Destiny Unbonded

Chapter 2

Through the Moirai, givers of destiny and death, the Gods speak their will to men.

- The Canon

[Ophelia]

I puzzled over the loom. Something was not right.

Flowing in myst form, I floated across the tapestry of life and death. It extended out not only in the four dimensions of space-time, but also countless dimensions of destiny. My human form would never have seen the wonderful complexity and beautiful patterns, much less comprehended it.

Selected by the Gods themselves, the Moirai came from the best of the Seers. Many cycles ago, my family burst with pride at my choosing. Athena herself, the goddess that oversees the Moirai, transformed me and opened my eyes to the beautiful tapestry. It took some time to adjust to the myst form, white smoke and light, moving about like a ghost, but soon it became second nature. I still lived in the world of my birth, but in a parallel reality occupied by the Gods.

By sacred duty, I weaved intricate patterns into the tapestry according to the Gods' will. Each thread represented a sentient life: length the lifespan, thickness the strength of soul, and color the character of will. A snip of a thread would cut short a life and a drop of dye would subdue a mind. These actions were usually reserved for those who defy the Gods' will, thus maintaining their perfect vision for man.

But a thread had gone missing, spoiling the divine perfection of the tapestry. Yet the cloth held firm, not fraying or wrinkling, as if the thread existed unseen.

This must be reported.

I floated out of the weaving chamber to the Archos-Moirai, bowing my head. "Forgive me, Mistress, but I have discovered a defect in the tapestry."

"How can that be?" Her myst swirled, and a frown formed upon her vaporous face. "No such thing has ever happened! You are mistaken, Ophelia."

"Perhaps, mistress. But allow me to show you."

I took her to the tapestry and traced my formless fingers over the missing thread. The Archos did the same. Pulling me aside, she whispered in our thought language. "The Gods would be angry of this. You must never speak of it again."

"Of what do you speak?" A booming voice asked.

I turned to see Goddess Athena herself and immediately lowered my myst form to the floor and bowed my head. The Archos did the same. The Gods rightfully expected complete devotion from both Moirai and men. The goddess stood tall in her usual form, the shape of a human female but composed of clear perfect crystal.

"Well?" A tone of impatience colored Athena's thought-voice.

"It is nothing, Goddess. Please forgive our intrusion," The Archos answered.

Athena scowled her crystalline face. "And yet you hide something in whispers?" She pointed at me. "You! Show me!"

I did, returning to the weaving chamber and again tracing my fingers over the imperfection.

The goddess studied the defect, running her own fingers over it. She announced, "Someone evades the eyes of the Moirai. This must be investigated."

The Archos said, "Yes, my Goddess. One of our more experienced--"

"No, this one." Athena pointed at me. "What is your name, Moirai?"

"Ophelia, my Goddess." I answered faintly, kneeling.

Athena held her hands out, palms up. "Rise, Ophelia. Your task is simple. Find this anomaly, learn of its origin and purpose, and eliminate it. Disturbance to the order must not be tolerated."

I looked up into Athena's crystalline face, then immediately averted my eyes. "My Goddess, the anomaly is invisible to me, how will I find it?"

"I shall grant you human form. This anomaly will be seen with your human eyes, but not with your Moirai eyes. Do you have any more questions?"

I hesitated to ask. "Just one, my Goddess. Why me? There are other Moirai with more experience."

Athena grinned with crystalline lips. "It was your discovery, Moirai Ophelia. You have the most to gain if you succeed, and the most to lose if you fail. Do you understand?"

By the goddess' hand, a curved long-knife of shimmering glass materialized in the air before me. The faceted handle sparkled with refracted colors in the light. With a nod from the goddess, I grasped it, feeling the weight in my hand. There was no doubt of its purpose.

I lowered myself back down to the floor. "I understand, my Goddess. I shall not fail."

Without another word, the Goddess Athena turned and walked from the chamber. I watched her movement, not understanding how a being of rigid crystal structure could move so gracefully. It was as if the crystal fluidized at her joints with each leg step, arm swing, or sway of hips.

"The Lands are vast. Where would you begin?" The Archos asked, pulling me away from my thoughts.

"A Seer at Goddess Demeter's temple in the village of Kelde told of a man who had no destiny. I shall begin there."

On the terrace behind the Hall of Moirai stood the Gateway, a large ring of gleaming white rock, linking the realm of the Gods with the realm of men. The air shimmered within the circle like rising heat from a fire. Visualizing my destination, I floated through the gate.

The Seer of Kelde stood before the limestone dais, intently reading the Canon, her lips moving as her fingers traced across the scroll. Windows high in the round block walls of the temple let in beams of sunlight. I maintained my Moirai form of smoke and light. An attendant pulled back a drawn curtain and entered through a doorway behind the dais, carrying a wooden tray of fruit, bread, and drink. She gasped as her widened eyes took in my form, running out through the door. The tray clattered to the stone floor, the sound echoing within the temple.

A frown formed on the Seer's wrinkled mouth as she looked up. upon noticing my presence, she immediately dropped to one knee with head bowed.

"Moirai. How may I serve you?" she said.

Using the ability given to me by Athena, I changed to human form. It had been many cycles since I wore this body. Warbles of a songbird outside came to my ears, and tangy sweet fragrance of smoldering incense came to my nose. One hand twirled my long dark hair, then traced a line past my breasts to my hips, tingling my skin. I had not realized how much I missed these human sensory experiences.

And apparently, I had forgotten about clothing. Taking a few steps, I stopped in front of the bowed woman.

The Seer's eyes widened as she scanned my naked body, then stopped, focusing on the crystal long-knife in my hand. She gasped, then touched her forehead to the floor. "Moirai, please forgive me if I have somehow defied the Gods."

"I seek not retribution, but information. Rise, Seer." Having not used it for a long time, my human voice sounded strange to me, like it belonged to a stranger.

The Seer stood, trembling. I continued. "A man came to you for bonding, but you were unable to give him a destiny. Who is he?"

"Cyril, son of Pedar, Moirai. A blacksmith."

"Where may I find him?"

The Seer shook her head. "He is no longer here, the magistrate banished him. It is said he left at dawn and travels east along the main road."

"Very well." I gazed down at my nude body. "I will require clothing and provisions for travel. Also, I need you to keep my appearance a secret. Can you do that, Seer?"

"Yes, Moirai." She dipped her head and scurried off.

I whispered to the empty temple, "Cyril, son of Pedar, soon you shall bear the Gods' will."