without the other. If no shadow is cast, there is no form— only light. To choose life is to embrace death. To seek wisdom is to profess ignorance.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Why are you here?”
“I want to stand on my own! I want to live my own life, free of others control.”
“How would you achieve that?”
“I would be strong. I would do what I want to do.”
“Would you free yourself of all responsibilities?”
“No, I have my duty.”
“Duty is submitting to the control of others.”
“I want my own choice.”
“You want to go beyond fear, beyond desire, beyond what is expected of you, so that what you have is really yours.”
“Exactly!”
“But are you really your own? Or do you belong to the universe that gave you form.”
“I do not know.”
Fire filled the horizon, undulating like two wings. Suddenly, a Bennu appeared in front of him.
“Nahimanna?” Ianus gasped, “That was your voice?”
“I told you I am never alone. I told you that if you ever needed me, I would be there for you.”
“How did you get here?”
“I am always with you. Wherever you go, whatever you do, I am there.”
“How do I get out of here?”
“I do not know. You are here to face yourself. Until you can answer that question, you will stay here.”
“How can I find the answer?”
“This test was devised by your mind, you will know the answer when the time comes.”
“What should I do?”
“First, you have to find out if you are alive or dead.”
“How would I know that?”
“Do you have anything to live for? Is there any reason or purpose in your life?”
“Daru!”
“You love her don’t you?”
“She is my life. Without her, there is nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“I can’t imagine my life without her. She has always been there. I’d drift aimlessly without her.”
“Then that is your reason, but it may not be strong enough.”
“She promised she would always be there for me, and she has never let me down.”
“Then focus on her. Listen for her voice, the tender beating of her heart. This is your only chance.”
Kanu Vasin exited the temple and strolled across the grounds. He noticed a large crowd gathered outside the abbey. They were oddly excited. Whispering amongst themselves, Kanu felt that something was wrong.
He walked over to them and recognized the gaunt man standing in the middle of the crowd. “Master Parr,” Kanu said, suppressing his disgust with the man, “What is all of the excitement about?”
Master Parr grinned wickedly, “I was just telling them what I found out about our new visitor?”
“Do you mean Tara? What could be so interesting that you’ve gathered such a crowd around you?”
“She is a murderer! She killed Master Ihy Khem.”
“How would you know that?”
“When I was cleaning her room, I came across an old periapt with strange markings on it. When I was done I looked up the symbols. It was the To’asaa.”
“How do you know it wasn’t a replica?”
“I checked, she was in Shiloh when the attack happened.”
“That hardly proves your case,” Kanu looked around at the others, “I will go and talk to her. Do you know where she is?”
“The last time I saw her, she was returning to her room.”
“Now I want you all to stay here. I will go up and talk to her. This has to be handled calmly and according to the rule. Any accusation of impropriety must be handled one-on-one if the problem persists, more people can become involved. All right?”
With a deep sigh, he pushed his way through the crowd and into the Abbey. He went up the stairs. Stopping in front of her door, he thought about what to say. He knocked on the door.
Tara opened the door, and shifted her eyes, “I know why you’re here, come in.”
“How do you know what I’m here for?”
“I spent yesterday in the Chapel of Prescient Dreams. I got lost, I was looking for the Chapel of Holy Remembrance. I wanted to light a candle for Ihy Khem.”
“I warned you. The signs probably changed.”
“That would explain a lot. To answer your questions, yes, I have the To’asaa in my possession, but I did not kill Master Khem. A man named Faroh Raanan did that.”
“Then why do you have the To’asaa?”
“I stole it… twice. I returned it to Ianus Akeru, and then stole it again.”
“Why?”
“The first time, I had no other choice. I was an associate of Karu Panthera.”
“You are too young. He’s been dead for almost two decades.”
“He’s not dead. He is still kind of alive. I had to steal it, or he would have killed me. I had no idea he planned to assassinate Master Khem. You have to believe me.”
“I do. So why did you steal it again?”
“I can hear it singing to me. It calls me by name and offers me help. I thought, if I took it, it would help me find a way out of the mess I got myself into.”
“Has it helped?”
“Some, it has good advice. It told me I could trust you, that you would help me.”
“It should be good advice. The To’asaa contains all of Tien Shaa’s memories, just as your periapt contains yours.”
“That is the voice of Tien Shaa?”
“It might be better to think of it as his shadow. It contains his memories and personality, not his soul.”
“Panthera said he possessed the memories of Dov Lavan. Does that mean he has Lavan’s periapt?”
“No, Lavan’s periapt is forever lost, but before he died Lavan downloaded his memories into the periapt of each of his remaining followers. It persists among the Ualleen to this day.”
