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"Digging Deeper Far"
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December 25, 106,233 B.C.
in the reckoning of men.
Ancient Capital City of Atlan King AzThar
AtLan'Ta, The Continentuuuuuuuuu
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"From darkness to the Eye to See,
And dreams into Reality.
From death to Immortality."-- First Master of The Great White Lodge,
FireTender of the Flaming Sphere of the One,
Spiritual Teacher of Divine Priest Kings of The Atlan Empire
Initiator of the Little Ones of the Fourth or Human Kingdom,"Blindness relieves of responsibility."
-- L*******r, Disciple of the Elder BrThars,
The Immortal Masters of the Universal Laws
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It was another fine night atop the Greatest Tower in all of fair Atlan'Ta.
ShinG’Thar (SheenG’Thar), the First Tower, the Seat of the Ancient Rulers, Followers of The Plan as set forth by the Guardians of the Races stood as the sure symbol of the Seat of Power.
The “Crest Wave of the race,” A****k, Son of Divine Kings whose Blue Bloodline stretched back well beyond 25,000 years - was Watching.
Even the lowest ranking Initiates of the Great Mysteries then were great intellectuals, far and away superior to the minds of men of today as their long-lived custodianship was patiently seen to.
A****k had the Gift, among others, of the All Seeing Third Eye, and was a trusted NightWalker. He had been shown by Disciple L***r the Pineal Gland in the brain at the center of the forehead that looks like a small snake, the physical counterpart of the Spiritual Eye. In the future, in a land called Egypt their kings would be called FaeRaohs would have small snakes on their crowns to symbolize the Eye. The Chief had shown him an ancient cave drawing of a hand with the Eye in it, since they used it in the dark to see. He had been promised to be told what the Masters had to say about it.
He had been taught how to avoid the wrong foods that block the Gifts like cheese and beef and pork.
The Masters brought Knowledge to all who were true seekers. Some of these seekers gained entrance to the Schools of the Great Mysteries, lived well enough and earned their way through the first four initiations. This was no easy task, and took a long many, many years. Only those who could pass the gaze of the Master deep into the heart could pass through the teachings that led to the Portal of Light, or the Door of Initiation. A very few men were actually able to progress to the level of being an enlightened Master, yet only if they had the willingness to serve.
Of all the 60 thousand million souls of men who have ever lived on this planet, only 169 will have become Enlightened Masters by the time the Head of the Great White Lodge re-emerges in the future.
The Masters of the Wisdom lived in The Great Thars (Towers), the true Immortals, of the Fifth Initiation. They watched behind the scenes, helping world leaders who took much of their time. They often appeared out of thin air in times of true need, to the one requiring guidance, and even to the Little Ones, the Human Kingdom. This was done not with some machine, but with Knowledge of Universal Laws, understanding and wielding the laws of creation, all done with the strictest obedience, knowing the circle of cause and effect, and bound by service to mankind. The Law of Free Will supersedes all.
Prince A****k was beginning to gain some of the Gifts naturally occurring after almost a century of meditation. His Third Eye was beginning to SEE, well, he thought so.
He was a First Degree Initiate.
It was the momentous event of his life. He had often thought of making a painting of that second he was Lighted. The Head of the Great White Lodge, in the presence of all the members of the Hierarchy, touched his head with the Flaming Rod of Power as a sign of his progress. It was the finest thing he had ever seen, with a five-pointed star, flaming with the Fire of the One, the Great Sun.
He was one of the few allowed on the Watch, and his twin Al****k. They were two of the four, all twin sons of the King, who looked out in the Four Directions of T’Thar (The Tower), after the Ancient Tradition of the Great KinsMen of the Nagonian Standing Order.
Sword of Disciple L******r
His teacher L****r had unlimited sight, and knew all things at once, when he wished, at the moment he sought it. He was a Disciple who served the Plan.
Not many were so inept as to lie to any Atlan, never knowing who had all or part of the Gifts.
A****k’s job title was a NightWalker of theAtlan King AzThar, and his gaze was in the southern Direction upon the uppermost floor; looking out the huge Obsidian windows throughout the night. Obsidian is a higher grade of glass, and when cut with the One Light properly, the surface cut melts it and leaves a perfect polish. The slight tint made seeing through it even better. His twin BrThar Al****k walked to the adjoining corner, as each met the other with hand signals throughout the watch until dawn. His watch room followed the outer perimeter of T’Thar, 1,111 yati (3,333 feet) across, 8 yati ceiling, and 8 yati deep, with a solid piece of KinsMen Construction Authority hardened glass 1/3 a yati thick at the thinnest part of the V grooves. His seat for Eyeing was at the center, 1 yati from the glass, and behind him, an ancient Natal oil lamp with its single flame burned sweet oil reflected by a huge mirror with a thousand bevels around the edge, and framed with gold from the Tibetan Emperor, a gift to King ________ long ago. The walls were pure white Loksmir, with little else in the watch room, the floors being black granite. Two Nagonian Walker Statues faced out, with real Nagonian Robes and swords. They were A****k’s ancestors. It was well known, their hands blessed the statues and when their ShinStans glowed, ShinG’Thar was being looked at by some evil one. These were pureblooded Sons of the One, the original Guardians of King ________. On the left, stood Guardian Oceanus; on the right there was Guardian Marinas.
