The Rise of the Sea Ghosts (from The Gelid Times Trilogy)

Chapter 4

THE TREE OF LUX BRUMALIS; To the North

The Tree of Lux Brumalis was not ancient. In fact, compared to the other trees on the journey, it was decidedly average and hardly likely to allow anyone to slip into the future they were told. Its trunk curved slightly like a sideways smile that revealed how much the tree had acquiesced to the north winds of winter storms. The tree that held all the answers should give an impression of massiveness and permanence, like giant sequoias or the strength and power of an oak, so it was surprising to Vega and Fara when they were told of the fragility and delicateness of the Tree at Lux Brumalis.

When they started out three days ago, Vega did not know who her companions would be. Once a generation – or every thirty years, anyone who turned fourteen on the first day of the first month of the year – Lanuarii – was required to meet just before sunrise on the edge of Terretown with a hand-drawn map, food, a hunting knife, a blanket, water and matches all packed in a rucksack.

They were the chosen few who would know what the future held, who would be the Decision-Makers and who would lead the people. Vega thought they would be a large group – ten, maybe twenty – as people came from far and wide for the long pilgrimage from the north to the far north. But there were not twenty, there were not even ten. This year, they were just two. Fara Loam and Vega Knowe

Fara had already walked two days from a farm on the other side of Willow Hills to reach the starting point. Vega had walked the short way down the road. Fara's dour expression would be enough to scare off any enemy. Vega's Mama, Mama Knowe, had described Fara as gloom ridden. Vega on the other hand, was a daughter of great cheer. Setbacks were opportunities, failures were to be learned from, and good always rose to the surface even in the evilest of situations. Mama Knowe always said Vega's smile was catching and even if she wasn't smiling, her brown eyes were warm and inviting. Those were her good points. On the other hand, she avoided arguments – this Mama Knowe warned that this would be her downfall if she was not careful.

As either First or Second Decision-Maker, Fara would be hard to work with. That much Vega knew from the outset as Fara seemed to take an instant dislike to her. Vega had such a short distance to walk to the starting point, Fara made it was clear that she felt Vega already had an advantage over her. However, this was not a race. Nor was it expected that one of them would be greater than the other. There were no winners or losers. They were supposed to bring harmony and balance as future Decision-Makers.

As each day and night of their journey passed, Fara was critical and made curt comments on just about everything from the coldness of the days, to the hardness of the ground where they slept, to her aching feet. She was quick to pass judgement on the beauty or ugliness of every rock, plant or animal. Her pursed lips and the intense stare of her cold blue eyes added an extra bite to every comment. There were long stretches of time where they walked in silence.

But the silence was broken when the Tree of Lux Brumalis finally came into view; it was in a small clearing surrounded by low shrubbery just as we were led to believe. But what we hadn't expected was the brilliance of the snow-covered branches that glistened against the pale late afternoon sky. The frozen branches formed intricate lacework patterns with a celestial glow that emanated from their tips. It was anything but ordinary.

"I will go first," Fara stated as she let her rucksack slide from her shoulders and land in the snow. She took off her gloves and stuffed them into her pockets. Vega took a deep breath. Mama Knowe had warned Vega about this. If they did not pass through in the right order, the order of thier birth, they would create a turbulence that would last a generation. Vega had heard tales of what happened at this point. People who had walked together for days, people who had known each other their whole lives, people who were nothing but kind and caring. But people who changed at the sight of the tree. Arguing, fighting, pulling out knives leaving companions bleeding out on the ground feeding the roots of the Tree of Lux Brumalis for the next generation.

"Be prepared for a fight from the start. Don't let her get the upper hand," Mama Knowe had said.

Vega gritted her teeth and said, "Let me see your wrist," as she put her hand on Fara's arm to hold her back. With her other hand, she felt for the hunting knife that hung from the belt of her coat, just in case.

Fara tried to pull her arm out of Vega's hand, but she gripped more tightly.

"I'm older. It's obvious," she said petulantly spitting her words at Vega.

Mama Knowe had said to always keep your voice deep and low in an argument and look straight into the person's eyes – to lead means to remain as calm as possible. Vega cleared her throat, lowered her chin slightly, kept her eyes locked on Fara's and said quietly and slowly, "Let me see your wrist." It was hard to stop her voice from rising, but she cleared her throat and continued to stare. Panic began to rise within her and her stomach began to somersault. Tightening her grip on the knife, Vega clenched her teeth, mostly to stop from vomiting, but her tight lined lips were severe enough for Fara to relent. Did she really think that Vega would use her hunting knife on her? Vega was in no doubt as Fara pulled her arm out of Vega's grip and pushed up the right sleeve of her coat to reveal a leather bracelet. Vega released her knife, pulled off her gloves and stuffed them into her pockets and pushed up her right sleeve to reveal hers.

The leather bracelets on their wrists showed the time of their births. Burned into Vega's was 00:05. Fara's was 13:01.

"Fine. You go first," Fara said as she pulled her sleeve back down. She reached for her rucksack, pulled out her water and slugged it down as if they had just gone several rounds in a bare-knuckle boxing match.

Fara was going to give Vega a lifetime of conflict. This she knew. In her heart, she knew it from the moment they left Terretown, but she had tried to give her a chance and wondered how many chances she would be prepared to give her as Mama Knowe had reminded her that looking for the good is an admirable quality but being realistic is a necessity.

Being realistic meant that Vega could not let Fara dictate events. As much as she hated arguments, in this moment, their first battle before the Tree at Lux Brumalis, Vega had won.

Vega nodded at Fara and walked towards the tree with purpose. It was said that some never return, so overwhelmed with what they saw on the other side they're overpowered by their greed and remain, rotting like stinking fish. Mama Knowe said Vega needed to imagine that she had blinders on like the kind you put on horses as not to get distracted. She had one task. Walk around the tree counter clockwise three times and then she would be able to pass to the other side. She was to pick up the first gemstone rock she saw and return immediately, walking clockwise around the tree three times. It sounded simple. But when someone is confronted with a sea of gemstone rocks, temptation can engulf like the deluge of a tsunami wave.

Vega paused under the canopy of the tree and let its silver aura seeped into her skin and driving the light of winter deep into her soul.

She began to circle the tree.