Quickening his pace outside in the spiralling hallway Alen'Di felt his mind race. On one hand he trusted Maraan's judgement, on the other, he had seen enough outside Lalesh to know never to underestimate anything or anyone. When he had first met Rhen Joul, the Lappan warlord wo served as commander of the Star Alliance's army, the warrior had presented a gift to him, a strange fruit that smelled deliciously and was, as Joul had told him quite dispassionately, mildly poisonous. Mind you, he had said that only after Alen'Di had taken a polite bite out of it. And then he had smiled that famous Lappan smile, that went all the way to his ears. Never trust first sight, that lesson had taught Alen'Di, and so it was that he would not trust Maraan's words alone. They knew nothing about that creature's origins, its powers, its knowledge. Of course, it had appeared pretty helpless, wounded as it was, but it had recovered in record time and overwhelmed Maraan easily. Not to be underestimated, then. And what had it been doing down in the sanctuary? Of course, reason told him that the valley offered shelter from the plains' dusty winds, but had that been the only reason? He had also overheard what the creature had said, that it was hearing something in the winds of Lalesh. Alen'Di was no priest like Maraan, he believed in the gods of Lalesh and their communion with the peoples of the Star Alliance, yes, and the Star Keeper was prone to mistakes, just as everyone else. Plus, Maraan had seemed worried by the creature's words. A low sigh passed through the spire as the wind blew down the upper hallways. Alen'Di paused and decided not to join the queen for now. He would attend personally to the capture of that creature. Turning on his heel he almost ran down another hallway and down a flight of stairs until he reached the crowded Market Plaza. It was set in the low connecting corridor between the central spire and its northern counterpart, and at this time of the year it was filled daily with foreign merchants hawking their wares and their brightly-clad customers, and with youths going through the praying routines led by an older member of the congregation. The smell of dyes hung above everything. A couple of guardians were keeping watch here, to see to it that the merchants behaved themselves. They each wore a pair of Lappa Dek sticks fastened to their belts, just in case. It was a defensive weapon, no matter what Maraan thought, serviceable only in close combat and designed to strike fear into a prospective attacker, perhaps counter a blow, no more. He steered towards the guardians purposefully, when a hand reached out to take hold of his sleeve. Turning around, Alen'Di gently twisted out of the other's grasp and smiled, when he recognised his son Ni'ley. The youth wore a bright red tunic, with yellow stripes down the cuffs, and a round cap the same red colour. A novelty, that. His expression was very earnest even as he blinked translucent eyelids reassuringly at his father. "I've met Ha'ro on his way back to the sanctuary," he explained, and Alen'Di groaned inwardly at the excitement that had crept into the youth's voice without Ni'ley's noticing. "He says they've found a stranger in there. Is that true?"

"You're not going to ask to see it, are you?" Alen'Di asked back calmly. The youth shook his head. "Good. 'Cause I wouldn't have let you anyway."

Ni'ley gave him a sheepish smile that could not truly hide his disappointment. But Abernake society was very strict. The youths were given the tasks best suited to their skills and best suited to the needs of the society. And since Ni'ley had displayed a creative mind and a vivid imagination early on, that had predestined him to start on clothcraft. The tunic he wore was his own design, one of the less flamboyant ones he had created in his now two years as master tailor. Secretly, though, he craved the adventures he believed a guardian's life entailed. He would have been mightily disappointed, if he knew the real truth. Ha'ro was one of Ni'ley's closer friends, and liked to exaggerate on his duties and their importance. Unfortunately.

"Ha'ro talks too much," Alen'Di growled to himself, then flashed a smile at his son, "Nothing to worry about," he said, "you know the rules. Now run along, your customers are waiting, I suspect." Thus dismissed, Ni'ley lowered his head in a slight bow, then darted away. Shaking his head irritably, Alen'Di continued toward the guardians, who had taken notice of him by now and awaited his arrival with an expectant air about them. "You've heard of the creature that was found in the sanctuary," he began without preamble and they nodded in unison. "It's escaped and is loose on the planet. Keep an eye out. I would not want panic to spread in here of all places. So keep a close guard over especially the entrances. Clear?"

