20. The Scrolls of Seasons

They made a strange procession through the main part of town.

Four goblins pushed Lumin along, on a great iron chair set on wheels. The others flanked them like a swarm of pot-bellied ants carrying home their lunch. Lumin sat as stiffly erect as his body would allow, head held high. He gazed regally around at those who stopped and stared, as a king would regard his subjects. From the anonymity of the leafy gardens nearby, Tien smiled. Lumin was really going to enjoy his afternoon jaunt to the Library.

“Quite the drama king, isn’t he?” Saka snorted under his breath. “He is revelling in the attention.”

Lumin, as it turned out, had something that the Library desired and valued highly. He had taken with him to the island, symbols of the four pillars of knowledge. They were an honour presented to him by Phan’s late uncle, King Drune, for his contributions to Pendelethe as a scholar. The symbols were small sculptures fashioned from pure gold. A book, a lamp, a quill, and a man wearing teacher’s robes with his arms stretched out, his lips parted. Lumin seemed sure that an exchange could be made; the symbols for the scrolls.

After the idea had struck him, it had taken a while to organize all that needed to be done. Fen, Saka, and Tien had run around, fetching things for Lumin as he sat in his chair, leaning forward impatiently, his face alive with the anticipation of his return to Pasco. He’d wanted them to come along to see it all unfold, but had reluctantly understood that they must remain unseen and unknown. He settled on sending Frizzark, his chief goblin, to meet them at Munkho’s that night, with the scrolls.
“Farewell,” he’d said as the left him at the docks. “My friends are in your debt. They behaved appallingly. If you ever need our assistance, don’t hesitate to ask.”

The odd-looking little men gathered solemnly on the beach to wave them off with stiff formality. By the time they left the docks, just ahead of Lumin and his entourage, the companions were tired and did not say much in the boat. They lingered in the town centre only long enough to see Lumin arrive, before getting to Munkho’s comfortable lodging just after dusk. They briefly outlined their time with Lupin to Munkho and Berry over dinner, and went to bed. Tien had been asleep only a few minutes when she woke to gentle shaking.

“Tien, wake up. I’m so sorry, but Frizzark will only deliver the scrolls to you. He is waiting outside.”

Tien stumbled out of bed, grabbing the cloak around her, squinting in the soft radiance of the lamp. Munkho ushered her out, and pointed out the shadowy figure standing next to the cherry tree just outside her front door, before going back in with the lamp and closing the door behind her. Tien blinked at the lingering images of the lamp’s silhouette that still blinded her vision, as she adjusted to the night’s gloom. Frizzark stood still, the knees of his twig-like legs almost touching, hugging the scrolls in his bony grasp.

“Miss Tien?” He asked in a deep, rather proper voice. Tien nodded. Frizzark beckoned to her, and she moved closer. “Mr. Lumin, he wanted me to hand these to you directly,” he murmured, just above a whisper. “He has a message for you.”
Tien stood still waiting, hoping her head would clear so she could remember.

“Never open the scrolls, though you be tempted sorely to do so. You may find that your dreams are affected by having the scrolls in your care. Whether the dreams are about you or those with you, tell no one else of them. Don’t forget.” She nodded. “And Mr Lumin also has sent this.” He gave her the slim volume written by the horse herder. “Read the horse herder’s words carefully. Then you can make a plan.” he said.

He repeated these words again slowly, before rasing his cap to her, and fading away into the night. Before climbing back into bed, Tien wrapped the scrolls up in her cloak and put then under the edge of her pillow. She closed her eyes and tried to think of peaceful things, but it was difficult to sleep, with the weight of the responsibility of caring for the scrolls on her mind. They lay solid and bulky under her pillow, just near where her head lay.

Magic. I’ve never believed in magic before, she thought sleepily. I’m sceptical now. But what would magic feel like? Would I know magic if I came across it? It’s probably just an illusion, a lie to convince my ancestors that they were receiving special treatment. She yawned and her eyelids drooped. It’s no wonder the Parthans wised up and become disbelievers of magical things, with that in their history. All the same, I’ll guard these scrolls till I have to….

She was amazed to see Haim running in front of her, racing to get home first, so as to beat her in telling Mama about the snake in the orchard. His bare feet slapped against the wet grass, and she was close enough to hear his panting breath. The air was warm and sweet with the scent of blossoms and trampled grass. The chickerloos chirruped and droned their song. She reached out her hand to yank Haim back behind her, but he vanished, and she fell over the space where he’d been. She got up tenderly, wiping wet knees, and calling out for Haim in a teasing voice. But the orchard was gone.

She was in a cool room of sandstone. Tien gazed about her, puzzled but not concerned. A round woven rug covered most of the floor in a splash of deep greens and purples. Two low oak lounges with flame-red cushions were set together, forming a corner around the rug. The rest of the room was bare, but for the large pots of greenery that were placed haphazardly around. Tien could see that the room led out to a patio where the trees and flowers created an oasis. She could hear the trickle and splash of running water.

A girl of Tien’s age walked in. She was swathed in a towel, and her black hair was damp. A young servant followed, carrying a basket full of miniature clay containers. The girl sat on the lounge and vigorously shook out her hair, sending out a small shower of droplets that rained down on Tien’s arms, cooling them.

