Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira Read online

  Karma studied the tapestry wistfully. What would it be like to have that much self-confidence, that much inner strength, she wondered. She knew she gave the appearance of boldness, but in reality it was a shield erected to keep people at a distance. Several months earlier, for the first time since leaving her home world and settling on Earth as a teen, she had lowered her shield and allowed herself to make a few friends.

  A wave of cold inevitability moved slowly through her as she gazed at the tapestry, and she knew that she must stay here, on Rathira, and leave those friends behind. Just as Riata had foretold.

  “You know what to do,” a soft, tinkling voice said. Karma nodded slightly as she glanced at the familiar, ghostly figure of Riata hovering beside her. She took a deep breath, then returned to King Rhobar and took her seat. She reached into her jacket pockets and withdrew two items. The first was a short, black rod, which slipped easily from the pocket; the other object was larger and oddly shaped, so it took a moment for her to work it free.

  She held her hands out toward King Rhobar, the winged ankh in one hand, the rod in the other. The ankh, a large cross with a loop at the top and wings behind the cross bar, was carved from what appeared to be one solid piece of dark blue stone. It was set into a pale yellow metal that was too light to be gold, too yellow to be silver. It was larger than Karma’s hand by only a small measure, but quite sturdy and heavy. At the bottom of the ankh was a short tube.

  King Rhobar stared at the object for a long moment, his eyes wide. “Yes, that is it,” he said. “I do not know what the rod is, but that is the headpiece of the Ti-Ank depicted in the tapestries. How did you come to have this?”

  “It was given to me by a friend,” Karma said. “She has many objects that she safeguards until the time they are meant to be given to their true owners.”

  King Rhobar didn’t really understand, but quickly decided that it didn’t matter. There were stories that the Ti-Ank had been destroyed, stolen, or hidden away. No one knew what the truth was other than the fact that it was gone. Now, it was back on Rathira where it belonged and in the possession of the only woman in living memory who could speak with the Sphin. Further proof that his suspicions about her were correct.

  He watched as Karma squeezed the rod in the center, causing it to expand into a five foot long staff, startling him. She then slipped the tube at the bottom of the ankh over the end of the staff. There was a metallic click as the tube fastened firmly to the staff.

  “You are Techu,” he whispered in awe. He had suspected, of course. That’s why she was here in his private sitting room. But up until this moment he had been afraid to really believe.

  “That’s not for me to say, King Rhobar. But I might as well tell you that I do have the ability to speak to the dead.”

  King Rhobar was not surprised by her admission. It only served to strengthen his conviction that she was the Techu they had waited for. “Will you stay here, and help us save our world?”

  Karma knew what her answer had to be, what it was supposed to be, but she was not one to leap into the unknown without looking first. “What is it you want me to do?”

  King Rhobar shook his head. “I wish I could tell you, Lady Techu, but as I said, too much has been lost. I knew that I must find the Techu, she who fulfilled the three signs. That is you, I am now certain. Beyond this, you must guide us.”

  Karma shifted her gaze to Riata who had appeared once more beside her.

  “Is this why I’m here, Riata?” she asked softly, surprising King Rhobar greatly since she appeared to be talking to thin air. Being told that she could speak for the dead, and watching it happen, were two vastly different things.

  “Yes, Karma, this is why you are here,” Riata replied. “This is where you are meant to be, at this time, for this reason.”

  “What else can you tell me?” Karma asked.

  “Not very much,” Riata said. “Make no mistake, Karma Baraka, though you are here as you are meant, there are no promises in this world, or any other.”

  “Just because I’m meant to be here doesn’t mean I’m meant to live through whatever happens next,” Karma guessed.

  Riata bowed her head in silent agreement.

  Karma’s heart skipped a beat, then resumed it’s pounding, but she had learned at a young age not to allow fear to control her. If this was her destiny, then she would face it with her chin up and her eyes wide open.

  “What do I do next?” she asked Riata.

  “You must feed the Ti-Ank with your energy. That will call to she who was Techu before you.”