“I was never good with the stories.”
“Don’t worry, I am. If there is anything I can do to help you?”
“I have to make restitution for my crimes.”
“You will return the To’asaa to Master Khem’s family.”
“I have to find them. They are some where on the planet.”
“I will help you. I can log on to the net and look for their tracking signal.”
“You don’t have to help me. It’ll probably get you into trouble. Everywhere I go I seem to do more harm than good. One thing is certain. I have to leave.”
“If you are planning on running away, I can not support you. If you honestly want to set things right, I will do everything in my power to help.”
“I’m tired of running, I can not escape my problems. I have to do something better.”
Ianus floated in the blackness, staring at Nahimanna. She nodded, and began to fly circles around him. The gentle warmth of her flames caused Ianus’ flesh to tingle.
Nahimanna flew into Ianus chest.
Ianus gasped, cold air filled his lungs. He could taste the sweet mist of Tai-wer. A muffled whisper, and distant rustling entered his ears. He could feel the hard ground under his back, and the soft linen blanket over him.
He struggled to open his eyes. Slowly, he saw the night sky and the upper branches of the trees. He could hear sobbing and the repetition of prayers. Fire rose all around his body.
He sat up, and watched with horror as the flames rose with him.
“Ianus!” Daru screamed, “You’re alive!”
He saw her through the curtain of fire, “Yes, I am alive,” he was dizzy, and almost collapsed.
“I was so worried, yesterday, the flames erupted around your body. We didn’t know what it meant, or what to do.”
“There was nothing you could have done,” he could hear his heart pounding in his ears. “Was I still breathing?”
“Barely, what happened?”
“Not now, this is not the time,” he turned his head from side to side. The muscles were painfully stiff. His lungs burned like he had never used them before, and cold aches racked his body. “Death,” he whispered, gathering the strength to speak, “We have nothing to fear. I have stared in the face of death, learned at its feet. I have seen the enemy and know that we can persevere.”
“What are you talking about?” Daru asked.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to explain what I saw, or the things I heard. I could write for a thousand years and never exhaust the horrors and wonders beyond the veil.”
“I don’t understand. Are you saying that you died? Is that why the flames engulfed your body?”
“They were protecting me,” Ianus looked down at the few remaining wisps of fire that danced across his hands, “Without Nahimanna I would have been trapped there forever.”
“Who is Nahimanna?”
“The Bennu you gave me for my birthday. She is so much more than I could have ever imagined.”
“She’s an eidolon, isn’t she?”
“A very ancient one. She was forged before the Jade Moon came into being. She is not limited to the Benben-stone.
“She can travel and see things far and near. She can see into the heart. She has guided the followers of the Holy Enmadra for millennia. It was no accident you bought her. It was planned for a long time.”
“So I was set up?”
“In a manner of speaking, they knew I wouldn’t come here without a nudge in the right direction.”
“So they used me? Who are they? Who set all of this up?”
“The Enmadra have been guiding events to suit their plans. They have been busier than anyone had realized.”
“But why?”
“They sense a new darkness coming and are trying to stop it. So far, they have not been very successful. The future is a very malleable thing. By the time many of their plans were put into place, the players had changed.”
“Nahimanna told you all of this?”
“This and so much more. I understand what has been happening, for the first time. I wish I could explain, but we don’t have enough time. Events are fast getting out of hand.”
Valeryn walked passed them, and stopped, “You’re back?”
Anger flooded Ianus; he scowled at Valeryn, “I know who you are, and what you’ve done! I will not be your puppet!”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“O yes you do! The day of my ascension, you came to visit Ihy!”
“You were the Raewyn the crowd saw!” Tuun exclaimed.
“You and one other came to visit him, to make sure he had done everything you had asked him to do, and to ensure that he was willing to see the plan through. My father died because of you!”
“He was born because of me!” Valeryn snorted.
“O, yes, you are his father, was that part of the plan too. How did it feel to use Lady Auset like that!”
“I loved her! And she loved me. The Empyrean recalled me… ”
“Save it. I was buying your story about the Empyrean. Who would have ever guessed that you are A’nath-ari!”
After Tara had packed her bags, she and Kanu left the abbey and headed toward the Sangrida. Nervously, she stroked the To’asaa in her right hand. What possessed her to put it on, she didn’t know. She needed to be closer to it. She would be leaving the To’asaa behind soon. As much as she loved being in its presence, she had to do what is right.
She didn’t know where to go or what to do. Kanu said he would make sure she got out of the city without incident. He was concerned for her safety. In a way he reminded her of Ianus. He was as concerned about her welfare as Ianus was. It felt good to have someone care for her. No one had ever cared for her before, except for her parents.
