nature. You also carry within you a strong power with the potential for being either positive or negative. To allow this creature to usurp the choice would be ill advised. For he would, given the chance, seek to either corrupt that resonance and energy within you or consume it,” Yarrie chanted.
Phessari clutched Joelnar’s hand, as Yarrie spoke.
“This creature, it can’t hurt her if it’s still on the other side of the vortex, can it?” Joelnar’s concern for Phessari was very apparent.
“Once through the gateway, the creature is very powerful, but then so is Phessari. If it is in human form, its abilities are lessened, as any soul’s would be, for pure energy is always strongest in its natural form. However, the amount of diminishment only decreases the radius of his energies to approximately one of your miles, if unfocused. Phessari and her child are safe, then, as long as they remain outside this radius, but it knows her resonance pattern, and that creates a vulnerability in her. We would, therefore, recommend not, that she in any way seek out this creature,” Yarrie trilled.
“What do you mean unfocused?” Joelnar inquired.
“If he is not directing his energy toward a specific goal, but simply allowing it to be, his reach then is approximately one of your miles. If, however, he focuses his energies toward a specific goal, we do not know how far reaching he might be,” Yarrie answered.
“Will Phessari be safe if she returns to her village?” Joelnar asked worriedly.
“As safe as anyone if XirRoq does roam Danaria,” Yarrie warbled. “For XirRoq has been here before, so knows many tricks and beguilements. However, we would think she would be safest within the Forest of Reflections, for it lies on a convergence of positive energies. This combined with the piece of the Ethereal stone that resides there, makes it the most steadfast of places even against one such as XirRoq.”
Joelnar and Phessari looked at one another with a quiet understanding, before Yarrie led them into the next room. Joelnar and Phessari found a seat near the others, and Yarrie glided over to where Lail and Strill were hovering.
“So if XirRoq does come through the gateway, how do we send him back?” Rafe queried as the others joined them.
“As a being of energy, will he be nearly impossible for you to overcome,” explained Yarrie. “He is negative energy personified. He enjoys converting and subjugating all that is good into a polarization of all that Danaria considers bad. He represents one extreme in the energy and resonance spectrum, an extreme that those on Danaria consider bad or evil. His energies swirl opposite that which most Danarians consider normal. People will find their negative traits exacerbated when he is near. Without a protective energy around you will you find yourselves fighting and hurting each other, instead of him.
“Only a positive energy equal to or greater than XirRoq’s own negativity can nullify him or send him back through his own gateway.
“He is drawn to all energies, but primarily those of a strong positive or neutral power. Therefore, the individual Ethereal stone pieces will draw him because they are extremely positive energies.”
“What are these Ethereal stone pieces?” Neerah asked.
“These are three pieces of the purest positive energies on Danaria. One piece resides in the Forest of Reflections, while the other two reside with those who no longer consider themselves part of us,” Lail responded.
“Part of whom? Part of Danaria?” Marek inquired.
“Although the Aerisens and Aquarians are a part of Danaria, they consider themselves separate from all other races, including that of the Ethereals,” sang Lail.
“We met the Aerisens,” Neerah chimed in. “They were the ones that directed us back to the Forest of Reflections so that those in the Globe of Souls could be saved.”
“Why is it you never spoke of them?” Joelnar asked quietly.
“We spoke not of those who had, at one time, decided to sever their relationship with this plane of existence. For they felt our presence in their lives inhibiting and interfering. Therefore, to name them Ethereals would have been a disservice to their wishes,” responded Lail.
“Do you think they will return to accepting you now?” Neerah asked.
“We cannot say, for it is their decision. We can only let them know that we will always be here should they ever need us,” Yarrie, Strill and Lail sang together.
“Each of these groups—Aurisen, Aerisen, and Aquarian, does hold one piece of the Ethereal stone, which is needed to close the gateway,” Strill chanted.
“That the starstone did initiate the gate, is true. However, this same energy will not close it,” Yarrie chimed. “The gate needs to be closed and, if XirRoq has entered Danaria, does he need to be sent back. This can only be done through the use of that which is most positive—the Ethereal stone. Each group must choose to allow their piece of the Ethereal stone be used. The pieces must be united into the one Ethereal stone. For it is only through the power of this one stone, and those who first opened the gateway that XirRoq can be vanquished and the gateway closed.”
“I tried to close it,” Neerah offered, “I didn’t mean to make it worse by using the starstone.”
