Chapter 1

‘So, Merganzer, you old rat, tell us then, what do you think…, I mean - what do you really think?’

‘Well, I’m not so sure what you want me to say, Thrain, but it is NOT likely what you’re thinking.  The truth is that I don’t think either of you would listen anyhow.  With that said, I need to give due thought before I decide as to whether I’m going to say anything, or not.’

 

We start our story under a large, near endless, domed ceiling.  Large enough that from where we are, up here looking down, that it is impossible to see exactly where it ends.  Looking around it feels like we are in a room that is so vast, it’s like being under one of those massive old-fashioned three ringed circus tents, times ten, and then multiplied by ten once or twice again.  So large, that even from up here it is impossible to see where it ends.  Another difference is that it feels brighter, less physical, more ethereal.  Not only that, but with looking up, the ceiling seems alive, as it functions as a mirror reflecting those down below.  Only, not necessarily as they are, but, am I right in saying, as they once had been.

 

Look!  Down there.  Do you see those three?  They are the ones we just overheard talking? 

No?

Well, how about we move in closer?

 

As you can see, the souls we are listening in on, gathered around a slender podium in a small knot of three, mid discussion, are standing on a floating platform amongst an uncountable sea of others.   Of these others, gathered around their own podiums, also in groups of three, they are engaged in their own, similar, activities.  In each case the mix is male, female, and otherwise; a mix which varies in each cluster.

In each group, one of the three, elevated above the others, is in control of the podium; this evidenced by how they are standing on a single raised step.  There they stand, like a judge overseeing a court, their elevated position reflects the role they play.  So, yes, that’s right, the reason for this elevated state is that those with control of the podiums are adjudicators - there to give advice, to give sanction to, or to outright deny, what the remaining two are attempting to negotiate.

​

As for the podiums themselves, seemingly growing out of the raised platform, from the bottom up, they look like the slender stalk of a plant which is held firmly in place by how its roots hug the platform’s base.  Looking up from these root clusters, as you go up, their stalks narrow down before their tops bloom open and out.  There their petals lay open, mimicking the pages of a fantastical, kaleidoscope-like book, where each flip of a page it leaves not two, but six new petal like pages showing.  In fact, if you look closely enough, you will see that these petals are home to delicate, shimmering words, interrupted at times with the occasional picture.

 

Enough talking, it’s time we listen in on what’s being said.

 

Goading Merganzer, the adjudicator, the holder of the podium, is Thrain.  A tall, rugged looking, blue eyed soul, his cold as ice complexion is framed by his long blonde hair.  As the representative of his family line, an elaborate gold crest - it featuring a snarling bear - proudly rests above his brow.   As for Thrain, standing there, he’s challenging Merganzer’s pointed stare.  Glaring, unflinching, he refuses to be intimidated.

​

As for Merganzer, well used to this style of sparring, he’s matching Thrain’s steely gaze.  As you can see Merganzer, with his messy mouse coloured hair, is not the easiest soul to look at.  Wide faced, thick lipped, sallow skinned, his flesh is a little flabby, yet stretched looking.  The truth is that with looking at him, he vaguely makes one think of a fish.  For what it’s worth, his glowing eyes are letting Thrain know that he has gone too far.

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Next to Thrain stands another determined soul.  In her case her family crest features what looks to be a creature of the sea.  It embellished with precious stones embedded in filigreed silver.  Representing her own family line, she too is tall, only she, in contrast to Thrain, has long, dark crinkled hair which compliments her resolutely bronzed, sun-kissed skin.

 

Thrain barks out.

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‘Come on Merganzer, don’t be such an old curmudgeon.  It’s not like our family lines haven’t been doing this for a while, nigh on an eternity, literally.’

