The Tigrens' Glory (51 page)
Read The Tigrens' Glory Online
Authors: Laura Jo Phillips
Glory knew that most eyes were on her, but Lariah had warned her that would be the case. It wasn’t
her
really, that they were staring at. It was her tigrenca. A creature that no Jasani had ever seen before. For once, Glory didn’t mind being stared at. She was twelve feet at the shoulder in her tigrenca form, and immensely powerful. She also felt beautiful with her metallic bronze stripes, and the shiny black horns behind her ears. She held her head high and her step even, doing all she could to give a good impression of Clan Tigren to her new people.
Her reunion with Lariah and the other women had been even better than she’d hoped. She’d received hugs, kisses, and happy tears in response to her announcements that she was fully Clan Tigren, and pregnant. These women accepted her without condition or hesitation, and she treasured their friendship so much she didn’t even know how to put it into words. Just thinking about it now, as she crossed the Hidden City before all Clan Jasani, made her glad that she was in her tigrenca alter form so no one could see her happy tears.
Glory scented her men before she reached the dais in the center of the arena, but the crowd was so thick that she didn’t see them until she and Lariah stepped onto the dais and shifted back into their human forms. Then she smiled at them, the tears overflowing when they all three blew her kisses at the same time.
The other women joined them, Summer and Faith shifting after stepping onto the dais as Lariah and Glory had, according to ancient custom. Glory tore her eyes from her men, and focused on what she was supposed to be doing.
The eight women formed a circle on the dais, then reached out and clasped hands with their neighbors. Lariah had told Glory that this meeting had been called by Riata, and that all they needed to do was provide the Spirit Guide with enough energy for her to appear and say what she had to say. Glory had very little practice so far with channeling power, but Lariah had told her not to worry about it. Between the other seven of them, there would be more than enough energy for Riata. Taking Lariah at her word, Glory relaxed and tilted her head back as the other women were doing, and cleared her mind.
***
Garen stood at the edge of the dais, Trey and Val beside him, just as the rest of the Clan Consuls stood close by, watching their Arimas. He was unaccountably nervous, but no one would have known it to look at him. Except perhaps, for the Tigren. He smiled to himself, then gave his head a shake and watched the women on the dais before them. When they formed a circle and tilted their heads back, he tensed, knowing what was coming.
Sure enough, a bright white light began to grow in the center of the circle. The crowd was completely silent now, every eye in the Hidden City focused on that light. The light expanded until it was twice the size of the women holding the circle, large enough for everyone to see clearly. Then it began to transform into the figure of a woman with snow white skin, large, luminous purple eyes, and, short, reddish orange feathers on her head. She wore a dark purple robe with esoteric designs embroidered in gold thread along the front and down the sleeves that appeared to shift and flow with her movements.
“Greetings, Clan Jasani,” Riata said, pressing her palms together and bowing politely to High Prince Garen, Prince Trey, and Prince Val.
“Greetings, Riata, Friend to Clan Jasani,” Garen replied, returning Riata’s bow with one equally deep. “We would thank you for all that you’ve done for our people.”
“It is mine to heal, High Prince,” Riata said with her familiar smile. “It has been my greatest honor and privilege to aid in the healing of Clan Jasani.” She turned slowly as she looked at the women holding hands in a circle around her, meeting the eyes of each in turn. “For the first time, the Nine Lehen-Arimas of Jasan are gathered, signaling the beginning of a new age for all of the Clans,” she said, her purple eyes sparkling.
“Riata,” Lariah said, “there is some mistake. There are only eight of us.”
“It is the spirit, the soul, that matters, my friend,” Riata said, turning to face Summer directly as she spoke. “I assure you, the souls of all Nine Lehen-Arimas are present.”
Summer gasped, meeting Riata’s gaze with tears in her eyes. “Thank you, Riata,” she whispered hoarsely. Then she glanced over to where her men stood, and smiled brightly at them, but even though the women in the circle seemed to understand, the Katres did not.
Maxim frowned and shook his head in confusion. Garen took pity on the man and leaned over to whisper loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear. “Your Arima carries your daughters, Consul Katre, and one of them will be Lehen Arima of the Owlfen.”
Maxim didn’t wipe away the tears that burned his eyes before streaking his cheeks. He had to force himself to remain where he was, and not leap up onto the dais. Instead, the three Katre Consuls beamed at Summer, barely hearing Riata’s next words.
“As joyous as this moment is,” she said, turning to face Garen again, “I’m afraid that I have one last duty to perform as Spirit Guide to Saige Lobo, and through her, Clan Jasani. I must speak to you of darkness, and of sadness.”
“We shall hear you, Riata, as we always have,” Garen said.
Riata nodded in acknowledgement of the promise, then seemed to brace herself. “Clan Jasani, once called the Klanaren, have suffered great tragedy, this cannot be denied. But it must also be said that there are many worlds, many peoples, who are not as fortunate as you have been. They continue to suffer, caught as they are in the chaos brought by the Xanti.”