“That you increased it, is true, but the creature within would have done so on his own. There is no cause for blame, for XirRoq did reach out and trigger those emotions within you to make you use the starstone,” Yarrie continued.
“To close the gate do you need the energies of three and two combined in one. For only through the combining of all energies will the gate be closed,” Lail answered.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” Neerah tossed up her hands.
“Three energies of a positive nature, combined into one resonance crystal wielded by two, who are as one. Their energies must blend. They must balance both yin and yang, as well as positive and negative, until there is no difference between their energies. For only a blended being of balance can use the Ethereal stone to remove XirRoq from your world and seal the gateway,” replied Strill, looking directly at Neerah.
“You are not in balance nor are you blended, so as great as the danger is in leaving the gateway open, it cannot yet be closed,” Yarrie stated.
“But I’ve been doing the energy and resonance balancings like you taught me,” Neerah asserted.
“This body is balanced, yes, but the full being is not. For to fully balance the being that you are, must you also balance what you have done, thought, and said, with what you will do, think and say. Look to the past to know your future. You are a multi-level being, but you have only balanced one level—the physical being of Neerah. You have not balanced the spiritual being that is a blending of all those beings you have been and will be. You must blend all the levels that comprise you into one being.”
“How do I do this?” Neerah queried.
“To understand the present, must you sometimes understand your past. To reconcile the lessons and the imbalances must you have understanding. To that end, can we show you the past, but you will need to invoke your own memories at key points to truly understand. For your own memories will give you the emotional impact and reasoning behind your actions. It is through the intensity of the remembered emotions that the lessons will become clearest.”
“How can I possibly do all that before the open gateway destroys Danaria?” a distraught Neerah inquired.
“We could use the Pyramid of Echoes,” said Yarrie more to the other Numinousens than to Neerah. “It contains a record of every thought, every action, every event that ever occurred on Danaria. Through its use can you re-experience who you have been and what you have done, so that you may gain understanding and insight into your choices. For once you have seen the how and why of the creation of an imbalance, can you more easily understand what is needed to correct it.”
“How does it work?” Neerah asked hesitatingly, the whole concept frightened her just a little and seemed somewhat overwhelming.
“We do not say it will be easy, for lessons rarely are,” Lail sang, “however, you would need to remain with us for awhile. The Pyramid of Echoes places you inside an event both as observer and as participant, and allows you to once again feel all those sensations and emotions that you did originally when the event occurred. As a participant, you will know exactly how you felt and why, what you were thinking and why you reacted as you did. However, since you are also an observer to these events, you will more easily see and understand the other choices that were available. For once you see what choices you made, and what other choices could have been made can you more easily understand the lessons. Once the lessons are understood by all those who share in the experience, then can the imbalance be cleared.”
“Sounds very much like those dreams the gods gave us when we were at the oasis,” Marek stated.
Neerah nodded, still looking rather worried.
“Do you wish to try this?” Yarrie asked.
“I guess so,” Neerah agreed.
“You stated that the Aurisens, Aerisens and Aquarians each had a piece of this Ethereal stone,” Phessari began, “will they allow these pieces to be blended into one stone?”
“That is a task that we must leave to you,” and Lail looked at Joelnar, Rafe, Phessari and Marek.
“You want us to go around and ask these folks if we can have their piece of the stone?” Rafe asked feeling a bit astonished.
“It requires more than just having the pieces of the Ethereal stone. For to unite the pieces of the stone, a member of each race—Aerisen, Aurisen and Aquarian—must be present. Each representative needs to be there willingly showing their accord to Danaria as a whole, or the pieces will not unite,” replied Strill.
The room was filled with silence as each person thought about the tasks ahead. Finally, Lail broke the silence by asking, “Are there no further questions?”
“Actually, Lail, I do have some questions,” Joelnar interjected.
“As do I,” remarked Marek.
“Then, please, ask us,” Lail smiled.
“If this XirRoq does enter Danaria and he can shift his shape to make him look like anyone, how can we tell which person is XirRoq?” Marek questioned.
“You must see their auras. A true human aura consists of seven layers working together to create the person that is you, but although he creates the illusion of a human form, he will have no aura. As a being of energy, his aura will not exist, because the human form you see is not real, it is just an illusion.”
“So, if we don’t see an aura on someone, we can be fairly certain that it is XirRoq,” Joelnar said.
“That is correct,” sang Lail.
