The Sixth Seal

Reality lapped at Xi Shi like gentle ripples against the lotus. She was in a place between this world and another, aware of a presence all around her. Light radiated from everywhere.

Protector?

“Yes, who is there?” She tried to move, but failed.

It is I, Protector.

From somewhere outside of herself, she felt the familiar warmth of the book. “Where am I?”

Your body is where you left it. Your being is here with me, in the eye. I have much to share. Are you ready to receive?

“Ready to receive what?”

The keys to this instrument. The purpose of our connection. Only the sixth may receive. Are you ready to receive?

“I suppose, but what of my body?”

Your body is regenerating. Your efforts to save the boy took much from you. It is fortunate this planet has much energy to draw upon. I am harnessing it now to restore you. I need you to continue on your journey.

She fought to make sense of what the book told her. It spoke to her intimately, as though inside her traveling the pathways of her body. “Is the boy--”

The boy is well and resting. Please, Protector, we have little time. Are you ready to receive?

“I am ready.”

As soon as she uttered the words, the pathways into her mind opened, pathways she had never used. Images and words flowed through these new pathways like the swift currents of a mighty river. At first, the images were strange and unfamiliar, but after a time she began to associate words and places with the abstract. She sat with the members of the original council, the book on a silver thread of light, descending from a shimmering ship of silver above the clouds. Each in turn placed their seal upon the book, thereby connecting them to it for all time. She witnessed the first glimmer of betrayal even on that day. The power of the book was enticing, even to those created to protect it.

More images pulsated through her mind. Strange symbols and ciphers danced behind her eyes. When they stopped and came into focus, she understood them. It was the primal language of the book, not the one that spoke in her mind, for it was just a shell created to bridge the gap between the primitive human mind and the vast knowledge of the protectors. This language had the power to move mountains, to raise oceans, and even to bring down the heavens themselves. These primal words were written on the pages of the book. She knew if she spoke them in the presence of the council then the book would respond. It had the power to make them gods. Now she understood. Those who would twist the book to their purposes wished to be immortal, to sit above men and make this world in their own image.

Phase complete. Initiating next sequence. Prepare to receive.

Great pulses of energy rumbled through the pathways, pushing, writhing like snakes into the empty places in her mind. They filled every crevice and kept coming until she thought her head would explode. She screamed out in pain as the book transcribed its pages onto her being.

Fire coursed through her veins, growing more intense with each beat of her heart. The heat crescendoed until she thought her entire body would erupt in flame. When the burning subsided, she had the sensation she was floating back down into her body. For a time she lay perfectly still, her body throbbing from whatever process the book had initiated. She was aware of a more tangible connection to the book as though it had inscribed a part of its makeup on her soul and vice versa.

The murmur of the physical world and a gentle tugging at her arm brought her back to the surface. She opened her eyes and focused on the little girl who sat at her side with tears streaming down her face.

Xi Shi put a hand up to Jia’s face and wiped away the tears. “Do not worry, little one. I am renewed.”

Jia’s features transformed, an ever-widening smile pushing up rosy cheeks. “I was so scared. I’m glad you came back to me.”

“And I am glad I have you to come back to, little one.” She sat up as the others gathered around her.

Peng and his wife, Lin, kneeled down beside her. Peng’s strong voice quivered slightly as he spoke. “We can never repay you for bringing our son back to us.” Lin nodded and touched Xi Shi’s hand.

“If it had not been for me, your son would not have been in such danger. It is I who will never be able to repay you.”

He bowed, touching his head to the floor in front of her. “You are good and you carry the love of the people in your heart. You repay us by your fight against our oppressors.”

“You are all too kind, but we have already put you in too much danger.” She patted Jia on the head and stood up. “I’m afraid we must go now. Our time runs short and there is much to do.”

Wang Xu stepped closer. “Are you fit to travel? You were convulsing and had a high fever.”

“The book restored me. The process was violent, but it worked. I am renewed.”

He studied her eyes for a moment. “There is something different about you, but I cannot quite place what it is?”

“I think I have become fully attuned to the book. It is truly a part of me and I it.”

“Have you learned any more about where the place of power is?” He stepped closer to her, putting his back to the others.

“Not directly, but I have a feeling the book will guide me once we are at sea.” She grabbed his arm. “How are the men? We need to leave soon.”

“Sheng, the Captain’s mate, died in the fight, but his fellow crewmen, Delun and Fan, faired well. They are ready to travel.”

She looked into his eyes and lowered her voice. “They are not enough of a crew to man a seaworthy vessel. I think we should leave them here to help protect Peng and his family until the Emperor’s men have lost our trail. We can hire a new crew in Guiji.”

“I hate to leave these men, they have risked so much already.”

“As you say, they have risked much. They are not fighters and our mission will surely become more treacherous. Best we should leave them here, and after a time they may return to their villages. Leave them some of the silver you carry for their troubles, just keep enough so we may hire a new ship and crew.”

He nodded and turned to leave, motioning for the men to follow him. She watched as he took them into the other room. When they were gone, she turned her attention to Peng and his family.

“We must be on our way, but our mission is perilous and we must travel fast. I am going to leave our men with you to help if any more of the Emperor’s soldiers give you trouble. I will do my best to lead them away from here, but I want you to have extra protection until the Emperor gives up on searching this area for me.”

Peng nodded and placed an arm around his wife. “We will pack some supplies for your journey.”

“Thank you, Peng.” She bowed.

