Overnight Vila's simple life is shattered when she falls into a swirling pool and wakes to find herself

alone with only her silent crystal. Vila soon realizes that she has stumbled upon something that has been mystifying her people for generations...and another crystal. Coupled, the mystical crystals pull her into an ex uisite vibration of colors, encircling her with swirls of luster and sound....pleading for her to help them, find the ones with knowledge! !ithout much choice she is propelled into this perilous uest filled with magic, power and the unknown. "hul, a renegade "cribe from the #alace of the $lue %obes fights to keep the little ones in his care hidden from the ones that would have them killed. &orced to return, they conceal themselves deep within the #alace. 'uestions haunt him( is he the cause of the deadness creeping across their world) !hat...or who...are the *vensongs that called to him) +e took something years ago that he didn't have the right to, but now that he has it, what is he suppose to do with it) ,dventure, intrigue and tangled relationships run rapid in this fanciful tale of a magical world, the young people striving to stay alive and the *vensongs trying to be heard.

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Quest of the Evensongs

by C.R. Cummings

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Book Cover Illustration by Nikki Cummings

"cribd *dition Copyright -.// C.%. Cummings

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PRO O!"E
0he old mel laid his uill down on the writing table. "lowly he re1read what he had written. +e still only half understood the dream that had come to him and the words that had been etched into his mind. !hen done with the reading he uietly and almost with a reverence closed the old withered 2ournal and softly stroked its cover. +e could feel the symbol of the $eacon that was engraved on its wooden coverings. +e traced the circle of life and the sign of light, his gnarled finger almost blending in with the oldness. 3n this 2ournal he had written down all the dreams, all the thoughts that the *vensongs had given him. "oftly he touched the book with his fingertips. Closing his eyes he called to the *vensongs. +is body felt a uickening, then as soon as it started it was over. +e opened his eyes. 0he book looked unchanged, but he knew differently. 43t is done,4 he said aloud to himself, as if the mere spoken words would set it all in action. "lowly and with great difficulty he raised himself from the hard wooden chair, picking up the 2ournal as he rose. !ith his free hand he reached for his walking stick and with its help made his way to the nearest book1covered wall. !ithout care he swept a pile of books from the middle shelf, where they fell in a heap onto the floor, a cloud of dust engulfing them as they hit. 0hen with great deliberance he wedged the old 2ournal against the back wall of the shelf. +e bent and picked up a couple of the ill1treated books he had dropped and placed them on the shelf in front of his hidden treasure. +e arranged the books a couple of ways until he was sure that the 2ournal would not be noticed. +e then turned from the wall and maneuvered his way to the only door the room had, hitting books out of his path with his walking stick. ,t the door, he laid the walking stick down in order to use both hands to pick up his pack. 3t was heavy and he had difficulty arranging it on his back, but finally the chore was completed. %eclaiming his walking stick, he s uared his old shoulders as best he could and started out the door. $ut he couldn't do it( he had to look at what had been his home for most of his life once more. +e turned and as the first tears he had shed since the death of his father made their way down his wrinkled face, he took in all he could of the room and its contents. +e knew every nook and cranny of the small room. 0he

books, oh the books( how he would miss them. 0hey were too heavy to take with him on his 2ourney, but he knew each book by heart. +e may not be able to have them with him to touch and feel, but he had them forever in his heart. +is many piles of books lay everywhere, on the shelves that covered every wall, on almost every inch of the floor space. 0hey were stacked on the foot stool in the corner, and in disarray on the old wooden writing table. +e let his gaze linger on the table. +is father had built the table many years ago, when he had left their hovel in the city proper and been taken in as a scribe to the $lue %obes. ,nd after he had been appointed a +igh $lue %obe of 5iula he had kept the old table and the small room deep in the catacombs, instead of rising up in the temple of 6ight to the beautiful chambers above, as his new station allowed him. 3t had been here, only here, that he had ever felt at home. +e wiped the tears from his face. 40he time has come7 it has begun,4 he mumbled to himself as he moved back out of the doorway. 8ecisively he pulled the heavy craved wooden door shut behind him. !ith his age1worn hands he tightly gripped his walking stick and touched it gently to the door. *yes closed, he raised high his head and spoke the words of *vensong to seal this place until the time had come. , faint cerolean of color radiated from the top of the stick, casting odd misshapen shadows about the old mel. 3t didn't take long, even with his diminished powers. 4%egenna, forgive me,4 he murmured sadly under his breath, another tear dripping from his eye. 0hen he turned from the door and, using the walking stick to steady himself, he began the long walk out of the deep catacombs and into the void of the world to find the beginning.

C#$P%ER &
0he lightover was warm, uncharacteristic of the weather in the last +ighyear. 3t had been raining and storming for many seasons. $ut over the past +ighyear it had gotten worse. ,t first the storms would last for only a few lightovers, to be driven away by the "uns for a week or so. 0he 6uzts, the dancing winds, that once were a thing of

wonder had become something perverse. !here they used to be something to look forward to9to watch them dancing over the cliffs, bouncing, twisting, curling in delightful circles9had all changed. 0he storms were demons with the 6uzts as their warped fingers that destroyed all they touched. 0he storms had beaten the "uns( they would or could only show themselves for a lightover every few seasons. 0his was one of those lightovers. 3t was calm( uiet. 0he villagers were sure that this time a new season of warmth would finally begin. 0he meadow was hushed except for the birds in the surrounding wood, their singing adding to the feeling of rebirth. 0he wind was blowing, a normal wind( the taller trees showed signs of it but down on the forest floor and out into the meadow it was calm with 2ust a hint of a breeze. Overnight the grasses in the meadow had flourished. 0hey were standing straight and tall. &lowers of all descriptions had sprouted and bloomed in the light of the "uns. 0hey grew fast, as if they too knew that time was against them. , flock of birds erupted out of the forest, flying high. 0he young fel burst from the undergrowth at a full run, her long hair blowing behind her. "he ran through the tall grasses until she reached the center of the field. 0here she stopped and spun around, her arms raised to the warming "uns. 8izzy, she let herself fall backward onto the soft grasses. 0he grasses were tall( she was completely hidden from sight. 0he only thing she could see from her self1made hideaway was a patch of violet blueness and a small cloud, the only reminder that a storm had been here 2ust hours before. , hawk came into view( it circled high above her, then dived down out of her line of vision to prey on some unseen creature. "he closed her eyes. 0he grasses were still damp from the rain, but she didn't mind. 3t had been so long since she had been able to leave the village. 3t was such a lonely, dead place. +ow she had yearned for the "uns: bright light; 0he "uns were growing weak( she knew it. 3n the last +ighyear the "uns had only been seen a handful of times. 3t had started with the 8eadness. "lowly at first the 8eadness had come, then faster and faster, stronger and stronger, <til it sucked life from all7 the land, the sky and even the people, everything except the high meadow. 0he

deadness had stopped at the Village, never going beyond the start of the rocky path that lead up to the woods above. $ut what it had done to the village was enough. 3t had taken all. 0he village had once been filled with more people than there were cliffs in the distance. $ut now, few remained7 some *lders, 2ust two =others, and herself, the only youngone left. ,ll youngones had died right away when the 8eadness had crawled up the cliff wall to their ledge in the clouds( all but her. "he felt so alone. "he should have withered up and died with the other littleones. 3t added to her feelings of strangness as if her difference in appearance or her bonding with the crystal wasn't enough. "he wasn't lean of build or tall like most. 3nstead she was smaller by a full head measurement of the other fels and her body ran to plumpness. +er face was full, with deep dimples. +er hair wasn't a shining black, but a dull brown color, missing the rich luster of ebony. *ven in bright light from the "uns her hair was still without any sheen or beauty. Only her eyes were the close to the same, a soft black with 2ust a hint of violet. "he had been named for her eyes. ,t her birth she had opened her eyes, the sunslight hitting them 2ust right for her mother to pronounce that her name was Vila>a strong name to give honor to the divine color. $ut if the hint of the godly color was meant to bless her it hadn:t seemed to help( not that anyone even saw them much. !here all the other villagers had bright open eyes hers were hid by fatty folds of skin and thick lashes. 0hen there was the crystal. ,vma had returned to the +igh"uns only a few "unscycles earlier and she had been the bearer of the crystal for more 6ifeyears than any could remember. ,fter ,vma's passing, as she laid cold, each fel and =other left in the village had had to submit to the last walk. One by one they had passed the cold lifeless form of the old =other and touched the crystal that still hung from around her neck. ,nd one by one they had cried out in sheer agony as the angry fire of the crystal repelled them...until her. 3t was her that the crystal allowed a touch. "he was torn. 0o be able to be the bearer like ,vma had been made her feel more a part of ,vma, but the ?$ond@' scared her. *veryone knew of the 4power4, but none knew what it was. *ven ,vma really did not use the stone. 3t only allowed her to wear it. ,nd the $onding. "he

knew that ,vma had loved it, but couldn't explain it( it brought great responsibility to the wearer. "he 2ust didn't feel ready for it( ,vma should have lived many more 6ifeyears. $ut then it wasn't ,vma's choice to passover, nor hers whether she:d worn the crystal or not. "he was compelled to submit to the $ond whether she wanted to or not. 3n other lightovers there would have been a great feast and ceremony to embrace the new wearer. $ut the 8eadness had sucked the life out of their customs too. 0he neckcord, heavy with the crystal, had been dropped over her head and that was the end of it. =any had told her she was their only hope left. $ut it was spoken with such sadness that told their doubts that this fat odd fel could in any way help. ,nd she didn't know how to help. 0he tales of the crystal's powers didn't tell how to use them, only that they were. "he tried to get the old ones left to leave the dead village and come to the high meadow, but they refused. 0he high meadow was hallowed, they couldn't live there. 5o matter how hard she tried to persuade them, they stood firm, even as they one by one dried up and left for the +igh"uns. "he spent most of her lightovers like the others, huddled around the life fire in the =ain+all. $ut even its warmth did little to alleviate the cold and death that crept in under the doors and light holes and through the cracks in the grass walls. $efore the 8eadness the villagers would come together around the life fire and tell the stories of the village. ,vma would stand, her long black hair glowing in the fire light, the crystal proudly displayed around her neck and recite the tales7 of the Old ones from the +igh =eadow, of the 6ights, of the other cliff people, of great feats of Cliffmovers and many others, but the one of the 0raveler was the best. 0he young ones had begged almost every night to hear it. "he too had loved it. 0he tale of the 0raveler, the stranger who was said to have walked the whole world. +e supposedly knew great wonders and was a crystal wearer also; 40he 0raveler,4 she thought, 4!ouldn't it be wonderful if 3 could find him and bring him back to the village) +e would know the use of our crystal.4 "he sighed deeply. "he knew there was no way. 0he last time he had been seen had been before her

birth time, before her =other's birth time and even before her =other's. 0hey thought him to be everliving, a +igh$eing from the "uns. 3t had been at least more lifeyears than anyone knew how to count since he had left the village towards the high meadow and was never seen again. 0hey had looked for a way for him to have left the cliffs that blocked any normal mel's path. $ut there was no path to the cliff top, no way even for the cliffmovers to climb up the smooth cliff sides. 5ot that she hadn't still looked for how the 0raveler had made the climb. !ith the other youngones she had ran all along the cliff wall looking for a hidden path or a cave or foothold, any means he could have used to go from their ledge to the one above, but all they ever found had been the same things. 0he strange drawings in the caves and the odd stones in the +igh meadow and other such things were found, but none had ever discovered a way to go up. ,nd after a time all had given up the uest. 0hat is, until the 8eadness had started. 0hen she had looked, again and again, for some way to go up, some way to get away from the 8ead, the fog, the coldness, the eternal nothingness. $ut still she had not found it. 6ightover after lightover, turned into "unscycle after "unscycle and now after almost a full lifeyear she still, when the weather allowed it, would search the wall's face, although she had stopped going into any of the caves. 0here was something about the cold silent black that stopped her at the cave's openings. 0here were many small caves here and there to be found in the cliff wall. =ost were small and could barely hold a small woodchuck let alone a full grown *lder, while other caves went deep into the cliff wall. 3t was in those that most of the strange pictures were to be found. 5one in the village understood them, though none would think to harm them. 0hey knew they were important, 2ust didn't know why. 0he cliffs themselves were straight up and down, black and old, 2ust like all the other mountain cliffs that could be seen from their shelf in the rock of the mountain side. 0he shelf that the village sat on was large enough to hold it and the fairly large wood that sat a little higher up. 0here was a small pond that sat at the base of the cliff face. ,lthough small, it was enough to feed a stream that made its gentle way out of the wood, through the meadow and down the low hill to the village below. 3t continued past the village and eventually disappeared off the ledge, down the cliff to the rocks far below.

0he pond was the result of a streamlet that flowed evenly out of a crevice high on the cliff, above the trees, descending down the face of the black stone. 0here was a large boulder sitting directly below the falling water, that over the years had been eroded down to a perfectly flat ledge. 3t was a ideal place to play. "he and the other youngones had loved to stand on the flat stone, with their backs against the cliff wall and letting the water flow over them. 0hey made up games and would play for hours in the water, taking turns 2umping from the stone into the pond. 0he pond itself was an oddity( it had no known bottom. 3t was small in size, but none had ever been able to find its floor. 5one thought of it( it 2ust was. ,ll youngones learned to swim at an early age, and as far back as any could remember no one had ever drowned. "he remembered the fun times she had had, the laughing and splashing. 0he memory brought a smile to her face. , gnat buzzed around her nose, bringing her back to the present. !ith her eyes still closed she listened to the creeping things moving in the grass. Other than the birds and the insects there wasn't another creature to be heard. ,ll had left the area when the 8eadness had come. !here they had gone none knew. 0he animals had simply disappeared9one lightover they were there, the next they weren't. ,nd with them gone, the villagers: foodstuff supply had gone too7 until the other things had begun to come out of the fog or dropped by the dancing winds. 0hey had begun to eat those. "he had refused, keeping to the berries and roots to be found in the high meadow and wood. $ut the other villagers thought nothing of it. , shiver ran down her back as she thought of what she had seen the old ones eat last night. , foul taste came to her mouth at the thought. Opening her eyes, she rolled over onto her stomach. 0he grasses reached a good three feet above her. "he reached out to touch a small winged bug that was walking on a blade in front of her. 3t spread it's tiny wings when she was almost to it, and flew slowly away, 2ust out of her reach onto another blade of grass and resumed what it had been doing before. "he pulled a blade of grass and slowly began to chew it, savoring the taste of goodness it brought. "he folded her arms and laid her head down on them. 3t was so very peaceful here this lightover. "he wished the others could make the walk to this meadow with her.

"he knew it wasn't possible though( the ones left were 2ust too drained of life. "o, as she had done many times before, she en2oyed the peacefulness of the meadow alone. "he wished she could tell them tonight at the life fire of the freshness and beauty that was still only to be found here. $ut she remembered very vividly the last time she had tried to tell them7 she had been met with cold, sad eyes, too tired to move even if they had wanted too. "o, here she came by herself, whenever the "uns won a battle with the dark, to en2oy what was left of life. "he closed her eyes and thought how nice it would be to find the old one... 0he 0raveler... he could help( she knew it7 only he could help... and with that thought she slumbered, her dreams full of hopes and wishes. 0he young girl tossed in her sleep. "he saw the old one walking in darkness, yet there was light. "he saw blackness roll over the village( it took all. 0he +igh"uns were gone, the sky blotted out; Vila, Vila, they yelled; 6ouder and 6ouder;; 0he pain, stop the pain; Vila awoke to the sounds of her own screams and found herself standing. "he sat down, trying to calm her fast beating heart. 3t was only a dream. "he wiped the sweat from her face. 0he meadow had grown uiet, the birds and insects leaving the meadow to herself. +ow long have 3 slept) she thought. 0he damp grasses had made her long hair wet and sticky. "he stood again, feeling she must be doing something, her legs shaky from inactivity. +er body felt stiff. 0he dream... 0he old one... she remembered the dream, but it wasn't the dream that had scared her, it was the strange feelings she had as if she had really been there... no, that made no sense either, she thought. "he wished she could tell ,vma about it( she would have understood its meaning. "he tried to straighten her clothes, then gave up in dismay. 0hey were too wet, too old. "he looked up at the indigo blue sky7 oh, it was beautiful. !hy couldn't it stay that way) "he stood for a moment trying to decide if she had enough time to visit the pond7 standing under the falling water sounded good. $ut she had been gone too long as it was. "he looked longingly towards the cliff wall where the pond was, then turned away.

