THE HOUR

THE CHILDREN OF REIGN

The day that Zetreh and Ermal had left the Hegleok house, the same dawn that Aliyha had awakened from a restless sleep and terrible illness by Lady Deulore and her sister who had come to claim power, the day when Cineon gave birth to Dreser’s son and formed an alliance with her mother’s sinister younger self, that day went by idly, for, Aliyha did not call council into session and the two brothers spent most of their morning pouring over documents hoping to uncover clues to their present state of troubles. Aliyha had for a while searched with them but every now and again the recollection of what she had been told about Dreke’s doings in dreams of unpleasantness crept into her mind so that she accused him over and over of betraying her and the family somehow and Dreke in turn, became nervous and blundered and cursed for being accused thus. Brestuev finally found a solution to this situation and requested that his mother leave them to search the documents themselves and she go and rest awhile. And so Lady Hegleok had retired to her room if only till noontime.

Once she had the door locked behind her however, rest was impossible for the whispered voice echoed in her head.

“The hour has struck and I have fallen,” moaned Aliyha Hegleok rocking forth and back as she sat on her bed, her hands grasping her hair and her feet dangling over the side. “I am ruined by my own selfishness!” The air rippled and a gentle touch she felt on her head.

“You still have power over me, my love,” the whisper made her start and scramble back across the bed.

“It is you!” she exclaimed in horror.

“Indeed, it is I who have returned losing little time…” this time the gentle touch caressed her neck. “Did you believe that I would let our becoming grandparents go by without a celebration of our own?”

Aliyha gasped for the caressing touch had reached within her being and also the disbelief of the whispered words struck her.

“Stop I beg! I will no longer deny you our union but what you say is yet to happen.” she got away from Deituk and stood across the room but that was a mere moment’s escape for he was near her at once.

“I gladden to hear you speak thus,” said the voice as he wrapped arms around her. “I am delighted for that, what you believe to think has not happened, already has!” And with that, Aliyha was kissed and lost all sense in a celebrating union. Aliyha Slyionthe quietly slid inside the chamber while this all was happening and rejoiced in silence, her older self had at last broken will to be taken over by evil Deituk.

There would be war should the other lover know of this, he would know, she resolved, and Lady Hegleok would then be a shameful woman while Aliyha Slyionthe’s fate a far less drearier one.

In the meantime, Cineon held her child to her bosom and paced around while nursing her son.

“You have grown much in but a few hours,” commented Cineon looking at him, “It is just as well for I could not cradle a smaller child in my arms and would not give to feeding if you were any smaller.”

Her mind revolved around everything that she had been told since the previous night and resolved that her son would grow up a bright evil man, she felt proud and said to him. “Just like your father you shall do great deeds for evil is a way to power and that is what you have been born for.”

A startling clap made her snap her head up and she saw Aliyha Slyionthe at the door.

“Good, you have accepted the facts of this child’s life well,” she took the child away from the other gently. “I have been to see your mother but alas! She is occupied with matters that do not truly concern you as they do the birth of this child.” She quietly laid the now sleeping child in his cot.

“Aliyha Hegleok knows of the birth of your son and even though she may not be aware she knows, soon she will.”

Cineon gasped, “How does she know this? You and I are the only ones aware of my giving birth.”

The other shook her head. “You forget, Time’s second hand adviser knows and Time herself, knows it too,” she glanced about the room. “Deituk the Cunning is your husband’s father and Time’s greatest ally, need I say more?”

Cineon merely stared. “I do not understand,” she wrapped a blanket around herself. “It still does not explain how mother knows it.”

The young Aliyha laughed, “How ignorant you remain of your mother’s past despite being told of it! Think back to what I have told you during your hours of child birth…”

Cineon retorted. “Honestly, you do not expect me to recall your say while in such pain as I was!” But recall she did even as she spoke this, the words of the other spoken in whispers returned to her and made themselves heard.

“Whatever you might say Cineon Hegleok, you do remember, I know you do.” Grinned the other as she retreated to her corner by the cot where the baby slept.

“Close your gaping mouth and find ease in rest. Soon it is, you will see your mother for, she will come to inquire about her grandson but never will she see him until he is old enough to challenge her authority and win his right.”

Having nothing more to say and feeling rather exhausted, Cineon rested, and she dreamed of Dreser and her son and how the two were one, that had her frightened for a moment until someone whispered to her that it was all right. Dreser embraced her and lay beside her as she slept on.

