It had been five nights since the storm and the night in the cave. Zerik had suddenly stopped and startled Rivelle by unexpectedly pushing into her mind.
“There it is!” He yelled excitedly. “Efevra! Rivelle! We found it!”
“Can we make it before nightfall?” She feared she already knew the answer, having grown accustomed to the change in the sounds of the forest as darkness fell above it.
“It’s too far. We’ll sleep here, and leave at first light.” He sighed. “We should make it before nightfall tomorrow.” Rivelle wasn’t certain her was looking at her, but nodded in agreement.
Zerik set up camp and lit a fire while Rivelle hunted for their dinner. She was getting very good at using her abilities to a great advantage. It was not only fun, but helped to build her confidence. She returned to their camp, hoping to receive praise, but the area was silent. However, she knew he was there. She could see his orange hue pulsating slowly, still, and quiet. He was likely trying to connect with Soliyah again. He was doing it more and more frequently with no result, except getting frustrated and more worried each time he failed. Rivelle began prepping the meat for the fire. They sat in silence for some time until Rivelle saw the crimson color associated with Soliyah flash quickly before her. She stopped what she was doing and perked up, hoping it had been real.
“Soliyah?” Zerik’s honey-orange and Soliyah’s crimson red kept flashing back and forth.
“She’s there,” Rivelle assured him. “I just don’t know if we can hear her.”
“Soliyah! We’re so close. We’re coming back to you,” he promised her. Soliyah’s crimson shade pulsed in a faster sequence with a flash of a deep amethyst shade of purple in between. Rivelle couldn’t discern what it meant. She heard Zerik gasp and let out an uncomfortable groan. She wished she could see him, to try and understand what was happening. “Soliyah, no…” he whispered. The crimson red and amethyst shade suddenly seemed to explode in unison and merge, forming a strange and ugly shade of blue. Rivelle squinted her eyes, wishing she could unsee it, but of course, she couldn’t. She could see Zerik’s orange hue darken until it was almost brown. The dark shade of blue was taking over everything. Rivelle shook her head, as though that could push it all away. Suddenly, Zerik yelled out in frustration and the connection stopped. Rivelle felt as though she had to catch her breath.
“What was that?” She asked, but Zerik remained silent. She could hear him breathing, hear his orange hue pacing, pulsating quickly, still a darker shade of anger. “Zerik?”
“Nothing,” he lied. Silence hung between them for what felt like several minutes.
“Is Soliyah ok?”
“Oh, she’s absolutely fine.” His tone betrayed him. He wasn’t just angry, he was hurt. Rivelle couldn’t begin to guess why or what it all meant and so returned to finish preparing the meat.
They ate dinner in awkward silence. Zerik’s anger emanating so strongly, it was like a quiet buzz that wouldn’t go away. She wanted desperately to change the atmosphere.
“I will clean up,” he interrupted her thoughts and she nodded in thanks. She could hear him puttering around, removing any of the items that touched the meat, as to not attract a predator. So far they’d been lucky. When she finally heard him sit back down and sigh, she smiled and looked up at the stars.
“Describe them to me,” she asked him.
“What?” He sounded disturbed, almost disgusted by her request. She laughed, innocent to whatever his thoughts were.
“The stars,” she explained. “I haven’t seen them in so long. I miss them.” The silence remained and she sighed. “Please?”
“The sky is dark, almost black. And the stars… they’re bright. Some of them are twinkling, some are…”
“Zerik,” she pleaded, forcing her bottom lip out in a pout though she couldn’t be sure he was looking at her. “Paint the picture for me. Perhaps I can’t see it, but I know logically what it looks like.”
“Logically?” She nodded.
“Of course. I’ve seen it before, but I want to know how you see it.”
“I said…”
“With your heart, not your eyes.”
“My heart?”
“Yes,” she gave a small laugh and could sense his confusion. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “How would you describe it to Soliyah if you were talking to her right now?”
