Leaving the sanctuary of the temple we make our way side by side back into
the heart of the village, feeling the biting chill rising in the air. I
draw close to Daniel taking his arm, as we hurry against the cold wind. He
murmurs his surprise at how fast the cold has set in and we pause for a
moment on our path.
"The second moon is rising, see"
I point to the largest of our moons rising, cutting its path slowly across the night sky.
"It's is very late, Nina will be worried"
I have to nudge Daniel on or it seems he would stand and stare at our night sky forever. Reaching my home, I notice movement at the window and then the door is opened widely, concern and relief flowing out from the form of Nina. A wall of warmth greets us as we enter my home. My newfound friends are all quietly lounging in the main part of the room surrounding the open fire. Nina explains the other servants had retired to sleep for the evening and Tark had returned home. I look at her paled face and the tiredness in her eyes and scold myself for not returning sooner. I order her to her own bed which she reluctantly agrees to.
Removing my robe, I slide a warm cloak around my shoulders and hand Daniel a blanket as we settle with the others around the fire.
"You two have a nice chat?" asks Jack and I realise there is at least no more impatience emanating from him.
"I asked Rani to tell me the story of when Ra came to this planet, we lost track of time" replied Daniel, pulling the blanket around him and leaning towards the warmth of the fire.
"An important story to your people Rani" asks Tealc quietly observing me as I poured some drinks for us all.
"Yes very important. It is what makes us who we are today." I glance round at my friends noting a calm in their faces. "How are you all feeling?" Although I could sense them, I always felt better to ask also. People can raise so many barriers, these people were still new to this planet and I should not assume they were comfortable with what had happened because I felt calmness from them.
"I just feel so, relaxed and refreshed" Samantha sounded like it was a strange concept to her to feel so safe "Like, I can sense everything around me and, oh I don't know, it's so different. One minute I knew nothing about you or your people, your ways were strange and I couldn't understand you and then in a moment all this information is in my head, I understand you, know you, know your history. It's really quite amazing"
"And we wish to share the experience with the rest of our village. They will gain the knowledge Parn Nina and I have of you. We wish to pass on more information of ourselves to you but we fear all the villagers at once may prove too much for you. We will see how you are in the morn."
Samantha sighs and lies back on the extensive cushions. Tealc nods in agreement, and seems to contemplate the night's events. How I would enjoy telling my stories but the moons rise higher in the sky and the night spirals around us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was time for rest. I stand to lead them to some rooms when I realise in my excitement of talking, and passing of time that neither myself nor Daniel have eaten anything substantial. I curse myself for lacking in my hostess duties.
"My apologies Daniel, I have allowed myself to get carried away with the evenings events and have not provided any for food for ourselves. I can prepare something for us before we retire."
"No, no don't trouble yourself, I can make do with provisions I have with me, it's been a hectic time the last few hours"
I am about to argue but a surge of tiredness, fatigue seems to fill the air, and I let the moment pass. I feel I am too tired myself to prepare anything, although Nina would have left something out for me.
"I will show you to your rooms. I'm afraid with so many under one roof the rooms may seem a little cramped, two of you will have to share a small room at the back, I have two other free rooms upstairs. I will retrieve some blankets while your sort yourselves"
Leaving the sanctuary of the soft light from the fire, I gather some blankets from a small cupboard and walk to the small rooms at the back of the house. Silence comes from two of the doors I pass, but the soft comforts of the occupants emanate from the rooms. Sliding open one of the doors, I smile noting the soft dim light of oil bowls, set on stands by the two small straw matressed beds. They may be simple old servants quarters but Nina can surpass herself in preparations for guests. A warmth emanates from the burning embers of the fire. I close the latted blinds over the windows, shutting out the moons light as they sit high in their blanket of stars. Placing blankets on each of the beds and turning back to the passage quietly, I pause as Jack stands along the passage silently watching me, I feel un-nerved for an instant but the moment passes. He and Daniel walk stealthily along the passage and assess their quarters for the evening.
