Ianus forced his eyes to let go of the statue of Uma Nari. He glanced around the room. No one appeared to noticed his confusion. 

Aashen put his arm around Ianus’ shoulder. It felt hard and heavy against his skin. 

Ianus fought off a wince.

He followed Aashen down the aisle and through the intricately carved doors.

Ianus wanted to stay in the narthex. The old familiar comfort of the temple returned in the wake of the rite. 

Aashen didn’t slow his stride, so they exited into the paved courtyard. 

“I remember when I was eight, and received my Ceeri,” Aashen said with a distant look in his cerulean eyes.

The birds had ended their song, and flew away in anticipation of the crowd.

“His thoughts confused me for days,” Aashen nodded at the Ceeri on his back. “It was like I was trapped in a noisy room. Eventually, I learned to separate his from mine.” He slapped Ianus playfully on his back. “I understand it is very similar for the Shedu.” He watched Ianus inquisitively.

Ianus closed his eyes, “I don’t hear anything.” His heart sank in his chest.

“Really?” Aashen cocked his head. “You should hear something, even if only stray thoughts. I’ll ask someone, if you like?”

“That’s alright,” Ianus nudged Aashen in the arm with his elbow, hoping his smile was convincing. A moment of dizziness, he shook his head, “Maybe our connection isn’t strong enough yet. Or maybe she’s sleeping.”

With a slow, appraising look, Aashen said, “Well, happy birthday,” he bit his lip, “I should go find my brother before he upsets someone.” Excusing himself, he left.

The crowd poured into the textured cement courtyard. Shadows stretched across the rich red and gold painted diamonds on the ground from the high gothic towers to the foot of the stone arched monastery. The dwindling light from the setting sun glinted off the marble domed library. Across the courtyard, monastics lit torches in the gardens just outside the hedge maze. 

Drummers ran to their drums, filling the air with music. The rich aroma of confections filled the air from the friers and large wood burning ovens lining the periphery. Their toasty, sweet scent danced with the fruity bouquet of the meads monks poured into mugs on the tables between the ovens.

The crowd divided between the tables on the North end of the courtyard nearest the library. The rest joined with the music and began to dance. United with the beat of the kettle drums, and the higher syncopation of the variety of smaller drums.

Ianus braced himself and worked his way through the numerous “Congratulations,” and the occasional “Good show.” Everyone had something to say to him. One man even began recounting the story of his merging. 

“I almost blacked out you know, that thing was so cold, but you get used to it.”

Ianus listened politely to every story and shook every hand that presented itself from the multitude. 

Finally, he saw his parents, Ihy Khem and Maya Isann, at a table not far away. Ihy’s tall gaunt frame was hard to miss in a crowd. He carefully navigated the sea of pleasantries from people he had never met before, until he fell out of the throng and into a chair next to his father. 

Looking around at the well-choreographed chaos, he smiled at Ihy. Maya was gone. She must have gone to get something to drink.

“So, you’re a man, now?” Ihy said, his weathered face beamed with pride, “Do you feel any different?”

Ianus caught his father’s smile, “I feel like someone filled my arm with jelly,” before he could say anything else, Ihy thrust a wrapped package into his hands. “Something strange did happen,” he looked up from the parcel, “When I merged with the Sukallin, I... well, I think I had a vision. Is that normal?”

Ihy’s smile only widened, “No,” he shook his head slowly, “That is very rare. This is a very auspicious sign,” he wrapped one of his long arms around his son, “It is said that Tien Shaa and Rohan received visions at their merging, and they’re saints now!” Ihy squinted, “Come to think of it, I think your grandfather, Nusair, also had one.” He looked over his shoulder for Maya. “We really should wait for your mother to come back, but this is too funny. Open your present.” He tapped the parcel in his son’s hand.

Ianus debated whether he should wait or not, then he saw the look in his father’s eyes, and ripped off the shimmering silver wrapping paper much more cautiously than he usually would have. Ihy had a bizarre sense of humor. Ianus expected something to jump out or shock him.

“O, come now, it won’t bite!” Ihy grabbed his son’s hands and tore the paper off. 

A black leather book fell on the table.

Ianus picked it up, lifting the book up to the light trying to see the gilded title. “Sen Prescience Book, for the Shedu language (Illustrated).” 

He flipped through the pages, “It’s blank?”