Time again slowed the passing of the day in Stompsledge so that the hours passed quicker in the other lands than in this one. Dsarest had ventured forth in rage and without uttering a word to his beloved Time but she knew he would approve of her doings in regard to the yet unborn twin children of Reign the Hegleok wretch! Aliyha might have thought Rieah responsible for the eldest daughter of her late beloved husband’s sudden disappearance but Time would make certain this time she took credit for what she was about to do. And so commanded her second hand adviser to go and see his son’s mother.

“Reach her before she is too ill for, Deituk has claimed her conscious and unconscious mind already and very soon she shall be lost to herself and you. This might be your last chance to have her for even I cannot stop Deituk from taking what he desires to destroy in his lust for destruction.”

And as he hurried off, she smiled. ‘I think it the right waking to go knocking on the Spekai’s door,’ she said to herself, ’And pay my respect to his fair love while there, and who can stop me should I desire to perhaps alter the plan of the ever Wise Rieah? No one!” she laughed wickedly as she set about arranging herself in the appropriate manner for the task ahead.

Inckle found his mother lying near death; her face was pale and her body clammy. “Mother! Mother do not leave now!” uttered Inckle kneeling beside her prone form. Fiel gasped and said softly. “I die my son, I am happy to see your face before I perish… How proud I am of you my loveliest one!”

Her eyes began to close just when Inckle noticed the crawling creeper poke its head out of her sweaters and perceive him.

“You dare kill her, you dare!” Inckle yelled enraged, he grabbed the clothing and ripped it off his mother.

One by one the sweaters came off until a single one remained on and upon it was the crawly Dreser had set forth upon her.

It hissed and made to strike Inckle but too late, the Earth Protector had barely placed a hand about the disgusting thing when its head split into a mess of blood and it lay still.

Inckle’s threw his head up and his eyes met those of Astra who stood there with a heavy wooden stick smeared with blood of that vile creature. He dropped it from his hands and knelt beside Inckle.

“She will live, my friend, my brother,” he said in quiet reassurance, while his eye ran over the now hardly breathing Fiel and the bites she had suffered. “This is not the end of her life, her journey and her deeds of courage. She is brave; life is not about to relinquish her physical being. Have hope!” Inckle nodded. “You are quite right, I must be brave.”

He gently lifted her head unto his lap; her breathing was shallow. “I must not abandon hope for it alone stands between us and despair…”

Astra said nothing but remained kneeling, his eyes scanning the surrounding area, his mind on the words just spoken. A moment went by and Inckle decided that they could no longer wait there, he held Fiel in his arms and began getting up.

“We have to seek help, mother needs to be tended to as do the rest of us,” He glanced around in the direction Astra was staring, “Where are the others, Trejeth and Korehk?”

Astra shrugged, “I have not set sight on either since we went different ways in our search,” he turned to the other, “I feel certain we shall see them again soon.”

“I daresay you will,” said a hoarse voice from behind the two. “Although, I must say I nearly thought I was to fall under such heavy a weight…give us a hand here, come!”

Korehk stood stooping and lying across his shoulders, and much like a sack of floherbs, was Trejeth, pale and sickly in appearance. Astra rushed forward and lifted the immobile Earth Protector off Korehk’s slumped shoulder.

“Whatever did happened to him?” inquired Astra as Korehk breathed hard and let himself sit while the other kept a firm hold on Trejeth.

“The wound has turned bad and besides some crawling creepers bit him before I could get to him. Trejeth must have his wound and those bites tended to soon.” Korehk coughed, he remained silent for a moment. “If he does not get the much required care, he shall not live to see another waking…Lady Fiel! What has happened?”

All the time he had been talking, his eyes had moved across the desolate sky and then quite suddenly his gaze fell on Fiel’s form, hence the exclamation followed by the wide-eyed inquiry as to what had occurred.

“A creeper caused much havoc and left her this way only she has been steadily getting worse.” replied Inckle quietly, he stepped to the side and scanned the surroundings. “Might someone here not help us? We cannot delay much longer for their sake and our own.

” Korehk shook his head, “Fair Lady of Wyoungthed, you are braver than every nurt ever born!”

Tears trickled down from the corners of his wrinkled eyes, “Let us look for a kind heart and a hospitable soul, she here does not deserve to die.” Inckle nodded seriously, and looking toward Trejeth said, “And neither does he.”

