Walking back to the stone stairway, Serena turned to take one last look. Everything about the room was just as it had been when she first arrived. Astounding, she thought.
Waving one hand she extinguished the wall sconces and started up the stairway.
CHAPTER XXX
AS TRISTAN TOOK IN HIS NEW SURROUNDINGS, THEmore he saw, the more astounded he became. He was lying atop a silken bed. Xanthus stood beside him, the Darkling’s human face staring down at him worriedly. The Paragon still shone brightly as it hung around Xanthus’ neck.
Turning his head, theJin’Sai saw a group of beings crowded around his bed’s foot. Men and women were in attendance. Each was elderly and wore a glistening white robe.
It took Tristan several moments to find his voice. “Are you the Heretics of the Guild?” he asked.
An elderly woman approached to stand by his bedside. She was tall and graceful, with long, gray hair. Her face was attractive, her expression calm. Her brown eyes seemed to bore their way into his.
“I am Hoskiko, one of Those Who Came Before,” she answered. “Five brothers and sisters of my order are here with me. The other six males and females you see are Heretics of the Guild. We welcome you in peace. You are the firstJin’Sai to reach us. Our world has long awaited your arrival.”
Tristan shook his head. “This can’t be!” he protested. “The Guild and the Ones are at war! I saw an entire army of the Ones destroyed by the Heretics! Why would bitter enemies like yourselves gather together?”
A man stepped forward. Like Hoskiko, he was elderly. His presence was commanding. His hair was gray, his chin strong. There was a resolute look in his eyes.
“It is preciselybecause we are enemies that we gather together,” he said. “My name is Faxon, and I am a Heretic. Like Hoskiko, I lead five specially selected brothers and sisters of my order. But we six Heretics did not kill the Ones’ army-others of our sect did that. We detest violence. Taken as a whole, we are the twelve Envoys of Crysenium.”
Tristan didn’t understand a word of what Faxon said. But he knew one thing-Xanthus had deceived him. He looked up at the Darkling with hate-filled eyes. Grabbing Xanthus’ duster, he roughly pulled him closer.
“You liar!” he said. “You told me you were taking me to the Heretics! Had I known that the Ones would be present, I might have come sooner! Innocent lives could have been spared!”
An immensely sad look overcame Xanthus’ face. To Tristan’s great surprise the Darkling went down on one knee before him and bowed his head. He started to speak, but Hoskiko waved a hand, cutting him off. Surprised by Xanthus’ reaction, Tristan released him.
“Did Xanthus lie to you?” Hoskiko asked Tristan. “Perhaps-but if he did, it was only by omission. If you must be angry with someone, be angry with us Envoys. He was only following our orders.” Hoskiko smiled at the Darkling.
“He did his job exceedingly well,” she added. “You see, Xanthus serves all twelve of us.”
Tristan felt a shudder go through him. Had Wigg, Faegan, and the late Directorate somehow been horribly wrong about the Ones? Xanthus was a servant of the Vagaries-he had said so himself. If the Ones were partly responsible for sending the Darkling through the pass, did the Ones also worship the Vagaries? His mind filled with unanswered questions, theJin’Sai stared worriedly at the twelve figures in the white robes.
Sensing his confusion, Hoskiko took him by the hand. Her touch was warm, reassuring. “Do not fear,” she said. “No harm will befall you here. It’s true that we purposely deceived you. But you must understand that not only were our motives just, but highly needed. After we tell you why you have been summoned, you will go home to Eutracia. We are about to burden you with a sacred mission. Whether it takes a day, a year, or your entire lifetime to finish, it must be done. If you are successful, you will forever change not only every living being’s future, but that of the craft, as well.”
Trying to understand, Tristan took a deep breath. “Are you speaking about Shailiha’s and my destinies?” he asked. “The destinies that are so often mentioned in the Tome?”
Hoskiko nodded. “The same,” she answered.
