None of us will ever forget the day Adir was murdered, or everything that followed.  There was one that stood before the storm and was consumed by the torent of wrath.

Kahlil Vanu Shaa, The Life of Adir Radd

Daru laid a blanket over Ianus’ body.  She brushed her hand over his cool forehead.  She didn’t know what to do.  Not knowing what was wrong with him, she could not help.  She walked over to Ianus’ bag, and rifled through it, looking for his prescience book.

Slowly, she thumbed through the pages.  The sheer number of worse case scenarios that filled the book amazed her.  Hundreds of horrid deaths and nightmarish imprisonments but she didn’t find this.  In fact, she couldn’t even find a reference to the Vaticinars at all in the book.

Arun walked over and crouched next to Daru, “This is all my fault, isn’t it?”

“No,” Daru forced a smile, “He wanted to come here.  He knew the risk that’s why he didn’t want any of us to come with him.”

“He asked me why I told him to go to Tai-wer.  I don’t remember saying it.  I don’t remember a lot of things, but if I did say it...  I can’t let him die.”

“Do you know what we need to do?”

“I thought we could take him back to South Gate for medical treatment.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Valeryn called out, “If we move him, he will never wake up.”

“Do you know what’s wrong with him?”  Daru asked.

Valeryn walked over to her, “I’ve seen this before.  They imprisoned him within a simulacrum, which means they’re still around here somewhere.  If we take him away from them, he will never escape.  He will become a mindless drone, or worse, die all together.”

“Is there anything we can do to help him?”

“We can sit vigil and pray.  This is something he has to do for himself.  We can’t do it for him.  You did do a good job standing up to the Vaticinars.  I don’t think they were expecting that.”

“But Valeryn, they see all,” Daru giggled, “I just don’t think what they do is right.  Why would Fate employ people like that?”

“You can’t imagine how many people think they have been chosen to serve the Enmadra, or even the Raewyn for that matter.  You have to discourage the charlatans.  You know, separate the wheat from the chaff.”

“What if you loose some wheat with the chaff?”

“What would you do if millions of people were running around impersonating members of the Jade Moon, raising armies, leading revolutions, and committing terrorist acts all in the name of the Bahn Se’leen, what would you do?”

“I guess I would do anything in my power to stop them, but I’m not sure I would do the exact same thing Nortia is doing,” Daru sighed, “I guess I see your point though.”

“Why do you think the Raewyn and the Enmadra are so secretive?  It makes people suspicious when someone acts overtly in their name.  This is a hard lesson to learn, but life in the Chian’niu isn’t exactly like temple.”

“I’m learning.  I’ve read about it in the histories.”

“There are many things that don’t fit in a history book.”

“So I see.  How have you kept your sanity?”

“I have served the Empyrean for six thousand five hundred and twenty-three years.  I have seen more than I care to remember.  You get used to it.  The Chian’niu has a logic of its own.  The winds blow, and the waters change.  You have to be able to sense, which way the wind is blowing.  It’s something you learn with time.”

“I hope this isn’t an inappropriate question,” Daru bit her lip, “Did you know Tien Shaa?”

Valeryn pulled back and his cheeks began to shimmer, “Yes, I knew him, and Adir Radd,” he glanced furtively at Ianus.  “I wouldn’t say I was a friend of your lord, but I did meet him.  They were very nice.”

“I’m sorry,” said Daru, “I didn’t mean to make you blush.  I’ve never met anyone as old as you before.  At least, not that I know of.”

“That’s all right.  It’s refreshing to meet someone who still has some curiosity.”

Ianus moaned.

“Don’t worry,” said Valeryn, “If anyone can survive this, he can.  Listen, if the Vaticinars found us so quickly, they must have been looking for him.  If they were looking for him, that means he’s been on their minds for some time.  That means he must be who they think he is.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes, sit and pray if you want to, but don’t be worried.”

“He’s not breathing,” said Arun, holding onto Ianus’ wrist.

“What?” Daru screamed.

She ran over, and rested her ear on Ianus’ lips.  “Don’t die,” she whispered, “Stay with us, we need you.”  She laid her hand on his chest.  “I can feel him breathing!  It’s very faint, but he’s still breathing.

Cythraul led Faroh down a narrow path obfuscated by brush and tall grasses carefully bent and twisted to look like one continuous field.  At the end of the path stood a small, wooden shack.

“Now listen to me very carefully,” said Cythraul in a hushed tone, “This is your final test.  We have come here to consult the Parcae,” disgust filled his voice, “They are the three most gifted augurs in the galaxy.  They will see for me.  They will see if you are worthy of the gift I wish to give you.”

Cythraul knocked on the door. 

“Enter Cythraul,” three female voices intoned together, “And bring your companion with you.”

Cythraul opened the door, and walked inside.  Faroh followed him.

Three ancient women with dirty, gray hair sat behind a battered table.

“It has been a long time since we last saw you, Cythraul,” they said, “We see you’ve found another candidate.  Welcome Faroh.  We have awaited your arrival for many years.”

