Post by Solana on Nov 25, 2014 17:14:32 GMT -5
Chapter Twenty-Four- Storm's Aftermath
See how calm the surface of the water is? That was me once. And then (throws in a stone) the water ripples and churns. That's what I became- Xena
But if we sit long enough, it'll go back to being still again. You can go back to being calm- Gabrielle
But the stone's still under there. It's now part of the lake. It might look as it did before, but it's forever changed- Xena
Xena Warrior Princess
Solana re-entered her chambers after a long healing bath in her tub with a blissful smile on her face. A filmy yellow robe made of the ultra-soft fabric called sea silk enveloped her, and a good book, (spelled to stay dry), was in her hand.
One of the things that she had missed the most from her pampered tenure here was her bathroom. Marble pillars were cut in Atlantean style, the clam-shaped tub could probably hold three of her, and there were enough bath salts and oils and creams to fill two apothecary shops.
A whiff of lavender followed her as she looked around the rooms she had lived in for thousands of years. Oriana and the others had gotten her and Aryn's chambers cleaned up and livable again as a welcome home present and the Water Chambers were fully as luxurious as her bathroom. Silk drapes streaked in all colors of the ocean billowed over the glass doors that led to a small balcony facing the Tethys, one of her favorite reading areas. A few bookshelves lined the walls, (to hold some of her 'personal favorites'), with tapestries and dance veils hanging in between. A section of the floor was made of bamboo to practice dance or combat moves. Scattered throughout the room were aquatic features- desk fountains, clear pillars filled with water shot through with bubbles, and an indoor water garden with its own waterfall. Water lilies and aquatic orchids floated on the surface of the water garden, filling the room with a heavenly scent, while tiny colorful guppies darted beneath like shooting stars.
Solana settled on the rocks edging her garden, wincing as her nearly-healed back gave only one protesting twinge. She set down the book and picked up a small box of food to sprinkle in the water for the beautiful fish, who came swiftly to the surface. She then picked up a brush to get to work on her hair as her memory went over the past few weeks since Bachlan's defeat.
Despite everyone's best efforts, Merna had not come away completely unscathed from the Great Rebirth attempt. The Guardians had been kept very busy setting everything right as much as they could in those places that had felt the brunt of Bachlan's anger and blindness. Oriana, Trista, Raoul, and Eziban had gone on trips to all corners of their world to repair and heal what they could alongside their people, with Solana and Aryn joining them as soon as they could.
In many ways, Joshua had the most difficult task. He had been keeping up a constant stream of correspondence with all the leaders of Merna, many of whom were demanding to know exactly what had happened in the Guardianship. He had immediately canceled all tribute payments and declared that the Guardians would no longer be manipulating their world's forces to suit their people's desires. Exactly what direction they would be taking now had not yet been decided.
Today, the Guardians would be hosting a meeting with all of Merna's leaders to discuss their future, and also reveal everything that had happened with the Guardianship and the essences since the Great Birth. Solana tugged on a stubborn snarl as she thought about that last part again. There would be no more secrets, no sweeping anything under the rug. It would be a fresh and honest start to whatever their road ahead would hold.
She heard her best friend's favored knock on the door. "Come on in!"
Aryn stepped inside, armed and dressed in sweaty practice clothes as if she'd just gotten out of a match. Her hair was hanging in loose waves down her back in preparation for washing. Her gaze darted around the Water Chambers, and she shook her head a little as if still unable to believe that they were truly back yet. Her movements were still a little stiff after Bachlan's pain-awakening spell, but like Solana she only needed one or two more healing sessions to be back to normal. Solana was happy to see Aryn recovering, compared to recurrent nightmares of her false death.
"How are you holding up?" Aryn asked kindly, then suddenly sniffed. A knowing grin appeared. "I know that lavender smell. Almost back up to par?"
"Nearly. Oriana started a slow healing, and I've been boosting it from time to time, but you know I recover faster in water. I'm still having nightmares and headaches, but Oriana thinks those should be going away soon. How about you?" Solana asked, patting the rock next to her. Aryn accepted the invitation and plopped down, then tried to fingercomb some of the snarls out of her hair. Solana picked up her brush again and gestured to Aryn to shift so that she could get to work untangling the fiery and night black locks.
Aryn shrugged, but there was definitely a smirk on her lips. "Ezi and I have been sparring every day to get my muscles loosened and the nerves functioning perfectly again. The first day, that punk got four hits on me before I could do a decent parry, but I'll have the last laugh soon."
"You always do," Solana pointed out, and they laughed together. There were so many times that it had been proven true over the years.
Now that things had finally quieted down, there was something more to be said. Solana opened her mouth, but Aryn knowingly cut in. "You're welcome, and no, you couldn't have done it without me."
Solana gasped. "How do you always know?"
Aryn chuckled. "Because I know how you think by now," she said, keeping still as her friend worked a small knot out of some strands. Solana had to admit that it was true enough. "Besides, I was the one who couldn't stop Miniki's forest fire in the first place, which showed that I had plenty of learning to do, too. When you had the guts to tell Bachlan off right to his face, well, I figured that you were on a better path than anyone else in here."
"And the fact that I couldn't have done it alone?" Solana had to ask.
"Oh, THAT was obvious," Aryn replied teasingly, half-turning so that Solana could see her grin. "SOMEONE had to keep you out of trouble. What I want to know is, how did you ever manage without me for four thousand years?"
Solana smiled up at her best friend, who always understood her mind and had her back. She'd wondered that same thing herself for the past sixteen thousand years. A part of her life had become far more complete when this mischievous young noble had joined their ranks. Whatever was to be decided today, some things would never change. "If you had known all that we would be in for, would you still have come with me?" she asked, tapping Aryn to face forward so that she could finish her brushing.
"Definitely. It was quite a ride you took us on, but it was worth it," Aryn answered without hesitation. She leaned back a little, lost in her thoughts for a few moments, then added, "Maybe I should have tried knocking out Eziban and hauling him along, but I guess things had to be this way to work out as they did."
"I'd wondered about that over time, whether you'd regretted coming with me and leaving him behind," Solana confessed.
Aryn chuckled a little, waving her hand in dismissal. "Nah, call it more of a wake-up call. Stare death and universal destruction in the eyes enough times, and you get a better idea of what you really want out of life. Or whom you want around for it."
Solana giggled. "It should be interesting, to say the least."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Aryn assured her, then rose and shook out her hair. "Thanks. Time to go hop in the bath before that big meeting, I guess. Can I borrow some of those lavender salts?"
"Plain lavender sea salts, or mixed with orange or rose or-" Solana began mischievously.
"Whatever's good for easing muscles," Aryn cut in quickly.
Solana nodded and went into her bathroom. She found a glass bottle filled with plain salts, then added a few drops of a few oils and a bit of her power. After a few good shakes, she brought it out to her friend. "Lavender mixed with arnica and neroli. If you're still having any issues tonight, let me know."
"Will do. Thanks, and see you at that meeting," Aryn replied, tossing the bottle from hand to hand as she went for the door. "Don't forget to put on that overgown embroidered with all the pearls and aquamarines that makes you look like a coral reef," she added on her way out.