The monastery was extraordinarily quiet, and the village lacked the expected foot traffic. Past the village was the field, and the Sangrida.
Four men stood in front of the ship.
Tara could tell by the way Kanu sighed that he recognized them.
“Master Parr,” said Kanu, “I didn’t expect to see you down here.”
“That’s your own short sightedness,” said Parr, “I knew you would try to help that murderer escape. You always were soft hearted. Give her to us, and there won’t be any trouble.”
“She doesn’t know you, I don’t think she would be comfortable with strangers,” he said, looking at Tara, “That is unless you want to go with them?”
Tara shook her head, “I would rather not. I suspect their table manners would disgrace me in public.”
“Table manners?” Parr said, “It’s obvious you don’t understand what I’m talking about, so shut up, and let the grownups talk.”
“I don’t think you should talk to the lady like that,” Kanu stealthily positioned himself to strike. “You should apologize and return to the abbey. You have work to do.”
“Don’t make me laugh! There are four of us, and two of you, it would hardly be fair.”
“I agree, now please return to the monastery before anything happens you will regret.”
Parr and his three companions formed swords with their periapts.
“I would advise you to put those away,” said Kanu, “I do not want to fight.”
The four men advanced.
Tara and Kanu raised their periapts.
Parr and his men stopped advancing.
“What is this?” Parr staggered.
Tara felt something breathing on her neck. She turned around slowly.
A large translucent warrior in full battle armor and a bull’s head on his shield stood with a double-headed battle-axe in each hand. It bowed to her, then scowled at Parr.
“We are not afraid of you,” it snarled.
“We?” Parr squeaked, “I only see one of you.”
“There are more coming if you don’t leave, now!” The warrior snarled, and gave out a thunderous roar. “Leave now!”
Parr reached out for his companions, but they had already ran. “Don’t think, I’m going to forget this,” he mustered before he turned and ran toward the village.
Kanu laughed and said, “Why didn’t you tell me you could summon eidolons.”
“I didn’t know. I mean, I’ve never done it before.”
“You haven’t? This was an accident?”
“I am no accident!” The warrior said, “Good lady Tara called for help, and I came.”
“I am sorry,” Kanu bowed, “I meant no disrespect.”
“None taken,” looking at Tara, “What would you have me do with this one.”
“Leave him,” said Tara
The warrior nodded.
“Do you want to come with me?” Tara asked, “Even after all I’ve been through, and all I’ve done.”
“I know what you’re going through. I’ve had my own share of problems. I will not leave you. Even if you killed me, I would not leave your side.”
Tara blushed, “We should do something about our friend here.”
“You need to dispel him.”
“I don’t know how, I told you I didn’t even realize that I called it.”
Kanu smiled, and raised his hand. Light flashed from the red gem of his periapt. The warrior dissolved into a fine mist.
“You know,” Tara said, “My friend Ianus has a periapt just like that one.”
“A’nath-ari?” Valeryn said, “My dear boy, I am a student of the Parcae. I may wear the red robes, but I do not serve the Enmadra.”
“You are A’nath-ari and Bahn Se’leen?” Daru said, “You are a traitor!”
Valeryn laughed, “A traitor is someone who serves two masters. I do not. I am a student of the Parcae, I serve the camarilla of the Jade Moon, and I am a member of the Raewyn Empyrean. It isn’t as rare as you might think. I know you are new to the Chian’niu, but you shouldn’t be so naïve.”
“Who are the Parcae?” Ianus asked.
“They are three of the greatest seers in the galaxy. They read the future for A’nath-ari.”
“Listen,” said Pryor. “Why are we fighting? There is nothing abnormal about any of this. Ihy had many contacts within the A’nath-ari. He helped many of them get documents saying they were in the Jade Moon. His actions helped them travel more freely and helped him gather valuable intelligence.”
“My father wouldn’t do something like that!” Ianus looked at Arun.
“Remember when I slipped up and told you that Ihy had once been in the Forbidden Lands?” Pryor stepped closer to Valeryn, “He did so to establish communications with the A’nath-ari. They asked him not to tell anyone. He kept his promise. They respect that. You have to remember that nothing is exactly what it seems.”
“And don’t lay the attack on Ihy on my shoulders,” said Valeryn. “That was unforeseen. If we would have seen that coming, we would have stopped it.”
“Why do you trust him?” Ianus asked Pryor, his muscles tensing for an attack, “You seem to be very friendly with him.”
“I have my reasons,” said Pryor. “That should be good enough for you. You either trust me or you don’t.”
