Many good intentions never reach fruition. Much comes about by the process of natural selection. There is no precedence for discovering one's abilities in magic; the facts may be hidden beyond the imagination.
There are those things which one person is more suited than others to provide individual contributions pushing a culture along its promised route.
One person, or persons, seems to perform with much greater skill than others. A choice made by the strengths needed to survive and this should be no surprise.
We are often reminded of some particular, and often peculiar, talent of an individual who has an awareness not obvious nor measurable, until brought into play.
Now we will tell a tale of searching and discovery; a tale of two of our heroes who attempt to follow the normal path to such discovery, but find their destinies lead them there in a different way . . .
Anisah and Geth'n mounted their horses and turned back along the southern road after Pet'r disappeared from view. They didn't talk for a long while, walking the horses slowly, looking about without concern for what they saw.
"We probably need to stop soon. Thieves are about and we don't need to meet any of them during the day. It might be wiser for us to travel at night. The moons are out and we should have plenty of light to travel," Geth'n spoke first.
"It's a good plan. I've had enough of thieves. I would prefer to avoid them," Anisah answered, turned to look back one last time. Something inside made her worry about Pet'r. She didn't quite understand the feeling. Shaking her head, her thoughts returned to the road. She kicked the horse gently and trotted along beside Geth'n.
Their first few days progressed with no incident. On the fourth day, they saw a troop of men on horseback coming toward them with some speed.
Geth'n motioned to Anisah to follow him and they quickly galloped the horses into the forest edge out of sight, dismounted and stood quietly holding the animals' reins. The troops rode past them hurriedly, banners flying, not taking notice of them.
"Someone very important, I believe," Anisah spoke when she felt it safe to do so.
Geth'n turned to nod when his eyes opened wide as he noticed the man on horseback, with his sword drawn, sitting behind them, watching their actions.
“Anisah, maybe you should turn around. Slowly,” Geth'n muttered.
Anisah turned around and found herself staring into eyes that pierced her heart.
The rider raised his empty hand. "Don't be afraid, you're safe. I had to make certain you meant his lordship, Garv’n, no harm. Be careful on your journey," he saluted them, crashed his sword back into his scabbard, turned his horse and trotted out of the trees, breaking into a gallop on the road to follow the others.
They both exhaled at the same time, then laughed.
"We seem to have our thoughts somewhere else. We can't afford to let something like that happen again. We've been on the road long enough to know better. We need to concentrate on our own journey and quit worrying about Pet'r," Geth'n said, looked at her and smiled, but had a stern look in his eyes.
"Yes, you're right. I learned the dangers on these roads and we can't afford to be less than vigilant at all times," Anisah added, glancing about her and out at the road as though expecting yet another surprise.
They rested for a while, still a bit shaky at their experience. As the moonlight became brighter they walked their horses to the road, mounted and began walking southward again. Each made an effort to survey the tree line and look down the route they followed. Geth'n, on numerous occasions, turned and viewed the road they had passed already. The rest of the night passed without incident.
At dawn, they withdrew again into the trees, scouted around for a source of water and shelter away from the road, and set up a small camp. As the sun rose, they built a small fire and cooked a light meal.
Geth'n took the first watch as they had agreed and Anisah slept for most of the morning, then they changed places and Geth'n rested. They were not troubled by any more problems and, though a number of groups had ridden by them during the daylight hours, they were never discovered.
Following this pattern, traveling by night and resting by day, they reached the outlying villages of Tariny without incident. As they got closer to the city, the mixture of people became extreme and obvious. They had never seen so many different faces nor heard so many different languages in their lives.
Villages of various clans oozed along each side of the road. Those sitting near the road, talk would stop and the people would watch them suspiciously as they rode by, often breaking into laughter after they passed.
Anisah and Geth'n began to have more and more company along the way, bumping against other horsemen, dodging carts overflowing, wagons splashing mud over everything. And, in the distance and on each side of the road they were on, they could see yet other roads with masses of people moving toward the city gates.
They could now see towers rising above the rolling prairie. Geth'n pointed toward the glittering sea beyond the city. Sweeping the valley between them and flowing to the edge of the sea, the city was magnificent. Stopping the horses on top of the rise overlooking the plain leading to the city's great gate, they were awed by the spectacle.
Thousands of people, young and old; on foot; on animals; in carts; and riding wagons -- pushed to the gate and filed into the city. The gate seemed to swallow them.
A ponderous wall extended southward to the sea and seemed to slide into the mountains lying to the west like a great walrus resting in the sun. The low mountains flowed softly on the horizon, undulating higher toward the north as they disappeared into the distance.
The tops of the larger buildings inside the city glistened; some even twinkled, in the late afternoon sun. Anisah had never seen such a sight as this; she sat trying to take it all in at once, looking from one reach of the city to the other; disbelieving what she saw.
It is this beautiful place where I shall become what I want to be the most. It is here my dreams will be fulfilled.
Geth'n couldn't believe this amazing sight either. He felt almost overwhelmed at the immensity; he had expected the city to be large but had never anticipated the impact it was having on him.
Here I will find what I seek. There can be no doubt that such a place must have all of the knowledge one can ever achieve; the libraries must be immense. I must surely learn what and why I have pursued my dreams.
They didn't speak for a long while; sitting and watching as the sun moved slowly in the sky, turning the scene they watched into different surprises with each minute.
"Get out of the way, you idiots! I've got to move this wagon to the city today, not tomorrow!" A man sitting on his great wagon yelled impatiently as he approached them, "Do ya think this road belongs to ya!"