“There he is now, and the hand signal of King ________,” A****k thought, smiling back. All is well. There was a port cut through so he could hear the steps of his BrThar, though neither engaged conversation, the Walk being sacred.
T’Thar was the tallest, cut of a pure obsidian exterior, to hide it in the night sky, and Loksmir, the hardest stone known to Atlans as the actual structure, in today’s terms, over 111 stories, to the limit of stone to bear, at the center of the Sacred Mount of the Ol’Mpyans. Loksmir Great Stones were larger than most houses of men today, and locked together in perfect fitting joints cut by the One Light.
The wondrous qualities of obsidian locked onto the exterior made it almost impossible to see in the darkness, yet in the daylight it reflected the perfect brilliance of the sun. The amazing skill of the KinsMen C. A. (Construction Authority) engineers made the flat plates of deep black obsidian about 2 by 10 yati [6 x 30 feet] that could each be lifted up off the Loksmir and replaced if needed, and covered T’Thar’s perfectly square structure. The weight of the obsidian held it in place, the same as the Great Stones all interlocking in the living chambers and classrooms, and the whole outer wall of each chamber was now transparent glass, instead of the original sharp obsidian plates.
The original purpose of the obsidian siding was to protect it from the flying dragons (Nagas). Any structure was liable to be landed on, and when that happened in large numbers, only two things protected you, assuming you were smart enough to have used stone to build it. Obsidian edges running the height of the Tower vertically in V-like lines would cut them through from the high speed or if they tried to grasp any surface. The other was to cover it with hardened brass, like the Titan Brass, so no claw could pull it apart. The shiny obsidian was like a mirror, reflecting moonlight at night, and as a shiny object attracting them in the day. Naga dragons wanted nothing else but themselves in their sky.
In the ancient past, the reflections brought them to the Citizens, as a source of delicious meat, since no beast could scale the sheer cliffs of the primeval cone of the volcano that rose high into the dense atmospheres. When the Nagas - large or small - flew into the obsidian, sharper than any metal blade, they were moving so fast the impact would rent them asunder. They thought another Naga was flying straight to them to attack, and would go straight into it. The lights in the many rooms of those who kept their curtains open brought them at night when more meat was needed.
The Naga were jealous of their airspace, and any light brought them at incredible speeds. The top of T’Thar was pointed, and shaped like a pyramid. They would try to land on it, and the upturned V ridges of obsidian were cut so they were instantly slashed apart by their weight. Some landed on the top point. The frequent frigid rains and snow in those days washed T’Thar often enough.
As men cultivated the land, the practice of the meat eaters ended, and all of the animal kingdom was viewed more as their children than sustenance. It was well known, consuming the flesh of an animal made the consumer like that animal. No one wanted to be like a Naga, mean and wretched. No one wanted to be like a horse, or cow, etc.
The homes outside T’Thar in Olden Times had to be connected by caves and covered walkways, and now the huge population of the Old Family lines occupied even those.
The KinsMen from the Construction Authority had built palaces no human eyes in our day would believe, now being built over because the ancient stone was changing. 12,000 years made stones rounded, and patching was not of classical ideals. The once seamless lines in the walls the wind somehow found and wore down. Some began to put a surface siding that could be interchanged like T’Thar that was made to last millennia.
A****k looked with a piercing gaze through the huge window in the high floor of his watch just below the clouds, and scanned all the two Great Walls to the South, built so long ago. He thought what it must have been like when the giant beasts, herds of thousands upon thousands tried to run onto the Wall. Sometimes he thought he could hear their ghastly roars, especially since he had heard the sounds on his viewer. Often his keeper KinsTharian G'Ladriel had nudged him when he dozed for a second on his watch. The recordings of the flying dragons had cut him deep into his psyche, and seemed to be around him when he dozzzzzed a bit, but strangely enough, only at the top of ShinG'Thar.
He would often say to G’Ladriel,
“Hear that?”
G’Ladriel would cock his right ear a little higher, and slowly turn to the right in a complete circle.
"Prince A****k, only the weeeind.”
Well, at least he took him seriously. The Gifts he had been blessed with he sometimes doubted, and finally realizing they were usually correct, things like those shrieks he kept hearing, made him wonder. If all the Naga have been dead for so long, what is he hearing?
“Tomorrow, I am going to play the recordings of the Naga cries for you.”
“Nooooo, Prince, nnooooooo. I'ma donna wanna to hear them.”
“Keeper G’Ladriel, it is your duty to find out what those sounds are out there.”
He was not one to argue with the Prince.
“Yes, my Prince." He leapt over to the lone table below the mirror, grabbing the huge Aelven Oak wondrously carved leg, hiding underneath with one foot shaking on the wide lower board, and the other on the polished floor slipping and sliding. Prince A******k immediately stood.
