Doira'Liim (The Beautiful Whisper of the Goddess Saga) (23 page)

     The long years passed, Taetylona seeing her forty-fifth summer before her, and she grew complacent with her place in the world. It was not a path of her choosing, however. Those around her were unaware of her true intentions. They knew not that she had returned to be among them for a reason. A greater part she had than they were privy. Taetylona, long ago during her banishment, had been visited by a spirit of some manner or kind. It was that very spirit that had bestowed unto her her unique abilities. That spirit, for that was the only name she could give it, had also placed on her a task of the utmost importance. The spirit had told her of the birth of a child. The child was to be a herald for a new age. Past and present would collide together to shape the future and the child, according to the spirit, was to play a pivotal role in the coming age.

     So it came to pass that the Sage woman bided her time and did as the Esu believed she should be doing--aiding them. The long years passed and several children were born and still Taetylona looked for a sign that her time had come. It was not until the birth of an exceptionally dark skinned child that Taetylona felt her years of waiting had finally come to an end.

     Talliea Aldis had been born shortly before the wars had broken out in the Southlands. Her skin had been radiant, her hair an ebony and sleek black, and her eyes the most reflective and deep shade of brown. She was unlike any other Esu child, and the Sage woman had known the child spoken of so long ago by the spirit on the plains was the child that had been recently born.

     In secret over the years, Taetylona had spoken with Talliea at every opportunity. She had schooled her in ancient lore, but had ever been cautious about saying too much or of tipping her view of the Esu into a darker perspective. She'd told Talliea of great tales of a people known as the Arnira and sparked an interest in the child for the wider parts of the natural world.

     The knowledge had not all been Taetylona's. The spirit from years past had imparted to her crucial legends and pieces of lore that she was to pass on to Talliea. When Talliea had reached the age of maturity and the clan had left the south to journey to the north, Taetylona had stopped seeking her company and realized she had done all that she could. The interest had been sparked and the fire within for greater answers had been kindled. She had given Talliea a piece of history lost to most of their people.

     Looking into the fires, Taetylona smiled to herself. She had played her part and done as she had been asked. Her life had fulfilled a greater purpose and for that she was glad. Images danced before her eyes and she saw Talliea before her with an enchanting looking woman unlike any she'd ever seen. The smoke blew around her and the images of Talliea and the mysterious woman became like wisps only to be replaced by another image.

     It was of a woman, similar in fashion to the enchanting woman of moments before, but with more age and wisdom. The image showed her silver hair and purple eyes nearly white from age. Pointed ears could easily be seen and the woman was dressed in earth like tones with elaborate jewelry.

    
Cynra.

     The name came to her like a breathy whisper and she smiled to herself again. She knew at once that the image she'd been shown, this Cynra, was someone she was destined to meet. Somehow she knew that their fates were interwoven and they both pursued a path of similar interests.

     "Cynra," she said to herself in a raspy and low voice. "So the pieces slowly move and the game finally begins."

                                                        Chapter 16: Interlopers

     Lao'dahn walked through the forest with easy strides. The wind was chill and the coming of winter hung on the air. Casting his eyes around the rocks and leaves in front of him, he briefly wondered if there would be enough food for the clan to last through the season. When they had left the Southlands, the Esu had packed heavily for the journey to the north, and had even camped out on the fertile plains for several seasons at a time so that crops could be planted and harvested. For many years his clan had been nomads, without a home to call their own and without a land to claim as theirs.

     When the clan had finally come to the borders of the forest and the land around them had become more and more lush, he and the other
Lat'sa'val
had known their trek had come to its end. No longer did they have to spend endless nights and days traveling across the plains. The Northlands, told in high tales as being the home to the elusive and legendary Arnira, was finally the home of the Esu. Lao'dahn did not believe in the fairy tales spoken around campfires. The idea that a race of women with extraordinary powers lived in the forest and cultivated a nocturnal and heathen worshiping society was ludicrous to him.

     As he walked along the forest floor, he used his staff to brace his steps. His destination was the cave he and Markahn had discovered several days past. He still was not certain whether or not Talliea had hidden there, but judging by the fire pit that had shown clear signs of recent use, he was certain someone had. None of the other men of his Order had admitted to using the cave that day or even being aware of its existence. That had left only Talliea as his possible suspect.

     Both he and Markahn had been fairly surprised when Talliea had not returned to camp her first few nights out. Markahn had tried to seem unaffected, but Lao'dahn had seen the lines of worry that had colored his face. His assurances that Talliea would return had not seemed as strong as they had before. Lao'dahn had only offered his understanding to his friend and begun searching the forest for the woman. His excuse for leaving had been to explore and map the area and so the fourth day following Talliea's leave, Lao'dahn found himself heading for the cave to the far west of the Esu camp.

     Walking up the steep incline in the front of the cave, he stopped to appreciate the wide and deep canyon that spread out before him. The sun's light bathed the walls of the formation in a myriad of startling colors and the shimmer of the water far below danced before his eyes. Once again, the thrill of taming the forest and using its many resources excited him. He turned away from the canyon and continued up the slope to the mouth of the cave. The few rays of sunshine that streaked into the cave offered enough illumination for him to see inside.

     There was no burning fire or signs of life. Peeking inside, he sighed in disappointment. He'd been sure he would find Talliea in the cave. As he was about to turn away, the smell of something burning caught his attention. The scent was unusual, but not unfamiliar. It was sweet and earthy and he realized it was a smoke of some kind. Looking back inside, he held out his left hand and murmured a quiet word of power. His hand lit up with a whitish-yellow glow and sent light deeper into the cave.

