The vows we take mark us, body and soul.  Once taken, they cannot be abandoned without doing damage that cannot be undone.  Any vow taken should only be done with the utmost care and deliberation.

Tien Shaa, Tides and Season

Ianus stayed out of everyone’s way.  When he had to be alone with his father in the temple, he busied himself with the menial tasks he would have normally avoided.  His concern never faded, but he couldn’t shake the nagging doubt that the ship’s name was intentional.  He doubted the visions, and he was sure this was just the sort of thing his father would have arranged to validate the vision to inspire Ianus to believe.  Uncertainty clouded everything that happened since he received his Sukallin.

His nightmares grew worse every night.  Luminous beasts fighting in a maelstrom of lighting and war.  Shadows crept through the chaos.

Three days of avoidance accompanied three restless nights.  Each day was the same.  He wandered aimlessly around the temple grounds, avoiding everyone, especially Daru.  His heart dropped a beat every time he thought about his father.  

The fact that he had not shared the details of his first vision with anyone helped him calm down a little, but he still wanted someone to fight.  It was easier to be angry, but he had no proof, nothing to blame Ihy for the name of the ship.  

Confusion filled his life.  What would he do if something happened to his second father?  *No,* he decided, *I mustn’t let anything happen!  But what could I do to keep him from his fate?*

Ianus knew Ihy spent nearly all his free time down at the beach tinkering with his new ship.  If he was going to do anything he was going to have to get over his anxiety about the Valykrie.  

After making his way down the hillside, he stopped to stare at the haunting vessel.  A strange feeling welled up in the pit of his stomach.

His vision twisted and blurred as his prescient gift forced itself upon him.  Steadying his legs, he blinked his eyes rapidly.  He reached up and rubbed his eyes.  *Not now,* he thought, *I don’t need this now!*  He swayed and moaned.  Nothing was working.  The portentous fog clouded his eyes.  “Go away!”  Ianus shouted to no effect.

“What?”  Tuun’s voice echoed in his ears, “Why?  What have I done?”

“Tuun?  Is that really you?” Ianus reached out desperately for Tuun.

“Of course it’s really me!  What’s the matter with... Oh!  You’re suffering a vision!”  Tuun said, taking Ianus’ hand, “Just take a deep breath Breathe... That’s right... relax.  Pray.”

“O Holy Mother,” Ianus panted, “Protect us all from evil, stand guard at the gates of our cities, and in the temples of our hearts.  Pray for us Holy Mother, now and at the hour of our death.”

“You are devoted to Uma Nari?”  Tuun said with surprise in his voice, “Good then, pray to the mother of our Lord.  Just relax and pray.”

Ianus’ head began to clear.  Tears ran down his face.  He was pained, deep lines etched themselves across his young skin.  Pain reverberated within him.  “Thank you,” he said catching his breath, “Thank you so very much.”  He took a deep breath which slipped from him in a rough shivering huff.  “How did you know what to do?”

“I... ” Tuun’s smile melted away, replaced by his usual straight face, “I used to be an Augur.”  Tuun walked off toward the Valkyrie.

“Used to be an Augur?” Ianus plodded after him, “What do you mean you used to be an Augur?”

Tuun opened the hatch, and with a heavy sigh, he walked through the docking hatch and down the corridors through the ship.  “I lost my gift.”

“I didn’t know that was possible.  How?”

“Augurs must have faith in something.  Without faith it is hard to see the future...  If you’re bitter,” Tuun smiled curtly, “You can see no future at all.”

“What could have happened to you?”  Ianus asked before he thought.

“Aashen and I used to be slaves...”  Tuun’s voice trailed off.  He swallowed hard and quickly walked off around a corner and out of sight.

Ianus slapped himself on the forehead.  *That was stupid,* he thought.  Closing his eyes, he shook his head.  *He helped me, and all I could do was conjure up his most painful memories.*

“Hello, my boy!”  Ihy shouted from behind him, “I’m glad to see you’ve come out of seclusion.  Come take a look!”  He waived for him to follow.  When Ianus caught up with him, he led Ianus into a nearby room.

Ianus took a deep breath.  On three tables, he saw the same three Kishanu which had provoked his vision the first time he visited the Valkyrie.

Ihy bounced over to one of the feminine Kishanu, and waved his periapt over its eyes.  A golden light illuminated its soft round face.  It’s light gray skin quivered and it sat up.

“Sangrida Namid of the IRV Valkyrie, at your service,” she said looking around the room, “May we assimilate current personality files, update our data bases, and resume normal operations?”

“Why does it speak in the plural?”  Ianus asked.