Rieah’s wise mind’s spirit burned low in thought, it was alone in Ailieth imprisoned by its own promise to wait for the chosen nurt to return it to the Wise One’s physical form. The spirit of Rieah’s mind drifted to all that had happened since the promise made to Time had been broken, and when Rieah had fled to Greo in a guise of imperfection in the hope of leaving all what she had created in a passion unharmed by Time’s sworn animosity. She had left behind the one to whom she had promised all of herself to, if only to keep him from being destroyed like the others of his kind but he would not be kept apart and followed his beloved to Greo and served her, the passions and lovers’ appreciation they had for each other was replaced by respect of the type that exists between master and aid. The flame flared, it thought of Aliyha Hegleok and their very first encounter and how it had all unfolded into a nightmare from then on.

As the tiny flame sputtered and thought drifted over the happenings of the past and what was occurring at the present moment, the spirit of Rieah’s mind became aware of Time’s malicious thoughts and intentions. It flared high and bright. Time would not have it her way with Edsoniea again just because she had it her way once before with intentions of destroying the world. The whole of Flemezour’s cold and near abandoned land, save for Rieah’s wise mind’s spirit’s presence, glinted in the light of the flame. Time would not have her way, not this while nor ever again.

Myeopike flew on Foliek Harfj and the two having done with the scattering of Wise Dsarest’s slab of the future, were on their way to where Lady Deulore and her sister had requested they take word to the ladies who were staying at the place called, ‘The Strangers’ House for Guests’ awaiting some message from the other two when Rieah’s mind’s spirit reached the Spekai in thought.

“Foliek Harfj, the Wise One’s mind’s spirit speaks of dangers at the grand hall,” they were now nearing the place in Stompsledge where the ladies were waiting, Foliek Harfj slowed down.

“Do you desire that I fly you to the woodland straightaway, Spekai Myeopike? I could carry on the message from Lady Deulore of the Mount to the ladies that await.” The two were circling the spot just beyond the sight of any passersby.

“That, if you should do, I would be indebted to you but there is no need to return me to my abode, rather leave me there by the edge of the Hooded Wizard. I shall be faster on foot from then on.”

Foliek Harfj did as he was asked for he doubted not the truths in the Spekai’s say and left him with a fair word, “May the swiftness of your feet take you quicker than the passing of a moment!”

Foliek Harfj took flight and sped across the gray cloud laden sky, the snowstorm was commencing and promised no relief anytime soon. No humans could be seen for miles around and no bird flying across either. The Folieke alone were strong enough to bear the cold and fly about unhindered.

As he neared the place where he was headed, Foliek Harfj noticed something rather odd for, even at the height he flew at, it was clear that not only were there no people about on the streets in Stompsledge and as far as his eyes could see of the miles around the town, he became convinced the homes and dwellings were void of human life. Before he had time to even consider the meaning of this, he had arrived at the place where he had been heading. Now being younger than the other Foliek, he Harfj was small in stature and a lot less unlike the rest in appearance. He now dropped onto the sagging roof of the guest house and quietly inspected the surroundings from the height he stood at. Not a sound did he make and not a soul crossed his range of vision, an odor of decay hung about the air like a heavy curtain, as heavy as the dull grayness in the skies above and the complete desolation below. And then a battalion of vermin crossed the roof and disappeared out of sight.

“Wise Rieah!” was all the Foliek said before taking flight and dropping low enough to level with the guest house’s rear entrance and flew right in. It was musty and dark, the young Foliek sped up the rickety stairs, and everywhere he looked, he saw vermin and death and decay. Lady Deulore and her sister had mentioned that the other two ladies were waiting in the chamber that stood alone on the fourth corridor above the parlor.

As Foliek Harfj approached the chamber, he noticed the doorway a gaping hole where the door should have been, and upon entering the room, surveyed the sight with a saddened sigh.

The ladies were there amidst a great many crawling creepers and tickle stalks*, they were lying across the floor barely conscious. The young Foliek wasted no time in diving for the tickle stalks and with the flapping of his wings threw aside crawling creepers with every movement. He was on the ground no more than a few moments then with one final flap of wings he lifted first Westeria and then Nuorta and placing the two onto his back took flight through the gaping doorway, down and out.

Lady Truole and the three nurts stepped on the deck of the majestic ship they were in and looked about them. The weather was harsh and Xeira knew the hour had come upon them.

“We must prepare what remedies there are available to us and what medicinal remedies the sea and my people have taught me in all my years. There are those who will need tending and caring after Time’s cruel slap and Deituk’s twisted ways with them who have been unfortunate enough to have lived during such a time.”

