Division of Souls: Chest of Souls, #7

By Michelle Erickson

After powering the Chest of Souls, Brenna’s made her choice and it isn’t Talon. 
Her plan is to save as many lives as she can before Sogo falls. 
Logic rules her days and remorse rules her nights. 

Talon survived Day of Air and must survive the coming days of Water, Fire, and Earth – ending with the travesty of the blood-sport called Cubes. He thought the greatest test was when the Chest of Souls was powered, but his greatest challenge lies ahead. 
He has to find a way to heal the division between Brenna and himself.
If he can’t, he has to ask himself if he loves her enough to do what must be done, no matter what?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michelle Erickson
• Release date: Mar 30, 2011
• ISBN: 9781536509397

Book preview

For my childhood chums that helped me determine that telling stories is my forte.  A special thanks to Dawn, who was there from the first day of Kindergarten and who got into more scrapes with me than anybody and survived to tell the tale.

Cover Illustration copyright 2011 by StravenLite 

Cover Design by Michelle and Herman Erickson

First Edition, Copyright 2011 Michelle Erickson

All rights reserved.  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the author.  All characters in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead) is purely coincidental.

ISBN 978-1-257-04330-9

Chapters

Prologue

Chapter 1 Day of Water

Chapter 2 Only in Dreams

Chapter 3 Return with Honor

Chapter 4 Prior to Extermination

Chapter 5 Day of Fire

Chapter 6 Claimed

Chapter 7 Lost and Found

Chapter 8 Frying Pan to Fire

Chapter 9 Day of Earth

Chapter 10 Knotted

Chapter 11 Timing

Chapter 12 Wrong

Chapter 13 Into the Abyss

Chapter 14 On the Run

Chapter 15 No Accidents

Chapter 16 Powers that Be

Chapter 17 The Painter’s Line

Chapter 18 Demands

Chapter 19 Deadline

Chapter 20 Kayman and Family

Chapter 21 Cobblestones of Judgment

Chapter 22 Stuck

Chapter 23 Setting Boundaries

Chapter 24 Light of the Worthy

Chapter 25 Beware Gifts

Chapter 26 Curses

Chapter 27 Wished For

Chapter 28 Resources

Chapter 29 Awake or Asleep

Chapter 30 Air of Inspection

Chapter 31 The Lid Slips

Michelle’s Books

Character List

About the Author

Prologue

When Brenna Tybar restored the living painting in the basement of the Temple of the Unknown God, things happened quickly.

In the painting, standing by the fireplace, was the man that forgotten history called the Betrayer.  She had come today to uncover the truth about him. 

His name was Vael and his section of the canvas was wet, having been torn away, rolled, and thrown into the Restal Sea.  The canvas sank to the bottom of the ocean and was placed inside of a giant clam by an octopus. 

Brenna had called it to her so she could know the truth for herself.

Vael was blonde, bearded, and good looking.  Currently, he was trying to straighten his clothes.  Brenna knew the nearby painted fire worked because she could hear the flames crackling.  It was another puzzle.

Before she could ask why he wasn’t utilizing it, from the extreme right side of the painting, Lord Ammon launched himself at Vael, flying over the head of Lady Revaya and brushing against Lord Jaydren and his wife, Lady Soline

Traitor! Ammon roared, slamming Vael against the wall.  His pet Shee, Spar, hissed and snapped at Vael.  He barely missed sinking his fangs into Vael’s face.

Brenna held her tongue, interested in the dynamics of the situation. 

Vael, who had no idea why Ammon would do such a thing, was struggling against the much-stronger man’s grip and when Jaydren entered the fray.  Brenna thought, at first, that he would break up the fight.  After all, he was known as Jaydren the Just. 

Instead, he threw the first punch.  His gloved fist connected with Vael’s jaw and he collapsed in a heap at their feet.

Unsatisfied, Ammon used his large foot to stomp on the man’s face, breaking his nose.

He’s not worth his salt, Soline said, her dramatic eyes bobbing up and down on waves of emotion that Brenna could only guess at – recalling her own tantrums as if they belonged to someone else.

At Soline’s gesture, Vael flew against the frame of the painting, was instantly ripped away, and flung against the other side so hard he rebounded, landing at Lady Revaya’s feet.

The normally calm Revaya shuddered and exploded into a harpy – her other form.  The one she kept tightly leashed under most circumstances.  She had red feathers, a white face, and four wings.  The harpy- Revaya picked him up and threw him Brenna’s direction; he hit an unseen barrier this time and slowly slid down to the floor.

