“I will read to you all only the relevant part for now,” she said as she removed a silver tipped pointer from her gown and placed it upon the text.
“A child is born, yet disappears,
a tree is born, and who will hear its lonely cry?
A fire bursts upon the sky,
The maids arise with open eyes,
And change the purpose of their lives,
and who will know the reason why?
And who will know the reason why?”
She closed the heavy cover with a sharp thud, sending small clouds of dust into the air and then she raised her eyes to the group before her.
“This poem comes from a passage in the Tomes that I have been struggling with for years. I have conversed with many others about this, for all of us who study the Tomes believe that this passage is a very portentous one,” she said, breathlessly. “As you heard quite clearly, we are referenced in this section. And what Tamara just said struck a chord immediately. Perhaps our purpose is in fact changing,” she said to the group.
“Your hours of toil have paid off, it seems,” Gretchen commented, shoulders hunched.
“What about the rest of the passage though? Does it shed any more light upon the matter?” Rose questioned.
Bethany responded immediately. “The parts which come before and those that come after are certainly important, but they do not have anything to do with us. In fact, this is one of the very few passages that I have yet to discover that even mentions the maids.”
“Nevertheless Bethany, does the context not illuminate our reference at all?” Angeline asked.
“I do not think that any of this is relevant,” she responded somewhat curtly. “You see, sisters, I believe that it suffices for us to realize that the time is upon us right now, today, this very moment. It could not be more clear to me. What we have been charged to do, to protect the map by securing it in the safest place that we know of, has to now be questioned. And how, my sisters, do we begin to do that?”
“Are you asking us for our ideas, sister?” Dahlia inquired, shy and hushed.
“Or are you going to give us the answer yourself?” Rella concluded the other’s thoughts.
“I am not certain. But I believe that within the next few days, the answer will become apparent to us one way or another. The fabric weaves of its own will sisters, and the loom has caught us in its teeth for the moment.”
“Do you propose that we do nothing but wait for a sign, sister?” Jocasta asked.
“I propose exactly that. But I do believe that it is for Tamara to journey to Oleander and make what inquiries she may of the Lalas. It cannot be coincidence that she spoke the words that revealed the portent of the passage to begin with. The sign will come, whether dear Tamara returns with it in the form of an admonition from Oleander or whether it arrives on the wings of the wind itself,” she said with as much conviction as she could muster.
Emmeline cleared her throat, garnering the attention of the group.
“Are we in agreement then, sisters? Does anyone have an objection?” she asked.
No one disagreed with Bethany’s suggestion except for Tamara herself.
“Must I really go to the Lalas?” she asked in her high-pitched voice. “What will I ask it? What if it refuses to talk to me? Perhaps you should go after all, Violet. You are far more courageous than I am.” Her face was as red as a beet.
“I am certain that you will serve us well, Tamara,” Gretchen responded in a soothing voice, calming the nervous sister. “It is an honor you have earned,” she continued.
“Yes, yes. I know. I realize that. But must I go alone? To whom shall I talk on my journey?” she inquired.
The others all laughed at their sister’s words, lightening the mood momentarily. But of course, Tamara was in reality partially serious. She accepted the role bestowed upon her nonetheless.
“You should get a good night’s sleep sister, if you are going to walk all the way to Nevian tomorrow,” Rella said.
“As should we all, sister. We have had none too many of late,” Emmeline commented.
“This meeting is then adjourned, unless anyone has more to contribute,” Gretchen said as she rose from her chair.
Bethany spoke once again before anyone had a chance to depart from the great hall.
“Sisters. The Tomes were written many tiels ago. They have never predicted the future, but they have eternally shed light upon it. It has always been the responsibility of the interpreters to garner what useful information they offer, though,” she said somberly. She looked from one maid to another as if examining each circumspectly, hoping to discover something in their face or eyes. When she had circled the table with her gaze, she continued to speak. “We have a great responsibility here. We must determine just what we are to do with the map. It may well be that Oleander has no answer for us and that we must realize our purpose entirely on our own. I suggest that in Tamara’s absence, each and every one of us contemplate deeply. Perhaps the design will unveil itself before she even returns.”
“Let us all retire then and heed Bethany’s words. Times such as these require deep meditation. The First willing, in our hour of need one of us may provide sustenance,” Emmeline said in a hushed voice. “With the dawn, Tamara must depart and I assume that we will all be present to bid her farewell,” she concluded, and all the others agreed wholeheartedly.
As the sisters left the hall, Gretchen placed her hand upon Tamara’s forearm, signaling her to remain behind momentarily. When the others had gone, she spoke softly to the loquacious sister.
“I know that you have your doubts regarding your ability to discharge your duty here, sister. It is not unusual to be modest under the circumstances. Had I felt in my heart that our choice was mistaken, I would have said so immediately. You are the one, dear Tamara, who is best suited to converse with the great tree. You are thoroughly skilled in the art of communication and you have never hesitated to speak your mind. Your spontaneity is a gift. Perhaps it will help to shepherd you unwittingly in this, your most important endeavor,” she said.
“I had not thought of it that way, sister. But perhaps you are correct. Of course, I will do what I must,” she replied, with a new sense of confidence welling up within her.
