The Unknown (Excerpt taken from Book II, Blood Covenant, Chapter 9--"Hallucinations") (c) Copyright of C.A. CLARK
“I’m sorry!” Adlai wept uncontrollably. “What’s happening to me?! What’s going on?!”
“The hallucinations have begun,” Astrial commented quickly to the others.
“What should we do?” Sunefaere whispered apprehensively. “It’ll be more dangerous now!” She added, looking back helplessly at the shaken girl.
“We shall do the only thing which we can do,” Yuel replied in an authoritative voice as she rose stiffly to her feet. “The task of her safe passage was entrusted to us—to Elon we must go. Once we cross over to our own realm, the sway of the Sorceress has no more dominion. We must get her through the portal of Catori!”
“But if she turns on us again?” Sunefaere whispered. “You saw how strong she’s become—we could barely hold her! And it will only grow stronger the further it progresses in her veins! Perhaps we ought to dilute its potency by bleeding her?”
“That would surely finish her, and we will only have succeeded in hastening her soul’s departure into Darkness. No, we must simply continue on our way, and with greater caution.”
“Bind me!”
The words came out so suddenly, that it took everyone by surprise.
“I’m a danger to all of you, myself included!” Adlai cried. “If I cannot tell friend from enemy, then I must be bound and led—it’s the only way!”
The three glanced briefly at one another, then slowly nodded in assent.
“I’m sorry you must suffer the indignity,” Sunefaere apologized sorrowfully, retrieving some ropes from Gunar’s satchel. “It’s just until we reach Elon.”
“It’s power is growing,” Adlai could overhear Astrial conversing in low tones with Yuel. “It won’t be long until those ropes won’t hold.” She cast another worried glance in Adlai’s direction. “How much further through these regions?”
“If we tarry not for rest, we should reach the gate within a day’s time.”
“And how does one know time down in these sunless depths?” Sunefaere muttered in chagrin, tying the last knot tightly about Adlai’s wrists.
Yuel shot her a brief, disapproving look.
“We are the Mistresses of the Seasons, daughters of Father Time and Mother Earth—instinct is on our side.”
“You mean you’ve never been here before?” Adlai paled. “Then how do you know the way?”
Yuel smiled.
“I may not exactly know the way, but I know the Earth. And every part of it lends a sign to indicate the path, down to the faintest scent and smell. If I clear my consciousness far enough, my tangible senses will indicate by intuition which way feels to be right.”
Adlai could feel panic slowly stealing over her. Much as she had hated the darkness of these subterranean caverns, she had been able to steady herself with the reassurance that she had capable guides who knew their way, and that at any bend in the road the ancient bridge might suddenly appear before them. But now what shallow confidence she’d had was fast sifting away to nothing along with this startling revelation from the Muses. What if she never again saw the light of day—or anything else, for that matter? …Already the cavernous walls and ceiling seemed to be closing in, suffocating her so that she couldn’t breathe… She couldn’t… She just couldn’t die down here… A sudden rush of anxiety engulfed her.
“And if your senses lead us to a dead-end?” She burst, “What then? Shall we be trapped down here, with no way back, no way out?!”
Yuel softly took a step forward, looking the frightened girl calmly in the eye.
“Then I will trust Him who can make a way where there is no way… He brought us to this… And He shall lead us through it. His enablement always accompanies His commands.”
Adlai felt as though she couldn’t believe her ears. It had been so easy to trust and believe in the Muses before, when they’d been surrounded by such grand displays of majesty, wonder, and power… But down here in the dark, there was none of that—no retinue of magical beings to assist them, no dazzling grandeur to offer inspiration to their quest. Indeed, were it not for their wings and more Elvin features, the Muses appeared almost human—and in a way that was both unsettling and dismally disappointing. Adlai had never imagined these higher beings would ever condescend to have their perfect persons sullied with the grime of dirt and sweat, nor their vitality taxed by the same wearisome toils common to mortals… They were supposed to walk the celestial clouds of the Heavens and always have answers—and yet here they were: uncertain, with questions and weaknesses of their own… They no longer seemed the great goddesses of unconquerable strength which they had appeared to be afore; instead, here they were with limitations…much like her… And they weren't supposed to be like her.
“The High King, or whatever you call him? That is in whom you are placing your hope?!” Adlai spat. “Well then, where is he now, and why has he left us here?!”
Yuel’s countenance didn't change.
“I don’t know,” she answered simply, without so much as flinching. “And it is alright not to know… I am neither a god, nor am I the All-Seeing Eye of the Deep… I am simply another humble servant… But He knows the way that I take… And I trust Him. That’s good enough for me, and it shall have to be enough for you.”