Jaydren was rubbing his fist, Soline was brushing her hair back into place with a comb made of a Leviathan’s bone, and Ammon picked up Vael and walked over to the fireplace with him.

I wouldn’t do that, Brenna said quietly.  Flames restore him.

Ammon grunted, Exactly – I’m not done beating on him yet.

As you will, Brenna said, finding no spark of empathy in her.  Emotions no longer cluttered her days, thanks to the Chest of Souls.  She might feel different tonight, in her dreams.  It was the only place where emotion was unleashed.  She wasn’t sure why it had to be this way; only that it did.

Why are you here, Brenna? Jaydren asked, watching Ammon stuff Vael’s head into the fire.  The action woke the Betrayer and healed him.  Ammon laughed and with one jerk, threw him against the ceiling of the painting. 

The Chest of Souls has been powered, she said softly.

All five sets of eyes focused.  Even Vael’s, though he was looking at her through two swelling eyes.

Her journal indicated that he was a man to fear and distrust.  Other unattractive descriptions about him had filled that section of her journal.

Revaya, once more in human form, had ruled Ogdones; a city now buried under an unnatural desert.  Something Brenna would be sure to rectify. 

Lord Jaydren, her ultimate known grandfather, looked at her with concern.  Lady Soline, his wife, was not her grandmother, but her bobbing eyes had stopped their motion – shock?  That seemed out of character.  The woman was ice. 

At her news, Ammon let Vael fall to the floor.  He stared at her for a few moments.  I wondered what was different about you.  The Chest of Souls was never powered in our day.  What’s supposed to happen now?

Vael crawled over to the fire and stuck his hand into the flames, gaining strength and healing.  He no longer pretended indifference.  His eyes were blazing at Ammon with hatred. 

Revaya seemed divided between sad and intrigued.  Now it’s powered it means the Three Sisters have fallen.

Brenna nodded.

Revaya took her seat, I’m sorry for that, they were very beautiful even in our day.  How can we help? 

I’m here to keep a promise to myself.  Currently, the elimination trials are being held before Cubes commences and...

Elimination trials? Revaya asked, looking confused.

We’ve never heard of this thing you call Cubes, Jaydren said.

Explain, Vael demanded.  All signs of civility had disappeared.

Ammon, Jaydren, and Soline glared.  Revaya didn’t bother looking over at Vael so Brenna directed her concerns to Revaya.

Yesterday, there was an event called Day of Air... she began.

Revaya warmly smiled.  The festival!

Ammon’s grin returned.  How do they celebrate it now?

Brenna was mystified.  Celebrate?

On Day of Air, we had the best musicians and inventors from all over the land come and share their talent! Revaya bubbled.  In the afternoon, there was an activity where I would use the wind to fly the...what’s wrong?

Brenna’s lovely brows drew together.  Were there any other festivals with the same name?

They all shook their head, even Vael.

Brenna came closer to the painting.  Things have changed.

What new things have they invented? Revaya asked eagerly.

By the time Brenna described what happened on each of the days, the shock had worn off and was replaced by anger. 

At least, everyone except Vael, who stood with his back against the fireplace and staring with revulsion at Revaya.  Brenna wondered if his reaction had something to do with Revaya turning into a harpy. 

Revaya glared at him. Well?  There was challenge in her tone.

He looked away, shuddering.

Jaydren’s eyes blazed.  Brenna, we won’t be able to endure the traitor’s presence.

Speak for yourself, Jaydren, Ammon sneered.  I’ve wanted to bust him up since I met him – only you wouldn’t let me, remember?

Brenna nodded thoughtfully.  I promise that I will remove him as soon as I can think of another place to put him.

Take me with you, now, Vael said, glancing at his once-upon-a-time comrades.  I will give you knowledge these twisted harpy-lovers never dreamed of.  He flipped his wrist and into his palm a strange oval glass appeared.  I can show you how to imprison your enemies until you’re ready to destroy them.

Brenna stared at the small globe.  It appeared to hold a miniature person who pounded on the glass.  The book the current Minister of Religion had hidden in his mansion had an illustration exactly like the one Vael held and contained information on how to do it.

Brenna’s question was answered.  Nez was Vael’s descendant.

The other Ancients in the painting were so stunned at his revelation, at what he had done, they didn’t move.  Before they could react, Brenna used her power to remove the stretch of parchment containing the Betrayer, ignoring his chuckle of victory.  She put the painting inside the stone she wore around her neck.