“You have?”  Faroh asked, “Why have you been waiting for me?”

“You were the one Cythraul would choose to bring to us.  We saw this at your birth.  We have been very interested in you.  Did you know, you have defied your fate three times?  You are very interesting.”

“Will you see for me?”  Cythraul bowed.

“He has potential,” the Parcae looked at each other, “We can tell you what we see, but remember the future is nothing more than patterns of shadow dancing across the wall.  Do you understand?  We will tell you what we see, but we cannot force the vision.  We can see only what we can see.”

“I understand,” said Cythraul

“Do you, Faroh?  Do you understand what has been asked of us?  After this there can be no turning back.  This is your last chance.”

“My last chance for what?”  Faroh asked.

“You stand at a crossroads, but once you have heard what we have to tell you, you will have no other chances to walk away.  If there is any uncertainty in you, you should speak now.”

“What are my choices?”

“That we cannot say.  The forces that propel you forward will take hold of you again once we see for you.  This is your last chance.”

Faroh glanced over at Cythraul and held his breath.  He thought about all Cythraul had told him and promised him.  He knew that every thought was plain for everyone in the room to see.  All of his doubts, all of his concerns came down to this one decision.

He was blind in the face of fate.  Which decision led to salvation and which led to damnation he did not know.  He had no way to find out.

Cythraul knew the truth.  He had taught the truth to Dov Lavan.  Faroh wondered if he might succeed where the Ara’lu had failed.  He knew all his life that he was destined for greatness.  This was his time to embrace his future, not to run.  Cythraul had chosen him.  He was the one to finish the great work.

“Tell me all you know!”  Faroh said, “Tell me everything.”

“Very well, then,” the Parcae closed their eyes.  The candles on the table before them burst to life.

Cythraul fell to his knees and tugged on Faroh to do the same.

A thick fog swirled around the three Parcae, images danced through the mist.  Shadows and light, that was all that Faroh could see, nothing clear, nothing certain.  It was like the projection of a dream.

“We see three sisters, each born of a different mother.  They hold the future in their hands,” the Parcae said, “This one, this Faroh Raanan, he is a key that will open doors thought locked forever.  He is the fire that will ignite the world.

“Beware Cythraul, the future is in his hands for now, not yours.  He is the key that will unlock the gates of Usekht Maati, without him, your future is uncertain.

“He will be the vehicle of the Ara’lu’s return.  That much is certain.  He has potential, there is no doubting that.  What will be, will be.  By his hand, the worlds will be changed forever.

“If you give him what he desires, the galaxy will quake, and the one thought dead will be reborn.  Do not neglect the future.  Flee from the darkness to come, embrace the light that will follow.

“This is all we wish to see.  The future set before us is what will be.  We cannot interpret the signs, they will interpret themselves.”

Darkness as far as the eye could see.  No sky above, no ground below, Ianus floated in the blackness.  He opened and closed his eyes, hoping each time that a world would come into view.

He had lost all sense of time.  He could have been floating for minutes, hours, days, even years, he would never have known.  Time didn’t seem to matter.  Nothing seemed to matter anymore.

This place was a sweet nepenthe.  No desire entered his mind, only the fading hope that he would see Daru again.  Everything else was so far away.  They were part of a different world.

Valeryn floated into his mind, reaching down to pick him up, but Ianus could not reach him.

“Do you know where you are?”  Said a familiar, female voice.

“No, does it matter?”  Ianus replied to the void.

“Yes, my dear boy, it does matter.  Do you know why you’re here?”

“The Vaticinars!  They were testing me.  Am I dead?”

“You may be dead, that is for you to decide.  This is the abyss, the house of despair.  You have been judged and found wanting, hollow.”

“What have you found wrong with me?”

“You came to this place seeking nothing, and you’ve found oblivion.”

“Would it make a difference if I told you I didn’t know I was coming?”

“A joke?  There may be some hope for you yet.  Everyone comes here sooner or later.  Everyone comes to know emptiness.  Now is your time.”

“But I did not come of my own free will.”

“No one ever does.  If given a choice they would prefer a happy life to a real one.”

“A real one?”

“A life of joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, gain and loss.  You cannot have one 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!”  Ianus said, but the word felt hollow.

“You love her don’t you?”

“She is my life.  Without her, there is nothing.”

“Nothing?  Is she the only one?  You are in conflict.”

“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 is 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 Ual-leen 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 somewhere 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 exclaimed, “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.”

Valeryn turned and looked at him.  There was something in his eyes: fear mingled with recognition.

“Who is Nahimanna?”  Daru asked.

“The Bennu you gave me for my birthday.”  Ianus smiled.  “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!”

Fear stole Valeryn’s face, “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!”

Valeryn twisted with pain, “You couldn’t possibly understand.  We are different then you.  I cared for her!  And she loved me.  It didn’t happen the way you think it did.  I held her one night, and she touched part of my soul... I didn’t know about Ihy, 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 was 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.”