The Chronicles of Heaven's War: Burning Phoenix (63 page)

Ma-we chided, mockingly, “Heal thyself, oh
ye great physician.” She turned away ,throwing her hands high.
“Memphis! Oh Memphis! Oh what an evil child I am to have murdered
my brothers and sisters in that awful place! Oh woe is me! I’m so
evil! I’m so evil!”

Mihai covered her ears crying, “Enough,
Mother, enough!”

Turning back to her daughter, Ma-we began to
play her fingers across Mihai’s arm, quietly cooing, “So my child
must do as she tells her mother, ‘Put behind you what you cannot
change.’”

She added in little more than a whisper,
“Now, dear one, start anew the calling hour and listen and learn.
You, my child, shall change the future, renewing breath and hope.
Is that not good enough?”

“Oh, Mother.” Mihai moaned.

Looking into her eyes, Ma-we kindly
admonished, “You have learned many lessons these past several days
– one is that you are now king over these people…
not
field
marshal. Like me, you cannot afford to display self-pity, always
being the strong, knowing leader, always the one with an answer
when the helpless ask questions. As you step out before the waiting
crowds in coming days, gone will be your uncertainty and
self-derogation. It must never return for them to see. So goes the
king, so goes the people, the Empire. Your energy they will
consume, your light they will reflect. They will need that light, a
very powerful one, during the coming darkness.”

A shadow grew across Mihai’s face as she
pondered the weighty responsibilities now carried upon her
shoulders, wondering if she had the inner strength to be
successful.

Reading her daughter’s thoughts through the
girl’s heart, Ma-we answered troubling questions without being
asked. “Child, do you believe I have misjudged your power and
abilities?” She grasped Mihai’s arms. “No, child, no! I wove you in
my belly long ago, laid out the cords upon which you were built. I
know every fiber of your mind, heart, and soul. Strength there is
within you, greater than most, and not all by my making. The tools
I presented to you, but you constructed the tower. And mighty it
is, too. There is immeasurable strength hidden within you -
you
, my most brash of humble children. It is there.” She
paused. “Believe me...”

Sitting down on the cot, she looked up at
her child. “Besides, as you well know, you do not stand the field
alone. This kingdom you have accepted rulership over is not
everlasting. You merely sit a throne that has long existed – mine -
at least the part of mine that directs your siblings. This is no
revelation to you, for I thoroughly explained it to you as we
journeyed toward the Prisoner Exchange. Is that not so?”

Mihai agreed, nodding. “Yes, Mother, you
did, but I had so many concerns at the time, I paid little
attention to what you were telling me. Please forgive me for not
listening attentively.”

“Pooh...” Ma-we replied jauntily. “Harm you
did only to yourself, and that but of little damage. Remember, you
will, all that is necessary when the time is right. For now, I will
remind you of just these few little matters.”

Inviting Mihai to sit, Ma-we went on. “I
have set some powerful players on my board, children from both the
realms. And yes, in a way, you rule over both these worlds of
mine...in a way. Although kingly you are to act - and truly, you
are a king - you are more so a steward over what shall be given to
another. The Swords you will wield are only loaned to you until
that promised one’s arrival.”

Ma-we mused. “As the king on my board, you
are extremely important to the game, but you have very little
power. Do not impose your will upon those of greater might who
stand in lesser positions, for they may well humiliate you in their
hour of revealing. It is not just in my Swords that greatness
abides. Brothers and sisters aplenty I have delivered to the game
who will sway the battle. Use them wisely by allowing them the
freedom to choose when and how to unleash the powers given
them.”

She squeezed her daughter’s hand. “I must
also warn you, as I have already warned you: you are a
stiff-necked
child, stubborn and self-reliant. Good these
traits have done for you in past hours, but an evil shadow they now
cast upon you even as I speak. Tools for your own destruction they
are when wrapped in the music of deceitful lovers and trusted
companions. Remember please, poison is not hidden in bitter drink,
but what is smooth to the palate is where the evil one pours the
venom.”

