OV - The Traveller

The seventh chapter of the second section of A House Fractured. 25 years has passed since Darkness Looming. A critical junction is being reached that will change Llangeinwen forever. Told from the point of view of Máth, a travelling elf.

The ealdorf�h is restless. M�th ap T�l looked about the crowd. It had been close to twenty five cycles since he was last on Llangeinwen, drawn to what he thought was the beginning of something. Yet as quickly as the chaos started, it stopped. This time feels different.

The shards of the future worried him. He knew the danger of placing any credence in peering into the future but something was stirring; something ancient was reviving. And it was focused on the unsuspecting island of Llangeinwen.

�You�ve said this before, when you sped of to Llangeinwen.�

�I believe it started then, Esterl.� The two walked along the sandy beach near her enclave. Small waves lapped up to the shore. �I just don�t know why it seemed to come to an abrupt stop.�

�That poor lass was murdered. She did not become the nexus you thought she was.�

�The threads of time was strong about her. The streams pooled about her.� M�th sighed. �I would never be a good oracle.�

�You are too much of a dreamer, my friend. On a fool�s errand, looking for something you may never find.�

�Something is brewing. Are you telling me you don�t sense something?�

Esterl adjusted her coral silk wraps. �I do sense something. But it may be nothing. You know how the winds of magick can be.�

�This is different. It is not just the ealdorf�h. The Blood and Stone now reside on Nico. The Followers of the Blood are on the move. Even the Council of Nine had renewed their interest in Llangeinwen.�

�That is not surprising, since it is one of the few places where one can be close to the Blood. Many eyes have been on that island before and will be again in the future.�

�But so many at once?� M�th pressed. �I even heard Pyrais has stirred.�

Peels of musical laughter filled the air. �Oh, now I know something is afoot.�

�Esterl!�

�Please,� Esterl shook her head. �We are talking of a purple dragon ...�

�Lavender.�

�Whatever. Who is an extreme eccentric, dabbling in what he calls chronospatial sculptures. Whatever that means.�

�I have seen his sculptures and they are stunning.� M�th cocked an eyebrow. �And they are shapes that span time and space.�

Esterl pursed her lips. He knew she was thinking of a retort but held back.

�Too much is happening at one time. What started twenty five cycles ago is now coming to fruitation.�

�You are as stubborn as my father. Fine. In the end, what is it you want from me?�

�A letter of introduction.�

�For?�

�Taliesin.�

Esterl stopped, looking surprised. �I do not think he would listen to you. Unless you plan to reveal yourself.�

�That elf is long gone, my dear. I have my reasons.�

Esterl never understood his search for someone to start to bring the various sects of An�il. He had seen hints of this nexus. There was hope for An�il. Yet the nexus could also bring destruction.

He had vowed not to interfere so long ago, unlike his brother. Instead he tried to guide and trust the fates. And free will. But he worried he might have to break his age-old vow soon.

M�th noticed some people�s attentions turning to the court chamberlain. His shirt feel open, revealing an opal. The poor lad turned crimson as he pushed the orange-yellow jewel back under his shirt. He recognized the young man�s face but could not remember his name.

Suddenly, a cold shiver rushed through him. There was a stirring in the Blood; focused on the chamberlain. Before him, a faint figure shimmered briefly. It looked like a young woman. Only one person in the crowd before him reacted; a young man a few rows before him. Something felt familiar but he could not put his finger on it. A feathery breeze caressed his cheek. A memory crashed through his mind.

�You are looking well.� Slowly he untangled Li�s arms from around his neck.

�It is so good to see you. What you are doing here?�

�I am on my way to Eryri. When I heard this gathering was in need of a storyteller, I offered my services. I had no idea you would be here.�

�Och! And you might be?� A stout woman lumbered toward them.

�This is M�th, Curcog. A friend.�

She eyed Li. �Since when ye be friends with a sidh�?�

M�th bowed lowly to Curcog. �I met Li some turns in D�n Su�bhn�.�

�His words help me.�

�I see.� Curcog looked about the large gathering. �The boar be ready soon. So I now be looking for the storyteller. If he be late ...�

�And I�ve found him.� A broad grin came to Li�s face.

