《Beginnings》


 One

    Amerus¨¦n led his companions deeper into the crowd, sighing as the other D¨¦llir moved away from them as they passed. It was always the same when Amerus¨¦n and his followers approached the others. Vorius¡¯ snort of disgust echoed through Amerus¨¦n¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Niraidam,¡± Vorius sneered into the small group¡¯s telepathic connection. ¡°As much personality as a cloud.¡±


    Etrae¡¯s laugh rang through the connection. ¡°I think a cloud has more.¡±


    Ara remained silent, but Amerus¨¦n could feel her amusement.


    Amerus¨¦n¡¯s fourth companion remained as silent and unreadable as ever. Rikashe was a strange individual. Amerus¨¦n had found him at the edge of Existence, where it was at its thinnest and closest to nonexistence. He had already been disconnected from the hive mind of the Niraidam, in a place where only those seeking to end their existence went. Assuming Rikashe had gone there for that reason, Amerus¨¦n had refused to leave, requesting a connection until Rikashe had grudgingly accepted. He had managed to convince Rikashe to accompany him back to where the rest of the Amerusai waited, but Rikashe had kept his distance from the others, only making and accepting connections with Amerus¨¦n.


    Still at a loss as to how to get Rikashe to fully integrate with the Amerusai, Amerus¨¦n turned his attention to the reason they had come here. The energy in this part of the universe had changed. It had begun attracting the energy around it, changing in frequency and vibration.


    Their numbers beyond counting, the Niraidam watched the sphere grow, their amorphous cloudlike forms creating a haze. The number of D¨¦llir watching the event grew as steadily as the singularity. They watched from a distance, not daring to get too close for fear they might be caught in the tiny sphere¡¯s expanding attractive field. The density of the singularity continued to increase. The frequency and vibration of the energy continued to decrease. And the D¨¦llir watched, none of them able to remember having witnessed this spectacle before.


    Confusion and curiosity filled the small group¡¯s connection. Rikashe alone showed no reaction to the singularity. Suspicion aroused, Amerus¨¦n gently prodded Rikashe¡¯s mind through their private connection.


    ¡°Have you seen these before?¡±


    ¡°They come and they go.¡± Rikashe¡¯s attention barely shifted from the singularity.


    Confused and troubled by the reply, Amerus¨¦n pressed further. ¡°Where have you seen this before?¡±


    Rikashe ignored the question, remaining transfixed on the tiny sphere of altered energy.


    Forcing his irritation and frustration with Rikashe¡¯s reticence to the back of his mind, Amerus¨¦n persisted. ¡°Where have you seen this before? Did you see it near Oblivion, or somewhere else?¡±


    Rikashe remained focused on the singularity though Amerus¨¦n sensed a slight shift in his attention. ¡°Yes. They come and they go. They are best avoided.¡±


    Shock blossomed in Amerus¨¦n¡¯s mind at the fear he sensed in Rikashe¡¯s mind. What can scare someone who has no fear of Oblivion? ¡°When you saw the sphere before, was there only one?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    The reply was accompanied by an image of a single sphere of altered energy. Other spheres appeared alongside it until there were millions. In the image the D¨¦llir gathered around each of the spheres as they gathered around the one currently forming. The spheres grew in density, then the first sphere expanded so fast the layer of altered energy swept over the watching D¨¦llir before they could react. The other spheres inflated soon after.


    Amerus¨¦n studied the image over and over. He wanted to call it a memory, but there was something wrong with it. The unique energy signature each memory carried was missing for much of it. Still, he was unable to shake the growing sense of dread.


    Sharing the image in the Amerusai¡¯s collective connection, Amerus¨¦n ordered them to search for more spheres. The first report of another sphere was returned almost immediately, quickly followed by a second and then a third. Thousands of singularities were located throughout the central area of the universe.


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    ¡°It will inflate soon.¡±


    Rikashe¡¯s voice was a whisper in Amerus¨¦n¡¯s mind. Forcing his way into the collective consciousness of the Niraidam, Amerus¨¦n planted the image of the expanding spheres swallowing D¨¦llir. It didn¡¯t take long for fear to take hold among the Niraidam, their perpetually connected minds creating a feedback loop that amplified the fear until many became frozen in place with terror.


    ¡°We need to leave now!¡±


    Rikashe¡¯s warning jolted Amerus¨¦n from his study of the feedback loop. ¡°Get away from the spheres. Quickly!¡±


    The Amerusai reacted instantly to their leader¡¯s shouted command, keeping their fear tightly under control as the made a hasty but ordered evacuation of the areas containing a singularity. Amerus¨¦n and his companions backed away from the singularity they watched, heading for the nearest fast-flowing energy stream, one of the many that flowed through the universe.


    With a blinding flash and deafening explosion, the singularity expanded. The bubble of altered, condensed energy rushed outwards, sweeping over the Niraidam who either hadn¡¯t heeded Amerus¨¦n¡¯s warning, or failed to react quickly enough.


    Amerus¨¦n and his companions raced along the Stream, propelled by the swift current of the energy, relieved to find millions of the Niraidam had been able to follow them.


    ¡°We should be safe now.¡±


    Amerus¨¦n acknowledged Rikashe¡¯s statement and led the small group of Amerusai out of the Stream and into an area of densely packed, slow-moving energy clouds. He had been connected to the hivemind of the Niraidam when the singularity had expanded. He had felt the terror of those engulfed by the altered energy. Had felt them be torn from the collective consciousness as if, in an instant, they had ceased to exist. Sorrow settled over his mind. He had tried to warn them but they hadn¡¯t listened because of who he was and now they were gone, destroyed.


    They are lost, but not destroyed. The thought, the certainty entered his mind as if they were his own, but they were not. What is lost can be found. What is trapped can be freed. Enter the material bubbles willingly and you will be able to leave whenever you wish.


    Sending the sensation of the Niraidam being torn from the hive-mind, his desire to save them, and the sourceless certainty they could be saved into the Amerusai¡¯s collective connection, Amerus¨¦n waited for the consensus.


    Rikashe¡¯s agreement was instantaneous. The Amerusai fell silent, surprised not that Rikashe had supported Amerus¨¦n¡¯s idea, but that he had joined the collective connection, something he hadn¡¯t done since he first joined them.


