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PART THREE


Maria led the O'Connell's into the tent she shared with Luis. They all went in and Luis and Maria both welcomed them to sit on the mats and the cushions that were spread out in the middle for guests or people from the village with concerns or inquiries.

She made them some tea quickly and when it was ready they all sat and waited patiently to be enlightened. Maria sat cross legged before her guests and took a deep breath finally. Luis held her hand for reassurance.

"Shall I start at the beginning?" She asked Evy and the woman smiled and nodded.

She began,

"Over 3000 years ago there lived an Emperor who reigned over all of these mountains. All the people, all the land, all the water. All the riches. It was a very wealthy time for our people. We were thriving. It was discovered that there was an eternal spring high up in the mountains, blessed by the Sun God, that would grant the being that drank from it eternal life on Earth. It was claimed and guarded by the Moon Goddess Quillya. She was a wicked Goddess of the dark and she would often trick people into her servitude, taking advantage of people desperate enough to come to her for help

The Emperor, wanting to rule in his wealth forever, made a deal with the Moon Goddess that he would give to her his next-born child in return for a drink from the spring. There came a time soon after when two daughters were born to the Emperor at the same time. Twins are considered a great Omen of luck among my people. They are very powerful and considered a great gift from the Gods.

He fulfilled his promise and gave the Goddess one of his daughters and she gave him a bit of water from the spring.

Now the emperor, surprisingly enough, fell madly in love with his remaining daughter whom he named Kasani. Her beauty even as a baby stole everyone's heart. He decided that he would share the sacred water with her so they could rule together but when he went to pour it in her mouth somehow he spilled his share, or he gave it all to her, the stories vary. He went back to the Goddess and begged for the return of his daughter or more of the sacred water. The Goddess became angry at his nerve and killed him on the spot.

The daughter of the Emperor that Goddess Quillya had been given was named Ka-Ata and the Goddess raised her with dark teachings to be the next Empress in hopes that every person in the land would worship them together. When she reached adulthood though, Goddess Quillya realized then that Kasani had been considered the leader of her people since the death of her father and Ka-Ata was not accepted by the people as the potential ruler. Priestess Kasani was very much adored.

Goddess Quillya prepared to sacrifice Ka-Ata for the power it would give her to destroy Kasani but there was one woman who loved the girl so much she sneaked into Quillya's temple when Ka-Ata was young and gave the girl a sip from the spring granting her eternal life. It turned out it was the mother of Kasani and Ka-Ata who did this out of love for her daughters. Before she was killed by the Goddess the women knew both of her daughters were now immortal.

Goddess Quillya flew into a rage at being denied the sacrifice and caused terrible disasters in the area. The other Gods were so incensed with her behaviour that they banished her from Earth and all Gods were no longer welcome to stay here and live among us.

After the banishment of her Goddess, the imposter Empress Ka-Ata went to the city of gold where her father had ruled from and tried to claim the throne from her sister. Ka-Ata was very powerful with dark magic but The Priestess Kasani had become very powerful herself having given her soul to the Lake Goddess Copacati. Kasani knew the water in this valley was what sustained life as well as the prosperity of her people and was the treasure that should be most protected.

Priestess Kasani is very powerful within her element. She can manipulate water to her advantage, or so we've been told. I have very much waited my entire life to see it. When she was captured they apparently contained her powers and they dammed up the river to taunt her. The water was so close... but Priestess Kasani couldn't touch it... she couldn't escape. Trapped for a thousand years in a dry cavern, the idol of the Moon Goddess buried above her and wrapped around her neck so her powers were weakened."

Maria had to stop for a few seconds and compose herself, the O'Connell's waited patiently. She took a sip of her tea and a deep breath. Luis inched closer to her.

"Anyway, Ka-Ata declared war on her sister and the people who supported each woman battled for generations until we had split into two separate tribes. The valley suffered horribly for it. There were terrible stories of human sacrifice to Ka-Ata, by means of pleasing her Goddess who continues to give her powers from the underworld. We became the Cuka clan, who followed Kasani and her water lovers, and the others who followed Ka-Ata? They became the Quillya Warriors. I truthfully don't know if there are any villagers left who follow them. Just the warriors themselves but they are enough.

The sisters battled spitefully for hundreds of years but the final blow for Ka-Ata was when Kasani stole away the man she was in love with and had a child with him. It infuriated Ka-Ata and she made a plan to defeat Kasani and take control of everything in the valley and rule for her dark Goddess. Almost all of the Cuka clan were killed and the Priestess Kasani disappeared.

