Seers of Verde: The Legend Fulfilled: Book One (15 page)

4

Eraphia slumped backward, exhausted. Two nearby aides barely caught her before her head hit the floor. The Seer’s clothes were drenched with sweat. Her hair looked as if she had just stepped out of a bath.

Zasha hurried over to the young woman. She had never seen a Seer look so bedraggled when coming out of a trance. “What is wrong, Eraphia? Why are you in such a state?” the older Seer asked, while the aides toweled her off.

Eraphia took several long drinks of cool water. She blinked for several moments to compose herself and focus her eyes. “The hunter woman is hard to reach,” she murmured, panting from the exertion of reaching such an unusual mind. It was a labyrinth of complexities she had never encountered.

“I can only see faint glimpses through her,” Eraphia whispered. Then a slow smile formed as she stared at Zasha. “But I made her stop finally.” Eraphia grinned at the somber group of Seers who had gathered around her. “I cannot control her vision, but she seems confused.”

Zasha was pleased. “Excellent, my dear. The other Seers tell me they are in control of the male climbers. The hunters all believe the cloud bank is making the mountain impassable. If the woman can be stopped, the men will grow discouraged, too. It does not matter what she sees as long as they turn back.”

The older Seer knelt by Eraphia. “Take some nourishment and get some rest while the hunters sleep. You and the other watchers must be prepared to control the climbers when they awaken. We need the fog to chase them back down the mountain.”

Eraphia nodded. The Seer felt certain she could at least keep the hunter female bewildered enough to make her and the other climbers want to return home. However, she did not tell Zasha of the strange experience from her attempt at contacting the unusual woman.

Eraphia had flashed a brave smile when the older Seer complimented her, but she could not repress the memory of hearing the female climber plead with her to stop. The words were barely a whisper, but the contact sent a chill through her.

Zasha cheered on all the watchers, then left to report the good news to the High Seer.

Eraphia tossed and turned in her sleep. She awoke almost once an hour to check if the other watchers had seen the hunters awaken. All was quiet, however. Only a lone sentinel Seer sat in a trance. At the first sign of activity from the hunters, this watcher would alert the other Seers so they could hurry to make contact.

Shortly before dawn, Eraphia at last fell into a deep, fatigued slumber. Even then her dreams were filled with plaintive pleas for help. The young Seer was jolted awake by the vivid dream. She sat bolt upright, breathing heavily from the disturbing vision.

Eraphia’s unconscious mind had drifted into the watcher state. It reached out for the female hunter the Seer had worked so hard to contact just hours before. Blinking heavily, Eraphia took deep cleansing breaths in an attempt to bring her mind under control, but the same vision — that of a young, blond woman with a vacant expression — stared back at her.

Terror seized the Seer momentarily, but she fought for control. It was to no avail, however — the vision would not go away. “Stop, go away,” Eraphia gasped, pawing the air in an attempt to brush the face away.

A voice in her head almost made her heart stop with fright. It echoed through her brain. “Why you tell me there are clouds when I see sun? Raaf and others see clouds. Do other voices lie to them?”

The Seer was trembling uncontrollably. The terror she had fought back before now swept through her whole body. Never before had she or any other Seer been controlled by another.

“You are not real. I am dreaming,” Eraphia sobbed. Her cheeks were flushed and wet from tears of fright streaming down them.

“I will not listen to you,” the calm voice said. “Stop lying. Stop. Leave me alone. I will tell the others you lie.”

The Seer tried one more feeble attempt to sever contact with the vision. Dread stung her heart as she realized who was speaking — the female hunter. “How can you do this? It is not possible,” Eraphia moaned, rocking back and forth faster and faster in her bed.

Now the vision of Darya smiled. “I not afraid of you. I climb mountain and tell others what I see. I go now.”

The Seer gasped as the vision blinked away. Eraphia felt like a blanket had just been thrown over her head. A suffocating feeling threatened to choke her. “No, stop. It’s not possible!” she screamed over and over again.

Moments later Tarylan aides rushed into her room. They were stunned to find the Seer shaking uncontrollably, her body in a tight fetal position. Less than a half hour later, a concerned-looking Zasha and frowning High Seer stood over Eraphia. The unresponsive young Seer stared straight ahead. She whispered something unintelligible from time to time.

“What in Mother Verde happened to her?” Yseni demanded, shaking her head in disgust.

Zasha shot her friend an angry glance. “Even you could show some compassion for one of our finest Seers,” she scolded only loudly enough for the High Seer to hear. “Apparently the strain to reach the hunter female took a higher toll on her than we were aware of.”

Yseni glared at Zasha. “This talented Seer of yours has failed. Find someone else to make contact with that hunter female or undertake the task yourself.”

Zasha was about to snap back a reply when gasps and moans filled the meditation room. Frantic aides were rushing back and forth, trying to comfort the other ten Seers who were being startled out of their trances.

“What is it? What in Mother Verde is happening?” Yseni barked. After conferring with the aides and speaking to several of the Seers, who were in a state of shock, a pale-looking Zasha turned to the High Seer.

“Our Seers have lost contact with all the hunter climbers. Apparently, the female is leading them through the gap.”