  “Um... how do I do that?” Karma asked doubtfully.

  Riata smiled and pressed her palms together. “You must learn to trust yourself, Karma Baraka. Your instincts will guide you if you allow them to do so. Farewell, Karma, and many blessings upon you.”

  With that, Riata bowed once more and faded away.

  Karma turned her gaze back to King Rhobar and shrugged at his wide eyed stare. “Sorry about that,” she said. “Just getting a little advice. Are you ready for this?”

  “No, I am not sure that I am,” he said with a tiny shake of his head. “Nevertheless, please continue.”

  Karma nodded in complete understanding. She wasn’t ready either. She glanced at Nikura who, oddly, had remained silent. His large, blue eyes met hers steadily, giving her the sense that he was waiting for something specific. She rose from her chair and stepped to the side, turning the staff vertically so that the headpiece was at the top and the other end rested on the floor beside her foot.

  She gazed at the winged ankh, picturing the woman from the tapestry in her mind, though she doubted that would work. She’d only gained the ability to see and speak with the dead in recent months, so she had little experience with it. One thing she knew, however, was that she could not summon them to her. They just sort of popped in and out whenever they felt like it.

  After trying to focus on calling the woman from the tapestry for a few minutes, she gave up. She hadn’t expected it to work, but she was uncertain how to do what Riata had said. How did one send energy? She stared at the ankh, but somehow, she knew that wasn’t it either. She frowned in thought. If she needed to send energy, then it seemed logical that she had to focus within herself.

  She closed her eyes, relaxed her body, and emptied her mind. A few minutes went by, but nothing happened. She refused to give up, and remained as she was. Finally, she felt something inside of her stir. She opened her eyes in surprise and the feeling faded. She closed her eyes again and relaxed, focusing on that strange sensation within herself. Once again something inside of her seemed to stir, then stretch as though waking from a long sleep. She kept her body relaxed and her mind calm as the something within her seemed to grow, then flow toward the Ti-Ank in her hand. A gasp from King Rhobar had her opening her eyes again, but this time she did it slowly and carefully, unwilling to disturb whatever was happening.

  A figure began to appear before her, coalescing slowly from a cloud of mist into the woman from the tapestry. She appeared to be solid, but faded, as though the colors of her skin, hair and clothes had been muted somehow. Karma wondered if it was because she was surrounded by a soft, yellow glow streaming from the Ti-Ank.

  Karma bowed, knowing it was the correct thing to do even though she felt awkward doing it. It had been a very long time since she’d been comfortable with bowing.

  “Greetings, Lady Techu,” the woman said, returning her bow. “I am Samyi, she who was Techu before you. May I ask your name?”

  “I am called Karma.”

  “Ah, how fitting,” Samyi said with a smile that resembled her own just a bit more than was comfortable. “Karma, do not release the staff while I speak or you will break the connection.”

  Karma nodded without really understanding what she meant. She’d never needed an ankh, or anything else, to see the dead before. Only when King Rhobar stood up and bowed to Samyi, did Karma realize that the Ti-Ank allowed him to see her as well. Staff o
f Life indeed, she thought.

  “King Rhobar, I greet you,” Samyi said. “It is a relief that you were able to find your Techu in time.”

  “I had begun to fear that such a blessing would not occur,” King Rhobar replied. “Will you tell us more of the danger that I feel threatening Rathira, and what we must do?”

  “I will tell you what I can, but my time, and my knowledge, is limited,” Samyi cautioned. “This will take a toll on Karma, and as this is her first use of the Ti-Ank, her strength will not last long.”

  “Anything you can tell us will be most appreciated,” King Rhobar said.

  Samyi nodded, then turned to face the Sphin. “Greetings, Nikura.”

  Nikura lowered his head, then raised it in what was clearly meant to be a bow, his eyes never leaving the woman standing in the golden glow coming from the Ti-Ank “Greetings, Samyi,” he replied. “Long have you been missed.”

  “You know Nikura?” Karma asked. “Did you die recently?”