"ilently she began to walk back the way she had come. $ut she hadn't taken more than three or four steps when she tripped on something and fell, the grass breaking her fall. "he searched though the tall grass till she found what had made her fall. 3t didn't take long( the stone was easily spotted once she patted the grasses down. "he had forgotten about them. 5ormally the meadow was filled with a soft down of green moss, instead of the tall grass and the stones stood out. "he had loved to play on them when she was little, until she had been discovered by one of the *lders, who had soundly punished her. 0his was hallowed ground( those stones were not to be played with, but respected, he had told her. !hen she had asked why, he wouldn't or couldn't tell her. "he had asked others in the village about the stones, and other things that she had found in the caves and on the cliff face, but none had the answers. ,ll they knew was that these things were to be respected and kept. ,fter that time she had been intrigued by the stones and when she was sure none of the villagers would see her, she would come to the meadow and solemnly inspect each stone. 0he one she had tripped on was one of the smaller ones in the inner circle. "he had discovered that the stones were placed in circles. 0here was a large circle of five flat stones spaced about ten paces from each other. ,ll of the stones had a small protrusion about the size of her hand facing towards the center of the circle. On each protrustion was a small cavity in its center. 0he inner circle was different. 0here were more stones than fingers on her hands, each one crafted perfectly round. 0hey made a tight ring and in the center of the ring the ground was lower. 0he outer stones looked 2ust like stones to her, but the smaller ones sparkled when the "uns light hit them. "he stood and looked around herself. 0he grasses had successfully hidden the stones, but now she could tell where she was in proportion to the other stones. "he wouldn't trip on another one unseen. "afe in that knowledge she continued on her way back to the village. "he left the meadow and entered the wood, there following the path <til she reached the ledge that sat directly above the village. "he had a clear view of everything from here, the village as well as the mountains. "he looked out over the mountains. 3t

was so very beautiful up here, even with the 8eadness. "tanding here you could see forever. 0he high peaks of every mountain could be counted from this one cliff. 5one were as high, or as covered in woods. 0here was no name for the mountain range( as far as any knew it the only one, so there was no need to give it a name. 0he mountains themselves were barren rock, black and smooth. ,s far as the eye could see in every direction there are the black mountains, and there are no soft peaks or rolling green hills( only the pointed, 2agged ridges of the cliffs. 0he mountains were high, and the clouds lived almost halfway down, enveloping the lower cliffs so that most of the time they were invisible. "he thought back to before the 8eadness. 0he mountains had looked different then. Areenery could be seen on the other cliffs from small meadows that had flourished on the flat ledges that 2utted out from the sides of the black rock. +ere and there in the view, green patches could be made out. 0rees, that had little soil for roots, made up for it in their size. 0hey towered upwards to the +igh"uns, as if their only aim in life were to touch the golden spheres that brought warmth to their lives. ,fter a rainfall, the grasses and flowering bushes would grow overnight, their bright colors adding beauty to the surroundings, only to die after a few lightovers from the intensity of the "uns. 0he village sat on the highest mountain, on what they knew to be the largest ledge. *very dark season, when the rains and coldness would come, part of the ledge would slip away down the mountainside, never to be seen again. $ut even with the loss every season, they still knew theirs to be the best and the largest. 0here had been other villages of cliff people, each making a different ledge their own. *ach filled with happy, industrious people. 0here were strong mels, with muscles forged from Cliffmoving, the climbing and rappeling of the Cliffs. *ven the =others and felyouth could Cliffmove, but to be able to climb to the +ighest of the +igh, the main village, was something that only the *lders could do. "o Vila had never seen the other villages up close, only from this vantage point. "he could have made the climb down to them, but would have been unable to get back. $ut that was before the 8eadness had taking them all. !hen there had been color and beauty in the mountains, the Cliffmovers to watch, and things to do. $ut then the

8eadness had inched its way over all, killing everything it touched. 0he woods that had once been green and lush on the other cliffs in the distance were now dried up and dead, as were all those that had lived there. Only this ledge was left with life, though it too was almost gone. "he looked out over the horizon( it looked as if a great fire had burned all, leaving twisted and mutilated reminders of what once had been. 0he lightover was drawing to a close. 0he +igh"uns were almost hidden by the far mountains. Vila's attention was drawn to a black cloud in the far distance. ,s she watched it grew in size, <til the mountain it had been sitting atop was completely hidden from sight. 0he storm is coming again, she thought, 3 knew that the good season couldn't have come this early. "he turned and made her way along the ledge's rim until she was at the top of the path that led down to the village. "he stopped at the top of the path to look down on the village. "ome of the *lders had ventured out and were sitting in the remaining light cast from the +igh"uns. 3t looked almost peaceful down there. 3t reminded her of happier times. "he reached up and touched the green stone that hung from the cord around her neck. "he missed ,vma who had raised her. 0he crystal was cold to her touch. 3t sleeps, she thought. 0he touch of it calmed her. +er eyes were drawn once more to the horizon. 0he beautiful lightover being sucked up by the approaching blackness. 0he black cloud was closer now, hiding mountain after mountain as it moved. 3t was really moving fast...too fast, she thought. , panic took over her. "he realized that it wasn't 2ust a storm coming, it was a giant dancing wind7 a 6utz. Only this one was big, bigger than anything she had ever seen before. ,s it traveled over the mountains it swallowed them, devoured them. 3ts blackness seemed alive as it consumed everything. +er instincts told her to run. $ut run where) ,s she stood there trying to decide what to do, the black cloud raced towards the village. 3t held her mezmerized as it swallowed mountain after mountain( she could see the winds swirling and twisting as it went. #art of a cliff on the next ridge broke off and crashed down the mountain, its

sounds lost in the wind's howls. !hen it had reached the closest mountain range, the +igh"uns were blocked from sight, and the sky above them turned sickly black. 0hat was when the villagers took notice of it. 0he *lders who had been outside stood and faced the oncoming torment with little regard. 0he old =others came out of the =ain+all and stood with their mates. Vila was aware of their acceptance of whatever was coming. 0hey had no will to fight or even to be alarmed. "teadfast they stood, the wind that had come up preceding the black cloud, almost blowing the half1starved people over. $ut still they stood, watching and waiting, silent as the air around them. Vila was torn( she felt so alone up here. =ore alone than she had ever felt before. "he wanted to run down the path and 2oin them. $ut something held her feet planted to the spot. 0he black cloud that had disappeared down the side of the mountain cliff in front of them into the deep valley below had begun to show itself over the ridge of their ledge. 3t slowly crept up and over, tentacles of blackness inching their way around and over anything it came to. Vila couldn't move, not as the blackness encircled the first hut, wrapping it in a blanket of black fog. "he couldn't move, even though she could see it wrapping its fingers, black fingers of fog, around the legs of the old people standing there, watching. 0hen the screams. ,gonizing screams that pierced Vila through the heart. 0he black fury of the wind took the villagers up into its wild center, tossing them like dead leaves. Vila watched what was left of her village and her home disappear in the 6ulz's hunger. Vila felt that it wasn't 2ust a storm, but somehow it was the 8eadness taking on form. 5ot 2ust the sucking of life from all living, but a tangible thing moving and feeding on everything that had the misfortune to be in its path. "he had to run; 0he meadow. !ith one last look at where her village had once been, she found her courage and turned the way she had 2ust come from and ran. 0he path was narrow and rocky( she had never had problems before, but now she was running for her life. "he lost her footing several times, once falling and rolling over the rough rocks. +er leg was hurt, but she didn't have time to feel the pain. "he was up again in an instant, running along the ledge and into the dense wood. 5o sounds met her as she ran

though the underbrush, all things living in the meadow gone into hiding. "he felt a coldness from behind her, but she dared not turn and look. On she ran, though the woods out into the meadow, and on through the deep grasses, missing all of the stones, towards the pond. ,s she reached the stream that flowed from the pond, the air around her became dark and dank. 3t smelt of death. 0he smell was nauseating. On she ran through the water, giving no thought to the water that splashed over her legs. "uddenly the ground gave out from under her and down she went into the deep water of the pond. 3t was so unexpected that she hadn't had time to even close her mouth and she:d swallowed a large amount of it. "truggling against the water she forced her way up. Coughing, her head emerged out of the water into the black air. 3t took her a minute to regain her breath. "he could hear the water falling near her from the cliff face onto the flat stone. "he swam over to it and tried to pull herself out of the water onto the stone, but it was slippery and her strength was gone. 0he blackness seemed to grow even darker( she looked back towards the meadow. 0he cloud was coming. "he could see a movement of dark rolling over the meadow( it didn't stop for anything, and on it came. 0here was no place for her to go. "he held onto the rock as best she could. 0he wind was whipping about her( the gentle pond became an angry thing. Areat waves of water pounded her against the rock. "he tried to hold on, but it was impossible. +er fingers slipped off and she found herself under the water. 3t was calming underneath( the water was warmer. "he fought to hold her breath, her lungs beginning to burn. "he needed air, but couldn't go up, the violence of the storm making the water her enemy. "he knew that she couldn't survive. 0he stone was against her back( she turned to it and blindly pushed herself down its side. 0he stone was safe, her muddled brain thought. +er lungs were about to give out, her head felt light. $ut she continued down7 better to die here than by the blackness above. Bnexpectedly the stone was gone. "eeing had become hard, not because of lack of light, as there did seem to be some, but from her own lack of air. "he was in free water. %eaching up she found what must have been the bottom of the stone, and using it she pulled herself under the stone, the weight of the water pushing her up flat against its underside. +er head was pounding, sounds of wind and birds seeming to come from

nowhere. "he wanted...wanted so much...but she didn't know what, she had never known what. "he had been so very different from the others. "he had longed to master the art of Cliffmoving, had wanted to know what lay beyond the cliffs, but she hadn't been allowed to climb down. +er body couldn't have climbed back up and the memories of the *lders laughing at the thought of the fat fel trying to do so had stopped her from trying on her own. ,ll the felyouth had dreams of becoming a =other, but she had never been asked for. !hen melyouths from the other villages had come seeking mates they had took one look at her and moved on. 0he humiliation was unbearable. "he had stopped going to the ceremonies for mates after only two times. ,vma had comforted her, saying she was meant for something more. !hat more) 3t never came and now the water was going to take her to the +igh"uns. 3t was okay( she didn't mind going this way. !ith her last bit of strength she pulled herself along the underside of the stone, back towards the cliff wall. +er head was spinning( she couldn't think clear anymore. 3t seemed as if a current was pulling her along. "he was floating, so peacefully. 0he stone had disappeared and she floated on into dark peacefulness.

C#$P%ER '
Vila woke abruptly to darkness. "he knew she was awake only by the sound of her breathing. "he didn't know where she was( there weren't any sounds of the wind, or any sounds of any kind what so ever. $esides, it was pitch black. "he searched her memories for a clue to her surroundings, but her confused mind drew only blanks. 0hen, in a rush, it came back to her. %unning from the 6ulz, the storm, into the pond. 0hen her memories failed her, and only the sensation of peace and at last, safety remained. =otionless, she laid, listening for any sound of life, but all she heard was her own shallow breathing and the sound of that seemed all too loud. +er body hurt all over. +er chest felt as if a heavy weight had been dropped on it, making it difficult to breathe. 0here was a ringing in her ears and her head was pounding. ,ll she wanted to do was sleep. +er eyes tried to close of their own accord, but she forced them back open.

"he didn't know where she was, but she felt no danger from the blackness that blanketed her as it seemed calm and safe. +er eye lids were so very heavy( she gave up and let them close. !hen she finally awoke it wasn't suddenly like before, but slowly, her thoughts arranging themselves before changing from dream to awakening. "he relived the living blackness, crawling and winding towards the village. "he saw the villagers, her people being engulfed by the 6ulz, as its powerful winds tore through the village. "he heard the screams of the old ones as they were swept away by the wind. "he remembered running through the wood and meadow and falling into the pond. 0he #ond...the water had been fierce, then had become so safe, so comforting. "he could recall the feel of the stone as she pulled herself down its rough side, to its bottom and then being drawn under it. +er dreaming ended there, only the feeling of loneliness remaining. +er eyes gradually opened and she knew she was not in the village or even in the wood. 3t was dark, so very dark. ,nd somewhere different( somewhere she had never been before. 0hough how she had gotten here she didn't know. +er body felt stiff from inactivity. "he had instinctively curled up in a tight little ball to keep the cold at bay while she slept and now she felt cramped. "he moved to stretch, her muscles rebelling at the movement, only to realize that most of her body was laying in shallow water. "he cautiously reached out to feel for solid ground. "oft sand met her searching hand. "he pulled herself out of the water onto it. "he was beginning to shake7 the water had been ice cold, but the air out of the water was colder. "he straightened herself up and sat cross legged. "he reached down, taking a handful of sand and let it drain out though her fingers. 3t was so fine and felt soft and warm to the touch. 0he feel of its warmth made her feel all that much more cold...and wet. "he shivered in the frigid air. ,ll was silent blackness around her. 3t was a strange feeling, to be sitting with her eyes wide open and not to be able to see anything, so complete was the blackness. 3t must be a cave, she thought. 0here was no sound. 5one whatsoever. 0he few caves she had ventured into had not been this uiet. Aranted she had never gone in very far, but still there had always been the sound of water dripping or the wind as it whistled though the passageways. +ere there was nothing. 5othing but the smell. 3t was

peculiar, but still somehow familiar. 3t was a strong sweet smell, like old leaves in the densest part of the wood, but still different...older. "he looked about herself in every direction, trying to find any shades of light, but there were none. "he turned her back to where she knew the water to be and reached her arms out in front of herself, searching for something solid. $ut from where she sat, she could find nothing. "he wrapped her arms around herself seeking warmth. 3f it were possible, she was getting colder. 0he coldness of the air and her wet hair and clothes were all adding to her discomfort. "he had never been this cold before. "he knew that she'd have to figure out where she was and get out soon or she would freeze. "he pulled her knees up close to herself and held them tight. "he was shaking with cold. "he laid her head on her knees and tried to relax. "he was so scared. "he wasn't prepared for this, for being this isolated. 0he darkness that surrounded her was almost unbearable. *ven though there didn't seem to be any malice from it, she was still scared. "he seldom cried, but here in the dark she allowed herself the release, her hot salty tears running down her fleshy cheeks to drip off into the darkness. Only her sobs could be heard for a long time. "he thought of all the things she had never done, now would probably never do and the tears continued to flow. "uddenly, a light appeared> then... was gone. *ven with her eyes closed she felt its presence. "luggishly she eased herself up onto her knees, using the back of her hand to wipe the remaining tears out of her eyes. ,ll of her 2oints were stiff and sore. "he sat listening for a short while. $ut the silence and darkness were all that met her. 0hen so fast she almost missed it, the light flashed again. 3n the instant of its light she caught a glimpse of the cave and the water. 0he light came from a crack in the wall from where the water seem to come from or maybe went to. "he was undecided on what to do now. "he couldn't stay here, but what was there) "he sat for sometime, the light coming and going in long intervals. "he let out her breath, which she realized she had been holding and slowly rose out of her crouched position and stood. "he knew the direction of the light now( she would have to enter the water once more and swim to it blindly. !hatever courage she had she decided she better put into use. 3t was stay and freeze, or look to the unknown. "he choose the

unknown. 0he water made no sound as she walked into it. 3t gently swayed around her( again the peaceful safe feeling came to her, if not warmth. "he stood still for a minute when the water was to her waist, waiting for the light to guide her. "he didn't have long to wait. 3t appeared off to her left, faint and soft. "he turned to it, and waded in the water, careful of where she put her feet. 0he bottom felt of soft mud, but her footcoverings were old and not much protection. 0he water began to feel warmer as she neared the cave wall( she reached out with her hands to guide herself. 0he light came suddenly right in front of her, the crack in the wall not inches away. "he saw that it was the water lapping into the crack that hid the light. "he reached out and touched the wall7 it was smooth and warm to the touch. 3t was moist with water and some kind of soft moss. 3t even smelt good... clean. "he had to turn sideways to fit into the crack, the water and the moss almost helping her slide in. 0he water was deeper inside. 3t reached almost to her neck as the water moved in and out about her. $ut even with its movement it did not hinder her. "he made her way slowly for what seemed like a long time, but it was hard to gauge time or distance in the water and in the semi1dark. +er hands were her guide. 0hey felt the smooth stone in front of her9her back was pressed up against the other side9as she edged herself along. ,bruptly the wall was gone, allowing her body to sink in deep water. "he fought down the urge to panic as she floundered trying to rise to the surface. "he ceased to fight the water and allowed it to carry her up. "he broke the water with a loud gasp for air. "he could see the shore line, so with short strokes she make her way <til she felt something solid under her feet once more. "he could feel an incline, and, using it to guide herself, she slowly pulled herself out of the water to lay in a heap on the hard ground. "he was breathing hard and her ears felt full of water. "he shook her head <til the water dislodged itself, then looked at her surroundings. 3t was a large cavern, the walls smooth and polished looking in some places, golden like the "uns at first light and rough and 2agged in other places. 0he ceiling was high, the sounds from the water gently lapping against the stone echoing over and over. One side of the cave had an odd shape to it, flat and at an odd angle to the rest of the chamber. ,

design was etched into the golden surface. 3t resembled the drawings of the outer caves, but different in that it was part of this strange colored wall. "he wanted to look closer at it, but it was on the other side of the water and she did not want to go into the blackness again. 3t appeared to be made out of something other than rock, a metal of some sort. 0he rocks surrounding it looked like they had melted over it concealing its edges. "he tried to focus her eyes to see it better, since she couldn't make out the full details from this far away. 3f only the light were brighter. 0hat thought made her look for the source of the light. "he found it to be caused by curious green stones lying about the cave floor and embedded in the walls. 0hey were giving off a soft green glow that bounced off scattered golden spots. 6ooking around the area she noticed something in the back corner( it looked like a pile of rags. "he stood and made her way over to it, dripping water as she went. 0here was a circle of green rocks, as if someone had once had a fire there. , pack of some sort laid 2ust back from it, against the wall of the cave. "he reached out, grabbing its bulk and tried to pull it towards her. 0hat was when a part of the wall crumbled in a cloud of dust and the sounds roared in the empty silence. 0he spontaneity of it caused her to scream and fall backwards awkwardly, her head hitting the ground hard. "he sat up as the sounds of the disturbance died away. +er head hurt where it had hit the rock. ,s she lifted her head she looked to her side 2ust as a skull rolled over towards her, its empty eye sockets staring at her. "he screamed and, rolling, found herself at the edge of the water. Once she reached the water, the sounds of the disturbance had died away and she was ashamed of her reaction. "he looked back toward the pile of rags. 5ow it seem to take on new meaning. 3t had been a person once. +er heart was racing( she tried taking deep breaths to calm it. "he knew that bones couldn't hurt her7 she had helped many times to clean the bones of the old ones after they had returned to the +igh"uns and had been burned on the alter. 3t was an honor to be allowed to handle them. Calmer, she returned to the pile and reverently uncovered the various parts of what had been a person. 0he bones were old, dry and brittle to the touch. 3t was the remains of a mel. 3t didn't take much deducing to figure out it was what remained of 0he