Ihy smiled, “Currently, it is nothing more than a colony of nanites, once it is fully activated it will individuate.  Would you like to activate it?”

“O, yes,” Ianus excitedly said, “How do I do that?”

“Call her by name, and tell her to activate.”

“Sangrida, activate!”  Ianus said in the most proper and dignified voice he could muster.

The Kishan closed her eyes.  Her skin color warmed until it had taken on a healthy tone.  Opening her crystal blue, hourglass eyes, she said, “Thank you,” looking over at the single male Kishanu, “What is the matter with my brother?”

“He is not activating,” Ihy answered quickly.

“Would you like me to repair him?”  She asked kindly.

“O no,” Ihy said, waving her away with his hands.  “I will work on him.  I enjoy it.”

“Shall I go about my business?”

“Yes, please help prepare the ship.”

Faroh Raanan sat atop a hill to the north of the temple complex of Shiloh in the black with gold trim robes his practice demanded.  Legs crossed, eyes closed, and hands folded in prayer, he listened to the metallic song.

“All glory and honor is due to the One, who subjugated all to its will,” he began to recite the Litany of the Machine, “Praised be the one, who gave the Song, may we ever follow its way.  Praised be the Law Giver, who subdues the will and the mind, may we ever follow its way.  Praised be the Law that controls our evil hearts, may we ever follow its way.

“We hear the hum of the machine, may we ever follow its way.  We know its code and bow to it, may we ever follow its way.  It shows us the way of truth and life, may we ever follow its way.”

“We know its way, may it ever guide us.  We know its truth, may it ever guide us.”

“We are the way, the hand of the One.  We are the truth, the hand of the One.  We are the life, the hand of the One.”

“May all be subdued under the One, for we are faithful and will persevere.”

“Are you really?”  Asked a kindly voice into Faroh’s left ear.

“Who said that?”  Faroh jumped into the air.  He formed a long, double-edged sword with his periapt.  His feet hit the ground and he looked around feverishly.

“I did,” said a balding man with a large nose.  He was wearing bright blue robes, “I’m sorry.   Did I frighten you?”

“No!”  Faroh steadied himself, “Were you listening to what I was saying?”

“O, yes,” the man grinned slyly, “You were reciting the Litany of the Machine, as it was composed by Dov Lavan.  Don’t be afraid.  I know you are Ual-leen.”

“And that doesn’t bother you?”

“You didn’t answer me.  I answered your question, now you answer mine.”  His smile broadened.  “Are you truly faithful to the Song?”

“Did Panthera send you?”  Faroh stood rigidly.

The man laughed.  His visage shimmered like a tree lost behind the heat waves of a mirage, “O no, he would not have sent me.”  The man stepped closer, his skin faded from its former healthy hue to the ghostly blue pallor of a neglected dead body.

Faroh gasped.  The man’s eyes were solid black swimming in a sea of pearly white, and his skin gave off a faint azure glow.

“You are a Raewyn!”  Faroh staggered backwards and looked down to the ground.  “Why would a Raewyn care if I were loyal to the Song?” Casting a piercing gaze through the man, “I am faithful!”  He said sternly.

“You said you know the truth?  Do you forward its cause?  Do you enforce its mandates?”  The man’s voice was so soft and gentle it unnerved Faroh.

“I serve well!  I do as I am told.  I obey.” 

“What have you done?” The Raewyn giggled, then slapped his own mouth as if he thought of something embarrassing, “O, you mean killing those Predicants?  That forwards the blood-feud against the Jade Moon, but do you lead souls to the truth or do you serve others?”

“I brought Jago to the cause!”  Faroh protested

“And you serve Panthera!”  He shook his head.  “You claim to be the hand of the One, yet you serve a broken man!”

“Master Panthera... ” Faroh was red with anger, but he had no answer for the charge.

“Do you want to serve in a place of order, or do you want to rule over chaos, making it submit to truth?”

“I will subjugate it!” Faroh’s face twisted.  “Master Panthera knows the Song.  He knows the way to restore order.”

“My dear boy, we have evolved past our need for his petty, self-serving interpretation of ancient myth.  One day, you will see.  I can help you, you know.  I can help you restore order to the universe.”

“And just who are you?”  Faroh sneered.

“Hlachar Cythraul,” the old man stood proudly.

Faroh looked at him, that name was somehow familiar to him, but he couldn’t quite place it.

“If you ever need me, then just call my name.”  He faded into a ghostly fog that quickly dispersed to nothing.