He glared at them as they moved their horses aside to let him pass, waking from their fixation on the city.
Geth'n looked back along the road from the direction they had come and noticed the traffic seemed to be moving faster than before. Those on foot were almost running, and the horses broke into trots as they came closer
"Why the hurry?" he yelled at a group of riders moving by.
"Tisn't safe outside the city at night. If you don't make the gate by sundown, they close it and won't let you inside 'til morning Can be hard on ya out here, lots of thieves about and no protection on the prairie," the back rider shouted and pointed toward the large encampments forming outside the walls as the others passed ahead of him.
Anisah looked over at Geth'n. "Maybe we should hurry ourselves," she said to him and punched her heels into the horse's flank and being to trot the horse behind the next group passing.
Geth'n agreed, touched his horse, and caught her quickly. They rode along not speaking, trying to absorb all they could before night covered the land.
When they were midway across the plains, a great storm blew in from the sea and practically drowned them. They had to pull their capes tightly around them and hold their heads down to a
void being blinded by the dense rain.
All they could see was the rain beating against them, their horses and the muck sloshing about below and, only because they could see the mire that was the road, did they know they still were heading toward the gates.
Just before they reached the gates, the rain just as suddenly stopped. The sky opened up, pouring its light over them. Then the air became steamy in the afternoon heat and the road was almost impossible to travel on; many of those walking pulled to the side to get out of the mud, leaving a better path for those on horseback. Were it not for their excitement, Geth'n and Anisah would probably have been miserable.
Anisah, though wringing wet, again had a chance to look around and was even more astounded by the great mass and variety of peoples passing through the gates.
Dark-skinned women covered in bright cloth from head to toe, intricate beading over their head, covering their faces, and adorning each like a crown; their men following along behind in baggy pants and jackets with bead patterns woven into them as well.
Women in another group wore gauzy veiled materials wrapped around their bodies though the cloth was hardly thick enough to conceal anything.
Tall dusky men dressed in animal skins, with long dark hair, strong faces and bodies, arresting eyes that seemed to pierce the air, walked toward them from a western road that joined this one, and melded with the others.
Anisah became dizzy from the crush of this caravan of people; she reached and held Geth'n's arm. Geth'n suggested they dismount and walk the horses since sitting on them had become tedious and the walkers were pushing ahead of them anyway.
They jumped off the horses and into the muck, moved to the side a bit and were able to move a little more quickly.
The press of the crowd carried them through the gate and into the open market inside. Stalls stretched down the street as far as they could see toward the center of the city. People milled about, pushing, shouting out prices and bargaining. No moment was the same as the last; the turmoil was endless.
Anisah tried to look above the crowd but could only see huge buildings, probably those they had noticed blinking in the sun. She thought she could see trees further down the street. They waited for an opportunity to escape from the mass, they were being pushed along without control.
Geth'n reached over an outstretched arm and grabbed her shoulder to get her attention. She turned to see who it was and noticed he wasn't looking so well.
"I never realized cities could smell so awful!" he shouted in her ear as he pulled himself closer to her. His face was wrinkled in disgust.
Anisah nodded. She too had noticed they had wandered into the area where all the livestock, chickens and ducks, horses, pigs, and every other sort of creature were corralled.
The smell was not affecting her as badly as it was Geth'n, but then she had grown up attending many of these animals back home.
Home? How long ago was that, only a few days, weeks, years? I can't remember how long. So much has happened since then. But now I'm here.
"It's probably not as bad once we're past these animals," she yelled back and pushed her way between two men arguing over the value of a piece of cloth they both were tugging on.
"We do need to find an inexpensive inn before it gets too late. At least for tonight," Geth'n said absently, dodging a chicken someone was trying to hold above the crowd. The bird was trying to free itself, its wings beating the air and everyone around it.
"I'd like to find the Healers College, perhaps I could persuade them to let us stay there tonight," Anisah offered. Now she had finally arrived in Tariny, she wanted to start her studies as quickly as possible. Before whatever the three of them felt overcame them.
Geth'n was nice and kind to her, but the trip from Varspree was dull. It was a great improvement over the trip she had taken to get there. But Geth'n was distracted by his own odd dreams and his almost constant concern about the Ahar'n.
Anisah had also become more restless lately. She wasn't certain what this strange feeling was; it was more than just her desire to begin her studies but she wasn't able to put her finger on just what troubled her. Her memory of Pet'r seemed to linger and she desperately needed something to distract her.
"Well, since we don't know where we're going, I believe we should ask someone for directions. Trying to find your College is probably a good start; it's probably near the libraries anyway," Geth'n voice broke into her thoughts.
"Fine, but who?" she asked. The crowd had thinned a bit but still vibrated with life. Everyone was in a hurry to get somewhere else, pushing and shoving to get through.
There seemed to be no one to ask a simple question.
"One of these stall keepers would be a likely candidate and should know the city as well as anyone," Geth'n added, stepping toward a stall that obviously specialized in cheeses and great loaves of bread. "Sir, could you tell us how to get to the Healers College?"
The man raised his head and stopped shuffling his bread about on the table.
"You want to buy some of these nice loaves? Maybe some cheese?" he asked, raising one eyebrow in an arch above a deep-set eye.
There was a mock smile on his face now.
"I possibly could help," he said, "but then I must go home soon to my wife and children and tell them of my bad day. A day which will be even longer if I take the time to tell you these things," he added, and returned to sorting his wares without looking up again.