That is where the story stopped for us. We never knew what Ka-Ata had done with our Priestess but she was gone. Just like that. All the water disappeared at the same time as did the Golden City. Now we know she was buried deep in the Earth and the water from the underground river was dammed. But now both are free and returned to us after a thousand years of our clan searching.

My Grandmother many times distant was the daughter of Priestess Kasani. Her father saved her when the Quillya attacked and raised her in secret to claim leadership again some day. I am the last of the line now and I was so desperate to be the one to discover what had happened to our treasure. The City of Gold was lost as well but it was the water that our people needed. Ka-Ata did not realize this, or didn't care, she was so angry at her sister. Her pettiness made us suffer for so long. We have no care for the gold but that's what interested your Bembridge people in our valley. Many outsiders cannot be trusted, I hope you can understand why we were cautious at first..."

Maria's voice finally failed her. Luis wrapped his arm around her and she leaned into him.

"Our people and specifically the Cuka clan have spent a thousand years searching for our Priestess and our water. And you have found them both in a single day... I can never say this enough to you all...thank you." Luis finished the tale for her.

Maria started to sob as the emotions of a lifelong dream fulfilled overcame her and her husband comforted her completely. Izzy stood up from her dad's lap and embraced the two of them with her tiny arms. They pulled her into their embrace and she giggled.

"How did you know Izzy? How did you know where she was?" Maria held the littlest O'Connell in a tight embrace. "You amazing little child! Both of you! We can never repay you..."

Rick and Evy smiled at each other and Rick reached out to ruffle Alex's hair. The boy frowned at him but soon smiled.

"Dad... cut it out." Alex playfully slapped his dad's hand away when he tried to do it again.

"Why didn't you tell us the truth from the beginning?" Evy asked the woman now sitting with her daughter in her lap. "We would have helped you, instead of taking a year to document every statue and carving that we found in the abandoned villages. Not that it wasn't an absolute delight to learn about your people and your history. I can never thank you enough for that. Including us in your tribe and your village means more to us than anything. Allowing us to take part of the cacao ceremony... It was life changing. I hope you know you can trust us completely now."

"Would you have believed us if we told you we were looking for a missing 3000-year-old-priestess?" Maria asked them.

All three replied in unison...

"Yes!"

Luis laughed good-naturedly. Maria smiled at her husband and then continued,

"I wrote that letter to the Bembridge Scholars asking for help to find our lost treasure in hopes someone would discover something that we had missed over the years. As soon the first few groups of explorers came we realized they only wanted to find the gold. They cared not for us and our plight and so we scared them off. But then the Goddess sent us you, you were so different. You cared about our language and our culture. You cared not for the gold you only wanted to help us rediscover our past. And you show up with your amazing children, and your wonderful husband. I just knew you would be the ones to help us. And you did."

"So, this was all the result of a sibling rivalry between two immortal sisters over a man?" Rick asked Luis, as Maria seemed quite emotional again.

Luis nodded. "It was the final straw. And the people of the valley suffered for it for a thousand years."

"Where is Ka-Ata these days? Rick asked,

"She stays in her temple high up in the mountains. Gloating. Sending her Quillya warriors to lower our numbers every so often and raid what little we have from the growing seasons. We have defended the heart of our territory but the Quillya Warriors have claimed so much over the years. They are a proper nuisance. Now that Priestess Kasani is found perhaps they will lay low for a time. Leave us in peace." Luis smiled at Izzy as he spoke to her parents and her brother.

The little girl was starting to blink heavy-lidded, tired and needing a nap. Evelyn reached out to take her daughter satisfied that her request for the whole story had been told.

She understood why Maria and Luis would have been cautious about trusting outsiders. They couldn't have known what she and Rick had dealt with over the years, they hadn't been entirely open about their experiences either. She also understood how it was true that most explorers might have been only after their rumoured treasure of riches. Evy was proud to have been accepted by their people and to have been trusted to be the one to learn their history. That was what she had respectfully done to the best of her abilities.

Rick stood up with his wife and smiled at the couple still sitting on the cushions.

"I'm happy for your people. I hope you will all prosper in the years to come." Rick gestured for his son to stand as well. He was sure the leaders of the Cuka clan had much to explain to their tribe and the people of the village. "C'mon Alex. Let's go get some rest. Let the Cuka enjoy what has been found."