    Etrai, sensing Rikashe was about to withdraw, voiced her support for Amerus¨¦n. ¡°If it is safe to enter these material bubbles, then we should at least try to save the Lost.¡±


    Vorius grunted his agreement. At least, Amerus¨¦n assumed it was agreement.


    ¡°When I first left the Niraidam,¡± Ara said, ¡°the loneliness and isolation almost overwhelmed me. If Amerus¨¦n hadn¡¯t, it may have caused me to end my existence. Together we found all of you and helped you to adjust to existence outside of the Niraidam. It is time to repay his support. I agree with Amerus¨¦n and Etrai. We must at least try to free those who were caught by the altered energy. If it wasn¡¯t for Amerus¨¦n and Rikashe¡¯s warning the Lost could have been us.¡±


    Splitting into their factions, the Amerusai discussed Amerus¨¦n¡¯s proposal. When their decisions came, all but two of the factions chose to support Amerus¨¦n in his self-appointed mission. It was decided those two factions would remain behind and aid any D¨¦llir leaving the Niraidam.


    The consensus returned, Amerus¨¦n informed the Niraidam of the Amerusai¡¯s willingness to enter the material bubbles to discover the fate of the Lost and, if possible, free them, in the hope of convincing the hivemind to help.


    The Niraidam considered the proposal. The Amerusai were prepared to risk their very existence to help those who had been lost. They were surprised the Amerusai had been able to come to an agreement on the issue. While the Amerusai were like the Niraidam, they were different. Not only did the Amerusai possess individuality, names, gender, varied personalities and differing opinions on everything, their Essence was different to that of the majority of Niraidam. It wasn¡¯t normal. It wasn¡¯t right. It would be no great blow to the Niraidam if Amerus¨¦n and his followers were lost to the equally wrong bubbles of altered energy. But the chance to have the Lost Niraidam returned to the Collective...


    Suppressing a groan of frustration at the slow, circular thought process of the Niraidam, Amerus¨¦n disconnected from the hivemind and summoned the Amerusai to his location. While he had been connected to the Niraidam, he had felt several thousand of the trillions of minds wavering between uniform and individual thought, feeling a desire to take a more active role in the rescue of their brethren. Before the Amerusai were fully gathered, the Niraidam who were unwilling to conform to the will of the Collective and leave the Lost to their fate, made the decision to leave the Niraidam and join the Amerusai.


    Amerus¨¦n was aware that many, if not all, of those individuals would have eventually broken away from the Niraidam, but he couldn¡¯t stop himself feeling pleased the current situation had forced them to choose sooner rather than later.


    When all one hundred and forty-four thousand Amerusai had gathered, Amerus¨¦n led them into the nearest bubble of altered energy.

 Two

    The point where the Stream was intersected by the layer of altered energy was marked by an abrupt slowing of the flow, though the energy in the Stream still moved much faster than the energy around it. Amerus¨¦n wondered if and howthe sluggish, dense energy of the bubble would affect the task of locating the Lost.


    Extending his mind outwards, he searched for any sign of the Lost, though if he was honest, he had no idea what he was looking for. Finding nothing remotely resembling consciousness outside of the Amerusai, he returned to the Stream, the Amerusai following behind. The Stream carried them past growing numbers of nebulae, black holes, stars, and planets, the concept of each entering the Amerusai¡¯s minds as mysteriously as the certainty the Lost could be saved had entered Amerus¨¦n¡¯s.


    Rikashe abruptly left the Stream, causing the others to stop and follow. Amerus¨¦n sighed and, telling the Amerusai to wait where they were, he chased after Rikashe. He was prone to going off alone and rarely gave his reasons for doing so. While that was perfectly acceptable out in the Universe, they had no idea what dangers awaited them in this bubble of altered energy.


    Amerus¨¦n¡¯s concern flowed through their telepathic connection. ¡°Rikashe?¡±


    The sensation of finding a barely noticeable difference in the energy on a nearby planet was Rikashe¡¯s reply.


    Amerus¨¦n indicated his understanding. ¡°I would prefer it if you didn¡¯t go anywhere on your own, at least not without telling me. We don¡¯t know anything about this place yet.¡±


    Extending his mind towards the planet Rikashe had indicated, one of eleven planets orbiting a single star. Amerus¨¦n searched for the anomaly Rikashe had shown him. Finding it, he relayed the information to the Amerusai.


    On the planet¡¯s surface they found Rikashe¡¯s amorphous, cloud-like form hovering above a wide expanse of different shaped collections of energy. They looked at the scene that lay around them in awe and curiosity. Vast numbers of the individual collections of solidified energy were attached to the planet¡¯s surface, while a smaller but no less substantial number of individual collections of energy moved between the static ones. The faint anomaly in the energy was coming from both the static and mobile energy collections. They pulsed with a muted version of the energy of the D¨¦llir¡¯s Essence.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to have to think of names for these things.¡± The stray thought escaped before Amerus¨¦n could stop it and chuckles rippled through the Amerusai.


    Life. The word and its concept echoed through the Amerusai¡¯s minds.


    They watched in fascination as the energy the planet received from its star began to fade. Thousands of distant stars became visible as the energy from the star thinned. Night. The word and concept entered their minds when full darkness had arrived, along with the concept of the planet rotating on its axis as it orbited its star, the energy returning in full force to bring day.


    The Amerusai continued to watch in silence as the cycle of day and night repeated many times, observing and wondering at the often subtle effect the differing levels of light had on the static and mobile life. After many cycles of day and night, the conditions on the planet changed, the life changing with them.


    Weather. Seasons. Life forms. Evolution. The word and their meanings introduced themselves into the collective consciousness of the Amerusai.


    Confusion filled the Amerusai¡¯s group connection each time an individual life form appeared to weaken and fade, the static life forms wilting, the mobile life forms becoming static, both releasing the Lost trapped within them. Death. They watched the newly freed Lost drift towards a Stream that passed through the planet. Many Streams passed through the planet, three heading away across the layer of altered energy, the rest not reaching beyond the atmosphere before looping back toward the surface. The streams widened at the top where they curved back towards the planet, the energy within the arch churning and swirling chaotically before re-entering the smooth, swift flow.


    Amerus¨¦n tracked the progress of one of the Lost. It was inside a plump, elongated life form with six long, thin appendages protruding from its underside, and four long, wide, flat appendages protruding from its upper side. The four upper appendages were in pairs on either side of its back and moved up and down to propel the life form between the static life forms. The insect began struggling to keep itself airborne and dropped to the ground, trying to rise again to continue its task. The insect fell still and the Lost within it was expelled, moving slowly toward a nearby Stream. The Stream it entered was one of the majority that looped back toward the planet.