“I already know that my fate is to combine the craft’s two sides,” Tristan said. “If I should fail or die in my attempt, the burden falls to Shailiha. What I do not understand is why or how this is to be carried out.”
“The Tome has always been unclear on that point, has it not?” Faxon said. He gave Tristan a compassionate but also critical look that reminded him of Wigg. “Even your wizards are the first to admit that things are not always what they seem-especially about the craft.”
“First things first,” Hoskiko said. She held out one hand. “Come with us. There is much to discuss.”
Tristan stood from the bed. At first his legs were wobbly. Looking around again, he found his surroundings awe-inspiring. “Crysenium,” he said softly. “That must be an Old Eutracian word. Where are we?”
“Let us sit,” Hoskiko answered. “Then we will explain.”
Hoskiko took him by the hand. As they walked across the floor, Xanthus and the other Envoys followed. Walking farther, Tristan still couldn’t believe the place’s overpowering majesty. It was like being inside a palace made of azure glass.
They were crossing a huge circular room. It seemed to have been built of some sort of crystalline material, almost giving one the impression that it was made of ice. But that was not so, he realized, because the room’s atmosphere was warm and welcoming.
The spherical chamber was stunning. Azure columns by the dozens reached high into the air, their scrolled tops seeming to support nothing. There was no ceiling, and the sky overhead was blue, with white, fluffy clouds floating through it. The smooth floor and concave walls were made of the same shimmering material as the columns. A lovely melodious sound-much like that that produced by wind chimes on a breezy day-wafted gently through the air.
Although the room was open to the sky, no wind blew though the chamber, nor could Tristan detect any of the normal outdoor sounds one might expect to hear. Then he caught sight of some curved, reflected sunlight high above, and he understood. There was in fact a roof. Made of a clear material, its surface stretched from sidewall to sidewall, covering the entire room. It was breathtaking.
As they walked farther they entered a long hallway. Soon they came to another circular room constructed of the same material as the first one. Tristan saw several closed doors situated in the curved walls. They led to living quarters, he suspected.
At the room’s center sat a round, pure white table encircled by fourteen equally beautiful chairs. Half of the circular wall was devoted to the same transparent material that formed the ceiling in the other room. A beautiful pastoral view, much like the one he and Xanthus had just left behind, beckoned from the other side. Tristan again saw many exotic and unfamiliar plants, birds, and creatures. The scene was mesmerizing.
Hoskiko beckoned everyone to sit. As Tristan took a chair, Hoskiko and Faxon sat on either side of him. Xanthus and the remaining ten Envoys also took seats. Tristan eagerly started to ask a question when Hoskiko touched his hand, requesting that he remain silent. Understanding, he nodded.
Clearly, Hoskiko and Faxon would control these proceedings. The two mystics seemed to possess a quiet, innate power. Wigg, Jessamay, and Faegan each commanded the same type of dignified respect. But in Hoskiko’s and Faxon’s cases, Tristan sensed it far more strongly. Despite his overpowering need for answers, he resolved to be patient.
“First we will introduce ourselves,” Hoskiko said. “You have already become familiar with me, Faxon, and Xanthus.” She looked across the table to the other ten Envoys. “For theJin’Sai ’s edification, will each of you please state your name, and which order you represent?” she asked. “So that theJin’Sai will understand us, we will speak only in his eastern dialect, rather than our own. Is everyone agreed?” Each Envoy nodded his or her consent.
One by one the Envoys told Tristan who they were, and to which order he or she belonged. The three female Ones were Hoskiko, Mitsu, and Sakura. The men were Ichiro, Rinji, and Suzu. Of the Heretics, the men were named Faxon, Arvid, and Balsius. The Heretical women were Alma, Emilia, and Kristin. The Heretics sat as a group on Tristan’s right; the Ones sat on his left. Directly across the table from Tristan and separating the two groups sat Xanthus.
“You are wondering where you are,” Faxon started. “The explanation is not an altogether simple one.” Placing