“Can he take on the form of anything and anyone?” asked Phessari.
“He can only take on the form of those beings and creatures that he has absorbed the energies of,” chimed Strill.
“I am not sure I understand what you mean,” Phessari replied.
“What we refer to as energies, you do also refer to as soul,” Yarrie chanted. “He uses these energies as his blueprint in creating the false image. Therefore, can he only absorb the energies of those creatures that are sentient. In your world that would be humans, Aurisens, Aerisens, and Aquarians.”
The companions nodded, then Joelnar asked his question, “How do we find these Aquarians so that we can ask them about borrowing their piece of the Ethereal stone.”
“We can give you little in regards to where on Danaria they dwell, for we no longer maintain a contact with them, as is their choice. However, we can provide you the means of contacting them once you have found where they dwell. We will warn you, though, that they are not predisposed to helping humans, for they have little regard or love of those who live exclusively on Danaria’s surface,” Lail lamented.
“The Aquarians live beneath your Coral Sea, near the Magnetic Isles,” Yarrie chimed, then handed Joelnar a small, blue orb. “Using this will create a bubble in which the holder may travel to the depths below the water’s surface without fear of drowning. For there is where you need to be to contact those called Aquarian.”
“Doesn’t that sound like fun,” muttered Rafe, then had the good graces to look very sheepish.
Neerah, who had remained rather quiet, now asked a question of her own, “Is there any other way to destroy or banish this XirRoq besides using the Ethereal stone?”
“If someone could create a positive energy equal to that of the negative energy possessed by XirRoq, would XirRoq be nullified.”
Neerah nodded, but Phessari caught the change in terms, “You said nullified, not destroyed.”
“Which is what we meant. For it would create a balanced resonance and energy no longer harmful to anyone. Be aware, however, that any such approach would not retain a permanent effect upon this being, for he turns all energy into that which is, to those existing in Danaria, negative. So, while he would be nullified at first, it would remain in effect only as long as it took him to transform the energies.
“Energy cannot be destroyed. It can only be changed into something else. Just as none of you or us can ever be completely eradicated, neither can he. He can be changed, he can be moved, but he cannot cease to be.”
“What do you mean none of us can be completely eradicated?” Rafe asked a cocky grin on his face, “Are we something special?”
“Everyone is something special,” replied Strill, “because everyone is unique.”
“You are all energy and resonance, just as we are. However, you chose to change part of your resonance and energy into a form called a physical body. You use this body to experience life in a corporeal existence. When the body expires, the energy and resonance that is you, continues—it does not die, it does not disappear.
“XirRoq does not create a physical form as you understand it, but he has learned to exist within the corporeal dimension by creating an illusion of a physical form. That is why he is so difficult to defeat. The Ethereal stone is the only way we know of to ensure that he returns to his own world.”
“Whoa, my head is spinning,” Rafe lamented.
Joelnar laughed, “I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes it feels as if there is just too much information to be able to understand it all,” he turned to Lail, Strill and Yarrie, “No offense.”
They nodded to him.
“I think, then, that we should leave before poor Rafe grows any dizzier,” Marek quipped.
“You are staying here, then?” Phessari asked Neerah as Phessari got to her feet.
“Yes. I guess I need to try this technique of theirs if we’re going to get that gateway closed,” Neerah answered.
“Any idea how long you will be gone?” Phessari continued.
“Not really,” Neerah replied. Then getting to her feet, she hugged Phessari, “I really do wish you and Joelnar all the best together,” she whispered to Phessari.
Phessari hugged Neerah back, and felt tears fill her eyes, “Thank you, so much.”
Lail escorted Joelnar, Rafe, Marek, and Phessari out of the dome and down the tree-lined path. When they reached the end of the path, Lail raised his hand-like appendages in a slow, smooth motion. Soon they could see a shimmering image of the Forest of Reflections before them. As the image grew clearer, the companions left the Ethereals’ fold in space to return to their own world of Danaria.
*****
Once they had crossed back into the Forest of Reflections, Phessari noted that the pedestal again had the Keeper of the Sanctuary globe on it, and that Mooncloud was nowhere around.
They returned to the pavilion that they had been using while staying in the Forest of Reflections and Rafe plopped down on some cushions near one of the trays of fruit.
Popping a berry into his mouth, he commented, “Looks like we have our work cut out for us with this gateway. As for this XirRoq character…well, I just hope he stays on his side of the gateway.”
