The Chronicles of Heaven's War: Burning Phoenix (91 page)

The Ancients called those labyrinths of
chambers, commonly known only as the theater, NakarHasabAhebYada ,
‘knowledge revealed through love’s embrace’, in memoriam of that
long ago celebration. The oldest and grandest of the festivals,
known as ‘YadaAhedYada’, was held in memory of that event, and on
its very anniversary. It was also rumored that Lowenah convinced
Chrusion to return there with her in the days preceding the
Rebellion. Whether rumor or true, the leaved doors exiting from the
Theater to the North Concourse were sealed shortly after Chrusion’s
attack on Mihai.

(Author’s note
: Little has been written
regarding the Theater. I suppose an entire book could be devoted to
describing this magical, mystical, world of fantasia reality, but
for the reader here allow the following to suffice. First, I do
recommend, if given entry by those ever-watchful Spirit Guardians,
you should journey into that realm yourself, for only through one’s
own eyes, soul, and heart can a person begin to understand the
unfathomable magnificence of the place.

Pronounced ‘theater’ in the common
tongue, the phonetic pronunciation found on the leaved entrance
doors is ‘
Pru-cen-centheah-dourmie
’, meaning ‘into
the realms beyond’. Other than the hewn staircase leading up from
the North Concourse and the antechamber into which it opens, the
Theater is solely the invention of Lowenah’s hands. Those who are
permitted to pass through the doors beyond the antechamber enter
into a world of Lowenah’s making, her handiwork. What one
experiences there is by the will of the Maker of Worlds.

This I have discovered: the Theater
itself is inter-dimensional, being of no measurable value, for it
becomes whatever Lowenah wishes it to become. At times, the space
may be warm and cozy, possibly rustic, with a flickering hearth
fire or golden spheres dancing across the upper dome of the room.
Another time there might appear to be endless tunnels leading to
worlds defying all known laws of physics and nature. Whatever you
might discover there, one thing is always for sure: your guide will
be Lowenah’s spirit and your adventure memorable.
)

Momentarily, Euroaquilo was called away by a
fellow officer, Darla convincing him she was able to care for
herself. She lied... About the time the girl believed she was going
to fall into a faint, a friendly voice called out her name.
Chasileah had recently entered the Theater with her new
acquaintance, Jonathan. At seeing Darla’s sickly condition, she
excused herself, going over to where the girl was sitting.

Darla said nothing when Chasileah sat down
beside her, the girl too sick to speak. After someone procured a
pillow for them, she surrendered to the suggestion to rest her head
on Chasileah’s lap. In only moments, the sound of Darla’s heavy,
rhythmic breathing could be heard.

Jonathan quietly worked his way through the
room until he stood behind the two women, informing Chasileah that
Field Marshal Trisha was still in a meeting, but thought it would
be ending soon. The fellow’s body language indicated his desire to
linger a while, but not wishing to risk disturbing Darla, he
quickly departed after asking if he could get either of them
something. Chasileah thanked Jonathan, saying they were fine, her
eyes following him as he walked away.

Frowning with growing anxiety, Chasileah
chided herself for being there at all this day. For some time, she
had lingered at a small eatery just inside the South Concourse
entrance, there, struggling whether to face the new field marshal
or slink away, acting the coward that she truly was. After all, it
was not the first time she had let others down. What harm would
come with one more, her soul already condemned by the murder of so
many in her charge! But what of Trisha’s amorous advances? She
quickly pushed those thoughts aside, feeling them to be the clumsy
attempts of an inexperienced newcomer at exploitive seduction.

Chasileah was preparing to take her leave,
the guilt over breaking a promise, or the desire to become better
acquainted with Trisha insufficient reasons to stay, when a
cheerful voice called out to her. Looking up from the table, she
spied Jonathan waving from outside the eatery doorway. Waving back,
Chasileah studied the man in his crisp new Army uniform,
wondering.

Grinning, Jonathan hurried over to
Chasileah’s table, offering pleasant salutations before commenting,
“I was told you should be here today, and that I might find you at
this very place. I was also informed that I should offer my hand to
you and that we should be on our way, seeing that you have also
been invited to the meeting.”