His huge Titan frame moved gently. His Titan Green Silver laurel leaf crown rustled, and his Titan Gold sandals creaked a bit more than usual. He sat on the floor a moment in front of the table and took G'Ladriel's hand. The voice of a giant Titan could be piercing to the ears, so his whisper sounded like many waters rushing, as quiet as he could make it.
"What is it, old friend?"
"The Naga, they come and take the People away and eat them, and do magic on them....!"
"Now, G'Ladriel, those are old tales of Tomfoolery. No one has been taken in your life! Only the Head of the Great White Lodge has the Power of the One, and the Masters who obediently serve the Law of the One, and their Army of the Spirit. There is a Plan, and it is very good.
No one of any kind on Mother Earth can do any thing to any one, except take their body. Fear no one, except the Lords of Darkness. And they can do nothing, unless you invite them, and you must do so again and again. Choosing the Path of Darkness is painful, and no one of good intentions chooses pain and darkness. The King and his KinsMen will deal justly with any one that may try to harm you and your kin. Fear not!" They both knew this was true... if you were inside the Outer Wall... there were many peculiar beings and beasts looking for a meal. And that was just on the Continent. Disciple L*****r would mention the other continents were the same, but didn't go in to detail...
"GranF'Thar says he who has the gold rules."
"Let me tell you what Disciple L*******r said about that.
'Let he who rules have a heart of gold.'
Now, bring us a cup of nectar."
Well, G"Ladriel would think about that long and well. Being so assured by the calmness of the heart of his master, he stood, delightfully, bee-lining it into the next room, and drew the nectar from the King's Great Urn.
Atlans and the populations of odd creatures then were of the mindset of 10 year olds of the future when men would learn to read. It took a thousand years to learn what men would in a hundred at some future day. He would like a heart of gold!
The KinsThar never left the side of any in their keep, except the bedchamber. A***k had never traveled out any of the Four Gates except on short excursions to fish and do some archaeological digging. They never camped out there. The Nagonians made it clear there were some animals they would not eradicate, like the bears, tigers, wolves and several other species. They kept the balance of the animal population. They unfortunately loved the taste of human flesh. Moreover, there were a lot of them, a whole lot. They greatly feared the Titans who were as gigantic as they.
Old King ________’s Citadel was built upon the level plane of the solid rock floor inside the mountainous ancient volcano. The natural stonewalls surrounding ShinG’Thar were impassable, except for Sons of Pan, half man, half Thar Goat, the rock climbers brought to Tibet when the Masters left Atlantis to visit the Tibetan Thar.
The Great Building Project had made sure all of the flying Naga could never molest any citizen long ago. The Record Keepers (not to be confused with T’Thar’s Archives of the Masters) had many of the LegenTellers Naga Tales written down. They would carry away everything that moved, and were all gone now thanks to the Nagonians of such great courage, their statues filled every floor.
Now, there were isolated reports of them being crafty, and the bones of many were still found in dark caves, high up in many mountains. Their shrieks were still heard in many places, or was it the wind? Some of the Seers saw them, regularly. None could have escaped the gaze of the Old Ol’Mpyans thousands of years ago, or could they?
Who in their right mind would question the Ol’Mpyans?
Yet, their shrieks continued. Repeatedly, L****r had made it clear, the Naga spirits were the only ones still seething in anger that their ancient homeland was taken from them.
L****r did not tell A****k or any of the Little Ones the whole story.
There was a huge skeleton of one of them at the Grand Entrance, along with a plain solid gold statue of the greatest Nagonian Warrior ever known, Lord Ul’Ralchiel, Son of Urichiel, KinsMan, NightWalker, Dream Walker, and Seer. He single handedly climbed Mount M’Nagar, found the cave of the Naga mother, and fought her nonstop for 3 days before the fowl thing breathed its last.
The illustrious LegenTeller Xixthus was going to be LegenTelling in the Grand Hall for the next few weeks, and though it had told a thousand times, everyone loved that Legen above all others. He would not miss it. Nagonian Lord Xixthus, 24th Great-Granson of King ________ actually wore the robe of Lord Ul'Ralchiel, black and impossible to see in the dark, carrying his original ShinStan during the performance, and brought the Holy Ashes of his fire to add to the Sacred Fire of everyone he taught. He is one of the Nag slayers still under the charge of the King, a Night Walker who even this night was watching and listening across the Sacred Plain of the Sacred Mount, unbeknownst to A****k.
A****k had asked for him, and he was brought under the behest of L****r. A****k had Seen with the Eye a Naga in the night sky to the south 2 days ago, at the edge of the towering red cliffs over the Southern Atlantic Ocean, smart enough to stay away from the Continent.
Well....... he thought he did. He was awake, eyes closed, and his Eye had seen the monster over 2 thousand miles away. He heard its awful shriek, because it knew he had touched its mind, and it immediately turned south. L****r did not question him about it, as he usually did about everything, but disappeared as he was wont to do. When A****k asked about it the next night on the Watch, he told him Lord Xixthus was looking into it straightaway with his kinfolk.
“Lord L****r, how could he have gotten here so soon?” A****k asked him before starting his watch.
“He was already here.”
How could there be a Naga anywhere, he thought?
He could not doubt L****r or the Masters.