Phessari, having found a decanter of wine on one of the tables, poured some into four glasses. As she passed them around, she asked, “Have you thought about how you want to approach this, Joelnar?”
Marek raised an eyebrow at Phessari, then took one of the glasses from her.
Joelnar was caught off guard at being put in the position of leader, “Uh…I guess we need to talk with the Aurisens and Aerisens. Somehow we need to convince them to let us use their piece of the Ethereal stone to close this gateway.” He took a sip a wine, then sat down on one of the cushions and set the glass on the floor next to him.
“What about the Aquarians?” Rafe queried.
“Good question,” Joelnar nodded.
“Perhaps the Aurisens or Aerisens have more information as to where these Aquarians reside,” Phessari suggested.
“I’ll talk to Ahndraya of Warmwind and her group,” Rafe said with a huge impish grin.
“I’m sure you’d love that,” Joelnar sarcastically replied, a smile tilting his lips upward.
Addressing Rafe, Joelnar said, “Actually, I think you and I need to go back to the Gardens and see the Aerisens, since Dot, Stripe, and Emmy left here and returned home.”
Rafe almost choked on his berry. After a couple of slaps on the back by Marek, which nearly pushed his face into the floor, he managed to ask, “Are you crazy? Those folks tried to skewer me.”
Marek burst out laughing, “That you are so frightened of a small winged-child is very amusing.”
Joelnar, too began laughing, and Phessari smiled while Rafe blustered, “She doesn’t scare me…not exactly, anyway,” he mumbled. Then he gave up, and smiled, too.
Marek, the laughter dying on his lips, turned serious eyes to Joelnar. “I believe I will return to my village.”
Joelnar looked stricken, but hid it quickly, while Rafe continued to munch on his berries, an interested look on his face.
“I believe we must end d’Oessler’s reign of fear,” he continued. “As warlord and warrior, I feel it is my duty to raise the army necessary to do this.”
“Oh, Marek, …” a surprised Phessari started, but seeing his sternly set countenance, she bit her lip and remained silent.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Joelnar asked his friend.
“I am sure,” Marek nodded decisively. “I must gather all Nixian clans together so that we can remove this blight from our world.”
Joelnar stood and walking over to Marek, he offered his hand, “I will miss you, friend.”
“And I you,” Marek responded.
Joelnar wasn’t happy with Marek’s announcement, but he couldn’t deny that Marek was right about d’Oessler—something did need to be done about him. Maybe Marek was right about his being able to gather an army of Nixians, too. “Perhaps we should be accompanying you, then?”
“No. Closing the gateway is also important,” his intensity of purpose was clear in his eyes. “I think it is time that we each pursue our own paths,” Marek said solemnly.
Joelnar nodded, “I would ask one favor before you leave.”
“If I can,” Marek replied.
“Would you perform the joining ceremony for Phessari and I? Here in the Forest of Reflections,” Joelnar requested, “provided the Aurisens have no objections.”
“But Joelnar?” Phessari started to protest.
Joelnar turned to her, “I realize it’s not the ceremony that you had hoped for, but I can’t risk putting you in danger by taking you back to your village. If XirRoq has gotten through the gateway, then he might be able to sense your resonance if you leave here. I love you too much to lose you now, and,” he paused to wrap an arm around her, “I’m not about to start out on another of these adventures without an official pledge to you, first.”
“Joelnar…” she cooed, then kissed him soundly.
“Well, that calls for a drink,” Rafe smiled, then got up and refilled his wine glass. “Anyone else?” he offered the wine decanter around.
What Joelnar didn’t say, was that he also didn’t want to take a chance on drawing XirRoq to Marek’s village. After all, they were still just recovering from a devastating attack by windriders and troopers. They had lost all their buildings and many of their young men. It was one of the reasons why Marek had agreed to accompany him on their quest to find a way to release those trapped in the Globe of Souls. He thought Marek faced a big enough challenge in rebuilding his own village and trying to gather together the different Nixian clans in order to attack d’Oessler, without having to fight off this shape-shifting energy creature once it got free.
“I would be honored to join you two,” Marek pronounced, “whether it be here or anywhere.”
“Thank you, Friend Marek,” Joelnar went over and shook Marek’s hand.
When Mooncloud came in, Joelnar asked her, “Is it alright with the Aurisens if we perform a joining ceremony here tomorrow?”