“Well of course it is, boy,” Ihy pulled a pen out of the right pocket of his jade green cassock, “You haven’t written anything in it yet. You see, you write a date, or a ‘what if’ into the book, and it will predict the future.” He chuckled, “Isn’t it funny! We got you a prescience book on the same day you received your first word of knowledge!”

Ianus wanted to laugh, but the lingering dread from his vision overshadowed him. Forcing another smile, “But surely, prophecy can’t be trusted.” Ianus grabbed his father’s hand, and squeezed. “I mean, after all, we make our own destinies, don’t we?”

Ianus’ faith was strong, but he wanted to doubt, to disbelieve everything.

“Nortia has her ways,” Ihy said solemnly, “You know I’m an augur.”

Ianus gaped at his father, “I had no idea.”

“I can see patterns of action, and interpret the possible outcomes. Sometimes it’s easy, other times it’s nearly impossible. Most of the time, I’m right, and well,” he paused, “I don’t know of a time I’ve been wrong.” Ihy threw his head back and laughed. “It’s like, if you see a person heading toward a store. If you know enough about them, you can predict whether or not they’re going to go inside. Maybe even predict what they’re going to buy. It’s more like that, only on a much larger scale.”

Ianus stared at the Prescience Book. “Well, I need proof before I believe what I saw was not just a side effect of the merging.”

“O, Ihy!” Maya said with a sigh, a stony look on her heart-shaped face as she arrived back at the table with three mugs of honey mead. Her midnight skin glowed with anger, “Couldn’t you wait for me to get back before you gave Ianus his birthday present?” Setting the mugs on the table, she threw her arms around Ianus, “Well, Happy Birthday!” She held him so close he could hear her heart racing with excitement. She kissed him three times on the top of his head. Laughing, she shook her head as her irritation faded. “Well, do you like it? I told him you would prefer a vacation to Idunn beach on Adrakaya, but you know what your father’s like when he sets his mind to something.”

“I love it, mom,” Ianus lied through an exuberant smile. He couldn’t stand to see her sad.

Silence stole the voice of the crowd. Even the drummers left their rhythms to the wind. 

Ianus followed the eyes of the crowd to two people wearing long, red robes and masks who were emerging from the garden. The smooth masks covered their faces, even their eyes were obscured by inlaid lenses. A silver nail hung from their necklaces.

“Raewyn!” Someone in the crowd shouted. 

“Allostheoi!” Someone else gasped in horror.

Ianus’ mind raced. 

The Raewyn were mysterious nomads. They wandered from planet to planet, never settling down. That was all he knew about them. No one knew where they came from or why they sojourned through the galaxy. Most information about them was mere rumor and speculation. Still, it was rare to see a Raewyn. Two in one place was often considered a sign or omen. 

The two cloaked figures looked at each other and turned toward the garden labyrinth.

Ihy climbed up on top of the table, and motioned for the band to resume playing. 

The rhythm broke the silence. The crowd began to murmur.

“Do you think those people were Raewyn?” Ianus muttered.

“What would it matter if they were?” Ihy snorted, almost snarling, “Raewyn are open members of the Jade Moon, the Camenae, and even the Mne Serephin. It’s just superstitious townspeople.” 

Maya rubbed his shoulders. 

“Raewyn move from world to world, never settling down because of reactions like that. Totally uncalled for!” Ihy snarled. He was so argy he appeared to literally glow with rage as fire raged in his silvery eyes. 

Ianus didn’t like to see his father like this so he slipped away and joined the dance.

After the crowd lost themselves in the festivities, Ihy slipped into the labyrinth. As he walked between the hedges on the familiar path to the center, he prepared himself for the meeting. Raewyn never said exactly what they meant, and the fact they wore red robes bothered him. He didn’t have any proof they were A’nath-ari, or even that the crimson assassins still existed. There was no point even trying to guess what they wanted or why they were here, but he mind volunteered speculation without prompting.

The sounds of the party retreated into the distance as each hedge blocked more of celebration. The chirping buzz of the nocturnal insects filled in the absence of noise.

In the center of the labyrinth, the two red robed Raewyn stood like statues set the watch over the path through which he entered.

Ihy bowed slightly, and said, “Greeting my friends, what can I help you with today?”

The two Raewyn bowed. “Greetings Master Khem, you honor us with this meeting on this auspicious day.” They said in unison.

Ihy grinned. “How long did you practice that?”

They glanced at each other.

“You wanted to be seen or you would have stayed out of sight.” Ihy continued. “What can I help you with?”