She looked at the four painted figures that remained in the painting.  With little effort, she mended the painting, shrinking the frame to fit the one side so now it only contained the four of them.

Even if she had left Vael behind for them to attempt to destroy, she doubted they could kill him, after all, they were not human and, this way, he served a higher purpose. 

She knew the perfect place to hang a traitor.  A cave; more precisely, Tasut’s room in the Barracks.

Chapter 1: Day of Water

Sogo was overflowing.

People and vendors from every nation had come to see what they could of the extermination games that would precede the blood sport known as Cubes.

The Day of Air and the night known as Stone Dreams was over.  There would be three more days of trials by elimination.  Of the three hundred men who were tested, they were down by thirteen.  This was unheard of.  There had never been a Day of Air where so many had survived.  Betting was becoming as dangerous as the sports themselves as odds for and against those who were left, were hotly debated.

Inside the Barracks, it was quiet.  As Talon had requested, the first two floors of men had disappeared, taken to another time and place until the battle to destroy Sogo commenced.  Only the Commanders, cooks, and healers that lived on the third floor remained with those destined for Cubes.

Not all would survive. Talon Ryhawk knew this as fact.  However, more men would survive this game than any other that had taken place in the bloody history of the game – that was also fact.  It had already happened during Day of Air, the first day of the elimination rounds.

Talon led his men, known as Elite, out in the wee hours of the morning to the Cubes arena.  Bastian, a man from the other side of time, had opened an airdoor and they quietly moved out to the damp field.

Rube whispered, Isn’t this cheating?

Mal snorted.

Pax, Rube’s cousin, answered, No rules – remember?

Oh.  Right.  Rube and Pax were Utakian, therefore, honor was hard to forget.  The nation was founded on the principle of honesty.  Pax could transform into a harpy, a ‘mythological’ beast and Talon felt the predator within Pax probably helped him be a bit more practical.

Talon led the way to the huge tree in the center of the field.

Climb it.

His men didn’t openly question him very often and he appreciated it.  They were unaware of everything that was going to happen, but he wanted to remind them about one of the most important things as they climbed, Brenna is going to help us through this as much as she can.

His ears caught a few sighs of relief and, as soon as they were all in the tree, he touched the stone amulet that connected him to Brenna. ‘We’re ready,’ he thought at her.

There was the sound of metal and the walls that formed Cubes rose from the field they stood on, ripping through turf and causing the men to stiffen with growing tension.  He had already shared his previous experience with them – what he had seen, how hopeless survival felt watching from his perch in this same tree years ago. 

What you see before you are the walls that will surround you at the first of Cubes, Talon said grimly, climbing the tree to join them.  "The version you learned is called Steps.  We’re the first group to ever get a preview of what is coming.  The object of Cubes is exactly the same as Steps. 

We are the exception because, unlike every other group of third floor men that came here to die, we’re working together and have a plan.  Now that you’ve seen what it looks like from above, we’ll climb down and see real perspective.

Once on the ground, they looked up at the ten-foot walls in front of them.  Talon knocked a fist against one of the walls so they could hear the metallic sound. 

We’re going to end this bloodbath forever.  Tonight, we have a few hours for me to teach you how.  Now, who can tell me the objective in Steps?

Japh somberly answered, Kill everyone you fight until the game is over.

Talon nodded.  As Sons of Ammon and the leaders that will direct our men in the last battle against Sogo, that is unacceptable.  We follow a higher law, so this is what we are going to do.  Mal, over here. 

He motioned for Mal to come out of the group and quietly explained what he was going to do and then the two of them provided a physical demonstration. 

Talon ended the training with a half-smile and the words, Now you know why I was obsessed with Steps and strategies about the game.

After the demonstration, Talon was pleased to realize that hope was born again among the Elite.  They knew they could win.  Practice let them experience it first-hand.

You’re different, Nyk said to Talon after they returned to the Barracks to prepare for the new competition.  Just before Day of Air, for some reason, you seemed sort of lost.  Now, it’s like you’re found.

The reason was because Talon believed Brenna was dead from powering the Chest of Souls and now he knew she wasn’t, but he didn’t tell Nyk.  Is there some reason you brought it up?

Nyk grinned.  Not really.  I guess I just wish we could go back in time, don’t you?  You know, change what we did when we got caught.  If I’d run a little faster, there’d be No Barracks, no Cubes, no Sogo...I’d be free.

