The Sage Seed Chronicles: The Unraveling (24 page)

A woman in front raised her hand. “Do the
archives say why we have the quakes? The storms are troublesome but
we have had years with bad storms. It’s the quakes that bother
me.”

“You make an excellent point about the
weather and you are completely correct that we have had years with
weather like this. The quakes are a combination of things that are
unique to our world. The archives tell us that our planet, it is
called Ose by the way, has geomagnetic energy. There are areas on
our planet that act as batteries for that energy. Somehow the
connection between the energy and the planet’s battery has come
loose. Think about your windmill. The wind would still blow,
creating energy, but if the connection to the battery had shaken
free or had become corroded, then the battery wouldn’t charge and
we wouldn’t have stored energy that we could direct in our homes.
The other thing that is throwing a tool into the works is that we
are coming up on a total eclipse. It should happen in about nine
days. That will really kick up the tectonic activity and the tides.
We need to have our ‘repairs’ in place by then.”

“Now the ancients left us some instructions.
Each founder city has this type of post and open space
arrangement.” He gestured to the area behind them. The people
looked around and nodded. “What we didn’t know is that this is a
very special place. The posts are supposed to form a hexagon around
a spot that is sort of like a pulse point, or battery connection
for the planet.” He tapped the inside of his wrist. “This
geo-energy thin spot is called a henge and every founder city has
one. We found instructions and have made special glow stones to cap
each post and a special disc to go in the center. These things will
be installed and will help bring Ose’s geomagnetic battery charge
up to strength. We are making a rapid trip throughout the realm to
make sure that each founder city has them installed before the
eclipse. Things should settle down after that. Does that answer
your question?” She had a stunned look on her face but she and
others were slowly nodding.

Gyan looked around for another hand and
pointed to a man standing near Drune. “You said witches were a
troublesome rumor. I have heard that one myself. It seems that they
are more understandable than the batteries. Can you explain?”

Gyan nodded. “I have to admit that the
planet’s battery connection seems hard to grasp but it is sort of
what is happening. Witches are stories. Planetary dynamics and
batteries are science. One is fiction and the other is fact. The
ancients were very, very intelligent and they understood things
with greater depth than we can. So sorry if my attempts to explain
something that is a bit beyond my training seems lacking.” He
shrugged and grinned. Several people smiled back and a few glared
at the man.

“As to the question of witches. Witches are
only in children’s stories and even in those stories they couldn’t
cause quakes or bring storms. If you think about it, we are all
suffering through this turbulent time. If we had witches they would
be suffering too. Why would they do that? There is no place in this
realm that is unaffected. It is happening to everyone. If we look
to the stories, the witches didn’t bleed! Everyone I have met
bleeds. What this has set up is a very dangerous situation where
some folks get together and they decide who may be a witch then
they try to kill them.”

“Bure and his kin started the rumor. They
murdered eight people. One of the victims was his aunt who lovingly
raised him. The man was crazy sick in the head and certainly not to
be believed. A couple of weeks ago the guild caravan was attacked.
They wanted to kill Alliz and Flar. I have known both of those
women all of their lives. Not only do they bleed but they are
simply good people.”

“In Sawblen, a few days ago, there was a mob
of people who were trying to kill innocent folks. If they had been
successful they would have joined Bure, banished forever in
Obsidian. Luckily they were stopped. As punishment they have had
their heads shaved and tattooed with the word ‘witch’. The
ringleaders have further, lost all social and guild status and are
doing a years worth of labor for the community. Think well before
you go down that road.” He looked to the man who had asked. “Did I
clarify that point?” The man made a small nod.

Another hand went up and Gyan pointed to the
person to speak. “The pest problem is awful. Mice and vesi are
everywhere. Bugs are biting people something fierce. Part of the
witch rumor was that owls and skunks were evil and should be
killed. That confuses me. Do you have any information on that?”

Gyan’s smile beamed at the woman asking the
question. “The ancients made sure that our planet had everything to
keep it in balance. The mice, vesi and bugs are kept in check by
animals and birds that eat them, such as skunks and owls. In turn
those larger wild ones are kept in balance by their food supply and
by animals that eat them. Bure and his kin started the witch's evil
familiars story. They went out of their way to find and kill all
skunks. Then the weather created a great breeding condition for the
pests, their populations multiplied and... there aren’t any skunks
to eat the pesky things.” He held out his hands is an open shrug. A
voice in the back called out. “Sounds like crazy Bure really messed
us all up!”

“I agree with you. But here is a ray of hope.
There is a device created by the ancients back in Aerie.” He drew
out the pendant. “It allowed me to communicate with the animals. I
talked to some skunks there and they agreed to come here and eat as
many mice, vesi and bugs as they can. I have brought fifteen to
this province and fifteen to Pastarham. They will stay out of your
way and will not spray you unless they or their young are
threatened. Respect their space and leave them alone. They will
work on your pests. Last night an injured owl flew in. It had been
shot at. We patched it up and sent it on its way. The owls are
eating the pests also. Leave them alone. Am I making myself clear
on this?” He looked the crowd over and glanced at Erin and Drune.
They subtly nodded.

“Each of us has a role. Your officials are
fixing the henge. We are listening to you and sharing information.
We are also getting each city prepared. Your role is to not blame
your neighbors, human or animal and to work with us. My group will
leave soon but your officials have more information, should you
have questions. If you come up with one that stumps them they will
contact me and you will get an answer. I am proud to work with you.
Thank you!” He got cheers and though Erin and Drune had their
‘door’ wide open they didn’t hear any resentment or anger.