“We’re not talking right now,” his tone hardened and she could sense his anger and pain again. “She’s…” he stammered and stopped to take a breath, as though to remember his audience. She could feel him staring at her and she simply waited for him to start. He finally took a very deep breath. “The darkness is stretched beyond sight, blacker than black, but somehow filled with different shades like an imperfect stone, or a vast river in the middle of the night.” Rivelle smiled, lifting her head back up to the sky. “A million lights, like little flames, pierce the darkness in all kinds of shapes and sizes, one almost wants to try and connect them to create a design.” Rivelle could almost picture it, but she wanted more - more detail. “Up on your left, there is what almost looks like a luminous waterfall of stars, arched across a small part of the sky. Several stars at the bottom shine bright, eager to stand out from the rest, reminiscent of a wave breaking.” A waterfall of stars, Rivelle smiled, imagining it raining down on her. “Further to the left of that, a dark and smoky moon, casting an eerie and ethereal glow. It almost looks as though… lost…wandering the sky in search of something.” He sighed. “It looks sad, and lonely…”
“Zerik,” Rivelle could sense his mood changing. She desperately wished she could understand what he was thinking or feeling. Clearly, something he’d experienced while connected with Soliyah had affected him deeply.
“It’s fine,” he whispered. “I’m fine.” She could tell he was lying, but didn’t want to press or pry and so let it go.
“Tell me more about the moon,” she requested.
“It’s beautiful,” he continued, and she lay back and closed her eyes. “Readying for the Time of No Shadows, I expect.” He paused. “It’s like it has a secret,” he whispered. “Something it wants to say before it is hidden and forgotten, but there’s no one to listen.” A breath. “And the stars, they toy with the moon. As though dangling their self-importance and beauty in its face.”
If Rivelle had been listening, she’d have thought his words strange, confused and confusing, but she stopped listening as she concentrated on her breath and reached out to the moon. She concentrated on envisioning it in her mind, wishing she could really see it, feel it, maybe even have a conversation with it. She sought out its energy, seeking to hear its color, to try and communicate with it when…
“Rivelle! Stop!” It was a voice she didn’t recognize. She nearly jumped out of her skin with surprise and heard Zerik move toward her. She felt his hand grab her arm and could picture the look of concern on his face. “You cannot hear him right now. I have…paused your connection with him.” Rivelle wanted to yell out in frustration but held herself back. “He is worried. Tell him you are well - you were simply falling asleep.” She hesitated. “Do it.”
“I’m fine,” she said aloud and felt Zerik’s hand let her go. “I’m sorry,” she told him.
“Who are you?” Rivelle thought back.
“That is of no matter right now. I have not much time. I simply wanted to stop you before you hurt yourself. Or worse! Cause a disturbance that could fracture the light.”
“Fracture the light? What? What are you talking about? Who are you?”
“You know me as Tryte. We met in Efevra.”
“Soliyah’s little friend?”
“Yes.” She could tell he didn’t like her choice of words but ignored it. “Things are not always what they seem. As I said, I do not have much time to explain, but do not seek out the moon, especially now.”
“You mean to say I could communicate with it if I wanted to?”
“I have no way of knowing that, but attempting it right now could fracture the light.”
“What does that mean?”
“The light! It is the source of all that is good, what gives us strength, allows us to use our abilities.” He sighed. “Though skilled and powerful, you are clearly not learned.” Rivelle wanted to protest, but he continued before she could get a word in. “ Your potential is boundless,” he admitted. “I had no idea what to expect, but not this. Clearly, you are meant to be by the Venera Profera’s side throughout this journey. With guidance and patience, you could become the beacon that guides our Serenians from the encroaching abyss.” He paused. “The tides have shifted, and you are the harbinger of change, a force that shall not be ignored.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your ability to bond and communicate as you do, is a testament to the strength you carry. The tests we posed were not to judge you, but to guide you, see what value you could bring.”
“Tests?”
“It is rare to find a being that can transcend the boundaries of the physical world and engage with the light. And you, my friend, have tapped into it like none I’ve ever seen.”
“Who are you?”
“Tryte,” he answered.