    The Lost travelled swiftly to the arch where it got caught in the chaotic churning of the energy. Finding its way into the smooth flow on the opposite side of the arch the Lost travelled back to the surface, where it was ejected from the Stream and entered a life form encased in a weakly protective shell. Egg. The egg was one of many attached to one of the static life forms. Plant. The scene repeated over and over, the Lost perpetually returning to the surface and entering a new life form, unable to enter one of the three Streams leading away from the planet. Reincarnation.


    Amerus¨¦n flinched at every mysterious, abrupt insertion of a word and its concept into his mind. Would he ever get used to it, or would it eventually end?


    The Amerusai¡¯s attention was focused solely on their leader, waiting for him to tell them what he wanted them to do. He needed a plan, but he had no idea where to begin.


    Cycles. The word forced itself into his mind, but it different somehow, as if it had come from a different source to those before. It stirred thoughts of life and death, night and day, seasons and orbits. The conditions on the planet changed in cycles. A short cycle as it rotated on its axis. A long cycle as it moved around its star. The concept of the star moving through the universe as it orbited the centre of the galaxy blossomed in his mind.


    He returned his attention to the life forms and Streams. Something clicked into place in his mind.


    ¡°Ara, Vorius, Etrae, Rikashe. Remain with me. Elern, Imeden, Delmuth, Gormar, Vulred, Tespen. Take your factions and follow the three Streams that head away from the planet. See where they lead and whether they connect to other planets.¡±


    The named Amerusai Sent their understanding and gathered their factions.


    ¡°The rest of you, spread out and observe the life forms and Looped Streams. We need to learn everything we can about them.¡±


    The Amerusai dispersed to carry out their tasks and, with little to do until the results of the observations are returned, Amerus¨¦n let his mind wander.


    Amerus¨¦n had been the first to leave the hive mind of the Niraidam and had been alone for some time before another had joined him. Glad for the company, Amerus¨¦n had followed Ara until she had accepted his help. With a hardness and strength belief by her caring nature, she had helped him, too, far more than she realised. When Vorius had led the Niraidam, Ara had helped him cope with the crushing loneliness and overwhelming silence and they had become three.


    Amerus¨¦n sighed at the memories. Vorius had become possessive and protective of them, and he had been difficult when Etrae had left the Niraidam. She had been so innocent and na?ve when Amerus¨¦n had found her, she hadn¡¯t realised how mean Vorius was being to her. Amerus¨¦n had been on the verge of putting an end to Vorius¡¯ behaviour when Vorius had suddenly extended his possessive and protective nature to include Etrae.


    Soft spoken and mild mannered, Etrae had teamed up with Ara to ease the transition for new Amerusai.


    Emotion led and direct when dealing with others, and the most vocal in his suspicion of Rikashe, Vorius had shown great skill in steering the less altruistic among the Amerusai in the direction Amerus¨¦n wanted them to go.


    The frequency with which D¨¦llir led the Niraidam had increased and the four had soon become more than a hundred thousand. Ara, Vorius, and Etrae were the ones Amerus¨¦n trusted the most, and they had become known as his Inner Circle.


    Amerus¨¦n kept Rikashe close for a different reason.


    The observational reports trickled in, pulling Amerus¨¦n¡¯s mind back to the present. The factions investigating the three Streams found they passed through several other stars and planets. Some of the planets were similar to the one they were on, others were vastly different in size and composition. Only the planets similar to the one Rikashe had led them to possessed the Looped Streams, though all planets were intersected by three streams. The three streams warped, twisted and coiled as the stars and planets moved but never broke. Several Streams intersected the Streams the Amerusai explored. The faction leaders sent a few dozen of their faction members down each intersection to investigate.


    On the planet the life forms changed and adapted to the changing conditions, or died out, as the climate changed. Groups of Amerusai turned from observing the life forms to studying the Looped Streams, moving closer to them as they watched the Lost enter, trying to get a better view of the energy patterns and flows. Those nearing the Streams were torn from the group connection, pulled into the cycle of reincarnation by the force of the flow.


    ¡°Everyone off the planet! Avoid the Streams!¡±


    The Amerusai hurried to obey Amerus¨¦n, gathering well beyond the arches of the Streams. Amerus¨¦n could feel the concern of those he had sent across the universe and urged them to return.


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    Alone on the surface, Amerus¨¦n watched the Lost Amerusai travel through the arches and be expelled into life forms on their return to the surface. He watched the insects stop moving, the inert shells releasing the Lost, all the while fighting a growing sense of helplessness. He couldn¡¯t tell the lost Amerusai apart from the lost Niraidam. The Lost were quickly captured by the Streams, but the dense shells of low frequency energy of the life forms could pass through them unaffected. Focusing on the nearest Stream, he became aware of a faint tugging that grew stronger the closer he got to it, a tugging he hadn¡¯t noticed until he had begun looking for it.


    The concern of the Amerusai over his proximity to the Stream broke through his concentration, his awareness of the pull of the Stream almost disappearing. Reassuring them he was safe and wouldn¡¯t approach any closer, Amerus¨¦n drew in the sluggish energy creating a dense spherical shell, shocking himself. He hadn¡¯t known he could manipulate the energy, let alone how to manipulate it. None of the D¨¦llir, Amerusai or Niraidam, knew how to do it or that it was even possible.


    The image of a lifeform, unlike any he had so far seen, appeared in his mind. He began shaping his cocoon of energy to match the image until he had a shell that possessed a head and four appendages protruding from a single body segment. The upper pair of appendages were shorter and thinner than the lower pair. He inspected his new shell. It glowed a soft white with the energy it was made of. Vessel. Body. Abdomen. Chest. Head. Arms. Hands. Legs. Feet. The names of the body parts entered his mind as he inspected each in turn.


    With this new vessel, the tugging from the Stream stopped, but he couldn¡¯t see them anymore. Shedding most of the energy contained in the vessel, he felt the pull of the Stream return along with its visibility. Drawing in and shedding energy, he experimented with the density of the vessel until the pull was barely noticeable, but he could still see the Stream. Summoning Vorius to the planet¡¯s surface, Amerus¨¦n looked at him. Satisfied he could still see Vorius¡¯ amorphous, cloud-like form, he turned back to the Stream and stepped into it. The pull of the energy flow barely increased, and he emerged, unharmed, on the other side.


