The Fold Ship - part 2

Posted on Fri Aug 7th, 2020 @ 12:43pm by Lieutenant Alekela illm Meaho'ōla

1,308 words; about a 7 minute read

"Computer open I personal log - Fold Ship"

[Open and recording]

Now where was I, oh yes.

After turning I went back to the carving on the wall. Again, I traced my hand over the indentations in the rock.

Again the inscription that read: 'We hide the past to preserve the future.'

The words struck my like a powerful down draft. It was similar to the phrase that we are all taught: 'We put away the past in order to preserve the future.' Those words now had meaning, real meaning as what I had discovered was real. What it was I eventually learned but that is later in this story.

I puzzled over how long ago those words and artifact had been put there but my stomach overwhelmed my curiosity and I made my way back to the tunnel entrance.

The mountains were covered in white snow, but the sun was shining with a fair warmth. I lifted my wings to catch the warmth of the rays. For several minutes I remember working my flight muscles and then launched myself into the air.

I never remembered the flight out of the mountains or how I had come to wake in a bed in the Guild House of Warraquim. The attendants had only told my that a bloodflower farmer had found my in my fields.

The attendants that came into my room would not answer any questions other than I had been found, my House informed and that I would be a guest at Warraquim for a bit. They only checked me periodically and to bring drink. It seemed odd and then two mornings later when I thought breakfast would be arriving instead the Guild Mother of Warraquim herself arrived.

That of course was highly unusual. She was only part way in the room and then stopped and said something to one of the attendants just outside who then made a deep respectful curtsy and left.

The Guild Mother of Warraquim, showed that her age was upon her as she walked with an aid, but the eyes were sharp. I immediately got up and went into that deeply respectful curtsy that restricted the breathing. It was known that if one held it too long, one would pass out. However, it was up to the Guild Mother to determine if that was to be or not. This was not my Guild Mother but that of Warraquim. The most powerful of the Great Houses, the knowledge keepers and recorders.

"Rise Alekela illm Meaho'ōla ," she said in that voice that was not loud but carried. It had the weight of years behind it as did the steadiness of the dark green eyes. She was old and it was said that her wings had fallen. The truth of that was to be made obvious as she turned to dismiss the rest of her attendants. The grey starting to streak the otherwise dark brown red metallic hair gave her an air of authority that was even more commanding.

She looked into my face and then away looking around the room as though someone might be here still. She then spoke.

"Your Guild has been informed by the Council that you will be staying with House Warraquim for awhile." It was statement with no brooch for anything else. I could not help but catch the Council itself had told my Guild. Things had obviously happened that I was entirely unaware of.

"Do you remember the words you spoke when they found you?" The Guild Mother's voice was stern and the look grave.

I shook my head in the negative. "No Mother, that time is a blur."

"Wait! I, well I, remember reading something perhaps I recited them."

"Please Alekela illm Meaho'ōla repeat them to me."

"We hide the past in order to preserve..."

The Warraquim Guild Mother finished the phrase with me, "the future."

There was a long silence and finally she asked. "You know what that means."

I humbly replied, "It is like unto the phrase we are all taught, 'We put away the past in order to preserve the future."

Again that silence and then she nodded. "Where did you come across that phrase Alekela illm Meaho'ōla?

"I, I went on a flight, got caught in a storm and was blown into the high mountains. I needed to get out of the storm," the words came tumbling out as my mind finally found its memories. "There was a cave, but not a cave, it was a tunnel and inside there was a thing, an artifact, and great disc...."

The Warraquim Guild Mother held up one wrinkled hand in command. "Stop! You will never speak of that part unless I give you leave to do so. You will never repeat that exact phrase until the same leave is given, this is the command of the Council. Is that clear?"

I made the deep curtsy again. Again the Council, what would my House think of me when I returned. There had already been whispers of A'Ksu that had surrounded me for most of my life.

"Yes Guild Mother. Yes, I promise and if I dishonour that promise may my wings be ripped away." It was a terrible thing. If one broke wings it was one thing, but to have them literally ripped off caused such a sudden drastic hormonal imbalance that one died in agony.

The Guild Mother of Warraquim waved me up and then nodded. "Very good, now rest for the day and then next morning you will be presented to me at my office where we will talk further."

"Yes, Guild Mother." I said respectfully.

She then turned to leave but I could not help myself.

"Mother, what was it? I have to know." The words blurted out.

She turned and looked again with the penetrating gaze but perhaps a slight smile passed on her lips.

"Your curiosity is great. I know that some have said you carry the stain of the A'ksu in you, but," she waved that hand again. "While they did terrible things, there are things that they discovered that had much wonder. You will never repeat this but it is called a Fold Ship. I hold you to your promise earlier, and before you ask more for I can already see the questions forming on your lips, suffice that we will talk more on the morrow. Now rest."

I again made that deep curtsy and said, "Yes Guild Mother."

She simply nodded and then left.

The attendants for all the rest of the day continued with their silent rounds into my room until evening. Then middle evening there was a knock and two entered still as silent as ever but they had soft case with them which they proceeded to open and laid out a students dress. It was pristine, fresh and pressed until every long pleated fold of the skirt was in sharp relief. New shoes, undergarments and the rest were also laid out without again so much as a word and I did not entreat them to try to talk but only watched knowing that it was for the meeting in the morning.

I found it curious that this was a student's dress. I had not worn such for quite awhile. I had become a full member of Guild Meaho'ōla. Allowed to wear the full Guild dress. I sighed, there was nothing to do about it at this point. It was obvious that what I had seen and said had stirred the pot and I could not help but remember the old phrase, 'When one's curiosity is as wide as the sea, be prepared to ride many currents.' It appeared that I was going to ride a new current.

"Well enough for now."

"Computer please close log"

[Log is closed]

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