until I found myself pondering on the outer limits of the realm.
Two of the moons of Noomas, Silkenialikaliou and Toolianoscinsi, were high in the night sky and Clinsolnosn, the third and largest moon, was just beginning to crest over the horizon. Its cratered surface resembled a woman’s ancient face watching over our world. It dominated the heavens whenever it appeared in its full phase. According to legend, Clinsolnosn represented two great lovers who had ruled over the world of Noomas. And when it filled the morning sky it was believed that the goddess Clinsol was happy, for her lover Nosn had just proven to be a most satisfying mate.
I smiled to myself, for the tales of Noomas were amusing, ancient myths, handed down from generation to generation. I had studied the astronomical charts following their paths, as well as their lore; when time allowed.
Clinsolnosn appeared most often alone. Rarely would all the moons align together; and when they did, so legend claimed, they created the most potent and magical of moments. From then on, the two great lovers reigned over Noomas, thereafter to continue their magnificent sovereignty for eternity.
I had long ago reached the limits of my tolerance for symbolism; although the sight of Clinsol alone is breathtaking.
Yes, beautiful, but we have other things to attend to, a softly feminine voice spoke into my mind.
The brazen tone stirred memories of the uncanny practice of Mutis who have all too frequently touched my forehead and pierced my thoughts with a solid telepathic directive. Yet there was no Muti present!
I turned to discover two shadowy figures flickering into solidity at the foot of the bed.
Torlo Hannis, this is Sarleni. You don’t know me, yet. I am with Adt Dorta. We wish to meet with you and Youi.
A startled gasp turned my attention toward Youi who had bolted upright, wide awake, staring at the warrior and the dark-haired willowy woman now facing her.
The man, of course, I knew; the woman was a stranger—unfamiliar to us!
“Adt Dorta!” I lamely greeted, still quite confused about this visualization of a person whom I’d been convinced was long dead.
“I survived,” he announced. “I am real enough.”
Overcome with irrepressible joy and relief seeing Adt alive, I rushed forward to greet my friend.
The woman at his side smiled and bluntly stated: “We have seen your Proctor. You’ll soon understand the details of our haste. We need to meet with you in person before everything changes.”
“Changes?” I echoed, stepping back in stunned surprise. “What are you talking about?”
Adt awkwardly began to explain.
“After I escaped the Diano camp she connected mentally with me. Then we were thrown off by the storm.” He stopped abruptly, hurriedly adding: “Never mind that…will explain later, enough to say we connected. We’ve been to the far side of Noomas and brought back an important message, a warning, and…I can tell you more in person.
“It’s a long story.”
Youi was shaking her head and rubbing her eyes. “Am I dreaming?”
“No,” Adt assured her.
“If not, how did you gain entrance to our private chambers? Where are the guards?”
She sounded more alarmed than hostile; concerned over palace security.
Adt replied: “Not to worry. We’re not in this room, Torlo. We’re projections from my father’s home.”
Then Adt’s words shifted distinctly into my mind: Tonight, come to the Dorta Estates.
We made plans to meet for dinner that evening and then, without further comment, they faded away, leaving us to puzzle over these strange events.
My friend’s survival raised endless questions. And the answers to them would begin a chain of events destined to cause drastic changes in the lives of everybody on Noomas.
* * * *
News of Adt Dorta’s unexpected return rippled through Bel-loniea. The whole nation pulsed with festivities, attracting an unusual number of outlanders in honor of Clinsol, Nosn, Slke, Tions, and all such celestial monarchs. Banners, crafts, music filled the streets. The people had made preparations for celebration in advance.
I noticed an odd tension among the throngs of foreigners milling about, especially the visiting officials throughout the palace grounds.
Tonight’s opening ceremonies in the public park were among the primary events we had hoped to attend. But now we were forced to set aside our plans due to Adt and Sarleni’s sudden arrival.
Rumors filtered down through the social ranks that the son of Kigor Dorta had returned and had brought a mysterious Helandian with him to the city-state of Bel-loniea. Her unusual appearance created dramatic waves of admiring and critical remarks.
Stories quickly spread about this colorful woman from the Northern Territories which caused a great number of distrustful suspicions to arise among the commoners because very few facts concerning the polar region ever reached the populace.
Officials representing our political allies began making their scheduled public appearances in honor of the Three Moons Celebration. A great number of Mutis were also circulating throughout the palace and parliament grounds.
A serious chill crept along my spine upon noting this.
It was customary to occasionally see one Muti. Only recently had I spotted groups of four or more moving along the corridors of the palace. It was a rare occurrence to see more than one or two Mutis in close proximity to one another. Highly solitary by nature, these silent mystics of the Noomasian landscape roamed freely beneath their distinguishable hooded cloaks, passing all barriers; unfettered by any local authority. But this day, I had seen several clusters of the tall Muti shapes gathering near remote corners of shaded corridors.
Mutis were appearing everywhere, gliding tacitly in and out of the shadows with an air of somber secrecy. I imagined that a universal call might have been raised to bring them to the Proctor’s palace.
* * * *
By early evening the sun cast its last crimson hues across the horizon. Two of the moons graced the heavens and the third would soon complete the spectacular nocturnal trio.
When we arrived at the Dorta Estates Adt and Sarleni greeted us in the gardens beneath the leafy Chilso trees bordering a low lawn. They led the way to the Dorta Manor House through the sprawling complex of single level buildings surrounded by lovely gardened grounds.
A savory dinner awaited us in a comfortably furnished setting, complete with a crackling fire on the hearth.
Sarleni wandered to the fireside gazing into its warmth while Adt poured drinks for us. I studied this lovely young woman while sipping my chalice of Porshi. Her oval face, sparked by high cheek bones and soft full lips was delicately framed with flowing dark hair. She appeared physically fragile, yet gracefully strong, secure, and very much in love. Periodically, she’d favor Adt with gentle smiles and they would touch in a kind of private communication while they took turns telling their story.
We talked over the hearty feast; alternating between our adventures, eager to catch up on lost time. Adt told us about his experience on that fateful day in the Diano camp.
“After you cut me free, we attacked our captors. Chaos broke loose as you threw Kay-bombs down on their camp from the grav-disk flyer you had somehow stolen.”
“I was battling my bloody way through nasty Diano warriors when I heard my name called…in my head! I learned later that it had come from Sarleni—like we communicated this morning.
“The storm caused tremendous disturbances and when our craft was blown off course, we crashed and waited through the night. In the morning after the rains had stopped we were lost and forced to travel on foot. We’d finally reached the sea and headed