Geth'n looked at Anisah and shook his head. "Welcome to the great city," he said to her, reached into his small pouch and took out a small coin. "What will this buy?" he asked the man, holding the coin out to him.
"That, sir, will buy this loaf," he answered and scratching around, pulled out one of the smaller loaves and held it out, took the coin, bit it to test its integrity, placed it in his pocket and looked away to work on his sorting again.
"And about the College?" Geth'n asked, not quite realizing what had just transpired.
Anisah stepped forward and motioned to the man to lean toward her. The man sneered at her but leaned over. Anisah tiptoed and whispered something in his ear.
The man's head snapped around and he suddenly stared at Geth'n. The expression on his face changed dramatically and he began to turn pale. He lowered his head, reached for a large chunk of cheese, handed it to Geth'n and added another loaf of bread.
Then he began to explain how to get to the College, with a great deal of gesturing, while his voice kept rising a bit in volume with each utterance. Then he stopped, stared at Geth'n as though he expected a catastrophe to befall him and sighed a great breath when Anisah and Geth'n turned and walked away.
Geth'n, carrying the food carefully, leaned over to Anisah and asked, "What did you tell him?"
She looked up at him and grinned. "That you are a member of Sumt'r's gang and Sumt'r had sent you to find the College looking for some young tramp to wreak his revenge. And you would as soon kill him as not if he continued to treat you as he was.
That's all. After all, you do look very dangerous."
She laughed heartily when she finished, ran down the street backwards, leading her horse along behind, laughing even more. Geth'n was having trouble keeping up with her, but he too was laughing as they ran.
"Come on," Anisah cried over her shoulder as she darted down the narrow streets, "when we find an inn, we can ask about the Healers College."
All the inns looked the same as far as one could see along the street the stall keeper had told them about. The house fronts towered over them several stories; each one seemed to be a face staring at its neighbor across the way.
They tied their horses outside one of the first inns, which seemed clean enough, they came to -- The Golden Angel – and went inside. They entered through a door embellished with a heraldry ensign. There was a great room just inside with a number of people milling about talking. To their left was the bar and dining area, on the opposite side, was the registry desk with a yo
ung man standing and answering the questions of those who needed some assistance with baggage and other matters.
He looked up and noticed them. "Hello, may we help you?" he asked smiling, particularly at Anisah. She noticed.
"Yes, a room, I mean, two rooms for the night, please," Geth'n stammered his request, as protocol suddenly occurred to him.
He had traveled with Anisah for so long he felt a kinship with her, like a brother. It hadn't occurred to him, until that moment, others, and maybe she, might not agree.
Anisah turned and gave him an odd look. "Just one room will be fine. My brother is overly modest,” she grinned and emphasized, gesturing dismissively, “We shared a room at home, so there's no reason to change that now."
Geth'n looked at her, sighed, smiled. He shook his head at his own foolishness. Not everything has changed; one's heritage often becomes a presence.
"Yes, Miss," the young man answered, "the room at the end of the hall is empty; the one on the right. Your horses, if you have any, you can take to the stable down the alley on the east side of the building and Nate'll take care of them for you." He pointed toward the corridor nearest to them and returned to his work on the desk.
Apparently he had decided any efforts to gain Anisah's attention would be fruitless.
Anisah, not noticing his dampened interest, turned and walked into the hallway toward the room. Geth'n followed closely.
Neither had noticed any other people in the large room as they passed. But there was one, an older man who stood alone in the bar, who noticed them. He smiled at Anisah then turned to look out of a window as they passed close to him.
Anisah entered the room, looked around briefly, and threw her bags on the bed. Geth'n had followed closely, closing the door. "Thanks," he said.
She turned and smiled at him, "You worry too much, Geth'n. Let's take this, lead the horses around to the stables, come back in and we'll eat. I'm starving," she said and started out the door. Geth'n was still trailing behind, suddenly deep in thought, troubled by a feeling brushing across his mind.
They took care of the animals, returned, and went into the dining room to the bar. They ordered ale.
Anisah took a sip of her drink and asked the bartender, "Is there a Healers school in the city somewhere?"
"Sure. The Healers have a place near the low gate. Which way did you come from?" he asked
"We rode in from the north earlier, through the market place," Geth'n answered, waking from his reverie.
"Okay, you need to go to the west gate. The street behind the inn will take you most of the way, you can ask again when you get closer. I'm not certain exactly, but it's in that area," he finished, pointing his thumb over his shoulder.
"Thank you," Anisah said. She turned away from the bar and noticed the old man watching them. She pretended she didn't seen him, but nudged Geth'n and motioned in the old man's direction.
"I thought you wanted to eat? What are we going to do with the bread and cheese?" Geth'n asked, as he turned slowly in the direction of her nod.
He saw nothing of importance; there was a couple of swills talking loudly about the great sports match they were going to attend, another man, with ale in hand, trying his approach on a woman who gave the appearance of one who could care less what happened, but nothing unusual.
"What? I don't see anything." He saw no one of interest. Anisah looked and there was indeed no one there. The old man had disappeared.
She looked puzzled, shrugged her shoulders. "Let's go find a table. I'm starving for a good meal." She answered, pointing her finger toward the corner where she had seen the old man. She wasn't going to give up that easily.
“I guess that means we'll need to throw away my hard-earned bread and cheese,” he quipped, shaking his head as though in despair. Anisah punched his arm and left him standing.