Ianus closed his eyes. Events were quickly spiraling out of his control, not that they were ever really in his control.
“I trust you, Pryor,” said Ianus as he opened his eyes, “So I guess I have no choice but to trust you, Valeryn, but there is one condition. No more lies, no more half-truths. I will be honest with you, you will be honest with me.”
“Deal,” said Valeryn, “As a sign of good faith I have to warn you. The A’nath-ari will be coming soon to abduct you and take you to Usekht Maati. It will be better for you if you do not struggle. They will be coming in large numbers.”
“How is that a sign of good faith? ‘You are about to be kidnapped, don’t resist,’” Ianus mocked him, flapping his arms about, “What do you take me for?”
Valeryn sighed, “Well, you can fight them if you want to. That is your choice. I didn’t have to tell you they were coming, but I trust that you will do the right thing. You are too curious to let an opportunity to get to Usekht Maati pass you by.”
“If you think he’s lying,” said Pryor, “Call Tuun over, he will be able to tell you.”
“Tell the others,” said Ianus, “We will give up without a fight. This has to end. Besides, it is a good sign of trust on our part.” He nodded toward Valeryn.
“I’m sorry for all of the double-speak,” said Valeryn, “It was necessary. Maybe, after all this is over, I can come with you. I’m tired of being in a different town every night, and not having a place to call home. If I was with you, I would at least have a room on the ship.”
“I think that would make Pryor very happy.”
“Is that a yes or a no?”
“It’s a yes. It’s been a very long time since I last saw him this happy. That’s what’s important.”
“Family means a lot to you, doesn’t it.”
“It’s all I have.”
“I never had a family. The Raewyn don’t have mothers and fathers like you do.”
“Why didn’t you stay with Lady Auset?”
“Duty. The Empyrean ordered me to leave. I had no other choice. Now, I have to warn you. The A’nath-ari will be expecting me to act a certain way. I apologize in advance.”
Light flashed from behind the tree, striking Aashen, Tuun, and their Ceeri.
Valeryn raised his periapt, Daru fell asleep. The sounds of the A’nath-ari, forcing their way through the under brush, filled the air.
“Blindfold them!” Valeryn yelled, “And call a ship. We have to hurry. There is little time left.”
He stepped closer to Ianus, and whispered in his ear, “Remember, nothing is exactly what it seems.”
Ianus could not keep his eyes open. Everything went black.
Valeryn disembarked from the ship, and watched Ianus and the others being lead away blindfolded. He huffed at the guards, but they didn’t pay him any attention. This was wrong. They shouldn’t be treated like criminals. Valeryn wondered why the Enmadra were allowing this. Something wasn’t right here. There was a strange sense of fear and urgency in the air.
The sunlight glittered on the blond sandstone buildings of Usekht Maati. Brilliantly painted statues and bas-reliefs adorned the buildings and streets. The numerous life-like statues celebrated the many just leaders of the Enmadra.
The Enmadra prized justice and liberty above all other virtues. They would never condone such actions.
Valeryn looked up and down the streets, but he didn’t see one Enmadra. Where were they? This was their capitol city. They should be visible. Maybe they had gone away.
Over the centuries, Valeryn had heard many rumors that the Enmadra had departed Adrakaya. The Empyrean had always told him that the stories were propaganda, but they never substantiated their claims.
He needed to talk to Marnin Akeru, the Prelate of the A’nath-ari.
Walking toward the golden dome of the Basilica, he rehearsed what he would say. Through the door, he bowed toward Adir Radd’s tomb. The carved wooden sculpture of Adir Radd stood proud with his hands folded over his chest.
“What would you think if you were here?” He whispered. “They hardly remember you these days. Don’t worry old friend. I will do whatever I can to set things right.”
Valeryn lit a candle in front of the shrine. Bowing his head, he sighed. What was going on? Where were the Enmadra?
He looked around for Marnin. He was up by the altar instructing one of the acolytes. The man had thin graying hair, and an aquiline nose. Valeryn would recognize him anywhere.
Valeryn approached quietly and bowed at the alter, “Master Akeru, we need to talk.”
“Yes, Master Kamau,” Marnin said, “It is good to see you again. Is everything taken care of?”
“Your goons have taken them into custody, but I don’t understand why. He passed the Vaticinars test. This is his time.”
“Is it really? I know the prophecy as well as you do—but unlike you, I realize that the future is malleable. If he is the red dragon, and I cage him, there is no way for the cataclysm to come.”
“You’re mad! If you take him out of the picture the storm will be worse. I demand to see the Enmadra!”
“No one sees the Enmadra unless they ask… they have not called you.”