Late in the night, Ianus and Ihy finished their work on the Valkyrie.  Ianus was glad he had gone down to see his father.  They hadn’t spent much time together over the last few months.

With a proud look in his face, and his arm around his son’s neck, Ihy led him back up the dark path to the temple complex.  Between the trees, something moved.  

Some eldritch form lurched from shadow to shadow.  

Ihy cast his gaze to the mossy steps under his feet and stopped walking.

Ianus took a couple steps forward, before he realized that Ihy’s arm had left his shoulder.  Turning around on his heels, “What’s wrong?  Did you forget something back at the ship?”

“No,” Ihy said mournfully, a distant look in his eyes, “I thought I saw something.”

Ihy turned his palm up, and gazed into his periapt.  Vacuous, black lightning raged within his Jade stone.  A protracted sigh escaped from his mouth.

Ianus grew cold from the look on his father’s face.  Having seen his father weather many crises in the past, none of them had silenced him before.  

Ihy’s lips parted and closed regularly as if he was trying to speak.  His eyes roamed over the forest desperate to find the shadowy figure that had made him stop.

There it was, at the top of the path, leering at them.  Its venomous eyes scourged Ihy’s soul.

Following Ihy’s horrified gaze, Ianus’ eyes came to rest on the great black silhouette at the mouth of a path.  An eerie, red flame danced across the Shedu’s eyes.  It took a couple steps toward them.  Crouching near to the ground, it sprang into the night sky.

Ianus steadied himself, and waited for the beast to attack.  Searching the air, Ianus lost sight of it.  It didn’t come down.  

Startled, he glanced at Ihy, who was staring solemnly at his periapt again.

“What was that?”  Ianus exclaimed, as he regained his voice.  

Ihy didn’t answer. The shallow lines that ran across his face deepened.  He suddenly looked older, even frail.  A solitary tear ran down his cheek.

“Dad?”  Ianus squeaked, “Father, can you hear me?”  Grabbing Ihy’s shoulders, he shook him hard, “Are you all right?  Dad!”

Ihy’s eyes wandered to his periapt then to Ianus.  Sorrow racked him, “I’m so sorry, my boy...”  His body quivered with every word.  “I shouldn’t have...”

“You shouldn’t have what?  You’re really scaring me.  Look at me?  Who was that?”  Ianus began to shiver.

Ihy straightened up, a severe look on his face.  He muttered something strange.  It sounded like gibberish, or maybe something in a language Ianus didn’t know.  “You saw him as well, did you?  I had hoped he was dead.”  He waved his hand to keep Ianus quiet, “That was Karu Panthera.”

Feeling the blood rush from his face, Ianus glanced around the treetops hoping to see the ghastly form again.  “The man who killed my parents?”  Nothing but a breeze rushed through the trees.

“The same.  He killed many others too.  Heru Dhouti and most of the Camarilla, until we stopped him.”

Ianus vibrated with anger, “I thought you finished him off.  I mean, you are the lauded hero of the battle of Lachesis.  You were decorated for defeating him!”

“I was not alone, your grandfather, Nusair, rallied the army.  He and I found Panthera, and, you see, there is something you don’t know— it has only happened once before.”

“What are you talking about?  Just say it!”  Ianus’ rage flicked from Panthera to Ihy.

“You know the story of our founding?”

“About Tien Shaa and all that?”  His voice was cold and monotone.  “Of course I know it.  What kind of a maker would I be if I didn’t?”

“Well, then, you know about his final battle with Dov Lavan.  What am I saying, of course you do.”  Ihy inhaled sharply and looked around nervously.  “Lavan, you see, not all of him died.  The Ual-leen have the same implants that we do to control the periapt and its machines.  But unlike us, they use them to achieve a sort of limited hive-mind.

“When Lavan died, he uploaded his mind, and most of the techniques he had learned into the hive.  From time to time makers have found it, and been seduced by power, and have allowed this remnant of Lavan to possess them.”

“That’s what happened to Panthera,” Ianus’ eyes widened.

“Exactly, he had risen to leadership in the Camarilla before anyone noticed there was a problem.”

“Yes, yes, I know all that, but you defeated him at Lachesis!”

Ihy kicked the step, “Officially we did.  We defeated him and the galaxy celebrated, but— his hand was missing.  We didn’t discover it until the body was inspected prior to internment.  His periapt was also missing.”

“Why would anyone steal his hand and periapt?”

“Can’t you think of a reason?”

“To make a Chimera!  The periapt shares the mind of its possessor, and the hand would provide the DNA... so you think that Panthera was behind the Chimera incident?”