He started questioning his abilities.
Was it a waking dream? He did walk through the night high in the thin air of T’Thar. It was a night watch. Sometimes in the shaking of T’Thar during storms, he does hear the cries, or is it just the… well it was a weird sound for the wind to make. That dark night he heard it, two nights ago was the biggest storm he could remember. T’Thar actually shook. It felt like something big hit ShinG’Thar, his home from birth. He was sure about that.
He knew he was not being told ...- something.
Every time he tries to Look into it, there is nothing to See. All his BrThars and SsThars knew absolutely nothing about it. He did not want to seem, ah, as if he were losing it. Perhaps it was time to corner L****r, as if. Hmmmm…
His twin Al ****r knew nothing either. They were twin spirits, and since he had not gotten anything about it through his Gifts of seeing, A****k questioned what he had seen. Still, he knew… something… and he began to try to see into the past, as if that were even possible.
“Theeeere is my BrThar, with the hand sign,” he thought.
It is 3 am.
For nearly 12,000 years, the Kingdom had known peace. Every hundred years or so, when the Little Ones got a new king, some challenge would be put down by one Titan who, as a diplomat, had a sword taller than the Little Ones, and could defend himself, or herself. The arrival of an encampment of Titans usually ended any further problems. They would stay quite a while, inviting little humans to their huge tables, seating them on top. They had to wear earplugs made of gold because of the laughter of the giants when they started drinking nectar. And they loved a good, honest fight. Little Ones would be grabbed and taken to the outer edge of the tent, astounded as the pair landed on the earth, shaking everything in sight. Often, the whole tent would be overturned.
A***k was the youngest Prince, the Night Walker, of the keenest senses, when electricity was first being introduced to the Human Kingdom.
He looked for the usual three blinks of the Custodians of the Four Gates at the precise secret moment from the trusted KinsThar (the highest honor given by the King was to call one a Tower, as in this case, only the Sons of Pan, Keepers of the King could be called KinsThar). Perhaps you and I might be amazed to see them today, but then, they were the most trusted, absolute Keepers upon whom all lives depended, and had for so long. They were the Sons of Pan, the half man, and half Thar goat. Not one of them had ever failed the King. Not one. They gave their lives often enough, and without fear. They became such so closely intertwined with T'Thar that beloved tower name was associated with them as one of the very few, ever. They had always been there.
Even though much effort was made to separate the animal kingdom from the human, it was virtually a war to stop the Halfling births across the world, and they would appear, the son or daughter of some misguided parent or experiment. The Masters fought against it continually.
The KinsThar had been there from the beginning, were an integral part of the defense and daily operation of T'Thar and its many compounds, and by the order of the Kings, they were allowed to bring children among their families, and forbidden to go outside their own. No other exception was made.
The Outer Great Wall was so high, so impenetrable, no beast had ever crossed it, because the KinsThar had built a glass walkway over the Outer Wall, and it was completely populated, to the point that not one animal, except man had ever crossed over it. The two men who had were caught before they reached the Second Wall.
By itself, the Outer Wall was astonishing. It was four Titan stories tall, or 400 feet in the measurement of men, of perfectly polished brass the Old Metallists made to never tarnish, and neither man nor beast could find a seam to place a claw or nail. At the top, generations of the KinsThar waited, under grand glass canopies and were extremely zealous in their duties. At each of the Four Gates there was a high round WatchThar of Loksmir with big round obsidian windows, and topped with a pointed obsidian roof. A****k could see the white smoke of G’Ladriel’s Great-GranF'Thar 3rd, Keeper G’Ladr’s WatchThar flowing out at a distinct right angle due to high wind, coming from the south straight towards him. It looked like a toothpick smoking from here. The lights in the windows on the top floor were bright, as a beacon for travelers brave enough to walk at night. In the Olden Days, the lights pulsed when danger was about. A****k had never seen that in his life.
The storms in those days were earthshaking, actually opened the earth, and shattered the Outer Wall canopies regularly, along with any structure not made of stone. The First Wall inside was guarded, the old LegenTellers tell, by the statues of the Nagonians that were never struck by lightning. Well, the statues in his keep never were.
The reports of seeing them move made the whole city alive with comments about the latest activity that had gone on for thousands of years, though none had been reported here for over a hundred years. A****k had been up there. He had taken the hands of them, tried to turn the heads. He was a strong Atlan. All men worked out on the Ol'Mpyc fields, and were runners. They would not move under his strongest force. They were solid Titan Silver and the colors were so real, you would have to look twice to know they were statues, especially from four stories down. The flesh tone metal was incredible. One late afternoon, he was sure he thought one of them turned his head toward him, and did not try to move any others.
He was there first thing the morning after he saw the wicked Naga. Three of the statues had moved their swords high into the air, he knew the names of every one of them on the Wall, and he knew, these three had always held their swords on their feet like every other one. T’Thar was buzzing with talk of it. He was sent out as soon as his watch was over.
NightWalker Nagonians always wore black robes. They did not flow like the favored thin ones of all Atlans. As their ancestors, all still loved the free movements a robe offered, and the fabrics were made to flow like the wind.