“What have you got to do with all this? I don’t understand.”
“I am one of the keepers of the forgotten ways,” he told her, as though it should make perfect sense. “I am guide to Venera Profera… sort of.”
“What do you mean sort of?”
“Get back to Efevra. Quickly. Soliyah needs you.” Rivelle reached out to respond but the connection was gone.
“Rivelle? Are you sure you're ok? You look… strange.” Zerik’s voice was filled with concern, but she nodded.
“I’m just tired,” she lied and turned away from him, lying on her side. “Good night.”
Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts and questions. She couldn’t seem to stop it from racing. What was that all about? What was Tryte trying to tell her, though cryptically. She felt exhaustion creep up on her, into her bones, her muscles, her mind… everywhere. She took deep breaths to try and calm herself and sure enough, within minutes she was asleep.
They arrived in Efevra late into the night the next evening. Zerik thought it best they wait at the inn until morning and seek Soliyah out the next day, but Rivelle insisted on going up to the citadel.
“Why would they let us in?” Zerik asked, a tone of defeat and dejectedness in his voice. Rivelle could sense he was still upset about whatever his encounter with Soliyah had shown him the night before.
“Trust me,” she told him.
They approached the citadel gates and found several guards standing watch. Rivelle spoke with one, requesting to speak with Soliyah, but he shrugged her off. She reached out to search for Soliyah but the citadel walls were too thick, and the buildings too many and large however. Zerik came back to her side.
“They said to come back in the morning,” she told him. “I don’t understand. Tryte said…” And then it struck her.
“Ask for Tryte,” she told herself.
“What? Why?” She walked back to the guard and their conversation was short when he walked away into the Citadel. Zerik came back to her side. “How did you know to ask for him?” Rivelle simply smiled and they waited in silence.
They sat and waited for so long, Rivelle finally had to sit on the ground and could feel herself begin to fall asleep. Finally, they heard a door open and one of the guards walked toward them. Zerik pulled at Rivelle’s sleeve, letting her know. She stood.
“Tryte will see you,” the guard informed them and turned to lead the way. Zerik took Rivelle’s hand and began leading the way.
The inside of the citadel was a maze. Having never been in the building before, Rivelle could no longer tell where the East lay, whether they were simply walking in circles, or being led to the prisons. It smelled funny, like there were a million layers of dust blanketing the truth. She attempted to hear the colors around her, but her mind continued hearing a dark and dismal gray. Nothing seemed as she hoped or expected it to be. They seemed to walk forever, her feet feeling as though they weighed hundreds of pounds. She was about to state she couldn’t walk any further when they finally stopped.
“Wait here,” the guard said and left them.
“Where are we?” She asked, her voice echoing off the walls.
“I’m not sure. It’s a huge room,” Zerik told her. He pulled at her and she could feel the warmth of a fire, and hear its orange, yellow and red hues. “It’s a grand fire,” he described it to her and she smiled. Its warmth felt wonderful against her skin. She hadn’t even realized how cold she really was. They waited in silence for another minute when Rivelle thought it might be best to prepare Zerik.
“Tryte is more than he says, or looks like, he is,” she started. She could feel Zerik wanting to ask questions, but she kept speaking, not letting him. “Perhaps a long life friend to Soliyah, he is more. It seems he is a keeper of some sorts.”
“A Keeper? What does that mean?”
“We’ve all heard the stories of the Nano’s,” she began. “How they’re gifted with sight, to see the future.”
“Impossible,” Zerik huffed. “Stories of old to pass down lessons.”
“That might be,” Rivelle nodded. She was finally feeling warm again, not having realized just how cold she’d been the last several days in the forest. She could feel her strength returning. “Still, the stories say they foretold the darkness of these times. And, that the light will return.”
“Rivelle, what are you going on about? I know the stories. I believe in the light. I live by it. But can you get to the point?” He was tired, which gave room for plenty of impatience. She couldn’t blame him.
“We are living in an imbalance, Zerik. Something needs to happen to bring the balance back.”
