Elaina J. Davidson's Blog, page 364
January 27, 2016
The King's Challenge #187 and #188
TKC 187 and 188
Lyra continues, “We have before us an opportunity to leave Arc before we are enslaved. Damin’s actions this night has opened a means to exit.” She points at me. “Horin will now reveal the opening we must use before it is again sealed.”
She says nothing of the Glonu/Ilfin division that brought this on and perhaps that is the wisest course right now. She has ensured Kay will be with the marchers on the other side; he will inform them of the real situation … once they are away from here. Wise, yes, for Lyra has neatly circumvented chaos.
“Horin and I will wait for Damin and those with him to return, and we will follow as soon as we are able to. Please, go now. Massin has not been touched by the asteroid; it is safe to return.”
Lyra swallows when she says those words, for she knows that safety is now highly relative. Spaceships will soon park in our skies.
“Horin?” she prompts.
I head to the barrier and deploy the orb. A shimmer of green reveals the position of the veil between us and the world beyond … and it also shows a dark oval in the sparking emerald wall. As the green intensifies, so does the darkness. It is a doorway.
Gesturing, I say, “Go now as swiftly as possible.” Every member of the teams sent out left with both camping equipment and a food parcel; this was deliberate, for it grants them the means to survive beyond these mountains.
Siri is first; to prove to the children it is safe. She smiles at Lyra and nods, and steps through. Her voice sounds from beyond, for we can no longer see her through the veil. “All is well! Come!”
The other women herd the children through, and then Kay is there. “Take them to the lower edge of the plateau,” I murmur to him as he comes abreast. “There is a system of caves.”
He nods, sends Lyra a final look, and passes through.
Thereafter the Ilfin vanish one by one, a long line of men and women, old and young.
Lyra steps off the boulder to come to my side. “It’s working.”
It will not hold long, though. I feel the tension in the orb’s essence; it labours to maintain the doorway and will soon run out of energy to do so. Also, it is a truth there are too many Ilfin. Some will be trapped with us before too long.
“You are worried,” Lyra murmurs. “How long will it hold?”
“Maybe half an hour still,” I grind out, anxiety building inside as I sense the orb’s difficulties. “Hurry them through.”
Lyra hisses then, causing me to jerk. Almost I sever the link that enables the oval of darkness.
“The old ones come,” Lyra whispers, staring back into the valley.
I dare not look away from the barrier. “Light beings? How many?”
“A host.” Her face becomes a mask. “Keep it open; I will delay them.”
Before I am able to ask how, she vanishes down the slope. By the stars! Nearly I scream my frustration. “Move!” I shout instead. “Time is short!”
The line hastens forward. Man and women disappear into the black beyond. I notice the edge of the oval begin to skitter as if under pressure, and then it seems to diminish. The damn thing is closing!
“Move now! Run!”
Men and women run.
“Stop!”
The line freezes, thank the stars. The oval snuffs out. The orb falls to earth as an inanimate thing, depleted. Swiftly I gather it up and then I turn to hurtle after Lyra.
A host of ghosts is swarming from the valley below. They will be upon us within moments.
Lyra continues, “We have before us an opportunity to leave Arc before we are enslaved. Damin’s actions this night has opened a means to exit.” She points at me. “Horin will now reveal the opening we must use before it is again sealed.”
She says nothing of the Glonu/Ilfin division that brought this on and perhaps that is the wisest course right now. She has ensured Kay will be with the marchers on the other side; he will inform them of the real situation … once they are away from here. Wise, yes, for Lyra has neatly circumvented chaos.
“Horin and I will wait for Damin and those with him to return, and we will follow as soon as we are able to. Please, go now. Massin has not been touched by the asteroid; it is safe to return.”
Lyra swallows when she says those words, for she knows that safety is now highly relative. Spaceships will soon park in our skies.
“Horin?” she prompts.
I head to the barrier and deploy the orb. A shimmer of green reveals the position of the veil between us and the world beyond … and it also shows a dark oval in the sparking emerald wall. As the green intensifies, so does the darkness. It is a doorway.
Gesturing, I say, “Go now as swiftly as possible.” Every member of the teams sent out left with both camping equipment and a food parcel; this was deliberate, for it grants them the means to survive beyond these mountains.
Siri is first; to prove to the children it is safe. She smiles at Lyra and nods, and steps through. Her voice sounds from beyond, for we can no longer see her through the veil. “All is well! Come!”
The other women herd the children through, and then Kay is there. “Take them to the lower edge of the plateau,” I murmur to him as he comes abreast. “There is a system of caves.”
He nods, sends Lyra a final look, and passes through.
Thereafter the Ilfin vanish one by one, a long line of men and women, old and young.
Lyra steps off the boulder to come to my side. “It’s working.”