“That is all we ask of you, sister. May the First guide you and keep you.”
“Thank you, sister,” she said, and then she walked from the great hall toward her chamber.
Chapter Thirteen
Elion awoke with a start. He quickly surveyed the surroundings with his senses, listening for something unusual or threatening that would have caused him to rise from his sleep so abruptly. The sky was dark and he could hear nothing strange near or far. He sat up quietly, not wishing to disturb anyone else in the group, as he felt no menace or other reason for concern that warranted a warning.
They were encamped on the western side of the River of Tears, no more than a day’s ride from the gates of Pardatha. When they left the city, they traveled leisurely for the first day, taking in the sights and smells of the lush waterfront, and marveling at how quickly the land had regenerated itself and how abundant the vegetation and animal life was. They also stopped atop the hills to the north, long enough for each traveler to meditate privately upon the gleaming crystal that protruded so conspicuously from the center of the lake. When dusk began to settle in, they chose to camp early, rather than ride late into the evening. Although they all were anxious to reach Seramour, Pardatha and the surrounding countryside held a special place in each of their hearts, and a slight tinge of reluctance colored their departure.
Elion stood up without a sound as was the way of an elf, and he walked into the nearby woods. He was unsure of where he was heading, but something drew him and the attraction was not disturbing in any way. He parted the branches of a beautiful, young Blackmoss tree, carefully pushing the soft but heavy growth apart so that he could continue to walk. As he emerged from the other side of the tree, he entered a small glen of sorts that was ringed by trees of the same kind. The density of the vegetation made the clearing appear as if it was a room with solid walls yet open to the sky. Elion walked directly to the middle of the sheltered expanse.
So much had transpired in the past few months and he had very few opportunities to sit back and ponder it all. It occurred to him at that moment that he no longer felt like a child. All the time with his uncle in the north had taught him much, but the few months in transit to and within the walls of Pardatha had aged him differently. He was too modest to interpret his new insight as wisdom, but surely he was wiser for his experiences. He also felt strongly that he was at the cusp of an era, not the end, and the nervous energy that accompanied all pregnant beginnings was stirring his blood.
As he stood there lost in thought, the trees rustled behind him and Tomas entered the shielded area. For some strange reason he could not explain, the elfin Prince was not surprised. He turned to the boy and nodded, as if he had been expecting him.
“You could not sleep either?” he asked.
“It is not that I couldn’’t sleep,” Tomas replied.
“What awoke you then?” he inquired.
“The same thing that did you.”
Elion was a little confused by the conversation, which was not unusual with regard to Tomas. He often spoke cryptically at first and eventually his meaning became clear. Elion was accustomed to that by now. It was not the boy’s fault. He simply understood the portent of his comments before anyone else did, and they seemed so natural to him that he did not feel the need to explain them further. Tomas’ words were always alluring. They seemed to lead one to an almost nondescript place, and then suddenly, the images would come into focus and the significance would become clear.
“Are you ready to go?” the boy asked the elf.
Elion looked askew upon him, considering the early hour and the fact that the rest of the group was fast asleep. He cocked his head and gazed upon Tomas thoughtfully. Before he had a chance to answer him, Preston pushed his way through the brush and joined the other two. He too seemed a bit perplexed when he came upon them so suddenly, but his confusion rapidly dissipated.
“I did not expect to find the two of you here,” he commented. “Or maybe I did,” he said more to himself than to the others, as an addled expression crossed his face.
“This gathering is no coincidence it seems, Preston,” Elion remarked to him. “There is purpose in this meeting,” he said.
“There must be. It does not feel to me like a chance encounter,” the dwarf responded.
“Chance?” Tomas questioned. “What might that be?”
“Let us not get too philosophical now, young man,” Elion admonished him with a smile. “It is far too early in the day for that. The sun has not even come up.”
Tomas grinned back at Elion, not wishing to burden his friends with his own thoughts for the moment. The three of them were standing near the middle of the clearing and the moonlight illuminated the enclosure as if it were daytime. Preston gazed upward and like a child, he gasped and pointed above.
“Did you see that Tomas?” he asked, eyes alight. “I saw a star shoot right across the sky,” he said, his face full of wonder.
“A sign, perchance,” Elion remarked.
“A good sign, if a sign it is. My uncle used to tell me that a journey that follows the trail of a shooting star is one that will end well. Which direction did it go?” he inquired of the dwarf.
“It was traveling from south to north, maybe a slight bit to the east as well,” Preston replied.
“Not at all the direction we are headed,” Elion observed. “Seramour, in fact, lies southwest. Exactly the opposite way from the star. Did your uncle ever say anything about a journey that goes in the contrary direction? One that heads for wherefrom the star came?” Elion inquired, half joking.
“No, Elion. But I think we are going in the direction of the star’s trail,” Tomas said with no inflection in his voice to indicate that he was saying anything other than what he believed to be the truth.
“Tomas, friend, I just said that Seramour lies to the southwest of here. If we wish to reach my city in a reasonable period of time, we cannot do so by first going in the reverse direction.”