“We always come on days like this.” The one on the left said. “They are important to us.”

Ihy nodded in acceptance of the magnanimity that filled his voice. “So you attend every joining?”

“The ones important to the Gan-shar are always special occasions.” The one on the right said.

What did Ianus’ rite of ascension matter to the galactic underground? He was training in the cultivating arts of the Jade Moon, but he showed no interest in the politics or glory.

“My son is only eighteen and has no standing in the Urugal. He isn’t even a full member of our sect.” Ihy said.

“Shadows of the past fall over him.” The one on the left said. “The martial forest surrounds him, even if he don’t know it. A hart doesn’t choose what tree he is born under. The forest grows regardless of their will.”

“Are you saying someone is hunting Ianus?”

“Does a cat hunt when it wanders through the trees and comes unwitting on its prey?” The one on the right said.

Ice ran through Ihy’s veins. “If you are trying to said what I think you are, it’s impossible. He’s dead. All of his followers are dead.”

“We named no man.” They said in unison.

“What is the threat? Stop with all your riddles and just tell me.” Ihy said.

“The past.” They said. “It is always a threat to the present as it tries to hold the future back.”

Ihy sighed. “So, he’s facing the same danger as the rest of us?”

“We are all prey to the demons of the past.” The one on the right said. “Your son inherited many demons. 

Early the next morning Ianus woke with a foreign warmth in his arm.  He ran his fingers over the deep scar and listened for any thoughts that were not his own.  Nothing.

Sitting up, he scooted to the edge of the bed and let his feet hit the floor.

“Osanna,” he said, “Can you hear me?”

He waited, but no answer came.  Fear chilled him.

*Is there something wrong with me?*  He closed his eyes and strained to hear a reply... anything...

He sighed and got out of bed.  He walked over to the small shrine in the corner of his room.  Bowing to the statue of Uma Nari, he picked up three sticks of incense and a lighter.  He kindled the small jade green tea light he laid out last night, and said the prescribed prayer.  Kneeling, he recited his morning prayers.  His eyes drifted to the jade green, “T” shaped kimono and the pleated, split kilt hakama on the stand at the heart of the shrine. 

After his prayers, he slipped the kimono and hakama off the stand and got dressed.  He was ready to practice.  He turned toward the door and moved swiftly out to the courtyard to perform his forms and stances.  

Ihy was already outside.  Ianus watched him move as if to unheard music.  His father’s pale skin gleamed in the sunlight with radiance unmatched in all of Shiloh.  His long silver hair flowed elegantly behind him as he twirled and kicked.  Ihy was a master of the arts.

Recognizing where his father was in the fire song movement, Ianus joined him.  He leapt through the air, careful to control every muscle- he kicked.  As he spun around, he moved his arms together in front of him to block the imagined fists.  A slow crouch followed by a lightning quick slide to the left.

“Ihy!”  Maya called out, “Feel like sparring?”  

Ianus almost tripped over himself.

“Focus, boy!”  Ihy reprimanded him.  

Ianus quickly turned to watch his parents duel.  

Maya leapt into the air as a light flashed from the green jewel embedded in the black leather glove on her right hand.  

*A periapt sword,* Ianus thought as he touched his own periapt jewel.

Swords materialized in Ihy’s and Maya’s hands simultaneously.  The blades clanged as they danced around each other.  Two hazy forms locked together in conflict floated lazily across the courtyard.  

For a moment, Ianus lost himself in the dazzling sight of the two Makers, just as he had lost himself in the dance the night before.  *This must be the dance of destruction that Rohan muses over in the Scriptures,* Ianus thought.  *The dance of defense and the dance of aggression.  One could almost forget the violence of the scene.*

With a great laugh, Maya and Ihy ended their duel.  

The morning bells rang.  Chef would be serving breakfast soon.  The queue was already growing.  Arm-in-arm, Maya, Ianus, and Ihy walked into the dining hall.

After breakfast, Ianus and Ihy went off into the temple to prepare for the day’s services.  Ihy prepared the altar, while Ianus swept the floors.

“Father?”  Ianus said, rubbing his thumb hard against the broomstick’s handle.  He realized how formal he sounded. “Do we really practice magic?”  He sighed, casting his gaze to the floor.  “I mean no disrespect to our ancestors, or to the tradition, but the periapt really does everything.  All I’ve learned in my years with the order is science, math, programming, and meditation.  Where is the magic?”

