The Sacred Pool
The jungle gave way to the sacred clearing. A small hill led to a large, round, stone platform, and in the middle was a waist-high, circular altar full of water. The sacred pool. None were to touch it. But Velora and her companions would dance around it.
The light of the full moon bathed every surface in its glory, adding a layer of beauty and mystery. It was almost another world.
Velora and her companions spread out around the fountain and lifted their arms. Filin started singing. With each measure, another girl joined in until Velora added her voice.
A soft, warm breeze picked up and played with her dress.
Velora smiled and let the music sweep her away.
She stayed reverent during the first song, then relaxed during the second. The third she played and enjoyed Maintra’s favorite piece before taking on a serious note for the fourth to show her fealty. Number five, they swayed and chanted and moved and sang in perfect unison. The sixth song promised to carry her away while she added her testimony to her companions’. Before they started the final dance, all forest life surrounding the sacred clearing grew silent.
Velora opened her eyes.
The sacred pool glowed, beckoning her. Energy hummed through her, and she started singing. The others joined in. It was time. Velora switched to the new harmony and increased the volume.
A blurry face appeared in the water, their features hidden.
Desire lit inside her, pushing her to move, undulate her hips, and tease the image. And she did.
Soon the other voices faded away, along with the rest of the world, leaving only her, the sacred pool, and her watching audience.
Velora spun, and her hair fell all around her in dark, long waves.
Strength emanated from the pool before the image lifted out of the water, slowly taking the shape of a man in a hooded cape.
Every move she made, every word she sang, she aimed at him. And as she made her way around the pool, his floating form turned, always facing her.
After her last note, she stared up at him, willing him to tell her what he wanted of her. Her chest heaved and numbness filtered through her limbs, but Velora otherwise held perfectly still.
He bent and reached out for her, only he stopped mere inches from her face. “Each night of the full moon, sleep beneath the branches of the gentle elder.” A deep, silken voice filled her head. “Do this for seven years and never give yourself to anyone.”
He was incredible. A heavenly being communicating with her.
Exhaustion gnawed at her.
The figure faded away.
Who was he?
She let out a soft sigh. The gentle elder. He said to sleep each night of the full moon beneath the elder’s branches for seven years.
Velora blinked at the empty space and gave a slow nod. As he wished. She’d do everything he told her.
“Velora.”
She turned. The other girls were gone. Where’d they go?
Miss Pern gestured to the path they’d taken from the spring. “It’s time for you to bathe again and change into your sleeping slip.”
Velora peered back at the sacred pool. Though she’d nodded, perhaps the mysterious man needed to hear her verbally. “I’ll do as you say.”
“Come, Velora.”
A glow shimmered in the pool and ebbed away. Perhaps he’d heard and accepted her promise.
She walked to her mentor and glanced around. “Where are the others?”
“They left as though in a trance; finished their song and danced along the way. Velora, whatever you promised, you must abide by it no matter what.”
Of course. “Miss Pern, has anything like this happened before?”
“Not quite. I was granted a vision last night. Only six other times was a young maiden chosen, like you. But this is the first time the other girls in a group left. Whatever you experienced, you must keep it to yourself and do whatever you promised. If you need my help, I’ll do what I can.”
Mere would stop her from leaving the hut on the nights of the full moon. “I need something to help my mere sleep peacefully.”
“I have a recipe for an elixir, but it’s dangerous when taken too frequently.”
She only needed it once a month. “How about not frequently, but used over a long period of time?”
“No more than ten years, twice a week.”
Excellent. Then it wouldn’t be a problem. “Will you please teach me how to make it?”
“Yes. Soon.”
Her mentor guided her back to the spring. There, Velora re-bathed and dressed in a slip of a sleeping dress.
Miss Pern held out a bundle. “I was told in a dream to give this to you. I’ll be in the sacred temple. Come find me tomorrow unless I find you first.”
The gentle elder. A sacred tree none were supposed to go near. Yet she was told to.
Velora took the offered bundle. “Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You’ve honored us, Velora. Peaceful eve.”
“Peaceful eve.”
The gentle elder. The largest and oldest tree in existence. A shiver ran through her. Such an honor.
She followed the spring and crossed a small stone bridge. He wasn’t too far away. A mile east.
There were six others before her. Yet she was the first to return to the spring again and be sent away.
Chills rippled down her back. What did it mean?
A New Day, A New Experience
The gentle elder. He stood taller than a hundred feet, his trunk almost thirty feet in diameter. And the canopy reached out at least forty feet, offering shelter should it rain. But it wouldn’t rain. The sky was clear, the moon big and bright.