You could strike their black robes with a sword, and they did not show any damage, except with a Nagonian Sword, because he had done it as a young Atlan. It got a booming laugh at the table of the King.
They were almost weightless, he had heard, since no one dared don that robe, unless a true Nagonian. They had protective blessings from the hands of the Kings, and the few who tried were always found screaming in pain. They had vertical lines that stood up in the way they folded, and the shoulders were large, and pointed at the ends, actual sharp points, to match the helmet of Titan Black with its points. Nagas were smart enough to avoid them if any light was present, and stupid enough to strike in the dark. Nagonians put on the spikes in the back, sides and front when walking out doors in the First Days, and going for the kill anywhere. This was not a cowardly thing. Often, one Nagonian was up against many of them, and just by a swift turn, the four pointed spikes slashed their flesh. The beasts’ favorite attack was speed diving from above the clouds, silent and following the orders of their Naga elders and by their sheer weight would crush Nagonians if they could. Since all Nagonians had to prove they used the Eye, only a verrry few were killed by the creatures, and those were part Natalan sons. It was impossible to avoid the crushing attacks of 10,000 beasts, and that really did happen, for as the Great Sword cut one in half, learning to use the Great Shield to deflect the weight was one of the first skills learned.
Piles of boulders could still be seen at the edges of Mount Ol’Mpus where many, many thousands of Kinsmen and millions of Atlans were tested in their trials since the beginning of the Empire. They threw the boulders from the cliffs above. Either dodge or use your shield.
Nagonian Great Lord Xixthus would be starting the Grand Trials and the Ol'Mypic Games tomorrow morning for all who would try it out. A****k seriously thought about it, but it was just the muscle bounders from T’Thar who tried, and a few Natalans in Olden Days died at at some of the trials. His cousin Prince A’V ella of the Thar E’V aemon had told him how quickly most all were eliminated when a true Nagonian plunged his sword into solid stone, and dared any to pull it out with their bare hands. HA. He could not wait to see those hulks put in their place. It had reached the point that if they could not get the sword out, they could not pass anyway, so that became the first test. It was a test of pure strength and required the man’s soul to participate, so they knew who was far enough along the Path of Enlightenment without fail. Back in the First Days there were more pureblooded Ol’Mpyans. Later, these would evolve to the Ol'Mpycs. The kings of Atlantis would challenge any one on earth who would dare.
OH… ah… I guess I will have to… make arrangements to miss that part. Oh, well, that would be dishonorable. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh… hmmm…
A****k had spent many years inspecting the First Wall, and looking at every statue in his charge, moving the robes for through inspection to make sure all is well. None of the statues had any of the secret weapons, but the swords were accurately copied. Interesting how the first Nagonians had no decoration on their swords that were solid black. Their statues were a little taller than the last ones put up. And they were bigger Atlans. They were finer looking men, more like their great King ________. Atlans of today probably couldn’t even kill a Naga with their bare hands like they did.
It was a real curiosity how the reproductions of the old Nagonian robe, did not move in the wind either, even high winds. This was a defense from the sharp eyes of the Naga. LegenSayers tell when the last Naga was gone, the Metallists left, and have never returned. No one could make a sword like that now. They never rusted, the blades never dulled, and if you plunged one into the tough skin of the Naga, they would bend and never break as the big beasts bolted. A****k owned one, as the royal family could do, and no one else. It was the most elaborate thing he possessed. It was the Sword of the Great Nag slayer ________ II Son of _______, 6th Great GranSon of King ________. It was solid black Titan Steel, but carved deep between the blade and the grip so the blood would run quickly off. It had black diamond points on the sides and front of the guard that were not shiny. You could not clean the stench from it, after all these years, so he kept it under glass in his room. His BrThar borrowed it once for cutting some big weeds and vines at the top of the Nagonian Wall and as he raised it, The Nagonian Blade became so heavy it fell from his hands; he could not pick it up, and could not leave it on the Wall, for fear of severe punishment for such a holy relic. He was just lucky I heard his call telepathically. I had to run all the way from the Outer Wall where G’Ladriel was visiting his mother, in the middle of a huge KinsThar Clan feast you would not believe. HA…
A****k had run into its legendary ways before that. He was running as a child on the top of the Wall, and it got caught in the fold of one of the statues robes and found himself instantly boomeranged off the First Wall so fast, it was a true wonder he was not lost forever. If he had not held onto the single-handed closely fitting grip with all his might, he would have fallen four stories. He was 19 and was sure he felt an angel hold him firm. The robe seemed to be caught by the wind, and grabbed him as it wrapped around the obsidian like edge of the blade that would have cut him in two. It was in fact the statue of Lord Rangar, just 14 places away from Lord Ul'Ralchiel statue. It was A****k’s First Duty to inspect and clean 111 Nagonian Statues, from the age of 18, including all these three with the swords in the air.
He would be shamed to no end if he told anyone what he was thinking, in spite of himself.