She turned away from the others and cast her sight upon the shore where every thing appeared dull and dying. Not a human was to be seen and the homes along the banks of the Kourass and Wild Narrow resembled a ghost town. It was several moments later when Tesma joined Lady Aengomiern in looking at the shore.

“You believe all folk to be destroyed, Lady Aengomiern?” asked Tesma timidly, “Time is cruel and vile and all of the horrible things one can say about her!” And in Tesma’s eyes tears started.

“Hold faith close to your heart,” Xeira said gently, “Yes, Time is wicked and all of those other things but even the wickedest do not have their own way when they desire to eliminate all of the good in the world,” she smiled and went on, “Good lies in every heart, soul and mind of every creature, being and green in this world and no matter how hard wickedness tries to ruin every shred of goodness, it will not ever succeed.”

She fell silent for a moment, Tesma sighed as she looked beyond the Kourass at Wild Narrow.

“Keep your fear and discontent as you would a meal of fish,” whispered Xeira. “Those whom you worry after, they still live and shall be seen by your sights again.”

Kirestle had been standing at some distance, having with the help of Wully made ready the things the Truole Lady had mentioned before while the two were talking.

The expression on Tesma’s face when she turned to follow Xeira inside made it clear to Kirestle that her daughter’s thoughts and heart were turned to the ugly hill man - that is how she thought of Oliukus. It displeased her much that Tesma should think not of Inckle Vilksumer and she decided to have a word with her daughter but before Kirestle had had an opportunity to even take a step to follow Tesma, Xeira caught her eye and approaching her said quietly. “Let her thoughts be on those whom she bestows them upon.”

Kirestle said not kindly, “Why should I, when we all know Tesma thinks of the hill man?”

Xeira merely answered, “Even you Kirestle Redgate as her mother cannot control your daughter’s heart…only she can. It will be unwise to force your say in this matter.” Kirestle glared at the other, saying not a word more walked in the direction Tesma had taken, into the warm cabins below deck.

Tesma, Kirestle found bent over a make shift cot, the linen on this consisted mostly of rags of the nurts’ clothing and an assortment of wavespun. The interior of the ship had its floor covered with similar cots but only a few were a little above floor level and made of nurt clothing as well as wavespun.

“We must talk, daughter,” Kirestle knelt on one of the cots and waited for the other to turn around. “Lady Aengomiern has mentioned her concern for you and sent me to have a word with you regarding your woes.”

Tesma straightened but remained with her back to her mother. “And what of Wully, is he concerned about me as well?”

Kirestle replied yes and made quite a convincing matter of it but Tesma simply laughed and turning said, “My woes are my own, do not burden yourself with them and do not name those who do not share in your thinking.” Her voice was firm yet soft. Her eyes pleading, the stare demanding.

“I worry you chose to bestow thoughts upon an unworthy being.” said Kirestle quietly, “What has happened to the promises of old, daughter?” Here she sat down and looked at the other lost and confused.

Tesma sighed, after a moment’s silence, sat down and answered. “Sometimes we need to break our word if by breaking it life might turn out better for all those to whom the word we pledged.”

Kirestle shook her head. “We are gamhnurts of the distant Wyoungthed, how can you favor a man of the hills over another nurt, over Inckle?”

Tesma’s eyes filled with tears. “Indeed mother, you ask a fair question to which I have no answer but this,” clasping the other’s hands in her own she went on. “Time has dealt us and our land a hard blow, there remain but a few gamhnurt folk and those of us able and willing must find a way to survive and make certain the children of Wise Rieah have gamhnurt blood through generations to come even if it be in union with a race of man. As for Inckle, the oath that bound us forever, I broke it not once but twice and nothing less will have been expected of me.”

Ermal and Zetreh had already spent three entire wakings travelling and returning by word of law what from the people across lands outside of Stompsledge had been by the Hegleok Council taken. As they went about this task, Zetreh explained to those demanding to know, that the leader of the council had thus far been under the evil control of a mistake which had occurred when Lady Aliyha Hegleok had misheard a conversation between himself and the hooded wizard before she took her post and now wished to repair the unfairness of her doings.

When they heard this, many gasped at the mention of the existence of the wizard and shook in terror while at the same time, along with others praised and acknowledged Lady Hegleok saying that it definitely had been the result of anxiety before she acquired her title, indeed she was a fair person in the word of the law. Ermal merely nodded through this all and spoke only when greeted.