Ma-we sadly sighed. “You love me so, my
child, but your heart betrays to me its stubbornness to not heed my
counsel. Trust you do too much to the sweet tongue of lovers and
counselors who sing merry tunes upon your senses. So, bitter must
be the drink and rancid the food you must consume before the sun
will shine upon Hope’s new day. I wished it not to be so, but you
have forced the Fates to choose a deceptive road for you.”

Mihai vehemently denied it to be so. “No!
No, Mother, it is not that way at all! I love your counsel and want
so much to carry out your slightest desire. My heart I will bind
with an oath to accomplish all that is according to your wishes.
This I promise!”

Staring into Mihai’s eyes, Ma-we softly
answered, “Yes, my child, I do see you believe it is so.” She then
leaned forward and kissed her daughter tenderly on the lips.

After a moment or so, Ma-we stood, preparing
to leave. She offered some parting counsel. “You have become the
furnace that will forge my children into the weapon that will bring
down Asotos’ house. Remember well that your brother has already
given himself over to the god of fortresses. You must do the same.
Turn these worlds of yours into a great machine of war. Use it up
without mercy. Turn you pruning hooks in spears and your plows into
fighting axes. All my children must learn the art of war. It is the
only way you will win.”

She looked into Mihai’s face, asking, “Has
Paul been of assistance with your night dreams? Do you sleep better
now, since the Prisoner Exchange?”

Mihai smiled. “Paul is a good man. He
refreshes my soul, makes me feel like a maiden again, wanted again.
Yes, he has soothed my heart so that I sleep comfortably in his
arms.”

Ma-we smiled in return. “Good. Good.”

Sliding open the panel door, she began to
leave, turning as she did to offer one more bit of advice.
“Cherished one, use that man to the full. He loves you so much.
Feed off his love for you. Confide in him with your inner thoughts
and dreams. Wisdom is to remain in his arms, speak the secret
matters of your heart to him. The innocent will understand and the
guilty will remain unknowing.”

She threw another kiss, extolling her deep
affection for Mihai, and took leave for her shuttle. As Mihai stood
there, silently pondering the recent conversation, a sound of
gentle footsteps fell upon her ears. She turned to see who was
approaching, smiling her hellos.

“It is so good to see you, my dear.”
Planetee called, sweetly. “Are you ready to dine with me as we have
arranged this eve? I have so many things to share with you, to tell
you.” She laughed carelessly, taking Mihai’s hand, ignoring the
lingering ache of her earlier injuries.

Mihai grinned, sliding the panel closed
while replying she was ready. Tomorrow she could finish the note to
her field marshal. Yes, tomorrow would be a good time to complete
that and other business. Tonight she would forget all these
stressful, troubling thoughts and relax with friends and
companions. Tonight she would play the child, innocent of any
kingly
responsibilities. After all, the
real
ruler of
the universe was still in her company. Tomorrow would be a good
time to contemplate her new responsibilities regarding that,
too.

She kissed Planetee on the lips, looking at
her with flirting eyes. “I have been told there are a few bottles
of Medeba wine secluded aboard this ship that the captain has saved
for this eve. Shall we see if it is really so?”

Planetee smiled seductively, asking, “So, it
is only my company with the wine that lifts your spirit? I had
hoped for more than the elixir that merely excites the palate.”

Mihai’s eyes twinkled as she answered, “I’ve
elixir that not only excites the palate but stirs the heart into
heated passion. Rich with cream it is. Full to overflowing is my
larder, for no milkmaid has found my stable in many long hours.
Drink first, with me, the wine, then I shall make you drunk with my
intoxicating potion.”

Planetee kissed Mihai passionately on the
lips, cooing, “Your milk, so sweet upon the tongue it is. Too
easily you give your treasures away.” She reached up and gently
squeezed one of Mihai’s breasts, feeling its fullness. She winked,
crooning with desire. “So ashamed that we must first suffer the
wine...”

The two women laughed and hurried away.

* * *

A painful coughing spell woke Terey from a
fitful coma, her dreams having passed into the worlds beyond and
returned again. Torrid dreams they were, too - ghastly, filled with
unspeakable terrors and endless nightmares. As her eyes recognized
shadowy forms flitting about and her ears listened to harried
voices, she dare not believe she was awake, or even really
alive.

