*
The flight to Oros was short. It was now three in the morning, Palace Time, and Paul was on his way back from Oros by sky ferry. PalaHar’s cautious warnings, revealed once they were aboard the stratoliner, disturbed Paul enough to make a change of plans. He had intended to visit the military base in the morning, wanting to see Apollonius and Hanna off to their new assignments. Both Marine officers, Apollonius was headed for the Fourth Fleet, to serve as a first lieutenant aboard the GoshStock, a cruiser doing duty somewhere in the Southern Ring.
And then there was Hanna. Oh, beautiful Hanna! Paul smiled from memories of her company after they were reunited in the First Realm. Hanna was just now graduated from Marine Officers’ School and was departing on the imperial frigate, Sharon, in support of the Second Fleet at Stargaton. Simeon had so much wanted to see her off, but was still on assignment at Tilgath on Pilneser on king’s business. Paul regretted letting his friends down, but he believed justified in his actions, this being war and all.
PalaHar had warned Paul, “The shadows are long at the king’s regency and that darkness hides an evil web.”
Paul had puzzled, asking, “How can Mihai be in such danger as you suggest when her throne room sits in the very palace of God? Indeed, doesn’t Lowenah watch over her precious daughter, always keeping an eye on the woman’s safety?”
PalaHar shook his head in disagreement. “Our king stands on her own. Lowenah cannot directly interfere. Remember the Prisoner Exchange? She was placed under oath to remain out of this confrontation and that she will do, I promise you. The Council of Eighty was her way of lending parting support. At least Mihai would have some trusted allies to lean on no matter what might happen.”
He sighed. “Problem is Mihai’s heart.”
Paul was troubled. “Her heart? Mihai’s not sick, is she? How could that be?”
After making some chiding remark about such a wise man as Paul being so thick in his reasoning, PalaHar explained, “There are few people who are more tender and compassionate than Mihai - Michael, as we have known her for so long. This rebellion has exhausted the woman, nearly broken her heart. Maybe it has. She’s tired, my friend, tired of the death, the suffering, the pain. She wants to forget.”
“Mihai’s mind wishes to pursue this war to its end and bring things to a finish while her heart seeks comfort from the storm and tribulations she has endured because of it.” PalaHar’s voice became grave. “There are those among us - whether enemy or ally, I dare not say - who seek her heart’s wishes. I don’t believe these people act with total selflessness. There is always a motive behind people’s actions when they attempt to sway others’ feelings or opinions, just as I am trying to persuade you right now.”
Paul grimaced, understanding what PalaHar meant. The art of persuasion? Oh yes, he had used it well in past times. Simple but effective it is and, if wielded with skill, persuasion can become a very powerful weapon.
Tapping Paul on the arm, PalaHar explained, “There are some close to Mihai who have long desired an end to hostilities through more peaceful means. They have not been willing to accept all the atrocities perpetrated by Asotos’ followers as being approved by him. Even after the Prisoner Exchange debacle and the butchery at Exothepobole, a few have not given up that belief.”
“The real reason Mother set up the Council of Eighty was to provide Mihai with a large group of people to choose from to establish a new council. There were eighty from our realm. Mihai knew the hundreds delivered from the realms beneath were beyond willing corruption or treason, inexperienced maybe, but not treasonous. That’s why those of your kind present at the Council were not included in the numbering of the Eighty. Alas, Mihai has decided not to use the wisdom of those councilors.”
“Through smooth and subtle speech and actions, our king has been persuaded to retain most of her original councilors - that is except those who were at the Council of Eighty. I respectfully resisted my current assignment, pointing out how Ishtar was already in good hands, but Mihai would have none of it. I do believe someone put a bug in her ear. Similar things have happened to others.”
“What of Terey?” Paul asked. “She stormed from the chamber. How can you say that was persuasion?”
“Terey was seduced into battle with Mihai.”
PalaHar’s blunt answer shocked Paul and he asked for explanation. “Terey was egged on by a person or persons to confront Mihai, the same as others are still being encouraged to do at present. Terey is hot-tempered and hurts easily. When wounded deeply enough, she will seek solace in other activities far away from the one who hurt her. Her claim of being invited to the Council of Eighty was true. I asked Mother, myself.”
“Then why didn’t she encourage Mihai to seek an audience with Lowenah and have the matter settled?” Paul asked, still unable to believe what he was hearing.
“Simple,” replied PalaHar, “someone had worked her feelings up to the boiling point...someone who, I believe, had lots of time to get under the girl’s skin and had good reason to do so.”
“Who?!” Paul was indignant.