0raveler. "o, this is where he had gone to spend his last lightovers, she thought to herself. +e hadn't been a +igh$eing, but a mortal mel, one that passed 2ust like them. "he was disappointed, but somehow not surprised. ,nd to think, he had been so close to them all this time. "he piled what remains she could in the manner of her people, with the skull on top, in a formation of rocks nearby. 0hen she did the rite for the old one. "he hoped that he could still find his way to the +igh"uns after all this time. ,fter taking care of the body of the old one, she went back to the pile of rags, to see if there was anything that she could use. "he felt no remorse of looking though his belongings. ,fter all, when an old one went on to the +igh"uns in her village, all of their belongings were given out to others. "o Vila decided if there was anything she could use, it was hers. ,s she dislodged what looked like a back pack a rock came loose and rolled onto her foot. "he left out a little cry, more of alarm than pain. %ubbing her foot she angrily pushed the offending rock away( as she did so she noticed the stick. 3t was covered with stones and dust. "he swept the debris away looking down at it. 3t was beautiful. , walking stick, she thought. "omeone had taken the time and care to carve it. "he had never seen work like it before. 3t looked like one piece of branch, the top the original knot of the wood. 0he carvings had not changed the knot into something else, but had enhanced the beauty of the knot:s curves and grains. !here had it come from) ,nd the pack7 it looked almost new.. but that was impossible. 0he walking stick wasn:t made from any wood found in the cliffs, it had to come from far away> ?Oh;@ she yelled outloud, then as her yell echoed back at her in the cave she 2umped, but her excitement was so overwhelming that she wasn:t shaken for long. "he:d forgotten whose it had to have belonged to. 3t could only have been the 0raveler's, though the pack itself looked like one the *lders in the village would make. "he went over to the pile of stones his remains had been and shifted in the rocks and dirt. 0here wasn't much to show anyone had been here other than the remains of the firepit, what could have been a drinking cup and a few small bones of a ground rat. !hy did he come to this cave) +ow did he know it was even here) 8id the villagers from his time know of it) 'uestions> and no answers. "he shook her head in wonderment, then

remembered the pack. "he went over to where it lay, sat down and pulled it onto her lap. , strange sensation raced though her body and the green crystal that had been laying cold against her skin unexpectedly emitted a burning heat. "he grabbed at the crystal to hold it away from her flesh. Cust as uickly as it had burned, its fire died and it was cool once more. #uzzled, she released it and turned back to her chore. "he looked at the bundle she held in her hands. 3t was similar to those she had seen before, but it was of an odd shape and made with an even odder material. "he inspected it closely. 3t had two ropes attached on one side and in the front was a flap that was secured by tied string. 3t was in this way similar to the packs that the Cliffmovers used as they traveled the cliffs. "he sat back down and fumbled with the strings but she could not get them opened. 0he knot was strange to her, though she knew all of the special knots for Cliffmoving. !ith great care, she worked at it. &inally it started to work loose and then was apart. "he threw back the flap to uncover the treasures inside. "he pulled out an oddly sewn shirt, that had ropes on the middle and front. "he laid it aside to pull out what must be another part of clothing, made of the same dark blue material as the shirt. 3t looked like the pantaloons that the *lders had worn, except it had a draw string at the waist and more at the ankles. 0here were some curious looking footcoverings next. ,t the bottom of the bag was a dark blue, almost black, cloak. 3t was beautiful( she had never seen one like it before. "he put it back into the sack. "he didn't need to wear it yet. 3t crossed her mind that the clothing, as well as the pack that held then should be dust after all the time it had laid here, but 2ust as uickly dismissed the thought as ungrateful to the +igh"uns. One should not uestion one's good fortune. "he looked down at what remained of her clothing. 0he tunic was torn in numerous places, unrepairable. 3t was soiled from lifeyears of wear. 'uickly she removed it and what remained of her footcoverings, letting them drop unceremoniously to the ground. ,ll she had left on was the cord with the green stone. 3t hung low between her breasts. +er young body was beyond being 2ust plump. $ut for all of her excess weight

she still was small and definitely a felyouth. "he wasn't large boned( her extra weight made her breasts close to unrecognizable. "he didn't like to stand unclothed. 3t had always brought cruel remarks from the other youngones. "he picked up the clothes and hurriedly pulled on the pantaloons. 0hey were big on her, but the draw strings held them on her hips, and the ankle drawstrings held the excess pant legs off the ground. 0hey were baggy, but warm and comfortable. 0he shirt was a different matter. "he couldn't figure out how it went. 0he ropes in the front didn't make sense to her. "he tried putting it on and wrapping the rope around her( it worked for one side, but on the other side the rope was stuck inside and couldn't tie with the other one. "he took it off and inspected it again. On the left side, she discovered a small hole left in the seam of that side. Once again she donned the shirt and this time threaded the right rope though the hole. 0hat seemed to work( she wrapped the ropes around herself twice and tied them. 0he shirt was as warm and comfortable as the pants. "he looked down at herself. Oh wouldn't be *lders be shocked) she thought. , felyouth in pants. 3t 2ust wasn't done. 5o clothes at all would have been less shocking. 0he arms on the shirt were too long, so she started to roll them up, when she discovered drawstrings on them too. 3n a good humor she tightened them as well, making her outfit a snug fit, if not a customary one. "he was warm now and except for her feet being uncovered, she was better clothed than she had been for many lifeyears. "he walked over to the pool to have a look at herself. !hat she saw amused her. "he looked so small in strange clothes. "he had never looked small before. +er weight was undetectable and her breasts barely pushed against the material at all. "he could be taken for a melyouth, if her hair was pulled back. "he ran her fingers though her tangled hair, not making much of a difference without a comb of some sort. $ut she kept at it <til most of the knots were out. 0hen she broke off one end of the string on her pants that was hanging long and used it to tie her hair back. "he looked at the result in her refection and liked it. 3t looked a lot more functional than hanging in her face, 2ust like the clothes were a lot more functional. %unning and climbing in a tunic that the =others and felyouths had had to wear was always hard.

"he went back to the pack where she had left the footcoverings. 0hey were different than the ones she had worn. +er's had been little more than hides cut and shaped to her feet, then fastened with string. 0hese had hard bottoms and the coverings were in the shape of a foot. "he put her foot in one and pulled the top of the covering as high as it would go. 3t was a snug fit over the pantaloons, but when she stood her foot fitted nicely in the covering. 0he hard bottom was bigger than her foot. "he wiggled her toes( there was more than enough room in them. "he would need to somehow cut the bottoms down, but didn't worry about it now. "he pulled on the other one uickly. 0he tops of them reached up 2ust over her knees. "he was sure that they had been meant to be worn this way, over the pants. "ince they were designed for a larger person, it was convenient that the pants were too big also and took up a lot of space. "he walked around, getting used to her new finery. "he liked it. "he could walk freely in this. +er stomach grumbled, reminding her that she had gone without foodstuff since the dawning of the storm and she didn't know how long she had been asleep in the outer cave. "he had to find a way out. "he reached down to pick up the walking stick and instantly the green crystal around her neck came to life again, searing her skin. "he uickly pulled the cord, freeing the crystal from inside the shirt. "he put covered the stone with one hand. 3t was still hot. +olding the crystal away from the shirt so not to burn herself again, she reached out with her right hand and took hold of the closest part of the stick, the top knot. 0he shock was immediate. 0he world around her exploded in lights, the force knocking her to the ground. +er hands were welded to the green crystal and the stick. "he couldn't let go if she had had the strength to do so. "he was only vaguely aware of what was going on. "he screamed( her face contorted in agony. "he could feel the ground beneath her. +er eyes were open but she was all but blinded by an intense spectrum of colors flowing around her. +er body felt on fire( the velocity of whatever energy that held her was vibrating every nerve ending. "he felt as if she would explode. "ounds, voices, screaming( all rushed at her out of the colors. 0hey made no sense, no meaning to the voices. 0he words did not seem to be in her tongue. Over and over the screams continued. "he didn:t know if it was her sceams or another:s. +er vision was a mixture of confusion and beauty. 0he screams started to sound like words, loud

and demanding. 0he colors swirled around her, no shapes or forms within them. 0he pain was all consuming bolts of fire. "he was frozen where she was. "he had only two options, to endure it or hope for uick release to the +igh"uns. ,fter what seemed eternity, but in reality was only seconds, the colors calmed into a soft whiteness, the sounds calming also. +er body felt as if it was solid rock. Out of the confusion of colors and pain, a hand, pale and sur1real figure reached out towards her. Vila could only stare in horror at the apparition that beaconed to her. 4Vila)4 a voice beyond age asked uitely. "he couldn't respond. 0he hand did not seem to belong to a body. 4Vila, lookatme.4 0he words had no meaning, but Vila was shocked when she looked into the whiteness beyond the hand. , form was starting to take shape. "urrounded by agony she could barely make out the form of a fel. +er hair was pure white and braided loosely down her back. "he could see the braid hanging by her knees. "he didn't seem to be of this world. &ormed of spinning colors, swaying with soft coils of white clouds. "he closed her eyes to stop the spinning. 4Vilado youseeme)4 the calm voice asked. 4&ocus on me, lookfor me4 0hen another voice, screaming again. 8eranged and angry>angry at who) Vila was paralyzed with fear, as much as with the intense pain. "he couldn't breath, fighting for control over herself she concentrated only on swallowing. "he closed her eyes trying to make it all stop. 0hen the voices combined, both loud and furious. ?"top;;@ ?$ut she can hear us;@ ?Dou will kill her>let me>@ 0he voices argued, then others 2oined them, some loud, some barely audible( they were hard to understand. "ome words felt familiar but sounded wrong. 0hen silence> a pause. 4Vila)@ , uestion, spoken softly. ?Vila, look atme.@ 0he voice was pleading, but gentle. "he forced her eyes open. 0he fel was more solid. 0he colors were still spinning, but the fel stood out from them. 48oyouseeme)4 0he fel asked in a anxious voice. 0he words came in a slur of sound. !hat did she say) 0he hand was still reaching for her. 4Aive..meyour..hand4 "he hesitated as much from fright as the fact that she

couldn't move. 4Doucan.do.it, 3knowit..hurts..3can..help ..&ocusonmy..hand.. andlift yours.4 "he could make out some of the words. 'do it', 'hurts', 'help' and 'hand' 5ot sure of what she asked she didn't know what to do, 2ust wanted something to stop the pain. "he forced herself to think. '+and', she had spoken that word. 8id she want her hand) "he concentrated on her hand. 0hen putting all her energy into the movement, she fought to lift her arm. ,s if in slow motion it raised, shaking all the way. +er fingers closed around it. ,s her hand was embraced the pain eased into a slight hum within her. +er hand was warm. "he hadn't expected that, though she didn't know what she had expected. "he held her hand gently, but firmly. 4!edo..not..havemuch..time. 0he..*vensongs..aretoo..strong..foryou..tobehere..long.4 +er voice was full of urgency, though the words were heavy with fog. 4Douarethe..chosen..one. Douarethe..wearer..of ..8awn...the..$eginning....,ndyouarethe..one..called..by..Auard..to..walk..besidehim ...0he..*vensongs.intoneofyou..thepreserverof.deuce..Douarethe..one;4 Vila heard her words, not understanding any of it. "he felt as if in a stupor( a blackness started to settle in around her. 0he fel's hand began to lose its substance of touch. +er eyes closed of their own accord. 4Vila;..8on't..letyourself..go;..!eneedyou;..&ight;4 0he words were filled with panic and heartfelt concern, only part of them made sounds she knew. %oughly her mind was wrenched open, all her feelings exposed to whatever forces were at work. "he felt a darkness begin to take hold of her( it was cold, repugnant like the abnormalities that lived inside the darkness at the village. #anicked, she pushed away from it. "he didn't want to go there; =ind racing she forced the blackness away. 3n her mind she sought out the ex uisite colors...and the fel. 0here was no pain, only her own fright of being lost within the blackness. 0hat thought endowed her with added strength. "lowly the blackness grew weaker within her, lessening its hold. "he could feel the warm hand once more. 0he voice invaded her consciousness. 4*vensongs..arestillveryalive..asisthe..8ark..Douarenotready..forthemyet..0he.. fight.hasonly..2ust.begun.4 +er words were hastily spoken, but lost in the spinning clouds

of colors. 4VilaDoumust..find..one ..wi..knowledge; ...0heonewith .."torm ..=akethe ...Coining...0rey...%ekindle...set usfree..longtime..longtime.4 0he fel's voice was fading. +er hand was slowly released and in her mind she heard the echoes of her words. 4&ind..."torm...find...one...with... knowledge. !ewillbe...with...you. Dou are ...not ...alone....4 0he sounds and colors gradually faded away. 0he vision floated out of her thoughts like a dream.

________***________

3 must have slept, she thought as she opened her eyes to the faintly glowing green cave. +er body hurt( the ache went deep. +er mind was in torment. 8id 3 dream all that) she asked herself. "lowly she looked about herself7 nothing had changed. 0he staff was still clutched tightly in her hand, but had slipped down to the knot of wood. "he hurriedly let loose of it and pushed herself away a bit. "itting up slowly, as to allow her throbbing head time to ad2ust, she examined the staff. !hat had that dream fel said) "omething about deuce) ,nd names that sounded familiar. 8awn... that was it. ,nd.. something else... her mind felt like mush( it didn't want to work. ,bsently she rubbed the green crystal around her neck. ?8awn,@ she mumbled under her breath. 0he green stone warmed in her hand, sending what felt like gentle waves through her. "he looked down at the crystal and said the name again. Once more the crystal responded gently to her. ?0hat's your name;@ she exclaimed out loud to the stone. +er voice echoed off the walls of the cave, creating a wave much like the sensation that the green crystal was sending though her. "he sat there for a long time, absorbing this discovery, when a thought kindled inside her mind. 0here were some other words... 0here was something about finding something... or someone, but that was all she could remember. "he looked down at the walking stick that she had dropped. 3t laid innocently before her. "he tucked the newly named 8awn inside her shirt before she reached for the staff. 6aying it across her lap she inspected it closely. 0here were carvings of the "uns, the moon and the bright dots in the night covering almost every part of it. 0here were other carvings too that reminded her of the ones in the outer caves on the high cliff and... "he looked up. Des, the markings

on the wall. 0hey were 2ust like it. "he stood, still holding onto the staff and walked over to the wall. 0his side of the cavern was dark, but up close she could make out in more details the carving in the wall. "omeone had spent much time on it, 2ust like the walking stick. 3t looked like the "uns with many little dots surrounding it. 3n the center of the carving were five images, like flowers, round in shape. 0here were other images, not recognizable, all around the flowers and the carvings of the "uns. 3t was a great piece of work, but Vila could find no purpose to it. "he glanced at the staff in her hand. 3t felt right, as if it molded itself to her. "he liked the security it gave her. +er eyes traveled the shaft to the top that reached as tall she was. ,t the top it was rounded, but to one side of the knob on top there was a notch that had opened. &rom inside came an odd gleam. "he reached up to touch it and instantly knew that there was another crystal there( the feelings that the green sent into her were duplicated. !ith great reverence she wiped away the filth that had collected on it, hiding it from her. "he wasn't shocked to find an inset of a beautiful blue crystal. 3t hummed to her touch much like 8awn had. Oh "uns; she thought, what is this) +er stomach growled again, forcing her mind to focus on more practical matters. "he turned from the wall and walked back to the water's edge. "he knew she needed to find her way out( the storm was surely over with now. !as that all a dream) 5o, it couldn't have been. +er mind wouldn't settle itself. ,bsently she leaned towards the water to take a drink, when her eyes focused on herself. 0he shock of what stared back at her forced a shrill scream from her throat. ,ghast, she reached up and pulled her hair to the front for her to see it. 3t was white... white as the white rain that fell in the cold season. 3t was longer too. 5o, it hadn't been a dream 0he pain had been real. "he had been gone... gone a long time... long enough for her hair to grow. $ut the color;) !hy had it changed) ,nd her eyes; "he looked again towards the water. +er eyes were changed too. 0hey were soft violet blue, the colors of the sun woven in them. 3t was as if their true color had been released. "he sat back. !rapping her arms about herself she sat rocking. Oh "uns; !hat was happening to her;) "he was so scared; ,nd the fel... she had told her something. &ind the one with knowledge) +er whole body shook. 0ears streamed down her face. Oh "uns;; "he was... changed. 0ime stood still as she sat there, her mind trying to hold

onto reality. 0he village was gone, the people were gone, even the other cliff people were gone. "he didn't want to live alone. "he sat contemplating what she should do. 3f only there was someone to speak to. "he could remain on the cliffs... alone, or she could travel... travel like the old one had done so long ago. +e had to have come from somewhere... somewhere where other peoples lived. 'Find one with knowledge.' 0he words rolled around in her mind. !as there someone out there that could help her) "omeone with the answers that she needed) !hat else had been said) 'Storm?' 'Guard?' 'Not alone?' 0hat didn't make sense. Des, she did indeed need to find one with knowledge. 0hat is what she would do... what she had to do. Bnconsciously she reached for the crystal that hung around her neck, slowly rotating it in her hand. 3t was warm to the touch. 8awn, the name, 8awn. "he rolled the name around in her mind as she caressed the stone. "he felt at peace... with her decision to leave the cliffs and even somewhat with herself. "he tucked the crystal back inside her shirt and turned back to where the pack lay. Once she had made the decision she was in a hurry to begin. "he retrieved the pack and took the cloak from inside. "he put it on, then decided to put the pack on first under the cloak. "he took off the cloak and tried several ways to wear the strange pack before she found a comfortable fit on her hip. "he secured it over one shoulder and around her waist with the rope. 0his way she could reach it without it having to come off. "he put the cloak back on and pulled the hood down over her head, fastening it tight. ,ll she needed now was some of the Cliffmoving tools and she could make the descent off the cliffs. "he hoped that something had been left of the village that she could savage. "he turned and walked to the pool's edge, holding tight to the walking stick. "he geared herself up for the cold water and walked into the pool. 3t was deep and she had to swim to the crack in the wall. +er clothes and the staff should have hampered her, but she made it to the opening without much trouble.