“I had my suspicions at the time, but I couldn’t prove it.  The Camarilla did investigate,” Ihy sighed and shook his head.

“So why did that black lightning appear in your periapt?”

“We should get to the temple complex.”  Ihy looked around nervously.  “If that was Panthera, he might come back for us.”

“But...”

“Not now.  Get to your room.  I have to talk to Maya.  If that was Panthera, maybe will be able to catch him.”

“If?  What do you mean if?”

“Just get to your room!”  Ihy’s tone shook Ianus to the core.  “I don’t have time for this right now.”

The night was darker, more oppressive than Daru could ever remember.  The lamps that lined the courtyard had dimmed.  A cool breeze came off the sea it stung her face, freezing the trails left by her tears.  On the steps of the library, a shiver shook her violently.  She stopped and looked around.  *It’s only the dim lighting,* she thought, shrugging off the invading fear.

In the library, she welcomed the warmth with a smile and looked around for Maya.  Finding her sitting at a far table with the Brothers and their Ceeri, she swallowed hard.  Slowly, she walked over to them.  Tuun noticed her, and waved to Maya to break off the conversation.

“Hello, Daru,” Maya said, her voice full of pain.

Daru glanced fleetingly around the room, knowing that she was the cause of Maya’s anguish, “Mistress Isann?”

“Come now,” Maya interrupted, “We’ve known each other far to long for such formalities.  I’ve known you since you were a baby, please...” Tears welled up in her eyes, “Please, don’t distance yourself from me... any more than you already have.”

Aashen and Tuun leapt to their feet and scowled at Daru, “If you’ve been giving her trouble!”  Aashen looked more serious than Daru had ever seen him before.

“That’s enough,” Maya motioned for them to sit back down.

“In truth,” Daru said, a sour feeling swelled in her stomach, “That’s what I came to talk to you about.”

“Could we have some time alone,” she rubbed Aashen’s hand gently.

They nodded, and after giving Daru a harsh look, walked off.  Maya waved at the now empty seats beside her.

“Well, have a seat.”

“I came to say...  I’m sorry.  I’m sorry for yelling at you.  I’ve been thinking about what you had to say and...  I guess you’re right.”

“Apology accepted,” Maya put her arm around Daru, “I suppose you’ve already apologized to Ihy?”

“No!  And I don’t plan to.  You may have been right to treat Ianus the way that you did— but, well- he should have told Ianus the things he told me.  He had no right to keep that from him.”

“That is not all that Ihy has been keeping from Ianus.”  Maya avoided looking at Daru, “And I don’t know if I should tell you myself.”

“Tell me what?  You can’t tell me you’re keeping secrets and not tell me what they are!  I’ll go mad and I’m sure you don’t want that on your conscience.”

They both chuckled.

“Well, you know about Ianus’ parents, his birth parents, don’t you?”

“Who doesn’t?”  Daru bit her lip.

“And you know that Ihy is an augur.  Well, he made a prophecy, many years ago that Panthera would be driven from power.  He had been summoned by the Camarilla to share his insight with them.  He announced the prophecy in Panthera’s presence, calling him the great Red Dragon, the terror of the Jade Moon.”

“I don’t understand.  That was all truth.  Why are you so upset?”

Maya drew in a long, slow breath.  “Ihy saw a great tower, with two dragons locked in combat at the base.  He said that their struggle was destabilizing the order.  One had to be defeated, or the Jade Moon would collapse under its own weight.  And well...” she broke off and covered her face with her hands.

“What does that have to do with anything?”  Daru asked.  “You can’t believe it’s Ihy’s fault that Ianus’ birth parents were killed.  Panthera was a mad man.”

“There was another vision,” Maya continued, “The Vaticinars, the Seven Eyes of Fate, pronounced a second vision.”

“Who are the Vaticinars?”

“They are A’nath-ari...” Maya’s voice trailed off, “They are four members of the Order of Blood, ancient beyond measure, no one really knows how old they are.  They appeared at Ianus’ birth.  They pronounced a great prophecy over him.  They said,” she took a deep breath, “The black dragon’s time is waning, the red dragon has just been born, and a green dragon still sleeps in her maternal waters.  Behold the child of centuries past, born to preserve the future.

“He doesn’t know about the prophecy,” Maya looked gravely into Daru’s eyes, “And he mustn’t know.  No one really knows what the prophecy means, and he’s got enough on his mind.  I just thought you should know.”

Maya raised her hand, and turned it palm up.  A thick golden liquid oozed from her periapt and solidified into a small, coin-sized disk.