Solana hid a shudder. She'd sell that gaudy abomination and all the others out of her Guardian wardrobe the first second she could and put the money towards something useful. "You should add those ruby and garnet-studded silk gloves that make your hands look more dainty," she called back, remembering how Bachlan had told Aryn that Guardians were not supposed to have hands callused by swords and roughened by washing vegetables and taking things out of hot ovens. Aryn's response had negated any possibility of 'dainty' being in her vocabulary.
Aryn gave a snort audible even from the hallway outside. "I sold those things way back in Onrac to pay for our stay with the mermaids. At least I got some use out of them!"
Solana rubbed her temples wearily as she returned to the common room with the others after the meeting with Merna's leaders. She felt like a few dozen angry sea lions were staging a bellowing contest in her head and it was an all-way tie. No wonder Kiel had enjoyed retreating to the Great Library for some peace and quiet after dealing with politics all day.
The meeting had started off well enough, with Solana telling the true story of the Guardianship's origins. Liam had brought along Tesla's mem-gem so that all could see the truth for themselves. She and Aryn had told why they had left, Oriana and Eziban spoke of their work in the Crystal Citadel, and all had reiterated their journeys and stories until Bachlan's defeat.
That was when all verbal hell had broken loose.
Those leaders who had sided with Bachlan all this time were furious at having been duped, and angrily demanded to know why Liam had not brought forth the mem-gem before. Those who had seen hints of Bachlan's true character tried to defend the elf leader. Several leaders were demanding that the Guardians turn over their essences (though not everyone agreed as to whom), while one emperor suggested that they all be put to death for their crimes against Merna and was quickly hushed. All wanted to know what the Guardians planned to do next.
Somehow Liam had gotten into a heated discussion with the emperor of Monsee, while the empress was quarreling with the duchess of Mila. A few leaders had been taking potshots at the nomad speakers, not thinking them important enough to be here, and some of the heads of sprawling farming countries had been loudly wondering what would be done to safeguard their crops if storms and tornadoes would now be allowed. Sayuri had tried to calm them down, while Rakaj had chosen to defend the nomads by tossing back a few choice insults at the bullies.
Even the Guardians hadn't been immune to the hostilities. After hearing the introductions of all the attending, Aryn's eyes had narrowed at Kuro and Atolla as she remembered that this couple had tried to execute Solana. Her temper had smoldered during their discussions and she had unconsciously fingered the hilt of her blade while staring them down.
Quick-thinking Eziban had lured her to the kitchen with the excuse of getting more refreshments and had sealed her in there until the meeting was over. Aryn had threatened to blast the door and anyone standing near it to kingdom come, and could have easily done so, but Eziban knew his old friend's temper well and waited her out.
Finally, Joshua suggested that perhaps everyone needed a good night's rest to absorb what they had been told and to get a fresh start the next day. Though the leaders had been invited to enjoy the Citadel's spacious hospitality, they had elected to stay in camps underneath the crystalline fortress and would return the next morning. Joshua escorted them downstairs and teleported them to the ground, while everyone else trooped off to the common room for their own talk.
A somewhat mollified Aryn came out of the kitchen with pots of tea and sake and cider to pass around before she settled on a poofy cream-colored couch next to Solana. Oriana and Trista were nestled in their favorite chairs, while Joshua joined Eziban and Raoul on another sofa. The mood was somber, to say the least.
"Well, THAT was a waste of time," Trista muttered crossly, pouring herself an enormous glass of tea and beginning to gulp it down.
"Our people are frightened, Trista. Most of them had no idea as to how close they came to being killed, while those who did cannot forget the damage that Bachlan caused while attempting to begin the Great Rebirth," Oriana explained tiredly, after having nearly collapsed into her chair. Away from their visitors, the other Guardians could see the fatigue and strain in her eyes now revealed.
"They have every right not to trust us, for it was partially our own fault that Bachlan became what he did," Raoul stated, toying with Malika's beaded feather hanging around his neck.
Heated glares and biting protests greeted this pronouncement, but Raoul held up a hand for silence. "Think a moment. Think of every time your heart protested an order, a mission, or even Bachlan's manner of interacting with our people. Think on how many times this feeling was ignored, and Bachlan's wishes were carried out."
"He is correct," Oriana agreed, her mind calling up several occasions. "After Bachlan came to power, he grew very used to having his commands obeyed. I believe that Elder Ezekiel of Atlantis was the first to successfully deny him his wishes, and the second was you, Solana."
Silence filled the room as everyone thought back, faces filling with grim realization or slowly growing pale. The debt they owed Merna, piled high with thousands of years of misguided 'protection' now had the cultivating of Bachlan's corruption tacked on. It had grown to an appalling height.
"So, we screwed up. But now, when we're trying to figure out how to NOT mess with Merna anymore, no one's saying anything useful or supporting that. How have our people evolved into such a bunch of sheep?" Aryn snarled, slamming a fist on the couch arm.
"It is because there is now a power vacuum." Joshua replied patiently.
Aryn blinked in confusion. "Vacuum?"
Joshua nodded. "While Bachlan was alive, he served as a figurehead. People looked to him for guidance and trusted him to clean up after their mistakes," he explained, "With his death, there is no one to look to and no one to blame. The children of Merna have been pushed out of the nest, so to speak."
"But we can't just pick another Guardian of Memory. That's not going to fix everything," Eziban protested.
Another Guardian of Memory... Solana wondered again at the relief in Bachlan's eyes when the memory essence had left him. The purpose of it was to remind one of the task of looking after their world.
But then, was it really so necessary? The sea creatures knew not to damage their home. The elves in Deynain had attained a level of sustainability that was equaled by few civilizations that Solana had come to know in her travels. The nomads had perfected a way of life that impacted very little of each their temporary homes. Her Atlantean culture was based on harmony with nature.
She looked down at the fat magical book in her lap that had accompanied her and Aryn on their journey from the very beginning. There was forty years worth of information all vividly describing the ways that cultures from all ends of the Universe had lived on and interacted with their own worlds. She had written down what had worked or not worked for different peoples, and why. All of their experiences were ripe for the picking for a world that desperately needed a new direction.
Maybe they already had all of the needed pieces- it was just a matter of putting them together properly.
"We do not need another Guardian of Memory," she said suddenly, gazing up at her colleagues. Everyone stared at her, waiting to hear her thoughts. "It is time to start a new era, where all our people work and pool their knowledge together. They must be taught, and have a place to come to with questions." She smiled as the answer came to her. "We'll build a school."
"How the blazes are we supposed to do that?" Aryn asked cautiously. The boys murmured to each other.
Solana was on a roll, and as her idea took shape more and more pieces came to her mind. "We need an expert in these matters," she answered calmly, "Someone who is used to directing people, as well as knowing how people and nature can work together. Someone who is neutral to the various politics of Merna. Someone trustworthy."
Hope blossomed in Joshua's eyes as he considered it. "You know such a person?"
Solana nodded, as Aryn grinned in realization at exactly who was in her best friend's mind. "I do," the Water Guardian answered, rising from her couch with a deft sureness. "If you'll excuse me, I have a letter to write to a dear old friend who may have a few ideas to help us."
Aryn, Trista, and Raoul also got up, each having their own business to attend to. "Don't blow up anything in my kitchen while I'm gone," Aryn advised everyone staying behind, keeping her eye on Eziban. He winked at her in reply, promising nothing.
"If we're certain on this, then I should leave as well," Raoul added, his hand touching something in his pocket.
Trista didn't say anything, but went to her chambers for something before following the others down the stairs.