C#$P%ER (
Vila let the current help her move back into the outer cave. 3t was more forceful

than it had been before( she fought to keep upright, using the wall for support. ,s she left the crevasse for the openness of the outer cave she held tight to the moss1covered wall and pulled herself along its side until she was out of the water and on the soft sands. "he found that although it was dark in the cave she could now see faintly, everything having a slightly blue hue. 0he outer cave was barely a round hole in the rock of the cliff. 0he water took up half and the other held a dark beach of sand. "he could see the impressions she had left before in the beach. 0he cave was low, 2ust above her head.. an *lder would not have been able to stand upright. 0he water was dark and deep, bubbling and churning though the small cave, then disappearing though the crack into the larger cave. 6eaving the water, she walked to the other end of the pool, to the wall where the water mysteriously seemed to begin. "he inspected the wall and peered into the water trying to see where the water was coming from, but the water was black( she couldn't see into its depths. "he leaned out over the water as far as she could, holding onto the wall. 0he wall was slick and her hand slipped off, throwing her off balance and into the water. "he fought to keep hold of the staff as she shrunk deeper into the pool. "o that's how 3 came in, she thought, as she looked down and saw an opening, 0here was a large hole in the cave wall, about four meters underwater from which the water was flowing in from. 0he current had been strong enough to push her into this cave. "he could feel it pushing against her now. "wimming against it was going to be hard.. 0here was no other way out that she could see, and getting out was mandatory( it was cold in the cave and she needed foodstuff. Vila allowed herself to be pushed back into the pool and raise to the surface. 3t wasn't hard for her to paddle to shore to the soft sandy beach. "he looked down at her finery in dismay, 2ust now thinking that she should have not entered the water in the first place dressed. ,lso she knew that she couldn't make the swim in it. #iece by piece she undressed, carefully folding each item as small as possible, wringing as much water out as she could, then stored it in the pack. 3f it was cold before, it was colder now standing wet and unclothed. 8awn around her neck was cold also( laying against her flesh it was uncomfortable.

"he tied the pack as securely as she knew how onto her back, then picking up the walking stick, she plunged into the iciness of the water. 0he drop off was immediate, the water pushing her back away from the opening. "he tried several times to swim though the opening, but gave up each time as the walking stick got in her way or her lungs cried for air. $ut she was determined7 she had to get through. "he held onto the wall for a moment, to catch her breath, the current fighting her even there. !ithout thinking she steadied herself with the walking stick, securing it into the muddy bottom as a wedge to hold her where she was. 3t wasn't until she caught her breath and was ready for another try that it occurred to her to use the staff in the same manner as a wedge to get though the opening. "he filled her lungs with air, then uickly submerged herself. "he found a good handhold in the wall and held on, using the walking stick behind herself. &irst moving one hand, then repositioning the walking stick, she moved down the wall towards the opening. 0he full force of the current caught her off guard, but the walking stick held tight in the mud and she pushed against it and moved into the opening. 3t was 2ust large enough to allow her to move freely. "he couldn't hold her breath for very long, but she made good progress through the hole. "he found the rhythm of moving her hand then the stick, so that it became fairly easy chore. "he came to a point where she couldn't find anything to hold onto with her hand the rock around her was so smooth, so bit by bit she pushed with the stick. 0he current began to ease, then was gone completely. +er lungs about to burst, she pushed herself out of the opening into the free water of the pond and rose to the outside. "he broke though the surface gasping for air. 0he pool was filled with debris, bits of limbs and leaves floated on top. "he pushed them aside and awkwardly with the walking stick, swam to shore. #ulling herself out of the water onto the familiar ground she took note that the wood was uiet. , dense fog floated around her. 0he time of lightover was unrecognizable as the blackness merged with the fog. 0he fog lay about two meters off the ground allowing her a limited view of the meadow. "he wondered only momentarily how she could see in this semi1dark, but pushed the thought from her mind.

"he dressed uickly, refastening the pack on her hip, then surveyed the damage to her meadow. 0he winds had flattened the tall grasses that had stood so proud. 0hey laid on the ground, grey and brown, all life gone from them, the old stones rising here and there, through the fallen masses. "he walked through the meadow. 3t looked as dead as all the other cliffs now. 0here was no green left in sight( the grasses were moist from the rains that always followed close behind the 6ulzs. +er feet sank in places along the trail. ,s she neared the wood, she could see the extent of the damage to it also. =any of the huge trees had fallen beneath the strong winds and laid like kindling all throughout the wood. ,ll the leaves had been stripped off of the trees. 0hey were as dead as anything else. 0he few trees left standing were of the *ubu wood, strong and almost uncuttable. $ut even the *ubus left standing looked like they had had the life sucked from them. ,nother layer of fog floated high above, hiding the trees: uppermost reaches. 0he old ones in the village had fashioned many tools out of the hard wood of the *ubu's. 0hat thought made her think of the village. "he knew that the villagers were all gone back to the +igh"uns, but she hoped that some of the Cliffmover tools could still be found( she would need them to get down the cliffs to the low lands. 0he path was blocked in many places by fallen trees or rocks that had come loose from the high cliff and rolled down, smashing as they went, leaving a trail of splintered wood in their wake. ,s she made to climb over yet another dead tree, she noticed the vine of a tuber near the uprooted end of the *ubu tree. "he climbed down and using the end of the staff, then her hands, she uncovered the large fleshy colored tuber. +ungrily she bit into it, the sweet heavy 2uices exploding as she broke the skin. "he didn't stop to wipe the 2uices that had spayed onto her face, but continued to eat until the tuber was 2ust a hollow shell. +er hunger abated, she sat down and leaned against the large root of the tree. +ow many lifeyears had she along with every other villager hunted after a heavy storm for any old *ubus that may have fallen so that they could get to the hidden treasure of the tuburs that grew only in their roots) 3t was almost impossible to dig to them with the roots protecting them. 0he mels could dig them out, sometimes taking days to accomplish that even after a rain had softened the ground. $ut there were creatures that

burrowed deep into the ground that could come up under the trees and get to the sweet tubers also. Vila, along with the other youngones, had used slings to kill the groundhogs that had been dull1witted enough to bring the tubers back up to the surface to eat. 3t had meant a feast of groundhogs and tubers for everyone... but it was very rare. ,nd here she sat with a wood full of uprooted *ubu trees. 0he prized tubers hers for the taking. 3t would mean a lot of work, but if she collected the tubers... and could find a cookoven still standing, it would mean enough foodstuff to last her for many "uncycles, even longer if she was careful with them. 3t was the foodstuff favored by the Cliffmovers, since it took up so little space and was so good at giving the Cliffmovers the energy they needed for their climbs. "he couldn't believe her luck. 3t would solve the problem of obtaining drinkable water too. *ven cooked hard the tubers could give off moisture enough to uench a thirst in even the most overworked Cliffmover. "he dropped her pack by the tree root and removed her cloak. "he went from tree to tree digging with whatever she could find to uncover the tubers. 0here seemed to be an unending supply. ,s she pulled the tubers she laid them on the cloak, pulling it along after herself. "he didn't like using it in such a working fashion, but it was necessary. "he had to leave off digging when the cape was so full that she could barely move it. "he retrieved her pack and tied it around herself. #ulling up the corners of the cloak she make it into a large bag, she then fitted the staff through the top of the bag. 3t was bulky, but she was able to lift it up and over her shoulders. 0he weight was heavy, but she had carried heavier before. " uaring her shoulders, she started back down the path to where the village had been. 0here were still trees to climb over, and now and again she had to detour off where the path should have been but were now 2ust gaping holes( part of the cliffside had slid off during the storm. 0he lightover had been dark grey and cold when she had risen from the pool, but now a heavy darkness had settled on the cliff. Vila was left walking down the once well known path, in what should have been complete darkness. Once more she gave it little thought that she could still see. *verything was faint, but it was like a dimly moonlit night.

3t took her more than twice as long as it used to, to descend the cliff's path to the village, or what remained of the village.. 0here were no huts left standing. "ome were completely gone, others were flattened to the ground. "he had to get out of the cold. +er body was stiff and her head was pounding. 0here was a small cave set in the lower cliff side that the villagers had used for storing. "he hoped that the cliff had held. 0rees had fallen down here also( there was even a few of the large *ubus that must have been tossed down the cliff by the winds, lying about and hindering her way. "he was more than tired and she was hungry again. 3t took her a long time to find the cave. 3t had been completely hidden by the fallen trees. $ut because of that, the cliff wall had been protected and the cave had held. "he crawled in the low opening, pulling the bag of tubers and the walking stick behind herself. 3t was cold in the cave, which she had expected, but luckily the fallen trees outside had protected the items stored inside from any destruction by the winds. "he found the extra firemaking tools that the *lders had made last new season. 0here were many of the little twisted pieces of #ibla grass. *ach bundled neatly in bags of skin from various animals. "he opened one bag and took out one of the sticks. 0here was a splinter of flint rock hidden deep in the center of it. "he pushed on one end until the flint was 2ust level with the grass. 0hen she went to the cave opening and gathered as many pieces of wood as she could without going far outside the cave. 0here seemed to be a good supply scattered near the opening.. 0aking the pile of wood back inside, she laid it aside while she formed a fire ring in the dirt. "he knew how to lay a fire in a hut so that it would burn hot and the smoke would go up and out the smoke hole. 0here was no smoke hole here, so she positioned the fire not too far inside the cave( the smoke could go out the cave opening instead. "he sat down behind the fire ring, deeper inside the cave. 0he wood was laid out easily( she had no dried grasses for the kinder, but there were some old baskets in the cave that she pulled apart and used instead. "he took hold of the #ibla stick and stuck it against the cave wall. 0he sparks from the flint instantly ignited the dry #ibla grasses that surround it. "he blew on it to make the flame surer, then placed it on top of the kindling inside the fire ring. "oon she had a warm cheery fire burning.

&inally warm, she ate one of the tubers, then, curling up with the walking stick held tight to herself, she laid her head on the bag of roots and fell uickly asleep. , faint glow emitted from the staff's top knob, enveloping Vila in a soft blue glimmer. 0he dreams came again... 8arkness... so much darkness... voices calling her... falling light, hot burning light... dead, everyone was dead... eyes, beautiful eyes... calm waters, running smoothly though darkness. !arm arms, laughter... 0he dreams were no different than they had been ever since she had started wearing the green crystal, though stronger and clearer than they had been before, but they didn't stay with her. +er mind pushed them out and she slept peacefully the rest of the long night. Vila awoke to a void of sound. 0he storm had emptied the area of birds for the present. Det she felt good even before she opened her eyes. 0he cave was warm and she had slept soundly, the dreams forgotten in the new lightover. "he opened her eyes and turned so that she could see out of the cave opening. 3t was blocked by the fallen trees so that only a small patch of openness could be seen. $ut it was enough to show her that the lightover had dawned to a deep gray blackness. "he stretched, then rose. +er body needed release( she moved out of the cave into the cold air and found a place of soft dirt. "he dug a small hole( relieved herself into it. Out of habit she covered the place and marked it, though there were none left that cared if she followed the customs or not. ,lthough the lightover was dark, she could still see well enough as she went back into the cave. 0he =others had worked hard at stocking it most seasons, but in with the deadness and their illness they had used up all of the foodstuffs. 0here was a large skin of a cliff goat that had been stored here to be cured when there was time. 0he long shaggy fur was still attached. 3t was light enough for her to carry, she decided. "he would need something to lay on at night. 0he rest of the stores were useless to her. 5o Cliffmoving tools or cookovens were in the cave. "he hoped that there were some in the fallen huts, or she would never get down the cliffs. "he did not have the skills to weave the ropes or fashion the foot and hand spikes. "he emptied the tubers out of the cape and dusted it off as best she could, then put

it on. !ith a shiver she left the warmth of the cave once more and, climbing over the trees, made her way to the destroyed village. 3t was a sad sight. 5othing that could be recognized as a village remained. Cust piles of wreckage lay about. 0he piles weren't even where the huts had been. 0he huts must have been picked up, then thrown back down as the 6ulz had a mind to do. "he neared the largest pile. 3t could have been what remained of the mainhut, but it was on the wrong side of the ledge. "he had left the walking stick in the cave, so she picked up a small branch and used it to poke around in the ruins. "he cried with delight when she uncovered a cookoven. 3t had one side smashed, but she could still use it. 0he cooking had always been done on one side of the huts and the work of the *lders on the other, so she abandoned where she found the cookoven and walked around the pile to the other side, and began to dig there. 3t didn't take long before she found what she had been looking for7 two long lengths of rope. 0he strongest ropes to be found anywhere. 6oalg had won many Cliffmover games with his ropes. 5o one in any of the other cliff villages could weave the fibers from the 8elba bush as tight or as strong as he could. Vila knew that she was lucky to have found 6oalg's ropes and not someone else's. 5earby she found a small bag of tools. "he couldn't tell whose bag it had been( all looked the same, but it had the stone hammer and the foot and hand spikes, and even a small sharp skinner's knife in it. "he had what she needed now. 0aking up the items she had found, she went back to the cave. 3t would take her most of the lightover to dry the tubers down to Cliffmover foodstuff. 0he oven was easily set up next to the cave opening. Vila used rocks to patch the smashed side, then gathered a good supply of hard wood and kindling. "he set a fire in the bottom of the small oven, starting it with an ember from her fire of the night before. !hile it burned down hot, she used the knife to slice into the tubers. "ince she hadn't taken time to eat yet, not many pieces were piled up for the first few tubers, as most of them found their way into her mouth. &ortunately, when it came to tubers the fact was that it didn't take a lot of the meaty flesh to fill a person up, and she was uickly sated. !hen she had enough for the first batch, she opened the top of the cookoven and

arranged the pieces so that the heat could reach all, then closed the doors tight. "he spent the rest of the lightover slicing up the tubers and baking them hard. 0he result of her work was a pile of black ugly pellets the size of a *ubu nut. 0hey looked inedible, but she knew differently. "ince to eat a fresh tuber was a rarity, she had saved a couple to eat before she left in the morrow. "he had enough to last at least six full "unscycles. "he hoped that she found people or more foodstuff before they ran out. +er hands and face were black from the smoke, and her fingers were a sticky mess from the tuber 2uices. *ven her finery had not gone undamaged by the work( it had a heavy film of soot on it also. 0he lightover had begun cold, and had become even colder, but working by the fires she hadn't noticed. 5ow walking down the path to the streambed that laid off to the side of the dead village, she was thoroughly chilled. $y the time she reached the water, she had almost convinced herself that it was better to be dirty and somewhat warm, than clean and frozen. $ut habit prevailed. "he undressed and waded into the water. 3t was colder than she had ever remembered it being. ,ll of the villagers had bathed every morning, until the illness came. 0hey were a clean people, en2oying the strong smells of the +ighcliffs, but hating the odor of unclean bodies. Vila used sand from the stream bottom to rub her body and hair clean. "he had no soft animal fat to really clean herself with, so this would have to do. !hen she was done with herself, she left the water shivering. 5aked she knelt by the water's edge and washed out her clothes, then raced back to the cave. 0he fire ring had died out, but the heat from the oven had made the cave almost too hot. "he laid the wet clothes out on the rocks in the cave and, using the left over wood, made up a fire in the fire ring. "he wrapped the goat fur around herself and ate one of the fresh tubers. "he sat staring at the fire <til her eyes closed on their own. 0he darkness had a strong hold of the cliff when she woke. 3t could have been time for the "uns to rise, but the fog was heavy outside and the blackness hung thick. "he wondered if the "uns would ever shine again. "he dressed in the now dried and stiff clothing. 0he boots were the only piece of clothing that didn't seem to change even when wet. "he pulled them on last, then set to packing her gear.

0he pack was large and now empty since she was wearing the clothes it had held. "he found a sound skin and put the dried tubers in it. "he then piled all of her necessary gear in front of herself so that she could decide the best way to pack. 0here was the skin of dried tubers, the tools, the knife, the #ibla fire sticks, the two lengths of rope, and the fur. "he packed the foodstuff first( then the fur. 0he fire sticks she divided into three parts, packing them in skin pulled tight around them. One she packed with the foodstuff, then one after the fur, then the last bundle she tied to her waist with a piece of rope. "he didn't wish to be caught without a way to make a fire. 0he land was getting colder and she knew she would need it to survive. 5ext she put in the Cliffmover tools. 0he knife she wanted to have out where she could reach it. Cutting off a piece of the flap of the pack, she made a crude holder for it, then secured it around her waist on the drawstring of her shirt. "he put the pack on, tying it as tight as she knew how. 0he opening of the pack was easily reached so that she wouldn't have to take the pack off and on to get something out of it. +er long white hair had become tangled in the night, so she tried the best she could to comb it out with her fingers, then tied it back out of her face with the cord again. 0he ropes she put over her shoulders( lastly, she donned the cape. +er packing complete, she put out what was left of the fire and, retrieving the last fresh tuber along with the staff, she left the cave. "he took care of her bodily functions, then started the walk down to the lowest cliff where the Cliffmovers had always descended from. 0he lightover had still not dawned. 0he fog blanketed her with a fine mist. 0he walk was slow, over more fallen trees and rocks, the darkness making her footing unsure. $y the time Vila had reached the cliff's edge, the lightover should have been well underway, but the darkness held on. "he took the tools out of the pack and put the tuber she had been carrying in. *xcitement had killed her hunger. 3t was an easy matter to put the foot spikes on( they fit well over the footcoverings, tight as they should. 0hey would not come loose. 0hen she took the longest of the ropes and found the end. 0ying a loose knot in it, she put the rope around the *ubu tree that still stood proud and strong near the edge. "he slipped the other end of

the rope through the knot she had made. 0o finish the line off she twisted a large knot in the end of the rope, securing the other end onto it. +olding her breath she dropped both of the ends off of the cliff, into the black fog below. 3f the rope was long enough, she would be able to climb down the dual ropes to the next ledge, untie the rope and bring it down to her. "he hoped it would be long enough( she would need this rope many more times before she left the cliffs behind. 0his was the deepest drop1off( if the rope reached the ledge below it could reach all the other cliffs too. "he tied the pack close, then awkwardly tied the walking stick to her back. 3t would not be the best arrangement, but she could not possibly leave it behind. "omehow it was a vital part of all this and she knew she needed it with her. 6astly she put on the hand spikes. 5ow she was ready. "tanding on the cliffs edge, she looked out into the blackness of the fog. 3t didn't allow her much view, but she knew what it looked like. 3t didn't scare her( being alone forever was what terrified her. "he could feel warmth from 8awn around her neck. "he approves, she thought, smiling to herself. $efore she had time to change her mind she grabbed hold of the rope and lowered herself over the side.