"Meltolyah" I whisper in a hushed tone, making my way along the passage once more. I hear the quiet whisper of Good Eve from soft lips before the door is closed behind me. I light three oil bowls and hand Samantha and Tealc one each, before pouring dirt over the dying embers of the fire. Lifting up the last oil bowl in one hand and the bundle of blankets under my other arm, I lead our way upstairs, past Nina's room and the meditation room, a strong light peeping out from under the doorway. I pause and open the door, the light streaking over us. Pausing I ponder why Nina had set several oil bowls around the room, and then smile to myself. Opening the door opposite to the meditation room, I smile to Tealc.
"Nina must have intended you to have this room Tealc. You will be in need of your meditation and this gives you easy access to our meditation room, see how she has set it out for you"
Bowing to me slightly he enters his room, the same size as the one below but with only one bed set out by the window. Handing him some blankets Samantha and I whisper Meltolyah to him and leave. Wandering further down the darkened hall I pass my own quarters and open the door farthest set from the main staircase set by a small staircase running upwards to a small attic, I open the door, to a larger room. A room not used for many years. Stepping in the ornate decorations glisten simply by the light of the oil bowl in my hand. I place the blankets on the bed and turn to watch as Samantha takes in the surroundings, fatigue mixing with her interest. She sets her oil bowl on a small table by the door and runs her fingers over the small ornaments on the table. A feeling of coldness tries to invade my senses but I press it away and hastily make my way to the sanctuary of the passage without disturbing her, whispering Meltolyah to her as I pass. I close the door behind me and cross the passage to my own room. Nina has readied my bed and I quickly change into the bedclothes she has set out for me. Blowing the flames of the burning oil bowls out, my room is engulfed by darkness barr the shaft of light from the two moons. I open the shuttered windows to allow more light to stream inside my room, basking in their muted light. I breathe deeply and consider the events, which have taken place in such a small space of time between these newcomers and myself. My mind muses and thinks about the stranger still in our midst, sleeping under my own room. The silence settling around the house emanates around me, and I slip under the covers of my soft bed, my thoughts still bombarded by the wall of resistance I felt from Daniel. I feel un nerved and somehow stripped and embarrassed, ashamed of what he may think of my people and me. My unconscious does nothing to surpress the feeling.
"The second moon is rising, see"
I point to the largest of our moons rising, cutting its path slowly across the night sky.
"It's is very late, Nina will be worried"
I have to nudge Daniel on or it seems he would stand and stare at our night sky forever. Reaching my home, I notice movement at the window and then the door is opened widely, concern and relief flowing out from the form of Nina. A wall of warmth greets us as we enter my home. My newfound friends are all quietly lounging in the main part of the room surrounding the open fire. Nina explains the other servants had retired to sleep for the evening and Tark had returned home. I look at her paled face and the tiredness in her eyes and scold myself for not returning sooner. I order her to her own bed which she reluctantly agrees to.
Removing my robe, I slide a warm cloak around my shoulders and hand Daniel a blanket as we settle with the others around the fire.
"You two have a nice chat?" asks Jack and I realise there is at least no more impatience emanating from him.
"I asked Rani to tell me the story of when Ra came to this planet, we lost track of time" replied Daniel, pulling the blanket around him and leaning towards the warmth of the fire.
"An important story to your people Rani" asks Tealc quietly observing me as I poured some drinks for us all.
"Yes very important. It is what makes us who we are today." I glance round at my friends noting a calm in their faces. "How are you all feeling?" Although I could sense them, I always felt better to ask also. People can raise so many barriers, these people were still new to this planet and I should not assume they were comfortable with what had happened because I felt calmness from them.
"I just feel so, relaxed and refreshed" Samantha sounded like it was a strange concept to her to feel so safe "Like, I can sense everything around me and, oh I don't know, it's so different. One minute I knew nothing about you or your people, your ways were strange and I couldn't understand you and then in a moment all this information is in my head, I understand you, know you, know your history. It's really quite amazing"
"And we wish to share the experience with the rest of our village. They will gain the knowledge Parn Nina and I have of you. We wish to pass on more information of ourselves to you but we fear all the villagers at once may prove too much for you. We will see how you are in the morn."