“We would be most honored to host the joining of the Spiritual Mother with her chosen one,” Mooncloud responded happily.
As the companions discussed their plans, Joelnar realized that he had neither the proper attire, nor any joining bracelets. Ah well, he laughed at himself, at least we’ll be joined.
*****
As dawn turned the sky gold and pink, the men awoke to find new clothing awaiting them.
Marek and Rafe had similar outfits consisting of black breeches, white, large-sleeved shirts, embroidered vests (which looked similar to some of the tapestries that they had seen hanging in the d’Oessler’s castle) consisting mostly of greens and blues. This was capped off with a sash of blue and gold for Rafe, and green and gold for Marek.
Joelnar also found new clothing laid out for him. Although, his outfit had the same basic black breeches and white shirt as those to be worn by Rafe and Marek, the rest of it was more elaborate. His vest was made of some opalescent fabric and trimmed with silver. The vest was actually very light when he picked it up, and, as he slid his fingers slid along the surface of the fabric, he noticed that it felt almost like the finest metals created in the heart of Sanoria. As he reached for the iridescent sash, he saw that the Aurisens had also provided two joining bracelets. They sat on top of the sash, reflecting the rainbows of the fabric. Carefully, he picked up one of the joining bracelets and studied it more closely. The warm, silver metal was shaped into two twining vines. Green leaves, carved from some type of stone, were interspersed throughout the design. The vines started and ended by twisting around a three-banded cabochon. The three bands on the stone consisted of a blue band with white streaks, an amber brown band, followed by another blue band with darker blue streaks running through it in a wave pattern.
As the men finished dressing, Mooncloud came in to see if they needed anything. “You have given us more than I expected,” Joelnar smiled at Mooncloud. “We never expected you to give us new clothes,” he turned for her inspection, “and these joining bracelets are wonderful. Thank you.”
“Thanks are not necessary, although they are appreciated,” Mooncloud bowed her head at Joelnar.
“Can you tell me what the design on the joining bracelets signifies?” Joelnar asked. “It’s beautiful, but I’m curious.”
“The vines are you and Phessari sharing your lives together,” she ran a delicate finger down the silver vines, “the center stone is a blending of sky, ground, and water, all elements that comprise our world, Danaria,” her eyes glowed as she lifted her head and smiled at Joelnar.
Joelnar smiled back, then started to tie one end of his sash to one of the bracelets. After a moment, Mooncloud took the smaller bracelet and looped the other end of his sash through it. Joelnar paused in what he was doing and, studying Mooncloud for a moment, said, “May I ask you a personal question?”
“You may ask, and I will decide whether to answer,” she gave him a shy smile.
“Fair enough,” he nodded, “How is it that you don’t seem overly concerned about mingling with us and doing things for us? Aren’t you afraid of becoming involved in the lives of man?”
Marek and Rafe had finished dressing and gone through to the main room of the pavilion as Mooncloud thought about Joelnar’s question.
She finished tying the bracelet into Joelnar’s sash, then stepped back, “I have already decided to follow the Circle-of-Life-Path, so I am not too concerned.” Her eyes sparkled with an impish kind of joy as she continued, “Perhaps, you and Phessari will even consider allowing me to become one of your children. I would be greatly honored,” she grinned and bowed.
“I uh…don’t know what to say,” Joelnar gulped, “you’re a wonderful person, but I never realized we, any of us, had any say in who are children were going to be or who our parents would be…”
“All things can be completely random or completely planned. The choices are yours to make. I wish to meet the parents I would have prior to birth,” Mooncloud stood with her hands behind her back, her long blond hair cascading over her shoulder, “Hence, my reason for requesting your approval. For I do not think I would care to be a child not wanted by its parents.”
Joelnar was a bit taken aback, “I hadn’t really considered more children,” he answered truthfully. “I’m still trying to get used to the idea of the one that’s coming now.” He shrugged, “I guess I would have no objections to you being a part of our family, provided Phessari even wants to have any more children,” he gave her a half-hearted smile.
Mooncloud bowed a large smile curving her lips, “Thank you, Joelnar. I will look forward to being part of your family.”
When she straightened, a smile still decorated her lips. Leaning forward, she lightly kissed Joelnar’s cheek, then quickly left the pavilion. A slightly dazed Joelnar, sat down on the edge of the sleeping platform, the sash with the two joining bracelets still clutched in his hand.
No comments:
Post a Comment