Ma-Ji: the Master of the Magicians

By Byron Dye

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 9, 2005
• ISBN: 9781469108834

Byron Dye

Born the son of a farmer’s son, I grew up in rural Indiana. With dirt under my fingernails and grass stains on my jeans, I never wanted for a fresh breeze on my skin or the wind at my side. My parents, along with a small congregation, struggled to send me off to college. It was there I met friends of a lifetime and began to understand the dogma that had so colored my life…my cocoon was starting to come undone. After college, I entered the military and was exposed to many new and wonderful thoughts and ideas. It was then that I began to see a world too small for my burgeoning spirit. My mind had been filled to overflowing with answers, but when life presented a different set of questions, I found the stock answers lacking. That is when my marvelous journey began…to a place of unbounded light, and un-harvested fields. I am only just now beginning to see the depths of this world’s hidden reaches. I invite you to come and sit by the winding waters with me and hear the tale of the frenzied brook. I currently live in Atlanta, Georgia USA, and work for a large telecommunications company. I write in my spare time and enjoy photography.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

A Not So Perfect Peace

Oh, how the kingdom did prosper. Every day

brought new realms desirous to show capitulation. Even the Egyptians were eager to draw close to us now that we had been set apart. Always with a keen eye to the mystical, they scoured our every word for clues—their subterfuge hidden from the eyes of the king.

Every night was a banquet for yet another group of dignitaries. And although I protested strongly, the king made it clear that my daily presence was not an option.

The mundane conversations, the empty pleasantries, and the distrustful gazes were about to drive me crazy… when I met Darius. We had been seated together by a blunder of the king’s staff, but it had fallen out for good.

He and his delegation were from a small but powerful mountain region. They controlled a vital trade corridor known by the locals as the Gates of Hell—a necessary stop for food and water as well as the only pathway to the East through the Killian Mountain Range.

Darius had not gone unnoticed by Kira either. From the first moment that she laid eyes upon him, she was smitten. From that time forward, she hounded me for every bit of detail that I could provide. I must admit, that I did feel a trifle odd at some of the questionings that I was forced to engage in, but anything that I could do to help Kira was given freely and without objection from me.

On the last night that the delegation was to be with us, a great ball was planned. All stops had been pulled out for this celebration as an accord had been agreed upon between our two sovereign states. And since the delegation from Salaam was all male, I was asked to assist in providing suitable companions for the evenings festivities.

There was a certain amount of protocol that I was forced to adhere to, however, I was able to make the proper arrangements that would bring together Darius and Kira for their first meeting. I am no matchmaker by any means, but even I sensed something of rare perfection in bringing these two together.

Kira was beside herself, she was so nervous. She didn’t know what to wear, how to put up her hair, anything. And she drove me crazy with all the various possibilities that she could think of. I had no time for this at all, I reminded her. But, finally, I gave in.

Alright, if we are going to do this… let’s do something different. We need a WOW factor here, I explained to her.

Well, let’s not get carried away, shall we! I don’t want to look ridiculous, you know, Kira commented—her way of throttling me back some.

First impressions… first impressions, that’s all I’m saying. You know how important they are, I was committed to the success of this meeting now, and still didn’t have a clue as to how we were going to pull it off.

We started with fabric for the gown. Why are there so many choices, I kept wondering? It is not like we had a month to prepare—we had less than a week. One week to put it all together. The seamstresses would be working night and day; and so would I it seemed.

Only the best dressmakers were employed. And with every design choice, Kira wanted a man’s opinion. I dare say I didn’t realize how many opinions that I was required to have, but have them I did.

The dress was a pale green with a train that swept the floor and translucent sleeves bejeweled with red rubies. The material was the finest silk and clung divinely to Kira’s shapely form. To top it all off, she wore a single strand of white pearls.

I had never seen her look more beautiful. With all the preparations done, there was only one night left until the commencement.

Darius kept hitting me up about what his date was like. I simply insisted that the secrecy that I had engaged in would all be worth it. He trusted me, and I was humbled by the knowledge that both he and Kira would be swept away in the night’s festivities.

Well, now that you’ve heard how all the plans came together so perfectly, let me tell you how they all unraveled so completely. First of all, lunch before the ball brought more than just the usual exquisite meal—Darius turned green. Something he ate, I suppose, but I wasn’t about to be the one to tell Kira that the date was off.

She had her own issues to worry about. She had run into troubles getting the king and queen ready for the ball. The queen kept changing her mind on what to wear and the king felt he looked fat in his specially prepared robes.

The ball had started thirty minutes ago. Being fashionable late was one thing; not showing up at all was something else. Once the king and queen had finally been sent on their way, Kira dissolved into a heap of tears. I could hear her from the very entrance to the ballroom.

I ran up the stairs to see what might be done to console her. Knowing the only news I had was that Darius was not expected to make it anyway, made me feel even worse for her, however. But go, I did.

