“As the ages have passed in
Methar and our religions diverged, tales of the Thirteen have
become children’s stories rather than scripture. Nowadays, there
are even those who have come to believe that the Thirteen are
merely aspects of Matativi herself. But it’s solely an intellectual
debate. No one is reaching for the poison over it.”
Kel sighed. “So interesting! Balance and
Serenity are certainly what the Protectors have ever tried to teach
the people. And now it seems they’ve given up teaching and seek to
enforce them, more’s the pity.”
Kari let out a sudden yawn and shifted
against me under the blanket. I returned from the imaginary world
of Old Methar to the smelly rug beneath me with a pang of
disappointment. In my mind, the wild and snow-peaked land lay at
seat of the Gods, and King Methidi was a wizened old man with a
white beard to his knees and a gnarled stick for support. Perhaps
he lived to defy his station and lived in a spartan room with a
dusty floor. Thar Mati was a mountain temple which lay among the
highest peaks, and when the Gods blew gently the clouds would part
and they would see all of Creation at their feet. It was a building
of smooth marble walls and deep green pools, and the boughs of
overhanging trees would be weighted down with sweet, ripe fruit.
Another few moments of listening to Kari’s voice and I would have
been transported there in my dreams, a much more desirable location
than the hard floor and musty stench of the Keeper’s hut.
Kari’s voice became a mumble. “With
regards to your translations, I should point out that in our
language, as in old Lishmenthar, the word lamatiya means both poison and salve. Knowing that may help you to
understand our hearts a little more.”
“ Fascinating! Truly enlightening,” Kel
murmured, and I could almost hear his mind mulling over theological
issues in the dark. “You have refocused my mind, Kari! Tomorrow I
shall continue my study, reinvigorated. To the dawn!”
“ To the dawn,” I murmured, and closed
my eyes.
Chapter 3
The next morning was truly glorious.
Shafts of sunlight shone in through the smeary windows and I
watched the dust swirl and eddy through them with sleep-stuck eyes.
Yawning, I stretched the stiffness from my limbs and observed that
I was the last to waken. Kel sat at the table, scribbling furiously
onto a sheet of parchment, with the book of Matativi open before
him. His lips moved as his mind worked. “Fascinating…oh
yes…maybe wonder , rather
than think …oh
yes!”
Kari was by the fire, stirring a pot and
humming. There was a delicious smoky smell coming from within, and
the crackling of the fire cheered my heart. He turned to me and
smiled. “Good morning, Ned. You’re just in time for some eggs.”
“ You seem happy,” I said, sitting by
the table and rubbing my eyes.
“ That I am. I have discovered a supply
of fresh and smoked lake trout in the outhouse. What does that tell
you?”
“ You like fish?”
“ Of course. But what else?”
I scratched my head. “Er…the Keeper liked
fish too?”
Kari chuckled. “Well, I imagine so. But he
had to get those fish from somewhere. If I have read the map
correctly, the Vanishing Lake can be found but a short distance
from here. When we have eaten, perhaps we can hike there to wash
our clothes and bathe. What do you say, Kelthras?”
“ Hike? Wash clothes? What?” Kel chewed
upon his braid and failed to look tempted at the prospect. “I would
prefer to remain here to continue my translations, although I would
not object if you were to wash some of my things, Ned.”
“ It is not only my brother who would
do well in the slave trade,” I said, laughing.
Kel sighed. “You don’t appreciate what a
marvelous opportunity this is for me, cousin. The Book of Matativi
has long been on the University’s list of proscribed texts. Before
Brindar proposed these travels, never did I believe that I would
one day lay my hands upon a
Methar and our religions diverged, tales of the Thirteen have
become children’s stories rather than scripture. Nowadays, there
are even those who have come to believe that the Thirteen are
merely aspects of Matativi herself. But it’s solely an intellectual
debate. No one is reaching for the poison over it.”
Kel sighed. “So interesting! Balance and
Serenity are certainly what the Protectors have ever tried to teach
the people. And now it seems they’ve given up teaching and seek to
enforce them, more’s the pity.”
Kari let out a sudden yawn and shifted
against me under the blanket. I returned from the imaginary world
of Old Methar to the smelly rug beneath me with a pang of
disappointment. In my mind, the wild and snow-peaked land lay at
seat of the Gods, and King Methidi was a wizened old man with a
white beard to his knees and a gnarled stick for support. Perhaps
he lived to defy his station and lived in a spartan room with a
dusty floor. Thar Mati was a mountain temple which lay among the
highest peaks, and when the Gods blew gently the clouds would part
and they would see all of Creation at their feet. It was a building
of smooth marble walls and deep green pools, and the boughs of
overhanging trees would be weighted down with sweet, ripe fruit.
Another few moments of listening to Kari’s voice and I would have
been transported there in my dreams, a much more desirable location
than the hard floor and musty stench of the Keeper’s hut.
Kari’s voice became a mumble. “With
regards to your translations, I should point out that in our
language, as in old Lishmenthar, the word lamatiya means both poison and salve. Knowing that may help you to
understand our hearts a little more.”
“ Fascinating! Truly enlightening,” Kel
murmured, and I could almost hear his mind mulling over theological
issues in the dark. “You have refocused my mind, Kari! Tomorrow I
shall continue my study, reinvigorated. To the dawn!”
“ To the dawn,” I murmured, and closed
my eyes.
Chapter 3
The next morning was truly glorious.
Shafts of sunlight shone in through the smeary windows and I
watched the dust swirl and eddy through them with sleep-stuck eyes.
Yawning, I stretched the stiffness from my limbs and observed that
I was the last to waken. Kel sat at the table, scribbling furiously
onto a sheet of parchment, with the book of Matativi open before
him. His lips moved as his mind worked. “Fascinating…oh
yes…maybe wonder , rather
than think …oh
yes!”
Kari was by the fire, stirring a pot and
humming. There was a delicious smoky smell coming from within, and
the crackling of the fire cheered my heart. He turned to me and
smiled. “Good morning, Ned. You’re just in time for some eggs.”
“ You seem happy,” I said, sitting by
the table and rubbing my eyes.
“ That I am. I have discovered a supply
of fresh and smoked lake trout in the outhouse. What does that tell
you?”
“ You like fish?”
“ Of course. But what else?”
I scratched my head. “Er…the Keeper liked
fish too?”
Kari chuckled. “Well, I imagine so. But he
had to get those fish from somewhere. If I have read the map
correctly, the Vanishing Lake can be found but a short distance
from here. When we have eaten, perhaps we can hike there to wash
our clothes and bathe. What do you say, Kelthras?”
“ Hike? Wash clothes? What?” Kel chewed
upon his braid and failed to look tempted at the prospect. “I would
prefer to remain here to continue my translations, although I would
not object if you were to wash some of my things, Ned.”
“ It is not only my brother who would
do well in the slave trade,” I said, laughing.
Kel sighed. “You don’t appreciate what a
marvelous opportunity this is for me, cousin. The Book of Matativi
has long been on the University’s list of proscribed texts. Before
Brindar proposed these travels, never did I believe that I would
one day lay my hands upon a
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