Eziban glanced over at Joshua. The man had been speaking his mind a lot lately compared to the past, and his mask seemed to have cracked at last. There was only one way to be sure. "Joshua, Oriana, what do you say to a poker game?"
Joshua looked startled, then smiled. "Do you wish to wager for money or prestige?"
Eziban reached into a pocket on his vest and yanked out a leather bag, then tossed it onto the table with a loud 'clunk'. "Might as well make it worth it."
Joshua in turn reached into an inner pocket of his white robes and withdrew a thick canvas bag of coins. "Indeed."
The two looked at Oriana entreatingly. She leaned over to open a drawer on the side of the heavy table and fished out a deck of cards, then a silken bag from a pocket in her sleeve. "May I deal first?"
Trista had gone alone to a tall cliff jutting over the Boreas sea far from the Crystal Citadel, a trysting spot that she and Bachlan had used often over the years. Soft trees draped in flowers and fruit were dotted amongst the fragrant bushes and grasses that still grew this high. This place still reminded her of the their first trip together through the Shenioka Plains, when she had seen the wonder of a future in that sky, those distant horizons, and a pair of brown eyes that softened only around her.
The pearly gray light of false dawn gave a faint glow to the clouds above her. The winds dancing over the waves and up to the cliffs caressed her mourning silks of lavender and gray around her thin frame as if to comfort her. Her amethyst eyes were red-rimmed from tears, but that strange serenity that she had felt during the battle hadn't left her heart. She was finally ready to let the Bachlan she had known and loved go in her own way, and away from the eyes of the others.
In one hand she carried a small dried violet. This was the very same blossom that Bachlan had given her on their way to the Crystal Citadel to make her a Guardian. Trista had dried the flower to keep always.
While it still looked the same, it was now dry and fragranceless. The violet had been left behind in her chambers the day that Bachlan had stolen their power and Oriana had saved them, and she was amazed to find how different it seemed now.
Or perhaps it was the changes wrought in her own heart.
Trista gently touched the blossom to her cheek, thinking back over the millennia of love she had shared with the man who had saved her and given her a new life. She understood them both a little better now. What had drawn them together was each giving the other what they wanted. Bachlan had become the hero figure she had dreamt of, and had given her affection for the first time she could remember. Trista had given Bachlan the full-hearted loyalty that he thought he deserved, that had eased the burden of the visions from Merna and any doubts from stealing his power from the Deynain elves.
But it hadn't been enough. Because in love, it was important to give and receive what was needed. Trista needed more than affection- she needed a partner to grow with, and one that would complement her own strength. For all that they had shared, Trista had been subservient to Bachlan, and it always would have been so.
As for Bachlan himself, something had happened during that last battle, that she was certain the others (except for maybe Solana) were unaware of. When Bachlan had offered her his power, she had been linked to his thoughts as well. She had felt his shock when she had in turn offered that link for Solana's use to defeat him, to finally set him free the only way she could.
In a single moment, he had considered harming her to cut off that connection to Solana, to prevent his defeat. Considered... and ultimately rejected. He hadn't wanted to cause her any more pain, and had accepted the ramifications of that single decision. Perhaps now in the afterlife he knew the peace that had eluded him for twenty-five thousand years.
Trista sighed and stared up at the clouds. Bachlan had helped her become a Guardian and set her on a path to give back to that world that she had given her first allegiance to. He had given her happiness and taught her that she was worthy of being loved. For all of her emotions about what he had done to the elves and the Great Rebirth attempt, there would always be a glow of gratitude tucked in her memories of him.
Trista held up one hand with the violet and summoned the winds, which came more swiftly than ever to her call. A small cyclone of air built up around the Air Guardian, moving faster and faster. The flower lifted out of her hand and joined the cyclone, whirling in a kind of dance. Dried petals were shaken off of the tiny wrinkled stem and swirled in the air.
Trista then threw her hand forward, commanding the small cyclone to carry the flower to the sky of the world she guarded. Purple petals crumpled under the pressure of the whirling air as they rose, then got smaller and smaller until they were swallowed up by the oblivion of the endless skies. For just a moment, the breeze softly caressing her face carried a faint hint of expensive frankincense, just as Bachlan's best robes always had...
The honest glow of the rising sun poked above the horizon at just that moment. Long, slanted rays kissed the sky and the land and the sea, as if to awaken them all to the glories of a new day. Those same rays touched Trista, giving a golden glow to her skin and alighting the hope in her heart.
A small smile touched her lips that for the first time also showed in her eyes. The last chain around her spirit had been removed, and for the first time in millennia she was free to choose her own path. It was time to write to Nessa and make a few arrangements.
"Rest and know peace at last, beloved. Dream of the day that we will be together again," Trista murmured quietly. She blew a kiss to the heavens, bowed for the last time, and left the cliff.
A door cracked open, allowing a small shaft of torchlight to enter an otherwise gloomy room. A large man sat on a bench, staring at his half-burned and chained hands, his expression completely masking his thoughts. At the noise, Mensun looked up in confusion before his face shifted to anger at the identity of his visitor.
"I said I want to talk to Mensun alone! Wait out here!"
"But, Lady, our orders were to-"
"I don't care- this is going to be rocky enough as it is. Sheesh, you guys gotta trust my judgment sometime." With a scowl, Aryn slammed the door behind her and set a large canvas bag she'd been carrying onto the floor.
Mensun glared at her as he rose, rattling his chains warningly. "Have you come to gloat because you defeated the Lord of Memory? Have you come to demand I beg your forgiveness? Or am I to be put to death?" he asked.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but it's none of the above. I just came from asking Mother Owl to let you go," Aryn replied coolly.
"Wh-what? Let me go, after I tried to kill you?" he asked in shock.
Aryn sighed and nodded, crossing her arms. "Look, I know what revenge is like. It's a drug that allows you to bury your pain and anger at yourself into an all-consuming hatred for someone else. The trouble is? After that target is gone, you're back to blaming yourself. It's a nasty, terrible business, and no good comes of it."
"Done it yourself, have you?" the nomad asked suspiciously.
"No, I watched my best friend go through that," Aryn answered, eyes troubled.
"What DO you want, then?" Mensun asked, a bit curious now. "I assume you didn't come to tell me a sob story, or to boast of your generosity."
"Nope. I want you to do something that will help both of us," Aryn replied. She dug into her bag and grabbed out a small globe of obsidian, then tossed it to him. Mensun caught it and turned it over in his fingers, wondering what the point of it was.
Aryn got a look of concentration on her face, and the globe suddenly flared with brilliant scarlet light. Twenty seconds later, it flashed bright yellow, then went dark. "What is this thing? What did you do?" Mensun demanded, holding the globe away from his body.
"That's a volcanic eruption detector. It turns red three days before an eruption, yellow when you have one day left. I raised the magma in the channels below us to prove it works," Aryn replied.
Mensun snarled, ready to throw the dark glassy ball back at her. "It's a little late for this to be a peace offering. Why would you want to rub it in like this-" he spat.
"No, no! What I want you to do is take all of the ones that Eziban and I made and bring them to the rest of your tribes. Tell them how they work, and make sure that each tribe gets two. Let us know if you need more, but I asked Lady Owl how many tribes your people consist of, so we should be good," Aryn explained quickly, holding up her hands in defense.