“Take this,” she said handing the disk to Daru, “There are blank books at the desk if you need one.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a copy of the Psalter of the Mne Seraphin, and the full text of the prophecy I just told you.”

“Why?”

“Because you need to help Ianus.  Don’t tell him, or show it to him.  I have programmed the text to erase itself if he sets his eyes upon it.”

“How can I help him?”  Daru asked.  “It doesn’t make sense.”

“The Vaticinars are rarely seen.  Their words are very important.  Ihy has been wondering lately why they called Ianus a Red Dragon.  He is afraid it has something to do with what happened to Panthera.  We don’t want to loose him.  If you know the danger, you can watch out for him.”

“I will,” Daru said, “But don’t worry about Ianus.  He has a good heart.”

The doors to the library swung open, and Ihy frantically ran off toward his office.

Maya fidgeted in her seat and took Daru by the hand, “I should go see what’s wrong with Ihy.  Just remember, say nothing.  Learn well, and help Ianus as best you can.”

Ianus stood silently in the middle of the courtyard.  He stared at the doors to the library, wanting to chase after Ihy, but it was too late now.  He was probably locked away in his office.  

Ianus sighed and turned toward the dormitory.  A dull anger pounded in his head.  *Why wouldn’t Ihy tell me the whole truth?* he thought, taking a few sulking steps forward.

The door of the library creaked open.  Ianus waved at Daru as she skipped down the stairs, clutching a book in her hand.

“Hello, Ianus,” her voice cracked, “What are you up to?”

“I was just working on the Valkyrie with Ihy.  Did you see him?”

“Yeah, he was quite out of sorts.  He and Maya ran off to his office.  What happened?  He was very pale and I thought he looked somewhat blue.”

“We ran into a wraith... a specter,” Ianus took a deep breath, “He said it was Panthera... but he’s dead, isn’t he?”

Daru glanced from the book in her arms and to Ianus, “I, I don’t know.  Maya said some pretty strange things.  I’m... Well... I’m planning to do some research on my own.”

“Research?”  Ianus felt a divide between them, “The Bahn Se’leen central net would surly have information on this, wouldn’t it?”

“I guess, but it would probably be heavily encrypted, why?”

Ianus circumambulated Daru, muttering under his breath, “You’re right of course.  Yes, of course, you’re right.”

“Could you please stop that!  You’re making me dizzy.  What’s gotten into you, you are acting like your father.  Hey!  Where are you going?  Come back here!”

Ianus didn’t hear her.  He ran as fast as he could up the dormitory stairs to his room.  Throwing the door open, he ran over to his computer and began to type feverishly.  He slammed the door behind him.

He opened the network connection and logged on to the Jade Moon Central Network.  He began to search for Ihy Khem, and Karu Panthera.  He didn’t read the information he found, he simply downloaded it to disk and went on to the next entry.

A knock on the door.  Ianus started the download of a very large file called, “The Panthera Controversy:  The Rise and Fall of the Black Moon.”

He sighed as he stood up.  He stomped across the room.

Opening the door, “Hello Daru.”

“Boy, you need to get your eyes checked!”  Aashen and his Ceeri Azi chuckled, “I saw you run past my room and I thought you looked troubled.  I had no idea you could no longer tell people apart!”  He giggled, shaking his head.

“Sorry, Aash, I thought Daru…”

“O, are you expecting her, should I go?”

“No, no!  Nothing like that.  We were just talking before I sprinted up here to— do some research.”

“Really, do you need any help?”

“O, no— I can, uh, do— handle it myself.”

Aashen cocked his head, and gave Ianus a sly grin, “You know I am a very good researcher.  I help Ihy when he can’t get the information he is looking for, you know.”

Ianus bit his lip, “Would you have to tell him you helped me?”  Ianus smiled anxiously.

Aashen smiled, and Azi laughed, “My friend, I also make a great alibi.”

Ianus nodded, “Come on in.”

“Do you have a periapt node?”  Aashen asked, “O, I see, Azi?”  His Ceeri leaned back and unzipped a backpack between him and Aashen.  He pulled out a small black box with an egg shaped depression on it, and a long matching cable.  “Plug this in will you?”

“Is that legal?”  Ianus raised his eyebrow.

“What do you mean by that?  It is a beautiful piece of decorative art, resembling ancient Tech.  Besides, we’re on Al-Benu.  They don’t have the strictest laws here.”  Aashen winked, “We have friends in high places.”

Shaking his head, Ianus took the node from Azi.  He walked over and plugged it into his computer.

Aashen stood next to him “Now,” he inserted his periapt into the node, “Hold on, don’t think I can’t see the way you are looking at me.  I have to settle into the connection.  There we go.”