"Clear," they replied hurriedly, then moved in opposite directions toward the two great entrances to the hall. Thus reassured, Alen'Di continued through the throng of people until he found the next best hallway that would lead him to the guardians' headquarters. Time to take up pursuit of that thing. It would not have gotten far, and the ground-skimmers the Abernake used as transport across the plains were faster than any biped of that built anyway. When he found Maraan standing next to Cri'll, the female that was in charge of the outer guard perimeter, he was just a little surprised. "You will be accompanying us, Star Keeper?" he asked lightly even as he passed the priest on the way to the skimmer that Cri'll had selected for their venture.

His dark brown fur rippling in discomfort, Maraan gave a tiny nod, then replied, "I think it prudent. Besides, I have an inkling of where it might be going."
"Fancy that. I don't suppose you mean the sanctuary, do you?" Alen'Di retorted coolly and ignored Maraan's surprised gasp, as he swung onto the driver seat of the skimmer. "Come on board. Five guardians with us, Cri'll, five more will join us from the contingent stationed in the sanctuary."

"Yes, Alen'Di," she answered calmly and quickly talked to a male standing a little behind her. Her aide, Alen'Di knew, and incidentally her husband. Then she ushered five guardians into the back compartment of the skimmer and, joined by a reluctant Maraan, climbed up into the driver's compartment.

"How did you guess?" the Star Keeper inquired softly.

"I heard you talking, didn't I?"

"Ah, yes." Maraan fell silent, but only for a short while. Then he said, "Ten guardians? That sounds like overkill."
Alen'Di set the skimmer into motion. "One can never be too cautious."

The bright daylight hit them full force as they left the underground hangar and blinded him for a moment. "There," Cri'll pointed out, "to the right. Do you see the black dot?"

"That's our quarry," Alen'Di murmured under his breath and let the skimmer pick up speed. As he had anticipated, the creature had not gone far. But then, the sanctuary wasn't that far either. It would reach its edge before they could reach it. "Why the sanctuary, Maraan? What does it feel down there?"

"Peace, it says," the Star Keeper replied over the roar of the engines. "At least I think it was the sanctuary it meant, when it spoke of peace."

"Hardly credible, don't you think? If it is so sensitive, it should be feeling something entirely different," Alen'Di shot back, frowning.

"Have faith," was all the Star Keeper replied then, and the safekeeper could just imagine the smile on the priest's face.

They passed the fleeing creature just as it vanished down the ledge and Alen'Di drove on, to a ramp that had been specially built to allow the ground-skimmers to get down to the bottom of the valley. Donw below the five guardians Cri'll had assigned to support them already stood waiting. Wordlessly, Alen'Di shut down the skimmer's engines and dismounted along with his companions. No machines were allowed beyond this point, for a very special reason. This was a sanctuary, and as such destined to remain pristine and untouched by the influence of the Abernake or any other people. In the distance the roaring of a waterfall could be heard, one of the three rivers that cut through the plains of Lalesh and pooled together in a large lake in the sanctuary. Alen'Di thought briefly of the lure of water to the creature that had to be parched by now. But no, they would not capture it there. The labyrinth was the place, that he was certain of. "All right," he spoke up once his troops were assembled before him. "We do not want to kill the creature that has broken into the sanctuary. We only want to confine it. That means capturing it. It is intelligent, so we – that is, Star Keeper Maraan – will try to convince it to surrender and follow us back to the capital. Since this thing is not shy to attack those who threaten its freedom, you will all be carrying your Dek sticks. Sorry, Star Keeper, but I believe that necessary. I do not want to endanger my troops." Maraan gave a reluctant nod, but his cobalt blue eyes narrowed in disapproval. Alen'Di ignored that quite pointedly. "It will come to the labyrinth's center and we will form a circle, so it cannot escape. Wait for my command, do not attack, and let Maraan do the talking. Let's go."

