Tagan stood as still as he could. Sequil was fussing with the hem of his robe, trying to get it just right for the induction ceremony. Citadel guards had arrived at their farm within days after their return from Sliryal Bend to deliver the ceremonial robes that he was required to wear. The robe was a shade of bright green meant to signify growth yet to come. Since the robes were only made in one size, Tagan's mother was tasked with making sure it fit properly for the ceremony. Anything out of the ordinary could lead to a candidate not even being considered for induction.
"Stop fidgeting Tagan. This has to be perfect." Sequil’s frustration was beginning to show.
"I know mother. You’ve had me here since breakfast and my legs are sore. I don’t how much longer I can stand." Tagan’s stomach rumbled right on cue, punctuating the fact that lunchtime was rapidly approaching.
"A few more minutes and we’ll be done." Sequil, intent on what her hands were doing, didn’t look up. “Please try not to move.”
With quick, precise movements Sequil put the remaining pins in place and sat back on her heels admiring her work. "It looks even, so you can take it off now. Carefully." she added seeing Tagan’s elation at being released from standing still and not wanting his haste to ruin her handiwork.
Tagan’s shoulders sank as he relaxed and he pulled the robe with great care over his head and handed it to Sequil with a sigh of relief. Stepping down from the stool that was serving as his platform, Tagan went to his room and put on his regular clothes, returning in time to see Sequil gingerly laying the robe on a blanket on the kitchen table. "I’ll finish this later. Go and tell your father it’s time for lunch," she said, “and then wash your hands," she called after him as Tagan ran out the door to find Kenok.
Kenok was at the far end of the field checking on the progress of his crops and Tagan ran at high speed towards him, glad to be able to burn off some of his pent up energy.
Kenok glanced as Tagan came to a noisy stop beside him, then returned his gaze to the row of corn he had planted, appearing to study it very closely.
As the day of the induction ceremony grew closer, Tagan had noticed his dad become more and more reserved. Kenok wasn't his usual stern self and seemed pre-occupied most of the time.
"Mom said it is almost time for lunch sir.”
"Mmmmm. Thank you son." Kenok didn’t glance up.
Tagan stood and watched for a moment. If Kenok’s change of mood had occurred for the first time this year Tagan would have thought his concern was over robes arriving for his only son, but it happened every year prior to the ceremony. Tagan wished he knew why but also knew that whatever it was, his dad would not tell him. When it came to personal feelings, Kenok was so deeply stoic that Tagan wondered if his mom even knew what was troubling him. Kenok looked up and seemed surprised to find Tagan still there. "Lunch. Right. I'll be along in a bit, okay son. I left my jacket up yonder where I was chopping wood earlier." He gestured toward the trees. "Fetch it for me and bring it back to the house if you would."
Tagan nodded, then left his father’s side and made toward the forest.
Kenok, still focused on his planting, didn't notice Tagan walk away. He had been staring at one particular plant for some time now, gently holding it between his fingers as he stroked it with his thick thumb. It was growing fine, anyone could see that. It was the induction ceremony that pre-occupied him. Even though he felt safe that Tagan wouldn't be chosen, he didn't like the idea of losing his son to the Citadel. It was more than Tagan’s possible induction that was bothering him, though. Every time the ceremony came around he was reminded of a transgression he had tried hard to forget, tried to shove down into the dark recesses of his mind where it couldn’t taunt him for his weak self-control, but the memory fought back. It always did and with gut-wrenching agony.
It was after he and Sequil had been married and he had taken over the family farm. He and Sequil got into an argument. It was so silly that Kenok had to think hard to remember now what it was about. Their food stores were running low but they couldn’t afford the market in Brankin Huoh and Kenok wanted to go to the black market to get what they needed. Sequil didn’t want Kenok to go. They had just begun their life together and she had seen too many men pay for such transgressions with the tiny bit of freedom they had.