She cried out, sputtering, coughing up
bloody mucus that cut her voice off to little more than a whisper.
“Am I returned, or do I reside beyond the worlds of visions,
dreaming yet another horrid nightmare?”

A gentle hand swept down along Terey’s
cheek, a voice softly singing a healing melody in the words it was
speaking. “Alive? Oh, so alive you are, my darling sister. Back
from the darkness you have come to me, to refresh my spirit and
revive my heart. Yes, oh yes, so alive you are. So far away you
have been.”

Slowly, Terey’s eyes began to focus, the
shadowy face revealing two hypnotic, dark orbs staring into hers,
handsomely full lips speaking ever so softly, “An… Ann… A…nn…a.”
She muttered in surprise. “I am still in a vision lost. You cannot
be Anna.”

The person grinned, as she continued to
softly stroke Terey’s face. “You do not sleep, nor are you lost in
vision. I have come to you across time and space to be near my dear
sister. My fear was your demise, for no report of your survival
came to my ears until I stepped aboard the medical ship and
searched for you myself.”

Medical ship? Aboard a medical ship? Why was
she not on the Chisamore? What had happened? She could remember
little more of recent events other than being thrown to the floor
and hitting her head. Seeing Terey’s growing concern, Anna motioned
to a doctor who quickly injected Terey with more sedative. Drifting
off into dreamy nothingness, Terey could feel Anna’s warm breath on
her face as she whispered her promise to remain close until the
woman awoke.

Terey was much more alert later the
following day. After taking some mint tea and a bite or two of dry
toast, she began to pester Anna with numerous, troubling questions.
Anna finally surrendered up to the moment, believing her companion
would not rest again until proper answer was received. “I will tell
you all there is to tell, or at least all there is to tell you
about this adventure, for there have been many adventures over the
past few days, and yours is but one of them. Please be patient with
your sister and I will reveal all you need to know… for now.” Terey
thanked Anna, groaning a little as she wiggled about in her
bed.

Anna began, “As soon as report reached our
ears, our darling girl, Mihai - with Mother’s blessing, of course -
requested that I immediately take my leave to assist in giving aid
to the survivors of the Chisamore disaster. After all, I
am
a renowned healer.”

“Taking passage on a very fast patrol ship,
I departed EremiaPikros and soon found myself on the medical ship,
Nhoset, the captain of the Chisamore notifying me that those in
greatest need were already aboard this vessel and headed for
Tilgath on Pilneser. It was by chance that I found you, my dear
companion. Dreadful it was at first to find this out, for only the
severely injured are here.”

She softly patted Terey’s hand, smiling.
“The doctors say you are healing quickly, and that your damaged
lungs are on the mend. Your other injuries…well, I guess from what
they say, were not life-threatening.” She paused, stroking Terey’s
face. “So now you know how I came to be here and to where you are
headed.”

“What of the Chisamore and the others?”
Terey asked, concern growing in her voice. “Did everyone…?”

Anna placed a finger to Terey’s lips,
frowning sadly. “Over thirty of your fellows did not survive the
ordeal.” She wiped a finger across her eye. “We came to believe
that you, too, were among the lost, fearing your body one of those
still entombed in unreachable parts of the ship. The captain has
gotten up steam after making needed repairs, but fears the
Chisamore may not make the long journey back to the navy yard. Tugs
are staying close if a need arises. He has with him only a tiny
crew, just in case, you know - mostly engineers and technicians to
keep things running.”

Tears ran down Terey’s cheeks as she thought
about the many who had perished and the many more injured. Before
she could respond, a nurse arrived to flush her lungs. While the
nurse set up the machine, Anna chatted on about other less
important matters, promising to stay close for the remainder of the
trip to Tilgath on Pilneser.

“I will return in a little while, after
you’re rested a bit.” She kissed Terey on the forehead. “And then
we will talk some more, I promise. Why, I will even stay a while
with you after we reach the sanitarium in the city.”

Terey nodded dreamily as the fluids began to
fill her lungs, they having a sedative-like effect on her. In a few
minutes, she was fast asleep.