Talon didn’t feel the same way, not anymore.  I don’t know if I’d change anything because now I know that it’s all going to turn out, Talon said.  And no other man will ever have to go through what we did because we’ll destroy Cubes.  We’ll get our freedom back.

Nyk finished dressing.  If...if  I get killed, will you promise to bury me yourself, or get Brenna to do it?

Talon stopped pulling his boots on and glared at him.  That kind of attitude will get you killed!  Don’t even think about it!  Though it wasn’t practical in their situation, he didn’t want to lose one friend and Nyk had been his very first friend when they were boys. 

Lots of things can happen now that we’ll be using weapons in the competition.  I just want your promise that if I die today, you’ll be the one to bury me.

Talon nodded, knowing that Nyk wasn’t the best at anything else except running and that would count a lot - if he survived. 

*

A few hours later, they had warmed up and were watching Jarow pace as he gave them directions.

Do not let yesterday cloud your thinking, Jarow inspected them as he moved back and forth.  True, never before have so many men made it this far.  You’ve beaten the odds, so far.  But you’ll be using weapons today.  Remember, you’re allowed to draw blood, but not kill. At this point Jarow stopped in front of Mal and directed the statement at him.  If you kill someone by accident, you’ll be staked out on the flesh-eating ant hills of the West Desert.

Mal kept a blank face, but Nyk squirmed and shot a look of hate at Iskar.  Inwardly, Talon sighed.  He wished he could tell Nyk that Iskar wasn’t going to be a problem for much longer.  Once Cubes was over, Mal had vowed to kill him.  Mal always kept his word.

Jarow began to pace again.  "You’ll repeat the process you did yesterday, only this time, one of the Council members will hand you a weapon when you give them a colored stone.  There are three colors: red, blue, and yellow.  They represent the sword, the mace, and the axe. 

The most important weapon is wits.  Control your temper.  Questions?

No one came forward.  Talon doubted any other men in history were as well prepared as this group; he hoped it was enough. Talon turned to Wyt as the group walked together down the red cobbled streets of Sogo to the arena. You remember what we practiced?

Wyt nodded.  Long ago, the High Priestess Saro had told him that he would die for a friend.  Today was the day.  He was grateful it wasn’t going to be for real. 

*

Like Day of Air, Day of Water took place on the bloodthirsty ground of the arena.  The member of the Council who held the box of colored stones was Minister Xavier Delisandro.  He had grey hair, a full beard, and was built like a brick with a slight paunch.  He was the oldest member of the Nine. 

Delisandro was a retired captain of Sogo’s militia.  Jarow had told them the General had been wounded by Tasut at some point in time and was partially deaf.  Tasut had accused him of being a coward and tried to have him executed for deserting his unit in battle.  Instead, his family, one of the wealthiest in the known world, bought him a position on the Council and there he had remained.  Brenna had told him that Delisandro liked to gamble and was deeply in debt.

Talon was grateful to see his father had arrived early enough to give a pointed lesson to the ex-General.  When Delisandro tried personally handing the stones to the contestants, Tasut grabbed the hand holding the stone and squeezed.  Delisandro instantly released the stone he’d been holding and shot a venomous look at Tasut, but did not touch another stone.  Instead, Delisandro held the box the way it was supposed to be held and the men who were going to compete reached in and took out their own stone, with Tasut looking on, watching every move until the last man – Talon – had his stone.

Wyt was waiting on the field for him to arrive.  His mouth was puckered as if he had something sour in it when Talon arrived at the assigned square. 

Taste bad? Talon asked. 

Wyt scrunched up his face and shuddered. Not at first, but the aftertaste is like boiled horse-hoof.

Just remember to fall face down, Talon reminded him. 

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chez, the cinnamon-haired healer, bring one of the meat-carts out onto the turf in readiness to take the wounded and dead away.  He had agreed to be positioned where he could reach Wyt first so the other healers wouldn’t have to be involved.  Later, he would report Wyt was dead.

Wyt was a good man, but not first choice.  Originally, Talon had planned to use Mal, but circumstances didn’t allow it.  He wished Nyk was up to it, but after Nyk’s fight with Joz, Talon didn’t want emotions interfering with the plan.  Wyt hadn’t even been second or third choice – but Japh and Zeal were needed on the field today to make sure things didn’t get too heated between Iskar and Nyk.  Drew had injured his foot yesterday and there had been a last minute trade so he could fall to Joz. 

