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k_a_webb“Why do the fae have such big families?” Sini asked, wanting to change the subject.
Meriwether smiled at her, looking grateful. “On Kalinia it was because making alliances between the families and with the other fae sects was one of the most important things for the family elder. Before the elder fae were affected by the failure of Kalinia’s magic they had total control over pretty much everything.”
“It was different for the ruling monarch, though,” Lucille said. “When election time came the fae wanted someone young and vibrant on their throne, which was why in a lot of the other sects the King or Queen would stand down at a particular age. Once their son or daughter took the position they still had as much power, because they became their child’s main adviser. The Thirteen Families were unusual, as they didn’t have one bloodline that held the throne, instead having a democratic system where the monarch would be elected.”
“That didn’t mean that the elder of that family had no power, though,” Meriwether continued. “As the election came closer they’d chose someone to be the candidate for the family and that candidate would obviously feel like they owed the elder for their support. We did have fourteen councils – each family had one and then there was the ruling council, where the dedicated elder would pass on the decisions made during the family council session to the other elders and monarch.”
“Every council Moonjumper studies the history of the fae, even though we don’t all deal with them.” Lucille bit her lip. “It’s an important part of the syllabus, because the fae think we need to understand the race that created the Web as well as we understand the races of the Web, and, obviously, it skewed in the favour of the fae. The teacher I had for my fae history class was happy to talk outside class about his own feelings, but he accepted that he hadn’t lived through the end of Kalinia and he didn’t know what his reaction would have been if he had.”
“As the fae can’t leave their settlements in death it’s likely that he did live through the end of Kalinia, but doesn’t remember it.” Meriwether rubbed his antler. “I’m not sure why he can’t remember, because I would have thought all fae would know about their past lives, the way I did.”
“Maybe he forgot on purpose, Merry,” Sini suggested. “He didn’t want to remember what he’d been through, so he could live every life differently, without letting the choices of his past lives affect them.” She shrugged. “That might be what all the souls do, until they reach a life when they feel ready to remember the lives they lived before.”
“Then I should have forgotten everything too.” Meriwether shook his head. “I don’t know if it’s so much a choice, because I didn’t want to remember my fae life, but I did. It was my sixth birthday when I realised the dreams I’d been having about the life of a fae man were about my previous life and it was so hard to deal with knowing that I had been him.”
“Sini might be right about it being a choice, Meriwether,” Lucille said, “but the worlds decided that you needed to remember your past life for some reason.” She shrugged. “If you hadn’t you wouldn’t be the person you are now, and I think it was important that you were, because of who you would meet in your future lives.”
Meriwether looked at Lucille, silent for a few minutes before he nodded. “You might be right. The thing I’ve learnt is that the worlds aren’t always open about why they make the choices they do, until the time comes when you’re needed. Plus I’ve never been lucky enough to have a conversation with any of them.”
“The ritual you use to help someone remember their past lives can also be used to help someone communicate with the worlds.” Lucille smiled. “If you wanted to talk with Quiar it would be possible, but you need to change a couple of things.”
“How do you know that?” Sini asked, knowing that Lucille didn’t have any experience with Meriwether’s ritual.
“Quiar told me, a couple of days after Meriwether told me about the ritual. I wanted to mention it before, but I didn’t know how to bring it up before, because we haven’t had much time to talk. Today’s the first time we’ve really had a chance for a long sit down conversation like this since the day Peric, Bertram, and I arrived in Seahorse Port.”
“What do I need to do?” Meriwether pulled a notebook and pen out from one of the many pockets he had in his waistcoat, before looking at Lucille expectantly. “I want to be able to have a nice long conversation with Quiar.”
“You need to use purple candles, placed in the same way as for the memory ritual, but light them from the South. That will build the circle in such a way that it will be easy for Quiar to enter it, or one of the other worlds if you wanted to talk with them, and will keep everything unwanted out, including the spirits who live here. Some will be drawn to the communication circle, because they want a chance to talk to the living.” Lucille ran a hand through her hair. “Quiar likes strawberry incense, if you have any, or lavender. From what she said she’s been hoping to have a chance to talk to you, but she can’t get through your walls.”
“Thank you, Lucille.”
“I’m just passing the message on.” Lucille reached out and wrapped her hand around Meriwether’s. “You’ve done a lot of good during your lives and I know she appreciates it, as do a lot of the other worlds.” She smiled. “Without you the worlds wouldn’t be the same, apparently, but she wouldn’t tell me what exactly you’ve done to be so useful. It something she wanted you to tell me.”
There was a long silence. Sini waited patiently for Meriwether to speak, because she wanted to know what he’d done that the worlds appreciated so much, and she realised there was a lot she still had to learn about her old friend. It was strange to think how much Lucille’s arrival had changed everything – it meant Sini knew that Kaito had been a Moonjumper until he ran from an arrest warrant, she was learning more about Meriwether, the worlds, and the Web, and she was beginning to realise how badly she’d had her blinkers on before. Even though a small part of her wished she was still the old Sini she was grateful for to Lucille for everything.
“Some things are still hard to talk about,” Meriwether said, and Sini could hear the emotion in his voice. “I never thought I’d survive the end of Kalinia, but I did. For a long time I was terrified of dying, because I knew there was no afterlife, but it turned out to be one of the most interesting things that had ever happened to me. During my time on Gaelom I shared a body with others. I was on Beshaki during the wars.” He rubbed his antler. “There was a saying on Earth that was said to be a curse: may you live in interesting times. My entire existence has been during those interesting times and for once I want to live a boring life, just to give me a chance to rest. I doubt it will ever happen, but I’m going to keep wishing for it.”
“I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you,” Lucille replied. “Just this life has been hard enough, Meriwether, and yet from what you’ve said I’ve lived other lives that I need to learn about when I have some free time. Knowing that makes me realise how little I really know about myself and about the Web, even though I’ve been studying the Web my whole life and I thought I knew myself. That’s why I started studying to become a Moonjumper at nine.” She shook her head. “It’s amazing to think that everyone I know might have lived other lives…” She trailed off, as though she’d suddenly realised something. “How many souls did the fae make?”
“That’s a question I can’t answer.” Meriwether looked a little startled at the sudden change of topic. “I know Eithne was only creator to have not failed with at least one of their races, so it’s likely there were hundreds created.”
“If there were only hundreds of souls created then how are there so many people on the worlds of the Web?”
Understanding filled Meriwether’s eyes. “Souls can split, Lucille. A lot of them did very early on, so one of the created souls could easily have become ten or more, and as they hadn’t lived any lives then, or deaths for that matter, they wouldn’t have any memories. Other souls split later. Some never split.” He smiled. “My soul has never split, I think because of my race, but there’s a chance I might look into the eyes of someone on Quiar or another world and realise I’m looking at your soul in another body.”
Mirrored from K. A. Jones Writing.
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Date: 2013-08-06 01:17 am (UTC)That should say "it's" above.
I am fascinating by the splitting of souls!