 

The truth of this statement is clear enough to see.  This is because each of these noble beings look like they carry the wisdom of the ages on their brows.  Having said as much, even with this knowledge burden, their faces display none of the lines associated with such age. The truth is, physically they present at the peak of their health, little beyond middle age.  In a proverbial nutshell they look to be perfect; confident, and noble, commanding, yet humble, and somehow timeless.

 

Thrain keeps at him.

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‘…and Merganzer, based on this, especially about this mix we’re presenting, we know that you definitely have an opinion; that you have more than a bit to say, before YOU, the mighty Merganzer, say YAY or NAY.’

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Merganzer feels the sting of the slap of Thrain’s words.  Despite this, his body language lets Thrain know that he’s unfazed.  As such, he delivers a counter thrust:

‘You know well, Thrain, that I would prefer you being the adjudicator as opposed to me, but that’s not the case.  I say this because you should remember, given my position, that it is my reputation, my future, which is on the line, based on what you two decide.  Thus, if you decide poorly, this will come back on me, not you two.  It’s me who will be called up to the Elder council to defend your actions.  This, despite the fact that I can only make suggestions, and caution you two about the possible fallout from your decisions.  Doing so based on past life patterns, what we see happening today, and the Time Sooth’s projections.’

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‘Tell me, Merganzer…,’ Thrain asks this in a dismissive, yet accusatory tone, ‘…just how often have you had to stand and defend MY decisions before the Elder council?!’

Merganzer snorts back.

​

‘I have to say Thrain, there’s something to be said of that timeless adage of how familiarity breeds contempt!  AND…’

​

As Merganzer talks, Thrain condescendingly smiles back at him.  It seems to me like he’s succeeded in getting under Merganzer’s skin.

​

‘…It’s just I didn’t expect that today of all days that my contempt would come so quickly!’

 

It just struck me that in this room there are no obvious light sources.  No chandeliers, no candelabras, no incandescent light bulbs.  So how can we even see them?  The answer is that a sort of inner radiating light, actually I would describe this energy more as radiating life, seems to be emanating outwards from within each and every soul.  When quiet, while listening, this inner light is more subdued, soft, pastel coloured.  When talking though, especially when they really have something important to say, when speaking passionately, or especially when countering after having been challenged, well, at times like this it’s as if the entire spectrum of light, plus some, seems to be almost exploding out of them.  Just look at them, to watch them feels so surreal that it’s beyond magical.

​

You know, I would imagine that if you or I were to reach out and touch one of these light emitting souls, that they would feel as solid and unyielding as ancient granite.  This isn’t the case though.  The reality is, rather than flesh and bone, plant or stone, these beings, as well as those pictured on the domed ceiling, truly are manifestations of pure energy.  An energy which manifests as crystal light with edges as sharp and cutting as diamonds, yet, if you were to reach out and try to touch them, your hand would pass right through them.

​

As for the reflections in the domed ceiling, they too seem to pulse with their own outward emitting light energy.   Pictorial in nature, and ever-changing, these reflections don’t seem to be reflecting what’s down below.  Rather, they seem to reflect the proudest accomplishments of those gathered, or maybe, in a way, these representing the highest thoughts on which the creators below are reflecting. So rich and dimensional that they could easily be perceived as living beings as opposed to animated sculptural reliefs.

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There’s something else about this room which you may have yet to have noticed.  Of the creators gathered below, I just want to be clear about this, they are not all human, far from it.  Rather, this sea of podiums host all of their cousins.   Which is why the vast tapestries above feature not only past Lords and Ladies, heroes, and martyrs, but also amongst them are all types of noble creatures, mammals, both grazers and predators, reptiles, birds, fish, as well as plants and insects, together representing all of creation.  If you don’t believe me, just focus your eyes as far away as you can see.

 

For context, Sveina is the appointed representative of the hope filled mother’s family line, a princess from the dark skinned, yet lush, colourful lands of the south.  Thrain, on the other hand, is there representing the possible to be father’s hereditary soul line; a prince whose family has, for longer than time has been recorded, ruled much of the pale skinned, cold, and wintry north.