“I am not at liberty to say, my friend.” PalaHar calmly replied. “You have wisdom. Use your reason and discerning powers. Terey was worked up and now I’m afraid she’s going to be used as a scapegoat to take the heat off others. That’s why I volunteered to deliver the council’s information to the admiral of the fleet. Gabrielle will listen to what I have to say.”
Paul felt helpless. “So what can I do?”
PalaHar smiled. “You can do more than most, me included. Mihai fell in love with you long ago. She loves you more than Jonathan, possibly more than any other man. Notice I said ‘man’. Her love for her feminine companions is great, especially for Anna. Just how much so, I’m not sure. You are possibly the only other person who can protect her from being consumed by that woman.”
Paul wondered, “Why fear Anna? Has she not cared for the needs of the king? Indeed, has it not been said that she seeks what is good for others at her own expense?”
PalaHar’s words were sour. “Anna seeks what is good for Anna! She has not changed her spots from the day of her birth. What is to her advantage is what the woman searches out. Her loving kindness is for show, used to disarm others and hide her secret intentions.”
“How do you know all these things?” quizzed Paul.
“You forget so much, my friend.” PalaHar shook his head in amusement. “I am older than Anna...not by much, but still older.” He went on to tell Paul of the early days.
“I was the sixth child born of Lowenah. Unlike in later days when she birthed many children in rapid succession every two or three years, I was born in a much different age when Mother was more carefree. ChrusionHoraios was the oldest of all the children. His life was already hundreds or possibly thousands of years in passing before the second child was born. That was Tolohe. She was given as a sort of consort to Chrusion, and was hundreds of years old by the time of my birth.”
“Next came Legion - that’s his name now at least - then Merimna, daughter of the cold, born on the first day of winter. Fifth was Medeba, the maker of mirth. Both she and Merimna died during the First Megiddo War, leading our inexperienced troops into battle. I was born next, followed by EthoHule, Ecbatana, Tizrela, and then Anna.”
“As Anna grew in stature and form, her beauty became overwhelming. Those hazel eyes could mesmerize any man, combined with her smooth, olive-brown skin and silky black hair. Who could resist her? Chrusion became impatient for her Coming of age celebration and, I was told, requested the girl be given to him when she was but twelve. That event, by the way, set the tradition for a girl’s twelfth year to be her Coming of age.”
“To sum things up, Anna fell deeply in love with Chrusion. In time, she became jealous of Tolohe’s consort position. Although never directly attempting any coup to dethrone Tolohe, Anna managed to wiggle her way next to Chrusion. Offic
ially, Tolohe remained royal consort, but Anna sat the throne, you might say. At most important gatherings or celebrations, Anna was the woman of choice to grace Chrusion’s side. It has been said that the Canaanite temple dancers of your ancient world closely mimicked the seductive moves Anna privately pleasured upon Chrusion.”
“Over the ages, I have watched Anna deal with others. She is smooth and seductive in her approach. She has used her many charms, often to advance her own purpose...not that it’s been intentional. Some women are natural flirts and are just plain more sensual. There is no question about that with Anna. Still, I feel uneasy about her motives since the Rebellion.”
“Exactly where Anna’s heart is, I’m not sure. She did fight off Chrusion’s henchmen when he attempted Mihai’s murder, and she has supported our cause, at least in word. She is a healer and, as such, has placed herself at great risk many times in assisting the wounded. Still, she carries no weapon, refuses to, and she has never used the name ‘Asotos’ to the best of my knowledge.”
“My greatest concern has developed since the Prisoner Exchange. I can’t place a finger on it, but I feel something. I sought Anna’s company in a dream-share not long ago but she refused, citing some lame excuse. And I am not the only one she has declined…a surprise seeing there are so few men in comparison to women in the Empire. Indeed, as I think about it, Anna has been very selective regarding who she shares her secrets with. I have to wonder if Crilenian might not have hit on something tonight.”
PalaHar settled into deep thought. After some time lapsed, he urged Paul, “Make haste, my friend. Don’t leave Mihai alone for extended periods. If she suggests or requests your leave for any reason, find excuse. Learn to comfort her heart. Keep her satisfied so she finds no need to seek solace in Anna’s arms. I have some investigating to do. When I return from MueoPoros, we shall get together again. I should know more then. In the meantime, keep our girl safe.”
Paul protested. “How can I dictate to the king what is good and bad? And if I could, of what value is it in keeping her away from others?”
Surprised, PalaHar nearly fumed. “Use your senses, man! After seeing only a vision of Mihai’s true beauty, you chose not to take a wife but lived for the day when you would be with the woman you loved. Well, I tell you, Mihai did little different. She swooned over you for the longest time, having no desire for the comfort of anyone’s arms. Even now she misses you when you’re absent even for an hour. I see it in her eyes.”