They walked across the room, carrying their drinks with them, sat and waited for the serving girl to come take their order.
She came soon enough, though she had to deal with the drunks knocking her about as she pushed her way through the crowd. Anisah knew what she was going through, remembering Varspree.
"What'll ya have?"
"What's good?" Geth'n asked. The waitress looked at him as though he was stupid.
"We have the special," she answered almost sneering at him, "I ain't saying whether that's bad or good." She just stood looking at them unsmiling, waiting.
Geth'n looked at Anisah and grinned. "Well then, I believe we'll have that. And another drink each, please," Geth'n said.
The woman still had the blank look on her face as she turned away.
"I wonder if that's what we'll get," he added after she walked across the room, bumping aside a door on her way into the kitchen beyond.
Anisah giggled. "Leave her alone. Speaking from experience, she works hard and for little reward. We'll have whatever she brings and be glad for it. Besides, now I'm sitting down, I can feel the muscles stiffening from our ride today. I'll be glad to get back to the room and take a bath."
The meal came. They chuckled, for it was what they ordered. They sat and talked about their day, about the joke they played at the market place, and about the possibility Anisah might actually be able to enroll at the Healers College on the morrow.
They talked about Pet'r a bit, but that seemed to make both of them sadder than they wanted to be so they stopped and ate their meals in silence for a while.
Anisah didn't see the old man again though she kept glancing around the room. It seemed he had simply disappeared.
"Good enough," Geth'n broke the silence, pushed his plate away, swigged down the last part of his ale and rose to leave. Anisah had finished eating and was waiting for him. "Let's go take those baths. Tomorrow is another day for our adventure. We need to be ready for whatever comes."
They paid for their meals and walked out of the dining area toward their room.
The old man was there again with a cape pulled around his shoulders. Raising his head a little, he nodded as the two young people passed him, walked toward a wall, and disappeared.
No one noticed.
Geth'n and Anisah rushed to their room, took turns taking a bath, wrapped in their night clothes, and feeling much better, settled down and relaxed for a few moments.
But Anisah was too excited to lay down for too long.
"I have to go now," she said, rising off the bed, ran behind the modesty screen, gathering her clothes as she went. "Let's go find the College now. Please."
Geth'n rolled over, looked at her curiously. "Sure, let's go." he said, getting up. "As though we didn't walk all day through the city," he added, kidding her.
She laughed and acting as though she might punch him again, so he hurriedly jumped up, ran behind the panel, and put his clothes on. They were out the door in a moment.
It took them about an hour to reach the west gate area. Anisah stopped a friendly looking older woman toddling along and asked, "Please, madam, can you tell me where the Healers College is?"
The old woman was a bit startled at first, pulling her head back and looking up at the girl with surprise in her eyes, but then she smiled, "Certainly, child, two more streets that way," she pointed in the direction from where they just walked, "then a right turn on Laurel. You can't miss it. It’s a rather large white building and has a sign above the main door."
"Thank you so much," Anisah said. She grabbed Geth'n's arm. "I'm so nervous," she added, clenching her fingers into his arm.
"Ouch. Calm down. There's nothing to be nervous about. We're just going to take a look." he said, rubbing his arm.
"You're right. But it's been a long time coming and I'm more excited than I can ever remember being," she spoke with a small quiver in her voice and tears started rolling down her cheeks.
"Okay, okay. It's understandable. Let's go and see," he said softly, putting his arm around her shoulders and pulling her down the street beside him, "you need to take a look
."
Anisah smiled up at him and let him lead her along. She couldn't help but remembered her dream about the children and herself.
Am I actually going to be a Healer?
"Here we are. Wow, the old woman was right," Geth'n interrupted her thoughts. "It's huge!"
Anisah turned and looked, suddenly feeling very small.
The building was quite large, made of stones lapped together. Large archways, larger than several inns together. There were several covered several openings along the face of the building.
She took a deep breath and held it, stared up at the walls as they walked through the first archway and entered. Her breath broke out in a great whoosh when she saw the massive wooden door before her.
Bracing herself, she marched up to the door, grabbed the great clapper hanging below a windowed opening above it, and bashed it down against the wood twice. Then she leaped back to stand by Geth'n who had watched all this with great amusement.
"You enjoyed that, did you?" he asked.”I thought we weren't going to visit today.”
She jumped, startled he had spoken, and turned to answer when the door began to open.
"May I help you?" a woman smiled and asked.
Tall and elegant, she looked down at the two, waiting for a reply, "Perhaps, you are ill." She looked them up and down, appeared to be trying to decide what was wrong with these two young people.
"No! no. We aren't sick, my lady. We . . . I mean I . . . Well, I want . . . No, I have come a long way. . . Well, I was hoping that . . .", Anisah stammered, not able to say what she needed to.
"What she is trying to say is she's come a very long way talking constantly about this school and she desperately wants to be a student here," Geth'n blasted it all out for Anisah. He spoke calmly but with deliberation.
Anisah blushed, drew in her breath, clenched her fists and stood in awe. She couldn't speak. She stood mutely, nodding her head.
The woman turned, looked at Anisah and smiled.
"Anything is possible. Why don't you come in and have some tea, and we'll talk,” the woman said, pulling the door open wider and beckoning them to come in.
"If you'll follow me," she said, shutting the door and turning back down a long hallway.
As they followed, Anisah gawked at everything. There were doors leading into rooms on one side of the hall and windows opening out into what seemed to be a courtyard on the other. They finally stopped at the end of the hall and stepped through the last door into an alcove.
