As Jal’s final year of school ended the days flew by in a fast blur. Jal had worked out an agreement with Master Neve that it could continue to fill orders, but things would come to an end in three months. Jal located an herbalist that would advise it regularly but didn’t expect to review assignments weekly.
It asked for a meeting with Director Kuria Watene at the Peace Foundation and asked her to write letters of recommendation to the university in Kop and the one in Nik. It went to Dr. Gyasi, Dr. Vallino, and Luminary Yagyasan and asked each one to write a reference letter too. Finally, Jal went for interviews at both places. It had explained that it wouldn’t be able to attend for a year but wanted to ensure that it would have a spot the following year.
Each interviewer had asked what was so important that Jal was delaying its entrance. One had asked if it were ill, and the other had assumed that there were family matters that needed to be addressed. Jal assured them that nothing was wrong, but that instead it had the support of Luminary Yagyasan to do some scientific research on Shifos. Two weeks later, Jal was offered a spot at both places, and was told it could decide at the end of the year if it would attend.
On Jal’s last day of classes, it called Eiske to warn him of an impending blizzard. “Bring the chickens into the house, Eiske!” When Eiske asked Jal if it had lost its mind, Jal told him that a lot of people were going to die. Jal had carried the Ridali flock inside, two by two, then toted several bags of grain, bales of straw, and watering bottles into the house.
Two days into the new year, a catastrophic blizzard hit Iragos Peninsula. It lasted nearly a week and dropped over two meters of snow. When Jan found out what Jal had done, it went into the tower’s small sanctuary to inspect the damage the chickens were doing. At first it hollered and carried on about Jal being disrespectful and rude. After Jan calmed down, it realized that the flock of chickens was clucking contentedly as they sat on eggs they had laid on the pews. The two roosters stood on the tops of the pew backs and crowed loudly.
“If Grandfather knew about this, I wonder what he’d say?” Jan said to Jal.
“He’d probably wonder how we managed to forget to put the roosters in separate cages,” Jal said dryly. “I’m sorry I forgot to do that. There’ll be chicks in three weeks or so.”
Eiske contacted Jal about two weeks after the blizzard was over. “I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner, Jal. Things have been a mess. So many people died – over sixty here in the valley.” He listed some of the names, and Jal recognized some of his classmates. “People went out to take care of their animals, but the tunnels they made between the houses and outbuildings collapsed. I’m glad you told me ahead of time that it was coming. I was able to convince your grandparents to prepare for the storm. We brought a lot of wood inside in case the power went off. Our section of the grid was fine, but the homes on the east side of the village were so cold. Some people weren’t prepared, and they froze to death.”
Jan heard Jal talking that evening and came up to its room to see who it was talking to. “The weather patterns aren’t stable enough to transport safely,” Jal was telling Luk. “The weather forecasters haven’t said anything, but I know there’s another big storm coming. I won’t chance it.”
“I don’t understand,” Luk responded. “How can you know, but the weather people don’t?”
“I just know. I can’t explain it. I’ll contact you in a week.” He signed off.
“Are you sure, Jal? I thought you were taking the chickens back out this week.”
“No, Jan. We can’t. I’m sorry. I’ll clean the whole room as best I can in the morning, then bring in clean straw for bedding.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“I hope you’re wrong. Have you contacted Eiske?”
“I have. I hope I’m wrong too.” It was silent for a long minute. “I had a dream. I stepped into the transport ring of a spell and ended up in a place that looked like that casino in Nik.”
Jal paced around its room and up and down the tower when the second blizzard started. “Jal, what is it?” Jan tried to distract it.
“I think there are earthquakes happening on Shifos, Jan.”
“What? Have you heard a news report?”
“No.”
“Where exactly on Shifos, Jal?”
“I’m not sure. I’m really worried, Jan. I think it’s the whole continent.”
“I’m going to call Eleni Petrides. Maybe she has information.” Jal followed Jan to the desk in the sitting room and listened as Jan spoke to the Zibran Ambassador.
“Scientists have detected a huge shift in the tectonic plates here, Jan. The reports are that the southern end is feeling the shift and its causing tidal waves all around the southern coasts. We’ve issued alerts nationwide to clear the coastal areas. Fortunately people are moving inland. I’m worried about the people in Haybuti.”
“Okay, I’ll make some calls and send some messages,” Jan assured her and said goodbye. “Jal, I need to work for a while. The new government leaders haven’t formed a tight group yet. I need to call them and help them get the word out...” his voice trailed off. “Jal? What is it?”
Jal sat hunched over as it sat on the couch. “What if someone’s using taenrine, Jan?”
Jan tried to remember what taenrine was. “That’s an incredibly volatile substance, isn’t it?”
“Those articles that I read months ago when we were in the contested area! I don’t know why they’ve come to mind. A scientist said they could affect the tectonic plates. Could that be what’s going on? How would it affect the northern part of the continent?”
***
“I’d like everyone’s attention, please!” Dr. Gyasi called out. He thanked the people who had gathered together for their patience in the process of putting the expedition together. As Jal sent out documents to everyone’s tablets, the scientist explained that there were thirty-one people in the group. He went over the training schedule for the next three months, then paused for questions.
Seeing that there were none, Dr. Gyasi pointed out the locations where group members needed to go to be fitted for boots, fighting gear, and shields. There was grumbling in the back of the group. “Fighting gear? Who are we fighting? I didn’t sign up to fight!”
“We clearly stated that the shields and gear would be necessary, because we don’t know what kind of animals or people we’ll encounter.” He moved through a few more reminders, then introduced Sali.
She stepped into the middle of the circle and turned around as she spoke. After a quick poll to see if anyone had experience climbing mountains, she created six groups. Each small group was led to a different area in the large facility. Instructors went through the parts of the climbing gear and began to teach the participants how to go up the walls.
After several hours of practice, food and drinks were served. Each person was asked to stand, introduce themselves, and share what their personal goals were for the expedition.
Luminary Yagyasan addressed the group, reminded them of their nondisclosure agreements, and began a discussion about how the news of life on the west side of the Megace Mountains would impact the world. There was a consensus that it would shake the people’s confidence in the Luminaries. When a participant asked why no one had known about this previously, the Luminary had no explanation, except to admit that the Luminaries were human and like everyone else, made mistakes and sometimes failed when it came to communication with other people.
Sali mixed the participants up and sent them off with instructors for more practice. By late afternoon, everyone had been up and down the practice walls multiple times. When the group disbanded for the day, Dr. Gyasi and Jal stood with Sali in the corner of the room.
“Come on, Jal,” Sage Elvan called from the door. Jal went and explained that it needed a few minutes to wrap things up.
“We need to make a quick evaluation of how things went,” Jal said when it returned.
“Nearly everyone was enthusiastic and interested.”
“Nearly everyone?” Jal asked. “Someone wasn’t.” It saw Jan tilt its head as if it was listening. “Is there another room we can step into?”
In an office, Dr. Gyasi noted the names of the three people who seemed to be struggling. Jal noted them on its electronic tablet. They briefly evaluated Sali’s staff, and after she left the room, Jal and Dr. Gyasi discussed the conversation that the Luminary had led.
“This whole thing makes me nervous,” Jal admitted. “I feel like I’m waiting for something terrible to happen.”
“We need to focus on the fact that we are connecting these people with the rest of the world,” Dr. Gyasi reminded Jal. “Let’s let the Luminaries do their jobs. We have enough to think about.”