He never saw a single way HOW, but, Lord Xixthus could know a secret wire, or button to push and make those arms rise up, just as a publicity stunt, since everyone was so excited about the greatest LegenSayer of them all, from a true Son of Ul'Ralchiel. He was a real Nagonian, and rumored to be demonstrating the real Gifts with his visits. He had heard from the same cousin he could fold time and space with his mind, a time/space warp he called it, and suddenly disappear. He had seen him jump with all his battle gear in hand, all the way over the wall.
It is one thing to hear of it, but A****k was ready to see it.
He had never found a single seam so any part of any statue could move.
V isitors to the Royals, and those who were invited past the Outer Wall were usually quite curious about the 1,100 Nagonian Statues standing all around the First Wall who they thought to be real men. All you could see was their black robes, helmets and faces. The Metallist-perfected alloys made their faces look alive. Their blue aquamarine stone eyes sparkled and seemed to move. The LegenTellers say not one Naga ever flew past them, except in pitch black of night when they could not see them. They greatly feared the sight of a Nagonian. The inner First Wall had none in the First Days, and many Naga slammed into T’Thar. It tainted the area around the foundation with a scent still faintly there where the trenches were dug to drain the Naga blood deep into the earth.
The LegenTellers say the statues moved when Naga were anywhere around. How could that be possible in these days?
Lord Ul'Ralchiel (You’ll ral chee el’s) statue, and those of his sons Ul’Rulchiel, and Hl’Ralchiel all three had their swords high in the air and they remained that way tonight. There they were below in the dark of night.
Atlan it was quiet tonight. The clouds covered the moon. There were the usual fires of the dancers everywhere. The KinsThar were moving in their lighted glass palaces.
What is THAT? He pulled out his V iewer Glass and zoomed in on the three raised swords far below.
Ahhhhhh…
The Great Nagonian Lord Xixthus, and who else could it be, is standing on the grounds below his ancestor’s statues. He is waving the ShinStan; so dim you can barely see it. Hmmmm…
He went on with it for a while. Hmmmm…
What is he saying? A*****k strained to hear…
A****k did not have full Clairaudience - clear hearing what ever one wished anywhere on earth, but, was the best on duty.
"Hmmmm… something about a curse… seeking my holy ancestors… bless my sword… storm…
...STORM?"
He looked south with the Eye, deeply, with eyes closed.
There in the South Atlantic, a huge black cloud. No lightning. Just sitting there.
He realized how really dark it is tonight. It is just too quiet.
What does all this mean?
T’Thar moved. Almost didn’t notice.
It did not move on the physical plane. It was a deep thunk, a pop, but not a physical thing. It seemed be in the ethers. What is going on?
He looked intensely with his Eye at Lord Xixthus. What an amazing robe. It would have been invisible to the Eye if not for that repair. I thought those were supposed to be indestructible. If you could stand 1 yati away from him, you could not see him with your eyes in the dark or even bright moonlight. He had never seen a real Nagonian Robe up close. The ones on the First Wall were black copies, and no one was allowed to own a real one except their descendants, and then they had to earn it by becoming just as skilled as their honored ancestors and had to be a direct descendant on top of that. They in fact were almost impossible to see with the eyes, except in bright daylight.
He could only see Lord Xixthus’ face with the viewer. His helmet made of the same Titan Black, whatever that is no one knew, made only his face visible.
He looked closely, closing his eyes so the Eye would work a little better.
He looked again at his face.
The moment he touched his mind…
“Who are you?” popped into A****k’s brain, loudly. It was a real shock.
“NightWatcher of King AzThar, A****k, Seventh Son of Prince RenThar Phorcys.”
“You go about your business.
You will not touch my mind again.
You do not look into the black storm in the Atlan Ocean again.
I have spoken.”
“Yes, Sire.”
..................................Whoa.
Well, no one had done that before.
Why had L****r never done that before? He was sure he could. Hmmm…
A deep, deep crack of lightning shattered the dark of the night with a bolt the width of a stadia due south outside the Outer Wall. It slammed into the distant plain. Fires were hurriedly being put out all over.
The giant bolt of lightning out there had ignited a fire. He was sure the KinsThar would be taking care of that.
Now another stupendous bolt flashed from out of nowhere, caught by the lightning rod at the top of GranF'Thar G’Ladr’s WatchThar.
It made the WatchThar look like a brightly lit toothpick. It was slowly weaving left and right, anchored and changing colors… white, now blue, now red, every color of the rainbow… is it going to stop? He could feel T’Thar shaking. His gold cup rattled on the blue marble tabletop. For a full minute, it looked like fire, and came from… there are no clouds… it went out like a light, and he stood dumbfounded.
Crack… the sound came through the usual silence.
An unconscious smile came to his face.
He took the White Eagle head at the end of the Rainbow Rope and tugged it three times. L****r’s voice came from the White Eagle’s opened beak, carved deeply into the domed white marble ceiling with wings that spread across the room.
“Yes Sire.”
“Did you see that?”
“Yes Sire.”
“Have you ever seen anything like that in your life?”
“Yes Sire.”
“Look, GranFThar G’Ladr’s lights went out.”
“Yes Sire.”
“The weathervane is melted.”
“Yes Sire.”
“........just a moment Prince A****k. It is Great Sun Day.”
