Orpha wept, bitterly. But only to herself. She had to keep up her countenance.
For her father. For the others.
For her father. For the others.
For Orchus.
Those were my last words to him. And now I'll never see him again.
The gongrouns galloped fiercely, carrying Orpha and her father, Talus of Balchion, swiftly through the night air, past thick groves and shimmering lakes.
Orpha looked up, searching the sky for an answer.
It was a common Ethronian practice to watch the skies for meaning. For answers. For hope.
But tonight, there was only darkness. No moons were visible in the heavens.
No Jenno. No Arinn. No Talua.
But...every night there is a moon. Every night a sphere to give us light.
Yet no orb hangs in the sky.
Fear seized Orpha so greatly that a small sob managed to leap out of her throat.
Talus, sensing the pain deep within her, turned to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Daughter, what pains you so?"
Orpha looked away. "Nothing, Father. It is of no consequence."
"Everything is of consequence, dearest Orpha." He paused, letting the rhythm of the gongrouns hooves fill the void.
"This world is in peril. And we have to save it. You must be strong for me. You must be strong for our people. And most of all - you must be strong for Orchus."
At the very mention of his name, Orpha lost all restraint and let the cascading rains fall from her face.
"Father, Orchus and I had a fight, before we departed Kenont. We were disagreeing on a most trivial matter. I can't even remember what we were fighting about!"
She collapsed in her father's arms, weeping and convulsing - her tears staining his regal shawl. Turning his head to survey the other passengers, he quietly led Orpha near the front of their gongroun.
Talus was a Posyche, trained in the arts of telepathy and the Senses. Before the Expedition had landed on Ethron, he had served among the Greater Magistrate Ring - the governing body on the planet. But, he thought, what does my former life and skill matter now? If we do not secure Grave Mount, all will be lost.
Gently but firmly, Talus focused his mind into Orpha's and began to hum a sub-octave pitch, peering at her heart and spirit, letting the waves of sound bring forth the contents of her being.
A deep sense of regret and despair flooded his being so quickly that he instantly broke the mind-link. The hummed pitch literally cracked, causing a sound which sounded like a large branch being snapped in two.
Orpha looked up. "You've never disengaged a mind-link that abruptly. What's wrong? What did you see?"
"Pain. Despair. Lack of hope. Chaos. Orpha - you are on the path to Hollow." His face was grim but laced with concern and sorrow.
Hollow? No! No, it cannot be! I am to be joined to Orchus!
This cannot be! My life - my dreams! I will not allow myself to be j-
And with that, consciousness fled her and she collapsed.
Talus, catching her in an instant, laid her gently against some robes that were scattered nearby.
He sat down next to her and sighed. The last of the Balchions softly sang a quiet arpeggio for a moment, finishing with a soothing dual-tone. He lovingly placed his hand on her head before departing.
"I have not misconstrued the truth to a single Ethronian in my entire life. But, my love, I had to. You need to believe you are nearing Hollowness. Our very survival depends on it."
The pack of gongrouns continued their impressive, thundering gallop through the Wilderness of Jekoa. Talus stood up and moved to the edge of the riding platform to search the sky.
"No moons. It has been many, many cycles since no moon graced Ethron."
He shook his head.
"Jaccarin is fading. I hope you are alive, Orchus. And I hope you are ready."