The color also left the High Seer’s face. She turned clumsily to one of the aides. “Bring me the captain of the Tarylan guards. I have a mission for his men.”

5

Raaf stumbled and tripped over every other stone in his path as Darya led him by the hand up the mountain. His frustration grew with his clumsiness and failure to see through the fog that swirled before his face. However, his sister walked gracefully, as if she could see perfectly where she was going. This feeling of helplessness was new to the athletic young man, who had excelled at any physical activity.

Growing impatient at his inability to keep up with his sister, Raaf took a long stride and promptly cracked his shin on a rock. With a yelp of pain, he let go of Darya’s hand, tripped over another stone, and fell to the ground, skinning an elbow. Cursing his misfortune, Raaf rubbed his wounds. He glanced up to see Darya sitting nearby, a half-smile on her face.

The young man started to scold his sister for her amusement at his expense when he stopped and blinked in surprise. Raaf could see his sister perfectly as she sat nearby. A strange feeling swept over him as he realized the fog had lifted. Bright sunlight reflected off Darya’s blond hair. His vision was totally clear as he stood slowly and looked around. The sky was a bright blue. He could see for hundreds of meters away.

“What happened to the fog?” Raaf asked incredulously, forgetting about his injuries.

His sister looked at him as if he were a youngling. “No fog. Darya can see. Can Raaf see now?”

He nodded slowly, still not understanding what had happened.

“Good. I show you now,” Darya said, rising and continuing up the mountain. Being able to see perfectly, Raaf strode along beside her.

However, after walking for several minutes, the young man noticed fog was starting to settle in again. Looking up at the sky in puzzlement, Raaf took his eyes off the path and stepped on a stone wrong, causing his shin to throb slightly. As soon as he grimaced in pain, the fog was gone again. Raaf stopped in bewilderment.

Darya halted, too, and waited for her brother.

“The fog came and went again,” he said, pausing, trying to understand what was happening.

His sister shrugged slightly. “No fog. I can see.”

Raaf started to argue when a thought came to him.

“You could always see, couldn’t you, Darya? You said you saw no clouds or fog,” he said grinning, appreciating his epiphany. “We thought you were dizzy from the altitude, but in fact it must have been the others and me who were affected. Getting hurt must have made my mind focus. Somehow you are not affected.”

Darya cocked her head. She did not understand exactly what he said, but she was pleased he was no longer bothered by the fog. “Did you tell voices to stop, too?” she asked.

Raaf looked at her quizzically, but shook his head no. “Perhaps that is how the altitude affected you,” he shrugged, and then smiled. “The others and I saw what wasn’t there and you heard what wasn’t there. Now I will see no more fog and you will hear no more voices,” he said, rising and gesturing for Darya to continue to show him the way.

Brother and sister walked for less than an hour when they reached the summit. However, instead of being a peak, the mountain angled downward. Raaf stood in wonderment. The gap gently cut through the giant mountain range. He could just make out the tree line on the other side, many kilometers below.

With a shout of glee, Raaf picked up his sister and swung her in a wide circle. Darya swayed a bit from the unexpected dizzy ride, but smiled from the exhilaration.

“We did it, Darya! We did it! We found the way across the mountain. Maybe we can even find the others,” he said smiling broadly, clapping at their good fortune. After drinking in the view one last time, Raaf turned to Darya. “Come, let us lead the circle brothers here.”

¶ ¶ ¶

Juban Caleria was slumped against a rock taking a nap when someone shook him awake. Before he could get his bearings an unseen hand slapped his cheek sharply, causing him to fall. In a fury, Juban jumped to his feet, drew his knives, and looked for the attacker. However, the only person he saw was Raaf, who stood several meters away, grinning at him.

Juban started to protest when he realized he could see Raaf perfectly. Darya stood beside him with an amused look on her face, too. “Where, where is the fog?” Juban stammered, looking around in amazement.

Hearing the commotion, the other circle brothers sprang to their feet, but stared helplessly into space as if they were blind.

“What is happening?” Ganick Nels demanded. “Raaf, is that you?”

Raaf greeted the others then winked at Juban. “They will thank me for this later, I hope.”

Eight more slaps rang out, followed by pained protests and colorful oaths. One by one, the other circle brothers stood looking at each other in plain view. A few grumbled while they rubbed their cheeks, but all were astounded that the fog had lifted.

Raaf grinned and gestured for his brothers to follow. “Come see what Darya has found.”

6

Agusto Harn was shocked at the High Seer’s orders. She wanted him and a select troop of his Tarylan guards to pursue and kill a hunter party that had found its way from across the mountain range. Yseni tried her best to convince Agusto these strangers were a danger to Verdan society.

The Tarylan captain had always carried out the High Seer’s orders without question. But he also was one of many Verdans who believed in the legend of the lost ones. The story of how a small band had sacrificed themselves to save a larger group of colonists from marauders was still told in Verdan homes. Even the powerful Tarylan Seers had not been able to erase this memory from the collective Verdan consciousness.

“With all due respect, High Seer, couldn’t these people be the ones predicted to find us according to the prophecy?”