The room was round, chairs and tables setting about casually. A window on the far side high on the wall allowed light to filter through, softly illuminating the room, This was obviously a gathering room, possibly a library, though Geth'n saw no books.
There was a young woman standing near another door on the left side of the room; she was wearing what appeared to be a light colored, clean and precise uniform. She smiled at them as they entered but said nothing.
"Oh, Mira, I'm glad to see you're here. This is . . . " the woman looked at Geth'n as she spoke the introduction. "I'm sorry, but I don't believe I caught your names."
"Geth'n, ma’am My name's Geth'n. This is Anisah," Geth'n answered, with more humility than he had exhibited at the front door. "Please to meet you." Both women nodded toward him. He felt out of place somehow.
"Well, Mira. Would you please bring us some tea?" the woman continued, motioning toward a table indicating she would like for them to sit.
"Yes, ma’am," the girl replied as she curtsied and pushed through the door.
"I must apologize to you, young lady. My name is Rianne Sanderol. I'm assistant to the head mistress, and what is your name again?" the woman asked Anisah.
"I'm Anisah," Anisah spoke softly, in complete awe. All she could do was look around the room and grin.
Rianne moved about the room with elegance and grace, listening to her talk, noticing her presence. Anisah had never met anyone so genteel in her life.
"Now, tell me about yourself," Rianne sat down at the largest table, motioned for them to join her. Anisah and Geth'n sat.
Mira brought the tea, set the tray on the table, curtsied again and left.
Anisah sat stunned, then slumped a bit because she now had to tell her story once again. Thinking about the arduous journey to get here though, she realized she had experienced more in the short time it took her to get here than she had in the first part of life. She had become more than she was when she left Caliste. She felt good about all that, so she perked up and began her story. This was a special occasion and she hoped somehow her dreams were coming true.
She told of her father's death, crying a bit at the retelling; about her Auntie Elspeth and what she had learned from her; about her long and difficult journey to Varspree; about her new friends, Geth'n and Pet'r, and how they had helped her.
She related her dreams and told of the magical orb that helped heal others. She did not mention however the strange invisibility phenomenon she had noticed in Varspree. It didn't seem to be information to be repeated publicly.
Her tale was longer than Anisah thought it should be, but Rianne listened politely, showing considerable interest and even asking a question occasionally. Anisah finished the tale and waited.
"Well, that's quite a story. I can see you have a great interest in the healing arts simply as evidenced in your great struggle to get here. It seems you have received good teaching from your friend, your Aunt Elspeth, and, as for your magical orb, we could certainly use some magic in what we do.”
“Unfortunately, all that we have is our skill, our herbs and our instruments to help others. But I can tell you this. Your story, and your desire, present strong evidence you could become a good healer.”
“I will speak to the headmistress about you and let's see whether we might find a place for you here with us," Rianne informed her. "Can you come for another interview, maybe tomorrow?"
Anisah jumped up. "Oh, yes, yes. But I'm afraid I can't afford . . ." She sank back into her chair.
"Oh no, dear. If you're accepted, there is no tuition. All who are here work for their keep. We are very self-sufficient," Rianne's smiled warmly at Anisah.
She reached out and touched Anisah lightly on the head. Anisah felt a great sense of elation as though something magical had just happened to her. She looked quickly at Rianne, who smiled back at her.
Anisah looked at Geth'n who sat through the meeting without speaking; he returned her look and his face showed he too had experienced what she felt.
"Come, I will show you to the door," Rianne said, as she rose, proceeded out of the room, and back down the long hallway.
Geth'n followed closely behind Anisah who was still gazing all about her, not believing she was in this wonderful place.
"Tomorrow, why don't you come back a little after noon? I know the headmistress has a bit of time available for a meeting, and I'm certain she will be eager to meet you," Rianne told Anisah, looking deeply into her eyes. Anisah was almost dizzy with excitement.
"Bring your things with you. I have a good feeling about you and I believe it will all work out for the best." Rianne waved to them as they walked away and then shut the great door.
Anisah looked back, saw no one about, and let out a great whoop, and began running around the plaza. Geth'n stood and watched for a moment, smiling at his friend's good fortune.
About time.
He watched her slow down finally and come to him, smiling so hard he thought her face would surely be permanently creased.
"Can you believe this? Can you even know what I'm feeling right now?" Anisah told her friend, holding his arm tightly as they walked back to the inn. "Tomorrow! Did you hear that? Oh, wouldn't it be incredible if they want me. Oh, I can't wait!"
She began spinning around and around, almost toppling as she lost her balance and stumbled.
"See. Pet'r and I told you there was no reason to be afraid. Soon you'll be healing everyone and eve
rything in sight," Geth'n teased her, but he was happy for her and was a little sad Pet'r wasn't there to see her so happy.
Anisah suddenly stopped, held out her had to stop him.
"Let's see if we can find the place full of books you need to visit," she said, hitting him on the arm and running down the street in a direction other than he had planned. "Come on, let's make a wonderful day of it!"
"You mean the library!" he shouted after her, trotting down the street behind her.
She soon stopped to wait and he caught her easily.
"Sure, why don't we? Things seem to be going our way for a change," she answered.
There was a young man passing by and Geth'n approached him. "Excuse me, would you happen to know where the library is?" he asked.
The young man looked at him curiously but pointed in the direction from which they had just come. "Go that way. Take the street just before the great gate and turn left. The library will be on your right about a hundred paces up the street."