Mensun glanced down at it again, his eyes softening. "You really mean it," he said in wonder, "Even though you say what happened wasn't your fault, even with everything going on, you still made all of these for my people."
"I know they can't take away your scars, and I'm sorry for that. Oriana's also offered to take a look at you, to see if there's anything more she can do," Aryn said sincerely. "But, if these can help this from happening again, then that's something. Will you do it?"
Mensun nodded, then paused. His eyes narrowed. "You already told Mother Owl you wished me to be free, even before you asked me."
Aryn nodded with a grin. "I figured you'd do it. Take care of yourself, Mensun," she replied, then started for the door.
"Aryn." The Fire Guardian turned around. "Do the same. You have a lot of work to do," the nomad stated stiffly.
"Will do," she replied, and left him to his thoughts again.
Mensun picked up the bag and looked at the dozens of globes sitting inside with a look of wonder. No one would have to know the pain he had lived and fought through, if these did work. If he had slaughtered the Lady of Fire as intended, he would have denied his people this chance at safety.
He tried the door, somewhat surprised to find it unlocked. A few guards who were talking outside quickly hushed and turned to him cautiously. One pulled a key from a ring at his waist and unlocked Mensun's chains. "I would like a horse saddled, and an escort to see Mother Owl. I must inform her that I will be making a very important journey," the nomad said humbly.
Liam was sitting in his chambers, staring at the mem-gem that Tesla had left behind. Bachlan's truth was now known to the world, and his people had been avenged through Raoul and their own help with the Sacred Stars and teaching Oriana some of the secrets of the essences. Deynain need no longer be a fortress, but would be sharing their arts and knowledge with the rest of Merna, the way that Raoul and Malika had always dreamed.
Still, there were a few more pieces of business that had to be tied up.
He heard happy shouts and greetings outside. Hearing the cries of joy from his granddaughter, he smiled and decided to let her enjoy the reunion with his guest in peace. There would be time enough to chat, and past time for happiness among his people.
Sooner than he had expected, Raoul knocked politely and was invited inside. The Thunder Guardian held out his hand, but Liam clasped his forearm warmly. "Welcome back, son of our people. You have all done very well."
"Thank you, Liam. After all that has trangressed, your words mean more to me than you'll ever know," Raoul replied quietly.
Liam poured out two mugs of their finest mead and offered one to his guest. Raoul accepted and sampled it, enjoying the rich flavor of the honey-apple beverage that was a specialty here. Liam took a hearty gulp and let out a happy sigh. "Cheers. What is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
Raoul flushed a little, still not quite used to making speeches. "The others and I, well, we've been doing a lot of talking. Not just about Solana's idea for a new university, but a lot of other things. We all came to an agreement about this." Reaching in his pocket, he pulled out the chunk of quartz swimming with gray power.
Liam's eyes widened. "The memory essence..."
"Yes. We're giving it back to you after all of this time. We want you to hold onto it until Merna selects a Memory Guardian, if ever." Raoul offered the small gem to the elf leader.
Liam glanced down at it. It was for this that so many of his people had given their lives to protect over time, and it was because of this loss that Deynain had tried to become an isolated haven all this time. After twenty-five millennia, it was finally being rightfully returned.
No, that wasn't quite accurate. Rightfully offered, yes, but it no longer belonged to just the elves. Liam reached out and closed Raoul's fingers over the quartz. "No, Raoul. That doesn't just belong to us anymore. Keep it at the new school you're planning to build."
Raoul was thunderstruck. "But... but it rightfully belongs to you! After Tesla died... after everything that's happened..."
"It is no longer only our mission to work in harmony with our world, Raoul. Thanks to what you have done, the goals of the Guardians and elves are now one and the same. Perhaps with the Water Guardian's vision, it will one day be that all of Merna's children will be brought together that same way."
Liam then picked up a leather case that had been sitting at his feet and set it down on the table. Raoul leaned in a little closer as Liam opened it up and began to take out dusty and aged books. "What's all this?" the Thunder Guardian asked softly.
"Deynain's final secrets," Liam answered seriously. He selected a certain book, seemed to hesitate a moment, then finally handed it over.
Raoul accepted it and opened the cover, reading to himself under his breath. He suddenly paused, and looked over at Liam. "These are secrets of the essences." His face softened. "You didn't want Bachlan getting a hold of this information, in case we lost. This is how you were able to teach Oriana how to split her essence."
"Yes. When Bachlan raided our temple on that fateful day, he stole only the essences and left these texts behind," Liam explained, fingering the cover reverently. "These were given to us along with the essences by the world's own spirit when we elves first stepped foot on this world and kept hidden under the temple's floors. Bachlan's spell erased the existence of these as well as our mission from our minds and histories after his attack. They were to be lost to history."
"Long ago, my great-great-great grandmother Enlila tore down the temple after a storm had razed it. When clearing the large stones, she found these texts and understood instantly what had happened. She made the decision that they would only be passed down from elf leader to elf leader, that we would have a trump card against Bachlan and..." Liam hesitated.
"Us," Raoul filled in blandly.
"Only if need be," Liam explained hurriedly. "As a token of our respect for Oriana for our lives after the magic school incident, I shared with her a very, very few of the techniques outlined in these books. One she used to split her essence and hide it. Another showed her weaknesses in the memory essence and allowed her to build shields against it. These should help you unlock even more mysteries of your powers. If Bachlan had only known..."
"Now you trust these to us, as well as keeping the memory essence for its true bearer," Raoul murmured, staring into his mug as he mulled this over.
Liam took another sip of his mead, thinking over how to share his last piece of news. Well, he had been given as good an opening as any. "I believe that Tesla would be very happy to know that the essence and these treasures are being protected by one of his own blood."
Raoul turned white, his gaze traveling to the bronze circle that once more adorned his wrist. Understanding dawned in his eyes. "The mem-gem. Tesla had a bronze bracelet on his wrist...this bracelet."
"Yes." Liam unrolled the yellowed piece of parchment he'd found a few days ago in their Hall of Records, anchoring the corners with small stones. The parchment contained a family tree containing hundreds of names in tiny yet legible writing. An intricate yet odd design ran up and down the edges, identical to that of the bracelet. "Here's Tesla near the top, and his wife Irene. You can see their children, and so on for hundreds of years."
Raoul tapped a blank area under one branch. "What happened here?"
"Some of our people left Deynain throughout the years, not wishing to remain rooted in one place. We do not have records for them." Liam's voice turned apologetic. "I am sorry, Raoul, but this is all I can tell you about your past. As for your parents, grandparents, any siblings.... those I do not know. But the tree rightfully belongs to you, as evidenced by that bracelet."
Raoul traced the beautiful knot-work on the parchment with a reverent finger. He smiled at Liam with a hint of pain in his eyes. "This is so much more than I ever expected to learn, Liam. But I think... I think the time has come to start focusing on the future, rather than the past."
"Have you selected your future, my boy?" Liam asked coyly, having a pretty good guess of what the other man would say.
His blush verified it. "Yes, Malika and I have been making plans. She wishes to see more of Merna, and I want to be with her when she sees some of our world's glories for the first time."
Liam nodded approvingly. "My granddaughter is a woman grown, and has proven to be wiser than me by far. I expect to see the two of you back in time for the Rite of Wisdom." He picked up the pitcher of mead and topped off his and Raoul's mugs, and the two clinked them together. There was much to celebrate, but somehow the simple gesture managed to capture the feel of them all.