“Balance?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “Of dark and light.” She paused, giving him time to process. “The periods of Time of No Shadows have grown longer, have they not?” She could almost hear the wheels in his head turning. His orange hue, though still somewhat dark since his interaction with Soliyah, seemed to flicker, as though uncertain. “I’m really asking. I can’t see it,” she gave a small laugh.
“I hadn’t given it much thought,” Zerik confided.
“I understand. To be honest, I’m not sure what it all means, but Tryte will know more than I.” And as if on cue, the door opened.
“My friends!” Tryte yelled out excitedly and the room filled with the familiar white from the tavern several days before. “I cannot begin to express my joy in seeing you’ve returned having fared so well in the forest.” Rivelle felt movement. “Relax Zerik.” She could feel Tryte’s smile through his words. “I can hear you, and yes, I know exactly where you’ve been. I sent you there.”
Rivelle had already had her suspicions and so wasn’t surprised, but she could feel Zerik’s anger building.
“What right did you have…? Why?”
“Yes, let us get right to it. Now that I am certain you are both meant to be with Venera Profera,” he cleared his throat. “Excuse me, Soliyah, we can get down to business.”
“Pardon me, Tryte,” Rivelle interrupted him. “Zerik is feeling quite overwhelmed by all this. Something happened between him and Soliyah that has him quite upset.”
“Rivelle!”
“Of course, I understand. Let us discuss that issue first.”
“Issue? What issue?”
“Zerik,” Rivelle pleaded. “Let him speak.” Soon the room was silent so the only thing that could be heard was the crackling of the fire. She turned to Tryte, focusing in on the white hues flowing from his core.
“I apologize if the last several days have been difficult for you. I am one of the Nanoquiao, a collective group of Nano who are deemed Keepers of the Forgotten, and seers of what is to come.” Rivelle could feel Zerik look at her, but she ignored him. “I knew Soliyah was Venera Profera the day I first met her, ages ago. I was tasked with observing her. And so, I remained in Beroun for ages, watching over her as the world grew darker.”
“You mean your friendship was all a ruse? No wonder she feels so alone. Abandoned.” Zerik interjected.
“The friendship was always real,” Tryte responded. “Unexpected, and real.” He took a deep breath. “The time of darkness has been coming ever faster,” he told them. “Each age, the Time of No Shadows grows longer, but only by an infinitesimal amount, a simple Serenian would not be able to tell.” Again, she could feel Zerik looking at her, but she ignored him. “But we Nano, we could see it, feel it. It was of no matter however, as our timing was clearly incorrect.”
“Timing?” Rivelle asked.
“We did not see any of what has come to pass this last age. The darkness is expanding, flourishing, faster than we ever thought possible. We… I believed there was more time. It is my doing that Soliyah is in such grave danger. The attack at Beroun, when I demanded she flee, she wasn’t ready. Nothing was ready.”
“She wandered Serenia alone for quite some time,” Zerik remembered, and Tryte nodded.
“She was meant to find you, but it was too soon. You aren’t ready either.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Venera Profera and Sparai id Holera. Source of Light and the Sword and Shield.” Silence hung in the air.
“I am the sword and shield?” Zerik asked and Rivelle could picture Tryte nodding. “And so, Soliyah… she is the… Source of Light?”
Pieces were beginning to click in place in Rivelle’s mind. She felt relief and contentment in knowing she’d been right to follow Zerik and Soliyah. But why? What force had made her do so?
“Tryte,” she started, unsure how to word her question. “What am I in all this then?” She asked. She desperately didn’t want it confirmed that she was simply a young and naive youngling who’d followed them like a lost pet. Tryte’s white softened and she felt him move closer to her, taking her hand in his. He squeezed it.
“My dhrehr,” he whispered. “I am not certain. That is why I had you sent to the forest.”
“You sent us? How? Why?”
“When you arrived,” he started and let Rivelle’s hand go. “Everything seemed wrong. Nothing was as it should be.”
“But I am Sparai id Holera!”