"You will join us tonight? We will have a great festival to welcome back Priestess Kasani." Maria rose and followed them to the door of the tent and out into the sun. The sound of the flowing river drew all of their attention to it. It was a beautiful sound.

"We wouldn't miss it for the world." Evy smiled at her friend.

The O'Connell's were overwhelmed at the number of people who had already made their way up from the village to see the water and all eyes were on them as they made their way to their own tents across the abandoned village. The smiles were a nice sight on the faces of those who had suffered for so long.

Alex ducked into his own tent quickly and Evy and Rick slipped into theirs. Evy laid Izzy carefully down on her own little bed and the little girl was fast asleep before the blanket had settled on top of her.

Evy stood up, turned back to her husband and melted into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her and just held her for awhile.

"We really do have wonderful children don't we?" She looked up into her husband's eyes lovingly.

"Good thing they take after you." His hands crept from her waist to her back and then slid around to her front to start undoing the fastenings of her shirt. He slipped the garment off her shoulders with no resistance. He leaned down to kiss her shoulder, and then her neck.

She leaned her head back to give him better access and he used the momentum to sweep her onto their bed.

"What's gotten into you?" She laughed as he expertly removed more of their clothing. She made no effort to stop him.

"It's not every day I meet the Priestess of a Goddess." His lips hungrily met hers. "I feel like we should honour her liberation. Let's say I'm feeling inspired."

His blue eyes stared deep into hers and she returned his gaze with a seductive smile. It did seem proper to honour Her and they did have some hours to kill while Izzy had her nap. Their daughter, thankfully from a very young age, would sleep through anything. There was plenty of time before the celebration would start in the village.

"And this has nothing to do with the fact the Priestess is the most beautiful woman you've ever seen?" She kissed him again while his hands explored.

"She's got nothing on you sweetheart..." He kissed her neck again and moved lower,

"Nice save..." Suddenly she was rendered quite speechless by his attention.

They spent the afternoon very much consumed in a deep state of dedication to each other and the Goddess was thoroughly honoured by their efforts.


Some time later there was a rapping on the wooden door frame and the familiar voice of their son called out to them wondering if they were ever going to get up. They assured him they only needed a few minutes and they would be ready to go.

"Mum? There's someone here to see you and Dad. I would hurry if I were you, it seems rather important." Alex whistled patiently from outside while they dressed themselves and tried to look presentable.

"Just a minute Alex... we'll be right there." Rick paused before he finished buttoning his own shirt and kissed his wife passionately one more time.

She reluctantly forced herself to stop him and held her hands on his chest for just a moment. She smiled at him and sighed as she watched him finish dressing. Once he had pulled his boots back on and tucked in his shirt she went to the door of their large tent and swung open the door.

She smiled at Alex first and then her breath was snatched from her as she realized there was a hooded person standing behind him and it was none other than the Priestess Kasani.

Evy could not help but stare at the woman. The Priestess smiled at her.

"May I come in?" The Priestess asked, speaking her ancient language that they all understood.

Rick came beside his wife and also smiled at the woman as she entered their tent. She stared at him for a long time and then admitted,

"Your eyes are a shade of blue I have never seen. They are most enchanting." Then the Priestess admired Evy respectfully. "I am sorry if I stare at your mate, he is quite intriguing."

"I feel I must agree with that." Evelyn took Rick's hand and squeezed his fingers. He snapped out of his trance towards the woman and grinned at his wife with a touch of red in his cheeks.

The Priestess Kasani then noticed the bundle of their sleeping daughter and stared so lovingly at her.

"She sleeps with a very open mind. I can see her dreams. It is how I told her to come to me and she listened. My Goddess was very close here last night, the ceremony gave her much power. Goddess Copacati was able make the connection between the minds of her and I. She is quite the remarkable little girl... such a beautiful open mind. Adult minds are clouded even in sleep." Kasani then looked at Alex with admiration. "Your son is a very smart, brave boy who will become a remarkable man just like his father."

Rick squeezed his wife's fingers back. Such glowing compliments of their children from a Priestess was not something that happened every day. Alex obviously blushed. He was eleven now, he could appreciate how beautiful the Priestess was and he stared at her adoringly.

"My Goddess and I are eternally grateful for you coming to this valley. She wishes for me to show you something. Will you come with me?" Kasani took a step towards the door and swept out her hand. "All of you?"