The screen flashed and an input box appeared on the screen.  Ianus gasped and sat up straight, “I can’t read the screen.  I don’t recognize the language.”

“It’s a Sen/Ceeri interface.  Don’t worry about it.  I’ll translate for you, just type in what you are looking for.”

Ianus did as he was told.  The screen flashed again, Sen/Ceeri words scrolled up the monitor.  “I can’t download or translate any of the documents.  The encryption is too good.  Wait a minute.”

Aashen closed his eyes.  Less than a minute later, “Got it!  I can download them, but I won’t be able to break the encryption.”

“What good will that do me?”  Ianus watched the download meter appear.

“You have a prescience book, don’t you?”

“Yes, but...”

“It will be able to read the files, it won’t be able to display them, but I’m sure you will be able to get your questions answered.”

“Thank you,” Ianus patted Aashen on the back.

“No problem.  Just don’t tell Ihy I helped you out, all right?”

They said their good nights and Ianus rushed back to the computer to retrieve the disk.  Slowly, he walked over to his bed, not sure that he wanted to know the answers.  He picked up his prescience book from the nightstand, and stared at it.  He inserted the disk into the spine, and opened the book.

The waxen page scrawled a prompt in scarlet letters, “Open public or private archives?”

Taking out his stylus, Ianus circled public.  The book’s pages again went blank.  Suddenly words filled the pages.

Ianus scanned through the pages quickly, and came to the last written page and looked away in terror.

“Why!  He can’t die!”  Ianus screeched, “I won’t let Ihy die.”  Panicked he wrote, “Open private archive as well.”  The pages changed again.  Now two columns ran down the page.  One was written mostly in cipher, the other in Shedu.

Flipping back through the book, he found the page were the two columns started. Atop the column written in Shedu were the words, “Ianus Akeru takes on the Order of the Cenobite.”  Atop the one mostly written in code:  “Ianus Akeru takes on the Order of the Predicant.”

Scanning through the page that followed, Ianus came across the phrase, “Ihy Khem dies.”

“So Ihy will die if I become a cenobite,” Ianus muttered under his breath as he turned his attention to the other column.  After a couple pages of pure code, he found the phrase, “Ihy Khem survived...” but couldn’t make out the rest of the line.

“Then I will become a Predicant,” he said.

He didn’t sleep well.  He couldn’t stop thinking about what the book said.  Nothing else entered his mind.  He tossed and turned, images of all the ways Ihy could be killed.  

When his alarm rang, he sprang out of bed and hurried to the courtyard.  Away from the nightmares, Ihy and Maya were practicing.

He walked straight up to Ihy and said.  “Father, I have decided it is time for me to take the initiation.” 

Ihy turned, and gave him an approving smile, “You are ready to take on the Order of the Cenobite?”

“No, I wish to become a predicant.”

“I’m afraid not,” Maya almost tripped over her own feet, “We have discussed this.  You will be a cenobite, and live in the monastery with us.”

“No,” Ianus paused and thought for a moment.  “I want to serve like Daru, Pryor, and Aashen do.”

“You don’t want to end up like your grandfather and parents did!”  Maya blurted out.  “It will be safer for you, here!”

“I will die as my fate dictates, but I will follow my heart while I live!”  Ianus couldn’t believe he was standing up to his mother.

Ihy raised his hand, “He is quite right.  He must follow his heart.”

“But Ihy!  We’ve already decided.”  Maya Looked at Ihy desperately.

“We cannot stand in the way of his calling.”  Ihy pursed his lips.  “If that is what this is?”

“It is!”  Ianus barked.

“Then, I will perform the initiation myself.  The temple is free at the end of the week that is if you can wait five days.”

Ianus nodded “I want it in the shrine of Uma Nari at the library.”

Ihy smiled, “Very well in five days then, you will become a Predicant.”

Daru didn’t speak to Ianus for the rest of the week.  Every time she saw him, he was practicing his arts, or studying in the library.  He obviously didn’t know what he would be facing at his upcoming initiation.

When she entered the dining hall that morning, she held out hope he might be having breakfast, but he was not to be seen.  The room was empty except for the brothers, their Ceeri, and Tara.

Aashen and Tuun were, as usual, arguing.  It was at times like this she wished she spoke Sen/Ceeri.  She thought she recognized several names, but not knowing any Sen/Ceeri words.  They could have as easily been cursing at each other.

Tara sat, fascinated by them.  Their dispute was quite animated, almost lyrical.

“I see you’ve decided to take in the song,” Daru smiled.