�This slip of a sidh�?�

�I�ve told my tales all around the world, be in court royal or gatherings of family. There is not a tale I do not know. Do you wish me to recite the Lay of the Gamolferh�? Peres Passion? Mayhap The Faerie and the Hare?�

�That be for the assembled to decide.� The stout woman did not look convinced. �Then ye be ready soon.�

�I will.�

Curcog lumbered away. He looked at her, trying to look fearful. �I will have to be in my best voice, it seems.�

Li laughed. �She is all bark.�

As she moved to his side, the sunlight caught a yellow-orange opal on her bosom. Li grabbed his arm.
�We need to speak.� She guided him to the edge of the clearing, away from the crowd.

�I found them.� Li said softly.

�Them?�

�S�danta�s son. And Dalldav.�

�You found Dalldav?� M�th was stunned. �How?�

�It was as S�danta said. When I found Gwri, I watched closely. He has three teachers but one affected me.�

�How?�

�It was a fortnight ago. I was in Tuaim Inbhir, at the Stag�s Head for a bitter with some friends. It was quite crowded. He was leaving and had to pass. He place his hand on my shoulder and I felt him. I felt Dalldav.�

�But you do not know him, my child.� M�th rubbed his chin. �He was not of your time. You�ve never met him.�

�But I have.� Li�s eyes sparkled with excitement �A�fe shared memories of him with me. I was there when he achieved his first transfer.�

�By the fates!� He could feel the blood draining from his face.

�I will be able to prevent what S�danta warned us of.�

�No!� The word came out harsher than he wished. �This is not a task for you!�

�I believe it is.�

M�th grabbed her shoulder. �Child, Li. Think of what you said to me that evening. �What if I fail? What if I die?� You know naught of Dalldav. This is not for you.�

To M�th�s surprise, a bright smile came to her face. �That may be my fate. Maybe death is what will stop Dalldav. He is afraid of death. I am not anymore. This gives me strength to confront what resides in Cathbhadh.�

A tear slid down his cheek. He was in Caer Eryri when he heard of her murder. He watched the funeral pyre, angry that he had done nothing to prevent her senseless death. He fled Llangeinwen, wrapped up in grief and anger. He was a shell of an elf for a long time.

M�th closed his eyes. Now Li was one of the many unreleased. Why? Does everything here have to become tangled threads? His breaths grew deep. He did not like to do meabhr� in public but he needed to free his mind. He focused on his l�r and his rhythmic breathing.

�I am a seeker of truth.�

�By starving yourself? Please!� The maiden put her hands on her hips.

�To know sacrifice is to experience sacrifice.�

M�th gritted his teeth.

He glanced at the blank faces about him. �This is not a simple journey. You have to work to achieve it. You need zeal and devotion. But it must come from you. I can just guide you with gentle words of encouragement.�

�No,� he whispered as he drew on the Blood.

�I have my quest. Mayhap once I have fulfilled my quest, I can settle down and teach the children. Right now I need men. Men who will listen, question and learn. And then they can help with the children.�
He could feel his spirit, mind and body starting to balance.

Myrddin looked at the dust around his feet. �My mother is dead. She died when I was born. I know not of my father. I was taken by whom I now call mother, Ninov�. She takes care of me. As to the one I would call father, he died a couple of cycles ago, in a gale.�

The memories grew dim.

�And the True Path is not straight but a crooked path.� Myrddin drew a crooked line inside the lopsided diamond shape. �And from this crooked way are the false ...�

His mind cleared, becoming one with the ealdorf�h. Slowly he opened his eyes. The room was filled with spectral shadows, some vague shapes to solid forms. Beside him stood Li, with a bittersweet smile on his face. Shock came to her face when she saw him looking at her.

She spoke to him but no words came out. She is not fully manifest. M�th focused his being on her. Come to me after zenith. You will find me at Eigyr�s, above the Boar. She spoke again. By his lack of reaction, Li seemed to realize he could not hear her. Slowly, she nodded her head.

Her arm rose, pointing toward the dais. The first person she pointed to was a young man. M�th recognized him as one of the Queen�s advisors, Medyr. Her finger moved to Prince Aillil. Then she pointed to herself. You are connected to them? Li nodded. Be at peace. I will speak with you soon.

