Zair nodded to the fellow Masters and assumed his place in the circle. Master Surro shut and secured the doors of the Meditation Room and sat beside him.
"Good evening Brothers and Maidens. I see everyone is here, but I seem to be the only one who is lost as to why." Zair chuckled.
"Master, if you would please allow me to explain?" Master Surro requested.
Zair nodded in approval.
"Just a few moments ago I was approached by Priestess Denilwen who informed me of a vision she had while in the Temple. I have asked all of you here to help us interpret the meaning of the vision. Priestess Denilwen." Master Surro called for the Anseiguarding the door to let the Bosmer inside.
Priestess Denilwen was a new comer to the Temple in Rihad. Worshippers of Yokudan divinities were a small minority in Valenwood but the Bosmer, just seventeen years of age, came with high recommendations. Her unquestionable loyalty to the Temple placed her among the few select outsiders who knew the existence of the Halls.
Denilwen seemed very intimidated as she walked into the room. Zair motioned for her to sit in the middle of the circle. She hesitated. The Hall Master stood and held her by the hand, leading her to a small rug in the center of the room.
"Please Sister, share with us what you have seen. We are not here to judge you, just speak from the heart." Zair comforted.
The Bosmer sat shyly stuffing her hands deep into her lap and hunching her shoulders forward.
"Thank…" The Bosmer cleared her throat. "Thank you esteemed Masters and Ansei for seeing me. I am honored to be in your presence." She began.
The Council bowed their heads and each tried to give a comforting smile to the sheepish priestess.
"I first began my service to the gods of Yokuda when I was thirteen. Since that time I have prayed each day for the gods to speak to me so that I may better deliver Their message and honour Their presence." Denilwen continued.
"And have they spoken to you now Sister?" Master Lencolia asked.
"I believe they have Master."
"Please describe this vision to us as best you can."
Denilwen closed her eyes, her whole body releasing the tension in her muscles. She seemed to be forcibly placing herself in a trance, returning to the moment she received her vision.
I was tasked with cleaning the Altar of Satakal by Priest Jorg. I was scrubbing the inside of the Altar bowl when I noticed some dirt on the floor. I placed my hand on the Altar and knelt down to clean it. When I stood back up and tried to retract my hand, I found I couldn't move it as if it had been frozen in place like ice. I tried using my other arm to pull my hand off the Altar but could not. I then propped both of my feet on the Altar and tried using my legs to kick off of it. Then suddenly the grip on my arm was released, almost like someone just let go. I flew backwards and landed on the floor but I was not in the Temple.
"Did you recognize where you were?" Master Surro asked.
I could see the the stars, the moons Masser and Secunda, the sun, the entire universe at my fingertips yet somehow out of reach! It was dark yet I could feel warm sunshine on my face. There was thunder but no trace of storm clouds and I shivered as if it were the dead of winter but no snowflakes fell. My mind thought of standing and though my feet did not move, I stood upright. I was barefoot. The soil beneath my feet was fresh and moist, moving almost as if it were alive.
I was in a forest not like any I have known. An endless expanse of hundreds of thousands of redwood trees as far as I could see that grew so tall I couldn't see their tops! This forest was primitive and knew neither the touch of man nor mer. The tree bark was thick and smooth, like the warm embrace of a loved one. There was a faint glow shining out from inside the trunks of every tree, basking the forest floor in a mist of light. I crawled inside the trunk of the closest tree, able to manipulate my body through the tiniest of spaces between the maze of thick roots.
There was hollow chamber. Inside was a basin of glowing green water, its surface as smooth as glass. The heat from the water warmed my skin when I knelt over the basin. I touched the surface of the still water, sending ripples across the pool. The water turned crystal clear.
Tears now streamed from Denilwen's eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
I saw images! My father rubbing my mother's belly, my birth, my journey from Valenwood, even my Confirmation as a priestess of this Temple! I was overcome with joy but terribly frightened…so I ran. I crawled, crying, shaking, clawing my way desperately through the roots until I stumbled back outside and collapsed onto the soil. I prayed for Father Satakal to deliver me from this terrible place, to wake me from this dream!
I heard breathing. There was a black…a black wolf or a dog in my path. It sat beside me making no movements. I wasn't even sure it knew I was there until I started petting it. Its fur was soft and I felt much safer with him by my side. He licked my face and I laughed. The wolf barked and broke free from my grasp, running away and disappearing into the forest. I didn't want it to leave so I gave chase. Miraculously I was able to keep pace, sprinting faster than I had ever run before. The wolf stopped at the base of a tree. It looked at me and somehow I knew it wanted me to go inside. I did.
"What did you find?"
A basin of water, just the same as the other, only it was not me I saw in the reflection. It was a throne room of some kind. There were four empty thrones. I could see in the headrest of each one was a shiny red diamond. The reflection looked so real, the diamonds were sparkling in the light. I reached out to touch one of the diamonds but the throne room began to shake.
Denilwen began to breath heavier as the memory of her visions became more vivid. Her body swayed back and forth and she grabbed her robes tightly as if she were in pain. Master Zair watched and listened with intent.
I saw a great fire! I could feel the heat burning my face. There was destruction, sounds of suffering, crying. The diamonds on the thrones cracked and fragmented into millions of tiny pieces. Suddenly the pool of water itself caught flame quickly filling the chamber with thick smoke and unbearable heat. I escaped the chamber but the fire had spread outside to the forest. The sky was scorched red, the fresh soil now charred and barren. Trees were lit aflame, turning to ash in moments. I saw the wolf waiting for me, seemingly unafraid or uncaring about the fire that surrounded us. I huddled close to the wolf, hugging him tightly around the neck. I was so scared! That is when I noticed the wolf had a mark on its neck…a red diamond. Like a birthmark!
The fire spread closer and closer to us. My skin boiled and my lungs filled with smoke. I couldn't breathe. I pleaded for the wolf to do something, to save my life. The wolf looked at me; its eyes were glowing brightly. The beast howled and there was a brilliant flash of light…