Tamara would have gone on forever at this point had Oleander not gently interrupted her discourse.
You have related so much to me already, Sister. Perhaps I should attempt to answer some of your questions before you continue any further?
“Oh,” she said, realizing just how long she had gone on without stopping. “I am so sorry. When I get started, it is often difficult for me to recognize that I am even talking.” She blushed.
You need not apologize to me, Sister. That is one of your virtues. You reveal so much that might otherwise not surface so easily
, Oleander said, putting Tamara immediately at ease once more.
She had quickly grown accustomed to ‘hearing’ the Lalas speak to her without any audible sound reaching her ears, and she found it comforting and exceedingly personal. The feeling of intimacy made her even more relaxed in his presence, as he proceeded to enlighten her without any further hesitation regarding her reason for journeying here .
You have been chosen, Sister. And having you now before me, I am confident that the choice was as it should have been
, he said seriously, causing Tamara to redden again.
Nevertheless, it is not an easy charge that I must now issue to you, despite the certitude I have in your ability to execute it
, Oleander continued.
You must remove the map from the Tower and then transport it a great distance, across difficult and barren terrain, to a place that no living creature has visited in countless tiels.
You must locate the Well at the End of the World, in the dead city of Odelot on the far western coast of your land. Once there, you shall cast the scroll down the well
, he said.
It must not remain in Parth any longer.
Tamara was dumbstruck. Liam’s strong hand remained upon her forearm, and had it not been there, she feared she may have swooned and fallen to the ground. His touch comforted her and she maintained her stance, though her knees wobbled and she could feel her entire body shaking. She could do nothing but stammer in response to Oleander’s words.
I understand your concern, Sister. This is no trivial matter that you must now deal with, and certainly one that you did not anticipate when you courageously agreed to come see me. But the fabric weaves of its own will as we so often say, and it is your turn to insert your own unique thread into the cloth
, the Lalas continued.
The possibility of discovery has become too real. Parth must never become a beacon for those whom wickedness has led inexorably astray. Even now, it draws the attention of the Lord of Darkness whilst the scroll still resides within its tower. The urgency is upon you, Sister.
Tamara took a deep breath, as was her way when she needed to settle herself under difficult circumstances. She straightened her sleeves and pulled her cape around her shoulders. Standing up as tall as she could, she raised her chin and looked at Oleander. Suddenly, she realized just how truly magnificent he was, and the aura that enveloped him and encompassed her in its wake was indescribable. For a brief moment, she believed that she was capable of doing what he asked of her.
The journey will be a difficult one, and it will require stamina and steadfastness on your part. You have proven not only to your Sisters in Parth but also to yourself as well that you are a truly adept woman. Your strengths are many. They will serve you well in the days to come.
She gathered her courage in order to respond to this incredible request. Taking a deep breath, she finally spoke.
“I am honored that you have so much confidence in me. Honestly, I am terribly surprised that it is me to whom you have assigned this task. My life has been such a simple one so far, it is almost beyond my comprehension to envision the role I have been ascribed.”
Tamara stopped briefly, pursed her lips, and pinched the bridge or her nose with her fingers.
“What will become of the Sisters after I have gone off with the scroll? The Tomes indicated that their purpose may have changed. This though, would leave them with no purpose at all. Is it possible after all these tiels, that they have merely harbored the map only in order to see it destroyed?” she asked. “To what shall the Tower now turn to for meaning?”
It is not for us to determine what patterns will emerge from this change
, Oleander said rather abruptly in response.
Something nagged at Tamara. She could not put her finger upon it, but she sensed ever so slightly, that the Lalas was annoyed that she asked those questions. She also had this strong feeling that would not pass, that Oleander was keeping something from her. Proving over and over again that she had been the perfect choice for this journey, she boldly continued to question the tree and to suppress her own fears in that regard.
“There is more that I am not being told,” she said, staring into the lush branches before her. “What is it that you fear to tell me? You have deemed me qualified to carry out your directives, yet you do not afford me with all that you could. Why?” she asked.