It will not hold long, though. I feel the tension in the orb’s essence; it labours to maintain the doorway and will soon run out of energy to do so. Also, it is a truth there are too many Ilfin. Some will be trapped with us before too long.
“You are worried,” Lyra murmurs. “How long will it hold?”
“Maybe half an hour still,” I grind out, anxiety building inside as I sense the orb’s difficulties. “Hurry them through.”
Lyra hisses then, causing me to jerk. Almost I sever the link that enables the oval of darkness.
“The old ones come,” Lyra whispers, staring back into the valley.
I dare not look away from the barrier. “Light beings? How many?”
“A host.” Her face becomes a mask. “Keep it open; I will delay them.”
Before I am able to ask how, she vanishes down the slope. By the stars! Nearly I scream my frustration. “Move!” I shout instead. “Time is short!”
The line hastens forward. Man and women disappear into the black beyond. I notice the edge of the oval begin to skitter as if under pressure, and then it seems to diminish. The damn thing is closing!
“Move now! Run!”
Men and women run.
“Stop!”
The line freezes, thank the stars. The oval snuffs out. The orb falls to earth as an inanimate thing, depleted. Swiftly I gather it up and then I turn to hurtle after Lyra.
A host of ghosts is swarming from the valley below. They will be upon us within moments.
January 26, 2016
The King's Challenge #185 and #186
TKC 185 and 186
“What was Damin’s name?” Lyra finds her voice.
“He must find it first, Lyra.”
“You told me mine,” she points out.
I grin. “You are my sister.” A stormy look enters her eyes and I swiftly add, “It will be easier for him if he discovers the knowledge himself. Telling him is akin to him listening to a lie.”
One eyebrow hikes up. “I will not tell him.”
Thankfully, at this point, a communication from the man under discussion comes through to me. I stand immediately after. “I must go. Damin is ready and I need to bring the Ilfin in.”
Lyra’s expression freezes and she does not speak.
I leave the cave, but only moments later I realise she is following me. I desire to remonstrate with her, but one look tells me I dare not. She will probably whip me or something. Nodding, I lead the way north.
And hour later we come upon the first teams. This night all are away from the usual camp, a request from Damin to ostensibly speed the gathering process. Of course, he needed everyone away from the rim this night.
“My lady,” someone calls out. “Why are you here?”
Perhaps bringing Lyra is the best idea. People respect and revere her, and will therefore follow her lead. She smiles at the questioner and I realise this was her intention when she followed. I gesture and she nods, taking the lead from here on.
“We need everyone at the rim,” she answers the man quietly. “We have a situation we need to address without delay. Please gather your things and return to the slopes, and pass the word.”
“Everyone must be there before daybreak,” I add.
“What is happening?” another man asks.
“We would prefer to reveal that when all are near.” Lyra smiles again. “If I tell you now, by the time those further out hear it, it may be somewhat different. We prefer to share the news so there is no doubt.”
Silence greets her words, but they do trust her. Within moments there is concerted movement as the men and women swiftly pack. The man who questioned Lyra first takes further initiative and sends runners out to find the others.
“Have no fear, my lady,” he says on a grin, “we will be there before the sun, all of us.”
Lyra bows her head. “Thank you.”
Minutes after, we are at the head of a column of Ilfin returning to the rim. I hope this will work. I have my doubts.
An hour of hiking later, we are back. Far off, I hear the unmistakable sounds of battle … of terror … of dying. Silence falls over us. Everyone hears it.
“What is happening?” a young woman asks of Lyra.
Swallowing, she states, “Arc is attacking the southern teams.”
Voices are raised and questions hurled. When someone shouts that we should go forth to help them, Lyra lifts her hand for silence. “Damin is already there. Please. When everyone is here, I will explain.”
New runners depart in haste to ensure the stragglers hurry in.
The heavens begin to grey when Damin touches my mind again. Now it begins, for most of the Glonu have been slaughtered. Damin, Mirlin and his unit will remain there to bury the dead, to remove them from Arc’s influence. I pray he is swift enough in that task.
“Horin?” Lyra whispers.
“It is time,” I say simply, having no words to explain the rest of what this night has wrought.
Lyra inhales and clambers onto a tall boulder. Her action brings the silence she requires. First she looks to Siri and the women with her surrounding the children near the cave’s entrance. Kay is still with them, his face expressionless.
“Move the children into position, Siri. You and Kay must go with them, understood? They will need you.”
Siri nods, but Kay’s lips tighten. He does not, however, argue.
“What was Damin’s name?” Lyra finds her voice.
“He must find it first, Lyra.”
“You told me mine,” she points out.
I grin. “You are my sister.” A stormy look enters her eyes and I swiftly add, “It will be easier for him if he discovers the knowledge himself. Telling him is akin to him listening to a lie.”
