The small dome-like room was quiet yet intriguing. Natalie’s eyes continually moved to the intricate patterns on the walls that snaked in gold across a crimson background in abstract patterns as though they were alive. Though the patterns seemed to have no structure to it, it held a sort of beauty Natalie could not place. While she waited, her fingers traced the slight bumps left by the golden vines on their path through the sterile red. The forest around this place added what smells and view the complex could afford, but once inside, Natalie felt both enraptured and trapped at once. She gazed at a side of the rounded walls in an attempt to avert her eyes from the pattern for a moment. She enjoyed gazing at it, but a sick feeling came over her when she did for too long.
The complex had few buildings, though it didn’t seem to need any more than it had. Natalie remembered Lokai mentioning that single men lived in a house or dormitory, as it was called in her world, of sorts. The women followed the same practice. The woman who showed Natalie her room less than an hour ago said that it was to promote unity within those who lived out here and served something or someone they called Iskatar. Natalie had bathed quickly and dressed to meet the council. Lokai had left straight to the “meeting chamber” as he called it, and he told her to come after she’d had a chance to refresh from their trip.
The trip seemed like a blur at this point. Natalie hardly slept as they traveled, both from the bad beds and her own grief. When Natalie did sleep, it was fitful and she often woke in confusion and worry about the survival of her and her sister. When that happened, Natalie usually cried herself back to sleep. By the time they got to Garath, Natalie could hardly stay awake during the day, but she could sleep no better at night. From what Natalie remembered, Garath was a small but thriving town. Although there were few inns in the area, brothels and marketplaces dotted the entire perimeter and fought for attention at the center of the town. Natalie nearly got lost a few times in the mess of visitors who were seeking trade or a place to rest between their travels. Natalie remembered some exotic traders tried to sell her silk. They spoke a language Natalie wasn’t familiar with.
Most of the people in this new world spoke a slightly different language than she, although Lokai spoke her own well enough. The slight differences made it hard for Natalie to be apart from Lokai for long, and her weariness only added to it. The exotic traders spoke something far different than even what it seemed most of the people spoke. The incessant crowds pushed in on Natalie, so, grasping the back of his cloak, she stayed close to Lokai. At one point, Lokai asked her to stay near the food supplies he’d acquired while he bartered for horses for the journey. Natalie sat down outside the stables and draped her hands across the few brown bags that contained various dried foods and water canteens to help sustain them. Resting against the wall of the shop, Natalie quickly fell asleep. She woke only minutes later to see children had torn the sacks open and were pulling everything from them.
Natalie jumped up and started yelling at the children. She didn’t know if they could understand her, but they left quickly. Natalie looked around to find that no one noticed or even looked her direction. Gazing down, Natalie grew sick. Most of the food was gone. Even half of the canteens were missing, and their packages were ripped beyond repair. Lokai came running outside and when he saw the mess and the girls tears, he hugged her. Natalie never remembered feeling so protected as she did then.
She must have fallen asleep in his arms, because the next thing she remembered, she was tied into the saddle of a horse next to Lokai’s. He held a rope that attached to the bit in her horse’s mouth. She rubbed her eyes and stared at the lush forest around them. She heard the sound of water in the distance and smile. Natalie looked up at Lokai, “Mister Lokai, is there a river nearby?”
Lokai smiled back at the girl. He slowed his horse and allowed hers to catch up. “Please, my friends call me Curthadir, and I would like to consider you a friend, if not now then soon.” Lokai smiled gently then inclined his head toward the sound of the water. “There’s a river, yes, but what you hear is a waterfall. It’s the largest one in this forest. This is the forest known as Tulien forest, or more properly western Tulien forest. This area is known for its great waterfalls.” Lokai stopped his horse entirely and whirled around to the east. “In that direction is the palace of his majesty, Garlon, a spawn of the Korgar. He has enslaved this area with their control. The village we stopped at is just beyond Garlon’s jurisdiction. When he imposed heavy taxes on the people of his city, most of the merchants moved out and started their own city. It’s a popular city in recent years since it’s close enough to the King’s Highway to be accessible to all this continent, but it’s also a short travel from the northern port that trade with the Telmath, the eastern continent.”
Lokai handed the rope to Natalie, “Do you know how to ride?” She smiled and took the reins. “I know you are an important person with things to do, but can we go see the waterfall? I’ve never seen one before,” Natalie said sheepishly.