The O'Connell's had no reservations in following the woman. There was no foulness about the Priestess whatsoever so Rick went to their daughter and woke her up gently. The little girl rubbed her eyes and then they opened wide when she saw the Priestess standing beside her mother. She ran to the woman who picked her up easily and held her in her arms before she settled her against her hip.

"May I carry her? I missed on the life of my own daughter, it would bring me great joy to hold your little one for a time." Kasani smiled at the girl and Izzy smiled back and without hesitation reached up to touch her cheek lovingly. "Oh Isabella how beautiful are you my child."

"Of course. She adores you, we can all see it." Evelyn smiled at her husband and then followed the Priestess out of their tent. "She does not generally take to unknown people so if she trusts you, so do we all."

Kasani turned her head and smiled. Even an ancient priestess could accept a compliment.

The crowd of people was gone back to the lower village to prepare and Kasani led them to the north of the abandoned village and into the dehydrated trees that made up the sad forest that still remained on the hills. Evy walked right behind the Priestess, Alex behind her and Rick bringing up the rear as the path narrowed and the twisted old dead vines crowded in on them. They walked for some time up into the mountains, much farther than any of them had ever explored before. Rick started to suspect that something beyond natural-means was happening as the sun did not seem to move in the sky as they went. He did not mention it out loud.

As they approached the top of a fairly steep hill, Kasani suddenly stopped and turned towards them.

"What you are about to behold has not been seen in a thousand years. My Goddess thought you might like to see our great treasure that shall remain hidden after today. We are grateful for you and we have no way to repay you for now except to let you see the Golden City." Kasani shifted Izzy in her arms and took the final steps to the peak.

The O'Connell's all stood beside the priestess and looked out onto a beautiful mountaintop lake. The water shimmered with the light from the setting sun in the sky. It was so beautiful.

"It's gorgeous. Thank you for this." Evy stood beside the Priestess who looked over to her.

"Just wait..." The Priestess smiled and looked out again to the water.

The setting sun suddenly hit a gap in the mountain peaks and a beam of sunshine struck the middle of the lake where before their eyes a giant golden temple became visible. It was the most gold Evy and Rick had ever seen and that included the treasure room of Hamunaptra. They all stood with their mouths open and could not utter a word.

"My father ruled from here when he was Emperor. This was the home of the Lake Goddess Copacati for a time. The Goddess I swore my life to so long ago. She is always close here though she cannot appear to me anymore. I can hear her so well here... She wants me to tell you that you are honoured to come here any time and if you ever need anything from her just come here to ask. She will hear you. You are the only living four that now know the way. We trust you completely and are forever in your debt." Kasani smiled at the family.

The Priestess then went down to the shore of the lake and held her hand out over the water. An ice bridge started to form towards the temple and she took a few steps towards it before turning and encouraging the O'Connell's to follow.

They all walked across the water to the temple and Priestess Kasani disappeared for a time leaving the O'Connell's to explore. Alex ran through the golden rooms with Izzy and their laughter could be heard echoing through the empty palace. Rick and Evy found a room on the top that had a balcony that overlooked the lake and the mountains. It was the most beautiful site the two of them had ever seen and they just stood, wrapped in each others arms, as they watched the sun finally fall behind the mountains.

Kasani suddenly appeared beside them and looked out on the vista as well.

"This view has not changed since I was a girl. It really is beautiful. I had forgotten." The Priestess smiled bitter-sweetly. "Those day were so long ago. Time has changed the world but this view is timeless."

Kasani led the couple from the balcony and back down to the ice bridge she had created. Alex and Izzy came running shortly after at their father's booming beckon and they all crossed back to the shore.

When they cleared the bridge, Kasani stood and faced the Temple with both of her hands out. A loud rush of water was heard by all and they all watched in fascination as the golden temple disappeared beneath the water. The ice bridge shattered and the pieces of ice melted quickly into the water.

Evy sighed as the last golden spire went under the water and the lake calmed like nothing had ever been there. She turned to Kasani and dared to touch the woman's arm tenderly, completely understanding why drowning the Golden City in the water would be the best way to protect it. Treasure seekers would never find it here, up in the mountains and completely hidden away. She and Rick would never tell anyone what they had seen. She would talk to Alex later about the secrecy and she didn't think Izzy would remember for long, being so young.

"Thank you for showing us." Evy smiled graciously at the Priestess as they started to walk back up to the hills and up the path they had followed to get to the lake.