See how calm the surface of the water is? That was me once. And then (throws in a stone) the water ripples and churns. That's what I became- Xena
But if we sit long enough, it'll go back to being still again. You can go back to being calm- Gabrielle
But the stone's still under there. It's now part of the lake. It might look as it did before, but it's forever changed- Xena
Xena Warrior Princess
Solana re-entered her chambers after a long healing bath in her tub with a blissful smile on her face. A filmy yellow robe made of the ultra-soft fabric called sea silk enveloped her, and a good book, (spelled to stay dry), was in her hand.
One of the things that she had missed the most from her pampered tenure here was her bathroom. Marble pillars were cut in Atlantean style, the clam-shaped tub could probably hold three of her, and there were enough bath salts and oils and creams to fill two apothecary shops.
A whiff of lavender followed her as she looked around the rooms she had lived in for thousands of years. Oriana and the others had gotten her and Aryn's chambers cleaned up and livable again as a welcome home present and the Water Chambers were fully as luxurious as her bathroom. Silk drapes streaked in all colors of the ocean billowed over the glass doors that led to a small balcony facing the Tethys, one of her favorite reading areas. A few bookshelves lined the walls, (to hold some of her 'personal favorites'), with tapestries and dance veils hanging in between. A section of the floor was made of bamboo to practice dance or combat moves. Scattered throughout the room were aquatic features- desk fountains, clear pillars filled with water shot through with bubbles, and an indoor water garden with its own waterfall. Water lilies and aquatic orchids floated on the surface of the water garden, filling the room with a heavenly scent, while tiny colorful guppies darted beneath like shooting stars.
Solana settled on the rocks edging her garden, wincing as her nearly-healed back gave only one protesting twinge. She set down the book and picked up a small box of food to sprinkle in the water for the beautiful fish, who came swiftly to the surface. She then picked up a brush to get to work on her hair as her memory went over the past few weeks since Bachlan's defeat.
Despite everyone's best efforts, Merna had not come away completely unscathed from the Great Rebirth attempt. The Guardians had been kept very busy setting everything right as much as they could in those places that had felt the brunt of Bachlan's anger and blindness. Oriana, Trista, Raoul, and Eziban had gone on trips to all corners of their world to repair and heal what they could alongside their people, with Solana and Aryn joining them as soon as they could.
In many ways, Joshua had the most difficult task. He had been keeping up a constant stream of correspondence with all the leaders of Merna, many of whom were demanding to know exactly what had happened in the Guardianship. He had immediately canceled all tribute payments and declared that the Guardians would no longer be manipulating their world's forces to suit their people's desires. Exactly what direction they would be taking now had not yet been decided.
Today, the Guardians would be hosting a meeting with all of Merna's leaders to discuss their future, and also reveal everything that had happened with the Guardianship and the essences since the Great Birth. Solana tugged on a stubborn snarl as she thought about that last part again. There would be no more secrets, no sweeping anything under the rug. It would be a fresh and honest start to whatever their road ahead would hold.
She heard her best friend's favored knock on the door. "Come on in!"
Aryn stepped inside, armed and dressed in sweaty practice clothes as if she'd just gotten out of a match. Her hair was hanging in loose waves down her back in preparation for washing. Her gaze darted around the Water Chambers, and she shook her head a little as if still unable to believe that they were truly back yet. Her movements were still a little stiff after Bachlan's pain-awakening spell, but like Solana she only needed one or two more healing sessions to be back to normal. Solana was happy to see Aryn recovering, compared to recurrent nightmares of her false death.
"How are you holding up?" Aryn asked kindly, then suddenly sniffed. A knowing grin appeared. "I know that lavender smell. Almost back up to par?"
"Nearly. Oriana started a slow healing, and I've been boosting it from time to time, but you know I recover faster in water. I'm still having nightmares and headaches, but Oriana thinks those should be going away soon. How about you?" Solana asked, patting the rock next to her. Aryn accepted the invitation and plopped down, then tried to fingercomb some of the snarls out of her hair. Solana picked up her brush again and gestured to Aryn to shift so that she could get to work untangling the fiery and night black locks.
Aryn shrugged, but there was definitely a smirk on her lips. "Ezi and I have been sparring every day to get my muscles loosened and the nerves functioning perfectly again. The first day, that punk got four hits on me before I could do a decent parry, but I'll have the last laugh soon."
"You always do," Solana pointed out, and they laughed together. There were so many times that it had been proven true over the years.
Now that things had finally quieted down, there was something more to be said. Solana opened her mouth, but Aryn knowingly cut in. "You're welcome, and no, you couldn't have done it without me."
Solana gasped. "How do you always know?"
Aryn chuckled. "Because I know how you think by now," she said, keeping still as her friend worked a small knot out of some strands. Solana had to admit that it was true enough. "Besides, I was the one who couldn't stop Miniki's forest fire in the first place, which showed that I had plenty of learning to do, too. When you had the guts to tell Bachlan off right to his face, well, I figured that you were on a better path than anyone else in here."
"And the fact that I couldn't have done it alone?" Solana had to ask.
"Oh, THAT was obvious," Aryn replied teasingly, half-turning so that Solana could see her grin. "SOMEONE had to keep you out of trouble. What I want to know is, how did you ever manage without me for four thousand years?"
Solana smiled up at her best friend, who always understood her mind and had her back. She'd wondered that same thing herself for the past sixteen thousand years. A part of her life had become far more complete when this mischievous young noble had joined their ranks. Whatever was to be decided today, some things would never change. "If you had known all that we would be in for, would you still have come with me?" she asked, tapping Aryn to face forward so that she could finish her brushing.
"Definitely. It was quite a ride you took us on, but it was worth it," Aryn answered without hesitation. She leaned back a little, lost in her thoughts for a few moments, then added, "Maybe I should have tried knocking out Eziban and hauling him along, but I guess things had to be this way to work out as they did."
"I'd wondered about that over time, whether you'd regretted coming with me and leaving him behind," Solana confessed.
Aryn chuckled a little, waving her hand in dismissal. "Nah, call it more of a wake-up call. Stare death and universal destruction in the eyes enough times, and you get a better idea of what you really want out of life. Or whom you want around for it."
Solana giggled. "It should be interesting, to say the least."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Aryn assured her, then rose and shook out her hair. "Thanks. Time to go hop in the bath before that big meeting, I guess. Can I borrow some of those lavender salts?"
"Plain lavender sea salts, or mixed with orange or rose or-" Solana began mischievously.
"Whatever's good for easing muscles," Aryn cut in quickly.
Solana nodded and went into her bathroom. She found a glass bottle filled with plain salts, then added a few drops of a few oils and a bit of her power. After a few good shakes, she brought it out to her friend. "Lavender mixed with arnica and neroli. If you're still having any issues tonight, let me know."
"Will do. Thanks, and see you at that meeting," Aryn replied, tossing the bottle from hand to hand as she went for the door. "Don't forget to put on that overgown embroidered with all the pearls and aquamarines that makes you look like a coral reef," she added on her way out.
Solana hid a shudder. She'd sell that gaudy abomination and all the others out of her Guardian wardrobe the first second she could and put the money towards something useful. "You should add those ruby and garnet-studded silk gloves that make your hands look more dainty," she called back, remembering how Bachlan had told Aryn that Guardians were not supposed to have hands callused by swords and roughened by washing vegetables and taking things out of hot ovens. Aryn's response had negated any possibility of 'dainty' being in her vocabulary.
