Fatima's Diary

reflections for the lost

58. Owls of Wisdom

We were escorted by Tolmadrin deep within the Dragon Castle, where he talked nonchalantly about almost anything, but drew himself up instantly when we came to the chamber doors of our recovering Emperor.

At first when I walked into the room, grand in its deep woods and perfectly woven rugs and tapestries, I was unsure of who exactly held the Dragon Seat. When a voice, calm and relaxed, entered into my mind and spoke directly to me without my ears, my eyes were drawn to the handsome man reclining in a bed-like chair. He had a towel over his forehead, and there were several other attendees in the room, each watching him carefully in their own way I suppose.

Teleportation, the twisting of your body through space, was much preferable to being spoken to in this manner, this invasion of the mind. When I tried to send my voice out back to him to wish him the greatest of health under Ilâh's gentle eye and my sincere wish that he forever be sheltered by the Creator's hand, his hazel eyes touched mine and I knew he heard me speak without words. I have the distinct feeling that he was simultaneously discussing things with his advisors, Tolmadrin, and giving audience to us. To have such a mind so empowered with strange talent would I imagine be a requirement of running his Empire. He spoke kindly to us, thanked us each in turn for our assistance, and explained that he had a special plan for us. He had seen something in us that he has patiently awaited, and we were to train under his guidance. Teachers were appointed to tutor us in specialized tasks, and he hinted at some other special kind of task or future that he had seen was potentially set ahead of us. His direct speech into our minds about our destiny strangely reminded me of the Book of Fate, found deep within the Faery Mound.