“Make it quick, Oppy.” The girl instructed. “I told Saka I’d be ready to go before the hour is up. Otherwise he won’t wait for me.”

“Yes, m’lady Prusience.” The servant pulled the stopper from one container and poured some of its contents into her palm. She rubbed her hands together to warm the liquid and began to massage it into the girl’s hair with expert fingers. The musky scent of sandalwood reached Tien, whom neither had noticed. This done, the servant applied a cream with the same sandalwood base, to the girl’s face, neck and shoulders, rubbing it in till the girl’s skin glowed. Prusience rose to her feet.

“Thanks, Oppy.” She moved over to a flowering butterfly bush and lowered her face to its fluttering blossoms. “I’ll wear my blue shirt and the belt I bought,” she said, without raising her head. “You know, the one with the little green shells sewn all around the edge.”

The servant smiled and silently went out of the room. Prusience crossed over to a little table standing where the two couches met. On it was a plate of fruit and bread, and a delicate glass bottle with peach-coloured fluid in it. She picked up the bottle and held it up to the sunlight, examining the rich glowing juice inside. She poured half of the bottle into a glass and sipped. It must have been sour, because she shuddered, sticking her tongue out.

" Aggh!” Tightening the towel that covered her, she took another sip, then another, as though the taste was growing on her. She looked around at the plants as she did. As she sipped, she started moving her head back and forth. Tien was unaware that she herself had moved around the room to better observe girl.

Prusience was looking from left to right, then from top to bottom, experimentally. She blinked rapidly, shaking her head. A cry like a kitten’s mew came from her mouth as she rubbed at her eyes. Tien had stepped in close and saw, to her horror, that the girl’s clear green eyes were being filled with a milky film, as if a glass of cream was being poured into each. Her cry became loud and anguished, as she slapped at her eyes as if to stop their stinging. The glass fell to the floor and shattered. Startled by the sound, Pruesuince jumped, and tried to step away from the shards of glass that she could not see. She stumbled and reaching out a hand to steady herself, she crashed heavily into the little table, sending the food and drink flying. She began to scream…….

“Tien, Tien.” She was being shaken. “Wake up, sweetie. It’s just a bad dream”

Two warm hands on her shoulder pulled her up and out of the dream. She clapped a hand over her mouth, as she realized that the screams had come from her. “I’m OK.” She gasped. “Sorry about waking you up.” Ten minutes later, she was settled in bed again. She was wide awake and still the dream had not faded. She could remember every detail, as if she had really been there, even the girl’s name, Prusience, would never leave her. She had mentioned Saka. Who is she? Where is she now? “Never tell anyone of the dreams you have.” The message from Lumin appeared like a sign in her mind.

***

After an early breakfast, the companions started out to Flip’s house, led capably by Munkho through the steep winding streets of Pasco. Almost all the buildings were made of marble, and featured ornate pillars. Even the modest homes had pillars and flat roofs. They turned into an avenue, shaded on both sides with blossoming cherry trees, and came to a stop outside a small apartment. Munkho rapped confidently. A couple of minutes passed with no answer, no sign of any life within. Munkho rapped again.

Finally, footsteps drew near, and low boyish voice said, ”Yes?”

“Llarof modeerf,” said Munkho, her lips against the door.
“Come again?”
“Llarof modeerf,” she repeated.

The door swung open, and a pale-faced man stared out at them with wide, frightened eyes. When he saw their cloaks, he pulled them inside and furtively glanced up and down the street. Flip closed and bolted the door, before joining them in the sparsely furnished room. He stood apart from them; raking an agitated hand through his jaundiced hair and making it stand on end.

“How did you find me?” he breathed. His eyes swept over all of them, coming back to linger on Berry, a flush creeping up his neck. His dark Tiran roots were starting to grow out, though they were not too obvious yet. Tien felt nervous just looking at him. He was jumpy, his hands were either mussing up his hair, or in his mouth being chewed. Is it nervous energy, she wondered, or just his personality? After standing awkwardly for a time, they sat down without Flip’s permission. Saka introduced them all.

“Are you really members of the Watch?” Flip asked. His left knee jiggled. Then he laughed self-consciously, “Of course you are, you know the code. Andron told me only a little about your work. But I didn’t have any of your names so I could contact you.” His voice choked. “I haven’t known what to do, or where to even start. Ever since Andron was taken…,,” he broke off, veiling his eyes with a trembling palm.

Tien looked away to give him privacy, and she saw that Fen’s eyes were moist as well. They sat in sympathetic silence till he composed himself. Flip brushed his sleeve over his eyes. “Sorry about that,” He said in a gruff voice. The others murmured reassuringly. “I am just so relieved to see you. I’ve been so frightened you see, wondering every day if I will be recognized and recaptured.”

“Flip, do you know where they have taken Andron?” Saka asked. As Flip shook his head, Saka persisted. “Any clues you can think of? He isn’t dead, you know.” Flip’s eyes widened hopefully. “It is vital that we find him. He is the key to a recipe that is an antidote.” Flip nodded. Saka continued. “ Is there anything you can recall about the day Andron was hauled off?”

© 2006 by Shelly Taylor