The small contingent marched across the meadows that dominated this part of the valley, with the forest to their right and the lake beyond that. Large and small boulders lay any which way in the vicinity of the labyrinth and the Abernake had to climb across them cautiously, to reach the labyrinth from this direction. There was a main entrance that allowed easier access, of course, but Alen'Di suspected that the creature would use that one, and he did not want to put it off. He heard Maraan give a low curse in his own language, when a bit of stone crumbled away underneath his foot. Then the center of the labyrinth came into view and Alen'Di held up his hand to stop the guardians' advance. There was their quarry, standing with its head bowed right in the middle of the labyrinth, seemingly not noticing anything that went on around it. Wordlessly, he pointed left and right, and immediately the ten guardians spread out in a loose circle, leaving only Maraan, Cri'll and Alen'Di himself. "Your turn," the safekeeper mouthed quietly at Maraan, who went ahead across the sharp stone walls of the laybrinth, with more skill than Alen'Di would have given him credit for. Slipping forward and following, Cri'll and Alen'Di both kept their Dek sticks at the ready. They saw Maraan drop into the labyrinth's center and the creature turn to face him. For a moment they were frozen like that, then one of the guardians, stationed on the far side of where Alen'Di and his companion crouched on the labyrinth wall, lost his footing and fell with a sharp cry of pain. Instinctively, his companions stood to help, thereby revealing not only their position, but also making it quite clear that this had been meant to be a trap at all. Alen'Di felt his mind flush with sudden anger and fear. There was no telling how the creature would react, and Maraan stood alone and exposed there in the center with it!

Maraan flinched when he heard the guardian fall and cry out. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed the Abernake's companions rise from their positions to see whether he needed help and his gaze quickly flicked back toward where the creature stood. It was staring hard at the circle of guardians, but did not move. Then it turned its head to look straight at Maraan. Under that gaze he unconsciously hunched his shoulders, trying to make himself appear small and harmless, but, to his surprise, the creature simply turned to flee, and was blocked by two Abernake, who waved their Dek sticks threateningly, to discourage it from leaving. It took a few steps back again, eyes hunting for a way to escape between the advancing guardians. They all held sticks in their hands, Maraan noticed in mounting horror. "No!" he cried out and waved at Alen'Di to get his attention, when the safekeeper appeared above him, standing perfectly balanced on the slim labyrinth wall. But the warrior's gaze was fixed only on the creature. "Do not let it get away!" he ordered sharply, then dropped down to stand beside Maraan. "Your turn, Star Keeper. Talk some sense into it, if you can," he continued, then went forwad to join the ring of guardians who now completely encircled the creature. Cri'll followed close behind. Bustling up to grab hold of Alen'Di's arm Maraan hissed, "It does not work that way! What if it attacks?"

"Talk to it!" Alen'Di growled back. "Now!" And with these words he pushed the Star Keeper into the circle.

Maraan took a deep breath and held up his hands toward the creature to show that he held no weapon. "Look, I do not want to harm you," he began, but the creature only flashed him a broad smile, before it interrupted him and said, "Maybe not, but was there any need to bring these along? Get out of my way!" it continued in a furious screech and lunged at the guardians who stood closest to the labyrinth's entrance. He had to hand it to them, they were not easily frightened, and there was no rule for an Abernake not to defend himself. A slim thread of blood whirled up into the air from where a Dek stick had scratched across the creature's cheek, and the next instant the teeth-jarring crack of bone preceded a terrible scream. Maraan managed to duck out of the way when one of the guardians was hurled into the ranks of his companions and he could tell by the way he landed that he was dead.

"Get it!" Alen'Di roared and jumped across the still crouching form of the Star Keeper.

"No!" Maraan called out, pleading. No one would listen.

The guardians single-mindedly closed off the only clear way of escape and forced the creature to seek another way out, provoking another attack, and another, and yet another. When he saw Cri'll smash against one of the stone walls and slide to the ground, motionless, Maraan, propelled onward by righteous anger, strode through the throng of guardians that were battering at the frantic creature as it tried to free itself and arrived just as Alen'Di lashed out with his Dek stick again, a move that would have sealed his fate, had the Star Keeper not bravely stepped forward to interfere.

Batting aside the long, whip-like stick that had left a bloody gash on the creature's neck, he made use of the thing's momentary distraction and made a grab for its arms, before it could lunge at Alen'Di. His fingers locking tight about sinewy, bony wrists, Maraan took a deep breath and prayed that he had judged the creature right. He saw its pale eyes widen in outrage as it turned to face him, but it did not try to break away. Instead it stared down at his hands, then back up at him, a fierce snarl on its face. "Let go," it growled.