Ancient Atlans loved to hear and see the phenomenon of lightning and rain, and all aspects of nature. Songs and poems were often about nature, and Atlans well beloved were called the "Flower of the Race." Mother Earth’s nature was more extreme then in every way. The Light was different then. The air was thicker, and the clouds protected her from the sun, vastly more potent than today. It was colder then as well, and everyone wore robes of many layers that were hand-tailored and of exotic fabrics.
KinsTharians had beautiful long hair that covered them for warmth and they loved being outside, well, the older ones did. After a thousand years, their children preferred the outdoor feel of living under glass, but preferred the warmth of the hearth. He could see them closing the Secret Entrances all around. They usually danced until dawn, along with many of the Clans.
This was a cold night, in the coldest part of February. It began to snow.
Crack… BOOM… boom… the thunder and lightning were louder than he had ever heard.
The winds started in, not like the ones you and I know, but really powerful blasts of 100+ mph that appeared out of nowhere, and hail the size of a man’s head slammed into T’Thar. He could not see now to the ground, and dared not Eye Lord Xixthus.
With his Eye, he could see the KinsThar excitedly running about. The hailstorm would soon reach them, though the First Wall was far out from ShinG’Thar.
He put his nose to the KinsMen C. A. glass, with a blackish tint. It was barely cold in the warm watch room. He pulled out his pocket ShinStan and held it to the glass. Whew, those are some big snowflakes.
He moved to the chair and rubbed his hands across the Sacred Water bird heads cut from white marble as armrests, then over their feathers and bodies on each side, now worn smooth by the many generations of Walkers before him, so familiar to his hands. He leaned back, knowing not to pull the Rainbow Rope and disturb L’s train of thought.
He took a good look in all directions with the Eye. The storm was coming from the north, and was heading south. The winds started settling a bit, but were loudly whistling around the corners of T’Thar.
The KinsThar glass canopies held fine. GranFather G’Ladr was eating as always, but now had one candle only burning at his table. He had a collection of over 300 ShinStans in his dining room, and still used a candle! He had given me on 21st birthday my favorite now in my pocket made to look like an arrowhead by the hand of Elven Prince Yan, he said, on the Continent of Lemuria a very very long time ago, in the Age of Dragons who covered the earth. His twin BrThar Jan found the stones in a Dragon’s Lair in Mount H’Girath at the Indian continent and cut them into arrowheads. They could even now be put on an arrow. The Dragonians shot them into the black hearts of many Dragons of Old, being the only way to kill the evil ones under the control of the sorcerers. GranF'Thar G’Ladr gave an identical one to my BrThar. It was small, but it could light a room. It had Aelven Blessings, and you could feel it.
A****k lighted it in his pocket and then shined it on the twenty-four foot tall flat glass wall, and saw a solid white wall of snow outside it. He safely buttoned it back into its pocket, slightly parting it with the Elven Silver Clasp to extinguish it.
He looked all around the other walls. There was the single flame of the Fire reflecting on all the white marble, made double by the shimmering bevels of the glass.
He closed his eyes again. His Eye was on the Kingdom to the south.
Now the fire was out in the Wstlans.
Snow was falling from the wide pyramid like glass roof all across the Outer Wall.
All the KinsThar were settling down to an evening by the fire, since they could not dance outside. If anyone was going to greet the sunrise, it would have to be indoors today. The winds were sounding like a blizzard, and he realized a big storm was coming off the north shore that was going to cover most of the continent. A blanket of deep snow began to settle in every direction. He settled down in his favorite chair, relaxing a bit.
He turned his mind to the black cloud without thinking. It was big, and deep.
He was being drawn into it. Such darkness he had never touched. He got lost in it. He was seeing things he did not like… He began to sink into oblivion… It was getting darker and darker…
“Sire!” broke his thoughts.
L****r was standing beside him with his hand on his shoulder.
“Your watch is not over. Answer me.” L****r’s ShinStan was moving before his eyes.
He bolted out of his seat shaking his head, and feeling as if he were going to fall over. L****r held his left bicep firmly to keep him from keeling over.
“I was checking to see if any repairs were needed.”
The KinsMen were always glad to oblige with repairs, and worked day and night; yet, the KinsTharians always took care of the Outer Wall. He knew they were all at rest, but spoke without thinking. They were oblivious to all the inner things he had seen that night.
“The KinsThar will do their job.
Lord Xixthus told you not to look into the black cloud. His order supercedes all except the King.”
“I could not help myself.” A knew better than to try to hide his actions.
“The Lords of Darkness put it there for all Seers so they could find each one of them. Now they know who you are.”
A****k’s body trembled.
“Walk with me, now.”
