Eternity

The Foretelling

Over the next few days, we were changed completely. Tutis had his hair dyed. Silensunus explained.

“If you choose to join us, and I think you will, then it is a completely new start. A new life, if you will. So you have the chance to change anything about yourself, be it appearance or personality. If you want to change your appearance, the best way is to dye or cut your hair.”

Tutis dyed his hair. So now I have a blonde brother.

Also, we changed our clothes. Silensunus’ clothes were actually made of the fibres of a very versatile plant. We had clothes woven for us. We had them dyed into natural colours. The clothes had to be dyed, otherwise the fibres would rot.

I decided to keep my hair the same. I quite liked it. I didn’t think it would remind me too much of my previous life.

Once we had been with the Children for a week, we were summoned to a meeting with Silensunus, Orator and Sapiensvir, the wise man. Whilst I stood there, Orator spoke to Sapiensvir.

“Will she join us?”

Sapiensvir paused for a while, apparently deep in thought.

“Yes,” he finally decided, “She is prepared to do anything to join us. She will agree. So will her brother.”

I watched this exchange with a mixture of confusion and interest.

“Good,” murmured Orator, “I didn’t want to kill her.”

What!? I thought.

Orator turned to me. When he spoke, his voice was soothing.

“Presul. You may have wondered about us. How are we so strong? How can we weave clothes so quickly, with no machinery? The answer is simple. We are not quite human.”

The terror must have shown on my face, as he paused for a moment. But I didn’t run. Somehow, I thought Silensunus would catch me before I got to the door. She stood there, apparently enjoying the exchange; only now did I understand how Tutis was caught by her. She was a silent and unnoticeable as a shadow – she almost seemed to become one.

“Good. If you run, or try to escape, we’ll have to kill you. We don’t want to. But our secret can’t get out. You see, we are... well, I don’t know how to tell you this, but we are silenses.”

I stood there, not understanding.

“ A silens is a creature that is almost human. But we are stronger, and faster. We have sharper senses. We are all immortal, and we are psychic, in varying degrees of strength.”

I gasped, in a mixture of surprise and horror.

“Unfortunately, now you know, it’s either death or silenshood for you too. It’s a shame. But I wouldn’t have told you if Sapiensvir hadn’t told me that you would agree.”

“How does he know?”

“Sapiensvir has the gift of precognition.”

“Tutis?”

“He will agree too.”

“Then I give my consent. This is best for me. I can see that.”

“Thank you, Presul. I’m sorry it had to be this way.”

Then he gestured at Sapiensvir, and I faded into unconsciousness.