"No, I will not," Maraan explained calmly and waited. The creature kept still, though he could sense its body tense, like a coiled spring. But it made no move to defend itself. Instead it let its eyes wander suspiciously over the rank of guardians, who had stopped their assault as soon as Maraan's hands had locked tight. Maraan felt pleased. Just as he had thought. It would not attack him, though he was certain that it could free itself easily from his grasp. Yet it had realised that its hunters respected Maraan and that he would protect it, if it co-operated with him. "Let go," it said again, nevertheless, its voice a low whisper now, almost desperate. So, an independent mind that hated being forced to act against its nature. Maraan smiled as friendly as he could. "What happens if I do?" he asked just as softly.

It snapped back, "Why don't you find out?"

"Please, for your own good, do not try to run again, do not attack, just keep still and trust me. Can you trust me?" Maraan concluded hopefully and wished the creature could sense his sincerity just as he could sense its suspicion. "I will protect you," he added after a while, when there still was no answer.

Something flashed across the thing's features then, a hint of hysteria and incredulity. It barked a laugh that could also have been a growl, then shook its head. "Trust you?" it asked roughly, then jerked its wrists out of Maraan's grip with a strength he had not expected. Worry creasing his brow the Star Keeper stumbled forward with the pull, and reached out imploringly to stop the creature from fleeing again. It took only one step back, its pale eyes still fixed on Maraan. "Before I can trust you, you will tell me exactly what has happened here in this place. I can feel it call to me, but I do not understand it. It makes my skin itch just to stand here and not be able to do anything about what I can sense. Can't you feel it?" it accused, sweeping an arm around to encompass the entire labyrinth.

Nodding in acquiescence, Maraan dropped to the ground where he sat, legs crossed before him, and motioned for the guardians to follow his lead. Alen'Di was the last to comply. For a long moment the creature stood in their midst, frowning, obviously caught in their circle of passive resistance. It could not leave, Maraan realized triumphantly, not without being forced to leave! That revelation was elating, but also worrying. What then was keeping it? Curiosity? Empathy? From what it had just said he deduced that it was the latter. Shuddering, he hunched his shoulders against the oncoming chill of the night and watched the labyrinth's shadows lengthen threateningly. "All right," he began, and to his relief the creature crouched down before him, obviously content to listen to his tale for now. "The Abernake are a peaceful people, you must know. They do not like to have to attack or defend themselves, they prefer to give rather than take. It is a rewarding way of life out here, for almost every other people has to struggle to survive, and their constant battles make them appreciate the model society of the Abernake, a paradise they believe they can achieve too, some day.

The Abernake give them hope and peace. Which is why they come here to worship. Not all of them," he corrected himself once more," but most. All those who have faith and believe." He saw the creature flinch back, as if it remembered something. Then it shook off those memories and nodded at Maraan to continue. The Star Keeper wetted his lips nervously and continued, "It was a long, long time ago, when this place was no more than a fertile gorge, where the underground rivers and lakes come together to form swamps, meadows and lush forests. Back then the Abernake did not come here often. They have adapted to the plains and their underground caves, you must know. And they were a secretive people then, that liked to keep to itself. But one day strange starships came to Lalesh. Their crews were strange creatures, bipeds like us, warriors, like you, perhaps, and they were all exhausted, most of them were injured. They tried to hide from the Abernake at first, perhaps they did not want to draw attention to themselves, but the king back then ordered a contingent of Abernake to extend his best wishes to the newcomers and offer them help. They brought back the leader of the strangers and he told the king that he could not accept the Abernake's kindness. They were being hunted, he explained, and their hunters were not far. They would not stay long, just rest for a while. He did not want to endanger the Abernake, he said. What do you call yourselves? the king asked, curious and moved by the stranger's tale. We are the last of our people, the stranger's leader explained, and we know that we will not escape our hunters. The king was saddened by that response and he ordered his own people to help heal the strangers. Their leader did not resist. He was moved by the Abernake's kindness, and ashamed that he could not repay them for it. The king tried to reassure him that no payment was required, and succeeded. Then came the day when their hunters arrived. Their leader was determined not to endanger the Abernake further. We will leave at once, he said and ordered their retreat. But their hunters would not let the ships go. The stranger's leader asked the Abernake to go underground and hide, until they had managed to either throw back their hunters or had all perished. The king saw the wisdom in that decision. The Abernake had no weapons and the people hunting the strangers were fierce and knew no mercy. With a heavy heart he agreed to their request. The Abernake assembled in the great caverns below the plains to pray for their new friends, they trusted in their faith to protect them. The planet shook with the impact of heavy weapons on its surface for days. When everything had fallen silent again the Abernake still continued to pray. It is said that they only stopped when all the underground lakes had turned red with blood. Then they went outside. The refugees had tried to take the fight as far away from the Abernake settlements as they could, but their hunters had herded them into the gorge, where they had a free field of fire. Their weapons had left deep scars in the center of the gorge, where the fugitives had assembled for their final stand, and carved this labyrinth we now sit in," Maraan explained softly. "It was unclear whether survivors had been taken captive by the hunters or not. The labyrinth was filled with torn and mutilated bodies that could no longer be identified, let alone counted. Their death had not come easy."