“That is true,” Tryte agreed. “And even more now.” Everyone hesitated to speak. Rivelle was almost certain of what was to come next, but didn’t believe it was her place to say anything. “Venera Profera has affection for you.” Zerik huffed and Rivelle felt him begin to pace.
“That’s ridiculous,” Zerik argued. “She’s made it very clear..”
“Make no errors, Zerik. I speak the truth. It was more than clear when you first approached me at the tavern.”
“But… ok. Let’s pretend you’re right. What’s the problem? Why send us away?”
“Well,” Rivelle interjected. “For starters, I was another reason to do it. Tryte wasn’t expecting two companions.” She couldn’t explain how she knew all she was saying, but she was more than certain of it. “With all the confusion, and growing concern for Soliyah’s safety, he thought it best to send us into the forest, test us, for our loyalty, our abilities, and our roles.”
“What do you mean?”
“Very astute, Rivelle,” Tryte commended her. “You continue to surprise me with your wisdom for one having seen so few ages.” Rivelle smiled at him. “You must understand, Zerik. Nothing that was foreseen included affections or a youngling.”
“By the sounds of it, none that was foreseen has come to pass. To me, that means your wisdom or foreknowledge is worth nothing.”
“I know who Soliyah is. I know what she is meant to do and be.”
“And a lot of good that has done her!” Zerik yelled back. “Where is she?”
“I know you return her affections,” Tryte challenged and Zerik remained silent. “You will not like what you find here. I am sorry,” he lowered his voice to a whisper. “I am partly to blame.”
“I am already aware,” Zerik’s voice was calm. “It matters not. Only that I remain with her to see this through… whatever it is.”
“I thought separating you, leaving her with only the task, the goal, to focus on, would help. But I fear I have pushed her into the realm of fear and forfeit. She is not who I know her to be. She is not her own.”
“She’s simply confused, and feeling abandoned and alone. Let me be with her, speak to her. I can bring her back.”
“I would gladly do so, but you must understand, your aim must be as Sparai if Holera, not as Zerik.”
“What do you mean?” The room filled with a deafening silence and Rivelle knew Tryte was nervous to say that which needed to be said.
“It means you must cast your affections aside,” Rivelle finally explained. “As Venera Profera she must fulfill her destiny and bring the light back into our world, cast out the darkness. She can’t do so as Soliyah.” She could hear Zerik’s orange hue weakening. She could feel the sadness, confusion, and disappointment filling every nerve, muscle, and cell of his body. She wanted to reach out to him, but decided against it.
“You must cast Zerik aside,” Tryte explained even further. “As she must Soliyah. There is no Zerik. No Soliyah. No room for affections or other distractions. Only room for Venera Profera, Source of Light, and Sparai id Holera, her Sword and Shield.”
“If I am to be her Sword and Shield, doesn’t having affections for her make sense?” His desperation was obvious, though he was working hard to mask it. “What better motivation to want to protect and fight for another than that?”
“Perhaps you’re right,” Tryte sighed. “But it cannot be anything more. I promise you that, though I cannot tell you why.”
“That hardly seems fair,” Rivelle commented.
“It is not,” Tryte agreed. They all remained silent for quite some time as they all processed what was said. Finally, Rivelle couldn’t take it anymore.
“And what of me?” She finally asked. “What is my role in all of this?”
“That remains to be seen,” Tryte confided. “I cast you away as you were not a part of any of the parts foretold. To be honest, I believed you were likely a nuisance, being so young and unlearned, tagging along on their quest. But you proved me wrong in Farelle. I know not what your role is to be, but that you are most definitely a part of this.” Rivelle sighed, disappointed with his answer.
“I want to see Soliyah,” Zerik whispered.
“Perhaps we should wait until morning,” Tryte offered.
“No,” Zerik insisted. “Bring me to her. Please.” Tryte nodded and they moved to go.
“Come young one,” Tryte called to her and she stood. Tryte walked over and took her hand in his, leading them all out of the room. “Let us find you a bed.”
Ⓒ October 2023. Beki Lantos. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form by any means without prior written permission of the author.