Kenok had gone anyway. He was, after all, the man of the family and he didn’t need her to tell him how to run things. He remembered vividly the crushed look on her beautiful face as he climbed on to his horse and rode off without even saying goodbye. Kenok didn’t have the heart to tell her but he had been to the black market on several occasions and was quite comfortable going again. He had made many friends on these excursions and that day Kenok rode straight to a family he had known for a long time. It was here, as he enjoyed several mugs of ale with his buddy Pwelik, that Kenok’s emotions got the best of him. His anger grew and festered, fuelled by sip after sip, guzzle after guzzle, of Pwelik’s cheap homemade brew. When the time came to leave for the market, Kenok was in no shape to go and Pwelik encouraged him to go to bed to sleep off the effects of the ale but he wouldn’t be denied. He mocked Pwelik for even suggesting something so ludicrous. Kenok was so intoxicated that it was difficult for him to even sit on his horse’s saddle. He fell flat on his face on several attempts. It was all Pwelik could do to make sure that Kenok made it to the market in one piece.
Kenok wished once more that he could go back in time and listen to his friend.
Kenok didn’t remember if Pwelik ditched him or if he wandered off on his own in search of more ale but he didn’t put any blame on Pwelik if his friend had abandoned him. Kenok’s anger at Sequil had reached the boiling point and he wanted to lash out, to vent his rage, to hurt somebody as badly as he felt hurt and in that moment he sank, finding what he was looking for in the arms of another woman.
Whether it was from the alcohol or his brain blocking the event he wasn’t sure, but to this day Kenok couldn’t recall a single memory of that night. He did recall awaking in a strange room the morning after. Through his blurry eyes and pounding head he could make out the form of a woman getting dressed nearby. He lifted the sheets, revealing his own nudity, and gulped, wishing it weren’t so. He slammed the sheet back over his body, an arm on each side holding it tight across his stomach, and slumped back against the bed, his infidelity making his stomach lurch as if it were imploding, making him feel hollow inside.
The woman heard Kenok and turned and smiled, her shirt not all the way done up, firm breasts threatening to reveal themselves in full.
Kenok forced himself to look away, his shame deepening.
“Well, that’s not the greeting I expected after last night,” she said, a coy grin playing at the edges of her mouth.
Kenok looked back at her, careful to maintain strict eye contact. “Who are you?” His mouth felt like it was full of glue and it was hard to make it work properly.
“Oh Kenok. I’m hurt. You don’t remember my name?” she cooed. “I guess I can’t blame you. You had quite a bit to drink before you whisked me up here and had your way.” She lay across the bed, her face inches from his.
Kenok could smell the stale alcohol on her breath and he resisted the urge to vomit. Up close he could see she wasn’t young but she wasn’t quite old either. Her round, pale face housed dark eyes, set close on either side of a small, wide nose. Her shoulder-length brown hair was unkempt and moved in rigid rhythm as her face bobbed back and forth in front of his like it was balancing on the end of a stick.
“I said, who are you?” he asked again, this time more aggressively.
“Short on conversation, eh?” She ran her fingers down his bare chest, her long nails teasing faint red lines onto his skin.
Kenok pushed her hand away and pulled the sheet up around his chest.
She narrowed her eyes, angered that he had the nerve to push her away, before answering. “Well, you helped me out last night, Kenok, so I’ll help you out. I’m Uldarra.” She stood and
finished doing up her shirt.
Uldarra. It couldn’t be. Kenok had heard the name before, whispered here and there in his travels. It was synonymous for witchcraft and the occult, but he never believed Uldarra even existed. Or if she did she was just some crazy old lady that a rumour had grown out of control about, but here she was, if she was telling the truth.
Uldarra saw the look on Kenok’s face. It was one of mingled horror and confusion and it made her laugh. It was a look she recognized easily, for it was cast in her direction any time she mentioned her name, sometimes even if she didn’t, her appearance enough to elicit it. “I see you’ve heard of me,” she said with a lilting giggle. “I am deeply honored.”
Kenok stared at her, not sure what to do now. His shame spiralled deeper and the fact that he had helped her in some unknown way added a layer disbelief. He was in no shape to help anyone last night.
“Not to worry, Kenok. Everything you’ve heard about me is completely true.” Uldarra’s eyes took on a fiery, crazed look.
Kenok didn’t answer but continued to stare as his alcohol stewed brain tried to make sense of what was happening. The situation couldn’t possibly get any worse.
“Believe it or not, I’ve heard of you Kenok. And I’ve been waiting for this encounter for a long time.” Uldarra’ eyes opening wide as she sighed and then paused. “Actually, waiting isn’t the right word. Dreaming of would be a better way to put it. Yes, dreaming of this time, angling with all my power to make it come to pass.”