In three days the two returned nearly three fourths of the ill acquired riches of the council restoring the Hegleok name to a favorable and respected one once again.

Even while busy with their doings and travelling through towns it was not hard to notice that the people in nearly every land were either sick and dying or already dead from diseases not ever before known.

“What is it in these parts that afflicts the people here? They appear ill and dying if not dead already…and in a manner uncommon it would seem.” Ermal spoke as the two passed through the same towns they had travelled through from Stompsledge, only now, they were returning.

“Time afflicts the lives of these folk. She and her twisted minded allies are intent on destroying life,” Zetreh shook his head reproachfully, “Do not be surprised if in Stompsledge we find it the same as here, a pestilence has been unleashed on the living world, the world that longs to Wise Rieah, by Time’s and Deituk’s most valued friends to wound and kill …” he fell to quiet reflecting.

“… Vindictive heart Time has… Wise Rieah strengthen those whose hearts are kind and compassionate for, if they are to live through these times, their strengths must be great and their weaknesses even greater!”

Ermal just stared after the other as he continued walking, uncomprehending what had just been said.

Aliyha awoke alone and stepping outside her bedchamber, decided to go see Cineon. She felt unexplainably content after the dream she thought she had had. “Deituk, you have never left my heart,” murmured Aliyha with a smile. “I did well when I had my daughter wed your son, so well indeed.”

So saying. she knocked on Cineon’s door. “Cineon daughter, it is me and I have come to see my grandchild!”

“Mother, do come in,” Cineon opened the door, her features were calm and much like those of the other, “You have indeed come at a right time for I have only moments ago awakened from a most restful sleep.”

She left the door ajar and stepped back, Aliyha entered.

“My daughter, I have come to bestow my good wishes upon you and my grandchild, where is the child?”

Cineon said simply. “My son is well as am I, “she caressed her belly as she spoke. “He grows well and I daresay, he should be like his father, dashing and capable of great deeds when he grows!”

Aliyha frowned, she knew or believed she knew she had dreamed of being with Deituk and yet there had been a moment during the encounter when it had all seemed real, and now she saw otherwise again but something else troubled her.

Cineon had referred to the unborn child as a boy…

“You say the child inside you is your son like you have a certainty of its gender,” Aliyha touched her daughter lightly on the shoulder, “How is it you know?”

Cineon smiled. “A woman who bears her child knows it for all that it is from its first moments of its life inside of her.”

Aliyha embraced her daughter. “My daughter, you have grown a sensitive woman.” Cineon said nothing but merely smiled. “I am what you have made me, all I owe to you so pray, do not think me unique in the qualities you claim I have.”

After a while longer, mother and daughter parted. “Let us hope your brother and Mister Almonne return soon and then we might have all the confusion sorted out and the council resume its duty…”

Aliyha Hegleok had told Cineon about some of the events of the previous night and had mentioned Dreser as being away at the moment on a difficult case but that she did not doubt his return to his beloved shortly. Cineon nodded through it all, wearing a thin smile and saying. “I shall be downstairs in just a while…”

Closing the door as her mother left the chamber, Cineon unwrapped the blanket she had about her and stood before the bed, unfastening the ties that held her dress on her.

“You did well, my love,” Dreser said softly to her, he lay under the covers and smiled as she joined him.

“My father and your mother… you and me… our son…” Cineon laughed with pleasure, “Fools, are meant to be ruled over, our young Deuglias will see to that.” Dreser assented, “As clear as his father sees his lovely mother just now!”

There was passion in every word and act, Dreser won Cineon over again and pledged not ever to lose her, and she mumbled in a sleep so profound that she would not ever lose him but that was a vain say for it was not to be thus and Dreser knew it and fled from her form and took with him his son.

He whispered a promise, “Deuglias, you shall see again when he comes of age ten and six, me, you shall see never but when you sleep…” A smile spread across her face even as she turned over and got awake.

Hachael and Chyle wandered from house to house in Stompsledge spreading pestilence while raiding lives and material possessions of those they killed. Deituk had taken leave of them for a while claiming he had a lady dear to his heart that he desired to see and Dreser had done likewise but not before exchanging a few words with Chyle when the two were alone.

“My father informs me that you and Hachael are somewhat a team,” Dreser had said quietly while Chyle rummaged through a trunk of belongings barely moments after she had spoken death to its owner. Hachael was searching about in the same manner at a distance of two houses away.