Velora walked to the great tree and bowed her head. “Hello, Gentle Elder. Please look after me. From tonight on, I’ll be visiting once in a while.”
She crouched and untied her bundle. There were two blankets and a small pillow inside. Miss Pern knew.
She smiled, made a little bed, and got between the covers. “Peaceful eve, Gentle Elder.” Velora closed her eyes and let the exhaustion clinging to her take her to dreamland.
Oh, what a dream. A fantastic, wonderful, glorious dream. Velora stretched before opening her eyes. Enormous branches sprawled out above her, full of bright leaves. Such a welcome sight.
She smiled at the sacred tree. “Blessed morning, Gentle Elder.” She got up and started folding the top blanket.
In her dream, a large wolf approached her and sat within her reach. Wolves were known to attack people, but she’d never seen one before because wolves didn’t live in the jungle, nor did she get the sense it wanted to harm her. On the contrary; everything inside her said he was safe. She ended up smiling at him and patted the ground next to her and invited the majestic creature to sleep. And it did. It’s large body and soft fur warmed her through the colder parts of the morning before she woke.
Velora put her bundle back together and faced the gent—a large hole opened in his trunk. “Gentle Elder, you wish me to leave my bedding here?”
The lower branches all creaked and shivered.
“I’m taking that as a yes. Thank you. I’ll trouble you with this, then.” She raised on her toes and set her bundle inside with care, then caressed the smooth, closing bark. “I look forward to when I see you next.”
Again, the lower branches moved as if the gentle elder were communicating, only saying goodbye instead of greeting her.
She turned and practically skipped all the way to spring.
A branch snapped near her destination.
Velora stopped and scanned around.
A pair of intelligent eyes peered at her from the bushes. Big, dark, animal eyes.
The wolf from her dream.
No little alarms went off inside her. Her heart rate remained the same. Then it was fate.
She smiled, bowed her head, and continued on her way. “Have a blessed day.” Maybe she’d see him again. Perhaps in another dream.
Voices carried from the communal part of the village. Had Velora worried Mere, would she’ve spread word of her absence? Often times, Velora woke early and went for a walk, but she always stayed close.
It couldn’t have been about an animal attack. No predators came within two-hundred feet of their village. It was one of the many blessings Maintra showered upon them, so nothing dangerous would’ve happened.
A hand grabbed her wrist, and she nearly screamed.
“Shh, it’s only me.” Miss Pern’s hushed voice filled her ear. “You must change before returning home. Come. I have new clothes for you.”
Oh. Okay. She crept away with her mentor. “Miss Pern, what’s going on?”
“You didn’t return home last night and two women went missing. But don’t worry. I told your mere you were at my place; that you were exhausted and needed rest, so I took you home.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. This is the will of the gods, so I’ll do my part to help.”
They approached Miss Pern’s cheerful hut. It stood a mere three feet from the ground, the stilts not as thick as the ones on Velora’s home. Pretty climbing ivy and bright pink and purple blossoms clung to it; beautiful, natural decorations. No one else’s had plants on theirs, further setting her mentor’s home apart.
They walked up sturdy stairs that didn’t…creak…
“Miss Pern, your stairs. They’re new. How’d you build them?”
The woman’s cheeks colored as she pushed open her door.
“My dove, you’ve returned.” A masculine voice carried from inside.
Velora stopped cold in her steps. It wasn’t right for her to enter another’s domicile while a man—her mentor pulled her in.
“He understands. Come, we must hurry. My lover brought you clothing. Said he had visions and had the items specially made.”
He, he did?
A shirtless, tanned man appeared from a room and smiled. “Ah, you’re the one I’ve been dreaming about. Do as your mentor says and all will be well.”
All would be well? Was it a warning? Did he see some sort of ill fate should she not listen to Miss Pern? “I—”
He held up his hand. “Don’t speak to any male other than the one you saw in the sacred pool.”
He, he knew about him?
Velora bowed her head and nodded. Yes, she’d listen to Miss Pern. Always had, always would.
Her mentor waved the man away. “Go hide yourself. I’ll help her dress and give her your message before sending her on her way.”
A throaty chuckle lightened the atmosphere. “Very well. Tonight I’m re-thatching your roof. Would you like a skylight?”
“I have no idea what that is, but if you want to give me one, then yes.”
“Then you shall have one. I’ll be in your room until you call me out.”
He listened to Miss Pern. And he was kind. Were all men that way? Miss Liss said they were mean, ugly, and horrible. Mere never talked about Velora’s pere. Never answered her questions when she was younger, so she simply stopped asking. Maybe she’d bring him up again later.
Her mentor guided her into another room. “We must hurry. Listen closely to all I have to say while you dress.”