    Heaving a sigh of relief that he hadn¡¯t been sucked into the cycle of reincarnation, Amerus¨¦n swept his gaze across the plains. What he saw was different now. He could still see the shimmering energy from which everything was made, but now it overlaid the colours and textures of the material universe. He focussed on a static lifeform in front of him. It was taller than many of the lifeforms surrounding him, reaching to just above his knees.


    Plant. Flower. Roots. Stem. Leaves. Petals. The words entered the Amerusai¡¯s minds as Amerus¨¦n shared his discoveries. The flower had a long spindly stem, with several pairs of leaves protruding from the upper part of its length. It was topped by a head of bright yellow petals.


    Having found the perfect balance for his vessel between energy and matter, he reached out and brushed the petals with his fingertips. The vessel sent a wave of sensation into his mind. The petals were smooth, soft, and delicate.


    Summoning the Amerusai to the surface, Amerus¨¦n instructed them to make their own vessels. The newly acquired ability to interact with matter fascinated them and their group connection was abuzz with excited chatter. As Amerus¨¦n had expected, one mid was missing from the clamour.


    Sending out his mind, Amerus¨¦n located Rikashe on the edge of the plains where the ground began to rise to form the foothills of the mountains. Rikashe sat cross-legged on the ground, two Lost in front of him. Both Lost were outside of a lifeform, trapped in spherical shells. Amerusen stopped behind him, staring at the trapped Lost.


    ¡°Rikashe, did you make the vessels?¡±


    ¡°R¨¦ala.¡± Rikashe waved a hand at the nearest of the two Lost.


    Amerus¨¦n sent understanding. R¨¦ala was one of the Amerusai that had been drawn into a Stream. ¡°How and why did you trap these two?¡±


    A memory of Rikashe creating a spherical vessel around each of the Lost as they drifted toward a Stream entered Amerus¨¦n¡¯s mind.


    ¡°R¨¦ala has faint memories of the Amerusai.¡± Rikashe paused. ¡°The other remembers only their last incarnation.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see if R¨¦ala¡¯s memories can be drawn out and she can be returned to us. Can you hold the traps?¡±


    Rikashe indicated he could maintain the traps and Amerus¨¦n forced a connection with R¨¦ala. The surface of her mind was consumed with the needs of a lifeform¡¯s survival, feeding, breeding, and avoiding predators. Her last memory was of the insect being crushed beneath Rikashe¡¯s foot.


    Amerus¨¦n¡¯s head snapped round to look at Rikashe. ¡°You killed them?¡±


    Rikashe shrugged. ¡°I wanted to try something but none of the insects or plants in this area were dying. I helped these two reach the end of their cycles.¡±


    Amerus¨¦n stared at Rikashe, unsettled by his apparent disregard for life, but unsure as to why it bothered him. Pushing the feeling of unease aside, he pushed deeper into R¨¦ala¡¯s mind finding the faint memories of her having been one of his followers. Taking hold of the newest of those memories, the one of her being caught by the Stream, he carefully pulled it forward to the surface of her mind and held it in place until it took root. Repeating the process with each memory in reverse chronological order, he strengthened them, filling in the gaps with memories from the Amerusai¡¯s collective minds, until R¨¦ala began remembering on her own.


    Amerus¨¦n sat back and watched R¨¦ala return to them, wondering at where the knowledge of pulling memories forward and filling in the gaps had come from.


    ¡°R¨¦ala, do you think you will be able to create your own vessel?¡± Amerus¨¦n Sent her instructions on how to draw in energy and shape it.


    She tried drawing energy in, then to shed it from the sphere surrounding her. She could do neither.


    ¡°We can only manipulate vessels we have created ourselves,¡± Rikashe said, releasing the energy from the sphere. ¡°We can trap each other when we aren¡¯t protected by a vessel.¡±


    Unease settled over Amerus¨¦n¡¯s mind. Was it an observation or a warning? Suspicion took root once again. Rikashe had said he had seen these material bubbles before, but had been in them? He pushed the thoughts aside for later consideration as R¨¦ala drew in the energy released from the sphere trap to make her own vessel. Certain she was now safe from the Looped Streams, Amerus¨¦n looked at the Lost still held by Rikashe.


    ¡°What did you intend to do with that one?¡±


    Rikashe shrugged. ¡°The same as I had intended to do with the one that turned out to be R¨¦ala, see if the Lost were able to manipulate vessels made by us.¡±


    Rikashe¡¯s answer came too quickly and easily. A warning then. So he has been in these material universes before, but why will he not just say it? What he must know would be of immense aid, unless¡­


    Amerus¨¦n extended his mind toward the Lost. As with R¨¦ala, the surface of its mind was occupied with survival. Digging deeper, he discovered there was nothing beneath the surface thoughts. Not a trace of a memory of being one of the Niraidam remained. He searched his own mind for any recognition of the essence of this individual, for anything he remembered about them from before he had left the Niraidam. Implanting the memories into the mind of the Lost, the memories flared to life briefly then faded, withering away and dying like a plant. Withdrawing from the mind of the Lost, Amerus¨¦n shook his head, no longer certain they could save the Lost and return them to the Niraidam.


    ¡°We just need to find another way,¡± came Ara¡¯s voice in his mind, triggering Rikashe¡¯s immediate withdrawal. ¡°He doesn¡¯t like me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t take it personally. He doesn¡¯t like anyone.¡±


    ¡°He likes you.¡±


    Amerus¨¦n looked at Rikashe who, having released the trapped Lost, sat cross-legged a hundred strides away studying a large leafy bush with branches covered in fine spines. ¡°He tolerates my presence, but he doesn¡¯t like it. I have no idea how long he was alone at the edge of Existence, or what effect it has had on his mind, but I do know he desires company while shying away from it. He just needs time.¡± Amerus¨¦n paused, turning his head to look at Ara. ¡°And I haven¡¯t tried to delve too deeply into his mind.¡±


    Ara winced at the memories of those few that had tried. They had quickly lost the battle of wills, receiving an agonising introduction to the strength of Rikashe¡¯s mind. From all accounts, only Amerus¨¦n was stronger than Rikashe. ¡°Do you really believe he just needs time? Since we have been on this planet there are times I can¡¯t hear you, especially after an interaction with Rikashe.¡±


    ¡°You heard what Rikashe and I discovered. When you inform the others, tell them not to kill the insects and plants to release the Lost. I have a feeling we¡¯re going to need more lifeforms, not less.¡±


    Ara Sent her understanding, along with her displeasure at the brushoff, and relayed the information to the rest of the Amerusai. They dispersed across the plains, searching for their lost friends.