Lokai smiled. “I used to play in these forests as a child. My parents would come hunting in them while the children found waterfalls and streams to swim and fish in. I would love to show you one day, but unfortunately we cannot now. There is, however, a waterfall near Lang Gradand, where we are traveling, that I’m sure Senna or Asadi would be happy to show you.” Lokai turned his horse southeast again and continued on their journey.
“Asadi and Senna? They’re members of your council?” Natalie asked. “Their names are pretty.”
“They are more beautiful than their names.” Lokai smiled. “And I am old enough to be their grandfather. In appearance, they are much closer to your age, though they are quite a bit older.”
“How do the council members live so long?”
“A great question, and one that can be answered with words, though they wouldn’t mean anything to you. I would rather you see for yourself, if you can be patient.”
Natalie nodded even though Lokai was looking forward. She felt lost in this strange world where people spoke a different language, men and women could live forever, and waterfalls were more common than electronic or gun stores. “Do you know what a gun is?”
“A gun?” Lokai pronounced it slowly.
“You know, it uses a hammer to hit a bullet hard enough to cause it to fly at hundreds of feet per second.” Natalie put her hands in the shape of a gun to demonstrate. “Or something like that. I never paid enough attention when my mom taught us about how a gun worked. My sister was always better at those things.” Natalie cringed at the thought of her sister and the bullet that killed her, but it passed easier now.
“So a gun is the thing your father held when I pulled you into this world? Where does a hammer fit in there?”
Natalie laughed quietly. She hadn’t thought referring to a hammer inside of a small device would sound so weird until she realized she was talking to someone who knew nothing about a gun. “It’s a tiny hammer,” she finally said.
Lokai smiled. “I had never visited your world before.” How does it compare to the little you’ve seen of this one?”
“It’s darker and more violent. People seem just as cruel in this one though.” Natalie remembered the stolen food and began to cry. “I’m sorry I fell asleep and got your food stolen. I didn’t know I was so tired. I should have been more careful.”
Lokai stopped his horse near hers, which took the opportunity to bend and feed on the grass. “Dear girl, it’s not a problem. As you can see, we are provisioned enough to travel. Everything was taken care of. What has happened is passed. Don’t let it bother you. Look to what lies ahead instead.”
Natalie looked up to the man and examined his fine wrinkles and grey eyes. Smiles formed on the edges of his eyes as he looked at her. Movement in the distance caught her eye. Lokai followed her gaze to a dozen soldiers in black armor and riding dark horses. He turned his horse and began moving southwest more quickly.
“Come, Natalie, we are not warriors, and these men may well be looking for us. We should depart before they come close enough to know we we’re here.” Lokai rode over to a tree, put his lips near it and said, “Cuindar Phos, your help please.”
Natalie watched in puzzlement then looked back to the men with worry portrayed on her face, but she followed closely and wordlessly. Lokai led them through a thicker area of trees. Natalie still heard the hoofbeats, but they were more muffled. Either they’re further away or the grass covers their sounds, Natalie thought. She couldn’t see them, so she hoped for the former. While looking, she saw the grass behind them grew thicker as they rode, and their own hoof prints quickly obscured. It looked like the grass was coming alive and chasing them. Natalie shrieked.
Lokai looked back and saw her hurrying her horse from the living grass. She was pointing as she began passing Lokai. “Slow down, you’ll tire the horse. It’s only the nymphs. I asked for their help. They’ll keep the Korgar’s guard from finding us. Don’t worry. They won’t bother you or the horse.
Natalie jumped off the ground when she heard footsteps echoing down the hallways. Her memories faded from her into the red and gold walls she was gazing at before her revelries overtook her. The footsteps preceded two men dressed in white robes with red sashes across them. White hoods that came seamlessly off the back of the robes covered the faces of the two men as they approached. They all seemed to wear the same clothes. Even Lokai had changed his garb for a similar vestment, but he was easier to spot because of his beard.
The men stood a cordial distance away from her and one removed his hood to speak, “Lady Natalie Dumar, the council will see you now.” The man’s face was long and thin, not sickly so, but without muscle in the conventional sense. There was nothing of particular interest about his face. His eyes were wide and his nose was little more than a stub, but Natalie noticed nothing remarkable about him.
Natalie had no idea what this council was that she was supposed to meet. Lokai had talked about them some, but never really revealed why they existed or why they wore ridiculous clothes. Natalie wasn’t sure how long she had been standing in the lobby area to this building, but she wished she had more time. Nervous excitement washed over her with a sense of being unprepared like she often did when she went into her math classroom as a child.