  “No,” Samyi said with a smile. “I have not walked the plane of the living for a thousand years.”

  Karma’s eyes widened at that. “How old are you, Nikura?”

  “I have no idea,” Nikura replied. He raised one paw to his mouth and began licking it with his long, pink tongue.

  Karma shook her head and looked back to Samyi. “What’s going on here? Why am I here? Why do you look so much like my mother? And what is that giant red bird behind you in the tapestry?” As she asked the last question she turned back toward the tapestry, even though she couldn’t actually see it from where she stood. Something about that bird drew her, but she didn’t know why.

  “That is the Vatra, also called the Fire Bird,” Samyi replied. “He was of great assistance to me in the darkest and most difficult of days, but whether you will have his aid in your quest, I do not know. You must ask King Rhobar about the Vatra at another time.”

  “You don’t know?” Karma asked, surprised and a little dismayed. “I thought you would know everything.”

  “No, I’m afraid not, Karma,” Samyi replied. “I am not of the living. I cannot tell you of what will be. I can tell you only of what was and to a very limited extent, what is. Do you understand?”

  “No, I don’t understand,” Karma replied. “Riata told me that it was my destiny to come here, and that this is where I am meant to be. That certainly seems like a bit of what will be to me.”

  “Riata is a Spirit Guide,” Samyi pointed out. “I am not. I am spirit. As such, I have a connection only to those things and people I was connected to in life and, after a thousand years, there are few of those remaining. King Rhobar is a blood relative, so I know of him, his children, and a few objects that will become important in the future, if all goes well.”

  “I see,” Karma said, unable to hide her disappointment. “Please, tell us what you can.”

  “One thousand years ago Rathira was invaded by what we called demons. First there were only a few, then a handful. Then more. There were many different types of demons, each different from the other in form and face. Some were beautiful to behold, others so terrible they caused insanity to those who looked upon them.

  “Eventually it was discovered that the demons were coming to our world from a different dimension. They found a tear in the fabric of the universe which allowed them to step from the black pit of their world, Skiatos, to the beauty of Rathira. At first the tear was small, and allowed only a few demons to come through now and then. Over time, as more demons entered Rathira, the tear grew larger. We soon realized that our world would become theirs unless a way to block the tear could be found.”

  “Blocked?” King Rhobar asked, his mouth dry with fear. This was worse even than his nightmares. “How could such a thing be blocked?”

  “As Techu, speaker for the dead, I was told how it could be done. All of the sentient peoples of our world were gathered together and worked in concert to construct a pyramid of particular design, enclosing the tear.

  While that was being built, all of the shamans gathered to create the Ti-Ank, a keystone, and, with the aid of three specially selected women, three orbs of power. The Moon Orb, the Sun Orb, and the Heart Orb.

  “When the pyramid was complete and fully enclosed the tear, a Guardian was set. The orbs were used to send both pyramid and Guardian into a place between our dimension and the dimension of the demons. The orbs were then removed from the keystone and deliberately scattered so that they could not be used to return the pyramid to Rathira.”

  “Why between dimensions?” Karma asked.

  “The pyramid prevents the demons from breaking out from within,” Samyi replied. “But there is nothing to prevent demons, or their servants, from destroying the pyramid from the outside. Only while it is held between dimensions is it safe from attack by those who would allow demons free reign over Rathira.”

  “Who would want to do that?” Karma asked.

  “Even from beyond the pyramid and across the dimensions, demons have always been able to influence the minds of those who are open to them. They must be invited in, and may not force compliance otherwise, but there are many who have no desire to resist evil.”

  “Why not destroy the orbs then?” Karma asked. “Why would there ever be a need to bring the pyramid back to this dimension?”

  “The natural forces of the universe resist anything unnatural, and sending the pyramid, and the Guardian, between dimensions is decidedly unnatural,” Samyi explained. “The orbs and the keystone are the means by which those forces can be controlled, allowing us to send, and retrieve the pyramid safely across dimensions. But it is the Guardian’s power that holds him and the pyramid in place.