    Amerus¨¦n and Ara exchanged a sense of curiosity when R¨¦ala approached Rikashe. Rikashe showed no sign of acknowledging the presence of the newly rescued Amerusai.


    ¡°Accept the request, Rikashe. Let her thank you.¡±


    Rikashe Sent annoyance and the shadow of something else, an emotion so weak and fleeting Amerus¨¦n identify it, but did as Amerus¨¦n instructed. Amerus¨¦n withdrew from Rikashe¡¯s mind enough to mask his presence, but still allow him to listen to the conversation and intervene should either of them need him.


    ¡°Thank you for saving me,¡± R¨¦ala began. ¡°I¡­ Don¡¯t¡­ Don¡¯t pay any attention to what the others say about you. They are jealous that you are part of the Inner Circle. They don¡¯t think you have earned the right to a place among Amerus¨¦n¡¯s most trusted.¡± She paused, unsure if Rikashe was listening, he sat there studying the bush not reacting. ¡°I think they are wrong. If you hadn¡¯t earned it, he wouldn¡¯t keep you as close as he does. If not for you, I would still be trapped in that insect with no memory of who I am, and we wouldn¡¯t know how to help the others. So, again, thank you.¡±


    Beyond accepting the connection, Rikashe still hadn¡¯t acknowledged R¨¦ala. Sadness flickered through her mind, while Rikashe kept his thoughts and feelings buried deep, not even a shadow of them reaching Amerus¨¦n. Losing hope that Rikashe would respond, R¨¦ala turned and walked away.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome¡­ and thank you.¡±


    Joy, gratitude, and relief flooded R¨¦ala¡¯s mind as she stopped and faced Rikashe, who was still diligently studying the bush. Her happiness growing, she made her way to the nearest group of Amerusai.


    Standing behind Rikashe, Amerus¨¦n placed a hand on his shoulder, allowing his pride and satisfaction to flow through their connection. Rikashe¡¯s interaction with R¨¦ala could have been better, but it was an improvement on his previous interactions with others. Faint, fleeting emotions reached him from Rikashe¡¯s mind. A shadow of happiness tinged with something else. Regret? Pain? Amerus¨¦n couldn¡¯t be certain, the emotions weren¡¯t clear and lasted for only an instant, as if they had momentarily escaped Rikashe¡¯s control. The moment was ended by the arrival of Vorius and Etrae.


    ¡°We have work to do,¡± Amerus¨¦n whispered.


    Nodding, Rikashe rose to his feet. ¡°The plants no longer contain Lost.¡±


    Amerus¨¦n relayed the information to Ara, Vorius, and Etrae, and studied the plants around the small group. As Rikashe had said, the dim spark that had been present in every plant when they had arrived on the planet had gone.


    ¡°Where did they all go? There aren¡¯t enough insects to hold every one of the Lost, are there?¡± Etrae asked.


    Rikashe faced the north, his mind focused on something on the far side of the towering mountains. The sun cresting the eastern horizon, Rikashe joined the group connection and began walking. ¡°Follow me.¡±


    Noticing Amerus¨¦n and his Inner Circle moving off, R¨¦ala hurried to catch up, frowning when Amerus¨¦n invited her to their group connection then instantly silenced her.


    Shedding his vessel, Rikashe sped north over the mountains, the other five chasing him over a landscape that changed from mountains and fledgling forests to lakes, hills, rivers and marsh.

 Chapter Three

    The sun was climbing high in the sky when the northern coast came into view. Rikashe hovered above the golden sand and recreated his vessel. Amerus¨¦n, Ara, Vorius, Etrae, and R¨¦ala landed nearby and remade their vessels.


    Rikashe indicated the ocean with a sweep of his hand. ¡°Has anyone looked in there?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Amerus¨¦n stared at the vast body of water. It lapped at the shore, rushed around outcroppings of rock, and pooled in depressions between boulders. The sunlight sparkled on the water, igniting the crests of the waves with gold and white fire as the breeze and tides stirred the surface.


    ¡°I wonder what it feels like?¡± Vorius wondered, stepping across the sand, amused by the tiny grains getting stuck between his toes.


    ¡°It¡¯s water, so I¡¯d imagine it feels wet,¡± Rikashe quipped distractedly, turning over a large rock near the waterline and watching several small crabs scuttle away. Grabbing a crab and crushing it between his fingers, he became aware Amerus¨¦n¡¯s attention was focussed on him. Watching the releases D¨¦llir drift away across the beach, he realised his mistake. Continuing to uncover crabs and worms, he began preparing answers to the questions being pushed to the front of Amerus¨¦n¡¯s mind by his surging suspicion.


    Rikashe yelped when Vorius collided with him, sending both of them tumbling into the shallow water.


    ¡°You said nothing about it being cold,¡± Vorius griped, scrambling to his feet, watching the water run down the smooth surface of his softly glowing vessel.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know what cold was, but thank you for teaching me,¡± Rikashe replied wryly, glaring at Vorius while the concept of temperature rippled through the Amerusai.


    Vorius grinned and lunged at him. Rikashe avoided the attack, and a second soaking, by deftly sidestepping at the last moment. Vorius spun to face him, ready to attack again, both grinning, their amusement echoing in the minds of their four companions watching them from the sand. Vorius lunged again. Rikashe shed his vessel and dived into the water, the chaotic energy patterns concealing his position. Resurfacing behind Vorius, Rikashe remade his vessel and wrapped his arms around Vorius¡¯ chest. His arms pinned to his sides by Rikashe¡¯s vicelike grip, Vorius struggled to break free as he was lifted from the hip deep water and tossed through the air.


    Disappearing beneath the waves with a splash, Vorius resurfaced a few moments later clutching a large crab.


    ¡°There¡¯s life in the water!¡± he proclaimed triumphantly, holding the aggressive crustacean above his head while it snapped at him with its claws.


    A huge head broke the surface behind Vorius, grabbing him in its jaws and dragging him under. Amerus¨¦n, Ara, Etrae, and R¨¦ala stared at the place Vorius had been moments before in shock and confusion. Rikashe shed his vessel and and dived into the water.