     Nothing.

     Standing up and looking around the forest, he thought he heard a shuffle from high above in the trees. The smell of the smoke was quickly being carried away on the wind and Lao'dahn wondered if he had imagined it. His eyes strained to see through the heavy branches of the tree he thought he'd heard activity from, but the leaves were thick and the boughs broad. He could not make out anything.

     Twirling his staff between his fingers, he shrugged and began his descent back down the slope. Maybe old Taetylona had used the cave recently. She was nothing if not trouble. Lao'dahn was confident he would find Talliea. Markahn was refusing to look for her, claiming that he had promised he would not and that, by Esu law, he could not do so without dishonor.

     Lao'dahn had been appalled at his idiocy. Talliea was a woman and like any Esu property, he had a right to know where she was. Markahn's weakness continued to baffle Lao'dahn and he could not help but grow to detest the man. He had looked up to Markahn. He had trained with him and become his friend and for what? The man was nearly as useless as a woman!

     It did not matter, Lao'dahn thought. He was doing what Esuval desired. He was going to challenge Markahn's claim and soon. Time belonged to him. But first, he had to find the whore who was responsible for so much calamity. She would be his. The thought of sheathing himself inside her caused his pants to tighten. She would beg him for mercy and he would not grant it. Enough people had begged for Talliea's compliance and her stubborn refusal had led to him searching for her in the woods!

     No, mercy would not be Talliea's saving grace. She was past his mercy or understanding. Like a wild horse, she needed a strong hand to bring her under control and Lao'dahn was that hand; not Markahn and his gentle ways. Looking back over his shoulder at the tree from before, he thought he saw a slight glow coming from near the top like that of a set of eyes, but it vanished before he could locate it again.

     Soon, he thought.

     Soon.

             
                                                        *  *  *  *  *  *

     Sed'dya breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the trespasser slowly walk away from her. She had been unable to sleep since Arizira's departure and had come to
Li'nas Dei
to meditate in hopes of clearing her mind and calming her upset. No sooner had she lit her simple stick of incense then Lao'dahn's heavy and clumsy footsteps alerted her to his coming. Long before the man had gotten within sight of the cave, Sed'dya had snuffed out the incense as best as she could and quickly climbed the nearest tree.

     She'd watched him with a curiosity she rarely felt. Unlike Arizira, she was not one to explore and wonder and question. She enjoyed the natural world like any Arniran, but Arizira's curiosity had never affected her so. As she'd watched the Esu, a man she presumed, searching the inside of the cave, she'd been struck with how very different he was in appearance compared to her own people. He was not graceful and his body was stout and heavy. Dark tattoos lined his skin and several rings could be seen in his ears. His eyes had been deep set and extremely dark.

     The way he moved had been the most disturbing to Sed'dya. He did not walk with the forest. He walked
against
it. His steps had been heavy and loud and offensive. She remembered Arizira telling her that the Esu were remarkable. As she sat down on the branch beneath her feet, she shook her head. The creature she had just witnessed was anything but remarkable. The knowledge that his feet had walked over
Li'nas Dei
ignited a fury in Sed'dya. The Esu were interlopers and nothing more. Again, she worried for Arizira and wondered where she was. Something was amiss with her friend. It was unlike her to leave in such a troubled time.

     Spirit Quest.

     Sed'dya scoffed to herself and looked out over the canyon in front of her. She did not believe for a moment that Arizira was truly on such a quest. No, something else was transpiring and, with the Esu walking freely among the trees, Sed’dya was worried for Arizira.
Li'nas Dei
was no longer a safe haven.

     What else would the Esu defile?

                                                                      *  *  *  *  *  *

     "What do Arniran homes look like?"

     Talliea's question brought a smile to Arizira's face. Despite the chill in the air, Talliea's steps were light and happy and the smile on her lips had been present for most of their walk. The two of them had been walking for nearly three hours, all the while Arizira had shown Talliea different plants and animal tracks and schooled her on various types of terrain and geological formations.

     After Talliea had finished her bath and returned to Arizira, both women had eaten a small breakfast, spoken of their time apart, and welcomed the start of their journey together.

     "We live in the trees, Tah-li. Our homes are built around them so that we may be closer to them. We try to become a part of them and so strive to take away as little as possible."

     Talliea's smile grew even wider. "That's beautiful. Your culture sounds so peaceful." Looking over at her companion as they continued walking, Arizira smiled softly to herself and nodded. "What about Esu homes?" she asked, enjoying getting to learn more about Talliea and her people.

     Talliea shrugged and looked out into the distance. "We make our homes out of stone." Delicate eyebrows raised in appreciation and curiosity. "Your people are stone-shapers?" Talliea nodded and looked back at Arizira. "Yes. Our buildings are free standing, without the support of your own homes."

     "Working stone must be a laborious task," Arizira said, stepping over a jutting rock that slept in the path under her feet. Talliea did likewise and wrapped her cloak tighter around her shoulders. "I would guess so, but I am no expert."

     Arizira frowned slightly. "You are not a stone-shaper, Tah-li?" Laughter answered her question. "I am a woman, Ari. Of course I am no master of stone."

     "Then, what is your skill?"

     "I have none." Arizira faltered. It was hard for her to view Talliea as anything less than who she was. She could see the other woman's potential and still found it difficult to understand a woman who was so unsure of herself. The more she learned of the Esu, the less she liked them.

     "You are late in your coming, Tah-li, but you are not without hope. I shall teach you what I know and perhaps you may even come into skills you never knew you wished to master." Talliea looked over at Arizira and smiled. "Perhaps."