Gyan met them in the small dining room set
aside for their lunch with the city officials. He raised his
eyebrows and said softly, “What did you find?”

Erin answered. “We have six enhancers. The
henge is just like Ree’s. Keir said it was very old and not for the
same reason as the city henges.”

Drune nodded “It wasn’t made by us. Most
likely by the ancients. The posts knew we were sages and didn’t
mind our presence. I am looking forward to hearing from Lor.” Gyan
looked thoughtful. “Interesting.” is all that he said.

Immediately after lunch the company left
Morraton. The horses were rested and Erin had spoken to Kennet’s
team. They were going to do their best to keep up with the riders.
Tempo was in Kennet’s wagon as she figured that Pastarham was the
second most volatile province.

They kept up their speed to the bridge
knowing that if they could make that by late afternoon they could
meet their goal of Osily for the night. The clouds that were
rolling in had an unhealthy color. It made everybody uneasy. Not
knowing what was brewing Erin kept circulating and talking to the
horses as she rode along side of them. They clattered across the
stone bridge in late afternoon on schedule. Kennet lagged behind
wanting to take the bridge at a little slower pace. Erin pulled
back until she was assured that they were across.

Luna was well up in the sky but Cear hadn’t
yet peeked over the horizon when they pulled up in front of the
stables and corral of Osily. Erin helped unload the horses. The
security men would take care of the animals’ cool down and would
groom them. Kennet pulled in and she helped unharness his team. She
wanted to reassure the animals because she had a feeling that the
weather was going to throw something nasty at them. Tempo was to
discreetly hunt in and behind the barn. Keir and a healing Nuit
were going to keep a watchful eye for trouble. Gyan and Drune were
patiently waiting for Erin and Bast to finish their rapid rounds. A
pile of packs were at their feet.

The four of them had just shouldered their
packs and were moving toward the center city entrance when Mayor
Peyr came out with his legist and city elder to greet them.
“Welcome, Gyan! Come have dinner with us and tell us how you are
going to fix this.” He waved a hand at the sky and the general
outdoors. Erin noted that his city ‘green’ was rectangular shaped
and had four posts. Of the three cities they had visited, all three
had modified the original pattern. She noticed Gyan’s quick glance
at the henge also. The Mayor had continued to talk as he led them
into the city and to a smaller dining room. “I have rooms set aside
for most of your party. I understand that part of your detail will
stay in our plain but comfortable stable.”

The dining room was well lit with the new
light amber glow stones and seven places were set at the table. As
soon as they sat down, people entered and set the food on the table
then left and closed the doors. “We will have a late evening
reception then a public meeting tomorrow at midmorning. Now, I want
to hear how you are going to stop this planet from kicking up!”

Gyan smiled at Peyr. “You are going to be
part of this fix, man, but first let me tell you what we have
learned from the ancient’s archives and what I have brought you.”
he put up his hand to forestall the comment ready to burst from
Peyr. “I have more for you than skunks. Part of the planet ‘kicking
up’ is that its geomagnetic energy vibrations are less strong than
they should be. Each founder city was located where it was because
of three reasons. The first two we all know: geothermal energy
vents and the right type of rock and cliff formation.” The three
men across the table nodded. Gyan continued. “We found that there
was a third reason and this is where you come in. Each founder city
has an outer courtyard with six posts around it.” He looked at Peyr
and raised his eyebrow at the word ‘six’. “The shape was a hexagon
and the posts framed a special area that, for lack of a better
analogy, was an energy pulse point for the planet. The ancients
called such areas enclosed by posts, henges. We have brought you
six special glow stone caps that I had made to the ancients
specifications. They need to be mounted atop each post in your
hexagon. Then there is a particular disc that has to be buried in
the henge center. It is important to get these in place right away
as there is a total eclipse in nine days. That will rattle things
but it also should reset the energy harmonics at that time.”

Gyan took advantage of the stunned silence to
get several bites of dinner in him. Peyr finally spoke. “You left
the timing pretty tight, Gyan!”

Gyan shrugged and continued to eat. He nodded
at Drune who took up the narrative. “Gyan has been searching the
archives for months. It was Erin,” and he nodded to the young woman
beside him, “who found the key to finding the knowledge. The
ancients hid the information in pieces over about twenty books.
Twenty books in a library of over a thousand books. As soon as we
were on to the key we found the instructions, had the necessary
items crafted and were on the road in two and a half days. As for
the eclipse...” Drune shrugged, “we are moving as fast as we can
through the realm. We have three stops left that we know we have to
make. That’s why it is necessary that we each have tasks to get
done.” He took a bite, awaiting the next salvo.

The three city officials started exclaiming
and blaming each other about the henge being a four post rectangle
instead of a six post hexagon. Erin had finished eating and looked
to Gyan, who gave her a nod. “How long ago did you change your
henge?”

The City Elder, a thin man named Geit,
answered. “Six months ago a suggestion was made that we have a
different shape to our courtyard to make us different from the
other founder cities. It was an act of pride that we wanted to
distinguish ourselves from the others. To reverse that now will
take much convincing of the people!”

Erin shrugged. “First question that has to be
answered is: Do you still have the other two posts?”

Peyr answered, “They were put behind the wood
shop. We were going to saw them up and sell furniture made from
them during our winter solstice festival. The plans for the
furniture haven’t been approved so they haven’t been cut yet.”