"Thank you, sir," Geth'n offered, turned and grinned at Anisah. They started walking back along the avenue. Anisah was trying to imagine what the school was really going to be like -- hard work, joy in the learning, or both. She could hardly contain herself she was so excited.
"What exactly do you hope to find at this library?" Anisah asked after they walked for a few moments in silence.
"Hopefully, more information about the Ahar'n. Someone from long ago must have written something down somewhere in these great archives.
Our history is not without fable and myth concerning the stone but I was not able to find reliable sources in my previous research at the university at Larilla.
There were vague references to scrolls hidden in some far off place, but no location named; there were statements about the Ahar'n, its power, and about a guardian of the Ahar'n who became an all powerful human who stood with the gods.
But all of these things may only be part of the myths, so I wanted to come here to search for additional documentation," Geth'n explained, then with a sigh. "But I'm not convinced I'll have any success."
"Maybe the Ahar'n could help heal others? Do you think it possible? With such power, how could it not be used in a good way?" Anisah asked, now excited about the possibilities for the Ahar'n, she felt she could hope this amulet did indeed promise a better way to take care of others. Because of her dreams, she could envision a great deal. This Ahar'n Geth'n had described could be the orb she saw in those dreams.
"Well, I've not thought about the aspects of its potential powers, but, yes, I would assume such a thing could be possible. From what I have read, there seems to be few limits on its power. Any limits imposed are those possessed by the bearer of the Ahar'n and the one who makes use of its power, though I could be mistaken about the last."
Geth'n was enjoying discussing the Ahar'n. Pet'r had shown only slight interest and usually had chided Geth'n about his crazy search; he and Anisah were so busy just getting to Tariny the subject had never come up before.
"I believe also the power of several people of like mind can be channeled and combined through the Ahar'n to increase its energy. Why are you asking all these questions now?" he asked, frowning a bit in curiosity.
"It's just you've come such a great distance just to read about a magical crystal, it just seems odd," she answered, "Is there some reason for this searching? Are you actually planning on finding this Ahar'n? I mean you've never shown any capability for magic I've noticed since we met. But then maybe you've been keeping that a secret?.Oh, my goodness!" she yelped, tripping over her own feet and almost bumping into one of the great stone lion in her path.
"You're right. No magic powers, just the ability to stay on my two feet which is more than I can say for someone else I know," Geth'n answered, laughing.
"Seems to be the place, certainly looks impressive. This place seems to be as huge as your Healers College. This town must thrive on building these monstrosities," He spoke quietly, almost in reverence despite evident disdain for the audacity, his eyes widened at this new sight.
This building was more ancient than it appeared. It, he knew, contained more writings in more forms than any other place on this planet. More, it was certain, than all the other libraries scattered across the other continents contained together.
Many scholars had archived their writings, and other discovered writings, throughout known history in this massive vault. The believers who tended this important storehouse of knowledge must have cared for them with love.
"Come on. I don't know what I expect but whatever I am searching for, I believe, ought to be here," Geth'n said, heading toward the huge vaulted doors that opened the way into this wonder.
They crossed a wide verandah as they approached the doors, so tall they had to look up to see the top. When they stood before one of these, they had no idea what to do next.
Geth'n reached out and pushed the door gently. It began to swing open slowly; he was surprised at how easily it moved. They stepped into a cool, dark interior, stopped for a moment to allow their eyes to adjust, and look around the chamber.
High above them were windows, only long narrow slits, allowing some meager natural light into the room. There were chandeliers, each with dozens of candles burning, hanging from vaulted ceilings in the center of each room they could see.
They also noticed there were smaller versions of the overhead lighting, though each one more bowl-shaped so they would rock, sitting on each of the study tables.
"Look," Geth'n said, pushing one of the table lamps, "these can't be tipped over. Much safer with the parchments lying about. I should remember this idea and take it back to the university with me. We still use open candles there, very dangerous indeed."
The tables seemed to extend beyond their view as though there was no end to them. The primary walls of the vaulted room where they were standing were relatively short in comparison with the great room ahead of them. But at the end of this entryway, the rooms on each side were as expansive as any other they could see.
Having grasped earlier the immensity of the library evidenced by the enormous outside of the building, they knew what they could see before them must be repeated over and over again on each succeeding floor above them.
They simply stood and stared, awestruck. Geth'n would never have imagined this even in his wildest dreams. The stacks they could see seemed to disappear in the hazy, sunlit air above them. Fine dust from some movements below swirled from one beam of light to another, creating mystical images only vaguely seen.
"May I help you young people?" a voice suddenly broke into their reverie. They both jumped in surprise then laughed sheepishly at themselves when they turned to see who had spoken.
A man dressed in cloistered robe smiled but patiently waited for them to regain their composure.
"Well, yes. I would like to know in what section the ancient myths and fables are kept," Geth'n answered. "I particularly wish to know about those concerning the ancient theologies."
"Yes, young man. Those documents, and most of very ancient ones, are on the third floor above. The stairs are around the corner to your right and behind the third door to your right. You should ask someone up there to direct you explicitly," the man offered.
"Strangely, you aren't the first to visit that section lately. For years, those readings were untouched, but recently there have been several visitors. Is there something, some news about, drawing this interest?" he asked, sincerely curious about the phenomenon.
"Not that I know of, I am simply satisfying my own curiosity," Geth'n answered, turned and motioned to Anisah they should go upstairs, "and thank you, sir, for your help."