“I… I don’t know if I should.” Chasileah
replied. “The field marshal spoke with me about it, but I supposed
another time to meet with her would suffice. After all, I have not
been invited to the meeting other than to speak with the field
marshal. I…”

Jonathan cocked his head puzzling. “I have
not spoken with Field Marshal Trisha about this. Only this very
morning, a courier delivered these clothes to my apartment saying
that the good field marshal wished me to wear them this day. As for
the meeting, I was asked to fetch you by some very strange fellows
who said they knew you well and wished not to be disappointed by
your absence.”

“Who was it?” Chasileah asked curiously.
“Did they tell you their names?”

Jonathan answered, “No, but they sure were
important looking fellows! Never saw anybody dressed up as bright
and fancy as they were.”

“Bright, you say?” Chasileah asked, a
concerned look growing on her face.

Jonathan thought about it, rubbing his chin.
“Well, the fellows were wearing uniforms similar to the white dress
uniforms of the Navy, except there was a sheen to them, sort of a
glow, you might say. And their faces seemed to reflect that glow.
Handsome they were, more so than most of the other men I’ve met
here.”

Frowning with understanding, Chasileah
slowly stood, taking Jonathan’s hand. “Well, I guess we should be
on our way. There’s no escaping the devil...”

“What are you about?” Jonathan asked,
contorting his face in consternation. “What does the
devil
have to do with it?”

“Come on...” Chasileah grumbled. “It’s just
something I say.”

Jonathan was pleased to have Chasileah
walking beside him. He attempted to express those feelings by
paying her an awkward compliment. “You look so comely today, what
with that very attractive outfit and your hair done up so
pretty.”

Her mind on other matters, Chasileah paid
little attention to it, curtly brushing it aside by an offhanded
reply. “I’m not in my Postal uniform this day, but still on
business. Whatever may be on your mind will have to wait.”

Jonathan blushed crimson, stuttering, “I
didn’t mean… I’m sorry if I have of…” He looked away, casting his
gaze toward the floor.

Chasileah quickly apologized. “No. No. My
mind was on other things.” She stopped and took Jonathan’s hand,
smiling. “I have never met a man quite like you, your kind being
strange to me. I replied to you before thinking. Thank you for
saying I look attractive today. To be honest, I don’t feel it at
all, at least on the inside.”

She frowned, drawing closer. “Those fellows
you spoke about - they’re agents of Mother, come around when she’s
doing something special. This meeting must be a mighty important
event if they’re dabbling in it today. That makes me
nervous...well, a bit, seeing they and I have done business
before.”

Jonathan asked, concerned, “Are they
dangerous? I mean, are you in danger, coming with me?”

Chasileah assured Jonathan that was not the
case. “No, well not in the way you’re asking, but they can be quite
persistent when they want something. I hadn’t counted on them being
here, not thinking this meeting to be of such great importance. And
those fellows asking you to fetch me is somewhat bothersome.”

“So this meeting is a big deal?” Jonathan
asked, troubled. “And
I
was requested to be there?”

Chasileah answered thoughtfully. “Well, yes,
I think it might be.”

Jonathan’s concern instantly turned to
Chasileah. “So what do you think they want with you? It sounded to
me like they wished to see you, but they said nothing about any
meeting, and now you say you received no invitation. That, I only
assumed…”

Patting Jonathan’s hand, Chasileah answered
reassuringly, “Your Trisha may have had a word with them, possibly.
After all, as you informed me on the rail-stage, King Mihai and she
had quite a set-to on the morning of the Prisoner Exchange. Rumor
has it that Mother chose to make her field marshal, even against
the will of some of her counselors. If Mother did the appointing,
then Trisha might have some clout with those fellows, and if she
asked them to make sure I was there, well… I believe they’d oblige
her.”

Jonathan puzzled, asking, “So who are they,
anyway? You make it sound like they’re not of your…well, quite like
you. I’d think them to be Ancients, but…”

“But what?” Chasileah asked.

“But you’re an Ancient, or
sort
of an
Ancient, and you appear no different than any of your other
siblings, other than I find you more…” Jonathan blushed.

Chasileah was curious. “But what, my friend?
But what?”

Still blushing, Jonathan answered. “Well…
more… attractive than most I’ve made acquaintance with.”