That left Tane, who was too interested in pretty women, Pax, who was still fighting for control of the harpy within, Dom who was clumsier than a mule on ice unless he had a sword (a three-in-one chance), and Wyt. 

The plans were set in motion after Nez’s speech, We welcome all our good friends and visitors as we celebrate Day of Water and salute those whose blood will be spilled.

Talon bit the inside of his cheek, wishing it was time to use Nez as a pincushion.  He ignored the Minister and prayed he’d end his speech before Wyt fell over.  The dose of sleeping herb he’d been given was large enough to incapacitate him for twenty minutes. 

After Wyt ‘died,’ his corpse would be put on the cart, along with a few other truly dead men, and Chez would take the cart past the stables, where Wyt would awaken and leave the cart. Then Wyt would saddle two horses; one was for Brenna. 

There were good points to his choice for guide.  Wyt had brute strength, agility, and a natural ability with weapons.  What he lacked was guile.  To balance a lack of mental wealth, the man had no secrets, no ulterior motives, and was, for lack of a better word, safe.

Wyt moved to shake Talon’s hand, as was his custom, smiled, and went back to his own space before the signal, a loud crash of cymbals, echoed across the arena.

Brenna will be safe.

Talon began a flurry of carefully rehearsed sword moves and Wyt met them with the axe.  The axe was more for close work, but Talon had a longer reach and could think circles around Wyt.

Wyt’s eyes began to look fuzzy as he and Talon locked their weapons together.

Lean back, Talon whispered.  He was going to have to end it quickly.  Wyt wasn’t going to last long enough to finish their entire drill. Wyt managed to lean back and Talon sliced through Wyt’s breastplate to the special container of pig blood they had strapped there.  Wyt grabbed at his chest to hold the split container in place, gave Talon a hazy wink, sank to his knees, and fell on his face. 

Talon raised both his arms in the age-old sign of ‘I won’ and Chez ran over to Wyt.  Talon helped put the body in the cart.  Wyt was too heavy for one man to lift and they couldn’t have the other healers becoming suspicious.

The rest of the game went smoothly and was well orchestrated. Talon and Japh fought their carefully staged exhibition and Japh ‘won.’

For Talon, the Day of Water competition was over.  Supposedly in defeat, he left the field in the back of the wagon used for the injured. 

A few more days and Cubes would be over.  He closed his eyes, remembering Brenna’s smile, her kindness to others, and her love for him.  It was going to work out.  It had to.

*

Tasut stood in front of the painting that Brenna had placed on the wall of his room.  The Betrayer; one of Five Creators – a being so evil, his name had become a curse.

Tasut never spoke to him.  He did, however, stare at him until the man became unnerved and arrogantly demanded, Who are you?  That brainless oaf Ammon sired legions of children.  Are you one of his, then?

The man was known as Vael.  He had not been able to remain silent beneath the gaze that had shaken many a man’s confidence.  Then, of course, the Betrayer wanted information. 

At first, Vael had tried to pretend indifference.  It lasted an entire day and Tasut had already made his plan on how to deal with the painting.

As he stood in front of it and assessed the painted man, he saw an enormous ego; perhaps larger than that of any man that Tasut had known.

The Betrayer was proud, diabolically clever, outrageously defiant, manipulative, cunning, a poisonous liar, ridiculous flatterer, and vain.  In a word:  Evil. 

He did not want or need to know anything more about him.  Vael was more dangerous in his painted form than Nez had ever been in life. 

Tasut had successfully suppressed his nearly uncontrollable urge to use his Utakian sword on the smirking man who had tried bribes, threats, and, once, when Vael lost his temper, turned himself into living flame to get Tasut’s attention.  After glancing at the burning man, he ignored him and the flames disappeared. 

Vael’s impotent rage was contained in the painting itself and, try as he might, Vael could not escape from it.  Thank All.

Tasut exercised harder, prayed more frequently, and read more faithfully from the Book of Benamii.  The man in the painting, according to the Forest Wife, had been responsible for much of the misery in his own day and age, millennia ago. 

There was one positive aspect of sharing his room.  It kept Tasut focused as the time for Cubes grew near and it also kept the painting out of Nez’s hands.

Brenna, he decided, had known the painting would remain here, untouched, unheard, and unknown.