C#$P%ER )
0he dark figure made its way silently through the darkened streets, stopping only to duck into the shadows to allow others to pass by. 0here was no light to illuminate his movements, only the faint light that shone though the fog from the hovels along his route. +e paused as he came to the hill side. "mall bushes grew heavily on the volcano along this side of the city. +e looked up and down the road for any sign of life. ,fter assuring himself that there were no others to witness his activities, the dark figure lowered himself into a trench that edged the hillside and pushed though the nearest clump of bushes revealing what looked like the top part of a metal door. 3n the middle of the door, almost completely hidden by the dirt, was a small panel of five buttons. 0he figure pushed the buttons in what looked like a random pattern. , faint sound of gears grinding

could be heard, and the door panel opened. $efore the panel was all the way open the figure was crawling in, dropping down as he entered the black hole hidden behind. 0urning back layers of dirt and rock it could be seen where the door had been half buried. Off to the side of the panel was a faintly glowing red light. , slight wave of his hand across the glow and with a swoosh, along with the scraping of little used gear, the door closed and the red light uickly went out. !ater and moss covered the inside of the tunnel. 0he tunnel had been forgotten long ago. 3t ranked with the smell of sewage( somewhere the #alace sewage system must connect. $ut that didn't stop the lone figure from continuing in his mission. 0he darkness was arrested only by a faint green glow. 5ot far down into the tunnel four small figures huddled( holding up his hand to stop them from making any noise, he motioned for them to follow. 3t wasn't long before they came to a fork( unhesitating the figure choose one. 0hrough fork after fork, the tunnel passageways became a confusing mass of corridors and sink holes. =ost of the way was angled downward, deep into the ground, underneath the great dead Volcano. !ater dripped from high above. 3n some places the figure and those following him had to lay on their bellies and inch by inch crawl through where the ceiling and walls had given way. "till, it didn't take long for them to reach the end of the tunnel that they had been following. 0he green glow from the far corner of the space only served to make the area more foreboding. Climbing foot and hand holds had been dug out of the stone hard dirt into the wall blocking their way( the blackness above them hid where the climb lead to. ?8id you find her)@ a small voice asked. 3n response he sadly shook his head no. 0he little one turned to the others and hid her face, silent sobs shaking her little body. 0he figure hesitated only a moment, muttered something to himself, then turned to the wall. +e began to climb with a confident strong grip, up into the blackness above. ,fter a moment:s thought, he called down two words to those that had followed him. 4!ait here,4 his voice was deep( firm but kind. 0here was no sound as the small figures sat on rocks and watched as he disappeared up into the blackness. *ven if he hadn't been deep underground, the intense blackness that surrounded him as he climbed hid his every move. , faint light appeared high above him( if he

noticed it he gave no sign. 0he climb was strenuous, and took all his concentration to keep his grip on the slimy handholds. 5ow and then he could feel a bug of some sort wiggle out of his hands way as he climbed, and then there were some that weren't as lucky and were smashed by his hands or feet. !ater dripped from above, slowly soaking him. +e could feel the damp starting to penetrate into his bones. $ut he knew it wasn't much further( the light was closer. 3t was with a silent thanks to the "uns that he reached the last handhold and pulled himself though the small hole into the chamber. 0he chamber was softly illuminated by three pale green stones that laid in a row some distant apart. 3t was a large chamber, ranging high and wide, with many places where the light from the stones did not touch. $ut the figure didn't stop to notice. 3nstead he pulled himself to his feet and walked with sure purpose to the right, following the path that the laid out green stones marked. 0he chamber became black when he rounded a corner that hid the light from the stones. +e stumbled now and then on unseen ob2ects in his path, but he was not halted. , sound of water could be heard and as he walked the sound grew louder, until it filled the air. 0he figure walked more cautiously then, feeling in front of himself, until he felt a solid moss covered wall. Bsing the wall to guide himself he walked along it, coming all the time closer to the sound of falling water. !hen his hand reached open space, he turned to the opening and sat down with his feet hanging into empty black space. 0hen, only hesitating a little, he 2umped. 0he drop wasn't far( he landed easily on his feet, all sound of his descend being drowned out by the sound of the water. +e turned to the wall and felt around on it till he found a small hole. +e put his hand in and pulled out a worn taper. Bsing the flint attached to the holder he uickly lit it. 3ts small light barely made a difference, but it was enough to guide him. +olding the taper out so that it:s light wouldn:t blind him he searched the wall for a s uare panel. +e wasn:t sure he could find it, it had been a long time since he had been here. +is little bit of light showed where vines had covered the walls and it looked like some of the walls had tumbled down, making walking hard. 0hen 2ust as he was about to give up he saw it. 0he wall was whole, although covered with creeping vegetation. +e waved his hand over

the buttons and waited. "lowly a faint sallow glimmering began until five small buttons all started to glow. "uddenly the room filled with light. 3t was faint at first, then began to build up power until he could easily see, though the light stayed dim. +e put out the taper and looked around. 0he room he was in was circular, with a round pool of water in the center. 0he pool was fed from a small waterfall that came from a opening in the wall 2ust out of reach above the pool. 0he room was misty, stream rising from the naturally warm water. 0here were walls of shelves, still holding a mixture of clay pots in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Out of many of the larger pots grew plants, lifecycles of uncontrolled growth made many unrecognizable. $y the back wall there were trees, twisted within the confines of the ceiling and walls. 0hey were still alive with a multitude of different types of vines and other plants mingling up into their highest braches.. 0he room was a mixture of plant life gone feral, warm mist and rubble. 3t would do. +e walked to the far side of the pool, pushing through the vegetation as he moved. +e stopping at a small natural alcove in the cave wall and sat the still warm taper on a ledge that 2utted from the wall. 0hen he opened his shirt to reveal a small pack that was attached to his waist. +e untied it and hung it on a branch that protruded next to him. ,cross his shoulders was a uiver of arrows and a large cross bow( he undid the ties that held both in place and laid them gently down. 0hen he dropped his larger side pack. +urriedly he stripped himself of all his clothing. 0hey laid in a messy pile on the stone floor. +e stood naked in the warm air for only a moment before he walked into the water using the small steps that eons before had been carved into the pool. 0he water was alive with roots that had made their way into the water. #ushing them aside he exhale uietly as the warm water embraced him. +e pushed through the water and plant life until he was standing underneath the waterfall, using his hands he washed out the slime that had gathered in his hair on the 2ourney in. +e was a mel of extreme height, his body denying any sign of smallness. +is arms and chest were tight with muscles and tanned from long hours of working in the "uns: light. +is legs were strong and firm, used to running long distances in short

amounts of time. +is back was riddled with scars from his youth, before he had learned how to survive without giving in with the +igh Ones of 5iula and their Bnderlords. +is black hair was worn long in back, while cut close to his head on the top and sides, allowing his natural slight curl a chance to display itself. 0he long section was braided in the fashion of farm people. 3f not for his lack of a heavy mat of hair on his chest he could easily be mistaken for one of the Ofmar, the farm people. +e wore an un1 kempt beard, giving his face a menacing look. +e didn't have the smooth fair skin nor the soft facial features of the city people. +is mother, now long gone, was herself uarter Ofmar and he had inherited the features and skin tone of the race. +e was soon finished with his washing. +e thought of lingering longer in the warm water, then decided against it. 0he small ones waited below. +e left the water, goose bumps erupting on his bare skin. &rom the pack he brought out a clean pair of dark pants, leggings and a tunic. 0he pants fitted tight against his skin. 0he leggings were of heavy woven cloth, the protective metal situated to shield his manhood, thighs and knees, yet allowing freedom of movement. 0he tunic was of the same material, its cut made for protection as well. 3ts undershirt formed itself to his body and arms, though hidden by the outer cloth with the metal inserts. 0he undershirt had a necking fashioned of extra cloth that could be pulled up to shield ones face in sand storms on the plains. +e had a different use in mind. 0he garments looked like those worn by a warrior and if there was doubt of that the markings on them were those of the war tribes to the east. ,fter he finished dressing, he sat on the ground and pulled on a soft pair of black boots. 6astly he put on a long black cloak, also with the same markings. 0he cloak was heavy and thick, perfect for his needs. +e picked up his bow, then decided against taking it and laid it down once more. +e rummaged though his soiled clothes, retrieving a small curved dagger and fitted it comfortably inside a small shield hanging from the waist of his leggings, hiding it completely from sight. +e picked up the soiled clothes and haphazardly threw them into the pool. 0hey floated for only a moment before they sunk completely out of sight. +is dressing complete, he picked up his pack and as he walked, attached it to his

waist once again. +e left his large pack, bow and the uiver of arrows where he had dropped them. +e glanced up at the ceiling, gauging the amount of light. 3t was dim and getting dimmer. 0hat meant it was late evening by the "uns time. "omehow the light here was on the same schedule as the real "uns. ?Aood@ he thought to himself. #icking up the taper again he walked to the other side of the pool and leaned against a large rock, pushing with his full weight. 3t had sat for some time and rebelled at moving, but it couldn't resist his strength. &inally it rolled 2ust enough to reveal another opening. +e entered, pulling the cloak's hood up over his head, somewhat hiding his face. 0he tunnel was barely more than a crack in the rock, but there was room enough for him to walk easily and fast. 3t was pitch black, but by hugging the left side of the tunnel he could continue one way easily. On and on he walked, moving with each step, until a pile of rocks blocked his path. &eeling his way along the pile he walked until his hands met smooth wall. +e could feel stone steps under his feet and knew he had reached the place where the old palace and the new palace met up. +e was in what remained of a small hallway( near the end of it there was a door. +e had counted out the steps many times ..EF..EG..EE..EH..EI( silently he counted again as he walked. "ixty1eight..."ixty1eight steps and he reached out to the smooth wall and found the edges of the age old door. "lowly he ran his hand over the door until he felt a panel. 0his one only had one button on it. +e pushed the button hard, then waited. 5othing happened for what seemed like a long period of time, until at length the button began to glow faintly green. +e pushed slightly on the button again. 3mmediately the glow changed to red and the door began to slide towards him, moving on an unseen mechanism. +e pulled the door open only enough for him to inch though and uickly waved his hand over the red button on this side. 0he door moved back into place, disappearing into the wall, as if it was part of the stonework. *ven the panel with the small button looked like nothing more than a piece of stone. !ith the door closed the darkness was heavy. +e brought out the taper and lit it once more. 3t gave off a weak light in the darkness, but was enough to see by. 0he passageway he found himself in was old( stones from the ceiling had come loose and laid where they had fallen. =oss had even started to spread on some of them. +ere and there uickly, going upwards

doors could be make out in the stonework, some concealed as well as his, but his trained eye could pick them out. 0here were even a few doors fashioned of wood, a rarity down here. +e walked with purpose down the passageway until he came to a stone stairwell, holding tight to the handrail dug into the wall he started up, careful of the loose stones. +e didn't want to fall here( there was no one to find him. 0he climb was much shorter than the tunnel wall had been and far easier. ,t the top was another door. +e found the panel in it easily and pushed. ,gain it glowed red as it started to open. +e held it open a crack and cautiously peered out. 0his passageway should also be void of people9but he had to be sure. 0here were no sounds coming from the darkness. +e opened the door and went through, closing it behind him, the door blending in with the stone wall like the other and concealing it entirely. 0his passageway showed some signs of use, though not much. +e could make out burnt candles and used tapers along the walls. +e knew that only the oldest $lue %obes even knew of this part of the catacombs, and he firmly believed that none still lived that knew of the deeper ones and the chambers that were still there. $ut he was still cautious( he didn't want to take the chance on meeting up with anyone and least of all one of the $lue %obes. +e silently hurried down the passageway, turning this way then that. +is taper gave out 2ust as he began weaving his way slowly up into the higher levels. 0here were torches lit in intervals along the passageways. +e passed the storerooms and finally the sleeping rooms. 0here were other higher levels and finally at the top level that lead to the ,thenaeum of the $lue %obes. +e would not go any higher( as it was he had to be very careful here. 0hese corridors were always used, by the scribes and the $lue %obes alike. 0he corridor was lit only by the torches stuck on ledges every few paces, so the light only went a short ways. 0hat, combined with the pillars that held up the ceiling spaced randomly along the hall, made plenty of dark places for him to conceal himself. +e stopped when he heard voices and backed into a pillar's shadow, pulling the neck of his tunic high on his face, <til only his dark brown eyes could be seen. +e blended in well, with his black hair and clothing. +e couched and froze in place as two "cribes passed.

+e wrinkled his nose at the sweet smell that came to him as they passed. +e'd never get used to the incense smell that the +igh6ord of the #alace loved so. 0he +igh6ord had en2oyed the aroma of it so everyone found reasons to burn it so to please him. 3t was a heavy sweet scent, one that "hul never thought he would have to endure again. "melling it now brought back some very unpleasant memories. !hen it was safe, he moved out, keeping well into the shadows, until he had reached the corridor to the =ain +all. +e could tell that the 6ate meeting of the $lue %obes was 2ust about to let out( there were voices raised in the =ain +all that were echoing throughout the corridors from the high pillars of the ,thenaeum and out into the many passageways that 2utted off from it. +e stayed in the shadows as he made his way down the corridor, past numerous small rooms, till he came to the one he had been looking for. Bnfortunately the door itself was right in front of one of the tapers. +e would have to leave the safety of the dark to get to the door. +e could hear voices still singing in the =ain +all, so he crossed the corridor and tried the door. 3t was locked. +e cursed his luck. 0he higher levels did not have the same doors as the lower levels did. 0hey were heavy wood with simple locks, but even the simpliest locks took time to open. +e hurriedly opened his pack on his waist and rumbled though it till he found what he had been looking for7 a small piece of bent metal. +e pushed it in the lock and 2iggled it, cursing under his breath the whole time. +e continued to watch up and down the corridor for any signs of life. 0he singing had stopped and he could hear the sound of the mels leaving the +all. +e hastily worked the lock. &inally he felt a snapping noise from it. +e turned the handle, pushed the heavy wooden door open and slipped inside, 2ust as the "cribes turned the corner and made their way down the corridor. +e was breathing heavily( that was a close one. +e leaned back against the door and tried to calm his fast beating heart. 0he room was pitch black and cool. 3t felt good( he had begun to sweat. +e had almost regained control of himself when he heard voices stop right outside the door. !ithout making a noise he stepped back behind the door and flattened himself to the wall and waited. &arewells were said, then the sound of a key in the door. +e heard the sounds of confusion when the key locked the door instead of unlocking it. 0he key was turned

again, then the door was roughly pushed open. 0he hidden figure waited <til the mel was inside, then shoved the door shut. +e grabbed the mel, clamping his hand over his mouth. 0hey struggled in the dark for a few moments, but it was really no contest. 0he "cribe was used to nothing more than book learning( it wasn't long before he was laying face down on the cold stone floor with his hands pulled tight behind his back. 0he dark one leaned down close to ear and whispered. 4Aive)4 3nstantly the other stopped his struggling and nodded his head against the his captor's hand, still clamped on his mouth. 4Aood( 3'll let you up then.4 +e let go and stood, the room still so dark that neither could see the other. 4Areat "uns, "hul, couldn't you find a better way to say hello)4 the "cribe hissed as he rose from the floor, wiping the dirt from his face and rubbing his sore hands. 43 should have known it was you. 6et me light a taper and lock the door.4 0he room was well known to the "cribe( he had no trouble at all of walking to the door and locking it tight with his key. "hul could hear a second bolt being thrown also. Claylor's taking no chances this time, he thought to himself. 0here was a sound of flint striking and light appeared in the small room. 3t was the standard room for a "cribe( even though Claylor was one of the oldest "cribes, he still only rated a small s uare room, bare except for a bed that was carved into the back stone wall. 3t had a mattress filled with hay that smelt none too fresh and was covered with only one thin blanket. 0he only other items in the room were a simple table, one chair and a half filled book case. On one side wall there were a few pegs that Claylor's few other clothes hung from. !hen the light was lit and set, Claylor turned to look at his unexpected guest. "hul came to him and they hugged with feeling, like only old friends could have. "hul patted Claylor on the back, then stood back from him. 4Dou haven't changed much since the last time 3 was here.4 Claylor was 2ust a little shorter and uite a bit thinner than "hul. , city dweller all the way, from his pale skin to his beautiful blond hair that he wore cropped on his forehead and to his shoulders in the back. +is blue eyes were copies of all the other City

