1-001- 'The Beginning or Ending of all things...’

Thoughts and Comments Welcome-

‘To reach the beginning, you must start in the middle,

And to attain the finish, you must comprehend all things.

Time goes ever forward,

But knowledge learns always from the past.’  -  ZoeStethos

‘The child has arrived and is hurrying on to an uncertain destiny.  Today will prove to be the beginning or ending of all things...’

The person sat back, eyes aching from haunting visions of twisted destinies, head pounding because of a distorted musical uncertainty playing its disenchanting melodies, along with a heart being overwhelmed with dread concerning future days.

All life hung upon a thread - the choice of a moment, the beat of a troubled heart… and little could the Maker of Worlds do than trust it to the wisdom of a very impetuous child who drew now ever closer to this uncertain destiny.

Chimes of the great clock sounded in the person’s ears.  How many times had it called out to the distress of nations?  How many children could no longer hear the beautiful music it made?  Was it ten million, a hundred million, maybe more?  This one, sitting back waiting for the arrival of a treasured, precious child, did not recall.  What the person did know was that the belly of hell was not yet satisfied.

With head shaking from side to side, tears began.  Should the Empire win this coming conflagration, even though the child may prove wise, many times those who had already gone to their deaths would fall to Wrath’s coming storms.  Should they lose?  Well, that could not be allowed, even if it cost the lives of all the children of the Empire…the universe.

The person stood, walking onto a balcony, looking down on a jungle of greenery seen nowhere else but here, the lone remaining peaceful bastion in this tempestuous universe.

Sighing quiet remorse that no others were allowed to sense, a musical cry of dismay went out to the breeze, a cry of bitter lament from a ‘wanton heart that sought only selfish cravings to never feel alone’.

“Lo, foolish dreamer, your wish come true,

To sense the world with heart imbued.

Doth now the vial of bitter brew,

Its caustic taste your heart renew?

And now Rhiannon in oath does take,

To bind her children to an evil fate.

For should the world be made anew,

It first must pass through this witch’s brew.”

The person looked off toward the sound of the great clock as it chimed its last refrain.  Then, with head bent down in sadness, this Maker of Worlds turned and slowly retreated into the darkness of hidden rooms to await the  of the coming Fates.

*    *    *

Enjoy other posts: 

Prologue,

Destiny's Road 1-001, 1-002, 1-003, 1-004, 1-005, 1-006, 1-007, 1-008, 1-009,

1-010, 1-011, 1-012, 1-013, 1-014, 1-015, 1-016, 1-017, 1-018, 1-019, 1-020,

1-021, 1-022, 1-023, 1-024 & 1-025

Of Councils Great and Small 2-026, 2-027, 2-028, 2-029, 2-030, 2-031, 

2-032, 2-033, 2-034, 2-035, 2-036, 2-037, 2-038, 2-039, 2-040, 2-041, 2-042, 

2-043, 2-044, 2-045, 2-046, 2-047, 2-048, 2-049 & 2-050 

Legend's Heroes 3-051, 3-052, 3-053, 3-054, 3-055, 3-056, 3-057, 3-058,

3-059, 3-060, 3-061, 3-062, 3-063, 3-064, 3-065, 3-066, 3-067, 3-068, 3-069,

3-070, 3-071, 3-072, 3-073, 3-074 & 3-075

Forges of Hell 4-076, 4-077, 4-078, 4-079, 4-080, 4-081, 4-082, 4-083, 4-084,

4-085, 4-086, 4-087, 4-088, 4-089, 4-090, 4-091, 4-092, 4-093, 4-094, 4-095,

4-096, 4-097, 4-098, 4-099 & 4-100

Or find your own book at:

Amazon.com; Smashwords.com; 

Diesel-Ebooks.com, BN.com; ebookstore.sony.com

Large Paperback and Ebook Available

Amazon.com & Smashwords.com

1-010, Winter Gardens A Grand Expanse

Mihai lingered with her companions until they reached the Winter Gardens, located at the convergence of four wide concourses.  The gardens were a grand expanse of exotic flowers, shrubs and trees, crisscrossed by dozens of walking trails.  A bubbling stream with its own waterfall completed the scene.  Of course, there were many hidden, secluded corners where benches and tables had been conveniently placed for the wanderer’s benefit.

Indulging herself in the fresh, mist-filled air, Mihai sucked in a long, deep breath and exclaimed, “It’s always early summer here, like the after-breath of a late day shower.”  

1-009, " . . . They Make Me Feel Sexy . . ."

Zadar leaned close, nuzzling against Mihai in a sensual embrace, and whispered romantically, “Because they make me feel sexy...”

Mihai pushed him away and laughed.  “Feel sexy?!  Zadar, you have never felt anything but sexy!  From the day of your coming of age, you have chased the ewe.  Your first lover surrendered you up to her sisters before your days with her were to end, worn out and in need of rest.  She said of you, ‘But for necessity of food and drink, we would have grown to the bed!’”

Zadar looked abashed, then grinned.  “That aside, these clothes can still make you feel...well...special.”  He put his arm around Mihai.  “The council isn’t going to assemble until evening.  Do you want to come with us to the Winter Gardens?  That’s where we are to join up with the others.  I’m sure we could find some brandy there...”

