Dreams and Shadows (The Aylosian Chronicles Book 1) (19 page)

They stayed like that for several minutes, before slowly one, then two people left the clearing. Michael was finally able to catch Aneh’s attention as she wiped tears from her eyes. Kasha stood and left with her friends, and as others also then drifted off, the two of them were eventually alone.

“Do you begin to glimpse?” she asked him with a thoughtful smile on her face.

He didn’t respond immediately, not sure what to think, but eventually replied to her, “I really don’t know what to say. It was… certainly different. I’ve never seen anything like it.” He continued, though still struggling for words, “It seemed like… I don’t know. Something changed them, didn’t it? Something the Soul Weaver did.”

“They do not merely see each other’s souls now,” Aneh explained, again wiping her eyes. “They
share
each other’s souls. How could that not change them?”

“What were the stones?” he asked. “There was something about them. I felt something when I saw them.”

“They are Kerid stones,” she answered. She didn’t wait for Michael’s confused silence this time before beginning her explanation, “When Ashael left this land a thousand summers past, she imbued certain stones with her grace before she departed. They are found in few locations, and when discovered are kept hidden so that they do not become despoiled. They are known by the soft glows that you witnessed, but you may also feel them in your heart.”

Michael nodded, her explanation satisfying him, before again shaking his head in wonder at this beautiful world he had entered. He had more questions, but didn’t think that he would be able to absorb any further answers. “Please don’t tell me now, my head won’t take it,” he said with a quick smile, “but I’d like you to explain this Ashael to me some time if you don’t mind?”

Aneh returned his smile. “If Ashael is also not known in your world, then my sorrow for your people grows even greater. I will happily speak to you of her, perhaps on our journey. But now,” she said, rising to her feet, “we must attend the celebrations.”

Michael stood too, although throwing her a questioning look. “Our journey?” he asked.

“My mother told me this morning,” she replied. “I have been chosen as the Healing Weaver to accompany you with the Hafashal, to meet with those from the other Waylets. We leave in the morning.”

Michael hadn’t admitted to being worried that they would be parted. He had assumed that Felar, the more experienced Healing Weaver, would accompany them. The announcement gave a boost to his spirits, already high from the happy day’s events, and he couldn’t prevent a smile creasing his face as they headed back to the Stay’s tents.

CHAPTER TEN:
 

Parting

When a man finds that life has finally dealt kindly with him, he hopes that such kindness will, from that point, forever be his lot. His error is that he usually equates the brief kindness of his mortal journey with ease, and ease is not the destiny of any born into this world. The man who does not learn this lesson is thus doomed to live his life in sorrow. The wise will understand that he must not judge the value of his destination by the ease of his journey.

From the Wisdom of Ashael

***

A large crowd had gathered to see off the party the following morning. Although there were still some remnants of the previous day’s festivities to tidy, the gathering of the Hafashal of all three Waylets was a rare occurrence – perhaps only known a few times each generation – and many were eager to see the historic departure. Michael still couldn’t understand why his appearance should be such a concern to require a gathering now, and felt the same question in the gaze of many in the crowd as they deliberately included him in their stares.

He was pleased when they finally set off since he had felt like a loose end. He had tried to help prepare, but didn’t know enough, so he mostly just got in the way. The party was as Arevu had directed. Lohka and Berah accompanied Arevu as members of the Lora, and Aneh was there as Healing Weaver. Michael was disappointed that the Sword Weaver chosen to accompany them was Devu. He still remembered the young man’s threat, as well as his affection for Aneh, and found it impossible to avoid feeling a pit in his stomach whenever he looked at him. The Bow Weaver who travelled with them was a woman in her late twenties called Erena. Tall at almost six feet, she was slim with highly toned muscles; her long dark hair tied back. There were three other swordsmen and two archers, none of them Weavers, who made up the last of the group, making twelve in total including Michael.