    The fish was fast, but Rikashe was faster and, with Vorius¡¯ glow marking their position, he soon caught up with them. Reaching out to the fish¡¯s mind, he tried to manipulate it into letting go of Vorius. Finding the fish¡¯s instincts too strong to overcome quickly enough, he turned his attention to Vorius.


    ¡°Shed your vessel!¡± he screamed into Vorius¡¯ mind. All he got in return was the sensation of muted pain and shocked numbness.


    I should¡¯ve warned them the vessels simulate physical pain. Shoving the thought to the back of his mind, he reached out to the body of the fish, although the energy patterns of the fish were difficult to discern among the chaotic energy patterns of the water surrounding it. A cracking sound reverberated through the water as bones broke, but apparently none were bones the fish needed for swimming. Holding tight to Vorius, the fish increased its speed attempting to escape its unseen attacker.


    Frustration growing, Rikashe reached out to the energy of the water, manipulating order into the chaos. The fish began slowing as it struggled against the water which was now wrapping around it. Before the fish had come to a complete stop, the water shot upwards, breaking through the surface like a geyser, throwing the fish and Vorius back to the shore.


    The fish landed on the sand, releasing Vorius as it hit, and bounced a few times before sliding to a stop halfway up the beach.


    Vorius, freed from the creature¡¯s jaws, bounced once, tucked himself into a roll, and came to a stop when he hit a large rock with a loud grunt.


    Rikashe reached the beach an instant after Vorius and the fish, remade his vessel and stride toward the enormous marine predator as it thrashed maniacally on the sand. Reaching out with his mind once more, he located the creature¡¯s heart and manipulated the cells to block the signals from the brain that kept it beating. The fish flapped three more times then fell still.


    Turning to where Vorius sat propped up against a boulder, he saw the damage the fish had done and understood the strength of the pain he had sensed in Vorius¡¯ mind. Long gashes covered Vorius¡¯ torso and thighs, and large chunks had been gouged out by the fish¡¯s teeth. But instead of sympathy, anger bubbled to the surface of his mind, and he unleashed it on Vorius.


    ¡°Just how stupid are you! Next time the wildlife tries to eat you, and there will be a next time, shed your vessel and escape!¡±


    Disconnecting from the group, and Amerus¨¦n, he turned back to the fish. Locating the D¨¦llir that had inhabited the animal, he checked if it was Amerusai or Lost. Finding it was Lost, he let it continue its journey to the nearest Looped Stream and reincarnation.


    The fish was large, around fifteen metres long. Where it lay on the sand, its side reached to just above Rikashe¡¯s head, so he estimated it was about two metres wide. It¡¯s wedge-shaped head, making up a third of its total length, was covered in hard bony plates. Its large mouth was filled with ten-centimetre-long teeth that curved backwards slightly. Its eyes were large black discs embedded in the side of its skull. The body was tapered, ending in a rounded tip, and covered in overlapping scales that glimmered in the sunlight. Bones jutted from its spine, a thin translucent membrane stretched between to form a fin running from the back of its head to the tip of its tail. An identical fin ran the length of its belly. A large paddle-shaped fin was located two thirds of the way down its side, just behind the head and gills. The fish was coloured a dark silvery grey on its back and silvery white on its belly, the two colours blending into each other halfway up its side.


    Lowering himself to the sand a few strides from the dead fish, Rikashe watched crabs and insects of all sizes, shapes, and colours crawl and buzz over the carcass, feasting and breeding.


    Having ignored Amerus¨¦n¡¯s requests for a connection for the better part of an hour, Rikashe relented and listened to what he had to say.


    Amerus¨¦n watched Rikashe stare at the fish, wondering at the source of the anger that had assaulted his mind the moment Rikashe had accepted the connection. He was certain that whatever Rikashe was hiding was preventing him from truly becoming one of the Amerusai. But how was he to get someone as closed off to others as Rikashe to open up, to share whatever burden he was carrying? Beneath the anger, Amerus¨¦n had sensed guilt. It had been faint, but it had been there. Their conversation had been one-sided, with Amerus¨¦n doing all the talking, assuring Rikashe that what had happened was not his fault.


    ¡°That was short-lived,¡± Vorius¡¯ voice cut through Amerus¨¦n¡¯s thoughts. ¡°I thought we were finally connecting.¡±


    Amerus¨¦n turned as Vorius got to his feet, his vessel repaired, unable to determine if he was being sarcastic or not. ¡°By throwing each other around in the water?¡±


    Vorius grinned, his joy at the memory genuine. ¡°Rikashe enjoyed that too.¡± He looked at Rikashe, confusion and disappointment growing in his mind. ¡°I know I haven¡¯t been fond of him,¡± ¨C Etrae snorted at the understatement ¨C ¡°but, for that short time, he seemed like a different person, someone I could be friends with.¡±


    Amerus¨¦n nodded, returning his attention to Rikashe. While fighting with Vorius genuine joy and amusement had filled his mind, the distance he usually kept from others disappeared. Now the distance had returned, accompanied by anger and guilt. He tried to remember a time when Rikashe had allowed his emotions to flow so freely, but he couldn¡¯t recall a single instance. Even the fear Rikashe had felt at the appearance of the first singularity had been tightly controlled, so much so that Amerus¨¦n was now doubting its veracity, but he wouldn¡¯t admit that to the others, not yet.


    ¡°And now he feels guilty for throwing you into the path of that fish,¡± Amerus¨¦n said into the group connection. He didn¡¯t know how true that was, but he wasn¡¯t prepared to admit that maybe Vorius had been right to doubt Rikashe all along.


    Ara¡¯s disbelief filled the connection. ¡°He couldn¡¯t have known that fish was there. None of us could have. The energy patterns of the water are far too chaotic to see anything.¡±


    Amerus¨¦n nodded again, sitting on a nearby rock, staring out across the ocean wondering how many other monstrous predators dwelled there.


    ¡°You think Rikashe is hiding something?¡± Vorius asked, lowering himself to the sand in front of Amerus¨¦n.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I will deal with him and his secrets.¡± Amerus¨¦n¡¯s tone made it clear no one was to challenge Rikashe on the matter.


    They fell into silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Amerus¨¦n periodically checked on the Amerusai searching for those they had lost to the Streams, ignoring their curiosity about what the six of them were doing on the northern coast. With nothing amiss among his followers, he contemplated the apparent drawback of being able to interact with matter, and the debilitating sensation Vorius had flooded the group connection with when the fish had grabbed him.