Aryn gave a snort audible even from the hallway outside. "I sold those things way back in Onrac to pay for our stay with the mermaids. At least I got some use out of them!"
Solana rubbed her temples wearily as she returned to the common room with the others after the meeting with Merna's leaders. She felt like a few dozen angry sea lions were staging a bellowing contest in her head and it was an all-way tie. No wonder Kiel had enjoyed retreating to the Great Library for some peace and quiet after dealing with politics all day.
The meeting had started off well enough, with Solana telling the true story of the Guardianship's origins. Liam had brought along Tesla's mem-gem so that all could see the truth for themselves. She and Aryn had told why they had left, Oriana and Eziban spoke of their work in the Crystal Citadel, and all had reiterated their journeys and stories until Bachlan's defeat.
That was when all verbal hell had broken loose.
Those leaders who had sided with Bachlan all this time were furious at having been duped, and angrily demanded to know why Liam had not brought forth the mem-gem before. Those who had seen hints of Bachlan's true character tried to defend the elf leader. Several leaders were demanding that the Guardians turn over their essences (though not everyone agreed as to whom), while one emperor suggested that they all be put to death for their crimes against Merna and was quickly hushed. All wanted to know what the Guardians planned to do next.
Somehow Liam had gotten into a heated discussion with the emperor of Monsee, while the empress was quarreling with the duchess of Mila. A few leaders had been taking potshots at the nomad speakers, not thinking them important enough to be here, and some of the heads of sprawling farming countries had been loudly wondering what would be done to safeguard their crops if storms and tornadoes would now be allowed. Sayuri had tried to calm them down, while Rakaj had chosen to defend the nomads by tossing back a few choice insults at the bullies.
Even the Guardians hadn't been immune to the hostilities. After hearing the introductions of all the attending, Aryn's eyes had narrowed at Kuro and Atolla as she remembered that this couple had tried to execute Solana. Her temper had smoldered during their discussions and she had unconsciously fingered the hilt of her blade while staring them down.
Quick-thinking Eziban had lured her to the kitchen with the excuse of getting more refreshments and had sealed her in there until the meeting was over. Aryn had threatened to blast the door and anyone standing near it to kingdom come, and could have easily done so, but Eziban knew his old friend's temper well and waited her out.
Finally, Joshua suggested that perhaps everyone needed a good night's rest to absorb what they had been told and to get a fresh start the next day. Though the leaders had been invited to enjoy the Citadel's spacious hospitality, they had elected to stay in camps underneath the crystalline fortress and would return the next morning. Joshua escorted them downstairs and teleported them to the ground, while everyone else trooped off to the common room for their own talk.
A somewhat mollified Aryn came out of the kitchen with pots of tea and sake and cider to pass around before she settled on a poofy cream-colored couch next to Solana. Oriana and Trista were nestled in their favorite chairs, while Joshua joined Eziban and Raoul on another sofa. The mood was somber, to say the least.
"Well, THAT was a waste of time," Trista muttered crossly, pouring herself an enormous glass of tea and beginning to gulp it down.
"Our people are frightened, Trista. Most of them had no idea as to how close they came to being killed, while those who did cannot forget the damage that Bachlan caused while attempting to begin the Great Rebirth," Oriana explained tiredly, after having nearly collapsed into her chair. Away from their visitors, the other Guardians could see the fatigue and strain in her eyes now revealed.
"They have every right not to trust us, for it was partially our own fault that Bachlan became what he did," Raoul stated, toying with Malika's beaded feather hanging around his neck.
Heated glares and biting protests greeted this pronouncement, but Raoul held up a hand for silence. "Think a moment. Think of every time your heart protested an order, a mission, or even Bachlan's manner of interacting with our people. Think on how many times this feeling was ignored, and Bachlan's wishes were carried out."
"He is correct," Oriana agreed, her mind calling up several occasions. "After Bachlan came to power, he grew very used to having his commands obeyed. I believe that Elder Ezekiel of Atlantis was the first to successfully deny him his wishes, and the second was you, Solana."
Silence filled the room as everyone thought back, faces filling with grim realization or slowly growing pale. The debt they owed Merna, piled high with thousands of years of misguided 'protection' now had the cultivating of Bachlan's corruption tacked on. It had grown to an appalling height.
"So, we screwed up. But now, when we're trying to figure out how to NOT mess with Merna anymore, no one's saying anything useful or supporting that. How have our people evolved into such a bunch of sheep?" Aryn snarled, slamming a fist on the couch arm.
"It is because there is now a power vacuum." Joshua replied patiently.
Aryn blinked in confusion. "Vacuum?"
Joshua nodded. "While Bachlan was alive, he served as a figurehead. People looked to him for guidance and trusted him to clean up after their mistakes," he explained, "With his death, there is no one to look to and no one to blame. The children of Merna have been pushed out of the nest, so to speak."
"But we can't just pick another Guardian of Memory. That's not going to fix everything," Eziban protested.
Another Guardian of Memory... Solana wondered again at the relief in Bachlan's eyes when the memory essence had left him. The purpose of it was to remind one of the task of looking after their world.
But then, was it really so necessary? The sea creatures knew not to damage their home. The elves in Deynain had attained a level of sustainability that was equaled by few civilizations that Solana had come to know in her travels. The nomads had perfected a way of life that impacted very little of each their temporary homes. Her Atlantean culture was based on harmony with nature.
She looked down at the fat magical book in her lap that had accompanied her and Aryn on their journey from the very beginning. There was forty years worth of information all vividly describing the ways that cultures from all ends of the Universe had lived on and interacted with their own worlds. She had written down what had worked or not worked for different peoples, and why. All of their experiences were ripe for the picking for a world that desperately needed a new direction.
Maybe they already had all of the needed pieces- it was just a matter of putting them together properly.
"We do not need another Guardian of Memory," she said suddenly, gazing up at her colleagues. Everyone stared at her, waiting to hear her thoughts. "It is time to start a new era, where all our people work and pool their knowledge together. They must be taught, and have a place to come to with questions." She smiled as the answer came to her. "We'll build a school."
"How the blazes are we supposed to do that?" Aryn asked cautiously. The boys murmured to each other.
Solana was on a roll, and as her idea took shape more and more pieces came to her mind. "We need an expert in these matters," she answered calmly, "Someone who is used to directing people, as well as knowing how people and nature can work together. Someone who is neutral to the various politics of Merna. Someone trustworthy."
Hope blossomed in Joshua's eyes as he considered it. "You know such a person?"
Solana nodded, as Aryn grinned in realization at exactly who was in her best friend's mind. "I do," the Water Guardian answered, rising from her couch with a deft sureness. "If you'll excuse me, I have a letter to write to a dear old friend who may have a few ideas to help us."
Aryn, Trista, and Raoul also got up, each having their own business to attend to. "Don't blow up anything in my kitchen while I'm gone," Aryn advised everyone staying behind, keeping her eye on Eziban. He winked at her in reply, promising nothing.
"If we're certain on this, then I should leave as well," Raoul added, his hand touching something in his pocket.
Trista didn't say anything, but went to her chambers for something before following the others down the stairs.
