"I don't know how I got the scars. I may have cut my arm going in and, maybe I scraped my back coming out. Why I have scars and not cuts--I have no answer." Frac gave an accounting of the dancing light, yet omitted to say that the light came from no source; told about the multicolored fishes, about the crabs and other water creatures, but did not mention the understanding Frac felt with the fish. Frac explained the smell and the lightheadness, but did not mention the clarity of thought, nor the ability to talk, or communicate, underwater--whatever it was they had done. Frac also neglected to tell of making the air bubble, so as to not have to explain the whole situation of the need to immediately leave.

"So was it just Forneus and you down there?" asked Iofiel.

Frac didn't answer Iofiel and Haniel repeated the question.

"I can't answer that."

"You can't answer that?" asked Pronoia, in that inquisitive tone.

"Do you remember teaching me the worth of one's word?" Frac asked of Pronoia, "I gave Forneus my word concerning this matter."

"Frac, we are your Guardian's and we demand that you answer our questions--you are not of age yet," Haniel said. "Haniel, with all due respect, Frac cannot and I cannot. It could put Forneus in grave danger, thus the reason for giving our word--and no more can be said of it," boldly stated by Raziel, who had been very quiet until now, "Whether we used our best judgement in giving our word is another issue, but the simple fact that we gave our word cannot be refuted, or undone. You have to respect that."

And respect it they did. Pronoia hugged both Frac and Raziel, and made them both promise not to go down into the Underground Pool unless it was ever made safe to do so. As they left the Court of Justice, Frac was greeted with cheer from a fairly large crowd outside, mostly Frac's playmates and other younger members of the village. Several older adults were also in attendance, a few with looks of admiration and several with looks of scorn. Also, standing just outside the large, double oak doors of the Court of Justice were Ecanus, Sarea, Dabria, Selemia and Asiel--BookKeepers for The Keepers Of The Truth. Ecanus stopped Haniel demanding to know details of the meeting inside the Court of Justice, while Asiel stooped down and stared eyeball-to-eyeball with Frac, asking Frac of any "treasures" within the the Underground Pool. Frac, unwillfully, began to speak to Asiel and was about to tell of the magical healing powers of the water, before Raziel and Pronoia simultaneously each grabbed one of Frac's arms and quickly led Frac down the steep steps, through the applauding crowd below. Haniel informed Ecanus to speak to Iofiel regarding the meeting and tussled through the crowd to catch up with Pronoia, Frac and Raziel.

Raziel spotted Forneus and Olivier aside of the crowd, standing near the Column of Champions in the very center of the Village Round, watching the spectacle carefully. Raziel slipped through the cheering crowd, and came up from behind Forneus and Olivier, hearing them discussing what Frac may have told the Elders.

"I bet Frac told them all about this little thing of ours," Olivier said, "Otherwise the interrogation would still be going on."

"I don't think so, otherwise you'd see a cadre of Lahatielian Guards assembling by now," Forneus said, pointing to a grim looking building behind and connected to the Court of Justice. "But, I bet that puke did mention all of us being down there. Dagon is not going to be pleased at all," Forneus added, rubbing the raw cut Dagon had made on Forneus's jawbone.

This infuriated Raziel, and very uncharacteristically, Raziel fell into a rage and jumped on Forneus from behind, both tumbling, with Raziel pinning Forneus to the ground. "You are an idiot," Raziel screamed, "Frac said nothing of all of you--or this 'little thing of yours'--just that of taking your dare. And tell me Forno--how is that you beat us back to the village? I didn't see you come out into the lake!" Raziel's face was red. "Was there an easier, safer way out--and in?"

Olivier, with what seemed a mild pinch to Raziel's right shoulder, disabled Raziel's command over Forneus, toppling Raziel to the side, allowing Forneus to quickly jump up and pin Raziel to the ground.

"Don't you ever get in my face, you little chicken dung, coward." Forneus had Raziel by the neck and Olivier's foot was pressed down on Raziel's crotch. Raziel couldn't move. "If you ever say anything about what you might think you know, about something that is nothing, as far as anyone knows, then my old playmate..." The pressure off Raziel's crotch was relieved, as Raziel could see Olivier's feet walking away rather rapidly. "...you will bear witness to the scorn of this little thing..." Forneus was lifted into the air--hand still on Raziel's throat, lifting Raziel into a sitting position, Raziel looking into the tree trunk-like legs of Haniel.

"The scorn of what?" Haniel asked, holding Forneus with one hand, three feet above Raziel. "Uh, Uh-h..."

"Get your hands off of my offspring," a cold, contemptuous voice said.

Haniel slowly and confidently looked, slightly down, to meet the dark, impervious eyes of Morax, Forneus' 1st Main Guardian. Morax, gifted in the reading of the stars, and an unusual understanding of nearly everything, when young, was looked upon by the Elders as an upcoming leader of Nuemerica, had all the qualities of a fine and wise leader, and was thus given all the privileges. Morax's early excursions into the Forest of Disaster, which is strictly forbidden, was the cause of the fall from grace of the Elders. Morax's behavior also began to change then, though nothing could concretely be said, or proved, of any wrong-doing or ill-intent. Morax has been very bitter toward the Elders ever since, as well as anyone associated with the Elders--of which Haniel was very close.

Haniel and Morax eye-battled for what seemed an eternity to Raziel, who was still sitting on the ground. Forneus, now with a smugness, was still suspended in mid-air in Haniel's grasp. Haniel dropped Forneus to the ground without losing a blink to Morax--standing near nose-to-nose with Haniel, hands tucked in pocket pouches of a new, long, black robe.

"Get up and go home," Morax said without blinking, apparently to Forneus, then abruptly turned and walked away. Forneus quickly jumped up, and while brushing off dust, ran to catch up with Morax.

Haniel then bent down to help Raziel up, no longer with the battling eyes of just seconds before. Raziel wondered with amazement at the kind, gentle and friendly eyes that Haniel now displayed. "Come on Raz, let me walk you home."

The crowd was now dispersing with a number people going in diverse directions, but Raziel noted a small parade of people ahead, mostly young villagers, going in the direction of Frac's hut, while Raziel and Haniel took the path leading toward Raziel's. Neither said anything to each other along the walk, but Haniel gave Raziel's shoulder a gentle squeeze as they approached Raziel's hut. Psisya, Raziel's 2nd Main Guardian was standing in the doorway as they approached, and gave Raziel a nod to go right inside. Psisya and Haniel spoke for a few minutes before Haniel left, walking down the trail to Frac's hut.

Continue to Chapter 3.




© 2001 John Gnotek