“We are not like the Mne Serephin, if that is what you mean.  Our practice isn’t nearly as arcane as theirs.  We summon no spirits, nor do we dominate the more subtle energies, but we have our own secrets.”

“Like the Periapts?”  Ianus asked staring at his reflection in the jade stone embedded in the fingerless, black leather glove on his right hand.

“What is the periapt?”  Ihy smiled, laying out the altar cloth.

“It is nothing but a piece of technology that connects to the implant in my hand.  It is software and Nanotechnology.”

“What does it allow you to do?”

“I can use the liquid steel to make weapons— I can erect energy fields, project illusions, and float above the ground.”  Ianus looked up, “There is no magic in it.  It’s all physics.”

Ihy thought for a moment.  His words had to be chosen carefully.  “Does the periapt do all of these things for you?”

“Well, no,” Ianus sighed.  He looked up into the maze of stone arches that crisscrossed the ceiling.  “The machine has no mind.  I have to control the effects of the periapt, but if I didn’t have these implants all over my body, I wouldn’t be able to do anything!  I mean, what am I to the machine?”

“You are either its master or its slave,” said Ihy, brushing the altar cloth flat.  “What makes you ask?  I can see the tension in your neck.  What’s bothering you?”

Ianus focused his attention on his sweeping.  “Bad dreams,” he swallowed hard.  “I know there’s nothing to it, but they left me feeling hollow.  When I woke up yesterday, the world was full of magic.  By this morning, I feel like I’ve lost everything.”

“Dreams are the most powerful magic,” Ihy opened the lectionary, and began marking the day’s readings.  “Angels and demons are real, no matter what you choose to call them.  You say you had bad dreams, our ancestors would say that you were troubled by demons in the night.  These are two ways of saying the exact same thing.  What were your dreams about?”

Ianus stopped, and stared blankly at the floor.  “I’d rather not say.  I just want to know that this isn’t the way life is going to be after the merging.”

“It is easy to loose our sense of wonder.  The spirits are not always easy to see.  All you can do is fight that feeling.  Reclaim your life— don’t let anyone take that from you.”

“So magic is just an illusion?  We choose to give it meaning or to see it for what it is?”

“The Mne Seraphin might have something to say about that.  Don’t you see?”  Ihy said, as he stepped down from the dais.  “Everything is magic!  From the moment our species evolved from the early hominids to the time our soul was born within us.  It’s all magic, my boy, whether you are part of the machine or not.”

“How could a soul be born in a soulless animal?”  Ianus felt hollow.  He was asking about himself.

“What makes you think the animals don’t have souls?  Everything has a soul or a consciousness if you prefer, unique to its type.  Our soul evolved the moment we discovered superfluous beauty.  Beauty is magic.  Everything happens by chance, but it is fate at the same time.  It’s all a matter of perspective.”

“Does the machine have a soul?”

Ihy’s face turned sallow, “You mean that you’ve never heard it whisper in your ear?”

“No?”

“Good,” the color slowly returned to Ihy’s face.  “We need to get ready for services, people will be arriving soon.”

Aashen and Tuun Scathaan stood in an elevator, carefully controlling their breath.

Aashen kept brushing his blond hair behind his elfish ears with his hands, annoyed that his Ceeri, Azi Mandas kept blowing his hair over his long angular face.  

The small blue green, dragon-like Ceeri held onto Aashen’s shoulders and waist with his claws, and kept his over-sized wings folded tightly behind Aashen’s back.  Azi laughed silently, and looked over at the red and gold Ceeri that clung tightly to Tuun’s back.  

Tuun resembled his brother in most ways, save for the black hair and sickly white complexion.  He made a point to avoid eye contact or give any outward sign that he was giving any attention to Aashen.

Counting under his breath, Azi reached his long neck around and blew Aashen’s hair back over his eyes.

“Stop it!”  Aashen barked, as he brushed his hair back again, “What has gotten into you today?  You know we are on important business.”

Azi rolled his eyes and twisted his rope-like neck in disgust, “Don’t forget I hear every thought that goes through your head, just as you hear mine, and right now, you are giving me a headache.  You need to relax!  You knew this was coming.”

The journey to the Garm system from Al-Benu felt longer than it really was.  Aashen hated having to leave so soon after Ianus’ birthday, but after what he had seen...  Besides, he had his orders, and his duty to the Jade Moon came first.  