Tara jerked around in her seat, “O... you mean them.”

“Yeah, they make it almost an art form don’t they.”

“Akin to opera,” Tara gave a feeble laugh, “Do you understand a word their saying?”

“No, but I could say the same about them when they’re speaking a language I do understand.”  

They both laughed.

Tuun shot them both a dirty look, “You shouldn’t laugh about things you have no hope of comprehending!”  He barked.

“Would you care to enlighten us, O great and exalted Master ?”  Daru smirked.

“No, I would not!  If you were half as wise as Pryor seems to think you are, you would not be looking into things that do not concern you!”  Tuun glared at her.

“Now, now Tuun,” Aashen spoke up, “She has always been curious, even when she was a little girl getting lost in the streets of Shiloh.”

“That’s not fair!  You know that only happened once.”

“Please stop fighting!”  Tara screamed, her hands held tightly over her ears, “Please!  I can’t take this.  Not now.  Please!”

The bickering ended.  Aashen and Daru looked at each other, pain on their face.  Tuun just sneered at Tara.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cause you any distress,” Aashen said, sounding like he had a lump in his throat.

“That’s okay,” Tara whimpered, “I’ve been under a lot of stress lately.”

Tuun laughed, “Don’t lie!  You are worried about something, but you are not stressed.  I can read you like a book!”

“Tuun!”  Aashen yelled, “Don’t do this to her.”

“He’s right!”  Tara announced, “I’ve been worried about Ianus, about his safety tonight.”

“That’s better!”  Tuun snarled, and then scowled at his brother, “At least someone at this table has been honest!”  Tuun stood up, and for a moment loomed over Aashen, as if contemplating a duel.  Turning, he stormed out of the refectory.

“I’m sorry about that,” Aashen reached out a hand toward Tara, “He’s mad at me, and you took the brunt of it.  I’m terribly sorry.”

“O, don’t worry about it.  I’m used to it.”  Tara’s head hung low.

“Master Barami doesn’t...” Daru began.

“No!”  Tara said brightly.  “Master Barami is a great man— he treats me better than he should.  No, I’ve... let’s just say I’ve had a rough life.”

Daru looked over at Aashen.  She realized that this was not the time to push the subject.  She stared at Aashen and nodded at Tara.  He sighed and looked back.  Maybe later they would ask about her life, but not now.

“Will you be going to Ianus’ initiation tonight?”  Daru asked.

“No,” Tara sighed, “I have work to do this evening.  I wish I could attend, but I can’t.”

“I could go ask Master Barami to give you the night off, if you would like?”

“No!  O no.  Please don’t.  I have to do my duty.  Even if Barami were to say otherwise, I must serve.”

“I understand,” Daru lied, not wanting to trouble Tara anymore.

“Well, if you will excuse me.”  Tara stood and bowed.  “I should be about my master’s work.”  Turning, she walked away.

“What was that all about?”  Aashen asked.

“I don’t think I want to know.  What were you and Tuun fighting over this time?”

A grave look fell over Aashen’s face, “He thinks I made a mistake with Ianus.  He thinks I shouldn’t have...  Anyway, it is not important.  At least, I hope it isn’t.  I don’t want to talk about this, okay?”

“All right.  Will you be at Ianus’ initiation tonight?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world— anyway, he’s like the happy little brother I never had.  I have waited for this day for a long time.”

Ianus stood in the dark, torch lit corridor outside the shrine of Uma Nari.  He was wearing his snow white robe and jade green surcoat with the seal of the Jade Moon emblazoned on its chest:  a marbled, Jade Moon in a waxing crescent; rays of silvery light filled the circle of the moon like a star rising from behind the crescent.

Ianus tried to calm his mind.  Singing echoed from the shrine, Aashen stepped out.  Azi’s wings framed his jade robes and surcoat.

“Are you ready?”  He said solemnly.  Ianus nodded.  “I will stand with you.”

They entered the shrine, which was lit only by candles.  An unfamiliar incense burned on the altar, making Ianus a bit uneasy.  Ihy stood behind the altar.  The congregation was small:  Daru, Maya, Tuun, Pryor, and a couple of people Ianus had never met before.  Aashen led Ianus to the altar, bowed, and stepped to the right.  Ianus approached the altar, bowed, and then knelt onto both knees before the dais.

Ihy raised his arm and turned his palms up.  After a brief pause, he said, “Our strength is in the name of the Holy One, the Maker of all that is seen, and unseen.”

“Blessed be the Holy Name, forever,” the congregation responded.

“O Holy One, hear and answer our petition.  May the light be with you.”