Pulling Jonathan by the hand, Chasileah
hurried them along. “Time’s wasting. We don’t want to keep those
fellows
waiting.”

Exiting the stairway up from the Northern
Concourse into the antechamber, Chasileah and Jonathan spied two
rather tall men standing by the doors leading into the Theater.
They stopped, allowing others by, and then watched what happened.
Each of the splendidly dressed officers smiled, speaking the new
arrival’s name aloud, and extended a hand toward the doorway,
bowing slightly as the people passed through.

Chasileah whispered. “Those
fellows
are what we call ‘Cherubs’. If they are watching the gate this day,
then it must be a very important meeting Mother’s having, and only
those invited will be able to enter.”

Looking into Jonathan’s eyes, she thanked
him for escorting her to the Theater, but warned they might be
parting. “I have no invitation from Mother. Lord Trisha wished to
meet me here, so I should probably be requested to remain outside
to talk with the field marshal. I wish you well my friend, and hope
that we may meet again another time.”

Jonathan replied in like, his eyes speaking
volumes more. They then approached the Cherubs, Chasileah releasing
Jonathan’s hand. To each one’s surprise, the Cherubs not only
recognized Jonathan, but also Chasileah, offering pleasant
salutations about how pleased they were to see the woman, and then
ushered them both inside. Now Chasileah sat there, wondering how
she was ever to escape her audience with Trisha.

Looking down at Darla, who was in obvious
distress, Chasileah could only feel all the more guilty over her
own feelings. Darla had fought with all her willpower to make this
meeting today, not even knowing what it was all about, only that
Mother invited her. All that Chasileah wished to do was run away
and hide, possibly bury her guilt in a bottle. Others had done no
less, even great leaders like General Planetee. What was the harm
should she do the same? She deserved nothing, was worth nothing,
having failed so many times and in so many ways! How the Cherubs
allowed her passage this day was beyond the woman’s
understanding.

From her place in the shadows, Chasileah
watched the room slowly fill with people. It did not surprise her
to see that most of the invitees were either counselors or
officers. What did, though, was the number of ordinary and common
children, a few not even of officer rank. Oh yes, great leaders
like Ardon and PalaHar were there, but she puzzled over those like
Darla and herself - especially herself - a washed up soldier long
turned Postal driver.

Beyond the main auditorium were several
small meeting rooms that opened into a large dining area set up as
a buffet with adequate seating. As the various meetings broke up,
the dining room slowly filled, people taking advantage of the many
culinary treats prepared for them. From where Chasileah sat, she
could look directly into the dining room through a tall, ornately
carved archway. To her surprise, she saw other Cherub
fellows
, dressed in white finery, tending the tables with
trays of sweet breads and cheeses, pouring steaming cups of hot
brew or delivering large glasses of chilled drinks.

Looking about, Chasileah noticed that
all
the attendants were Cherubs. Never had she see this
done, other than when she was a child in the Palace. There she saw
all kinds of magical things, including these strange people that
Mother said were her stewards. The Cherubs were always trustworthy
and helpful. Although that was the woman’s first encounter with
these Cherubs, it had not been her last. It quickly became obvious
to her that Mother was very concerned about security this day and
had taken measures to maintain it.

Jonathan and Mihai soon appeared in the
archway, the two occupied in conversation. At one point, Mihai
looked over in Chasileah’s direction, a rather surprised expression
on her face. She then patted Jonathan’s arm, and smiling, motioned
him toward a group of people standing near a buffet table.
Chasileah raised her eyebrows in wonder at seeing Planetee and her
three companions hailed by Mihai. The three - contemporaries of
Jonathan, at least two of them, Paul and Symeon - but the third? Oh
yes, Jebbson, an interesting character to say the least, from
another time.

As Mihai and the others joined in pleasant
intercourse, Chasileah watched the man standing so
affectionately
close to Planetee. This Jebbson had already
acquired a reputation as a design engineer, but also with the
women, or so she had been told by Jonathan. True, Jebbson was quite
the gentleman when the two were earlier introduced, but Planetee’s
reply to him at the diner before leaving for the Prisoner Exchange
must have had some truth to it, especially in the way of Jonathan’s
telling. So what was up with the two of them?