Rick lead the way on the way back, carrying Izzy in one arm and a torch in the other. Alex followed him closely with another torch his father had made quickly for their hike back to the camp with a branch and some tarry sap he had found by kicking over a stunted tree. Rick still thought there was way too much light in the sky but again he said nothing. He was grateful for the light and having seen the incredible Golden City. Evy and Kasani took up the rear, staggering themselves behind a distance. Priestess Kasani spoke with Evelyn the whole way back to their camp about her people, the joy they had in the past and her hopes for the future.

It was a joy that Kasani hoped her people would find again but she admitted to Evy that there was no longer any need for Golden Cities and petty battles between ancient sisters. Maria and Luis would lead the Cuka clan into the next generation and Kasani and her Goddess would smile upon them always.

Evy sensed the Priestess was saying good bye somehow. Being immortal she couldn't die but it seemed like she wanted to move on; pass the reigns to her mortal blood line. To let the valley continue without her. She seemed tired of battling with her sister, she just wanted peace.

Evelyn repeated nothing of this to anyone in her family. She was just so grateful that she had been entrusted by the Priestess to see the Golden City. She was truly blessed in her life and she would remember that view for the rest of her days.

They arrived back at the abandoned village and the Priestess Kasani agreed to meet them at the village shortly.

The O'Connell's took a little time to relax and talk about what they had just been shown. Even Alex appreciated the true beauty and the value of the City in the Lake.

They all dressed in the traditional garb they had acquired over the year plus they had been with the Cuka and looked quite dashing as they made their way down to the village. A number of people from the various farms joined them as they went and by the time they arrived in the brightly lit village, torches and fires were burning everywhere, a large crowd followed them.

They were led to the centre square that was colourfully done up in dyed fabrics and streamers. A large table of food was spread out and the celebration was nearly ready to start.

The Priestess Kasani appeared as the last of the light disappeared from the sky and the village celebrated her return. Music players started their tunes and singing and dancing soon followed. Rick and Evy had never seen such joy on the faces of the villagers and were soon caught up in the merriment. Even Rick let go of some of inhibitions and danced with his wife in front of the large bonfire for awhile.

The Quillya warriors were on them before anyone was prepared to defend themselves and the Cuka clan disrobed, their leather armour was on beneath their clothing, and fought back the men and women who suddenly attacked.

Rick suddenly regretted not wearing his guns but Evy had talked him out of it. She hadn't thought it necessary. He hoped he could have the I-told-you-so conversation with her very soon. He watched her dive for their daughter who had been standing by the table of food eating a large piece of lucuma fruit.

Rick saw his wife get to their daughter and then he turned to see Luis rushing to him. Luis tossed him a long obsidian dagger and although it wasn't his weapon of choice, he was soon using it against a fairly large Quillya warrior who seemed intent on taking him down. The Quillya did not win and Rick turned to join Luis in taking down another one. He glanced back but couldn't see his wife anymore. He hoped she had taken Izzy and run.

They battled for a time and then suddenly the Quillya warriors all stopped and ran away into the darkness. Their attack stopped as quickly as it had started.

Maria came running to Luis to make sure he was alright. Luis was unscathed, he was a very skilled fighter and had been fighting with the Quillya his entire adult life. Rick had a cut across his upper arm but was unhurt otherwise. Alex came running to his father, the boy was thankfully completely unharmed though a little rattled.

"Where's your Mum?" Rick asked his son and Alex shrugged. He turned back to Luis and Maria, "Have you seen Evelyn and Izzy?"

They both shook their heads and called out to the Cuka who were gathering near them to go look for the girls.

Someone shouted from not far away and Rick went running towards the sound. Alex, Maria and Luis followed close behind him.

Just outside of the centre square the crumpled form of Evy lay unconscious in the middle of the road. It looked as though she had been dropped. Rick ran to her and turned her over. She already had a lump forming on her temple where she had been struck by something and blood streamed down the side of her face. She was breathing though and Rick was relieved at that.

"Evy... sweetheart? Come back okay? Come back to us." Rick held her in his lap, her head supported by his hand. She stirred and mumbled.

Rick looked to something laying in the dirt nearby and realized it was the piece of fruit that his daughter had been eating when the attack started. His heart dropped into his stomach.

He looked down to his wife who opened her eyes slowly and she looked scared and heartbroken at the same time.

"Rick... they've taken Izzy."


to be continued...