  “The Guardian warned us that his strength would fail in one thousand years, and that we must use the orbs to summon the pyramid, and replace him before that time. If his strength fails before the orbs can be used to control the return, natural forces will return the pyramid to its rightful place in the universe. If that happens, both the Guardian and the pyramid will certainly be destroyed in the process, and Rathira may be as well.”

  “Let me guess,” Karma said, “the thousand years are up, right?”

  “Yes, Lady Techu,” Samyi said, a smile curving her lips. “The thousand years are now up, and the Guardian must be replaced.”

  “What must we do to replace him?” King Rhobar asked.

  “The orbs must be found and used to unlock the keystone. That will control the pyramid’s return to Rathira. The old Guardian must be replaced with a new one, and then the keystone must be locked again, sending the pyramid back to the between place for another thousand years.”

  “You make it sound almost easy,” Karma said.

  “No, it will not be easy,” Samyi said. “Only a female descendent of the creator of each orb may claim it, so you must identify, and find those women. You must also discover the location of each orb and travel to it before it can be claimed.

  “Once you have all three orbs, you must find the keystone. And through all of this, you must be ever watchful, for the demons here on Rathira and those still on Skiatos will work tirelessly to stop you. This is the only chance they will have to escape Skiatos for a thousand years, and they will do all in their power to succeed. They have nothing to lose.”

  “Where do we begin?” Karma asked. “The Ti-Ank wasn’t even on Rathira until I brought it here, so the orbs could be anywhere in the Thousand Worlds!”

  “No, the Ti-Ank was removed from Rathira, but the orbs were not,” Samyi replied. “We scattered them very carefully, and their true purpose has been forgotten by most, as was meant, but they remain on Rathira. Your quest begins with the Moon Orb.”

  “Where do we find it?” King Rhobar asked.

  “Go north, to the Kytherian Sea, and speak with the Sirelina, the water people.”

  “What about the other orbs?” Karma asked.

  “As I said, we scattered them carefully. I have knowledge of the first orb only. After the Moon Orb is r
ightfully claimed, you will be given knowledge of the next orb.”

  “How do we find the woman who must claim the Moon Orb?” Karma asked.

  As she asked the question, Karma noticed Samyi begin to grow misty.

  “She of the Blood of the Tree of Life is the woman you seek,” Samyi said her voice growing distant.

  “Oh gee, thanks, that’s helpful,” Karma muttered.

  “You must hurry,” Samyi said, fully transparent now. “Time grows short.”

  “How much time do we have?” King Rhobar asked.

  Karma thought that Samyi answered, but her voice was too faint to hear. A moment later the golden light of the Ti-Ank flickered, then went out completely. Samyi was gone. Karma reached up to touch the metal of the Ti-Ank, surprised to find it cool.

  She turned to King Rhobar, her mouth open to ask a question, when the room seemed to tilt around her. She tightened her grip on the staff and lowered herself carefully into a chair.

  “Are you all right?” King Rhobar asked.

  “Yes,” Karma replied. Then the world went dark.

  **

  Karma opened her eyes and saw the tired, worried face of King Rhobar hovering above her. She blinked and sat up straight, relieved to note that she was still in the chair, just slumped over.

  “Are you feeling better?” King Rhobar asked.

  “I think so,” Karma replied. “I just got a little dizzy there for a moment.”

  “More than a moment,” King Rhobar said as he settled himself back into his own chair with relief. “You were out for perhaps fifteen minutes.”

  “I’m sorry,” Karma said, feeling embarrassed. She had never passed out before.

  “There is no need to apologize,” King Rhobar said. “Not for you, anyway. I cannot say the same for myself. Samyi warned that it would take a toll on you, and I am sorry for forgetting that. Are you sure you’re all right? I can call for a physician.”

  “No, thank you,” Karma replied quickly, the idea of some superstitious quack with a box of leeches and mysterious, dried leaves making her ill. “I just feel a bit tired is all.”