Yseni was prepared for this reaction. Zasha had warned her any word of strangers appearing from across the mountains would trigger such questions.

“Ah, my loyal Agusto, if only that were true,” she said, exhibiting a benevolent smile. “My most gifted Seers have watched these strangers very carefully. It is our judgment that these invaders are not the lost ones we hoped would join us one day, but they are descended from the marauders who landed and killed them.”

Agusto’s eyes widened with surprise. “Descendants of the marauders? Our brothers from the Earth ship were wiped out?”

Yseni lifted her arms up in a helpless gesture. “Apparently so. These strangers bear no resemblance to our fellow Verdans. We fear their mission is to spy on us and return with greater numbers to attack our people.”

The Tarylan captain was astounded at this revelation, but he did not question what Yseni told him. Every Verdan knew the Seers possessed extraordinary abilities understood by no one except these mysterious women, who were descended from Taryl Bryann, the savior of Verde.

“I will gather my best men,” Agusto said with fierce determination. “We will protect our people from these intruders and also carry out revenge for killing our lost brothers.”

The High Seer fought back the urge to smile. The captain’s reaction was more than she had hoped for. The other Tarylan guards would be much more zealous for this mission. Yseni managed a perfunctory nod. “Very good, Captain. I have faith you will do your duty.”

Enthused by the honor bestowed on him, Agusto started to take his leave when the High Seer stopped him. “Forgive an old woman’s memory, but I forgot to mention there is another unusual situation with these strangers.” Agusto started to blurt a clumsy compliment about her youthful appearance, but stopped himself, coughing with embarrassment.

Yseni smiled. “Don’t worry, Captain, all women enjoy receiving sincere compliments, even Seers.” Her tone then changed. “Remember, Agusto, your orders are to kill all of the intruders.”

He bowed. “Of course, High Seer. I understand.

She held up a finger as a caution. “You and your men may find it difficult to carry this out. The intruders travel with a young woman. A beautiful, innocent-looking female, I’m told.”

Agusto was startled by this revelation. To his knowledge, no Tarylan guard had ever arrested a woman, much less killed one. He frowned but said nothing.

“My Seers believe this woman to be a sorceress. She is the one who is leading the strangers here. If this female is allowed to live, she may return to her people to lead others to us.”

The captain nodded. “I will select men who will carry out any orders. How much time do I have until the intruders reach our valley?”

Yseni shrugged. “We believe they could reach our outer settlements in about eight or nine days. They are traveling fast.”

Agusto bade a brave farewell. “My men and I will make you proud, High Seer.” But his stomach tightened at this unusual order. “Where will I find men who will carry out such a deed?” the captain muttered to himself as he marched out of Yseni’s chambers.

¶ ¶ ¶

Eret Drumlin and Yev Serrat watched in terror as the executioner checked the sharpness of his knife on a blade of grass. The two were tied to separate poles. They were gagged and their hands and feet were bound in tight, painful knots. Even their heads were bound so they could not jerk away and cause a mess when their sentence was carried out.

The two Tarylan guards had been found guilty of raping a young barmaid. The men had spent their off-duty night indulging in the strongest ale they could find. When it came time to close, Eret and Yev refused to leave the small tavern. The poor girl had tried to usher the guards out of the building, but the two drunks had attacked her.

The next morning, it had not taken long for their fellow Tarylan guards to track down the two men after receiving full descriptions from other patrons at the tavern. In their stupor, Eret and Yev had stumbled back to their barracks. The two were arrested. Verdan judges wasted no time in issuing their death sentences after witnesses confirmed their identities.

Crimes such as this were unusual on Verde. But when perpetrators were caught, they were dealt with harshly. Due to the influence of the Seers, penalties for committing crimes against women were severe.

Eret stared wide-eyed and tears streamed down Yev’s face as their sentence of death was read aloud. The executioner stood nearby, his gleaming knife in hand, preparing to carry out his orders.

The judge had just finished the reading when the gate to the small enclosure swung open. The executioner swung around to confront the intruder, but was stopped by a sharp command.

Agusto Harn strode over to Eret and Yev and pulled out his knife. Recognizing the Tarylan captain, the two convicts clamped their eyes shut, fearing he had come to personally carry out their execution. However, Agusto grimaced then cut off their gags.

“You two have one chance to live,” the captain said, his lips curling into a snarl.

“I am picking a select group of Tarylan guards to carry out a dangerous mission. Intruders are headed for Verde Valley and must be killed. One of the strangers is a woman. She, too, must die. If you two accept and carry out the mission, you will be awarded your freedom as long as you never enter Verde City again.”

Frowning, Agusto stepped back and folded his arms. “You have one minute to decide.” Eret and Yev needed no other convincing. With sobs of gratitude, both swore their allegiance to the captain and the mission.

Agusto shook his head in disgust. “If I had another choice I would rather see your blood being spilled for your crime.” The captain proceeded to cut them loose. While doing so, he whispered the same threat to each man.

“If you try to escape, we will find you and kill your families in front of you, and then we will allow the barmaid’s brothers to kill you very slowly.” The two men nodded solemnly and left with Agusto to join the rest of his men.