A GuardsMan A****k had not seen before silently glided past to th spacious Walkers' throne, and seated himself. His brilliant blue eyes glanced at him in a flash. For a flash, he touched A****k's mind. He truly was the Son of a Great Sun. There was so much light coming from him, you could barely see his face! Beneath his robes, you could see light moving through him. He was not of the Human Kingdom, a truly divine Royal. His navy blue robe was flowing like an air stream in wisplike movements he had never seen, ever. His brilliant blue eyes were on the white wall of snow, reflecting the pure light of the ShinStan. He folded his robe, and the snow was barely illuminated by the one candle on the mirror of old Tibetan Emperor Chan. He closed his eyes and leaned back. His golden hair was longer than most, perfectly straight. His helmet was shinier, Titan Blue, like none he had ever seen, and the pointed pyramidal diamond was huge at the top, with rainbows of color shining back. The helmet had golden wings that swept back to a point. As he leaned back, they fit perfectly into the opening that now made sense inside the wings on back of the chair. He did not acknowledge A****k’s presence, something never done to a Royal. His mind was focused due south. It was obvious to A*****k he was a pureblood Son of the One. He had seen pictures of them in the Gallery of Heroes, NagaSlayers all. A Little One of the Human Kingdom would scarcely stand at the height of his knee. He was wearing the Titan Battle Gear with shin guards for appearance before the King, not the black Nagonian Gear, but all Aelven Silver completely covered now by the robe. He could
fight a Naga in it, though its elegance was too beautiful to be stained with blood... So the Legen is true. They had always watched over the Little Ones... from high trees they pulled long, strong Aelven Silver ropes to warn them of the flying Naga and huge beasts on the forest floor.
What was he doing here? They left with King ________, or at least, no one had seen any of them for over 300 years.
“L****r, let me get my…”
“No delays.”
“…V iewer?”
“It should have been in your pocket anyway.”
L****r put out his ShinStan, and followed him quietly out the tall mahogany door, taking a last glance back. The GuardsMan’s robes were still settling though he was seated.
He again trembled at what he had done, but this one did not stop.
No one told him to follow orders from Lord Xixthus. He did not even know he was here. He tried to rationalize it.
They exited to the hallway, unlighted, as L****r was one to walk in the dark using the Eye.
“This will improve your vision.”
They went to a part of T’Thar he had never been, up many stairs and corridors. He had not been this high up in T’Thar before by the count of the steps.
He was depending on the Eye now to guide him in the dark since he could not see or hear L****r.
BrThar L****r opened a big door and a whitish slightly red glow was in the floor against the opposite wall.
“Remove all your robes and shoes and stand on the coals.”
He did not hesitate, though he had never been told of anything like this.
As he stood there, facing the wall… he was still dizzy for some reason.
“Don’t touch the wall.”
He put his feet on them and looked down into the coals, and did not move.
His bare feet felt no pain, no heat.
He was totally absorbed by the depth of the coal burning under his feet that seemed to be like water, transparent and bottomless, and could not take his Eye off them.
Behind him, he slowly realized there stood The Master and 12 of his Disciples, Lord L****r one of them, in a semicircle. He could see them behind him, but his Eye was looking deep into the Fire that does not burn.
Telepathy is a two-way thing. He had never touched such wickedness as when he looked into that black cloud over the AtLan Ocean. He would try to forget.
Behind him he heard a clear, strong voice.What seest thou, O seeker on the Path?
Nothing but myself, O Master.
Look closer at thyself, and say again, what dost thou see?
A point of light that waxes and wanes, I see the darkness, now darker.
See with focused desire into the dark, and when the light shines, seize the moment. What is there now?
Horrible, O Master, horrible. I do not want to see it. It is a lie. I am not this or that. This selfish evil thing is not me. I am not this.
Turn on the light with fierce desire, will and power, and See again. What is there now?
One ray of light dispels the darkness, revealing all. I see a beaming form that beckons me. Who is this being standing graciously in darkness and light. Is it, can it be my Self?
What dawns upon thine eyes as thou standest on the Way, O worn and weary traveler, still triumphant in the light?
A bright shining form which is my Self, my soul. A dark and solemn figure, but aged and wise, knowledgeable and sad. This is my self, my lower self, my ancient and weary personality upon the ways of mother earth…They merge, and I have found the end of the Path. The Way stretches in front of me. I have found Sight, and I See Reality.
What, then, can thou reveal to men, O Server on the Way?
Truth comes through me, Great One, I cannot see it.
Why canst thou see it not? What holds back understanding?
Nothing holds me back. I have SEEN. My task is Truth. I seek nothing for myself.
What comes thy way for understanding? What Truth canst thou teach?
Only Truth that has stood for aeons, and has always been there. Life is like an ocean. Therein we know Light, and Love, and Power that will forever endure. There are those who know the Presence, and those who do not.
Who are those living within the Presence, but know it not?
Me and thee, and still they are myself, and still are all I meet. Any one in every form who thinks form is all, who seeing only time and space, sees not the light of light within the form that hides within, hidden by veils between the Fourth and Fifth Kingdoms of man and the Masters, they see nothing else. It is to these I must reveal the Truth.
How will this hardest of all tasks be done, triumphant one?
They will see I am myself the truth, living as a fragment of the Presence, and all parts being seen. Thus, Truth is given to the Fourth, and by the Fifth Kingdom of the Masters. I shall not fear the darkness or death. I have known the Presence.
He stood there it seemed a night.
All inside King _______’s Citadel rested without fear of the vast Wstlans outside.
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