“And with your spirit in all the places you must go,” the congregate spoke with one voice.

Ihy prayed, “Let us pray— Blessed Sustainer, may your power and grace be upon this periapt, and your servant, Ianus Akeru, who through the will of the Handmaid of Providence has come to this place.  Protect him with your guiding hand, preserve him with your presence, and lead him through the troubles that may come his way.  Through Tien Shaa, our messenger.”

“Amen,” they said as one.

Ianus didn’t want to think about the troubles that might come his way.  He closed his eyes and begged that the prayer would be answered.  He would take all the help he could get.

Ihy took a bowl of water from the altar and blessed it with the sign of the moon.  Besprinkling the periapt with water, “Take this periapt, in the name of the Holy One, and of his messenger, Tien Shaa, and of his holy Mother, Uma Nari.  Use it to defend all those in need to the best of your ability.  Never use it unjustly or without cause.  Do not burden yourself with more than is your capacity to bear.”

Ianus bowed his head.  The weight of the vow pressed upon him.  Cautiously, he said, “Amen.”

Ihy walked around the altar, and stood before Ianus, “What do you seek?”

Ianus lowered his head, “By the hand of providence,” the word tasted bitter in his mouth, “Grant me admittance to the Cynath Bahn Se’leen, The House of the Jade Moon, serving in the order of the Predicant.”

  “This may be done, but there is much danger in what you ask.”  Ihy was somber, and looked pleadingly at his son as if he hoped the liturgy would scare Ianus from this path.  “Those who seek truth and find it, carry a great burden.  You must not walk blindly.  If you truly understand the life that you are now choosing, and vow that you will heed the wisdom passed down to you, and with all your being- helping all those who are in need of liberation or aid, giving no thought to your own life in face of the great need.”

Closing his eyes, Ianus nodded.  He never thought he could loose his life in service of the Order before.  He steadied himself and recited the vow, “I pledge what power is at my disposal in service of the light.”

Ihy handed Ianus the jade periapt. 

It felt heavy in his hand.

“At your word,” Ihy continued, “You claim the heritage.  As all of Predicant makers before you, you will have five guides with you on your journey.  Honor stands before you, announcing your coming and going.  On your right, prudence will give you advice.  Temperance stands on your left, guiding you faithfully on your way.  Justice stands behind you, prodding you forward.  Like your own shadow, Fortitude will preserve you until the end.  If you choose to walk this path, now you must show yourself approved.”

Ianus closed his eyes, “I chose to walk this path, as Tien Shaa did before me.  May I be found worthy.”  He slipped the periapt onto his hand, and rested it palm down on his left arm, he held his breath.  The sound of chimes resounded from the stone.  Like a ripple in a pond his robes turned jade, starting under the periapt until they all changed.  Pleasantly surprised, Ianus looked up at Ihy who was taking a candle from the altar.  The weight broke off him.  His shoulders relaxed.

With a broad smile on his face, Ihy handed Ianus the candle saying.  “Take this flame, this flickering hope, and listen to the commission of our messenger.  As it is written in Tides and Seasons, penned by Tien Shaa himself-

“Seek neither peace, nor safety, for both are illusory promises that yield nothing but pain and suffering, as does the path of war.”

“Peace is preferable to war, and safety is better than trepidation, but none of these is greater than freedom and justice.”

“So, my child, in all your ways- know the truth, stand for justice, and fight for freedom.  Never choose the blade when diplomacy will win the day.”

“Be peace makers in all your works, reserving your blade until all else fails.  War brings with it much suffering, but not as much as an unjust peace.”

“May we hear the words of our Messenger.”

All of those assembled responded, “May his memory ever be blessed.”

Ihy turned to face the altar.  There he blessed a paten of bread, and a chalice of wine and took chalice in his hands.  Turning to face Ianus he said, “Water of life.”

Ianus took the chalice and drank.

Returning the chalice to the altar, Ihy came back with the paten.  Three wafers sat upon it:  One pure white, another half white, and half black, the third pure black.  “The bread of life” Ihy said, “Choose wisely.”

Ianus chose the black and white one, and ate it.  

Reaching over his head, Ihy pulled up the hood of Ianus robe over his face.

Able to see nothing but the faint glimmer of the candle in his left hand, he felt Ihy take him by his right arm.  Stepping carefully up onto the dais, he knew he must have passed the altar.  They stopped.

Ihy whispered into his ear “There is no coming back.”

“I know.”

The room fell silent.  In the distance a form flickered into the light.  “I am Kahlil Vamu Shaa, come with me.  The messenger awaits you.”