of life. Careful not to break it, he pulled athick, squirming earthworm from the dirt and popped it into his maw. He chewed vigorously, the juicefrom the worm's muscular body filling his mouth and coating histhroat. He ate his fill, then squatted in thetunnel to rest.
Where do 1 go from here?the shaman pondered.He closed his eyes, and his mind immediately was filledwith blissful images of what could only have been theSafe Place . He saw his people, the ones who hadabandoned the Deheboryn many seasons ago, living in harmony with nature, no longer fearing the wrathof the Powers. "They were not killed," he muttered, completely enthralled with the vision. They hadmanaged to evade the wrath of Verchiel and his soldiers, and had foundParadise .
Shokad blessed himself repeatedly, basking in the glory that was the vision of his people thriving withinthe confines of theSafe Place . It filled him with such joy—and a newfound purpose.
The shaman opened his eyes to the cool darkness of the tunnel and climbed to his feet. He could feel itcalling to him now. He could hear it whispering in his ears, drawing him to its secret location. TheSafe Place was calling, and all he need do was follow.
He faced the solid wall of dirt before him and recited the ancient words taught by his angelic creators. With these words he could commune with the elements, making them bend to his requests. Shokadasked the dirt wall to allow him passage, and it did as it was asked, flowing around the shaman as hemoved toward the promise ofParadise . The wings upon his back flapped eagerly as he trudged throughthe earth, theSafe Place whispering in his ear, closer—and closer still.
Again he saw them in his mind, those that had left the tribe long ago. So happy, he thought. If only Mufgar had had the courage to abandon the old ways, he and Zawar and Tehom could all haveexperienced the joy that was soon to be his.
TheSafe Place was singing now, urging him forward with even greater speed. You are so close, it said ina voice filled with promise. So close to realizing your dream.
Shokad spoke the words of the spell faster, and the earth in front of him melted away like water. Partlyrunning, partly flying, he burrowed his way towardParadise , images of those who had come before himin his mind. Suria, Tutrechial, Adririon, Tandal, Savlial: They were all there—some he could have swornwere slain in service to the Powers. It was curious indeed, but he was not about to argue withParadise .
"Oh, Shokad, you are almost here."
The Orisha began to giggle and angled his tunnel toward the surface. The earth grew thick with rock,making it harder to push forward— but it did not stop him.
"So close, Shokad. So, very very close."
The shaman broke through to the surface. His hands were cracked and bleeding, and the air upon themwas cold and damp. Where is the warm sunshine? he at first wondered.
Shokad squirmed from the hole in theground and peered through the eerie greenish light. He foundhimself in a vast, underground cavern. Somewhere in the distance, beyond the walls of rock, he couldhear the rush of water.
"I am here," he said aloud, expecting his people to come forward and welcome him. They did not—but
something else moved amongst the rocks at the far end of the cave.
"Greetings," Shokad said as he scrambled toward the noise. It was an odd sound, like something large
and heavy being dragged across the rocks. "I am Shokad."
Perhaps they are afraid,he thought as he climbed over the rocky ground, deeper into the cavern. "I meanyou no harm," he said aloud. "I, too, have come seekingParadise ."
As he drew closer, he could just barely discern objects in the shadows—fleshy, egglike sacks that hungupon a large, muscular mass, blacker than the cave's deepest shadows. It writhed and pulsed, a thingalive.
"What are you?" Shokad whispered. Cautiously, he stepped forward. "Where are my people?" He stood on tiptoe to peer inside some of the opaque,
Where do 1 go from here?the shaman pondered.He closed his eyes, and his mind immediately was filledwith blissful images of what could only have been theSafe Place . He saw his people, the ones who hadabandoned the Deheboryn many seasons ago, living in harmony with nature, no longer fearing the wrathof the Powers. "They were not killed," he muttered, completely enthralled with the vision. They hadmanaged to evade the wrath of Verchiel and his soldiers, and had foundParadise .
Shokad blessed himself repeatedly, basking in the glory that was the vision of his people thriving withinthe confines of theSafe Place . It filled him with such joy—and a newfound purpose.
The shaman opened his eyes to the cool darkness of the tunnel and climbed to his feet. He could feel itcalling to him now. He could hear it whispering in his ears, drawing him to its secret location. TheSafe Place was calling, and all he need do was follow.
He faced the solid wall of dirt before him and recited the ancient words taught by his angelic creators. With these words he could commune with the elements, making them bend to his requests. Shokadasked the dirt wall to allow him passage, and it did as it was asked, flowing around the shaman as hemoved toward the promise ofParadise . The wings upon his back flapped eagerly as he trudged throughthe earth, theSafe Place whispering in his ear, closer—and closer still.
Again he saw them in his mind, those that had left the tribe long ago. So happy, he thought. If only Mufgar had had the courage to abandon the old ways, he and Zawar and Tehom could all haveexperienced the joy that was soon to be his.
TheSafe Place was singing now, urging him forward with even greater speed. You are so close, it said ina voice filled with promise. So close to realizing your dream.
Shokad spoke the words of the spell faster, and the earth in front of him melted away like water. Partlyrunning, partly flying, he burrowed his way towardParadise , images of those who had come before himin his mind. Suria, Tutrechial, Adririon, Tandal, Savlial: They were all there—some he could have swornwere slain in service to the Powers. It was curious indeed, but he was not about to argue withParadise .
"Oh, Shokad, you are almost here."
The Orisha began to giggle and angled his tunnel toward the surface. The earth grew thick with rock,making it harder to push forward— but it did not stop him.
"So close, Shokad. So, very very close."
The shaman broke through to the surface. His hands were cracked and bleeding, and the air upon themwas cold and damp. Where is the warm sunshine? he at first wondered.
Shokad squirmed from the hole in theground and peered through the eerie greenish light. He foundhimself in a vast, underground cavern. Somewhere in the distance, beyond the walls of rock, he couldhear the rush of water.
"I am here," he said aloud, expecting his people to come forward and welcome him. They did not—but
something else moved amongst the rocks at the far end of the cave.
"Greetings," Shokad said as he scrambled toward the noise. It was an odd sound, like something large
and heavy being dragged across the rocks. "I am Shokad."
Perhaps they are afraid,he thought as he climbed over the rocky ground, deeper into the cavern. "I meanyou no harm," he said aloud. "I, too, have come seekingParadise ."
As he drew closer, he could just barely discern objects in the shadows—fleshy, egglike sacks that hungupon a large, muscular mass, blacker than the cave's deepest shadows. It writhed and pulsed, a thingalive.
"What are you?" Shokad whispered. Cautiously, he stepped forward. "Where are my people?" He stood on tiptoe to peer inside some of the opaque,
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