8wellers and almost a trade mark of the $lue %obes. +is cheeks had hollowed out and there were black smudges under his eyes. $ut even with the worn look, Claylor was a good looking mel. Cust seeing his friend brought back a flood of memories. 3n their youth the boys had run free in the city. "hul's mother had been Claylor's mother's handmaid and "hul had grown up in the fine home as one of the family. +e had been treated well, been taught right along with Claylor even though it was unheard of. 6ife had been well until Claylor had been chosen to become a "cribe( he had no choice in the matter, he had had to go. +is mother had begged the +igh6ord not to take her oldest child away to spend the rest of his life serving the $lue %obes. $ut her pleads had fallen on deaf ears. "o Claylor had left his mother, brothers and sister, and his friends, to move into the #alace to live with the $lue %obes, the keepers of knowledge. "hul, himself, had 2oined the guard of the $lue %obes as a youth 2ust to be able to stay near Claylor. 3t hadn't been long before the "cribes had discovered his uick mind and his level of knowledge. +e made friends with many of the "cribes and due to their petitioning to the $lue %obes he had been allowed to 2oin with the younger "cribes as they studied. 3t was an honor for him to have progressed so far with out having had a direct call from the $lue %obes to do so. +e couldn't have asked more out of his life or been happier. 0hat was, until he had defied them... all had changed then and he had been forced to leave the #alace and the city as an outcast, a deathcall on his head. +e had found his way around that though, 2ust like every other obstacle that had been placed in his way. 6ooking at his friend, he was inwardly glad that his life 2ourney had not continued down the path of becoming a $lue %obe. +is life was hard, but at least he was his own free mel. Claylor wrapped an arm around his friend's shoulder and lead him to the only chair in the room, then sat on the bed. 0hey sat in silence for a long moment 2ust taking in the fact they were together. "hul noted the change in his friend's face, a hardening look, before he spoke. 4!hy, "hul) !hy did you come back. 3t's death, you know.4 "hul had thought hard on how to approach Claylor, but all of his plans and explanations left him. +e sighed and shrugged his shoulders. 43t was time 3 guess. 0ime

to face what was left undone and unsaid back then.4 4Des)4 his friend encouraged him, his eyes still cold and uestioning. 0here was heavy silence between them before "hul spoke again. 4,re we still friends Claylor) %eal friends) Can 3 count on you now like 3 used to or has all that changed)4 Claylor looked long at the massive mel across from him. *verything he believed, everything he lived for this mel was against. $ut he knew that he was still his friend. +e sighed and dropped his eyes, 4Des "hul, 3'm still your friend.4 +e lifted his eyes, 4$ut 3 know you didn't risk your life to come here and ask me that. !hy are you here now)4 !hen "hul spoke it was low and heavy. 4Dou are wrong( that is one reason 3 am here. 3'm glad to know that you still think of me as a friend.4 Claylor didn't say anything. +e waited for "hul to continue. "hul braced himself, his voice hardening of it's own accord. 43 came also because of the 8eadness. "o many are dead and dying. 0he sickness is growing stronger and stronger among those left alive. 3 even saw some of the Bnderlords with the sign.4 +e had tried to leave emotion out of his voice, but it was impossible. 43 know that you and 3 disagree on almost everything. $ut 3 also know that no matter what you believe that you wouldn't 2ust let people die or our world slowly dry up and blow away.4 43 know of the sickness and the deaths, "hul. *veryone in the #alace knows of it. $ut there is nothing for us to do. 0he *ssences of $eings governors over us. 3t is they that have done this( we discuss the whys and hows every lightover. 0he +igh6ord himself entreats to the $eings with us daily,4 Claylor replied, his voice composed. "hul stared at his friend while he spoke, then stood and paced as well he could in the confined space. +e should have known. 5othing had changed. 0he whole of the #alace was converting back... or maybe a better way to say it was that they were or had forgotten the purpose of it all. 3t was that way when he had left( in fact it was the reason he had had to leave... that and what he had found, then the actions he had taken. $ut he was hoping that someone in the lifeyears that followed had woken to the light. $ut it was not so. 0he silence hung between the two mels, each deep in their own thoughts. 0he dark mel decided that he might as well go all the way with this. +e turned

back to his friend. 4Des, you pray, you read, you debate, you argue the fine points of nothingness, of these *ssences of $eings. $ut what do you accomplish) +ave you accomplished anything)4 Claylor made as if to speak, but "hul put up his hand to stop him. +e had started and there was no stopping now. 40he Bnderlords haven't even tried to help the City people or the Ofmars or any of the other peoples that have been flocking to the City in hope that help can be found here. 3n fact, the Bnderlords have raided all the lands as far as they could and confiscated the foodstuffs of the people. !e don't know who would have lived, so many have died from hunger alone. On my travels back 3 found only a handful still alive( most were dead, dying or being killed by the creatures the 8eadness has created. +ow can you possibly sit here and tell me that you are '8oing all you can'9no one in the #alace has even lifted a finger to help;4 Claylor's face was growing red from fury. +ow dare he speak this way about the Bnderlords or the +igh6ord) 3f the foodstuffs were taken it was for a reason. 3t was not his place.. or "hul's or any one else's place to uestion the +ighest of the +igh. Only the +igh6ord spoke directly with the *ssences. Only +e knew the right way. $ut he held his tongue( it would not help to argue with the mel before him. 3t was the same argument they had had so many lifeyears ago. "hul continued, 43f there was even a shard of humanity left in this #alace, a way would be found to help. Dou should be spending your time looking for the answers to this 8eadness, instead of spending your time doing the same things that you have been doing for lifeyears.4 "hul paused to catch his breath. +e could tell he wasn't making any progress with Claylor, in fact he looked like he would explode any moment. +e sat wearily down and softly asked, 4!hat are you doing now)4 "omehow the uestion took Claylor off guard. +e had been ready to condemn "hul for his blasphemy, but he thought about what his honest answer had to be and he discovered that he didn't care for what his answer was. +e had been filled with such righteous indignation and it became shame instead. !hat was he doing) "tudying for a debate with the Gth level of "cribes on the theories of Ctymo's and Janni's relating to the void of the Bniverse. 3t had been going on for better than a lifeyear now. 0he Gth level had lost to the /Ith level three lifeyears in a row now and they had dedicated themselves to winning the debates this year. +e had even been told that if his team won, he would

have the Call to $lue %obe appointment. +ow trivial it sounded. +e knew that people were dying( they did the entreats every lightover for the *ssences of $eings to be merciful and let those that had sinned so live. $ut it seemed somehow not enough. 0he silence had gone on and "hul knew he had struck a cord within his friend. +e let him have time to think. &inally Claylor's glaze focused on the dark one before him. 4Okay, "hul, 3 will concede that maybe there might be something else we should be doing. 3t has occurred to me that you already know what you think we should do. "o friend, what have you come to ask me to do)4 "hul was relieved. &or a moment there he was worried that Claylor would call the guard on him and turn him over to the +igh6ord. 43 believe that what is happening to us has something to do with the information 3 was studying on the %eign of %egenna and the *vensongs before my.. uh.. untimely departure) 3 need to seek that information once more. 0he answers are here, within these walls if only we look in the right place.4 4Or disproof,4 replied Claylor gravely. 4Des, or disproof,4 "hul acknowledged, knowing full well that he could prove it( he knew exactly where the proof was. 4!hat do you want then( for me to look for it)4 45o, 3 know where to look and you need to continue with your life inside the palace as always,4 he paused( he could see Claylor's thoughts racing though his mind. 0hey both knew that "hul knew something he shouldn't, had something he shouldn't and "hul wondered if he had made a mistake. Claylor silently waited for him to continue. 3t was too late now9he'd have to tell him. 43 need your help with foodstuffs. 5ot for me, we both know 3 could easily steal whatever 3 need> and there is still plant growth in the pool room.4 +e took a deep breath before he finished. 4$ut 3 need more types of foodstuff and more of it than 2ust for me. 3 have... youngones with me.4 Claylor bolted out of his seat. 4Dou have what with you);4 he screamed in a high hushed voice. 4Doungones. 3've found four youngones9well, really three. 0he oldest is at

maturity now. 3 hid them down beneath the pool chamber. 3 need foodstuff, much more foodstuffs than normal. 3 don't know when we can get foodstuffs from the outside( what is growing down there will keep us for a while. $ut they need grains and such.@ +e paused again, collecting his thoughts before he spoke. ?3 know that if these youngones were found by your people they would have been killed as sacrifices to your *ssence of $eings.4 4,s well as they should be. 0he +igh6ord himself proclaimed the uncleanliness of the youth over a lifeyear ago. 0he righteous of the Ofmars brought all their offspring in to us and we did what was needed to be done.4 4$ut has it helped, Claylor)4 "hul rose to stand near his one time best friend. 48id the darkness and fog reside) 8id the sickness go away) !hat has killing the youngones to do with saving our world) !here did the +igh6ord come up with that twisted idea)4 0heir tempers were evenly matched. $oth stared at each other, their thoughts racing though their minds( their beliefs and values clashed with each other. 4Claylor, as your friend, 3 ask you to forget you know 3 have them hid below. 5o one will know. 0he sickness will not go away if they are killed. 3n fact all our race will only be destroyed7 they are all we have left. #lease get me foodstuffs and 3 will leave you alone to your world of learning.4 Claylor thought hard about what his friend asked of him. "hul was a renegade( he would be killed on sight if found inside the #alace. ,s would he, if it was known that he helped him. ,nd the youngones... what to do) 0hey should die( it was the only way for the rest of them to live. 0he +igh6ord had proclaimed it. $ut... he thought maybe this was a way to save himself in the palace. !hat could it hurt) 3n fact, the more he thought about it the better it sounded. +e could use the youngones. Ao down to the lower levels, make friends with them, and lead them up here. ,fter it was all over with "hul would see... he would know that the +igh6ord was right and should be obeyed. +e could bring his friend back into the palace... and maybe recover... no, he wouldn't think about that yet. $esides, what he asked wouldn't be hard. 0he foodstuff could be taken easily and he could ask for time free to study for the debates. 0he debate with the /Ith level was still a couple of "unscycles away, and he was prepared( it wouldn't hurt for him to leave

now. 3t could be done. Des, he would do it. 4Des, 3 will help you,4 he spoke up suddenly. "hul started to say something, but Claylor had anticipated the uestion. 45o, 3 won't tell anyone of this. 3 will not betray you.4 +is conscience only hurt a little. 3t was for the best( he could save "hul from himself. 4Dou know, 3 am near my time to write my presentment for this lifeyear. 3 published 2ust tonight that 3 would write on the 0heories surrounding the forming of the 0hesiia. 6ord $el2ii, you remember him,, approved my topic,4 Claylor spoke as he stood and went to the door. 43 will go to him and tell him that 3 seek permission to shut myself away in the lower catacombs to search out old writings and scrolls. +e will allow it( he has never said no to me yet.4 "hul could only watch his friend. +is face was unreadable. Areat "uns, he hoped he had done the right thing. +e didn't like the idea of Claylor seeing the youngones, but him bringing the foodstuffs down himself would solve the problem for him. 3n his -Klifeyears Claylor was the closest friend he had ever had. +e would trust him, after all, he hadn't betrayed him when he had a chance before and there was no evidence he'd do so now. 43'll go now( you can wait here,4 he said as he turned towards the door. $ut "hul stood, putting his hand on Claylor's arm to stop him. 45o, 3 need to go back to the youngones and bring them up. 3'll meet you in the pool chamber.4 Claylor nodded at the logic in that. 0hey smiled weakly at each other, then Claylor put out the light and the room was once more concealed in black. +e unbolted the door, then turned the key in the lock. +e couldn't see "hul, but he knew him well enough to know that he was well hid behind the door. +e opened the door and looked out. 0he corridor was void of people. ,ll must have been as tired as him and gone straight to their little rooms for rest before the bells tonight. +e motioned for "hul to come out. 'uickly "hul left the room and crossed the hallway into the safety of the shadows. Claylor frowned to himself. +e would never believe that his religion was at fault, or wrong. 0he +igh6ord would protect them all. +e now had a chance to prove it to "hul( he would stay true to his friend and the +igh6ord at the same time. 0he taking of the youngones would only serve the greater purpose for all. +e loved "hul like a brother

and he reconfirmed his loyalty to him as he watched "hul slip though the shadows and disappear. 3t dawned on him then that "hul had been dressed in black, like the =aadis. Could he really have traveled that far east) +e'd have to ask him... later. +e had a lot to do before he could follow below. +e closed the door behind himself and hurried down the corridor the opposite way of "hul, towards 6ord $el2ii's rooms. $oth of the retreating young mels thought how odd it was that neither had brought up the missing white crystal. =aybe both knew where that topic would have lead them.

C#$P%ER *
43'm hungry,4 whined the small voice. 3nstinctively two other voices said, 4"hhhh,4 and the small youngone huddled closer to the felyouth next to him. 43'm cold, too, and my knee hurts,@ the insistent youngone whispered. 4!e all are, but we need to be uiet and 2ust wait,4 spat an irritated melyouth. ,fter a pause he said a bit gentler, 4+e'll come back4 $ut his voice betrayed his doubts too, not that they didn:t think he would try to. +e would> if he could. 45o one can hear us here( why do we have to be uiet)4 asked Cly, his voice in uisitive7 odd to the others who still were not used to hearing it. 0eerlee, the smallest of the littleones, was usually the one crying or complaining. $ut she sat curled up in &elena arms( uiet, still, as if life was drained from her. "he hadn:t spoken much since they left the fissure. 4$ecause =aster "hul told us to,4 answered 0ohn impatiently, the only one that wasn't Ofmar born. ,t /Flifeyears he was a tall youth, well built for his age. +e would be a big mel when he reached his full growth. 48on't speak to Cly that way( he's 2ust scared,4 &elena reprimanded him, in the arrogant tone that was always getting on 0ohn's nerves. 3f it wasn't for the fact that his people had all gone to the +ighsuns either from the sickness or from the swords of the =aadis he wouldn't even have come. Or so he told himself. !here else would he go) !ould he really not have followed the dark mel with the bow)

+is family had traveled from the $ay of 6ight to the Ofmar village in search of foodstuff. 0he waters gave up no life, nor did the land. =any had died before his people had left their homeland to make the long walk to the nearest village many lightovers away. 5othing had gone in their favor. 0he dense fog had only gotten denser, hiding the "uns and their light. 5o foodstuff could be found along the way. 0hey were away from the water that was the life blood for his people. 0heir talents were all but useless on land, giving them no help. +is =other and youngest felkin had died not long after they had started the 2ourney, as well as many of the others. 0hen the creatures had started to appear. 0hey soon learned to stay as far from them as possible. $ut by the time they had reached the Ofmar village all that remained were near starvation, but they found not foodstuff7 instead there were =aadi warriors. +is people did not fear the =aadi. 0heir settlements were on the east of the shoreline and his people and the =aadi had lived in peace with one another for as long as they could remember. 0he =aadi were large peoples and tended to wage wars on each others settlements, but had always left others alone. ,s they drew close to the =aadi they discovered that these were not the =aadis they had known... they had changed. 0hey didn:t look like the creatures that came out of the fog> but they were close to it. 0heir walk was 2erky, their faces twisted in what could be pain, but the words coming from their mouths could barely be understood. 0hey were fighting each other over some creature, tearing it apart and attacting each other with their swords. 0he stench of blood and body waste hung in the fog. $ody parts and entrails lay sickeningly around their feet. 0here was no time to escape( as soon as the =aadi noticed them they fell on them with swords. ,s the first warrior caught sight of the small band of people their lives were forfeit. 0ohn had run( whether it was his speed or his size he was the only one to make it to the rockly hillside that bordered the settlement. +e knew he was no match for the =aadi( they towered over him and his people. 0he =aadi began easily killing what remained of his group. +e scrambled over the rocks and fell off a large boulder into a prickly bush. +e could hear screams and yelling coming from behind him, but he

couldn:t see what was happening from his hiding place. ,t one point the fighting came close, the sounds on the other side of the rocks. +e hurriedly pushed himself backwards deeper under the brushweed. 0he thorns bit into his skin and scratched a long gash on his face. , sticky fluid starting leaking from the scatch and down his neck. +e pushed further back and found..nothing. +e fell a short distance into a concave that the brushweed had hid. +e landed with his butt on the ground and feet in the air. 3t was hard to shift himself in the tight space, but he was able to get his feet back under himself in a crouched position. 0rying to turn around in the tight space he inadvertently loosened the sides of the hole. 8irt and gravel rained down on his head. +e sputtered as it fell, not hurting him, but putting gritty sand in his eyes. , sound came from behind startling him. +e turned to find himself not alone. 0here was a small cleft behind him and three pair of eyes stared at him not more than two arms lengths away. +e could 2ust make out three forms huddled, their eyes like frightened animals. +e put up his hand to his face and gestured for them to remain uiet. ?3:m friend,@ he whispered. 0he three made no protests as he directed them to sit and wait. 3t seemed like a safe place to be. 0he smallest of the three was crying, her sobs for the most part silent. "creams could be heard near by, but the four remained muted and safe. +e s uirmed around until he could find handholds to help himself stand, his head 2ust coming out of the bush above. Bsing the thorny branches he pulled himself out of the hole. 0ohn was hidden under the clump of brushweeds, the thorny branches cutting into him, but concealing him well. 5ot caring about the blood running down his arms and face he pulled himself out of the bush and onto the backside of the boulder. #eering over he saw that the fight was almost over. $ut that was not what drew his attention. Cust pass the boulder, on the road below was a lone =aadi. +e held a bow and was speedily picking off the other =aadis one by one. 3n what seemed like one motion he would pull an arrow from a holder on his back, place it in the bow, aim and pull. *very time his arrow aim was true and found its mark. +e was smaller than the other =aadis, but still a giant compared to his people. 0he mel was less bulky, almost graceful in his use of the bow and arrows.