One eyebrow hikes up. “I will not tell him.”
Thankfully, at this point, a communication from the man under discussion comes through to me. I stand immediately after. “I must go. Damin is ready and I need to bring the Ilfin in.”
Lyra’s expression freezes and she does not speak.
I leave the cave, but only moments later I realise she is following me. I desire to remonstrate with her, but one look tells me I dare not. She will probably whip me or something. Nodding, I lead the way north.
And hour later we come upon the first teams. This night all are away from the usual camp, a request from Damin to ostensibly speed the gathering process. Of course, he needed everyone away from the rim this night.
“My lady,” someone calls out. “Why are you here?”
Perhaps bringing Lyra is the best idea. People respect and revere her, and will therefore follow her lead. She smiles at the questioner and I realise this was her intention when she followed. I gesture and she nods, taking the lead from here on.
“We need everyone at the rim,” she answers the man quietly. “We have a situation we need to address without delay. Please gather your things and return to the slopes, and pass the word.”
“Everyone must be there before daybreak,” I add.
“What is happening?” another man asks.
“We would prefer to reveal that when all are near.” Lyra smiles again. “If I tell you now, by the time those further out hear it, it may be somewhat different. We prefer to share the news so there is no doubt.”
Silence greets her words, but they do trust her. Within moments there is concerted movement as the men and women swiftly pack. The man who questioned Lyra first takes further initiative and sends runners out to find the others.
“Have no fear, my lady,” he says on a grin, “we will be there before the sun, all of us.”
Lyra bows her head. “Thank you.”
Minutes after, we are at the head of a column of Ilfin returning to the rim. I hope this will work. I have my doubts.
An hour of hiking later, we are back. Far off, I hear the unmistakable sounds of battle … of terror … of dying. Silence falls over us. Everyone hears it.
“What is happening?” a young woman asks of Lyra.
Swallowing, she states, “Arc is attacking the southern teams.”
Voices are raised and questions hurled. When someone shouts that we should go forth to help them, Lyra lifts her hand for silence. “Damin is already there. Please. When everyone is here, I will explain.”
New runners depart in haste to ensure the stragglers hurry in.
The heavens begin to grey when Damin touches my mind again. Now it begins, for most of the Glonu have been slaughtered. Damin, Mirlin and his unit will remain there to bury the dead, to remove them from Arc’s influence. I pray he is swift enough in that task.
“Horin?” Lyra whispers.
“It is time,” I say simply, having no words to explain the rest of what this night has wrought.
Lyra inhales and clambers onto a tall boulder. Her action brings the silence she requires. First she looks to Siri and the women with her surrounding the children near the cave’s entrance. Kay is still with them, his face expressionless.
“Move the children into position, Siri. You and Kay must go with them, understood? They will need you.”
Siri nods, but Kay’s lips tighten. He does not, however, argue.
January 25, 2016
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TKC Collage 14 (Horin's story so far)
Another 14 posts have passed. If you have missed episodes, catch up on The King's Challenge Page (link in sidebar). Thanks for reading so far!
The King's Challenge #183 and #184
We are halfway through this challenge!
TKC 183 and 184
Mirlin leaves to meet Damin soon after, which leaves Lyra and myself with Kay, and Kay is about to release every pent up emotion he possesses.
Fortunately, Siri comes in then, and the man deflates instantly. Lyra is wide-eyed before she hides a smile, but my eyebrows shoot up. So this is how it is for the westerner. Siri Mur has crept into his heart and, by the looks of it, she returns his favour. Her blush is quite marked when she realises Kay is with us.
“The awning collapsed,” she murmurs. “We need a strong hand to drive the stakes in again.” She looks only at Kay. She is with the other women in charge of the children, and the awning is a makeshift roof to protect the young from the elements.
Kay smiles. “Something I am able to do at last. Lead the way.”
Siri, laughing, swirls around and vanishes back into the night, and Kay follows in a far better frame of mind than earlier.
“Well,” Lyra says when we are alone, “I did not see that he feels the same, although I noticed her sending him glances.” She laughs lightly. “Good for them.”
“Damin will not like it.”
“Damin’s arse,” she grins. “I will set him straight.”
She will indeed. Poor Damin. “You used to set me straight as well.”
“Horin, don’t. There is too much going on.”
Standing, I wander closer to where she prepares dough for bread. We have not much in the way of flour or yeast left, so the result will be quite a treat. “Looks promising,” I murmur, seeing the dough already rising in the heat of the cave.
Lyra gazes up at me. “What will happen to you? Horin, will you have a chance to fall in love, to know happiness? Have you known happiness?”