A long hallway led the trio to two open, oak doors, leading into the next room. Natalie saw the inside of the room well before she ever found herself on the precipice. The room was similar to the last, but had a round table and quite a few windows covered by thin veils. Each of the members of the council stood in front of a seat, apparently waiting for their new guest. The six council members in the room had their hoods removed. Lokai had told Natalie that two women were on the council, but now that she saw them there, it struck her as weird that women would stand with the male leaders. In her home country, no woman would have been allowed a position of authority. What kind of world is this? she wondered yet again. It seemed that she would never stop coming to that question.
A few seconds after entering, the two men led her to her seat then retreated from the room. The council sat down.
“Lady Dumar, we have seen that you would come.” One member said. He was the tallest of them, a seemingly proud man with excellent posture. His baritone voice was calm and even, betraying nothing of his emotional state. “I am Kotari,” he said quite simply. “These are my fellow council members. I’m sure Curthadir has told you of the current state of the world in which we live?” He moved his eyes to the wizard whom Natalie knew best.
“Yes, Lokai, I mean Curthadir, told me of the Kogi... what were they called?” Natalie, began to blush as she asked.
“The Korgar. Yes, she has been informed on all that we discussed.” Lokai spoke up.
“Tell me then, Lady Dumar, do you wish to help us?” Kotari asked, returning his gaze to her.
“I...” Natalie stuttered. Me, help them? Natalie wondered. Who are they even? “I’m... sure... I mean.” Natalie sat rigid, but helpless and uncertain of what to say.
“The poor child is frightened. Give her a minute.” A dark complexioned lady said. Natalie turned to see that she was more beautiful than anyone she had ever met. Her curly hair was pulled back only to reveal more of her smooth skin and angelic eyes.
“Ikari,” the lady said turning to the man beside her, “Get the girl a glass of water.” Natalie could only watch the man as he exited the room. His arms are bigger than my head. He must be the strongest man alive. What amazed Natalie even more than his great size was the fact that even with his large size, he remained quite nimble. She hardly even noticed him rise from his seat, much less make any noise while doing it. I can’t even walk without making a ruckus.
When the man named Ikari left, another man spoke up. His eyes held a piercing gaze and seemed to talk with his mouth. “My name is Luran. I assure you, we are, none of us, here to cause you harm in any way. We know very little, in fact, of why you were brought to this land, but it is our sworn duty to protect and save all that we may from the terrible rule of the Korgar. If we can extend that hand to you as well, then we will. Perhaps the seer, Asadi can explain who we are.” He turned to face the woman to his left. There was terrible depth in the eyes of the seer, but a sort of terrible beauty also filled them. Her face was at once both stunning in beauty and frightful. What sort of people are these? The women have power and beauty and the men are strong and agile. Everyone acts nice, but their eyes... Natalie couldn’t think of how to describe the eyes of her hosts. Looking into them was akin to gazing at a storm. They were beautiful from afar, but danger seemed to lurk in them.
“Child, when we came back from seeking Iskatar, we were different than when we left. Iskatar set us free from fear and the bondage that we allowed ourselves to be in. Now there are six of us, with only Iskatar, the nymphs, and a handful of brave men as our allies. Together we struggle against the Korgar and their powers of darkness. We call ourselves Cuindar Phos, the council of light, and we do what we can while we wait for the one who will lead us, the son of Huor. We don’t pretend to know the end. Even Luran and I, who are called seers can only see a small arena of future events, but each of us will do what we can to overcome these Korgar and set the kingly line, established by Iskatar, on the throne.
“Danger and hard times are around the corner for all who are in league with us, but our path is the only path to freedom. The only other option you will find is to side with the Korgar. Eventually, you will fall into one side or the other. We are simply giving you the option to follow what we may teach you. There are no guarantees of what will happen, but I can say, from experience, that where you will find meaning and purpose is here, you will find hurt and anguish with the Korgar.”
Natalie sat back. There was a lot to try to understand. She gazed at the table in front of her, and to her amazement saw a glass of water. She gazed to her right and saw Ikari where he was, as though he had never left. Natalie began to realize the power of the people in the room around her. Fear mixed with comfort overwhelmed her, then she saw Lokai’s cool and gentle eyes. In that moment, the fear in her heart melted a little, long enough for her to make a slightly coherent decision.
“Okay,” Natalie finally blurted, “I’ll do whatever it is you expect me to do. I don’t really have any other place to go.”
Lokai looked at her for a moment then nodded at Kotari.
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