“Chaos?” Garen asked, a shiver racing down his back. That was a very strong word, and this wasn’t the first time he’d heard it recently
“As you are aware, forces outside your knowledge, not of the mortal plane, have gone to great lengths to aid you in your efforts to vanquish the Xanti. Now, you shall learn why.”
Garen glanced quickly at his fellow Clan Consuls, then back at Riata. He had, in fact, often wondered why his people had received so much help in recent years. Now he would learn the answer and, if there was a price to be paid for the assistance they’d received, they would pay it. He bowed his head to Riata, indicating his acceptance of whatever she was about to say.
“The Xanti were an aberration,” Riata said. “The evolution of their species was a failure. Due to their own limitations, they were never meant to leave their own world. They were certainly never meant to have power, or to interact with so many worlds and civilizations. In taking that first step off of Xantara, they moved outside the cosmic order, and began wreaking havoc and chaos among the cosmos.
“Everything they touched, every people they interacted with, caused further confusion. The Creators could foresee neither their actions, nor the results of their actions. The only thing they knew for certain was that, should the Xanti continue unabated, they and the chaos they spread wherever they went, would end in the destruction of
all
life.”
“The Creators couldn’t destroy them?” Garen asked tightly.
“No, High Prince,” Riata said gently. “The Creators do not destroy. They create.”
Garen nodded in silent acceptance, and Riata continued. “It took much time and patience for the Creators to find paths of possibility through the ever growing darkness left by the Xanti wherever they went. Many efforts were made to rid the universe of the Xanti using those paths, and all failed. Until now. Clan Jasani accepted the guidance and aid offered, and held to their path despite its many twists and turns. Had you faltered in the slightest degree, had you allowed your emotions to gainsay reason, or doubt to cloud belief, Clan Jasani would now float within the emptiness of the otherworld instead of the Xanti.”
Garen’s eyes widened. “That’s why we were warned not to destroy them, isn’t it?”
“It is,” Riata admitted with a deep nod. “Such an action would have pulled all of you into their chaos, and ripped you from the Creators’ arms.”
“Is that what happened to the Garakai?” Garen asked, suddenly worried. “If so, we must return to the LMC at once.”
“No, Highness,” Riata said. “Tek, Ming, and Ri acted without the knowledge of their own government or people. Their sacrifice was great, but it was their own, and did not touch the Garakai as a whole.”
“We will not allow their names to be forgotten,” Garen declared. He paused for a moment to think on all that Riata had said. He was starting to understand where she was going with this. “Now that the Xanti are gone, is the chaos they created gone as well?”
“No, High Prince,” Riata replied, shaking her head slowly. “The damage these aberrant beings have wrought is too deep and spread too widely across the stars to heal on its own. While the exact shape of the future cannot be seen, it is known that, unless a supreme effort is made, over a great span of time, by a people of great courage and constant purpose, much darkness and pain will lie ahead for the peoples of the Thousand Worlds—perhaps, even, their destruction.”
“Is it within the ability of Clan Jasani to be the people who make that effort?” Garen asked.
“With your magic, and the strength and wisdom of your Arimas, Clan Jasani has a better chance than any in the Thousand Worlds, and beyond, of succeeding in such an undertaking,” Riata said. She paused and raised her head to look out over the crowd. “It is understood that you stopped the Xanti at much risk to yourselves, and your souls. It is understood that your fight has been long, and that you have lost much. Should you decline this further task, there will be no condemnation. But, should you accept the task of healing the destruction and disorder left behind by the Xanti, you must first know that it may be even more difficult, and dangerous, than vanquishing the Xanti was.”
“As ominous as it sounds, it is still my first inclination to accept this charge, Riata,” Garen said. “But, I cannot commit my people to such a dangerous endeavor without their consent.”
“Of course,” Riata replied. Garen leapt up onto the dais, and held his hands high as he turned to gaze out over the gathered clans.
“What say you?” he called out. The mountain shook with the roar of assent that rose from the throats of every man and woman gathered.
“Nay?” Garen asked. Silence.
Garen bowed to his people, his pride in them great. They were few, but they would never retreat from aiding their fellow beings. He jumped off of the dais, then turned to face Riata. “We are honored to undertake this task, Riata. Where shall we begin?”
“Your path will soon become clear,” Riata said with an enigmatic smile. “In the meantime, rest and enjoy the peace you have worked so hard to earn. I must now say my final farewell. My duties here are at an end.”
“We will miss you, Riata,” Garen said. “Wherever you go, know that you will be remembered and honored by the people of Jasan for all time.” With that, Garen bowed low, as did every Clan Jasani present, including the women holding the circle around her. Riata’s smile was wide, a glimmer of a crystal tear shining on one snowy cheek as she slowly faded away.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laura Jo lives in the Arizona desert with her loving husband, their two children, one very large dog and two interesting cats. Laura Jo loves to hear from her readers. Visit her website at www.laurajophillips.com to see when the next installment in the Orbs of Rathira series is coming, and sign her guestbook. Or, email her directly at [email protected]
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Handbook of the Thousand Worlds
which details lots of interesting information about the people, technology, governments, and other interstellar information about the worlds the Soul-Linked Saga takes place in.
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