Uldarra didn’t wait for a response. She looked around the room for more of her belongings, then turned to Kenok. “Well, your job is done. I have no further use for you so I bid you goodbye Kenok. But I must warn you,” she said, her voice taking on a dangerous edge, “no matter what happens, what you hear, don’t try to find me. It would not end well for you and I would hate to have to harm you after our night of passion.” Then she laughed, hard and shrill as she opened the door to leave.
Kenok finally managed to engage his brain and tongue long enough to ask Uldarra a single question. “But how did I help you?” his voice flat and devoid of emotion, its tone scarcely above that of a gentle summer breeze. That Uldarra heard him at all was a miracle but it would take another miracle to undo her reply.
Uldarra stopped on the threshold of the doorway and looked back at him. A sinister smile crept across her rubbery lips. “You fertilized my seed, silly.” She gently caressed her stomach. Then with a dull thud of the door that matched Kenok’s heart, sinking, Uldarra was gone.
In her wake, Kenok’s life was forever altered. When he returned home Sequil welcomed him back without question, leaping into his arms and hugging him tightly, relieved that he had returned safely and wanting to put all the ugliness of their fight behind them. Kenok managed a smile and promised that he would never leave her like that again but his affair always haunted him. He was fearful he might even reveal something as he dreamed. He could barely look Sequil in the eye and when he did his shame formed hard knots in stomach that he knew would never go away until the day he died. It felt like there was a wall between them now that he would have to maintain if he wanted to keep Sequil in his life.
Kenok heeded Uldarra’s warning and never tried to track her down. He had good reason to find her but he really wanted to forget about the whole nasty event. He went about his life business as usual and worked as hard as he could to never think about it. It wasn’t as easy as he had hoped and in a year’s time rumors started to circulate around the black market community that Uldarra had conceived a son. There was much debate and discussion over who could have impregnated such a woman and Kenok’s guilt deepened ever more. To have a son out there that he would never get to see, never get to hold and raise as his own, never get to pass along what his father had passed to him damaged Kenok to his soul and the induction ceremony always refreshed his memory of the affair like someone wrenching the bandage from a wound. Tears slid down Kenok's cheeks as he stared at the plant stalk between his fingers.
Tagan walked slowly through the trees, marveling at their beauty. He stopped every once in a while to caress the bark of an elm or a cedar. He loved getting out into the woods, out into nature. Something about the energy from the mountains and trees and flowers made him feel complete. When he was among them he could feel a connection to them. He could feel their joy at a bright sunny day and feel their pain when after a fire had raged through. When he wasn't busy with chores, Tagan would often climb some of the smaller hills and sit, staring out at the vast expanse of peaks and valleys and enjoy being in the moment.
Tagan strolled into a clearing and noticed his dad’s jacket hanging from a tree branch. After a brief hesitation, he kept on going. Today was a beautiful day and he wanted to enjoy a little of it while he could. He didn't know if he would be chosen or not in the induction ceremony. If he were, he may not have a chance to return here for quite a while. He could spare a few minutes.
The trail continued through the little clearing and began to climb uphill. It was quite steep at first and Tagan’s legs burned from the strain, streaks of sweat rolling down his forehead. He was working harder than normal because he knew his time was limited. After a few minutes, the trail leveled off somewhat but maintained an uphill angle that wove through trees and small patches of meadows. He was the only one that used this trail so it wasn't as smooth as others. This made the going a little more difficult, but he had been on it so many times he could probably walk it at night.
The trail ended on a rocky bluff overlooking the Jaswulder valley. Tagan sat down and sighed. This was his favorite spot to visit. He spent much of his free time up here. It was so peaceful and serene. He took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air and exhaled. As he took another slow breath in, he closed his eyes, savoring every particle air that passed through his nostrils and, filled his lungs.
There was a crackling sound, louder than usual, but Tagan didn't need to spin around. He knew it wasn't an animal or tree. He was mad at himself for letting his guard down. Slowly the other world slid into view, like it had been there all the time. The valley changed before his eyes. The small trees that filled the valley floor were much larger. Vibrant and alive they waved gently in the breeze. In the distance the grey lake became a deep azure blue; the same blue as the sky, reflecting back. The dull edges of the snow-capped mountains in the distance were sharp and distinct. There were houses along the river. Not clunky ones made of wood but ones that seemed to be part of the ground, as though they grew from it according to some master design. As if someone had directed the earth how to form magnificent structures.