“The hallucinations have begun,” Astrial commented quickly to the others.
“What should we do?” Sunefaere whispered apprehensively. “It’ll be more dangerous now!” She added, looking back helplessly at the shaken girl.
“We shall do the only thing which we can do,” Yuel replied in an authoritative voice as she rose stiffly to her feet. “The task of her safe passage was entrusted to us—to Elon we must go. Once we cross over to our own realm, the sway of the Sorceress has no more dominion. We must get her through the portal of Catori!”
“But if she turns on us again?” Sunefaere whispered. “You saw how strong she’s become—we could barely hold her! And it will only grow stronger the further it progresses in her veins! Perhaps we ought to dilute its potency by bleeding her?”
“That would surely finish her, and we will only have succeeded in hastening her soul’s departure into Darkness. No, we must simply continue on our way, and with greater caution.”
“Bind me!”
The words came out so suddenly, that it took everyone by surprise.
“I’m a danger to all of you, myself included!” Adlai cried. “If I cannot tell friend from enemy, then I must be bound and led—it’s the only way!”
The three glanced briefly at one another, then slowly nodded in assent.
“I’m sorry you must suffer the indignity,” Sunefaere apologized sorrowfully, retrieving some ropes from Gunar’s satchel. “It’s just until we reach Elon.”
“It’s power is growing,” Adlai could overhear Astrial conversing in low tones with Yuel. “It won’t be long until those ropes won’t hold.” She cast another worried glance in Adlai’s direction. “How much further through these regions?”
“If we tarry not for rest, we should reach the gate within a day’s time.”
“And how does one know time down in these sunless depths?” Sunefaere muttered in chagrin, tying the last knot tightly about Adlai’s wrists.
Yuel shot her a brief, disapproving look.
“We are the Mistresses of the Seasons, daughters of Father Time and Mother Earth—instinct is on our side.”
“You mean you’ve never been here before?” Adlai paled. “Then how do you know the way?”
Yuel smiled.
“I may not exactly know the way, but I know the Earth. And every part of it lends a sign to indicate the path, down to the faintest scent and smell. If I clear my consciousness far enough, my tangible senses will indicate by intuition which way feels to be right.”
Adlai could feel panic slowly stealing over her. Much as she had hated the darkness of these subterranean caverns, she had been able to steady herself with the reassurance that she had capable guides who knew their way, and that at any bend in the road the ancient bridge might suddenly appear before them. But now what shallow confidence she’d had was fast sifting away to nothing along with this startling revelation from the Muses. What if she never again saw the light of day—or anything else, for that matter? …Already the cavernous walls and ceiling seemed to be closing in, suffocating her so that she couldn’t breathe… She couldn’t… She just couldn’t die down here… A sudden rush of anxiety engulfed her.
“And if your senses lead us to a dead-end?” She burst, “What then? Shall we be trapped down here, with no way back, no way out?!”
Yuel softly took a step forward, looking the frightened girl calmly in the eye.
“Then I will trust Him who can make a way where there is no way… He brought us to this… And He shall lead us through it. His enablement always accompanies His commands.”
Adlai felt as though she couldn’t believe her ears. It had been so easy to trust and believe in the Muses before, when they’d been surrounded by such grand displays of majesty, wonder, and power… But down here in the dark, there was none of that—no retinue of magical beings to assist them, no dazzling grandeur to offer inspiration to their quest. Indeed, were it not for their wings and more Elvin features, the Muses appeared almost human—and in a way that was both unsettling and dismally disappointing. Adlai had never imagined these higher beings would ever condescend to have their perfect persons sullied with the grime of dirt and sweat, nor their vitality taxed by the same wearisome toils common to mortals… They were supposed to walk the celestial clouds of the Heavens and always have answers—and yet here they were: uncertain, with questions and weaknesses of their own… They no longer seemed the great goddesses of unconquerable strength which they had appeared to be afore; instead, here they were with limitations…much like her… And they weren't supposed to be like her.
“The High King, or whatever you call him? That is in whom you are placing your hope?!” Adlai spat. “Well then, where is he now, and why has he left us here?!”
Yuel’s countenance didn't change.
“I don’t know,” she answered simply, without so much as flinching. “And it is alright not to know… I am neither a god, nor am I the All-Seeing Eye of the Deep… I am simply another humble servant… But He knows the way that I take… And I trust Him. That’s good enough for me, and it shall have to be enough for you.”
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