The Elahish didn’t seem to have horses, and so they walked, although Michael was pleased that they did have half a dozen pack animals. Called Gulan, they were a dull grey colour, the size of small donkeys, and appeared to be rather scrawny, their short wiry fur looking messy. They were also ugly, Michael thought. Their faces appeared scrunched together with tight wrinkles, and they displayed bony heads. But they didn’t look overburdened with the packs that covered their backs and sides that contained provisions to last them the full fifteen-day journey.

Travelling west, they were probably no more than an hour out of the Stay when Peran and Ippi came bounding along with a third Shosa. Michael assumed their new companion was the one which had claimed Arevu. But he followed Aneh’s lead and didn’t ride, assuming it was because no-one else had mounts. He certainly enjoyed the company of his large feline, however, and throughout the rest of the day she bounced about with her companions, disappearing into the forest and returning again at regular intervals for Michael to rub his hands through her fur coat.
For her benefit or mine?
he wondered.

Various members of their company made their way to Michael’s side through the course of the morning: the ones he didn’t know introducing themselves; Berah asking more challenging questions about his past, and looking sceptical at the answers; Lohka offering comforting words.

It was late morning when Aneh’s mother was at his side that he asked what would happen if the gathering decided he was a risk.

“We do not gather to determine whether you pose a threat,” she tried to explain. “Our own Lora has now judged you to be one of us. But your appearance remains a mystery, which we hope that the combined wisdom of all Waylets will resolve. The reason for the Chet’tu attack against you also must be discovered.”

But he was remembering Aneh’s warning that his image on the Sword of their dreams should not become known for fear that it would cause some to reconsider their position; he still felt that the declaration that he should be treated as one of them was precarious. “What if they can’t work it out? What if someone comes up with a new reason why I might be dangerous?” He knew that Berah, at least, remained unconvinced, and wondered whether his older age would give an assumption of greater wisdom; give a greater authority to his concerns.

“It does not matter,” Lohka replied, trying to sound reassuring. “The Hafashal has proclaimed that you are one of our Waylet, and so you will be trusted, even though some may retain lingering doubts.”

He couldn’t understand how he could be trusted while any doubts remained, but listened as she continued. “That would only change if you were expelled from us, which would not happen unless you were known to have betrayed us,” she quickly added before Michael could ask.

She seemed confident that she had eased his mind, but there were still so many things that he didn’t understand; so many concepts that seemed to have different meanings in this land. He remained uncertain as he queried further, “What does it mean to betray the Waylet? It’s the last thing I would want to do, but I still don’t know most of your customs. I might do something by accident.”

She gave a soft laugh as she answered, “Unless you endeavour to harm one of our number, or leave us in order to aid the people of Aperocalsa in their attempts to make us extinct, you are safe from that accusation.”

He was somewhat reassured by that, but his insecurities would remain until at least after the gathering had concluded its deliberations. While Lohka’s words were no doubt a statement of fact with regards to the Elahish customs, one look at Berah, or Devu, or even Arevu, told Michael that he was still not completely safe, and that judgement was still pending.

It wasn’t until they stopped for lunch that he finally managed to speak to Aneh, although even that was only brief. Arevu had held her in conversation for most of the morning, and Michael had been frustrated to see that Devu had also been close by for most of that time. When they resumed their day’s journey, Aneh had again been summoned to speak to the Hafashal as they walked.

Although Michael had walked every day to and from work back in his former world, as the afternoon wore on he was now grateful that much of his time in Aylosia had been spent wandering the forests with Aneh; it going a small way to preparing him for this extended hike. Even so, by late afternoon he was tiring, and he was pleased when the others stopped trying to engage him in conversation as he was able to walk in contemplative silence.

By the time they stopped for the night, near a small stream and some berry bushes that would provide fresh fruit and water to supplement their packed meals, he was too tired for meaningful discussion even with Aneh and retired early to sleep. With the confident assertion that there would be no rain that night, they slept without tents, only the tall branches of the trees – their wooden arms now half-bare of their leaves – shielding them from the watching eyes of far-off stars. A handful of heat stones had been brought with them and were dotted amongst the sleeping party members to ensure that the autumn chill didn’t reach too far into their bones. When Michael awoke as the sun crept over the eastern horizon the following morning, he felt as refreshed as could be expected.