 

The problem for Sveina is, with listening to these two, that she’s beginning to feel like the third party in a two party conversation.  On account she’s looking on with growing frustration.  The truth is that she’s not surprised that these two ended up butting heads so quickly, only, surely, they must understand the magnitude of the decisions being made; that this isn’t the time for this kind of childish squabbling.  Then again, she contemplates, with sneaking relief, this IS keeping them distracted.

Merganzer, despite trying to hold his ground, feeling insulted, and undermined, is further incensed by a growing seed of his own insecurity.  Hoping to shore up his position, he delivers another counter shot.

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‘…and on account, maybe you might choose to think a little more before you next choose to speak, as words often have DIRE consequences!’  

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This last bit comes out a little louder than Merganzer intended.  Loud enough that it is obvious that a few sharp eared souls overhear the words Merganzer just let slip.  Something which piques their interest, as the truth is that Merganzer’s words came off as a threat rather than an adjudicator’s well meaning correction.

​

In spite of the exasperation and frustration revealed by Merganzer’s words, Thrain, knowing that he’s getting to him, mockingly rolls his flashing eyes, something he makes sure Merganzer notices.

About this, just look at Merganzer, how the colour and intensity of his inner light flashes.  Evidently he just doesn’t seem to see the humour.

 

The thing is, it is because of outbursts like this why this exchange isn’t going unnoticed by certain others.  About them, those on the floating platforms adjacent, gathered in similar clusters of three, they too have important decisions to make, as these creators are doing the same type of work as these three.

 

Watching and listening to these two, now openly arguing, the groupings of creators nearest can hear and see that with every word spoken that these two are coming closer and closer to a boil.  On account their own discomfort is growing.  In fact, as Merganzer and Thrain’s voices grow louder, theirs are in turn being silenced.  Despite this growing discomfort, they make no effort to block out what’s being said.  In fact, some are having a hard time hiding the fact that they are watching.  Sure, it’s only from out of a corner of their eyes, but they are watching.

And isn’t just those immediately surrounding them that are feeling the effects of this argument, as there is an ever-growing circle of those, many with their backs turned to them, who, with their bat sensitive ears, can’t help but to clearly overhear.  In fact, the number keeps growing as more and more of the surrounding creators’ voices are silenced.  For them, at best, they are only pretending to be tending to their own business.

​

And how could you blame them?!  As something is up and they just aren’t going to miss out.  After all, this kind of behaviour just isn’t typically tolerated, as the work conducted in the Creation Room, this being the deciding of the nature of family heirs on the cusp of conception, is of the highest importance.  Sure, the family soul lines often enough go head to head.  And this is of no surprise, as it is the very future of their soon to be newly blended souls on the line, therefore their interwoven futures; as with every new blending come unexpected outcomes.  The thing is though, for an adjudicator, especially one such as Merganzer, to be so vocal, those closest to him know that something big is being decided, something which the colour of their moods can’t help but to project, something which will likely have an effect not just on the creation they are negotiating, but on all of them, even the furthest flung, or at least, in time.  Therefore the decisions these three make may very well have an effect on the negotiations in which they too are partaking.

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I guess you could say that this is in part why the actions taken by those in the Creation Room don’t happen in a vacuum.

 

For me, from up here, looking down, just like those on the adjacent platforms, I can’t help but to wonder what has gotten old Merganzer’s back up.  And about that,  I can’t help but to think that there is at least one other, who, with sensing this disturbance, is also starting to take an interest.

How about you, can you feel what I feel?  I ask this as I just noticed the sensation of a probing eye, which, with wanting to see what’s happening below and beyond me, well, it feels like it’s staring right through me.  To me, it makes my skin crawl.  Given this invasive sensation, if you ask me, I’d say that someone, or thing, has just started watching in; and I, for one, have a pretty good idea of who they might be.

 

Chapter 1, to be continued, but first...