I choose to divulge only what I feel that I must. Knowledge does not always provide the comfort that you might hope it would
, he answered sharply.
Tamara glanced to her right, and she noticed that during this interaction, Liam stood by her side. He neither moved nor spoke, but the look upon his face was not serene as it had been since she had met him. He too grimaced at Oleander’s words.
Parth is a place of great power. It was built upon a convergence of pathways. For tiels, information passed freely across them and the network remained intact, allowing all the trees to communicate freely and for the Tower to act as a conduit. The residue of potency remains ingrained within the very stones themselves.
Oleander paused briefly before he began to communicate with her again, and a solemn hush settled instantly upon the shielded area in the absence of his dialogue. It seemed to Tamara as if time itself had ceased to pass.
We are no longer able to interact as we once had
, he said mournfully.
So many of my brothers and sisters have departed of late. It has become harder and harder to continue uninterrupted the stream that has always sustained us all and made us as one
, he stated.
But, the energy that passes through there remains strong within the very foundations of the Tower, and will for all time. It is secure and will always be so. It is also a place of great magic. The Sisters will learn of their abilities in time, as have you, Tamara. The others do not reside there by coincidence
, Oleander said.
One cannot live in such a hallowed and potent place without being touched by the power, though they may not yet know it, the Lalas explained. Such revelations must be exposed gently. Use your discretion when you return
, he advised.
Parth’s new role will emerge in time. The patterns are changing. The Tower will receive many visitors in the days to come, and some of them will help to define its new purpose
, he said, pausing momentarily.
The Lalas’ voice was deep and melodious within Tamara’s head. Yet now it was tinged with sadness, and although she sensed once again that he spoke truthfully, as he must, she still believed that he, regardless, kept something important from her.
Parth will continue in its role as protector. It is a spring that will continue to succor those who have the greatest need of its sustenance and sanctuary. But, the ancient scroll must be removed from within its walls. More than that, I cannot say.
Liam put his arm around Tamara’s shoulder and gently guided her toward a dense line of foliage to their right. She followed the Chosen reluctantly, as she still yearned for more information from Oleander. Before stepping through the curtain of smaller trees that ringed the area, she turned once again to the Lalas.
“I will do as you ask, of course. Or should I say, I will try my best to do what you ask of me. But I must be forthright, as is my nature,” Tamara said, staring blankly at the ground beneath her feet while she was fraught with conflicting emotions. She hesitated for a moment, pawing the earth just like her pony would have, before speaking again in a more serious tone than she had ever used before. “If we of the Tower of Parth have harbored the map for so many countless tiels, and I am asked to only now cast it into the depths of this well, never to be seen again, what was the point of all of our labors? We always assumed that we protected this scroll so that when the quest for the Gem began anew, we could render it unto those who were destined to use it. Could we have been so badly mistaken for so very long?”
Oleander rustled his leaves, as if surprised by this woman’s temerity.
I cannot answer why the cloth has taken on this sheen, Sister. It may once have been that such a pattern was envisioned by some. But, the future is not a finished product that can be described from previous sightings, but rather, a living tapestry that evolves as the countless threads twist and turn upon one another. I can only tell you what you must do now. What you have done in the past has already left its mark upon the fabric.
Oleander’s tone indicated he would divulge no more about this subject at this time.
“You are wiser than I could ever imagine, Oleander. Wise beyond measure. I am a novice, a girl who has done no more in her life than grow vegetables and read books, and create foods to satisfy my and my Sisters’ palates. I have lived by my instincts all my life, and often they led me to no more than embarrassment. But they have rarely lied to me. I pray to the First that I am just a foolish girl, and that now my concerns are derived from my fears alone.”
In many ways, Sister, I am no wiser than you. I simply listen to the heartbeat of the earth. My ability to do so is just greater than yours. If you observe and feel, you can sense all that you need to. Your power is as great as you wish it to be. When the moment comes, you will do what is right. It will become as clear to you then as your doubts seem to you now.