“He is quite right, we are a team in more than one doing.” Chyle replied not bothering to stop in her search, “Hachael is strong minded in his decisions and none can change his mind once he has made it up.”

Dreser smiled, “But you can, can you not, lovely lady?” Chyle turned to face the other. “What is it you hint at, son of Deituk? Speak plainly if you must for, I take no offence in the truth.” Dreser had then grabbed her hand and raising it to his lips had said as plainly as he was his father’s son.

“I hint at no hidden meaning but at what it is in my lustrous heart and what could be in yours should you agree to let me have you.” Chyle drew her hand away; she spoke no word of assent or decline but her eyes danced a fiery dance. Dreser then took leave and left after his father. Chyle never spoke of this to Hachael; together they destroyed all of Stompsledge but the Hegleok house and family. And then took to Greo for some time as it was planned they would wait for Deituk and Dreser to rejoin them before heading toward the long withered land of Wyoungthed to establish themselves there as powerful rulers of all of the wasted lands and the very few living beings.

Hachael stood aware that his power over Chyle no longer controlled her ways but that she was beginning to get more powerful and decisively independent from the hold he once had on her.

Reign had been in a restless slumber ever since Myeopike had left the grand hall, having not a thing to do but wait his return, she had taken some little food and unbraided her hair and while at it, had drifted in and out of sleep which filled her vision with strange dreams; some fair and delightful others not so.

It was silent in the hall and around it, the ant soldiers nodded off themselves despite the uncomfortable cold.

In her dream Reign saw the faces of the unborn children inside her womb and for a moment knew not what she was dreaming of for, to her knowledge she was carrying just one Spekai child, and here she saw two. Almost at once though, she realized they were her very own, how very unlike her beloved Myeopike! And then a dark cloud swept over their tiny forms and Reign despaired for she sensed them wriggle and writher in sickness. Reign wept during these moments and her tears cleared away the cloud of despair and illness and yet again she saw the fair faces of the children.

“Two little lives

I carry within me,

Both fair, both to be

Born to Myeopike,

And I

Childs untouched by Time…”

Reign mumbled this small rhyme unawares in her sleep whenever the dark cloud lifted to reveal the innocent unborn. And every time she did this, a voice would mumble a wicked say of which she could make no sense of but that it brought the darkness upon the faces again, thus she dreamed, and heard the voice and spoke the rhyme, it all went on for a long time until finally, she awakened to darkness. At first she let fear overcome her and once on her feet began to grope along the wall. It did not take long for her to realize she was in the bedchamber and some of the fear ebbed away,

Reign steadily made her way across the room. Even without a light she knew her way well, she reached the entrance but on groping for it, found it all wall and no entranceway. Thinking she had perhaps taken a wrong turn, she set out to cross the chamber once and again met rock wall and again she tried with same results.

“Myeopike! I am caught in a trap, awaken me!” Reign yelled finally as fear rose within her. Again, she banged the walls with her fists till they stung but to no avail. Inside her the children moved and her sense of disquiet increased and she sobbed uncontrollably until she began to feel that someone was in the chamber with her.

“Myeopike, is that you? This trick is not a pleasant one and I am most upset about it.” She found her way to the cot and sat down, “Why is it you will not answer me? I speak to you. Do I not deserve an answer?” By now the tears had stopped flowing altogether as she sat frowning in the dark.

“You fear the dark

For you cannot see,

But I see you

Edsoniea,

One of your dreams

Is soon to be reality…”

Suddenly Reign began to shiver, she felt ill, as if a fever had afflicted her. The air in the room became unbearably cold and Reign began to slowly lose consciousness. Time laughed softly and in a cruel way repeated her rhyme over and over, the air got damper and colder by the moment. Reign struggled to remain alert but the forces overpowering her were too strong and soon all senses were lost to her and she fell forward onto the floor and lay there. Time surrounded her, winter embraced her being and the lives of the unborn within her were threatened.

While Time had worked her way into Cineon’s womb and let pass seven long wakings that the child of Dreser might be somewhat ready to be born, Wise Rieah had done a thing wiser and gifted the twins the growth of the same seven wakings in gradual stages of their mother’s sleep, they were wise even when not born and clung to life no matter in how many ways Time seduced them to be born.

“Be born now and I shall spare your deaths.” she said to them not kindly. “Your alliance to me shall prove the better for your wretched mother!”