Anisah and Geth'n walked toward the outlying room, turned and went down the corridor toward the door. They passed great stacks, reaching high above them.
One had to hold to something to keep from falling if they craned their necks to see the tops. There was more material here than any one perso
n could ever conceive of reading.
“Strange. I wonder who else would have an interest?” Geth'n mumbled. “I wonder.”Anisah only barely heard him and was too spell-bound by buildings' treasures to say answer.
They soon came to the door directed, went through, and trudged up the two flights of stairs, each step some two feet wide so extra steps were required to walk up the steep incline. Finally, they arrived.
Anisah looked back down. "It's a good thing we've been out on the road lately. How do some of these people who seem never to move away from these tables manage to climb those?" she asked, shaking her head, shrugging her shoulders at Geth'n.
"I'm not certain, but it appears they do," Geth'n answered, opening the door into yet another chamber which mocked the lower one with its grandeur. He stopped mouth agape, and stared. "I'm not certain I can get accustomed to this."
"Come on. You don't know what to expect, but I'd say if there is information about what you want to know, this is probably the place to look," Anisah said, strolling off to her left to look for someone to help. Geth'n, reviving himself, followed.
They soon discovered the robes the personnel wore distinguished each of the library workers into groups. They found another helper and asked him about the writings Geth'n wished to see.
"What exactly are you looking for, sir?" the helper asked. They later were to learn this was Alt’n, an apprentice; he and Geth'n would become close friends as the years went by. There would be a history of this friendship written by those who followed the legends and that archive would join all of the other volumes about this age.
"I'm looking for the history of magic," Geth'n answered, noticing the man's eyebrow rose just a bit, "specifically, there are legends relating to a certain magical orb. I've researched the item a great deal, but there are too many pieces of the puzzle missing. So, I have hopes of finding those pieces here."
"I believe I can help you. I too have some interest in the ancients, perhaps we can talk someday about my observations," the man, about Geth'n's age, said.
"But, come, I'll show you where I would suggest you start looking." He strode off swiftly between the stacks of manuscripts; huge, yellowed parchments filled the shelves.
Geth'n and, particularly Anisah, had to trot to keep pace with Alt’n. He was lanky, long-legged and strode along swiftly, his shock of dark hair flowing back over his shoulders.
Finally, they arrived at a small alcove near the farthest corner of the building. "This is the best section on magical things. I think you find many writings by those who saw and heard what happened long ago. If you wish to find information on a subject, you should learn to use these ledgers."
He reached and pulled a heft manual from the lower shelf. The book had a strange off-red color, and it became obvious, to Geth'n as he looked above him, each shelf had such a volume.
"These show a cross-index of all the writings on this shelf," Alt'n added, pointing along the distance of the shelves. "I hope you're able to find what you are looking for," he bowed his head, turned and disappeared down one of the rows perpendicular to the one they had followed.
Just before he disappeared, he looked back and told them, "By the by, we close at sunset. I'll come and check on you occasionally. Please don't be afraid to ask questions. My name is Alt'n – ask anyone," he added over his shoulder as he turned and walked away.
"Well, we found the library," Anisah broke the silence, "and we'll need some help, I imagine," she added, looking down the long aisle, and up at the shelves reaching to the ceiling on each side, "otherwise, we're not going to find anything."
Geth'n sat on the floor, still dumfounded by the sheer quantity of information surrounding him. Impatiently, Anisah reached, grabbed his hand, shook it, and led him out through the great hallway toward the stairs leading down.
"Thank you, sir, for all your help," she spoke to Alt’n who was sitting and reading near the doorway as she pushed it open, "We'll be back tomorrow."
"You're more than welcome. Come back anytime. If you are students, we open the doors a bit earlier so you can do some research without the general population intruding." Alt’n answered quickly, but he was certain they hadn't heard the last part
"Students indeed, a bit old I would say." Alt'n returned to his book.
Their exit was much faster than their entry. Stepping out onto the street, Geth'n gazed back at the building with a glazed look in his eyes. "What a wonderful place. I never thought it would be possible, this grandeur," he sighed.
"It is big," Anisah agreed. "I had no idea there could be so many writings."
She turned and laughed as she looked at Geth'n, standing there in the street with eyes only for the library. "You look like a lovesick cow! All for a bunch of manuscripts."
She began to walk away, but had to stop, go back and get Geth'n.
"Come on, we need to get back to the inn. I'm starving and tired. All this walking has done me in." Anisah said as she led him along the street.
"Now you mention it, I'm hungry too," Geth'n added. "I wonder how early 'early' is?" he mumbled.
Anisah rolled her eyes.
"I doubt 'early' means the crack of dawn, if you're talking about what the steward said. Besides, if you wake me before the sun comes up, I'll be one angry woman. You'll have plenty of time to rummage through those old papers of yours after I'm off to school."
Just as the sun slipped behind the mountains, they arrived at the inn. The eating hall was crowded, but they found a table in a corner near the bar. A serving girl came and asked them what they wanted.
"A couple of ales and whatever you’re serving for supper," Geth'n said wearily. Anisah just nodded; she couldn't remember being this tired not even when she had fled from Sumt’r.
The girl brought the food and drink, "I thought you two was goin' to fall asleep afore I could get these back to the table," she laughed.
"We were walking all day, it seems, and we are more tired than we realized," Anisah said, stifling a yawn.