A branch dipped low before her and stopped just an inch or so from her eyes. Hanging from the slender tip was a large leaf. Rather than obeying the laws of gravity and pointing downward as it seemed it should have, it formed a cup-like container with its spiked ends extending upward all around it. Cradled within this green-veined oval was a nut-like object, brown and smooth.
Take it
, Oleander urged.
It will help you to enlighten the Sisters.
“Thank you,” Tamara said humbled, her concerns momentarily assuaged.
She reached into the vessel and picked up the offering. It felt warm to the touch, and she examined it closely.
“What shall I do with it?” she asked, confused. “Must I crack it open?”
Simply place it before you when you address the Sisters, and then your own instincts will guide you from thence, I have no doubt
, he said.
Tamara secured it carefully in the inside pocket of her cape.
“You have been kinder than I could ever have hoped,” she said, and then backed a pace or two away from him, knocking into Liam as she moved. “I will go now,” the sister replied reluctantly, feeling Liam’s steadying grip upon her shoulder. “But, I must ask you one final question before I leave,” she stated so characteristically. “Must I make this journey alone, or can I call upon one of my Sisters to accompany me?”
Yes, Tamara, you certainly may if you so choose. But select your companion carefully, so that your choice will be one that will benefit you. Consider what you are charged with, and make certain that the Sister is one whose loyalty will serve you on your journey, not interfere with what you must do. But take not the burden of your decision personally. Your fate and the fate of whomever you elect to accompany you is not your responsibility, though you alone shall make the choice. Companionship can be a boon to your spirit and to your safety. Let it not be an obligation that tempts you to stray from your charge
, he warned.
“I will weigh my decision with that in mind,” she said nodding, briefly contemplating his words. She then bowed her head to the great tree before her. Accompanied by Liam, she walked through the hedge that immediately gave way to the Chosen’s pressure.
Once they passed through the dense line of bushes, the wonderful odor of Lalas diminished, and Liam turned to face Tamara. He looked gravely into her eyes before speaking. The look was troubled, and Tamara’s concerns once again flooded her consciousness.
“You are not one to be dismissed lightly, Sister,” he spoke. “You ask many questions.”
“I always have. Some think it will be my undoing,” she snickered.
“I consider it a virtue,” he replied.
“Thank you,” she blushed again. “What bothers you then, Liam?” she asked of the Chosen, sensing a continuing discomfort on his part.
“The doubts that you voiced to Oleander have occurred to me as well. In all the years that we have been companions, I have never felt that he concealed anything from me. Yet recently, I feel that he has withdrawn somewhat. Perhaps it is a sign of the great changes that are occurring everywhere. But, I am not content with that answer. It disturbs me greatly, and I have neither had the opportunity nor inclination to divulge this to anyone until now,” he said, with a sincerity that stirred Tamara’s emotions. “When you expressed the same concern, I could not help but confer this to you.”
Tamara was astonished once more that a Chosen would confide in her in such a way, and she was deeply moved. She also felt an empathy for him that tore at her heart. “I am honored that you feel that you can tell me these things, Liam. I do not know what I can do though, to alleviate your concern,” she answered honestly.
“I have never before felt alone with Oleander by my side. But, these times bring great changes to us all. It is not only the purpose of the Tower that is shifting. Alas, I fear that what was will never be again, and I cannot foresee the patterns that await us.”
“I have never been accustomed to looking for them, so I do not trouble myself over the fact that the future remains a mystery to me,” she answered.
“You are wise to confine your expectations reasonably. I have not had that luxury. Oleander has been my guide, and I have been his voice in the world for so long. Until now, we have acted almost as one,” Liam explained. “Presently, I must accept what I cannot alter. He will not forsake me. Our love for one another is deep and true,” he said, as if to apologize to Tamara for confiding in her. “You though, are remarkable to have had the temerity to question him as you did.”