Her questions completely demolish any peace of mind I have, which is not much. I sit untidily opposite her. “I see someone in my dreams of a past time, but I cannot remember her name.” Staring at my sister, I add, “I think she was my wife.”
Swallowing convulsively, Lyra says, “I always thought our souls forget when a life is over.”
“Souls remember; it’s the vessel that forgets.”
She stares at me then, tears brimming. “I understand the concept, Horin, but it is hard to apply to …”
“Yourself? It is hard, and it took me a while to accept as well. My true acceptance came when I was known as Enris Makar and therefore this time I do not need to question it.”
“Were we all someone else before?”
“Some are new, but that is rare for the Ilfin. We tend to return to our roots, because our souls will not surrender to anonymity until this war with the Glonu is done with.” I stare back at her. “I look forward to anonymity.”
“Why?” she cries out.
“Peace,” I murmur.
Silence falls between us as we watch each other’s faces. When Lyra closes her eyes tightly, I know she has realised my time will be short in this cycle. I hope she and Damin have a long life; they will remember me even if I lose all memory.
“Who was I in a time before?” Lyra eventually asks.
I give her a skewed smile. “My sister.”
Again her eyes go wide; I have surprised her. “As in born to the same parents?”
I laugh. “As in, yes. And it’s not the first time. We have always been brother and sister.”
“What was my name when you were Enris? And why do I not remember as you do?”
“You never came to Massin in that cycle; I guess Arc has something to do with my memories. Your name was Iniri and you were sent to another Ilfin world … where you met Damin by another name.”
Astonished, she has not the wherewithal to speak.
“I remember all that, but not her name. I wish I can remember her name,” I whisper.
TKC 183 and 184
Mirlin leaves to meet Damin soon after, which leaves Lyra and myself with Kay, and Kay is about to release every pent up emotion he possesses.
Fortunately, Siri comes in then, and the man deflates instantly. Lyra is wide-eyed before she hides a smile, but my eyebrows shoot up. So this is how it is for the westerner. Siri Mur has crept into his heart and, by the looks of it, she returns his favour. Her blush is quite marked when she realises Kay is with us.
“The awning collapsed,” she murmurs. “We need a strong hand to drive the stakes in again.” She looks only at Kay. She is with the other women in charge of the children, and the awning is a makeshift roof to protect the young from the elements.
Kay smiles. “Something I am able to do at last. Lead the way.”
Siri, laughing, swirls around and vanishes back into the night, and Kay follows in a far better frame of mind than earlier.
“Well,” Lyra says when we are alone, “I did not see that he feels the same, although I noticed her sending him glances.” She laughs lightly. “Good for them.”
“Damin will not like it.”
“Damin’s arse,” she grins. “I will set him straight.”
She will indeed. Poor Damin. “You used to set me straight as well.”
“Horin, don’t. There is too much going on.”
Standing, I wander closer to where she prepares dough for bread. We have not much in the way of flour or yeast left, so the result will be quite a treat. “Looks promising,” I murmur, seeing the dough already rising in the heat of the cave.
Lyra gazes up at me. “What will happen to you? Horin, will you have a chance to fall in love, to know happiness? Have you known happiness?”
Her questions completely demolish any peace of mind I have, which is not much. I sit untidily opposite her. “I see someone in my dreams of a past time, but I cannot remember her name.” Staring at my sister, I add, “I think she was my wife.”
Swallowing convulsively, Lyra says, “I always thought our souls forget when a life is over.”
“Souls remember; it’s the vessel that forgets.”
She stares at me then, tears brimming. “I understand the concept, Horin, but it is hard to apply to …”
“Yourself? It is hard, and it took me a while to accept as well. My true acceptance came when I was known as Enris Makar and therefore this time I do not need to question it.”
“Were we all someone else before?”
“Some are new, but that is rare for the Ilfin. We tend to return to our roots, because our souls will not surrender to anonymity until this war with the Glonu is done with.” I stare back at her. “I look forward to anonymity.”
“Why?” she cries out.
“Peace,” I murmur.
Silence falls between us as we watch each other’s faces. When Lyra closes her eyes tightly, I know she has realised my time will be short in this cycle. I hope she and Damin have a long life; they will remember me even if I lose all memory.
“Who was I in a time before?” Lyra eventually asks.
I give her a skewed smile. “My sister.”
Again her eyes go wide; I have surprised her. “As in born to the same parents?”
I laugh. “As in, yes. And it’s not the first time. We have always been brother and sister.”
“What was my name when you were Enris? And why do I not remember as you do?”
“You never came to Massin in that cycle; I guess Arc has something to do with my memories. Your name was Iniri and you were sent to another Ilfin world … where you met Damin by another name.”
Astonished, she has not the wherewithal to speak.
“I remember all that, but not her name. I wish I can remember her name,” I whisper.