    The sun below the western horizon, painting the ocean with shades of orange and red. The tranquillity was broken by R¨¦ala jumping down from the boulder she had perched atop and walking over to where Riskashe sat staring at the dead fish. Amerus¨¦n listened to them through his connections with them and was surprised to learn that Rikashe had maintained the connection with R¨¦ala.


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    ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault,¡± R¨¦ala Sent, her voice a whisper in Rikashe¡¯s mind.


    Rikashe looked down at the sand in front of him and sighed.


    R¨¦ala sat on the soft yellow sand beside him watching the crabs tear chunks of flesh from the fish. ¡°You didn¡¯t disconnect from me.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t disconnect from Amerus¨¦n, either?¡±


    ¡°I did, but only briefly, and he has said the same as you. Guilt is not why I¡¯m angry.¡±


    ¡°Why are you angry?¡±


    Silence laced with annoyance greeted the question and R¨¦ala fell silent. Watching the crabs and insects through the growing darkness, she became increasingly aware of Rikashe¡¯s presence, not just in her mind, but his physical presence beside her.


    ¡°Do you ever disconnect from Amerus¨¦n for long?¡± she asked, as much to distract herself from his overwhelming presence as from a desire to know.


    Rikashe was thoughtful for a moment. ¡°No. That brief disconnect was the first time since he found me.¡±


    ¡°Why do you maintain a connection with Amerus¨¦n but rarely connect with anyone else?¡±


    ¡°Trust.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    R¨¦ala traced shapes in the sand with her finger. Did that mean he trusted her, or that he was trying to decide if he could trust her? She knew others among the Amerusai had abused the trust intrinsic with forming a telepathic connection, and she understood how the betrayal of that trust could make one wary of forming connections with others, but she couldn¡¯t imagine how anyone would be able to cope with the loneliness of an existence devoid of connections.


    ¡°It gets easier to cope with.¡±


    R¨¦ala¡¯s embarrassment at having thought into their connection instead of in her mind turned to surprise when Rikashe took her hand in his. Looking up, she found he was staring at her.


    ¡°I want to trust you.¡±


    She didn¡¯t pull away. She liked the physical contact between them and she wanted more. Leaning against him as he intertwined his fingers with hers, she let the sensation flow through her. ¡°You can. I¡¯ll prove it, I promise.¡±


    Amerus¨¦n watched R¨¦ala lean against Rikashe, felt the happiness and contentment flow through her at Rikashe¡¯s apparent acceptance of her. Rikashe hadn¡¯t done it to comfort or reassure her, he had done it out of a desire to be close to her, to touch her. A desire so strong it was almost a need.


    Though Rikashe had answered her questions honestly, the answers had been incomplete. Trust wasn¡¯t the only reason he chose to remain connected to Amerus¨¦n, it was also down to hierarchy. Rikashe had chosen to accept him as his leader. His admission that he wanted to trust R¨¦ala was also incomplete. Again. I want to trust you again.


    ¡°R¨¦ala,¡± Amerus¨¦n Sent. ¡°Come and tell us of your experience as one of the Lost. Or will you be as recalcitrant as the others we have found?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll relate what I can recall.¡± She reluctantly straightened and released her grip on Rikashe¡¯s hand.


    Rikashe held on to her for a few moments, annoyance flaring in his mind, before he got to his feet pulling R¨¦ala up with him and relinquished his grip on her hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go too far,¡± Amerus¨¦n cautioned Rikashe as he began to walk further along the beach. ¡°We need to resume our search for those we lost.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Amerus¨¦n only half listened to R¨¦ala¡¯s recounting of her experience. He was preoccupied with Rikashe¡¯s changing behaviour and the seemingly sourceless anger that had filled his mind almost constantly since their arrival on this planet.


    Rikashe walked several kilometres along the coast before stopping and looking up at the moon.


    He had listened to R¨¦ala though she hadn¡¯t said anything he didn¡¯t already know. The lifeform vessels present on this planet didn¡¯t allow for complex thought, for questioning who and what they were and why they existed. They allowed for nothing other than survival.


    ¡°What do you think of R¨¦ala¡¯s experience?¡± Amerus¨¦n asked.


    Turning to look at the water, Rikashe supressed the urge to growl, the anger surging inside him. When he spoke, his mind was calm. ¡°I didn¡¯t know R¨¦ala well enough before she became Lost to say how it has affected her, or if what she has said will help us with the Lost Niraidam.¡±


    There was a pause as Amerus¨¦n relayed his reply to the others. Sighing, Rikashe joined the group connection.


    ¡°You maintained the connection with R¨¦ala,¡± Amerus¨¦n observed.


    Rikashe tensed. Why was Amerus¨¦n bringing that up? He already knew the reason, though admittedly it was only because Rikashe had forgotten he was listening and had let down his guard. ¡°Yes, and you know why.¡±


    ¡°Your reasons for doing so aren¡¯t important,¡± Amerus¨¦n soothed. ¡°We, I want to know what you learned about her. I felt her need for increased contact when you held her hand, her happiness and contentment when she got what she wanted by leaning against you, but there was no lessening in her desire for greater physical contact.¡±


    ¡°This is a dangerous mindset to risk introducing to the Amerusai,¡± Ara interjected, saving Rikashe from having to answer Amerus¨¦n whether she had intended to or not. ¡°If we begin to feel these needs we will become as the Lost.¡±


    Vorius laughed. ¡°I doubt it will be that bad. These vessels are created to protect us from the Looped Streams and allow us to interact with this place. They lack all the things that are inside the fish.¡±


    Rikashe frowned, staring out over the ocean, watching the moonlight play on the crests of the waves, watching the moonlight play on the crests of the waves. ¡°Vorius is right. These vessels we wear aren¡¯t alive, but Ara is also right to be cautious. It¡¯s only our current lack of knowledge and understanding that is preventing from us making these hollow shells into true biological vessels.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t abandon them,¡± Etrae protested. ¡°We could keep them separate for a time. Perhaps they will forget those feelings?¡±


    ¡°That could work, if they don¡¯t feel we have abandoned them. We must make sure they don¡¯t think they are no longer welcome among the Amerusai,¡± Ara agreed.