Just as this was said for the umpteenth time, a sudden banging and crashing of wall announced the unwelcome presence of Summer and Spring ever so faintly that it took Winter by surprise and a weak light shattered the dark, and gradually grew stronger. And so, fled cold and Time but not without one last warning to the twins and one last curse shrieked at upon the helpless Reign.

It was a long while before Reign regained senses and looked about her frightfully. The bedchamber glowed faint with the light of a torch set upon a bracket along the distant wall and beside her sat Myeopike.

“Do not try and speak,” he said gently caressing her brow, “You are safe as are your children still unborn and well.” Her anxious eyes looked up into his face uncertain, and he went on.

“The entranceway had been blocked by a word from Time and that is how when you touched it, you felt cold wall instead of the doorway.” Reign moved her lips slowly. In whispers she said, “How did you know I needed you? My dream was frightful…”

Myeopike sighed.

“Rest for now my love, we shall have a while to talk about this once you awaken.” He caressed her brow and kissed her hand, stood and had but taken a step away from the cot when Reign forced herself to sit up.

“I know who I am, Myeopike,” the Spekai spun around, “You know your identity?” his face had suddenly turned ancient and his eyes fell on her fairness, “Do not condemn me for what I have done by hiding the truth of the knowledge that I too know who you are…” he was on his knees by her cot as he spoke this and wept.

“Condemn you Myeopike? Never will I do so!” The other’s voice slowly gained strength and her hand fell on the Spekai’s head, “I love you for all you have done and all your affections have not been wasted on me kind one.”

Myeopike lifted his face, “I meant not that you would punish me with words,” he looked away. “But now you shall leave my hall an emptier place. I suppose you must go to where you truly belong.”

Edsoniea smiled, “Even if I leave, still you will not ever be alone for one child will remain with its Spekai parent and one shall be heir to his mother’s family council. Do you not see, a part of me, you shall always have. For, two it is I carry and though I now know, I have seen their little faces. Neither are of Spekai blood but, they shall both have the Spekai heart.”

The two remained in quiet conversation for long moments. Myeopike told his fair companion how he had come across her senseless form and how he had taken to caring for her.

“The Wise One is responsible for my finding you,” said the Spekai, “And entrusted you to my care. The Wise One is fair and knows best.”

Myeopike held the other’s gaze. “Do not, I beg you, begrudge her for doing so.”

Edsoniea cried. “Never will I do such a thing as that!” she clasped the Spekai’s face in her trembling hands. “I am grateful to the Wise One, indebted to her for saving my life and the lives within me. I am most thankful to the Wise One for sparing me from harm and gifting me a companion in you.”

Oliukus, Yesew and Urmier being among the few Hurdar men alive were now aged and weakening ever so quickly. Urmier and Yesew had fathered three sons and two daughters with their beloveds even as the war raged and Time passed on unhindered. Oliukus still held hope that he and Tesma would wed before he passed on.

The human race of old was slowly fading away. Time and the war she raged had quite managed to destroy lives by torments of illness, quarrels amongst themselves and hate. Oliukus desired to return to the hills to die but not without his beloved Tesma by his side and certainly not without the other two and their children and wives. So, they set out toward the Kourass, all along the way encountering conflicts and winning them, escaping illnesses as if by chance.

Wise Rieah was seated upon a window ledge in the ancient house serenely scrawling on a stone tablet in a neat hand, over her shoulder hovered old Dsarest’s aid calmly studying what it was the Wise One was doing. Presently, she turned to face him.

“I have on this stone slab, scrawled in my own hand, the future of my creation and the creation of Wise Dsarest,” she held it so he could see.

“It says,” she went on, “The new race of men shall conquer evils, stand against Time and endure the scarring of war as long as their hearts remember to cherish life, friendship, love and believe in the truth. For war will never end but battles shall be won by man as long as they follow the path of my words.”

Stragut bowed, his eyes never left the other’s face.

“I have decided well in taking a firm stand on your side, Wise Rieah,” he blinked in thought, “You are greatest and wisest! But pray tell me, how will the new race of men know your words?”

Rieah smiled. “I shall ingrain my say inside every child’s being even before it is conceived.” As she said this, Rieah broke the slab in her hands as if it were made of wafer, a great many uneven pieces. “And these you are to scatter across every land, river and sea just at the sunset of this era of human life but before the dawn of the next.”

Stragut stared. “How is it I am to know the right moment, Wise One?” Rieah handed him the pieces, to be secured within the feathers of his enormous wings. “You shall know it upon my word. Now go and flap your wings when the time is right. Fair well in your task!”