3t was not 2ust his height that was different, but his hair was long and braided like the Ofmars his people had traded with. +e could be Ofmar, one of the farm people, but he wasn:t dressed like them. +e wore the black tight clothing of the =aadis. 0ohn didn:t have time to take it all in( he only knew that this mel was fighting on his people:s side. 3t was a lost cause though( 0ohn couldn:t see any of his people still standing> only the =aadis that were bent on killing off this one mel. &rom behind the mel 0ohn could see a =aadi coming out of the fog7 under its beefy arm dangled one of 0ohn:s people. 0he mel was in danger as the =aadi uickly ran up behind him, a sword raised. ?$ehind you;@ 0ohn yelled before he could stop himself. 0he figure turned instantly and took aim and let his arrow soar. 3t lodged itself between the racing =aadi:s eyes. 0he =aadi kept running for a few more paces then dropped right at the mel:s feet. ,nother =aadi appeared out of the fog, yelled something 0ohn couldn:t made out, then turned and disappeared back into the fog. 0he figure stood ready with the bow, turning around in a uick circle seeking any other danger. 0he scene took on a subdued appearance, the figure alone in the road. 0he fog seemed leaden, darker. 0entacles of the fog seemed to be alive, weaving its way around the mel:s feet. 0ohn watched as the mel reached down to the =aadi at his feet. !ith a uick motion the mel grabbed hold of the arrow and pulled it free, blood dripping from its tip. +e wiped it on the back of the fallen =aadi then nimbly inserted it into the holder slung over his back. 0he mel stood for a moment looking down, then knelt and gently removed the =aadi:s arm from around the villager crumpled next to it. +e tenderly lifted the person up into his arms and carried her over to the boulders closest to 0ohn:s hiding place. 0ohn could easily see it was a fel, with a spark of life still in her. 0he mel softly laid her down and spoke soothingly to her. 0ohn had crawled out of his hiding place and silently went to the mel. !ithout knowing why he felt ashamed of himself for not fighting along with the other, though he knew he helped somewhat by calling out when he did. 0he mel gave no notice of him. +e was focused on comforting the dying fel who

lay spent, her lifeblood draining from her. 0ohn stood reverently nearby. 0he mel was kneeling at her side tenderly stroking her hair. "he didn't fight her own dying7 her eyes fixing on an unseen image, she left them. 3t was only then that the mel looked up at 0ohn. 0ohn knew then that the mel had known all along that he was there. +e turned back to the fel and gently closed her eyes, murmured some words, then stood and faced 0ohn. 0ohn could now see that the mel was not =aadi, only dressed in their way. +e was tall and impressive in his stance. +e stood taking in 0ohn, his gaze stopping only for a instant on 0ohn:s eyes, then reached his arm out towards him. 0ohn pulled back, and the mel froze. 0hey stood staring at one another for a long moment, then the mel reached out once more. 0he mel loomed over him, 0ohn barely reaching his shoulder. , calming feeling came over the young mel and he relaxed his pose. 0his time he did not move. 0he mel brushed 0ohn:s hair away from where it hung in his face and over his ears. ?Dou are a Aill.@ 0he mel spoke not a uestion, but a statement tinged with surprise. +is voice was deep, with a slight roughness to it. 0ohn nodded. ?&rom the $ay of 6ight)@ 0ohn could only nod again. 0he mel reached out hesitantly, making sure he didn:t startle him, and took one of 0ohn:s hands. +e looked closely at it for a moment, then murmered to himself while letting 0ohn:s hand drop. 0he mel gazed down the road off into the fog, the way 0ohn:s group had come from. 3t was a long silence. ?Dou:ve come a long way>.@ +e said uietly. 0ohn only nodded once more. ?Come, we need to leave uickly, it:s not safe.@ !ith that the mel turned and started walking in the opposite direction. &inally 0ohn found his voice. ?5o> there are others.@ +is voice sounded shaky and he wasn:t sure if the mel had even heard him until the mel stopped and looked back. ?Aills)@ ?3 don:t think so, but youngones.@ 0ohn gestured towards the boulders behind him. ?0hey are hid, three of them> 3 found them.@ +e stopped, not wanting to admit that he had been running for safety when he fell into the cave. "omehow he didn:t want this mel to know that he had been a coward. ?,re they well)@ +e uestioned, hopefulness sounding in his voice. ,gain 0ohn

was unsure what he meant. ?0hey seemed fine when 3 saw them, but scared.@ 0he mel nodded and made his way to the boulders. ?"how me.@ 0ohn 2umped onto the boulder then off the other side into the brushweed, this time knowing where the hole was. +e was able to get into the gap without many more of the thorns tearing into him. +e bent and looked inside. 0he three were still clustered against the far side of the small cave. 0hey made so sound, but their eyes were wide. +e motioned for them to come, but they didn:t move. ?Come on> it:s safe.@ 0he three looked at each other, then one moved forward. &or the first time 0ohn could see it was a small fel. ?,re they gone)@ +er voice was soft. ?0he =aadi are gone. ,nother mel is here. +e will..@ 0ohn faltered. +e didn:t know this mel, but he felt safe with him. +e was unsure why, but he 2ust knew that this mel was who they needed to trust. ?+e will guide us to a safe place. Come.@ !ith that he made his way back out, using his body to push the brushweed back and create an opening. 0he three slowly scambled out. 0he fel helped the smaller two out of the opening and then, with 0ohn:s assistance, pulled them onto the boulder and off the other side onto the ground. 0he oldest fel didn:t look much younger than 0ohn. "he held the hands of both littleones. , frayed looking little fel held onto what must have been at one time a doll. 3t was missing its hair and one arm, but the little one held it tight. 0he other was a small mel. 0ohn couldn:t even guess at his age( he was very thin and small, but his eyes looked so mature, as if they had seen too much. 0he three hesitated when they saw the mel, the smallest staring with his mouth wide open at the tall figure. 0he mel looked at them, giving them time to size him up. 0hen slowly he knelt next them and held out his hand to the oldest of the three. "he looked at 0ohn uestioning. +e returned her gaze. "lightly smiling he said, ?+e only wants to look at your hands.@ "he looked from him to the large mel and back at him again, the uncertainty written on her face. ?3t:s okay( 3 don:t know why, but it:s all right.@

"he looked back at the large mel. +e waited patiently while she made up her mind. 0hen uickly she reached out and let him take her hand. +e spread her fingers wide, nodded to himself and 2ust as kindly looked at the other two littleone:s hands. ?Dou have no sign of the sickness,@ he said tenderly to them, though his voice was coarse. +e stood and looked around the small group into the fog surrounding them. ?!e must go( they may come back.@ +e reached down to the smallest of the youngones and smoothly picked her up. 0he littleone 2ust stared at him, not daring to say anything or even fight. +e nodded at the others, then turned and started walking down the road. 0ohn and the two remaining hurried after him. 0hey followed his back, a faint silhouette in the heavy black fog. 0he fel pulled on 0ohn:s sleeve. ?!here are we going)@ she asked. ?8on:t know> and right now 3 don:t care. ,way from here.@ Complacently, the three youngones fell in line behind the retreating figture. 3f any of the three uestioned who this mel was, or the unusual older youth that traveled with him was, or even where they were being lead to, none dared voice it. 6ate that first lightover they had finally reached a village. 0hey stopped only long enough for each of them to gather together all the items they could into packs. 0he silent mel seemed impatient to be away( he was standing in the road leading towards the City of the $lue %obes. 0ohn watched him as he helped the three gather what items were to be found. 0here was no foodstuff, but each found some almost clean clothes, enough for them to change into and pack as spares. 0ohn found an interesting hat that formed over his head and hid his lack of ears. +e liked the way it fit. 0ohn kept one eye on the mel scared he might desert them. $ut =aster "hul waited until they were all ready, before he turned and starting to walk down the road. 0hey traveled for many "unscycles. 0ohn uickly grew accustomed to the mel's ways and the mel seemed to come to accept 0ohn and the youngones as traveling companions. 0he mel only made comment on the melyouth's strange looks once. $eing a Aill meant he was of the water people. 0ohn knew that his most unusual feature was the folds of skin by the side of his eyes, which bore small rings, and the nubs on the side of his head where ears would have been on other people. 0heir relationship was an odd one. 0he mel spoke rarely, nor did his face betray

much emotion, but between them they grew to depend on one another and act as one mind in many of the things they did. 0ogether they sought foodstuff for their little band. 3t wasn:t much, mostly dried things found in the abandoned fields or villiages along the way. 3t was rare that they saw others. =ost were the strange others, creatures that were unrecongizeable as to what they were. 0he mel would always inspect the people they found along the way7 all dead... and usually half eaten. +e took special interest in the creatures. 3n almost every instance 0ohn could make out what the mel was trying to show him. +ow the creature had been at one time a simple farm creature, harmless and gentle, or a mel of some tribe, or an animal of the mountains. 3n all the cases they had become malformed, deranged in their minds and bodies. 0he one similarity between all of them was the hands or paws. !hat should have been their natural features had become a talon of three claws, formed long and bloated. 0he mel called it the sign of thre'... and it was becoming more and more common as they moved onward. ,t first 0ohn had inspected his own odd shaped hands7 four fingers and a thumb held together with thin webbing. +is hands looked very similar to the creatures. $ut the mel had seen him and had thoughtfully taken the melyouth's extremity in his own. Jneeling before the youth he had stared at the smooth webbed hands held in his own large burly ones, then slowly raised his head and looked deep into the youth's green eyes. 4Dou are a special being. , person of the water. Dou are not a product of the deadness. Dou are you, no more, no less( you are a Aill and your body is clean of the sickness.4 0he voice was soft, as soft as the deep voice could be. 0he mel had then laid his hand on the youth's shoulder, gripped him tight, then stood. 4Dou are fine. 0hink no more of it.4 0hat was all that was said, but 0ohn's heart lifted. 0hey continued on their 2ourney in the accustomed silence. 0ohn discovered he had a special talent. +e always seemed to know what was near them, alive or dead and had a highly advanced sense of hearing. 0he others came to rely on him to warn them before something caught them unaware. 0he mel uitely and patiently taught 0ohn the art of defending himself, but he couldn't seem to master the bow or sword. 3n one village they pasted through they found a short staff with a small hooked spear on one end. 0he weapon fit well in 0ohn's odd

formed hands( he uickly took to it. 3n no time he was able to fight right alongside the mel and hold his own. 3n more than one instance he was able to kill one of the unnatural creatures before the mel could come help him. 3t was a ueer 2ourney they traveled. 0ohn knew that they were going in the direction of the old #alace. 0he mel had told him of the wickedness there and how in some way it was to blame for the insanity that held their world at odds. !ith every step they came closer and closer to the City of the $lue %obes. 0he mel had told him in short spurts of speech that it was a place where he had once lived and could be where he was going to die. 0ohn had heard of the city, and knew what a deathcall was. 0hat this mel had one on him was unthinkable. !hat could he have done to be banished) +e didn't seem wicked.. in fact, he was the virtuous mel he had ever met. 0rue, he was the most fierce warrior, next to the =aadis, that 0ohn had come across in his short life. $ut the mel didn't kill for killing sake. 3t was only for defence of them or others. 0ohn had not even seen him kill for foodstuff. 3t made for a meager fare, but safe. 0he 2ourney was a long one( they traveled down deserted and unfamiliar roadways. ,ll the land was dead, no villagers, no animals to be seen... nothing. 0he "uns were hotter than any remembered when they won over the fog, which was less and less often. 0he fog was more the norm, its heavy blanket of dank mist shrouding any light the "uns may have been producing. ,fter a time the fog seemed never to leave them, sometimes heavy, sometimes wet and fine, but always there, along with the heat. Cust as they thought they surely couldn't survive another hot lightover, the "uns stopped producing heat along with their light. 3t became colder than any could ever remember it being. *very night, or what =aster "hul deemed as night, they would finally stop and make fire in a deserted hut or building, all the time moving closer into the city and the mountain. 0he youngones, himself included, were so tired they could barely stay awake to eat the foodstuff that was handed them. 0hey had learned his name the second night out together. 0he young ones had asked 0ohn, too scared to ask the mel themselves. 0ohn was shocked to discover that he didn't know( it had never dawned on him to ask. 0ohn had asked uitely while sitting

around the fire as they rested. 0here was a long pause, then he had answered in a hoarse voice without looking up from the fire. 4"hul9my name is "hul.4 0he other youngones were too scared of him to speak to him directly, but when they spoke of him to each other, or asked 0ohn to speak for them, the mel was always referred to as =aster "hul. ,t first they were too new to one another to annoy each other. $ut over time, the newness wore off and 0ohn wished it would go back the way it was when everyone kept to themselves. 0he littlest one, 0eerlee was always crying, her sad little doll tucked into her shirt so she wouldn:t lose it. &elena, the oldest fel, was always bossing the other two littleones around and had recently taken to bossing him. 0hen there was Cly( he hardly even talked at all. Des, no, and a grunt now and then. "omehow 0ohn had been appointed their leader and he wasn't sure he liked it, especially if he had to do all the work and get bossed around by &elena at the same time. $ut on the other hand he got the impression that =aster "hul, though he didn:t voice it, was glad he had found them. 3t puzzled him, he couldn't figure out why "hul put up with all the delays having them along created for him. +e rarely lost his temper, when he did they all tried hard to regain his good will. =ostly he was concerned if they were too loud, or if one of the littleones wandered too far. 0ohn had learned, from the ever domineering &elena, that the littleone 0eerlee was her younger felkin, but Cly was from another tribe. +e looked Ofmar. +er and 0eerlee had come across him alone in a hut a few lightovers ago. 5one knew his story and he either wouldn't or couldn't communicate it with them. =aster "hul's demeanor became 2ust a way of life, sometimes gentle, sometimes brus ue, but always reasonable. +e didn:t speak much and most times it seemed to be 2ust what needed to be said. 0here were lightovers when all of them 2ust could not get along. 0he littleones would start to argue and &elena would try to calm them, or 0ohn and &elena would get in an argurment about something and =aster "hul would have to almost pull them apart. On lightovers like that he was sure that =aster "hul was fed up and would leave them. $ut somehow, no matter how upset he seemed to be, or how brutally he had to speak to them for them to listen he didn:t leave them. +e would be uiet for a time, look towards the

mountain deep in thought, taking deep breaths like as to calm himself. 0hen he would do something unexpectedly like reach down and lift 0eerlee to his shoulders and carry her, or give 0ohn a chore to go look through a hut they were passing( or some other such action that only instilled in the youngones a respect and love for the mel. !hether he realized this or not he never showed. 0he 2ourney through the outer villages and into the city took many "uncycles. 0ohn had no ideal that villages could be so big. Or that the mountain could be so huge. Close up it was immense. 0raveling through the villages they had to hide a lot. =aster "hul felt it safer to let the creatures pass without them being noticed. "ome of the creatures still looked somewhat like mels, in dark blue uniforms. 0hey looked hostile and he was sure that if they found "hul that the mel wouldn't have much time to defend himself or them. "hul silently pointed out to him a couple of times the sign of thre', on these creatures hands. 4Bnderlords...even the Bnderlords have the sign.4 +e heard "hul mumble under his breath to himself more than once. =ore and more of the 'Bnderlords' were seen as they moved closer to the #alace and the mountain base. "hul had told them as they rested the night before that the mountain was alive. 43t's called a Volcano. "ee the top, it:s surface is flat and deep down inside the mountain fire burns. &or longer than the people know the $lue %obes have had a palace in the mountain. 0hey believe that the mountain rebelled against evil and destroyed the first palace, but that the +igh6ord of that time gave himself to the mountain and it uieted again. 0hey rebuilt. $ut hidden inside the mountain the old #alace still remains, it:s a secret. Only myself and one other knew that it was there, or knew the way to get to it. 0hat:s where we are going.4 0hey could see the mountain looming over them and the stone wall that surrounded the Ofmar City that stood at the mountain:s base. *very lightover they were sure that today would be the lightover that they reached it and could finally rest. 0he road had changed from being little more than a dirt path to a wide smooth lane. 3ts base was hard packed and lined with rocks. 0hey had left it soon after, walking off to the right, staying with it, but out of sight of anything that might be traveling on it. 3t was on the last lightover, as the stone wall was looming close before them. 0hey could catch glimpes of it through the fog. 0hey were walking fast in anticipation.

=aster "hul had been worried that the road would be used a lot so they had left it and walking parallel to it, the fog giving them cover =aster "hul felt they needed. 0he ground was rocky and uneven making walking difficult for even the older ones. 6ittle Cly tripped over something, falling and scrapping his knee. =aster "hul stopped and turned to see what the cry was about, his bow readied as his other hand pulled an arrow from his uiver. &elena was holding 0eerlee:s hand, but she hurriedly picked the littleone up. 0he stress of trying to always stay hidden showed in her face as she glanced around them in the fog. +e had rushed over to Cly, saw his pant leg was torn and although some blood could be seen, it wasn:t bad. +e uickly picked him up to try to sooth him. +e looked up at =aster "hul and nodded for them to continue. =aster "hul had turned 2ust as the fog cleared for a spit second. $efore him was a wide fissure. One more step and he would have been in open space. One by one they gathered at the edge. 3t was like the world had split open separating the mountain from the outside world. 0he drop was sheer on both sides, the bottom invisible, only fog coiled below like a gray soft river. 0here was a rope tied to a large tree on their side that spanned the vastness to the other side( there it was secured to a large stone pillar. ?!e have to cross,@ =aster "hul said faintly. 5o one answered. 0here was nothing to say. 0ohn put Cly down next to &elena and laid on his stomach to looked over the edge. Other than a few 2agged rocks sticking out far below, there was nothing. 0here was no way they could climb down, or back up the other side. ,nd even if they could, they had no idea what was at the bottom or even where the bottom was. +e looked up at =aster "hul and 2ust shook his head. 0eerlee was whimpering in &elena:s arms, her tattered doll hangling limp from her hand. Cly had curled up in a ball and was silently rocking. "hul bent down and gently moved Cly:s hands so he could have a look at the cut. ?5othing:s broken, Cly> be brave, littleone. 5o need for tears.@ Cly looked up at him with soulful eyes. ?Dou saved me. 3 would have kept walking right off the edge.@ Cly looked up at the huge mel, his eyes swelling with tears. ?!e all could have been hurt, but you found a way to keep us safe.@ "hul put his head close to Cly and whispered something to him no one else could hear. 0hen Cly wiped his tears on his dirty sleeve, leaving a smuge of dirt across his nose, gave a weak smile and nodded.

