Early Spring - M-1893, Part 5 Temple of Aodh (I)

Guardian's Key

Part 5
Temple of Aodh

I

Lessa followed behind the others, her thoughts tumbling over themselves as she struggled to piece together what she’d just learned. She didn’t understand Kerrin. Not at all. He loved her, she was sure of that, had been sure of it since she met him (at least that mystery was solved); yet he wouldn’t tell her what she needed to know even if it would help him. Somehow she had the very distinct feeling that if she knew the truth, knew what her father had removed from her; she might love him too.

As the group passed through a high wrought iron gate, a thought occurred to her. Maybe she had never loved him; and not telling her saved him the embarrassment of loving someone who didn’t love him. Spirits she wished she knew, all she did know was confusion. Why was she getting bits and pieces if her memory had, indeed, been erased? Why had her father taken her past from her? How much of her past had she lost? She had no idea. She remembered every one of her years, didn’t she?

Suddenly she ran into Adrostos’ back. Snapping her attention back to the task at hand she realized they’d all stopped in front of what she could only think of as an evil building, if it were possible for buildings to be good or evil. Despite the park with its fountain and flowers, the building seemed to capture all light surrounding it. Nothing shown through the windows, it looked as though it had been abandoned years before, but Lessa knew better, she could feel the spirits still moving about behind the closed doors.

“Shit,” Kerrin and Xavier said together as they looked up at the Temple of Aodh.

“Spirits,” Nanda whispered.

“Is he in there, Nanda?” Lessa asked ignoring her feelings of unease the building evoked. They had to get Telaan out if he was still in there; she pushed her desire to understand what her father had done aside just as she had been for so many turnings now.

“Yes, but his presence in my mind is growing faint, I fear for his life,” Nanda’s voice cracked as she held back the tears.

“Then there’s no time to lose,” Xavier said taking a step forward.

“And how, Warlock, do you propose we get in there? Those doors look pretty solid and since this is where Telaan’s being kept, I doubt we’re going to be able to just walk through them,” Kerrin was clearly not happy with this newest obstacle.

“What, Vampire, have you decided I’m not evil enough?”

Before Kerrin could answer, the doors swung open and Lessa felt her heart drop. She really hoped Telaan did that because if he didn’t they were in big trouble.

“Oh fuck,” Xavier said, “this can’t be good”

“No, but at least we now know how to get in,” Kerrin’s smile was short-lived before he continued, “Nanda, can you cast spells in Shadow territory? Because somehow I’m quite sure that a temple built to the Supreme Ruler of the Shadow Spirits is Shadow territory.”

A look of panic crossed Nanda’s face. “I don’t think I can. I wasn’t able to at Ghalt’s and it’s much stronger here. How can I help Telaan if I can’t use my magique; I’m not good with anything else.”

Adrostos waived his hand, and everyone held a silver sword. Lessa hefted hers, feeling the weight of it. She’d prefer her own magique, but she could feel it ebbing from her the closer they got to the Temple doors.

“Just swing the sword at whatever moves that is not one of us,” he told Nanda quite seriously. “No other weapon will be effective against the servants of the Shadow. Our magique holds no power here, not even yours, Wizard. Only Telaan will be able to use his, and even his will not be powerful because Aglaea has taught him the ways of the Sundara Spirits.”

Well, that’s just going to make this dandy fun. Lessa was used to the feel of her magique; to suddenly not have the energy of it flowing through her was disquieting to say the least. She grabbed the hilt of the blade with both hands, feeling a bit better. But not much.

As they walked through the high doors, everything around them changed. The sounds and smells of the city disappeared as if they’d gone to another territory instead of simply entering a building. The very air became heavy and dark with the feeling of something alive. Lessa looked around, peering into the dark shadows; nothing appeared alive, everything looked quite dead. The quiet reminded her more of a tomb than a temple; the musky smell of incense from the burners was overwhelming. The only sounds came from the fountain, but even it was muted as though any normal cheerful sound would be out of place in this world.

“Why the hell does Shadow Magique have to be so damn dark?” Kerrin mumbled.

Xavier chuckled. “Well, then they’d have to call it something else. Shadows are by nature very dark. Something like: ‘Dim Magique’ perhaps.”

Kerrin looked at him, but didn’t answer; Lessa rolled her eyes. She was grateful to them both, their friendly banter helped to lighten an otherwise frightening situation. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t be mad at them. There must be something horribly wrong with her, because they deserved her anger; every last one of them. They all knew what she didn’t, and she had no idea how or why.

“The banished servants of Eris dwell here. We must walk cautiously, but we cannot linger. The longer we are here, the more the chance of waking Eris’ most faithful handmaidens.” Adrostos said as he moved forward, sword ready, leading the way. Before she realized it, Kerrin was beside her. He appeared ready to do battle against anything.

“I’d really feel better if I could just blast them,” Lessa mumbled.

Kerrin glanced at her and smiled, “That makes two of us. I’ve seen what you can do. My skill, however, lies with the sword and fortunately I can use it here.”

“To the right,” Nanda said, interrupting them.

“Are you sure?” Kerrin asked.

“Yes, he knows we’re here, he’s calling for me.”

“Did he open the door?” Kerrin asked as he turned looking the way they’d come, walking backward. Lessa wondered if he heard something. His hearing was better than any of the rest of them. She looked over her shoulder but saw nothing.

“Yes,” Nanda answered quietly, walking with Xavier behind her and Kerrin.

Following Nanda’s softly spoken directions, they made it to the area Lessa had seen in her vision. As in her vision, Telaan’s hands were chained; but what she hadn't seen was that he was chained to a statue that would normally appear in a Sundara temple. It was clear Eris felt betrayed by Telaan embracing the Sundara teachings.

The sight of his bloody, torn back should have come as a surprise, but he looked exactly as he had in her vision. Except now she saw a red tattoo that covered the lower half of his back. A woman curled between two dragons. Was this how Eris had marked him?

“Telaan!” Nanda cried.

Xavier grabbed hold of her as she dropped her sword and started forward. “No Nanda, we don’t know what magique surrounds him.”

She broke from his hold and ran stepping over the chains that bound him to kneel in front of him. She lifted her hand to gently caress his bloodied and bruised face. Eris had done more than just take a whip to his back.

Telaan raised his head, pain shining in his amber eyes that seemed to almost glow in the dim light. “Nanda, my love, you shouldn’t be here. Releasing me will just piss Eris off even more than you already have.” His voice surprised Lessa, even weak and broken as it was, its deep resonance flowed through the listener. He’d be a very compelling man when in full health.

His unusual eyes, an amber color no Silvanus Elf would ever have, swung back to Lessa, and she felt his anger tearing through her. “Why the hell did you bring her along? I only wanted you three; even that was madness, I should never have allowed you in. I realize now I’ve put everyone in grave danger; but the pain, the weakness, I’m not thinking straight anymore.” His voice, which was dry and cracked, broke on the last words.

She had no idea what to say in the face of his anger and obvious pain. However, Kerrin seemed to have no such problem, as he moved in front of her, practically growling at the man, “Because Nanda insisted on coming. Lessa had nothing to do with her decision.”

“Now is not the time for this discussion,” Adrostos said walking forward and striking at the chains with his sword. They glowed for a moment, but seemed to hold fast. He struck again, but still they would not release.

“Don’t waste your time child of Chandra; your sword will have no effect. I am doomed to die here, it’s Eris’ will,” Telaan said in a tired, resigned voice. "My actions in directing you here were reckless, I should have resisted the temptation I know that now. I’ve only succeeded in bringing you here to share my kader."

Part 4 - Cronus III

Part 5 - Temple of Aodh II