The man and his wife went to the kitchen and began wrapping parcels of food in linen. Only Jia remained, looking pensive.

“What is wrong, little one?”

“I do not want you to go.”

Xi Shi bent down on one knee and held her arms out to the girl. Jia hugged her, burying her face in her robes. She stroked the girl’s hair, whispering comforts to her. “Everything will be alright. The people we meet are always with us because they live in our hearts.”

The girl stirred and pulled her head up out of Xi Shi’s robes, looking up into her eyes. “You promise?”

“I promise.” She reached down into the leather pouch that held the book, brushing past it to find the small, jade hair comb she had brought with her. She pulled it out and handed it to Jia. “Here, keep this comb and you can remember me when you wear it.”

Jia wiped away her tears and took the comb. She pulled her hair back and tucked it in place using the ornate comb. She couldn’t be certain, but she thought the comb shimmered for a moment after Jia placed it in her hair. Had it been affected by the book as the dagger had?

“The men have agreed. We should prepare to ride.” Wang Xu’s words broke her train of thought.

She stood and turned to face him. “Ride?”

He smiled, seeming to note her confusion. “Yes. We managed to catch a few of the soldier’s horses after we got you settled. We can take two and leave the other here.”

“That will make our journey easier. Make sure the men take the saddle off the horse they keep so any other soldiers coming through won’t recognize it.”

He nodded and left the hut. Lin brought over a parcel of dried fruits and meats and a flask of water.

Xi Shi took the parcel. “How are your boys?”

“They are well. In fact, they are already back out in the fields.” She blushed and lowered her head. “There is always work to be done.”

She smiled. “Indeed there is.”

The soldiers’ mounts were bred for speed and helped to put a great distance between Xi Shi and Peng’s family. She didn’t want to leave the child, but she knew her mission was urgent and to stay would only bring harm to the girl and her family.

The sun sat low in the sky. Their arrival in Guiji would be enshrouded by darkness, which was probably for the better. They would be able to make their way through town and to the ports without arousing too much attention.

For a time they rode at a pace which prevented them from talking. It was only when the little town nestled by the sea came into view that they slowed and talked of the book. Wang Xu broke the silence first.

“I know there is a place of power that lies to the west, but I know not where it is. Did the book not give you any indication of where we should go?”

“I got the feeling that we would be guided, but I think getting the book to the place of power is not as important as keeping it out of the hands of those who would unleash its power for their own purposes.”

He looked to her. “The book told you this?”

“No, it is just a feeling that I have.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how to explain it. I just know there will be a gathering, but until that day the protectors must keep the book hidden.”

“Did you learn anything else?” He pulled back on the reins, slowing his mount further. Her horse matched its pace.

“Nothing I can put into words, but there are abilities the book has endowed me with. I don’t fully understand them all, but I know they are there.”

They rode in silence until they reached the edge of the town. The dirt road became a stone path, splitting the village in two. The houses and buildings flanked the road, but were also divided by channels. Small boats tied to piers floated listlessly in the still waters. The moon was now above them. She stared into its reflection as they passed over an arched bridge which spanned a central waterway running perpendicular to the road. The only sounds here, the clips and clops of the horses and the gentle lapping of water against the bridge.

Only a few homes still had lanterns lit, but in the distance the port teemed with activity. She got the feeling it might not be the sort of place one ventured into alone.

Wang Xu pointed ahead of them. “If I remember correctly, there’s a tavern near the docks. We may be able to inquire about a ship for hire there.” He reached into a satchel and pulled out a dark cloak. “Here, drape this over yourself, and let me do the talking. It would not be good for you to be recognized.”

She draped the cloak over her head, doing her best to keep her face in the shadows. There was definitely more activity here. Soon the sounds of men unloading boats and the smells of the sea surrounded them. Wang Xu stopped and dismounted outside a broken down, wooden building at the edge of the pier. Raucous laughter and shouting emanated from the place, and every so often men would stumble in and out. He held up a hand and she accepted his help and slid to the ground.

“Let’s tie the horses up here. Remember, keep your head down and let me do the talking.”

She did her best to fashion the cloak into a proper robe. Finding nothing to clasp it with, she held it in place with her hand.

They continued on foot, largely unnoticed as they approached the tavern. The Jade Dragon was carved into the timber above the door.

The inside, lit with lanterns strung along the length of the ceiling, hinted at a larger space than first met the eye. The lights jostled, casting shadows that made the occupants look even less savory than they probably were. She didn’t notice many women here, and the few that sat scattered about the place didn’t look much cleaner than the men.

Wang Xu passed through first, pausing just inside the doorway. She came in behind him and a little to his left. He scanned the room. She hoped he would find what he was after soon. The men at the table closest to the door were getting louder and louder. After a moment it became evident to her they were having some sort of dispute. She couldn’t quite make it out through their drunken slurs, but she had the feeling one of the men had insulted the other. Wang Xu didn’t appear to pay them any heed. He just kept scanning the room.

The din grew louder until at last one of the men stood up quickly and hurled a mug at another man. The man, who had received the contents of the mug splattered across his face, tipped the table up and pushed it towards the other man. Wang Xu managed to step out of the way, but she wasn’t quite so lucky. The man fell backwards and slammed into her, grabbing at her cloak as he struggled to stay on his feet. She gripped the edge, but it was too late. The man fell to the floor and took her cloak with him.

The room grew silent and all eyes fell on her.