ch.7 Stories & Wonders

The next morning, the sun's first rays, shone on Selene's eyes, waking her up. Remembering the past night, she turned around, expecting Attar to be next to her. Alas, she was alone. Stood up, looked around, and smiled, when her eyes finally fixed their gaze, upon his masculine figure. Even through the wide clothes he was wearing, Selene could tell that his physique, was that of a warrior. However, it was his golden hair, that grabbed her attention. Tied in a pony-tail, it reached to the middle of his back. She was a little envious. Her's only reached a little past her shoulders. As he was completely immersed in fiddling with the hilt of his sword, she taught of sneaking up on him. Just as she was about to surprise him, he turned around.

Attar: “Good morning! How was your rest?”

Selene: “Ah! Good morning! What are you doing?”

Attar: “Increasing the power voltage, while decreasing the consumption. Breakfast?”

Selene: “Yes, thank you. I've been meaning to ask, how DID you find me, last night?”

Attar: “Your ring.”

Selene: “You mean this one? I actually remember you giving it to me. You also gave my brothers, one as well. But aren't they just regular rings? How can they tell you, where I am?”

Attar: “They can, because I made them. They also tell your pulse. And since the day, you all four, placed them on your fingers, the furthest, any of you had stayed from each other, was still within the city limits. Once you moved out of Petra, and combined with irregular heartbeat, I knew something was very wrong.”

Selene: “But how did you get to me so fast?”

Attar: “An underground network of caves. Luckily, the place those ruffians chose to take you, was practically at my doorstep.”

Selene: “Then, why did we spend the night outside, if your house is so close?”

Attar: “My lodgings, are still inside the cave. After what happened, I figured, you wouldn't want to be anywhere near a cave.”

Selene: “The night sky, is better.”

As their conversation was going on, she had seated herself next to him, and was happily enjoying the breakfast, he had prepared for them.

Selene: “How long do we wait, before heading back to Petra?”

Attar: “If we go now, and move on ground level, even with horses, it would take 3 days, across the muddy terrain. Not to mention, thieves.”

Selene: “Too dangerous. What's our other option?”

Attar: “The underground road to Petra is cut off from the floods, but in 4 days, it won't be. And since it is a secret road, known only to a few, it's safer, not to mention quicker. It will only take us a day, using it. If you are willing to wait.”

Selene, curious about Attar, his life and wonders, had no doubt in her mind, what she wanted.

Selene: “Let's wait in your home!”

A little surprised at her enthusiasm, and how she was leaning on him, he secretly smiled.

Attar: “OK, let's do that, then. After breakfast, I'll take you to my current home. However, I must warn you. You will see many strange things, there. Don't touch anything without my permission. Some of them, are dangerous.”

Selene: “You got it. So. When do we leave?”

Half an hour later, Selene was standing before a wall, with no visible signs of entry. Coming next to her, Attar smiled, then simply pushed the wall. As he removed his hand, a glowing handprint was left. A barely audible sound of “PSH” was heard, as the whole wall, slightly moved back and to the left, as it was rolling sideways.

Suddenly blinded by the light, Selene covered her eyes, when she heard Attar calling out to her, as his hand, gently placed on her back, pushed her forward. As her eyes adjusted, a grand hall stood before her. Several levels high, to the left and right, were various rooms, with half open walls. A series of reflective surfaces, placed zigzag at the highest parts of the walls, near the ceiling, were sending a single ray of sunlight, all across the hall, illuminating everything. Yet, in some of the rooms, bright lights, were helping them stay lit.

As she moved forward, the echo of her footsteps, reverberated throughout.

Selene: “Attar, are we alone here?”

Attar: “Shouldn't be. Hold on.”

He took a deep breath, and: “Artemi-i-is.”

His voice boomed everywhere. No one responded.

Attar: “Guess we are. So where do you want to go? Your bedroom, the kitchen, the bathroom?”

Selene: “I want to know more about your glowing sword. What other wonders do you have here? How are those room lit?”

Attar: “Ah, those. Come.”

He took her hand, and guided her to a staircase at the left. On the second floor, was a very weird room. Next to the wall, was a series of counters. On top, were many weird boxes, one of which was glowing, while making a weird sound. It suddenly stopped, as the light it was emanating a moment ago, was gone! Attar lifted the top, and smell of fresh, boiled rice, spread around the room. He then, opened the side door of another box, and she saw, as he pulled out, a cooked to a golden crisp, chicken. While he was busy serving them a rice-chicken meal, her eyes stopped at the wall, where a familiar light, coming from a glass orb, reminded her, of the ones, she had seen in Egypt, at the Karnak Temple.

Attar: “Lunch is ready!”

Selene: “Umm. This tastes like the one, mom makes.”

Attar: “I did learn this recipe from Diana.”

Selene: “You called her Diana, the same as the drunkard.”

Attar: “What drunkard?”

Selene: “The one we found the other night. But the women that raised me and my brothers, how do you know them? Did you arrange, for them, to do so?”

A melancholic look on his face, Attar nodded.

Selene: “Why?”

Attar: “I promised your mother, to protect her children.”

Selene: “Sigh! Very well then. Now, tell me about these wonders. Like, the lights on the wall. Same as Karnak.”

Attar: “Yes. I made all of them. As you have already gathered, I am very, very old. And also very knowledgeable. I've seen seasons change,empires rise and fall, even lands transforming from ice lands, to jungles, to deserts. To you humans, we became gods. Yet for us, your whole lives, are but speck of sand...”

Selene: “...in the flow of time. Your existence must be lonely.”

Attar: “Not really! I mean, I have my whole family.”

Selene: “Yeah, but still...”

Attar: “Hey, don't frown. There is still plenty of my people left on this planet, even after the war.”

Selene: “What war?”

Attar: “Just the last major war of my people. I believe it's told about, in all of the major religions.”

Selene: “So, what did actually happen?”

Attar: “O, nothing much. My nephew just had a score to settle, with the kidnapper of his mother. In the end, we won, and the major bad guy, ran away.”

Selene: “What about his people?”

Attar: “We made piece. They saw through his madness, and abandoned him. Now he is somewhere out there, probably causing trouble. But, one day, my nephew will end him.”

Selene: “How can you be sure?”

Attar: “He sees a person's future. He knows things, yet hardly ever shares anything.”

Selene: “O, I see.”

Attar: “By the way, please don't tell him about it.”

Selene: “About what?”

Attar: “The sword. It was made, using methods, way too advanced for the current era. He would kill me, if he knew. Again.”

Selene dropped her spoon.

Selene: “Again? Do you mean... that Blue Beard, was...”

Attar: “Sigh! Yes, my nephew was the one you saw that day. He used to use indigo, to color his hair.”

Selene: “Why did he do that, to his own uncle?”

Attar: “I told you, he sees the future. That was the only way, our ruse was going to succeed, and the four of you, could stay safe, alive, and away from anyone;s political agenda. Haven't you heard about Cleopatra Selene, daughter of Egypt's last pharaoh, being raised by Mark Anthony's former wife, and is also about to be married to a Numidian royal?”

Selene: “That's not me!”

Attar: “Correct, that's your decoy. Although, I fear the ruse has been detected, and you are once again, in great danger.”

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