Teleri,
Starsinger's Third, paced in the small room a few doors away from the Council
Chamber. This session of the Star Council was being convened because she had
requested a hearing. She knew that Talani, Starsinger and Tallishandra were
planning something. The three of them had friends in high places and Teleri had
her own worries. She had barely recovered from the attack during which the
Starcrafter had been killed. She suspected that several of the Councilors had
been involved. What they had not anticipated was her strength and her small
human magicks which had enabled her to keep hold of the Shadowblade, recognize
it for what it was, insulate it, and set a tag on the Starborn who had wielded
it. She wished she had been able to save the Starcrafter. Teleri had been
befriended by the Old One without knowing his rank. He taught her so much about
energy, focus, control. . . She found the tears welling up in her eyes and
began the centering exercises again. This session would be transmitted to the
Council Chamber of the Fair Folk and the Presence Chamber on Dragon Home.
Teleri had to maintain her composure. She was a Bard and Taliesin's Fosterkin,
after all.
Master Morloch
entered. “Starchild has called for you. Come with me.” She made a half-bow,
Student to Teacher, and followed him to the Council Chamber. Before he opened
the doors, he said “Be your Truth. Don't hold back and all will be well.”
Teleri smiled grimly, straightened up and squared her shoulders. Master Morloch
nodded in approval and entered the Council Chamber. “Star Council, Council of
the Fair Folk, Council of the Kindred of the Winds, I bring before you the
Petitioner: Teleri Moonstone, Fosterkin of Master Taliesin, and Starsinger's
Third.” There was an instant astonished silence in the Chamber. Never before
had a human joined with one of the Starborn in a numbered soulbond.
Teleri approached
the dais and stopped at its foot. Starchild addressed her: “What do you seek
from this Council?”
“I seek to share Truth
Song about the death of the Starcrafter.”
“Are you aware of
the risks?”
“I am.”
“Are you willing
to give all you have to the Truth Song?”
“I am.”
“Even unto Death?”
“I am.”
“Then approach and
begin your Truth Song.”
As she mounted the
dais, there was a murmur of dismay from the assembly. One of the Councilors
rose and cried “Have we fallen so low that HUMANS have a right to our Sacred
Rites?”
Teleri looked at
the speaker and replied “Councilor Astrucido, what harm can my song cause you?
Do you fear the Truth?”
“I have nothing to
hide, parasite! Nothing you or your kind can discover!”
Starchild spoke in
Command Voice: “Truth Song has been requested and granted. There will be
silence in this Chamber that the Truth Song may be heard!” Two Council Guards
moved to flank Astrucido, who sat down. Teleri smiled at Talani, Tallishandra,
and Starsinger. Whatever they were up to, they were on her side. She took the
ritual three sacred breaths – and began to sing.
She sang of the
abuse she had received just for being human. She sang of the kindness shown her
by the Old One, the laughter they had shared, the lessons she had learned. She
sang of his Wisdom and his Compassion. She sang of his fear that some members
of the Star Council were corrupt, and others too easily manipulated. She sang
of his support of the Alliance of Kindreds, about which many members of the
Council were concerned, some even fearful.
Teleri realized
that she was not losing strength as she had expected. She also noticed that
Starsinger, Talani, and Tallishandra had become one somehow and were sending
energy to her, to the Song, and to the Truth. She hoped all would be well,
closed her eyes again, and gave herself completely to the Song once more.
She sang of a walk
with the Starcrafter, of a conversation broken by the menacing presence of
three Starborn, one wielding a Shadowblade. She sang of the Starcrafter's
energy diminishing and changing phase. She sang of her wounds, and of the voice
of the assassin saying: “Maybe we can turn this against her and Starchild. The
thought of a human with a Shadowblade will strike fear into the heart of Star
Home. It might even destroy this infernal Alliance.”
In Truth Song, the
voice of the Singer becomes any voice he or she hears. The voice coming from
Teleri's Song was that of Councilor Astrucido.
The Chamber
erupted. Astrucido's henchmen engaged both of the guards and the Councilor
himself drew a Shadowblade and threw it at Teleri. It struck the energy field
of the Truth Song and stuck there for a moment. The energy being pumped into
the Song was so concentrated that it shattered the blade. Then the energy
retraced its pattern back to its point of origin – Councilor Astrucido. The
Councilor flared – and exploded. Teleri was able to put a shield around
Astrucido to contain the explosion. Then all went black and, silent, she fell
into the gentle arms of darkness.
“Bard! Open your
eyes, Bard! Come on! I know you can wake up!”
Teleri just wanted
to sleep. She was exhausted. The mastermind of the traitors had been unmasked,
the parasite removed. She had done what she had set out to do. Why couldn't
they just leave her alone and let her sleep?
“Teleri Moonstone,
Truth Singer, open your eyes.” OK, this time it was Starchild – not someone she
could ignore. She sighed and opened her eyes. Starchild and Star Mother were
standing over her. She tried to rise, only to find herself as weak as a newborn
kitten.
“Starborn, you
honour me. Forgive me – I find myself unable to accord you the reverence you
are due.”
Star Mother
laughed. “After being unconscious for three days, we will grant you leave to
recline in our presence. We feared we might have paid the ultimate price for
Truth Song after all.”
“Where are
Starsinger, Talani, and Tallishandra?”
“Explaining
exactly where they learned the trick of combining to provide you the energy to
sing a Truth Song the likes of which had not been seen in several millenia.”
Starchild
explained: “Teleri, we expected to see the images of what occurred in the
attack on my Father during your Truth Song. Instead, it was as if we were
actually there – as if it were happening to each of us here on Star Home, and
Elf Home, and Dragon Home. The last Bard to sing Truth Song like that was
Taliesin himself.”
Teleri shook her
head in confusion, and asked: “If I did so well, why am I in the Healer's
Hall?”
“When the energy
stream fed back to Astrucido from the Shadowblade, you shielded us from the
explosion. Your bell jar shield absorbed that explosive energy and shoved it
along channels already raw from the amount and force of the power given to you
by Your Prime and her associates. They were down for a day. You are less
experienced, so it was more of a shock to your system.”
The Healer-Adept
approached. “Starchild, Star Mother, with all due respect, I must give this
patient more remedies and more rest.”
Starchild replied:
“We understand, Healer. I have two questions for Teleri, and then we will take
our leave. Directly after you passed out, the Council acclaimed me as
Starcrafter designate. I would like you to speak at my Ascension.”
Teleri responded:
“It would be my honour, Starchild.” Her voice only shook a little bit.
“I also want you
to think about accepting a position I plan to reinstate on the Star Council.”
“What position is
that?”
“Star Bard.”
Teleri gasped as Starchild made room for the Healer-Adept.
Star Mother patted
Teleri's shoulder. “You won't have to answer until you are healed, my girl.
You've got a great deal to teach the Alliance. What better way than as our
emissary?”
Teleri swallowed
the herbal draft the Healer gave her and closed her eyes. If she was become the
Star Bard, she might not have many opportunities for sleep for the foreseeable
future. “One thing is certain,” she thought before sleep claimed her, “I'll
never be bored.”
©Michelle R.
Owings-Christian, September 6, 2009
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