Eziban glanced over at Joshua. The man had been speaking his mind a lot lately compared to the past, and his mask seemed to have cracked at last. There was only one way to be sure. "Joshua, Oriana, what do you say to a poker game?"
Joshua looked startled, then smiled. "Do you wish to wager for money or prestige?"
Eziban reached into a pocket on his vest and yanked out a leather bag, then tossed it onto the table with a loud 'clunk'. "Might as well make it worth it."
Joshua in turn reached into an inner pocket of his white robes and withdrew a thick canvas bag of coins. "Indeed."
The two looked at Oriana entreatingly. She leaned over to open a drawer on the side of the heavy table and fished out a deck of cards, then a silken bag from a pocket in her sleeve. "May I deal first?"
Trista had gone alone to a tall cliff jutting over the Boreas sea far from the Crystal Citadel, a trysting spot that she and Bachlan had used often over the years. Soft trees draped in flowers and fruit were dotted amongst the fragrant bushes and grasses that still grew this high. This place still reminded her of the their first trip together through the Shenioka Plains, when she had seen the wonder of a future in that sky, those distant horizons, and a pair of brown eyes that softened only around her.
The pearly gray light of false dawn gave a faint glow to the clouds above her. The winds dancing over the waves and up to the cliffs caressed her mourning silks of lavender and gray around her thin frame as if to comfort her. Her amethyst eyes were red-rimmed from tears, but that strange serenity that she had felt during the battle hadn't left her heart. She was finally ready to let the Bachlan she had known and loved go in her own way, and away from the eyes of the others.
In one hand she carried a small dried violet. This was the very same blossom that Bachlan had given her on their way to the Crystal Citadel to make her a Guardian. Trista had dried the flower to keep always.
While it still looked the same, it was now dry and fragranceless. The violet had been left behind in her chambers the day that Bachlan had stolen their power and Oriana had saved them, and she was amazed to find how different it seemed now.
Or perhaps it was the changes wrought in her own heart.
Trista gently touched the blossom to her cheek, thinking back over the millennia of love she had shared with the man who had saved her and given her a new life. She understood them both a little better now. What had drawn them together was each giving the other what they wanted. Bachlan had become the hero figure she had dreamt of, and had given her affection for the first time she could remember. Trista had given Bachlan the full-hearted loyalty that he thought he deserved, that had eased the burden of the visions from Merna and any doubts from stealing his power from the Deynain elves.
But it hadn't been enough. Because in love, it was important to give and receive what was needed. Trista needed more than affection- she needed a partner to grow with, and one that would complement her own strength. For all that they had shared, Trista had been subservient to Bachlan, and it always would have been so.
As for Bachlan himself, something had happened during that last battle, that she was certain the others (except for maybe Solana) were unaware of. When Bachlan had offered her his power, she had been linked to his thoughts as well. She had felt his shock when she had in turn offered that link for Solana's use to defeat him, to finally set him free the only way she could.
In a single moment, he had considered harming her to cut off that connection to Solana, to prevent his defeat. Considered... and ultimately rejected. He hadn't wanted to cause her any more pain, and had accepted the ramifications of that single decision. Perhaps now in the afterlife he knew the peace that had eluded him for twenty-five thousand years.
Trista sighed and stared up at the clouds. Bachlan had helped her become a Guardian and set her on a path to give back to that world that she had given her first allegiance to. He had given her happiness and taught her that she was worthy of being loved. For all of her emotions about what he had done to the elves and the Great Rebirth attempt, there would always be a glow of gratitude tucked in her memories of him.
Trista held up one hand with the violet and summoned the winds, which came more swiftly than ever to her call. A small cyclone of air built up around the Air Guardian, moving faster and faster. The flower lifted out of her hand and joined the cyclone, whirling in a kind of dance. Dried petals were shaken off of the tiny wrinkled stem and swirled in the air.
Trista then threw her hand forward, commanding the small cyclone to carry the flower to the sky of the world she guarded. Purple petals crumpled under the pressure of the whirling air as they rose, then got smaller and smaller until they were swallowed up by the oblivion of the endless skies. For just a moment, the breeze softly caressing her face carried a faint hint of expensive frankincense, just as Bachlan's best robes always had...
The honest glow of the rising sun poked above the horizon at just that moment. Long, slanted rays kissed the sky and the land and the sea, as if to awaken them all to the glories of a new day. Those same rays touched Trista, giving a golden glow to her skin and alighting the hope in her heart.
A small smile touched her lips that for the first time also showed in her eyes. The last chain around her spirit had been removed, and for the first time in millennia she was free to choose her own path. It was time to write to Nessa and make a few arrangements.
"Rest and know peace at last, beloved. Dream of the day that we will be together again," Trista murmured quietly. She blew a kiss to the heavens, bowed for the last time, and left the cliff.
A door cracked open, allowing a small shaft of torchlight to enter an otherwise gloomy room. A large man sat on a bench, staring at his half-burned and chained hands, his expression completely masking his thoughts. At the noise, Mensun looked up in confusion before his face shifted to anger at the identity of his visitor.
"I said I want to talk to Mensun alone! Wait out here!"
"But, Lady, our orders were to-"
"I don't care- this is going to be rocky enough as it is. Sheesh, you guys gotta trust my judgment sometime." With a scowl, Aryn slammed the door behind her and set a large canvas bag she'd been carrying onto the floor.
Mensun glared at her as he rose, rattling his chains warningly. "Have you come to gloat because you defeated the Lord of Memory? Have you come to demand I beg your forgiveness? Or am I to be put to death?" he asked.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but it's none of the above. I just came from asking Mother Owl to let you go," Aryn replied coolly.
"Wh-what? Let me go, after I tried to kill you?" he asked in shock.
Aryn sighed and nodded, crossing her arms. "Look, I know what revenge is like. It's a drug that allows you to bury your pain and anger at yourself into an all-consuming hatred for someone else. The trouble is? After that target is gone, you're back to blaming yourself. It's a nasty, terrible business, and no good comes of it."
"Done it yourself, have you?" the nomad asked suspiciously.
"No, I watched my best friend go through that," Aryn answered, eyes troubled.
"What DO you want, then?" Mensun asked, a bit curious now. "I assume you didn't come to tell me a sob story, or to boast of your generosity."
"Nope. I want you to do something that will help both of us," Aryn replied. She dug into her bag and grabbed out a small globe of obsidian, then tossed it to him. Mensun caught it and turned it over in his fingers, wondering what the point of it was.
Aryn got a look of concentration on her face, and the globe suddenly flared with brilliant scarlet light. Twenty seconds later, it flashed bright yellow, then went dark. "What is this thing? What did you do?" Mensun demanded, holding the globe away from his body.
"That's a volcanic eruption detector. It turns red three days before an eruption, yellow when you have one day left. I raised the magma in the channels below us to prove it works," Aryn replied.
Mensun snarled, ready to throw the dark glassy ball back at her. "It's a little late for this to be a peace offering. Why would you want to rub it in like this-" he spat.
"No, no! What I want you to do is take all of the ones that Eziban and I made and bring them to the rest of your tribes. Tell them how they work, and make sure that each tribe gets two. Let us know if you need more, but I asked Lady Owl how many tribes your people consist of, so we should be good," Aryn explained quickly, holding up her hands in defense.
Mensun glanced down at it again, his eyes softening. "You really mean it," he said in wonder, "Even though you say what happened wasn't your fault, even with everything going on, you still made all of these for my people."