Just as Stragut took off, in the distance, Rieah recognized Foliek Harfj as a speck in the sky oddly shaped and moving closer every moment. “Foliek Harfj, approaches Wise One,” reported Stragut over his extended wings, a troublesome note in his voice. “He brings two victims of Time’s malice.”

Rieah nodded sadly. “I see him. He brings Lady Deulore’s faithful ladies in waiting.” She called to Stragut to stay a moment.

“I have another task for you,” Stragut bowed his head respectfully and waited to hear of it. “Nauoljath, guardian of the Fordust Creek woodlands still lives though he is frail. I desire you to seek him out and tell him of the Lady of the Mount’s ladies in waiting, of their tragic condition. That he may tell Lady Deulore and her sister of the same, lead him to the cabin where they lived.” Stragut nodded, “As your word says!” And then he was off.

Rieah then turned her gaze upon Foliek Harfj and directed him to enter the ancient house through an upper floor window and lay the wounded on the old beds that had been made ready before even the rest of the house had been cleaned.

“Poisoned by crawling creepers and tickle stalks, are they not?” Rieah asked peering down at the two unconscious forms, concern in every movement of her hands as she gently examined the bites as the other slowly nodded.

“Will they live, Wise One?” asked Foliek Harfj, his face worried. “They will be well again.” Several moments passed, then, Rieah said, “Leave me now, I wish you to find Zetreh and say to him the time is come to return to where his heart is home.”

And once the Foliek was off and Rieah was left alone to tend to the two ladies, she muttered.

“Wise Dsarest knew what he spoke of when he foretold the future would keep us apart, Zetreh love, for all the rest of his foretelling, we have challenged but this we cannot.”

Foliek Erwufj and Duilo Nacckle had crossed great distances and followed the five nurts across the snow-covered hills and now circled high above Wild Narrow. Down below there was very little activity and the two decided it best that Duilo should search the place on foot while the other remained in the air.

“I shall not be too far away, if you find the others, call for me for even though I shall see them when you do, I desire not to frighten them by my sudden appearance.”

It was after long searches and knocking fruitlessly from house to house that Duilo finally caught sight of the five walking at great speed toward the bank of the Kourass. He instantly recognized Inckle and Astra who each carried a wounded nurt in their arms, he sped up toward the company. He proved a rather good tiptoe runner for he caught up with the rest in little time.

“Stop, in the name breathlessness, stop!” he called to them when he was almost abreast Inckle who turned and uttered in disbelief. “Duilo Nacckle?” and stopped in his quick step to stare at the doubled over, panting Stone Lover. The others had gone but a few paces forward before realizing what had happened.

“Inckle, we have no time to spare,” said Astra, “If we get to the bank before too long, we might be able to save your mother’s life and Trejeth’s too. Do not stop for a stranger who could very well be Time’s friend!” he shouted the last few words.

Korehk grabbed his arm. “It is Duilo Nacckle he speaks to,” he pointed him out. “See?” “He still lives then,” muttered Untholio, “For certain he must be Time’s friend!” And he pushed past Astra who nearly fell with Fiel in his arms, Untholio pushed Korehk and Inckle who carried the limp Trejeth and stood face to face with Duilo.

“You have come to reward Inckle another exile, have you?” Untholio roared, his eyes flashed, “Or have you come to see for yourself whether he has obeyed the rules and laws of your pathetic game challenge?” he pushed the other to the ground and threw a fist in his face. “Answer me you!” and another blow and another and another. Duilo took it all resignedly.

Inckle carefully laid Trejeth down and grabbed both of Untholio’s arms restraining him. “Enough Untholio, let him be! Enough!” Untholio tried hard to free himself but Inckle was stronger.

He growled. “Why? Is he going to reward me with exile like he did you? Or will it be death by my own hand wrapped around this throat of mine?”

Inckle wrestled his friend to the snow and grime covered ground beside the unconscious Trejeth.

“Calm yourself and give him a moment to speak,” he released the hold on his friend a little, “We lose nothing in giving him a chance to say what he has come all the way to do…” He released Untholio completely and turned to Duilo, helping him to his feet.

“I have survived this terrible time,” said Duilo hoarsely, “So I might see the error of my way. You are indeed a true champion, I bow to you Inckle Vilksumer, son of Fiel Vilksumer Earth Protector, I come in peace to reconcile.”