The flight was comfortable, but the images haunted him.  His lack of sleep stretched every second of the walk from the spaceport to this apartment building.  The cold gray buildings didn’t help.  After the war, they rebuilt on the cheap.  Everything was functional, but not attractive.   His mission weighed heavily on him.  

Watching the weathered roofs of the city spread out into the hazy distance, Aashen sighed and smiled at his brother.

The elevator doors slid open.  

Aashen and Tuun exited into the dimly lit room.  Books lay haphazardly all over the metal rimmed, glass tables.  The steal shelves themselves appeared to be empty.  

“I almost forgot how crazy monastic life can be,” Aashen said, elbowing his brother.

“Maya would beat you if you ever left a study hall like this,” Tuun responded in a grumbly whisper.

“Just think of the look that would be on Ihy’s face.”

In the far end of the room, a man cleared his throat.  The echo filled the hall.  A short, balding man sat at a table, fidgeting with the sleeves of his deep blue robes.

“Is he mending three books at the same time?”  Tuun asked, pointing at the little old man.

“That must be him,” Aashen strode confidently over to the old man.  “Pryor Isann,” he bowed, “I am Aashen Scathaan Ken-Azi, Maker Predicant in the House of the Jade Moon.”

The old man looked up from his books with a warm smile on his round face.  “And you arrived on the transport from Shiloh, on Al-Benu, with Maslin Talbot piloting.  Did I leave anything out?”  Pryor’s face fell flat, “You come from Shiloh?”  He said as if he heard the news for the first time, “Did my sister send you?”

“Yes, Master Isann,” Aashen suppressed a laugh, “We were sent by Maya...”

“Drop this Master Isann, call me Pryor.  What is the message?”

Aashen took a deep breath and steadied himself against the table.  “The Machine’s Song can again be heard.  The Red Dragon sleeps no more.  My dear brother, our time has passed.”

Pryor settled down into his chair, a grave look crawling over his face.  “O, thank you very much.”  He looked over at the door to his right. “Is that all?”

“Yes, Master... Pryor.”  

The two Sen turned and left.

Daru Shaheen sat in a small room in the small apartment on Garm she shared with her Master, Pryor.  She turned the page in Tides and Seasons, by Tien Shaa.  

“Thoughts flow through the mind like a river unseen,” she mouthed the words as she read, “As spacious as the sky, the river flows without end.  Emotions pull on its course like the moons on the tide.  Warm in summer heat, frozen in winter frost, the mind is a world unto itself.”

Hearing Pryor’s chair creak in the next room, she pulled her fire red hair over her shoulder and tied it back with an elastic band that materialized out of her periapt.  Even though she was only nineteen years old, her talent was strong.  She had tried to listen in when she heard voices a moment ago, but was unable to make out what they were saying.

A man sighed just outside.  Slowly, the door opened.  Pryor entered like a man attending a funeral.  He mumbled under his breath.  His normally jovial face was oddly drawn and pale.  “Daru!” He said, looking up at her.

Daru put her book down and sat up.  The generous expression on her face took some of the chill off Pryor’s spirit.  

“Do we have visitors?” She asked.

“No, dear child,” Pryor said tenderly, “Go pack your things.  We are going to Al-Benu.”

“To Shiloh?”  Daru leapt out of her seat, “Are we going to visit your sister?  Is everything alright?”

“Yes, I am just a bit distracted.  We are going to Shiloh, but not to visit.  I have decided to step down from my position as guardian of the To’asaa.  I will entrust it to Ihy.”

Daru froze.  She monitored his every subtle move for clues to his reasoning, “But he’s older than you are.  I thought the To’asaa would come to me after you... well, stepped down.  I thought that is what you were training me for.”

“I was,” he looked away, “But Ihy is wise in these matters.  He will make sure it finds its proper guardian.”

“Are you sure every thing's alright?  You are not yourself.”  Daru waited, but Pryor didn’t answer.  “Master, would it be alright if I went down to the market to buy Ianus a birthday present?”  She said, hoping he would object to her formality.

“But Ianus’ birthday was last week?  I would have thought you would have sent him something,” Pryor nodded, “But since you are coming in person, you want to have a gift in hand.”  Pryor smiled knowingly.  “Very well, go.  But don’t be long.”

Daru hurried to her room, grabbed her money purse, and ran out to the market.  The streets were bustling with people as she made her way to the agora.

Wandering from booth to booth, Daru looked down disapprovingly at the countless trinkets designed for the tourists.  