Her smile became wistful. Li reached out and touched his check. Thank you, she mouthed. M�th took a breath; the ealdorf�h flowed from his. Li faded away.

�Are you alright, young one?�

M�th looked at the elderly man sitting next to him. �I beg your pardon?�

�You look like you�ve been visited by a phantom. You are as white as the chalk cliffs of M�r.�

�I am just fatigued.�

�You need to take care of yourself.� The old man thumped his chest with his index finger. �If you want to get to my age, that is. Proper living is the key.�

�Thank you for your sage advice. I should be more careful taking care of myself.�

The old man nudged M�th, nodding toward the Prince. �I feel bad for that young lad. Look at him, trussed up like that. He should be out and about, not here.�

�But he has his duties to perform.�

�Fegs, he is but a young boy. Let him be for a few cycles. The House Su�bhn� has gotten too court bound. The lad needs to be amongst people, see the land. Not listen to people whining.�

M�th looked at Aillil, trying to be comfortable in his chair. He empathized with the young lad. He understood the immense pressures when people looked to one for leadership and guidance.

Yet M�th sensed the druids were wrong with their pronouncement. He knew politics were involved but they were avoiding the lad. The moment he saw the young Prince, M�th could see the Blood ran deep in his veins. He reminded him of Llacheu. It had been a while since someone from the House Su�bhn� had such potential. He wondered why the Order and Taliesin specifically ignored what was before them; ignoring such a factor in their interpretation of the future shards they had seen.

�The new vicar is next.� The old man said.

�The last petition,� M�th commented.

�The Queen should reject the petition,� the man�s voice dropped to a whisper. �We do not need someone like him about. He is a disgrace to the words of D�a.�

�Really?� M�th was surprised at the admission.

�He thought he could silence the Vicar,� he looked about to make sure they were not being overheard. �But he hasn�t.�

�I know.�
The elderly man looked surprised. M�th smiled, patting his forearm.

�Saar is a friend.�

�I heard it was the sidh� that help him escape from the dungeons of Aeron. Now he speaks out about the true words of D�a.�

�I know. I have heard them.�

�We should not see science as a threat to theology, we should embrace it. We should be reading the tracts of those in the natural sciences. We should not fear psychology, sociology or philosophy. And most of all, we should not forget history. As a theologian, you must know the world and what is about you. But most of all, you must, must never forget the most important anchor - your own experiences. All this will be able to fulfill your theological task.�

M�th looked about, seeming many of the assembled looking uncomfortable. The chieftain of Caer Eryri, Midh�r flashed him a smile while Esterl nodded an acknowledgement. Saar stood at the oak podium, without notes, excited.

�Serious theology does not have the right to claim any elitist, privileged access to the truth.� He pounded the podium. �It should be a scholarly reflection on its object with all the tools and methods appropriate to the object. Methods that are useful, as used in other sciences, must be implemented. Which can only be proved by results.

�Theology can never be content or be graciously tolerated within a sphere that allows conclusions that are inexact and lacking a binding force. We cannot fall in the trap where religious truth becomes equated to poetic truth.

�There is no difference in the rules and principles that govern theological science compared to the other sciences. In no way is it permissible to allow irrationality, unjustifiable reactions or subjective decisions to govern our research. Arguments, information and facts cannot be shut out. They should feed us.�

M�th smiled, watching the uncomfort level rising, especially in some of the scribes from Tuaim Inbhir. He also enjoyed seeing some of the druids from the Isle scowling at Saar�s words.

�Existing intellectual and social situations cannot be unconditionally authorized. There can be no partisan justification of certain dogmas, ideological structures. Even forms of social domination. For serious theology, it is not a question of rewarding simple faith. Or is it the uniting of an ecclesiastical system. It is the seeking of the whole and entire truth.

�But on the other hand, serious theology does not claim any complete and total possession of the truth. Any monopoly on the truth. It can only claim to be no more than a scholarly reflection on its object from one particular standpoint ...�

�There will be a five minute recess.� M�th sat back in his chair, memories receding. There was so much to do. He did not know where to start.

Author's Note

This was a 12 page chapter expanded into 9 different chapters from different POVs. So it is a raw version, hot off the presses. The key issues is my use of passive voice and grammar. Please keep in mind the spelling is Canadian. Hit me with your best shot.