"I know," the creature whispered, and Maraan was surprised to see tears in its eyes. "I can sense them, I can feel them dying. And I can feel the Abernake's prayers." It took a shuddering breath. "I can still feel them, they are everywhere. This is why you call this a sanctuary, is it not? You come here to pray and remember."

Maraan nodded in satisfaction. "Yes. One of our congregation serves as Star Keeper to lead the prayer. A lot of people assemble here regularly."

"I know," the creature replied, then smiled and rose. It walked over to where Maraan was still seated on the ground and knelt down before him. "Their dead still listen," he murmured, "and they remember the Abernake's kindness too." Then his features turned earnest. "There were survivors," he said with a shudder. "Their fear is all around. Their future was uncertain. I do not know what happened to them."
"You are a priest! I knew it!" Maraan shouted then and jumped to his feet in excitement. "When we found you and you had come straight here, I suspected, and then you returned to the sanctuary!" he babbled on, grabbing the creature's shoulders in joy. "You remember!"

"No, I don't," the thing replied gently and pried Maraan's fingers open. "Not yet. But I will." With a curious expression on its face it reached out to take hold of the glowing stone Maraan wore on a cord around his neck. "What is that?"

"A sign of office, a pendant," the Star Keep explained, then hurriedly snatched the stone out of the other's grasp. "Why, do you think, you have come here? If you are a priest, you must have had a purpose in coming here."

The creature shook its head. "As I said, I do not remember."

"Will you accompany us back to the capital?" Maraan inquired gently. "You have killed two of our people."
"They attacked me first," the creature growled back, unmoved.

"I did not accuse you," the Star Keeper replied, having anticipated that answer. "All I ask is that you honour their deaths."
The creature hesitated. "Honour their deaths? They are dead, Star Keeper. I have honoured their lives, until they foolishly sought to attack me. That is all I can offer, I fear."

Maraan stood there pole-axed, realising gradually that this single statement said more about the creature than he had wanted to know. "Nevertheless," he managed, "you will accompany us."

The creature seemed to consider this. For some reason it shot a glance at Alen'Di, and for a moment Maraan feared it would attack the safekeeper after all. But no, that danger had passed, had it not? "Will you honour the deaths of the other people who died here innocently?" he asked suddenly, and smiled in triumph at the expression that flashed across the creatures face.

"What?" it asked, perplexed. "Innocently? How do you know?"

Maraan shrugged that question off. "Their lives were not honoured by those who slew them, is that not so?"

"They were honoured by the Abernake," the other snorted in reply. "That is all that is needed. They will not be forgotten."

"But surely –"
"I think you do not understand, Star Keeper. To honour live does not mean to dishonour death. They fought bravely, but they were not strong enough. What is weak succumbs to the strong. It is that simple."

"Is it?" Maraan murmued softly and shared a glance with Alen'Di. Was it worth keeping this thing alive? What if there were more, who though the same? Would they not be a danger to the Star Alliance's community? That was what Alen'Di would be thinking, and Rhen Joul. But Maraan was different. He thought, horrifying as that was, that the creature truly believed what it was saying. "I thought you valued life. You found peace here, you said," he tried once more.
The creature smiled again, and Maraan found that he was coming to loath that smile. "I do value life," it answered roughly. "And the reason why I can feel peace prevail in this sanctuary is because the death of these people is remembered, even now. You remember it because of itself, not because of some grand deed. This is why I came here," it continued more slowly, and Maraan felt hope surge forward in his mind. Could it be remembering? But then it shook its head impatiently and frowned. "There is something, I cannot quite grasp it yet." Suddenly its eyes focused on Maraan once more. "Be patient," it said, "I will remember soon enough."

TBC