She and Ianus had grown up together in the monastery at Shiloh.  It had been at least a year since they had seen each other.  She had to find him something extra special.  

At the end of the row, she noticed an interesting booth.  Two men, in deep red robes stood haggling with the customers.  

She wended her way through the crowd to take a look at the table.  Various carved stones, necklaces, and pendants.  One of the shopkeepers kept his back to her.  The other smiled, revealing his crooked teeth.  He stopped in front of her, and smiled.  His shaggy brown hair danced in the breeze.  He rubbed his hand on a silver nail hanging from his necklace.  She caught his hazel eyes.

Ianus would love an Eidolon, she thought.  In the booth, she saw a Benben-stone.  This will be perfect, he’ll just love it.

Ianus sat under the shade of the trees near the reflecting pool in the Atrium of the Monastery.  The vaulted skylight illuminated the circular reflecting pool which was ringed with vibrant green plants with golden flowers.  A few monks, nuns, and students filtered through the atrium, but Ianus was oblivious to them.  

He devoted his attention to his prescience book on his lap.  Thumbing through the waxy pages, he skipped about a hundred blank pages.  

It was no different from the blank books he used in his classes.  Running his finger down the ribbed and embossed spine, he could feel the heat of the processor.  The tiny disk drive was tucked away into the bottom of the spine.  Other than the title, there was nothing apparently special about the book.

He opened the book to the middle and wrote the date in the top right corner.  The motion of the stylus woke up the book.  

“Shiloh Monastery of the Holy Ennead, on planet Al-Benu,” he wrote immediately under the date.  

Words filled the page.  Ianus flipped back to the beginning of the book.  The history of the monastery was laid out succinctly.

Tapping his fingers against the book, Ianus thought about the strange vision he had the day he received his Sukallin, Osanna.  

“Ihy Khem,” he wrote at the top of the first page.  

The book changed, but the quality of the language degenerated into simple words and phrases.  

“Book:  What is the problem?  Why is the language so poor?”  He wrote.

The book wrote back, “This book, like all prescience books, is not designed to track individual people.  Our accuracy is impaired.  We need more information to predict events.” 

Chewing on the end of the stylus, Ianus sighed.  “Ihy Khem and the Red Dragon.”  He wrote.  To his amazement, the book began to tell a story, but only singular words were legible.  It looked like a partially encrypted document.

“Ihy called… to the Camarilla of the Jade Moon.  He… them… dragon… red… dragon…”  The book either did not have enough data or relied on encrypted sources for its analysis.  Then Ianus came across a word that was unfamiliar:  A’nath-ari.  “Now, A’nath means ‘noble order,’ and Ari means ‘red or blood,’” he muttered.  “The Noble Order of Blood?”  Ianus closed the book with a snap.

Something about that word was familiar, but Ianus couldn’t place it.  He looked up through the skylight, hoping to see the moon.  He didn’t understand why, so he shook his head and tried to gather his thoughts.

Seeing a group of novices stream through the door, he knew Maya had finished her lesson for the day.  

*Maybe she knows who the A’nath-ari are,* he thought.  

Maya marched up the hall with a stack of books in her arms heading toward her room.  

Ianus sprang from his chair, and ran up to her.  “Mom, do you have a minute?”

“A minute, if that much,” She sighed, “I promised the novices that I would referee their dueling practice today.  I don’t know why they can’t wait for Aashen to return.”

“Where is Aashen?”  Ianus asked.

Opening the door to her quarters, Maya walked past him into the immaculately clean room and over to her dresser drawers.  “I... I don’t know.  They said that they had business off world.  What did you need?  I really do have to get out to the courtyard to make sure none of the boys are using live steel.”

“I was doing some reading today, and I came across an unfamiliar word, A’nath-ari.”  Again he longed to look at the moon.  The urge was powerful.  His legs ached with the desire to go hunting for it.

“Mistress Isann?”  A ten-year-old boy poked his head into the room.

“Yes” Maya responded, looking relieved.

“James and Stephen have forged live steel blades with their periapts, and have started chasing each other around.”

Rolling her eyes, “Thank you, Lyndall.  Go and tell them that I’m coming.  And tell them if either one looses another limb, I might not have it reattached this time.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Lyndall said, cheerfully, and he ran off toward the courtyard. 

Maya put her hand on Ianus’ shoulder.  “I have to go.  I’m sorry I haven’t been around as much as I should, but after the initiations are finished, we’ll have all the time you need.”

