"What?" Jason said aloud, then once again flinched at the sound. Can you hear me? he asked.
*Yes,* the green serpent answered. *You are the champions chosen to save our temples from destruction.*
Although his first instinct was to protest, Jason realized he was not truly surprised. There was a reason he and Char had journeyed here. Instead of responding in disbelief, therefore, he asked, What can we do? Char glanced at him with pride in her eyes.
*As you know, the offworlders are pillaging our world. At first, they were simply taking artifacts to sell for profit, but then they learned of six Sacred Amulets, objects that hold the powers of the gods. Since then, they have become obsessed with recovering them. The first temple struck was ours, that of Dalan. They did not find the object held here, the Amulet of Dalan. The Azalai took it away from the temple in the heat of the battle and thus deceived them. Many Azru and most of the Azalai were killed, however, in the early defense, before the Amulet and its bearers escaped. The temple became a battlefield. The Azru and Azalai are bound to defend the Amulet at all costs. Other temples will have casualties, as ours did, and if the Amulets are ever found by the offworlders, chaos and destruction will surely follow.*
We must prevent that, Charaustra said with certainty.
*Yes,* the white Azalai responded. *That is why you must complete the mission we will set before you. If the Amulets are out of danger, the M'l'kai--the Children of the Gods--can leave the temples open. The Azru and Azalai will not have to fight the offworlders to defend them any longer. We wish for you to travel to the six temples and collect the Amulets in secrecy.*
What if the offworlders demand them of the temples? Jason asked.
*They will be told the truth: that the Amulets have been taken back to the gods by the Sacred Guardians. They can search every temple, but they will not find them.*
To the gods? Char asked. The green Azalai answered.
*Once you have collected all six of the Amulets, you will be met by the gods, and they will take the Amulets to a safe place until the temples are fortified against future attacks.*
How can we do this? They have already conquered three or more temples. We'll never get the Amulets quickly enough. Jason rationalized.
*Not conquered, searched,* the white corrected. *There was no fighting at Lok'tar and Kry'niu because neither temple needed defending.*
*There are many gods on L'mdana, but only six created Amulets, and only six temples house these objects,* the green added.
The offworlders don't know what temples to search, Char realized.
*Precisely. There, you will have the advantage. Also, you will have the advantage of traveling through the portals of the Azalai. Travel between temples will be instantaneous.*
So, we must travel to the five other temples and collect all six of the Sacred Amulets. Then, we will deliver them to the gods, so that they will be safe. How will this keep the offworlders from stealing artifacts from L'mdana? Jason asked.
*Unfortunately, they are too powerful to fight against. We will only be rid of them when the Galactic Alliance steps in to aid us. Their ships are many and powerful. At least until then the Sacred Amulets will be out of the hands of the offworlders.*
You are sure the Alliance will come? Char asked, worried.
*It has been foreseen,* the white Azalai stated. *But unless you complete your mission, the Alliance will arrive too late to stop war and chaos from coming to our planet. With your mission completed, our people can peacefully await assistance.*
We will complete our mission, Charaustra vowed, and Jason nodded.
*You must not speak of this to anyone,* the white cautioned. *No one will see you at the temples except the Azalai and the M'l'kai. You must travel between temples as quickly as possible. You will not know where you are traveling next until you get there.*
What about Genhyl and Alexei? Jason queried.
*They will accompany you,* the green said. *The Daughter of Night has already been told to follow you by the Children of Life. As a M'l'kai, she knows your mission now. She is bringing your friend as we speak. They will arrive with the Children of Life momentarily.*
They waited in silence for a few moments, then saw torchlight moving toward the chamber. Two robed figures came forward, a female L'mdanan with pink-tinged skin and long silken hair and a bluish male. Both had dark tattoos on their faces, identical symbols. They were the Children of Life, the M'l'kai of the Temple of Dalan. They were followed by Alexei, who still was shrouded in her brown, hooded cloak, and Genhyl, who was carrying the torch.
"You have accepted your mission," the male M'l'kai said.
"Yes," Jason answered, even though the male's statement was not a question. The female M'l'kai stepped forward with a satchel of strong material.
"Inside is the Amulet of Dalan. You must not gaze upon it, for to do so is blasphemy," she said. Jason took the satchel.
"I won't," he vowed.
Bow, Char told him, leaning foward to the ground herself. Jason bowed respectfully to the M'l'kai. They each nodded to him and then stepped back. Alexei and Genhyl came forward. Genhyl doused the torch in a bin of black sand as he came in, and the chamber was once again plunged into moonlight. The air was suddenly filled with a hissing chant in a language Jason did not understand. Then, a pale, smoky circle formed, sitting on the ground before them.
This must be our portal, Jason observed.
Let's go, Char replied.
They walked through the smoky ring.
Background from Absolute Background Textures Archive. Storyline and characters created by and copyright © Rachel "Indyana" Gratis, 2001-2004. Dragon from Veniam Mactare.