Samantha sighs and lies back on the extensive cushions. Tealc nods in agreement, and seems to contemplate the night's events. How I would enjoy telling my stories but the moons rise higher in the sky and the night spirals around us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was time for rest. I stand to lead them to some rooms when I realise in my excitement of talking, and passing of time that neither myself nor Daniel have eaten anything substantial. I curse myself for lacking in my hostess duties.
"My apologies Daniel, I have allowed myself to get carried away with the evenings events and have not provided any for food for ourselves. I can prepare something for us before we retire."
"No, no don't trouble yourself, I can make do with provisions I have with me, it's been a hectic time the last few hours"
I am about to argue but a surge of tiredness, fatigue seems to fill the air, and I let the moment pass. I feel I am too tired myself to prepare anything, although Nina would have left something out for me.
"I will show you to your rooms. I'm afraid with so many under one roof the rooms may seem a little cramped, two of you will have to share a small room at the back, I have two other free rooms upstairs. I will retrieve some blankets while your sort yourselves"
Leaving the sanctuary of the soft light from the fire, I gather some blankets from a small cupboard and walk to the small rooms at the back of the house. Silence comes from two of the doors I pass, but the soft comforts of the occupants emanate from the rooms. Sliding open one of the doors, I smile noting the soft dim light of oil bowls, set on stands by the two small straw matressed beds. They may be simple old servants quarters but Nina can surpass herself in preparations for guests. A warmth emanates from the burning embers of the fire. I close the latted blinds over the windows, shutting out the moons light as they sit high in their blanket of stars. Placing blankets on each of the beds and turning back to the passage quietly, I pause as Jack stands along the passage silently watching me, I feel un-nerved for an instant but the moment passes. He and Daniel walk stealthily along the passage and assess their quarters for the evening.
"Meltolyah" I whisper in a hushed tone, making my way along the passage once more. I hear the quiet whisper of Good Eve from soft lips before the door is closed behind me. I light three oil bowls and hand Samantha and Tealc one each, before pouring dirt over the dying embers of the fire. Lifting up the last oil bowl in one hand and the bundle of blankets under my other arm, I lead our way upstairs, past Nina's room and the meditation room, a strong light peeping out from under the doorway. I pause and open the door, the light streaking over us. Pausing I ponder why Nina had set several oil bowls around the room, and then smile to myself. Opening the door opposite to the meditation room, I smile to Tealc.
"Nina must have intended you to have this room Tealc. You will be in need of your meditation and this gives you easy access to our meditation room, see how she has set it out for you"
Bowing to me slightly he enters his room, the same size as the one below but with only one bed set out by the window. Handing him some blankets Samantha and I whisper Meltolyah to him and leave. Wandering further down the darkened hall I pass my own quarters and open the door farthest set from the main staircase set by a small staircase running upwards to a small attic, I open the door, to a larger room. A room not used for many years. Stepping in the ornate decorations glisten simply by the light of the oil bowl in my hand. I place the blankets on the bed and turn to watch as Samantha takes in the surroundings, fatigue mixing with her interest. She sets her oil bowl on a small table by the door and runs her fingers over the small ornaments on the table. A feeling of coldness tries to invade my senses but I press it away and hastily make my way to the sanctuary of the passage without disturbing her, whispering Meltolyah to her as I pass. I close the door behind me and cross the passage to my own room. Nina has readied my bed and I quickly change into the bedclothes she has set out for me. Blowing the flames of the burning oil bowls out, my room is engulfed by darkness barr the shaft of light from the two moons. I open the shuttered windows to allow more light to stream inside my room, basking in their muted light. I breathe deeply and consider the events, which have taken place in such a small space of time between these newcomers and myself. My mind muses and thinks about the stranger still in our midst, sleeping under my own room. The silence settling around the house emanates around me, and I slip under the covers of my soft bed, my thoughts still bombarded by the wall of resistance I felt from Daniel. I feel un nerved and somehow stripped and embarrassed, ashamed of what he may think of my people and me. My unconscious does nothing to surpress the feeling.