The Fold Ship part 3

Posted on 30 Aug 2013 @ 7:14pm by Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim

982 words; about a 5 minute read

Allyndra was tired, dead bone tired as though she had flown far. The events that had unfolded were indeed not pleasant and perhaps only by a slight grace the ship was still here for now. It seemed suddenly even more imperative that she tell some more of my story and perhaps more about what had happened all those years ago. If the logs survived perhaps forcing Akkadia to reveal its secrets might be a lasting legacy.

"Computer open I personal log - Fold Ship"

[Open and recording]

Now where was I, oh yes. I traced my way back through the tunnel, my hand trailing along the wall for guidance and at one point my fingers encountered indentations in the rock. The indentations were too regular in their outlines and though the light was too poor to read, I traced the symbols with my fingers.

The symbols were old but she could still figure out their meaning. It was an inscription that read: 'We hide the past to preserve the future.'

The words struck my like a powerful down draft. What did they mean? It seemed a very strange phrase to me at the time. Someone obviously had put that artifact there and then had hide it. Why, I wonder not destroy, was it important for the future.

I puzzled over who had put that there and exactly why but my stomach overwhelmed my curiosity and I made my way back to the tunnel entrance.

The mountains were covered in white snow, but the sun was shining and I lifted my wings to catch the warmth of the rays. For several minutes I remember working my flight muscles and then launched myself into the air.

I never remembered the flight out of the mountains or how I had come to wake on my own bed in the Guild House. The attendants had only told my that a bloodflower farmer had found my in my fields.

The attendants that came into my room would not speak but only checked me periodically and to bring drink. It seemed odd and then two mornings later when I thought breakfast would be arriving instead the Guild Mother of Warraquim herself arrived.

That of course was highly unusual. She only part way in the room and then stopped and said something to one of the attendants just outside who then made a deep respectful curtsey and left.

"Allyndra," she said in that voice that was not loud but carried. It had the weight of years behind it as did the steadiness of the dark green eyes. She was old and it was said that her wings had not come in. The grey starting to streak the otherwise dark brown red metallic hair gave truth to that rumour.
I remember sitting up to get up and give proper courtesy but she only waved a hand to indicate to stay as I was and then came close. She looked into my face and then away looking around the room as though someone might here.

"Do you remember the words you spoke when they found you?" The Guild Mother's voice was stern and the look grave.

I shook my head in the negative. "Nothing, there were no words at all? Perhaps something you saw, read?"

"I, well I, remember reading something perhaps I recited them."

"Please Allyndra repeat them to me."

"We hide the past in order to preserve..."

The Guild Mother finished the phrase with me, "the future."

There was a long silence and finally I ventured. "You know what that means."

Again that silence and then she nodded. "And you will as well. For now though Allyndra I must ask you never to repeat that phrase unless it is to me. It is important that you do not nor where you found that phrase and on that we will talk later. You will give me your word of honour that you will follow what I ask."

"Yes, I promise that if I dishonour what you have asked that my wings be ripped away." It was a terrible thing. If one broke wings it was one thing, but to have them ripped caused such a sudden drastic hormonal imbalance that one died slowly in agony.

"Thank you Allyndra. Now then, rest for the day and then on the following morning before the Twins rise please present yourself at my office."

I nodded my assent and then the Guild Mother did something I had never though to happen in a thousand years. She leaned over and hugged me but did not say a word. It was brief that hug, no more that a few seconds before she straightened and turned and left without another word.

The attendants all the rest of the day continued with their silent rounds into my room until evening. Then middle evening there was a knock and two entered still as silent as ever but they had soft case with them which they proceeded to open and layout a students dress. It was pristine, fresh and pressed until every long pleated fold of the skirt was in sharp relief. New shoes, undergarments and the rest were also laid out without again so much as a word and I did not entreat them to try to talk but only watched knowing that it was for the meeting in the morning.

It was ea.........
Allydnra was not sure when she had drifted off but the computer had recorded over fifteen minutes of nothing.

"Computer expunge last fifteen minutes and close log."

[Log closed]

Allyndra had hoped to tell more but the needs of her body outweighed her mind. Perhaps the gods had other plans, perhaps it was not in their plans to reveal to the outside the past. Who, Allyndra thought, ever knew what the universe had it store. It was her last thought before falling asleep again.

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