Under a Starless Sky

Chapter 79

The dome was the initial ‘airlock’ that allowed passage into the mountain from outside. Its construction

was meant to allow the ritual of the circle he had experienced growing up in Midelay- modified in that a

fire pit was in the center of the circle, under a roof. The fire in the circle was ingeniously employed, a

tactic of keeping everyone on the circle; no one could be full center. The flames were low, coming up

over glass rocks- multi faceted diamonds, and fueled by his the castle’s methane trap. His guest were

warmly dressed, boots and coats of rabbits. Staying in this room would likely result in coats and capes

needing to come off.

Candace was there, with staff- and foremost ‘present.’ She was raised to full priestess; the rank was

earned, not privileged. Éliane and Talatu were with her. They held the signs of being Masters of the

Light. With them were two other females, in their forties, and several men; the men held back to the

periphery. One of the older women took to the circle next to Candace. Éliane and Talatu stood behind

and to the right and left of Candace, staffs planted firmly on the floor.

Shen took the space opposite of Candace; they were 12 and 6 on a clock face, and his friends and

family filled in the circle on his side. TL stood to his right and behind him. Jerica stood to his right on the

circle, holding an infant. She handed it to him and he accepted, giving baby attention before his guests.

There were four other women on the circle. Three were pregnant; one held a new born.

“Welcome to my light, Candace. I see you. If I am not mistaken, I also see Éliane, and Talatu. You all

seem well. A little taller since I saw you last, a little weathered. This season has been hard. May I offer

you food and drink before we continue?”

“No, thank you,” Candace said.

“I am not familiar with the rest of your company,” Shen said.

“You can’t own property,” the older woman to Candace’s right said, dispensing with, or at least

interrupting civil discourse. “You can’t be the holder of the Light.”

Shen bowed to her.

“I will not impede your departure from this shared light,” Shen said. “The egress is behind you.”

She flushed with anger. She opened her mouth to speak, but Shen interrupted her.

“With all due respect, stranger, you are no longer in Midelay. Your customs don’t apply here. I keep this

circle and this light as a tribute to your ways,” Shen said. “I may have sparked this light, but it is no

longer mine alone. It is here now, fleeting as the days, and owned by all. Welcome to Shangri-La…”

“You can’t own property or hold a Light. You have defied our ways from birth. You were exiled and yet

you linger in a place you’re not welcome and now you allow foreigners to enter our sacred lands?! You

are a traitor…”

“Your people exiled me. I survived solitude. I have prospered in solitude. I get to make the rules here,”

Shen said. “As to foreigners, these are my friends. My wives. My family. That makes them your family,

Candace.”

“So, you are not queer after all,” Éliane said.

Shen’s company were amused. Shen introduce them. He started with the baby. “Ketill Shenson.”

“What kind of name is that for baby?” Candace asked.

“The committee assures me it is a great name,” Shen said. “Did you know there are rules for naming

babies? It’s a group thing, not a parent thing. Children are not the property of the parents, but the

community they are a part of. It’s almost as complicated as the naming of cats.”

“You have not changed,” Candace said. “You speak strangely.”

“Oh, you didn’t know that cats have three names?” Shen asked. He felt Loxy touch his shoulder to

speed him along. “Never mind. Let me introduce you to the lovely lady on my right.”

Jerica, first wife. Master of the Light and holder of the keystones. To her right was Arne and his wife

Aslog. To Shen’s left was 2nd wife Ásdís, holding the new born, by the name of Snælaug. Þuríður was

also a Sister of the Light, specializing in herbs and medicines. Ciara had no titles, but her grandfather

was an elder; she was adapt at music and poetry. Ashly was from the dragon Perch of Tilting, and a

trained rider. Ásdís was the shortest one present at five foot ten. Orton and Erico stood back from the

circle. Leaning against either side of the door.

“You defile yourself with giants,” the woman said.

“I assure you, my friends are not giants,” Shen said.

“I will be the judge…”

“Excuse me,” Shen said, not wanting to argue with her. “Do you have a name?”

“Her name is Tulia,” Candace said. “She is a seer. She was worried by the growing presence here.”

“We’re not competing for resources,” Shen said. “This side of Shangri-La is nested in a pocket made

available by the absence of Sleeper Trees. The only beings here that have right away are the Irks and

the fire snakes. And you only see the fire snakes when they fall from the forest tops.”

“The elders see this as an invasion of our lands. The Great Ridge falls under the domain of Sinter. Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

They are not welcome. You are not welcome,” Tulia said.

“I was apprised of my welcome status a long time ago,” Shen said. “Lanore gave birth to me. At the

least, that makes me citizen of the realm.”

“You were shown kindness by being exiled…”

“No I wasn’t. No one expected me to live, much less live well,” Shen said. “You say I can’t own land.

Okay, I don’t own anything here. It belongs to the women and children who reside here. I, and the other

men, are only here by their grace.”

“They will leave or there will be war,” Tulia said.

“Excuse me, Tulia,” Jerica said. “Have you seen my husband at war?”

“We have,” Talatu said. “He was a boy then.”

“He is still a boy, playing with things he doesn’t understand,” Tulia snapped.

“If I don’t understand, it is because you refuse to teach,” Shen said.

“Men can’t be trusted with the knowledge…”

“Then teach my wives. They can advise me while keeping secrets,” Shen said. “Trust me. They have

secrets.”

“All women,” Arne lamented with Shen. His wife gave him a look. “Most women. Some. Not you. Oh,

and men, too. Shen?”

“You dug your own grave, Sir,” Shen said.

“You couldn’t keep a secret if I tattooed it on your butt,” Aslog said.

Shen smiled and returned his attention to his guest. Candace, at the least, seemed amused, and

perhaps relieved by the banter. Tulia remained intensely angry, an anger that was fueled by more than

just this gathering. “Tulia, your people are not equipped to go to war with me. I have access to tech. I

have access to magic. I am a Seer. I speak to the trees, and if I wanted, I could tap into their stream of

consciousness and be privy to all the secrets of Sinter. I have chosen not to out of deference to your

ways. I would prefer to be invited. I consider myself reasonable and generous. You, all of your people,

are welcome here. You may come further in and be housed and fed while we discuss things civilly. We

can establish trade. We can help each other thrive…”