I took her in my arms and pulled her up, wiped away her tears, and sat her down on the king’s bedside stool.

Now you don’t want Darius to see that you’ve been crying, do you? I exhorted. He’s already told me that he is going to be late himself, so you have plenty of time to get dressed.

Well, it wasn’t a total lie. But I would have to deal with that detail later. Right then, I did everything that I could to get Kira back on track. I called in the dressers and casually slipped out during the frenzy that ensued.

What I needed now was a miracle. I had to find Darius and convince him to come to the ball—no matter how badly he still felt.

I flung myself down the steps and headed for the delegations quarters. Darius was right where I would have expected him to be—hanging over the balcony retching every last bit of the contents of his stomach over the side. He still looked frightful.

Darius, I began in a low voice, Kira is even now preparing for the ball… she has been delayed by the king and queen. There is still ample time to… But just then he heaved once again.

I am so sorry, he chocked out upon regaining his voice. I can’t… I just can’t. You’ll have to present my deepest apologies.

But… but… oh well, if I must, I must, I agreed. Are you absolutely sure that you can’t…

NO! He barked.

I left his quarters completely dejected and at a loss for how to proceed. This will crush Kira, I thought. And there was no substituting anyone else for Darius.

Upon finally entering the ball myself, I scoured the crowd for any sign of Kira. I had to find her and explain as best I could. I only hoped that she didn’t once again collapse into tears.

My eyes scanned every face standing alone around the perimeter of the dance floor, but no Kira. Maybe she was still upstairs. But just as I was about to turn to leave the ball and re-check her stateroom, I saw someone that looked slightly familiar.

In the middle of the floor… dancing as merrily as anyone could… suitor after suitor jockeying to cut in—it was Kira, as I had never seen her before. Radiance exuded from her being as she whirled around the floor.

But how? I mused. What happened while I was gone?

So, I did what anyone in that situation would do—I fought my way to the dance floor, pushing aside the expectant suitors, and grabbed her. Do you want to tell me what in the world you are doing? I asked.

What does it look like I am doing… I am dancing, she replied.

Oh, did I forget to mention that I don’t know how to dance. After stepping on her feet several times and almost tripping us both into the minstrels, I pulled her aside.

Well, about Darius… I sighed, ready to deliver the crushing blow. He sort of, sort of is standing right behind you—I think. Could I be seeing what I thought I was seeing? But I most certainly was. Darius was standing at the top of the stairs in full form staring straight ahead with a look of marked determination on his face.

Slowly, very slowly, he came walking down the steps toward us. And he would have reached us too, if it hadn’t been for… five different couples collided with him as he stepped down onto the dance floor. It wasn’t pretty.

He was unconscious for the rest of the night, but Kira couldn’t have been happier. She stayed by his side and nursed him back with all the love of a doting wife.

With the coming of the dawn, Darius and his delegation were readied for their departure, but not before he and Kira exchanged a heartfelt kiss and a promise to correspond on a daily basis. Messages would only be delivered once a month, but that made no difference to their commitment.

The king and queen looked upon Kira with new admiration. She had handled the ball with such grace that anyone who had seen her couldn’t help but be impressed.

Life at the palace was finally beginning to come back to normal. Kira was singing every day and the king was in a rare state of contentment. The Ma-ji, however, were uneasy. Something was brewing.

Moreck was no longer in the kingdom. Barthalemu had confirmation from one of his remote outposts that Moreck and a small band had passed that way.

Hanan, Abed, and e-Shack had settled in to top positions in the realm, leaving even less time for us to be together and keep close the memories of our homeland.

Messages from Thelema—my home—were rare indeed. In order to get a message through, someone was required to travel the distance to Axios and present the post to the Babylonian messenger guard. It had been six months since last I had heard from my parents.

As I arrived back at my quarters that sultry evening, I could not have been less prepared for what I was about to discover. Things at home were not going well. Bandits were raiding the village on a regular basis leaving little for day-to-day sustenance.

The village governor had formally appealed to me for help. I went to Arioch with the request.

Remote villages on a faraway frontier are always difficult for us to secure, but I will see what I can do, he answered.

Thank you. I appreciate any help you can give… What else is going on here? My weak attempt at trying not to dwell on the sullen nature of my supplication.

Well, Arioch thought out loud. What is going on… what is going on? Oh, I am starting to hear rumblings from the Medes. They are looking for an alliance with the Persians… could mean trouble down the road."

I left Arioch still rifling through some scrolls, mumbling to himself. I only hoped that I wasn’t about to get on the wrong side of the Babylonians once again. For you see, Darius was Median royalty—an ally for now, but things like that have a way of changing over night.

CHAPTER 2

Kira’s Wedding

A black owl flew through my dreams. Over and over

again his claws plunged at me as I cowered upon the ground. But why was he attacking me? I could see no prey at my feet. I could see no other within a hundred furlongs. All was desolate around me.

I stumbled up a desert rise never taking my eyes off the persistent, antagonized fowl.