The second day was much like the first, and by lunchtime, he was in a bad mood. Aneh remained contained at Arevu’s side, and Devu still hovered nearby joining their discussions. He knew that it was silly, but she was his only real friend in this land, and to have her so near but prevented from her company made him feel more lonely, despite his Shosa’s continued appearances.

“That’s sure a long discussion you’re having,” he said to Aneh when they later sat next to each other on a fallen tree, eating their lunch.

Quickly checking that they were not being observed, she rolled her eyes, “If it were anyone but the Hafashal, I would beg to be rescued. Each time there is pause in our discussion and I believe there is opportunity to escape with grace, she raises a new meaningless subject and we commence a new dialogue.”

“What sorts of things are you talking about?”

“At first, she asked about my Weaving. She praised me for how I had healed both you and my Shosa from the poison of the Chet’tu. I was pleased to receive her praise for that. Then we conversed of Ippi and she enquired of any recent adventures, she relating her own tales with Mya. Still it was pleasant. But after that we talked of the trees we were passing; the shapes of boulders we neared; the flowers that appeared here and there. It is never-ending, Michael. Only Kasha can speak more of matters that have no substance. I cannot bear to think what our topics will be this afternoon– perhaps the texture of the mud or the droppings of forest animals.”

The frustration in her voice was clear, and Michael felt a degree of pleasure imagining that if she had not been forced to stay at Arevu’s side, she may have walked with him instead.
 

“It doesn’t sound like terribly important things to talk about,” he said. “Why do you think she is keeping you there with her?”

“Oh, it is for Devu,” she said with a mix of certainty and irritation.

“For Devu?”

“She is Devu’s mother,” she clarified, “and she knows he wishes to Entwine with me. So she speaks and speaks and speaks, asking Devu also to comment and to give me praise for my
wise
words. She thinks that if I am compelled to hear such praise from him often enough then he will somehow become more than a friend to me, and I will realise the foolishness of my former refusals.”

Michael had never heard Aneh speak with sarcasm before, and would have shown a smile if his stomach hadn’t been knotted at the thought of her and Devu standing next to each other in flowing blue and green robes in the Entwining ceremony.

The reminder that Devu was Arevu’s son added to his unease. Aneh’s irritation was clearly with Arevu, though, rather than with her son; Michael didn’t want to think about what that meant, so changed the subject, “So, no hettlesip trees so far?”

“Yes,” she replied, “We have passed many, but the season of fruit has now passed. I had to hunt far and wide when I gave them to you before, but sadly we will need to wait for another summer before we can again enjoy their sweet taste.”

The entire conversation hadn’t cheered him up, and shortly after they set off again, Aneh once more listening attentively to Arevu’s chosen topic. To make matters worse, it started to rain, adding to his misery. Large hooded cloaks were distributed that kept the company mostly dry, but as the rain turned heavier, the ground beneath them became muddy in places, causing Michael to slip occasionally as they went up or down the low hills that they now traversed. He was glad when Peran walked by his side for an extended period, as he could hold on to her fur to help keep his balance.

Tents kept them dry that night, and the weather cheered the next day, though Michael’s mood didn’t improve until they ceased their journey on the third day and he sat next to Aneh under the starry night as a couple of the party members played some music for the others. Although his boots were remarkably comfortable, he had walked with painful blisters for over a day, and Aneh was genuinely pleased to use her Weaving to heal them. Michael found a simple joy in the tingling sensation in his feet, knowing that it had been created by Aneh’s kindness.

“I wonder what Weaving I would have if I had been born here,” he considered aloud.

“Perhaps you will yet discover a Weaving,” Aneh replied.

Michael didn’t believe he would – Aneh had exposed him to several things to see if his soul was drawn to anything, and they had found nothing – but smiled as he changed the subject, “I know how much you’ve enjoyed talking about rocks and trees the last couple of days, but could you tell me about Ashael?”