?Aood then,@ the mel said as he stood, looking back at the crevice. 0he rest of them waited. 0hey could see =aster "hul was thinking, and thinking hard. +e always put his hand on his blade at his waist and tapped his fingers. +e knew =aster "hul would think of a way. ?!ait here93 need to test the rope.@ +is voice flat. ,s "hul took hold of the rope he turned back to 0ohn. ?3f it doesn:t hold me, travel south7 look for deep caves.@ !ith that he took hold of the rope with both hands and inched his way out over the void. 0hey watched silently as he made his way hand over hand, slowly, until he was mid1way. 0hen he stopped, let one hand go and turned around and made his way back. ,s he reached the edge 0ohn could see sweat was dripping from his face. !hen "hul stood on the firm ground again he bent over, his hands on his knees and took deep breaths. 0hen it was like he had found strength and stood straight and turned towards them. ?0ohn. Can you do what 3 2ust did)@ 0ohn had been holding his breath the whole time he had been watching =aster "hul travel the rope. +is only thoughts were that =aster "hul had come back and they weren:t alone. "omehow his brain had never gotten to the part that he might have to do that. +e didn:t want to be scared.. though he was. +e looked at =aster "hul, then at the rope. +e could swim> he was good at that. +e looked down at his hands. 0hey were made for the water( for swimming( for life in the deep a ua greens of the ocean. 5ever had he thought to do anything else. $ut in the last "unscycles he had learned to fight> use a weapon and kill if needed. +e looked back up at =aster "hul. ?3 don:t know, but> 3:ll try.@ +is voice had cracked only once. "hul reached out and gave 0ohn:s shoulder a hardy pat. ?Aood. 3 think 3:ve thought of a way to keep us somewhat safe.@ 0he other youngones had not said anything. 0ohn couldn:t tell if they were scared out of their minds or had 2ust decided what needed to be done would be done. 0hey watched as =aster "hul dug around in one of the packs they carried until he could some pieces of farm rope. Bsing his knife he cut thre pieces the length of one arm, then two more pieces as tall as he was. +e tied one of the larger pieces around his waist and handed the other to 0ohn. ?0ie with the knots 3 showed you.@ #ulling hard against his own rope, he said,

?6ike this( nice and tight.@ 0ohn did as instructed, then watched as "hul did the same to the little ones. +olding up the end of his rope for them to see he pointed to the rope spanning the vastness of the gap. ?!e are going to make a loop around the rope there so that even if you lose your hand holds you will not fall.@ +e looked at each of them in turn to see if they understood. ?Aood. 0ohn, you go first. ,fter you are over 3 will throw the packs across to you so we don:t have to carry the additional weight.@ 0ohn gulped hard and nodded. !ithout looking up he glanced over at &elena( her eyes were wide and she was staring straight at him. +e couldn:t look scared in front of her or =aster "hul. +e stood up tall, loosened his pack, letting it fall at his feet. !ith every ounce of courage he had he walked over to the tree, grabbed the attached rope and looped his end over it. =aster "hul watched as 0ohn made the knots, patting him on the shoulder when it was done. ?Aood 2ob. 5ow up you go,@ he said, helping 0ohn up as he ad2usted his hands for a good grip. ?"low and easy> 3 know you can do this.@ 0ohn closed his eyes for but a moment, steeling his nerves, then took his first move. +and over hand he slowly moved across the divide. +is hands were aching, his arms even more by the time he had reached the other side. !hen he was barely over the ground he did a slight swing and let go of the rope. +e knelt for a split second before he stood up and began to undo his rope from the line. +e could hear them cheering on the other side, and his face turned a bit red, but he tried not to show how proud he was of himself. ?0ohn,@ =aster "hul yelled, ?3:m going to throw the packs over now. "tep back so you can catch them.@ 0ohn did as he was told, 2ust as his pack came sailing straight at him. +e caught it hard, almost losing his balance, but righted himself uickly. 0hen another and another was rocketing towards him. +e caught all but one, little Cly:s pack sailing right over his head and landing with a dull thud in the dirt behind him. +e watched as &elena attached her line and started over. +er hands were a bit more nimble than his, but he could see that she was exhausted half way across. "he stopped for a bit, 2ust hanging. 0ohn could she her chest breathing hard, then she set out again with new vigor. 0ohn reached out and grabbed her as soon as he could and pulled her back onto the ground. "he sat down, holding her hands close. 0ohn knelt down to

congratulate her when he saw one lone tear drop. +e looked down at her hands, and taking one he gently opened it. 3t was raw and bleeding. "he looked up at him as she pulled her hand back. ?3:m okay( it will heal. $ut the little ones can:t do that. 3 didn:t think 3 could finish, myself.@ +er voice was weary. +e nodded and walked back to the edge. ?=aster "hul, the littleones can:t do that. !hat are we going to do) ,re you planning on carrying them)@ he shouted. ?5o you are right, but 3 thought of something. +old tight a minute.@ 0ohn watched as he pulled the two little ones to him and excitedly told them something. 0ohn couldn:t hear the words, but every now and then "hul would make a gesture towards him and &elena. 0he littleones: eyes were big7 0eelee looked frozen, but Cly looked excited. +e kept nodding over and over again. !hen he was done talking with them, he picked 0eerlee up and walked over to the edge. ?0ohn, get the large piece of rope out of my pack and tie one end around that statue.@ 0ohn didn:t know why, but he hurried to get the rope and do as =aster "hul asked. +e motioned when he had it done. ?5ow find something heavy to tie the other end so that you can throw the rope over to me.@ $oth he and &elena started looking hastily around them. &elena found a rock that wasn:t too big. +e tied the rope to it, then went to down the side a bit so when he threw it he wouldn:t hit anyone. 6ike the fishing nets he used to throw, he dropped the rope down so that the rock hung, then started swinging the rope and rock in a circle. !hen he was swinging as fast as he could, he let loose and watched the rock and the attached rope soar into the air and land neatly on the other side. +e was uite satisfied with himself. +e watched as =aster "hul retrieved the rope, took the rock off, untied the short piece of rope around her waist and tied the long rope in its place. 0hen he had her sit on the ground, rolling herself into a ball, wrapping her arms around her legs. +er little doll could be seen sticking out of her top. "he looked up only once as =aster "hul picked her up and whispered something to her. !ordlessly, she tucked her head down again and stayed still. ?0ohn;@ "hul yelled, ?"tay right where you are. 3:m going to throw her over to you.@ 0ohn and &elena didn:t even had time to react. &elena screamed as =aster "hul flung the littleone with all of his might straight at 0ohn. +alf way over she let loose of

her legs and was flying with all limbs fully stretched out. +er tunic bunched up over her head, with the rope tight under her arms. 0ohn could tell she was terrified. +er arms were flapping and in a panic she was kicking her legs. "omething fell( he saw it out of the corner of his eye, but she was the focus of his attention. +e could tell that she was going to easily make it over and he hurried to backup so he could catch her. "he landed hard on his chest, knocking him flat on his back. 0eerlee struggled against him, punching him in the face so that he had to push her up and away. ,s her tunic untangled and lowered he got a glimpse of her terror sticken face 2ust as she unloaded the contents of her morning meal all over him. !ith great control he rolled out from under her. &elena took over then, coming over to comfort her, while he rubbed off most of the vomit while fighting the urge to heave himself. +e got most of it off of his face and rushed over to 0eerlee to untie the rope so he could throw it back over to =aster "hul. "he fought him, but he pushed her hands away and finally was able to loosen the knots and remove it. +e hurried back to the edge searching for another rock to tie onto the rope. +e could hear 0eerlee screaming something behind him and &elena frantically trying to uiet her. ?0ohn>... 0ohn;@ =aster "hul shouted to him, trying to get his attention. +e stopped searching and glanced over at the mel. ?!e don:t need the rope. Aet ready.@ 0ohn waved no, but before he had time to stand up Cly was coming at him. 0ohn couldn:t believe his eyes. Cly looked like he was flying as a bird would. +e had started out in a ball, but then opened up and almost pointed himself like an arrow at 0ohn. *ven halfway across 0ohn could see his huge smile. 0he littleone looked like he was in sheer bliss, then almost gently he landed in 0ohn:s waiting arms. +is little arms immediately encircled 0ohn:s neck and hugged him tight. 0ohn was too surprised to move. ?Can 3 do that again)@ he asked in an excited small voice, his face taken over by the largest grin 0ohn had ever seen. !hen he put Cly down he saw that =aster "hul was already close to finishing the crossing, both smaller pieces of rope tied around his waist. +e waited as the large mel swung from the rope to the ground and undid his own safty line. Cly didn:t wait( he was at =aster "hul:s legs before he had finished untying himself. ?,gain, again;@ he cried 2umping up and down.

?5ot now, littleone.@ Cly:s face fell. ?=aybe someday soon we can fly again.@ "hul smiled softly at the littleone as he picked him up. ?6ets go see what all the crying is about.@ Cly nodded happily. 0ohn could only stare as =aster "hul came close. ?"eems like we found out what Cly likes to do, and maybe a large hint on where this littleone comes from too.@ +e said as he passed. 0ohn didn:t know what that meant, but he followed as they went over to where &elena was trying to hold 0eerlee down. 0he small fel calmed somewhat when she saw =aster "hul. +e put Cly down and sat on the ground next to her. ?3 know that was scary, but you did great, littleone. 5o need to cry now. !e are all save and on the right side.@ 0he tears kept coming and she had started to hiccup now as well. "he was trying to say something, but nothing was coming out. 3nstead she pointed to her tunic and started to look all around her. , light went off in 0ohn:s head. 0he doll. "he:s looking for the doll. +e took a uick look around, then a horrible thought occurred to him. +e had thought he had seen something fall. !ithout saying anything, he went over to the edge. 6aying down and looking over the rim he tried to make anything out. 0he fog was thick and still swirling as if there was a slight wind down in the ravine. 0hen he saw it. 3t was on a piece of rock, hooked by a piece of cloth only. 3t was way too far down for them to reach, even with the ropes. +e felt a presence next to him and without looking up he whispered. ?3t:s lost to her.@ +e pushed back from the edge and stood, coming only to =aster "hul:s shoulder. +e could see =aster "hul was thinking again. +e had his hand on the hilt of his knife that was strapped to his waist and was tapping his fingers against it. +e watched as "hul finally shook his head and moved back to the littleones, stopping at 0eerlee. +e leaned down and took her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him. ?6ittleone, we can see your doll, but we can:t reach it.@ +e looked up and around them. 0he fog was still thin, not a good sight if you didn:t wish to be seen. ?!e have to move on, but 3:ll make you a promise, okay)@ "he only nodded at him. ?Once 3 have you youngones in a safe place 3 will come back and see if 3 can get to it. !ill you accept my promise littleone)@ "he wiped her tears and some snot as well from her face and nodded again. =aster "hul stood and was all business once more.

?Aet your packs on( we have to move fast and as uietly as possible.@ 0hen under his breath 0ohn heard him mumble, ?3 can:t believe nothing heard us.@ 3t wasn:t long before they were standing at the base of the stone wall. 0ohn thought it would have been easier to 2ust walk on the road and go in the gate since they hadn:t seen anyone in uite a while, but =aster "hul refused to take the chance. ,t least the stones were easy to climb and the fog hid them from all eyes. 0ohn went first with Cly on his back, then &elena and =aster "hul with 0eerlee clinging tight to his neck. 0hey were up and over in no time. 0ohn knew the city was huge, the largest in the world, but he couldn:t see any of it. 0hey stayed close to the base of the mountain, scambling over rocks and between stone buildings, until they came to a trench that smelt like sewage. 5one uestioned the mel when he told them to get in and stay low. +e lead them though the first trench to another, then another. 3t was like their own private road system> with smells. 0hey had no idea where they were or where they were going, but =aster "hul stopped when the ditch ended at the side of a smooth rock covered with heavy underbrush at the side of the mountain. 0ohn was sure they would have to leave the ditch and start walking again, but =aster "hul did something( then there was an opening in the mountain and he hurried them all inside, the opening closing behind them. 0ohn's thoughts were brought back to the present. +e couldn't make out the youngones: faces even with the glow from the odd green stones, but he knew that all were holding each other. *very step of the way something would happen to cause them to slow up, or stop all together. +e and =aster "hul could have been here lightovers ago if it had been 2ust them. 3t wouldn't surprise him if =aster "hul did leave them down here to rot. 0ohn tried not to think of the smells that were assaulting him. 3t seemed easier to grumble about <the stink of this hole: than the fact that much of the smell was coming from himself. +e really, really needed to find water. +e looked up into the black, waiting, hoping( that =aster "hul would show up soon. &or all his grumbling and worrying, he knew that =aster "hul would return if he could. 3t was the $lue %obes that scared 0ohn. !hat would they do to the mel if they caught him, and why had he insisted that he go into the upper palace alone) 0ohn's keen hearing picked up on a sound. +e listened for a few seconds before he was sure of who

was moving above them. 4+e comes,4 he announced in a whisper. "uddenly there was a sound high above them, then a loud snap as something hit the side of the cave. 4One of you put this around you( hold tight93'll pull you up,4 came the deep familiar voice. 43'll go first,4 announced &elena. 0ohn could hear her standing, in the dark, arranging her pack. 4"end 0eerlee next, 0ohn.4 0ohn didn't even attempt to differ with her( he had given that up lightovers ago. Cust not paying attention to her worked better. 43'm on =aster "hul,4 &elena yelled up, her voice reverberating on the walls. 45o sounds;4 was hissed down in a deep whisper. &elena had the good sense to not say another word. 0he rope was pulled tight, then she could feel herself being lifted. 0he rope cut into her armpits, but she made no cry and held on. 3t was a long haul up the wall before the faint green glow could be seen. "he was pulled into an opening and unceremoniously relieved of the rope. "he caught her breath and moved close to the opening, only to be roughly pushed back from the edge. "he stayed where she had fallen. "oon 0eerlee's small shivering body was sitting next to her felkin's in the dark room high above. $oth of them sat silently as =aster "hul pulled up Cly, then 0ohn. 4=ove back from the opening,4 =aster "hul snapped at them, but they knew that he wasn:t mad, 2ust anxious. 0hey had all seen it before. ,ll obeyed at once, receding into the blackness. 0hey could see faintly in the cave. 0here were more of the odd green stones laying about that gave off some light. 0hey watched as =aster "hul coiled his rope neatly into a pile, then rolled a large boulder over the opening, sealing them inside. 0ohn could hear 0eerlee starting to sob again. Areat "uns, would she never stop, he thought, as the youngone:s cries rang in his ears. +e hoped that they reached their destination soon and that there was foodstuff there when they did( they hadn't eaten since yester lightover and he felt very empty. +e was brought out of his thoughts by =aster "hul picking up a green stone and starting to walk into the blackness. ,ll the others had begun to follow leaving 0ohn standing alone. +e hurried after the group, trying to act as if he had planned it that way. +e saw &elena look over her shoulder at him, but he couldn't read the look on her face.

0hey hadn't walked far when the sound of falling water could be heard and a dim light was coming from a hole in the stone wall. 0he sound reminded him of the great waters that he had grown up near. ,ll of them seemed to walk 2ust a little faster now( somehow the accustomed sound of water made all of them feel more comfortable. "wiftly they were at the opening, =aster "hul disappearing through it. +is hands reached up and one by one he helped 0eerlee, &elena, then Cly down. $ut when it was 0ohn's turn, =aster "hul's didn't offer him help, but turned and left. "hul saw the look in the youngone's eyes as he had turned and knew that he had been right. 3t would have been an insult to the youngone if he had offered help. 0he melyouth made his own way down. "hul was mildly impressed with the youth. +e was close to full growth, growing closer lightover by lightover. 0he world was forcing maturity upon him...and the other littleones. 3t wasn't a bad thing. 0hey would need all the help they could get in the lightovers to come, that "hul was sure of. Cries of delight rang though the weakly lit room( the younger three had already ran to the pool and were gazing at the waterfall, illuminated even more by the faint light of green stones scattered about. 40he water is warm;4 Cly cried out with surprise as he put his hand into the water. 43t's really warm;4 0he youngone didn't even bother to take his clothing off before he 2umped into the water. "oon the felyouths had followed. 0ohn was a little more aloof, but even he started to follow them into the steamy warm water. ?0ohn@ he stopped at his name and looked back expectedly at =aster "hul. ?!atch the littleones in the water. 0here are many roots and plants that they can get tangled in. Dou should spend some time cleaning some of them out soon.@ 0ohn looked back at the water and saw that it was true. +e had seen the plant life, but the fact that their roots would be there also had not dawned on him. +e nodded, smiled and drove in, clothes and all. 0hey were splashing and playing, forgetting for the first time what life had thrown onto them. "hul watched them for awhile musing about his first adventure in finding this pool. +is reactions had been similar to these youngones. , smile graced his face, transforming it momentarily to reveal how handsome he really was. 3t didn't last though, disappearing as he began to brood once more on serious matters, such as more heat and

foodstuff. &oodstuff he hoped was being taken care of right now by Claylor. 0he other needs he knew 2ust where to obtain by himself. +e walked to the water's edge and shouted so that they would hear him over the waterfall and their own laughter. ,fter the third attempt to get their attention, 0ohn looked his way and hastened to the pools edge. 43 will be back( try to keep your voices low,4 he proclaimed to the young melyouth. +e moved away a step then turned back, 40ohn, you are to watch the youngones and keep them safe until 3 return.4 0ohn swelled up with pride( "hul didn't miss the look. 3t reminded him of lightovers long gone. +e turned to leave, then as another thought came to him, he turned. 40ohn,4 he called. 0he youngone hadn't moved. +e still stood at attention watching the older mel. 4,nother will be 2oining us. +e is a "cribe to the $lue %obes( his name is Claylor.4 +e turned and disappeared, leaving 0ohn to wonder what =aster "hul had been talking about. !eren't $lue %obes corrupted) !asn't that why they had sneaked into the City and were forced to hid in the old palace) 3t was beyond his comprehension. , shriek from the pool brought his focus back to the other youngones. 46ook9 there's clothes in the bottom of the pool;4 announced &elena, her voice displeased. 3t dawned on 0ohn then that =aster "hul had been wearing the black clothes he had been dressed in when they had first met up. 0ohn had been thankful, as had the other youngones had been, when on the second lightover out on their 2ourney here, =aster "hul had taken those black clothes off and donned the clothing of the Ofmars. 0ohn knew the clothes in the pool had to have been "hul's. +e was glad that =aster "hul had left( he didn't even think &elena was stupid enough to rebuke =aster "hul, though her tone indicated she was on a roll> again.

L*nd of "ample Chapters of ?'uest of the *vensongs@M ________***________ 3f you en2oyed this sampling of ?'uest of the *vensongs@ you can purchased the

full e1book at ,mazon.com http7NNwww.amazon.comNgpNproductN$..GK%$O-" or at "mashwords.com http7NNwww.smashwords.comNbooksNviewNEK//G where the book may be easily downloaded to any computer. #urchase #rice 1 O -.PP.

0hank you ; C.%. Cummings