1-008, 'This Council Meeting Is A Secret'

She spread her arms wide, drawing both her companions close, speaking in little more than a whisper, confiding, “I told no one I was coming.  This council meeting is secret, at least it is to be for the moment.  I believe my lieutenants are trustworthy, but…let’s just say not all secrets remain secrets. I didn’t dare trust the enemy finding out about my absence.”

Mihai changed the subject.  Looking at Zadar and Darla’s attire, she commented, “It must have been some fancy gathering you two were at last night.”  She was justified in the statement, as the couple was dressed in sheer, silky, ankle-length garments.

Darla’s attire was more feminine in cut, gathered at the waist, accented by a diamond-studded belt.  It also had an open bodice, with golden lace sweeping down from her shoulders and around her exposed breasts, which refused to be hidden under her knee-length cape of woven silk, gold and silver.  A pair of white, laced sandals finished the woman’s apparel.  Her braided locks, although disheveled, were festooned with rings of diamond-studded gold.  With her dangly ear-fobs, three bejeweled gold necklaces and jingling anklets, she was quite an alluring sight.

1-007, '. . . I Have Missed Your Company . . .'

Mihai’s dark feelings quickly faded and her eyes began to twinkle.  “I would have been grateful if you had brought that brandy with you.”

Darla pretended to clear her throat.  Getting their attention, she asked, “So, am I just an abandoned soul now?  Tossed by the wayside like a discarded toy?”

Mihai laughed.  “Oh yes, we could cast you aside as easily as one does a winter tempest.”  She looked into Darla’s emerald-green eyes, pondering, ‘A person could become lost in those fathomless pools and never want to return.’

Letting go Zadar’s hands, she reached out and held the girl in another embrace.  “Oh, my dear Darla, I have missed your company for so long!”

1-006, 'An Evil Madness Lurks'

Darla released Mihai, holding her at arm’s length and the two stared into each other’s eyes.  Mihai pondered the wonders of her sister.  ‘How beautiful she is, and still with the seeming innocence of a carefree little girl.  Seeing her here, who would ever guess an evil madness lurks, hiding in her mind.  She covers it well, with her finery of silk and gold, makeup and twinkling eyes.  But I know…I know that this child has not seen even one day of peace in her troubled life.’

A spark of hope ignited in Mihai’s own troubled heart as she watched Darla’s placid face.  She lowered her head, speaking wistfully.  “This place has the ability to lift the darkness from the mind.  May it also do the same for me...”

1-005, 'Abandoning the Fleet'

At Candletoe, a distant outpost, the woman first noticed this voice calling to her, beseeching her to journey here.  She regretted abandoning the fleet at such a perilous time, but what else could be done?  There was a tone of urgency in the request, a pleading on the part of the one making it.  And to be called here, to the Royal Palace, could only mean the summons was of greatest importance.

Sounding of hurried footsteps descending a hidden staircase in the North Guard Tower startled the woman.  Reaching for the dagger at her side, she crouched in battle preparedness.  Then, eyeing the tower’s opening, she listened and waited.  Footfalls echoed from the passageway and off the metal gates, confusing her ears as to the number of feet on the stairs.  An instant more and she would know if the approaching feet were that of friend or foe.

1-004, 'Its Kaleidoscopic Display'

Nor was beauty lost on the secrets hidden behind the marble walls.  Ornate patchworks of courtyards, orchards and gardens nestled along the trails and broadways, a rainbow hue of bright, scented flowers scattered throughout the dark green mats of shrubs and bushes, exciting one’s emotions with its kaleidoscopic display.  Flagstone roads of red, blue and green crisscrossed this expanse of luscious growth, sweeping in like a sea around the base of the walls.

“Enough of that!”  The woman sputtered, shaking her head to clear it of seemingly useless memories.  She started toward the gates along the jasmine-lined roadway leading into Palace City.

1-003, ''Grandeur of These Sights'

Squinting, the woman shaded her eyes to view the surrounding landscape, the silent grandeur of these sights vividly impressive.  Giant leaved gates made from exotic, shimmering metal, delicately engraved with intriguing designs and runes stretched outward like two great arms, beckoning one to come forward and receive their ever-opened embrace.  Massive pivots, buried deep within the walls’ two opposing circular guard towers supported them.

These imposing gates paled next to the fortress towers and walled battlements whose marbled heights rose well over eighty cubits before reaching the open roadway traversing the wall.  From there it was another sixty cubits to the roofed battlements of the towers.  Black, polished onyx inset with chrysolite and other precious jewels, crowned both the towers and imposing ramparts.

1-002, 'Creating An Illusion'

The speeder eased to a stop outside the opened entrance of an ancient blue marble wall.  This pearl-white auto-car sat motionless, hovering just above the pavement, a subdued humming noise coming from its motor, opaque windows keeping secret any mysteries hidden within.

From a cloudless sky, the heat of the morning sun pressed upon the day.  Steam from a late-night shower rose from pavement bricks and surrounding stones, vanishing as a mist in the summer air.  Shrubs and trees in surrounding gardens dripped with a welcome deluge of the night, while little harvester ants scurried about, busy at their duties, as sunlight reflected off glistening water droplets, creating an illusion of a world filled with sparkling diamonds.