He leaned toward Paul, grasping his arm. “Stick to that girl like glue and don’t let her out of your sight! You know what I mean. Don’t give Anna or others reason to share Mihai’s dreams. Especially, don’t give an Ancient that opportunity, unless it is one of the Eighty.”
Grinning, PalaHar added, “Use the ways of your kind, the way the males of your kind act with women, I mean. They’re possessive and jealous. You harbored those feelings, too. We both know it. Mihai is afraid of hurting you. She loves you so much, but is insecure about your love for her.” He again shook his head in mock bewilderment. “I can’t figure out why, but she is.”
“But what is to fear from a dream-share?” Paul asked innocently.
PalaHar shook Paul’s arm. “Everything, my friend, everything! You have heard it said that love’s real ecstasy is hidden in the dream-share. With the Ancients, the dream-share is much more like the blood-share.”
Paul’s eyes grew wide as PalaHar’s words sank in. He remembered Zadar’s explanation of the blood-share he and Darla had. The secrets it revealed were astounding.
PalaHar explained, “We - the Ancients - have developed our mind-sharing skills far beyond those of the other children. It is said among the Ancients, ‘The blood grape is for the child who has yet to learn the power of the mind’. From the child, Mihai, I have drawn memories that are secret even to her.”
Paul was incredulous. “There is no way a person can gain such control of another’s mind! I don’t believe it!”
“Not believing the day shall turn to night does not prevent it.” PalaHar countered. “Now listen, Paul, and listen well. To achieve the ecstasy of the mind, a person must release his or her willpower and surrender it to the other. The two minds can then mix in the dream-share, making it more real and sensual. It was a gift given us by Mother, allowing her mortal children to experience through the mind what no mortal could through the body.”
He sat back, releasing Paul’s arm. “This was a gift originally given to the men to share with their sisters. Although the women could impassion one another, their mind-share was less intense, similar to the way wives and concubines of your ancient kings comforted each other while waiting for the king’s attention. After the Rebellion, that all changed. Asotos gathered so many of the men to him that our sisters were left widowed, you might say. Out of compassion for her faithful daughters, Lowenah gave power of the dream-share to them so they could comfort each other with nearly the same passion of the mind as their brothers could give.”
“You see, my friend, Anna is an Ancient. She now has powers near equal to mine and other male Ancients, to give Mihai the ‘dream of dreams’ - supreme ecstasy. To attain that level of emotion, Mihai must surrender her heart and soul into Anna’s hands, relinquishing all caution and restraint to that woman. Anna, or anyone with those same abilities, is then free to search Mihai’s mind for whatever secrets are hidden there. The insidious thing is Mihai will never know it’s being done.”
Paul shuddered. “I have never given Mihai such an experience. She will tire of me in short order, and will seek love from others with those powers.”
PalaHar patted Paul’s arm, shaking his head. “Not necessarily. Remember, Mihai loves you beyond measure. Make her stay with you out of guilt if necessary. You also have those abilities within you the same as any Ancient. All children born from the Realms Beneath have that power gifted to them. Search your inner mind to find it…you will. Then practice it on Mihai. Soon, her craving will be for you and you, alone.”
PalaHar relaxed. “If all goes well, it will be many days before the passion of Mihai’s heart cools down. It may well be like a Coming of age celebration again for her. When a daughter of Lowenah celebrates coming of age, her craving for the man given her becomes overwhelming and her heart can see no other man. That craving can last several years if the man treats her right. ‘The honeymoon of the heart’, as some from your realm might call it, is often repeated when a woman falls in love with another man.”
The stratoliner began its final approach to the terminal. PalaHar concluded, “My friend, my world depends on your willingness to attempt my request. The children of your realm have been sent here to give us life. Some will battle with sword and spear. Others will fight the Dragon in different ways. Each is vital to our survival. The tools needed to accomplish your assignment were given you at your rebirth. Please don’t let us down. This war may well rest in your hands.”
The whine of reversing engines of the sky ferry brought Paul to his senses. He looked out the window upon the snow-covered terminal. For so long he had wondered what purpose he was to play in this world of such wise and innocent people. Now he was beginning to understand. His war was just as deadly in that the lives of people he loved and admired hung in the balance. What he was to do and how was still hazy in his mind, but he must do something.
He had been considered wise in his old world. Could that wisdom be sufficient for his success in this? Time would tell. Time!
Paul jumped from his seat, grabbing his coat, hurriedly putting it on as he raced for the exit. He smiled. After all, he did love Mihai beyond measure. Just how difficult could it be to express that love to her?
* * *