Another crackle behind him. This time it wasn’t announcing his crossing over to the other world and Tagan turned.
The man who had come toward him when he had slipped into the other world during his ride into town was approaching him once again.
Tagan wasn't afraid. He never felt fear in this place, only peace and harmony, yet the approach of the man, as before, raised an amount of alarm inside him.
The man approached and sat down beside Tagan, assuming the same cross-legged position. He looked out onto the valley and smiled. "It's beautiful up here. I can see why you enjoy it so."
The man’s voice was melodious, almost musical to his ears. Tagan stared at him blankly, as if he were stuck in some dream. He had never talked to someone from this world before and didn't know how to react.
"My name is Meyu Kwi. I have been looking forward to meeting you for some time, Tagan.”
Tagan was shocked when Meyu Kwi addressed him by name. "How do you know my name?"
"I know much about you Tagan."
"But how? You are from this...place.” Tagan indicated the valley below. “Not my world."
"This ‘place' as you call it is Quanna Eresse. This is my home; the home of my people.” Meyu Kwi closed his eyes, raised his hands to the sky and inhaled deeply, filling his lungs, making his stomach bulge out. As he said the name of his home, Meyu Kwi’s voice had taken
on a reverent tone, and Tagan could feel the man’s love of this world pour out of his being and join the land around them. In return, Tagan felt the love reciprocated from the land back to Meyu Kwi as if the land was alive and was trying to let him know that his efforts were appreciated and that everything would be all right.
The same feeling washed over Tagan as well and he was intoxicated by it. He had never felt anything like it in Brankin Huoh. He didn’t want to say or do anything and let go of that wondrous sensation but his curiosity got the better of him. "What is this place? Is it some sort of magic? Is this heaven?" Tagan rolled his eyes as he said it, embarrassed he asked such a thing.
"The history of Quanna Eresse would take much explaining. Even now your father has noticed that you have been gone a little too long and is about to come looking for you. We don't have much time."
"Kenok is looking for me?" Tagan looked around out of habit, though he knew he would not see anything.
"Yes, he is. And your ability to control how you stay in this world is not strong yet. I must relay something to you before you go."
Tagan stared at Meyu Kwi, wondering what on earth he had to say.
"You are special, Tagan. For the first time in a long time one of your kind can bridge the gap, can come through the divide and see this world. This you know." Meyu Kwi trailed off, gathering his thoughts. "What if I told you that this world, this magical world as you call it, is meant for all your kind to see? Not only to see but to live in and experience all the time. Humans are destined to be a part of it and for it to be a part of you."
"But we can't. I don't know of anyone else who has the ability to see this world. "Tagan remembered with discomfort the time he had spent at the hands of the healer.
"I know and it is unfortunate, but your parents and others in your world are raised to disbelieve in anything that they can’t see or touch or smell. The idea that things exist outside of their five senses is witchcraft to them. It frightens them so they ignore it and try to pretend it doesn't exist at all. That way they don’t have to face the truth."
"If we are all supposed to be a part of this world, why aren’t we?"
"You ask many complex questions for a young man and we have not the time to answer them now, but we will. The reason I came to you today is because there is a way to correct this. To merge these worlds together the way they are meant to be and once were."
A shadow drifted along the ridge, right across where they were sitting, shrouding them in darkness for a moment as it passed, as if night had blinked on them.
Tagan's vision blurred and the magical world of Quanna Eresse began to fade. His head throbbed with a sudden pain.
Meyu Kwi jumped to his feet and scanned the sky, a concerned look on his face. "You must go Tagan,” he said, and as he turned to leave, Tagan found himself back in his own world, his head still humming painfully. He got to his feet and found his legs were wobbly. He forced them to listen to his commands and made his way back down the trail, remembering to grab Kenok's jacket as he passed through the small clearing. Moments later he ran into Kenok at the beginning of the trail, on his way up to find Tagan. Kenok didn't ask what had happened to delay Tagan and took his jacket from him. "Let's go eat lunch."
Tagan returned the favor and didn’t ask Kenok about the faint tear tracks that ran through the dirt on his face. Neither of them spoke as they walked back to the house.
Chapter 8