“They have left, haven’t they!”
“No, they are still here.”
“Then why haven’t I seen any of them in the streets? Where are they?”
“That is not for you to know!”
“I wear the crimson robe of the A’nath-ari. I remember the day Master Radd was murdered! I helped turn the order of blood from the path of revenge, and helped negotiate your covenant with the Enmadra. I am a member of the Raewyn Empyrean! By the rights granted through our covenant with them, I have a right to speak with them whenever I wish!”
“We will consult with the Enmadra. Should they accept your request, we will call you. Is that all? I have a lot of work to do.”
“No, that is not all! You sited the prophecy. The prophecy states that the red dragon will be a Shedu without the name of the arts. It turns out that he is a maker. He has been initiated and received by the Jade moon.”
“So, he is a maker. What does that matter?”
“It means that the future has changed! The prophecy is no longer reliable. If this has changed, who knows what else has?”
“The Parcae would have notified us if the future was in jeopardy.”
“Don’t be naïve, the Parcae can not interpret their own prophecies. If they did they would loose their gifts. You know that. They record their visions and pass them along. I would bet that you have not read any of their recent books!”
Marnin looked away, “Is that all?”
“You really don’t care do you?”
“I do what I am told. I have not been told to care.”
“Don’t you have a free will? I’m sure you make a great servant, but the A’nathari need a leader. What good are you if you cannot do that?”
“That is enough, get out!”
“O before I forget. The Red Dragon is an Akeru. Ianus Akeru, the son of Hannah and Elkan. I thought you should know.”
“Why?”
“Because he is your family! I hoped that you might have the common decency not to do this to someone you share blood with.”
Faroh was less than thrilled by the sight of the small tree and grass-covered tomb. “Is this it?” He said, “It’s not exactly what I expected.”
“What did you want, a large marble mausoleum, with a gilded sign proclaiming
Cythraul waved his hand, and the stone rolled away from the entrance. Cythraul waked through the small stone archway.
Faroh followed, the torches suddenly ignited. Inside was a small antechamber with a couple of dusty stone benches. Through another door he could see the bones of Dov Lavan. The air was musty and thick with the scent of death.
He couldn’t take his eyes off of the dusty skeleton. Raising his periapt, he held his breath. He could feel the presence of the Ara’lu’s periapt. It really was him. The Ara’lu had died; he had not been translated.
Pain filled Faroh’s heart. What did this mean? Had his faith been in vain? Watching a spider crawl across the skull, he sighed and bowed his head. This Raewyn was Hlachar Cythraul.
“Here we are,” said Cythraul, “I thought you would be more excited.”
“This is a time for reverence. I am trying to show my respect for the Ara’lu. I hope you can understand that. When I was a boy, I used to dream I would come face to face with Master Lavan. This is the closest I will ever come to making that dream come true.”
“O no, soon, you will come closer than you ever thought possible.”
Cythraul walked into the sepulcher. Faroh heard a latch click, and he turned around. In his hand was a dusty black periapt.
“I believe this is what you’ve been waiting for,” he said, as he handed it to Faroh.
Faroh sat down on one of the benches, and rested the periapt on his knee. Carefully, he took off the replica and replaced it with the original.
He gasped, his mind reeled with information as the periapt shared it’s wisdom with him. His muscles twitched as he learned new and better ways to fight, block, and move. A searing pain tore through his hand as the periapt perfected its connection.
Lunging forward, he shot lightning from his fingers striking Cythraul to the ground, “You betrayed me!” Faroh roared, “I served you flawlessly, and when I needed you most you left me to die.”
“The time was not right,” Cythraul said, as he pushed himself to his knees. “You have no idea what would have happened if I would have saved Lavan.”
“You left me there to die, begging for my life from that heretic predicant!”
“I left Lavan to die, not you! Separate the memories. Do not become lost in them! You are Faroh Raanan!”
“I am… I am…” Faroh spun around and looked at his hand. He closed his eyes and struggled to remember. “It is so real. Like it happened to me. I can remember everything. I can remember the first time I met you. Both times.”
“Breathe, just breathe. It may take a while, but you will remember.”
“Don’t try to weasel your way out of this! You have to pay for what you’ve done.” Faroh’s face distorted with rage.
“I will pay for my sins, but now is not the time. Wake up, Faroh, come back to me.”
Lightning cracked from the periapt again throwing Cythraul up against the wall.
“I’m not afraid of you anymore, but you might still be useful to me. Serve me and I will spare your life.”
“I wouldn’t serve the Empyrean, what makes you think I’ll serve you?”
“Because I don’t have an ethical pr