“But we are not going to Seramour, Elion. The three of us have a different journey to make,” the young Chosen replied, as if this news was already known to them all. “Why else do you think we are here together? Chance?” he asked though expecting no answer.
“But what about the others? And what about your brother, Tomas. Mustn’t we aid in his schooling?” Preston inquired, eyes wide.
“We were not called to train him. Have you forgotten that? That task is for Robyn, Filaree and Cairn. Our strength is not needed for that purpose,” he answered.
“How do you know, Tomas? What if they cannot revive him? Could we be of no help in the event that occurs?” he continued.
“If the three cannot revive him, then the answer to your question is ‘no’, we could not assist in that case. Besides, my brother will awaken. He has many things to do in his lifetime.”
“Where are we going then? You know?” Preston continued to query. “Have you known all along?”
“No. I only knew tonight and only after all three of us came together here. I realized once you stepped foot within the shelter of the blackmoss. And it is very clear to me now.”
Elion had stepped back a pace or two and he listened intently to the conversation that the two younger boys had with one another. He walked a bit closer to them both, and then he began to speak.
“I knew too Tomas, that I was not returning to Seramour just yet. I cannot tell you exactly how I knew, or what form that knowledge took within my consciousness. But as soon as I parted the branches and stepped inside this shelter, I was certain of it. But…” he continued, “… unlike you, I have no idea where I should be headed if not homeward. I wanted so badly to return to Lormarion,” he said with much emotion.
“Yes, and I too wished to go to my brother and to your parents who have provided him with shelter and sustenance, and who have willingly risked so much for his sake. What they have done will be long remembered,” Tomas said.
“I always wanted to see the tree city of Seramour. I have heard about it my whole life. It must be marvelous to be so high in the clouds all day. Just like the great birds. Is it wonderful, Elion?” Preston asked.
“It is, Preston. It is glorious. You will see it one day. I am sure,” Elion responded.
“We will all one day celebrate together in the Heights of Lormarion,” Tomas said. “But not just yet.”
“Do you know Tomas, where we must go and what we are to do?” Elion asked.
“I know to whom we must go. But I do not know what it is we seek. I only know that we are the only ones who can do this now.”
“Well then, let us return and inform the others of our departure. Since we must be off, the sooner the better as far as I am concerned,” Elion said.
“No,” Tomas asserted. “They must not know. It is better if we leave now, while they sleep.”
“And not even say goodbye?” Preston asked.
“What harm could it cause to say farewell? They may think that something terrible has befallen us otherwise. They may even forestall their own journey in order to find us. We do not want that to happen,” Elion remarked.
“They will go on to Seramour without us,” Tomas said confidently. “They will know it had to be this way. It is best for them if they do not know in which direction we are headed. And for us too, I believe.”
“What you ask us to do is difficult, Tomas. But, I will trust your instincts. If you truly believe that we must sneak away in the middle of the night without a proper leave taking, then you must have a very strong feeling about it. I know that you would not want to leave Cairn and Calyx in this fashion if you felt that you had a choice,” Elion said.
A sad expression overtook Tomas’ face at the mention of his companions.
“Sometimes it is best for all concerned if the ones you care most about are unaware of the whys and wherefores of your choices,” he said. “You should understand this well, Elion. Did you not secret yourself out of Seramour in order to journey to Pardatha?”
“Yes, Tomas. I did, and I do understand. It remains difficult, nonetheless,” Elion replied. “But, Tomas, I cannot leave with the ring around my neck. It would do them no good to return to Lormarion empty handed. That would not serve the cause. I will return now and place it around Robyn’s neck while he still sleeps. I am sure that I can do so without awakening him. We elves tread lightly when we must,” he commented. “I only hope that Calyx is not lurking nearby. He would surely notice my scent, no matter how quietly I proceed.”
“The Moulant will not give you away,” Tomas commented with his usual surety, as Elion turned to leave. The boy took hold of the elf’s forearm and bent to speak in his ear, “Give the ring to Filaree, Elion. It will not harm her. I fear that Robyn is not the one to safeguard it now.”
Elion looked upon his beautiful face and his expression addled him.
“The Chosen will wonder at my selection. I hope it will not cause animosity amongst them,” he replied.
“Robyn has already touched the ring and it has already touched him. That intimacy might distract him from the purpose of its possession. Filaree will be unconflicted. Her strength is derived from a different source. She will bear it with honor,” Tomas concluded.
“I hope you are right. I would not want to plant the seeds of discontent unwittingly in their very midst.”
“Have no fear, Elion. They are united in their purpose. Besides, Robyn seems to have a particular fondness for the Lady. He will not hold this against her.”
Elion paled slightly at that remark and Tomas seemed to notice his discomfort. The boy made no mention of it though, and he turned away inconspicuously so as not to embarrass his friend.
“I will be back in a short while. My tread shall be light and disturb no one’s sleep. Preston, you and Tomas get the ponies. Meet me on the other side of the hedge, just to the north of where we stand now,” Elion said to the youthful dwarf, after having composed himself once again.
Preston nodded his agreement. The elf then turned, slipped deftly through the heavy moss of the surrounding trees and disappeared.