The girl laughed, "Well, my name is Lena and if you need anythin', just raise your hand and I'll come a' runnin'," she giggled, winked at Geth'n who was too sleepy to notice.
"The nerve of that frog-eyed tart, winking at you, with me sitting right here," Anisah huffed.
"Oh, just eat. She's just trying to get a better tip by flirting a little. There's no harm done," Geth'n said stiffly, shaking his head. "Women."
They finished eating and Geth'n raised his hand to get Lena 's attention. She saw him and came over quickly. Anisah just sat and looked around the room with a frown on her face.
"Would you like a little somethin' else, sir?" Lena asked, smiling at Geth'n and largely ignoring Anisah.
"No, we just need to pay. Here, take these." Geth'n answered and handed the girl several coppers and a silver piece.
"Oh, sir. Thank you ever so much," she bubbled, looking at Geth'n, quickly looked at Anisah, stuffed the money in her pocket, turned and walked to another table. "Hello, my name is Lena and what could I get you this evening?"
Anisah rolled her eyes, stood up and quietly announced, "I'm going to bed. Would you like to come, or are you going to be spending a little time here? You know you overpaid her."
"No, it's past my bedtime, let's go," Geth'n, ignoring her sarcasm, headed out of the hall and into the lobby.
"Well, you come when you want, but give me a few minutes, because I'll be dressing for bed," she stormed off, leaving him standing and headed down the hallway. Geth'n watched her go, shaking his head in disbelief.
What caused that?
"Excuse me," a deep voice said, startling Geth'n, "I believe you dropped this."
Geth'n turned to face the man. He was older, with a salt and pepper beard and almost white hair. He was wearing a long teal cloak and was holding Geth'n's hat in his hand.
"Oh, thank you, sir. I didn't realize I had it with me," Geth'n said, reaching for the hat.
"You're most welcome, my son," the man s
aid quietly. "Take care you are cautious for the next few days, there may be some trouble for you and the girl. Anisah is strong, but forces stirring around us are powerful and evil."
With that said, the old man smiled, turned and walked out the front entrance without looking back.
Geth'n frowned, in confusion, and backed away a few steps as he watched the old man leave.
He mentioned Anisah by name; how did he know her?
He shook his head, turned and hurried down the hall to the room.
He paused and knocked on the door softly, "Anisah, are you asleep?" He heard nothing from inside, pushed the door open gently and peered in. Anisah was an unrecognizable lump in the middle of the bed, hidden by a mound of covers.
He entered, closed and barred the door. Quickly, he shed his clothes, brushed his hands through his hair, stretched, climbed into bed and fell asleep in an instant.
Outside, the old man stood under a lamplight looking back at the hotel. "Soon, my young friends, you will learn of who you are and of what there is to come. Now, you must be made aware there is a need," he said, smiled, turned and disappeared into the night.
Geth'n woke with a start, sitting up in bed, his breath coming in gasps. He had seen Pet'r in his dream.
Or was it a dream?
Small misshapen creatures, neither human nor quite animal were attacking his friend. Geth'n knew he had cried out, "Pet'r, watch out behind you!"
His terror peaked as sheer numbers finally beat down his friend. One of the creatures had grasped a large rock, raising it high above Pet'r's head and smashing it down.
Geth'n knew he wanted to scream, "Pet'r, turn around!" but nothing came from his mouth; he was frozen in time yet knowing what time was showing him.
Anisah jerked awake startled, "Geth'n, what is wrong? You scared me to death," she said, trying to catch her breath.
"We've got to leave. We have to find Pet'r. He's in great danger. My dream seemed too real. I believe it was," Geth'n was babbling on, jumping from the bed, pulling on his clothes, gathering his belongings and ramming them into his pack.
Anisah sat on the bed trying to wake up enough to decide what to do. Then realizing Geth'n mentioned Pet'r, she too jumped up and dressed in a moment. She believed Geth'n and instantly became afraid for Pet'r; she wasn't certain why, but that didn't matter.
Her visit to the Healer's College all but forgotten, she gathered her things and filled her own bags, sat down on the edge of the bed and watch Geth'n pacing back and forth holding his hand on his forehead.
"Geth'n, you are the oddest man I know. You have dreams about a magical Ahar'n drawing you to this city. Now, you are having dreams about rescuing Pet'r. How can we keep pace with your dreams?" Anisah asked, looking at him as though he had just fallen from the sky. “I don't doubt you, and I hope you are wrong about Pet'r. But did you're dream tell us where to find him?" she asked
"Not really, but I must find him. We are like brothers. I've known Pet'r all my life," Geth'n said, still pacing. "Somewhere in the north in the mountains; there was a great cavern with many smaller caves. Pet'r was being chased and was captured by what must be ghouls. I feel an overwhelming need to travel in a westerly direction. I don't know why these things have come to me, but I do know, I absolutely believe, they are true. Ready?" he asked suddenly, grabbed up his pack.
Anisah just nodded.
They left the inn as quietly as possible, went to the stable, saddled their horses tying their packs down tightly and soon were on their way.
They turned down the street they had traveled the day before to get to the Healers College, for it set near the west gate from the city, hailed the gate sentry who let them pass out into the night.
Near the old gate, an old man curled against the great city wall asleep. He opened one of his eyes, peered through the gate as it closed, watched the two young people ride into the darkness, and smiled, "Good travels, my young companions, there will be interesting days ahead."
The sun brought a quiet dawn in the east as they raced along the back road leading toward the mountains to the west.
CONCERNS