Chapter 2: Only in Dreams

Talon held the stone beneath his shirt as darkness fell.  He was grateful to know that Brenna was alive, if altered.  His heart didn’t ache like a burning hole was punched through his chest.  Now he was restless.  He just wanted to finish so their life together could begin.

Neither Jarow nor Tasut were able to answer him when he asked for a time frame – when Brenna would return to normal. 

Theoretically, Jarow said when Talon asked him, Brenna will return to normal when Sogo falls.

We failed last time, Tasut added. So no one knows.

His question: What does the Chest of Souls have to do with it? was met with silence.  It was all new territory. 

Without any satisfactory answers, he focused on what should have happened earlier in the day, once Wyt was declared dead.  By mid-afternoon at the latest, Wyt should have arrived at the Villa and received supplies.  Brenna would be at the Mekken orphanage, waiting.  From there, Wyt would take her to a safe place in 3-Points and wait for Talon to come. 

If I don’t come within two days, take her to Dyman.  Until then, kill anyone who even looks at Brenna too long.  Remember, there’s a traitor out there.  I still don’t know who it is, but until I say otherwise, don’t trust Mal or Iskar.

Nok came down from the rafters and stood on Talon’s chest as Talon rehearsed the plan.  He failed to notice that the Shee had a message in his paws until Nok said, Mee say Bren want you have this.  Nok put the note under Talon’s shirt when he got no response, and climbed back into the rafters. 

Talon debated the wisdom of opening it, just as he had debated falling asleep so he could try to communicate with Brenna.  He was afraid it would dismantle the fragile wall he had built around his heart. 

Coward.

In the end, unable to resist, he took it out to the small balcony where Brenna had given him Nok.

The note was simple: "I am writing to you the night before we power the Chest.  I am afraid, but know I love you and always will.  Remember me, and the way it was.  Love, B.

Talon tore the note until there was no evidence left, and let the pieces drift down to the yard below like snow.  Then he went back in and lay down.

He didn’t want to think about Brenna anymore.  Talon took his hand off the stone.  He wasn’t going to make contact, either.  The last time he met her in dreams, she had rebuffed him, sent him away.

Even though he knew she wasn’t herself, her reaction had hurt him.  For now, he just wanted to get through the next few days with as many men as possible.  The sooner I take care of this, the sooner she will be herself.  He had to keep that idea close to his heart.  He’d never thought to question whether or not his heart would survive what would happen.

*

The traitor noticed with relief that Talon had returned from the balcony.  He wondered who the note was from, assumed it was from Brenna, but knew he wouldn’t ask.  If he didn’t know, Nez couldn’t torture it from him. 

This strategy would confuse Nez, a man he hated with such passion his vision turned red whenever he thought about him.  He chose to take every possible opportunity to thwart the Minister of Religion and each moment like this one was cherished. 

He desperately wanted to tell Talon what the Minister planned for Brenna.  However, he knew to tell Talon was suicide and he wanted to live.  In spite of everything, life was still sweet.  It had never been sweeter now that he recognized its value.

He would have to find a way to prevent what the Minister had planned for her, somehow.  He had an idea ... all that was left was to put it into action and smooth out the rough details.  I don’t think I can save Wyt, but I never intended to hurt Talon.  Now he had hope.  He was cured of the pain he had endured from the curse that had descended on him when he broke his vow of chastity.  He had a plan to escape from Nez.  It would begin tomorrow.  Yes, tomorrow he could begin to redeem himself.

*

Queen Tahlana had called her Raykah to her in the wee hours of the morning.  She was going to have Skim take her to Temple Island.  She wanted to see the sandpool and read some of the sacred writings in the small room only the Queen had access to. 

Skim felt like a friend rather than a battle-trained Kah and she knew his fifty-odd year life span was coming to a close.  She hoped he would live to fight one last battle and she would live to lead the Armada one more time in a fight that mattered, the only fight that mattered:  the one for the souls of men.

Skim smoothly sailed the calm water and a short time later, left Tahlana on the shore of the small island. 

The Temple sat in the middle of the island and took up most of the island itself.  There was little more than shoreline left after the Temple had been completed.  The building was made of a milk-white stone they had no name for, and was referred to as Temple stone.  It had been built when the Islands were young and was ancient before her grandfather’s grandfather’s time. 

Every great ceremony in her life had taken place within its walls.  It was here, she had been brought as an infant and named.  Here, she had been promised to a man she did not love and later married him within the same walls.  Here, her dead husband had been immortalized when his likeness was carved into the