Ianus watched her walk past him, down the hall, and out into the courtyard.

“Is something wrong?”  Ihy’s voice startled him.

Spinning around, Ianus looked into his father’s kind eyes.  “I was just trying to talk to mom, but she is very busy.”

“I don’t think she would have it any other way.  If she ever had a free moment, I think she might go mad.”  Ihy winked.

Ianus shook his head and looked around nervously to make sure Maya hadn’t heard.  “I was asking her if she had ever heard of a group called the A’nath-ari.  I came across the word in my reading.”

“The A’nath-ari are one of the great old houses of the Chian’niu.”  Ihy slipped into teaching mode.  “If they still exist, they would be in the forbidden lands on Adrakaya tending to the needs of the Enmadra.  They are the remains of the order founded by Adir Radd, before he was murdered.”

Suddenly, Ianus understood, “That’s why they call themselves the A’nath-ari, the Noble Order of the Blood!”

“Exactly, my boy.  They are one of the five ancient houses from the time of Tien Shaa.  They are keepers of secrets.  The Camenae sing in search of enlightenment- while the Mne Serephin test themselves, resolving to see the truth always.  The Ual-leen gave into the Song of the Machine, and seek to dominate.  And we learn and teach.”

Ianus wanted to ask about the Song, but he knew Ihy wouldn’t answer, so he went out to help Maya.

Aashen, Tuun, and their Ceeri sat in the small common room of the independent freighter.  The cold metal paneled ceiling, walls, and floor made the voyage to the Ymirin home world feel longer than it really was.  

The door opened, and the ship’s captain, Maslin Talbot entered.  He dressed like a man much wealthier than he actually was.  His short black hair and beard were as well manicured as his hands.  From his black tailored suit to his polished leather shoes, Maslin exuded confidence.  Pulling a mug out of the cabinet, he poured himself some tea.

“We will be coming out of hyperspace at the Ymirin gate soon,” Maslin said, before he took a sip of the hot tea.

“Good, the sooner we arrive,” Tuun huffed as he slouched in his chair, “The sooner we can leave.”  

“Now, now,” Aashen shook his head.  “The Ymiri aren’t that bad, once you get used to them.”

Sitting down, Maslin looked across the table at Aashen, “Do you mind me asking you some questions?”

“As long as they’re not about my family,” Aashen laughed, only to realize that no one else got his joke- Even Azi rolled his eyes.  “Go ahead.”

“You both walk in the Chian’niu, don’t you?”

“We’re not smugglers, if that’s what you mean,” Aashen said politely.

“No, I mean... I saw your periapts.”  Maslin shuffled uncomfortably in his seat, “It’s rare to meet a holy man who wears such a weapon.  I am a merchant, after all, I have had my share of run-ins with the underworld.”

“Yes, we walk in the Place of Tides, but we are Bahn Se’leen.  No real threat to anyone.”

“You’re Jade Moon!  Really?  I’ve read stories about the Jade Moon.”

Tuun smirked, “You’re Shedu, aren’t you?”  He said staring at Maslin’s unmarked ivory hand, holding the mug.

“No, I am Lamassu.  I chose not to be joined.”  Maslin shifted his weight in his seat, and crossed his arms, “Why?”

“Ignore him,” Aashen looked harshly at Tuun who smirked proudly, “He has been in a bad mood since shortly after birth.  No one knows why.”

“I think it was when I looked at my older brother and realized that he would be taking credit for everything I ever did.”

Maslin laughed, “You sound like my sister and I.”  A red light flashed on the wall over the door to the cockpit.  “We are approaching the Ymirin gate, would you like to join me in the cockpit?”

Tuun rolled his eyes and huffed loudly. 

Aashen leapt up and followed Maslin, who quickly sat down at the controls.

Aashen stood there, his mouth gaping at the sight of the distorted star-field, twisting, and spiraling past them.  Soft lines of blended colors curled around the ship.  Directly in front of the small freighter, a flash of brilliant white light whipped around like a cluster of balled lightning.   Cracking open, it revealed the muddy red-brown disk of the Ymirin home world.

The sky was filled with thousands of dirty space docks, like giant, mechanical crabs, lobsters, and shrimp cradling every shape and size of unfinished ship imaginable.

“Here we are,” Maslin announced, “Do you have business with the station or the ground?”

“The station.  We have an appointment with Hildred Nadir.”