"I know they can't take away your scars, and I'm sorry for that. Oriana's also offered to take a look at you, to see if there's anything more she can do," Aryn said sincerely. "But, if these can help this from happening again, then that's something. Will you do it?"
Mensun nodded, then paused. His eyes narrowed. "You already told Mother Owl you wished me to be free, even before you asked me."
Aryn nodded with a grin. "I figured you'd do it. Take care of yourself, Mensun," she replied, then started for the door.
"Aryn." The Fire Guardian turned around. "Do the same. You have a lot of work to do," the nomad stated stiffly.
"Will do," she replied, and left him to his thoughts again.
Mensun picked up the bag and looked at the dozens of globes sitting inside with a look of wonder. No one would have to know the pain he had lived and fought through, if these did work. If he had slaughtered the Lady of Fire as intended, he would have denied his people this chance at safety.
He tried the door, somewhat surprised to find it unlocked. A few guards who were talking outside quickly hushed and turned to him cautiously. One pulled a key from a ring at his waist and unlocked Mensun's chains. "I would like a horse saddled, and an escort to see Mother Owl. I must inform her that I will be making a very important journey," the nomad said humbly.
Liam was sitting in his chambers, staring at the mem-gem that Tesla had left behind. Bachlan's truth was now known to the world, and his people had been avenged through Raoul and their own help with the Sacred Stars and teaching Oriana some of the secrets of the essences. Deynain need no longer be a fortress, but would be sharing their arts and knowledge with the rest of Merna, the way that Raoul and Malika had always dreamed.
Still, there were a few more pieces of business that had to be tied up.
He heard happy shouts and greetings outside. Hearing the cries of joy from his granddaughter, he smiled and decided to let her enjoy the reunion with his guest in peace. There would be time enough to chat, and past time for happiness among his people.
Sooner than he had expected, Raoul knocked politely and was invited inside. The Thunder Guardian held out his hand, but Liam clasped his forearm warmly. "Welcome back, son of our people. You have all done very well."
"Thank you, Liam. After all that has trangressed, your words mean more to me than you'll ever know," Raoul replied quietly.
Liam poured out two mugs of their finest mead and offered one to his guest. Raoul accepted and sampled it, enjoying the rich flavor of the honey-apple beverage that was a specialty here. Liam took a hearty gulp and let out a happy sigh. "Cheers. What is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
Raoul flushed a little, still not quite used to making speeches. "The others and I, well, we've been doing a lot of talking. Not just about Solana's idea for a new university, but a lot of other things. We all came to an agreement about this." Reaching in his pocket, he pulled out the chunk of quartz swimming with gray power.
Liam's eyes widened. "The memory essence..."
"Yes. We're giving it back to you after all of this time. We want you to hold onto it until Merna selects a Memory Guardian, if ever." Raoul offered the small gem to the elf leader.
Liam glanced down at it. It was for this that so many of his people had given their lives to protect over time, and it was because of this loss that Deynain had tried to become an isolated haven all this time. After twenty-five millennia, it was finally being rightfully returned.
No, that wasn't quite accurate. Rightfully offered, yes, but it no longer belonged to just the elves. Liam reached out and closed Raoul's fingers over the quartz. "No, Raoul. That doesn't just belong to us anymore. Keep it at the new school you're planning to build."
Raoul was thunderstruck. "But... but it rightfully belongs to you! After Tesla died... after everything that's happened..."
"It is no longer only our mission to work in harmony with our world, Raoul. Thanks to what you have done, the goals of the Guardians and elves are now one and the same. Perhaps with the Water Guardian's vision, it will one day be that all of Merna's children will be brought together that same way."
Liam then picked up a leather case that had been sitting at his feet and set it down on the table. Raoul leaned in a little closer as Liam opened it up and began to take out dusty and aged books. "What's all this?" the Thunder Guardian asked softly.
"Deynain's final secrets," Liam answered seriously. He selected a certain book, seemed to hesitate a moment, then finally handed it over.
Raoul accepted it and opened the cover, reading to himself under his breath. He suddenly paused, and looked over at Liam. "These are secrets of the essences." His face softened. "You didn't want Bachlan getting a hold of this information, in case we lost. This is how you were able to teach Oriana how to split her essence."
"Yes. When Bachlan raided our temple on that fateful day, he stole only the essences and left these texts behind," Liam explained, fingering the cover reverently. "These were given to us along with the essences by the world's own spirit when we elves first stepped foot on this world and kept hidden under the temple's floors. Bachlan's spell erased the existence of these as well as our mission from our minds and histories after his attack. They were to be lost to history."
"Long ago, my great-great-great grandmother Enlila tore down the temple after a storm had razed it. When clearing the large stones, she found these texts and understood instantly what had happened. She made the decision that they would only be passed down from elf leader to elf leader, that we would have a trump card against Bachlan and..." Liam hesitated.
"Us," Raoul filled in blandly.
"Only if need be," Liam explained hurriedly. "As a token of our respect for Oriana for our lives after the magic school incident, I shared with her a very, very few of the techniques outlined in these books. One she used to split her essence and hide it. Another showed her weaknesses in the memory essence and allowed her to build shields against it. These should help you unlock even more mysteries of your powers. If Bachlan had only known..."
"Now you trust these to us, as well as keeping the memory essence for its true bearer," Raoul murmured, staring into his mug as he mulled this over.
Liam took another sip of his mead, thinking over how to share his last piece of news. Well, he had been given as good an opening as any. "I believe that Tesla would be very happy to know that the essence and these treasures are being protected by one of his own blood."
Raoul turned white, his gaze traveling to the bronze circle that once more adorned his wrist. Understanding dawned in his eyes. "The mem-gem. Tesla had a bronze bracelet on his wrist...this bracelet."
"Yes." Liam unrolled the yellowed piece of parchment he'd found a few days ago in their Hall of Records, anchoring the corners with small stones. The parchment contained a family tree containing hundreds of names in tiny yet legible writing. An intricate yet odd design ran up and down the edges, identical to that of the bracelet. "Here's Tesla near the top, and his wife Irene. You can see their children, and so on for hundreds of years."
Raoul tapped a blank area under one branch. "What happened here?"
"Some of our people left Deynain throughout the years, not wishing to remain rooted in one place. We do not have records for them." Liam's voice turned apologetic. "I am sorry, Raoul, but this is all I can tell you about your past. As for your parents, grandparents, any siblings.... those I do not know. But the tree rightfully belongs to you, as evidenced by that bracelet."
Raoul traced the beautiful knot-work on the parchment with a reverent finger. He smiled at Liam with a hint of pain in his eyes. "This is so much more than I ever expected to learn, Liam. But I think... I think the time has come to start focusing on the future, rather than the past."
"Have you selected your future, my boy?" Liam asked coyly, having a pretty good guess of what the other man would say.
His blush verified it. "Yes, Malika and I have been making plans. She wishes to see more of Merna, and I want to be with her when she sees some of our world's glories for the first time."
Liam nodded approvingly. "My granddaughter is a woman grown, and has proven to be wiser than me by far. I expect to see the two of you back in time for the Rite of Wisdom." He picked up the pitcher of mead and topped off his and Raoul's mugs, and the two clinked them together. There was much to celebrate, but somehow the simple gesture managed to capture the feel of them all.