    Amerus¨¦n remained silent while the others discussed how they should proceed with reintegrating the Lost Amerusai. The memory of Amerus¨¦n¡¯s growing suspicion while Rikashe turned over rocks forced itself to the fore of Rikashe¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Water.¡±


    A bemused silence fell on the group.


    ¡°Water. Wet. How did you know these concepts, Rikashe? Cold. I sensed the lie when you denied knowing the concept of temperature. How did you know how to manipulate the water? How did you know stopping the fish¡¯s heart would kill it? How did you know how to stop its heart? And what do you know of the mysteriously appearing concepts of the things we encounter? Are you responsible for those?¡±


    Panic welled inside Rikashe as the others focused their attention on him. Cursing himself a fool for not just walking into Amerus¨¦n¡¯s, but helping him to set it, he wanted to disconnect from the group, to avoid the questions his answers would create. Leaving the group connection wouldn¡¯t be easy if they really wanted answers. The moment he began to withdraw, Amerus¨¦n would bring the full strength of his mind to bear against him. While he was certain he could match Amerus¨¦n in strength, the presence of the other three tipped the scales firmly in Amerus¨¦n¡¯s favour.


    ¡°No answers? Then let us start with an easier question. When and why did you leave the Niraidam?¡±


    Rikashe considered lying, or at least telling a half-truth, but discarded the idea as soon as it crossed his mind. While telling Amerus¨¦n and his Inner Circle the truth had never had the desired effect, being caught in another lie would only make matters worse. The panic flared in his mind. Was Amerus¨¦n trying to delve into his mind? Had he already succeeded? Given how distracted Rikashe had been, would he have noticed if Amerus¨¦n had tried? He hadn¡¯t detected the intrusion the last time. His mind raced looking for a way out the situation he had got himself into that wouldn¡¯t result in a fight he couldn¡¯t win. He saw the moon¡¯s reflection in a tide pool and smiled.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t leave the Niraidam,¡± Rikashe stated, all too aware that some among the Amerusai, including Vorius, thought he was a Niraidam spy sent to subvert the Amerusai from within. ¡°I didn¡¯t leave the Niraidam because I never joined them.¡±


    ¡°Impossible!¡± Vorius yelled into the group connection, impressing Rikashe with the amount of venom he managed to put into that single word. ¡°Everyone was part of the Niraidam!¡±


    Rikashe chuckled. ¡°What makes you say that? Is it because you believe there was nothing before the Niraidam?¡±


    ¡°There was nothing before the Niraidam,¡± Etrae whispered.


    Rikashe¡¯s mind softened. ¡°Why do you believe that to be true? Because the Niraidam told you it is? The Niraidam lied to you. There was something before them, and there are things other than them. The word Niraidam means The Slaves of Niraid. I have never been his slave, and I never will be. Niraid lies. He lies to everyone he enslaves. He wipes all memories from your minds then tells you you are free, among other lies. We don¡¯t know how he does it, but when we find out we will undo it. When this cycle of material universes ends, Niraid will try to enslave you again, and if you continue breaking free of his control, he will eventually destroy you. This isn¡¯t the first time you have tried to save the Lost. You have never succeeded in doing so, and every time you go right back to your memoryless servitude.¡±


    Focussing on Amerus¨¦n, he found the link between them and halted Amerus¨¦n¡¯s advance into his mind, expelling him and severing the connection. The group connection filled with image after image of millions of the singularities forming and expanding, engulfing trillions of unwary Niraidam and trapping them. Images of other places; a vast citadel hidden by the energy clouds of the universe and home to millions of people, another citadel surrounded by picturesque landscapes dotted with settlements of varying sizes. Every image had a unique frequency embedded in it, a signature marking it as a memory. The difference between a fabricated image and a memory was subtle, but for those who only communicated telepathically the difference was unmistakable.


    ¡°Amerus¨¦n, I told you I had seen the singularities before. When you asked if I had seen them near Oblivion or somewhere else ¨C.¡±


    ¡°You said yes¡­¡± Amerus¨¦n¡¯s voice was quiet.


    ¡°Yes, but never near Oblivion. Existence Herself shuns that place. I was there to avoid the singularities until it was safer to approach them. And to enter them without becoming trapped. Your finding me was¡­ unplanned. It had never happened before. You are right, I did lie about knowing the concept of temperature. I know the rest of what you asked because this isn¡¯t the first time I have been in these material universes, and this isn¡¯t the first time I have met you. I am not the source of the mysteriously appearing concepts, however. Those come from the centre of your Essence.¡±


    The four Amerusai were shocked into silence and inaction by Rikashe¡¯s revelations. Taking advantage of their momentary distraction, he severed his connection to the group. Shedding his vessel, Rikashe sped northwards across the ocean.


    ¡°He¡¯s lying,¡± Vorius paced back and forth on the sand.


    ¡°No,¡± Amerus¨¦n said, still reeling from how effortlessly Rikashe had stopped and expelled him. ¡°He thought about lying but didn¡¯t. You saw the signatures on the images as well as I did. They were memories. His memories.¡±


    ¡°How far in did you get?¡± Ara asked,


    ¡°I barely broke through the surface before he expelled me.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s stronger than we thought?¡±


    ¡°Or just more skilled than we are.¡±


    ¡°So you didn¡¯t get any more information on this Niraid he spoke of?¡±


    Amerus¨¦n shook his head. ¡°All I know about Niraid is that Rikashe wants to kill him. I¡¯ve never felt an emotion so strong from Rikashe as the hate he felt when speaking of Niraid.¡±


    Vorius stopped and turned to face Amerus¨¦n. ¡°Who is this we he talked about? ¡®We don¡¯t know.¡¯ ¡®When we find out.¡¯¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Only Rikashe can answer these questions.¡±


    Vorius snorted. ¡°Rikashe¡¯s gone.¡±


    Amerus¨¦n rose from the boulder he was sat on and faced the south. ¡°We need to get back to the others.¡±


    ¡°What do we tell them about Rikashe?¡± Etrae asked, worry in her tone.


    ¡°Nothing. We don¡¯t know anything. All we have is more questions that only Rikashe has the answers too. This isn¡¯t the first time Rikashe has gone off alone for a time.¡±


    ¡°And if he doesn¡¯t return? If he¡¯s gone for good?¡±


    Amerus¨¦n looked down at the sand and sighed. ¡°Then we tell them the truth. I have driven away our best hope of saving the Lost.¡±