“Here we go, incoming signal from the station,” Maslin hit the controls on the panel to his right.

A frail bald man with large, floppy, pointed ears and a long, crooked nose that was out of proportion with the rest of his face appeared on the screen directly in front of them.  “Incoming freighter, identify yourself and state the purpose of your visit.”

“This is Maslin Talbot of the independent freighter Ashiyr.  I bring Aashen Ken-Azi and Tuun Ken-Leor for a meeting with the merchant Hildred Nadir.”

“By Tor, you are long winded,” the Ymirin+ rolled his eyes, “Just send over the information and prepare to dock,” the screen went black.

“They seem pleasant,” Maslin scoffed as he transmitted the data.

“They are the best shipwrights in the galaxy,” Aashen said, “They don’t have to be polite.”

Ihy spent most of the morning watching Ianus scurry about the complex preparing for the arrival in the same detail he would for a visiting dignitary.  Even though the Guardian of the Holy To’asaa was arriving today, Ihy knew that Ianus was getting ready for Daru.  They hadn’t seen each other for almost a year.  Ever since Daru had taken vows as a predicant, she and her overseer, Pryor Isann, had been traveling around from monastery to monastery.

Maya also ran around like crazy.  “My brother will be here soon,” she said every time Ihy passed the monastery’s kitchen.  She was cooking all of Pryor’s favorite foods.  The whole monastery was buzzing with excitement over the arrival of the To’asaa.

The sun fell lower in the sky, the gardens filled with spectators hoping for a glimpse of the holy relic.  Ianus snaked his way through the crowd and down the hill toward the docks.  Glancing back, he saw his parents not far behind him.  The winding city streets opened to the bazaar.  

Street performers clamored for attention on every corner.  The pungent scent of burnt alcohol and black powder overwhelmed the fresh salt air fighting its way on shore from the harbor as fire-breathers and magicians flashed and sputtered.  Musicians and people who thought they could sing performed for the many tourist and pilgrims.

Beyond the gate, the docks were filled with merchants, shoppers, and passengers milling around.  The sound of splashing water filled the air as naval and space ships docked.  

Someone with red hair caught Ianus’ eye.  

At first, Ianus was not sure.  He was so used to seeing her in baggy street clothes, the cassock took him off guard, but when he saw Pryor’s familiar smile, he knew for sure.

Excited, Ianus ran to hug Daru and his uncle, Pryor.  

Maya failed to hold back her tears at the sight of her brother.  

Elated, Ihy arranged to have their bags delivered to the dormitory, and led the group back to the library at the monastery.  Past the front desk, and down a long hall to the right, Ihy unlocked the door, “The To’asaa will be safe in here.”

Pryor pulled a black velvet bag out from under his vest.  Opening it, he revealed the soft green of the periapt within.  “I entrust this holy relic of our founder, Tien Shaa, to you, Master Ihy Hahu Khem.  Keep it well.”

Ihy looked very grim as he took possession of the To’asaa.  “I will guard it with my life,” he responded, words that Ianus did not want to hear.  

Ihy laid the To’asaa on one of the shelves, closed the door, and motioned for the group to go back down the corridor.

When they reached the main room of the library, Ianus grabbed Daru’s hand, “We’ll meet you later at dinner,” and then they ran off.

Pryor, Maya, and Ihy took seats around one of the tables.  The library was empty.  It was too nice a day to be inside.

“When I got your message, I came right away,” Pryor said gripping Maya’s hands tight, “Is it true?”

“Yes, the Machine’s song has been heard again by the Camarilla itself,” Maya’s eyes darted about the room.

“Does Ianus suspect anything?”

Ihy leaned across the table and whispered, “No.  He has no idea that Aashen read the vision in his mind.  In fact, he even doubts the vision could be true.”

“Do you have any other proof?”  Pryor asked, carefully controlling his breathing.

“Yes,” Maya closed her eyes, “Everything has transpired exactly as the Vaticinars foretold.”

“I see,” Pryor sighed, and balled his hands into fists.  “So they came and told you?”

Maya nodded and took his hand in hers, “They visited Ihy over a week ago, carrying a warning from the Vaticinars themselves.”  She sighed, and steadied her voice, “Don’t worry.  This is the way things must be.”

Pryor nodded, “I know.  We agreed to this, years ago.  Are you sure Ianus won’t find out?”

Ihy thumped his fingers on the table, and looked up at Pryor with a cold, distant look on his face, “He suspects nothing.”