Sorry, was actually going to put up an explanation about that last Break (where it talks about going home.)

I really do know that Tomahna is part of Earth but...since it isn't really known how far away it is from the Cleft (although RAWA once let it slip that it is supposed to be only a few miles away) I decided that I was going to have them go to D'ni, link to another Age, then use a descriptive book and link right into Tomahna! It would work, in case you are checking, just think of it along the lines of what the Philosopher had to do to save Veovis.

And I swore to myself I would get updates done on The Darkness on Saturdays, just this one is behind the others so I am giving a quicker update! Probably won't do another though till next Saturday.

-Miveen

--

It was their third game of chess. Straining her mind, Yeesha searched for a move. There wasn't one but she wasn't about to acknowledge that. At least not yet.

"Come on, Yeesha. There isn't a move, I have you in checkmate."

"I'm not so sure of that!" responded Yeesha still staring at the board.

Anna huffed and sat back in her chair, arms crossed.

Glaring at the board, Yeesha knew she was beat. Again. She hadn't won a game ever since she learned to play. Glancing up at Anna, she could see the light of victory in her eyes.

She knows I know the game is over.

"Fine!" Yeesha cried, throwing up her hands. "You've won again. But I bet you can't beat me if we play another round."

"Do you mean like I didn't beat you the last two games?" asked Anna sarcastically, quickly setting up the board for another go.

"Exactly," said Yeesha as she moved forward a knight. It was a bold first move but she was playing recklessly, what did she care?

Five minutes later Yeesha knew she was going to lose again. Anna had most of her pieces including both of her bishops, which she always relied heavily upon.

By Yahvo, it's no fair how good she is at this!!

She was just about to sacrifice her Queen for the safety of her King when Eedrah appeared at the door.

"Anna, could I talk to you?"

Yeesha was thinking how good it was for him to appear at that moment, seeing as it would give her more time to look for a move, when she noticed what Eedrah was holding.

Oh Anna...

As Anna rose from the table Yeesha could see that her hands were trembling. One other time she had gone through this and it had torn her up inside- if it happened again it would be worse. Much worse. That Age had a culture, a civilization, people Anna had come to know. It couldn't have followed the fate of her other Age!

But when Yeesha glanced up at Eedrah's face she knew already what he was going to say.

Oh poor Anna...

For what seemed like an hour she sat, waiting for Anna to return. When she finally did Yeesha was shocked by how calm Anna seemed as she sat down again at her spot.

Neither woman spoke. Yeesha could hear every murmur and sound coming from the house and the surrounding area.

Come on Anna, say something, she willed silently.

But Anna remained silent, her hands firmly clenched, her eyes blinking rapidly. Yeesha could only imagine what she was feeling at that moment. She knew all her friend's dreams had just been shattered into a million pieces and there was nothing that could be done. But at least she had had her dreams; Yeesha never had anything to strive for. She was as empty as a Kortee'nea, a blank book. In so many ways Anna was luckier then her.

Finally, when Yeesha thought that she could stand the silence no longer, Anna spoke. She spoke quietly and, although her voice was slightly shaky, her eyes shone bright with determination.

"It's up to you, Yeesha. You do it for the both of us."

Startled, Yeesha stared at her friend.

"Anna, are you all right?"

"You learn," continued Anna, unheeding. "You learn to write beautiful Ages. I don't care what Master Atrus says, you have to learn. It's your task now. You learn to write better then anyone else. You learn everything. You have to do it- for all of us."

"Anna, I don't understand you. Maybe you should lay down."

But Anna only kept staring, her eyes red with unshed tears, and repeating the same phrase.

"You have to."

--

Eedrah and Anna had just left. Katran had never seen Anna look so poorly; the young woman was white as a sheet and her eyes seemed to have a listless look. Before they left, Katran had whispered to Eedrah that he might want a Healer to come look at her. If she went downhill this fast after just a few hours there was no telling what might become of her in a few days.

Stepping out of the book room, Katran headed down the hall. She wondered where Atrus was; it wasn't like him to not see his guests off. But then he too seemed out of it from the trip. Going to the Cleft had brought a lot of closure but it had also brought a lot of emotional stress. Then add to that the dilemma with Anna the moment he returned.

Sighing, she gave up thinking about it. What was done was done, there was nothing she could do about it now.

Katran was just considering going upstairs and taking a long, and much needed, bath when she heard Atrus calling to her.

"Catherine, I need to talk to you."

"I am listening," she said, her head tilted to one side.

"Let's go to my study first."

Katran sat in the first chair she saw when they entered the study. She hadn't realized how tired she was until noticing how even walking to the study sapped all her energy. Katran instinctively knew Atrus was also tired, though he wasn't showing it. After fifty-eight years together she could tell almost anything about him.

"Atrus, sit down," she said.

"No, I'm fine," he answered, shaking his head.

"Atrus," she insisted.

He gave in without another word.

He really is over tired. That's not like him.

"You were right, Catherine, about Yeesha. I can't deny her the right to learn."

"What made you change your mind?" she asked quietly after a moment.

But Atrus didn't answer her. Instead he gazed sadly at his bookshelf which was full of Ages; some written by him and others salvaged from the D'ni ruins.

"Oh- I see." Dealing with Anna hadn't been easy but at least it had opened Atrus' eyes. She only wished there had been some other way.

"Have you told her yet?" Katran asked.

Atrus shook his head. Yeesha was extremely defensive of her best friend, and if she thought Atrus was doing this to make up for Anna- there could be a nasty confrontation. Even Katran had to agree it was best to wait a while before talking to her.

Suddenly, the door opened and Yeesha walked in. Katran's impression of her as she entered was that Yeesha was slightly confused but determined to finish what she had come in here to do.

Oh darling- what are you planning?

"Father," she said striding over to the desk, "I want you to teach me how to write. And if you won't teach me then I will go to Releeshahn and find someone there who will."

Katran felt a smile form at the corners of her mouth. Glancing over at Atrus, he seemed in total shock. Obviously he wasn't expecting something like this to happen. Katran was still smiling when Yeesha concluded her speech saying that Atrus had a choice then- teach her or leave it to someone else to teach her.

"Well Yeesha," said Atrus, standing, "it might surprise you that your mother and I have been talking and have decided to teach you the Art."

"You have?" asked Yeesha, voice cracking in surprise.

"We have. I was going to tell you but..." and he shrugged his shoulders, laughing.

Katran felt laughter bubbling up inside of her too, especially when she saw Yeesha's expression. She had obviously been expecting an argument and had braced herself for it. But now it turned out there was nothing to argue.

Rising, Katran hugged Yeesha and kissed her cheek.

"Congratulations, sweetheart. You will do wonders, I know it."

Glancing over at Atrus again, she saw the same thought in his face. It was something she had said to him, before they were even married.

We can do wonders, you and I. Wonders. Book of Atrus

And so they had. They had produced Yeesha- and now it was her turn to perform wonders.

Katran smiled encouragingly at him.

Don't worry, Atrus. She is just following the path the Maker laid out for her.

--