Reverberating silence echoed through the chamber more than it had since the Anointment of Ruzzletrust Sirus—generations long gone—and since the Rite of the Ancients; and since the lands grew back green from the Black Times of Done.
All those now waiting seemed to breathe inwards, together!
Ciara's lungs burned and her voice raked with raw, crackling power. "I now will speak directly as Skye-voice."
Ciara's voice—and yet not hers at all—echoed in the large vaulted chamber. Her body was completely relaxed.
"My name is Torgney of Trebekk. I must make myself clear—"
In the corner of Ciara's eye she could just see mysterious tears appearing on Alphonse's face. He gasped and moved closer. Why is he crying?
More sizzling sounds were escaping the throat of the Proxy of Skye-voice.
"—I represent only one of myself. And a small clutch—of mostly Dracon, beyond Eridanus—where we exist below oceans and far off in the stars. Together, we act against the wishes of our own kind and kin, unbeknownst to Our Family, in Haus."
Ciara could hear each of the sounds within her chest and her mind begin to form—before the words put themselves out into the room. She tried to breathe with her energy wings from her practice, but struggled. Her throat was a bed of hot coals.
"We seek to help you from beyond this side of matter—through the form beneath time. As a tiny clutch-klan we have chosen to come to you in secret, just as you hid here in this white piece of rock, until the day your friends could make sense of your gifts."
Eerie silence slipped through the room.
"At this time, Haus Dracon and most of our Council won't listen to Sky-friends—no more than you wanted to listen to me. Our species, Squamata, do not all agree. They don't believe in our theories."
Walter wiggled his way out of the bag and climbed up onto her shoulder, but Ciara didn't react as Torgney went on.
"I choose to use your own words in your language to address us as 'sky'. This is a truly quaint custom, but odd how I cannot understand why you hear us as voices 'above'."
"I shall do as you wish however and I continue— Sky-friends believe humans can help us. Our future meeting with our ancient trainers must happen."
Oh, Ciara thought, this is what a proxy does! She wobbled, but tried to stand steady and listen for the next stream of words forming within—
"The Heart of the World—It shall grow weak again, should you choose not to listen. Lifeforce is losing its vibrance and Dracon must protect Mearth. It will change your future. It is our job, together—a future where the magic you bring will help to unite us. That is our hope. Do you have any questions?"
There were, of course, many questions—a great many, in fact—but the room remained silent—not because the Guild members had gone hard of hearing, but because they were all far too much in shock to begin to speak.
"I have sent you the young one to address you, to be sure that you see her and hear me in this appeal to save time and some lives—and perhaps mine. But she is only human. Perhaps you don't perceive my presence, even though I have brought you your 'sign'."
"Perhaps, I have failed. Perhaps you will not believe I am real, until it's too late."
Ciara felt herself swoon as Skye-voice spoke softly.
"If you think this voice is merely a human, then as the sun falls I will have form. And then it is time—you will see I am real. You will see I am here. You will see you have dragons! And we must work together!"
Each magician's face in the room became pale and drawn. Even Ciara felt their fears and didn't know how that could be.
"Impossible!" But the magi who exclaimed clutched the arm of his friend beside him in question.
Ciara knew how Skye-voice loved to deliver. Skye paused for better effect.
"So, you require prrrroof?—then you shall take heed of the sun!"
Skye-voice ignored the incredulous man. "—The night sky, just as the sun sets in the west—attend its setting. There, I will provide you your—prrrroof of my existence."
Ciara's body was clammy and twitched. Robesaille felt alarmed for the girl. He saw her wobble.
There was silence a moment, then Skye continued.
"The purpose at that point, will be to decide how to proceed. I hope that will start some discussions. The girl-child is tired. I say my last words for this time— Impossible does not exist. Is it not true that you already know this—? In Sky-friends' opinion, you need only expel your 'can't have' beliefs from your minds—and this future continues. Nothing'sss impossible!"
Robesaille Quin, as Convenor at Council, took stock of the room.
"Squeak, squeak," volunteered Walter.
Skye merely added, "And for now, I trust, I will leave you with the motivation you need to get yourselves there."
Ciara knew Skye at last felt rather smug. He had their attention.
"This can't be so—!" exclaimed the man's friend.
"If you wish any help from this interference at source, you will be present this evening."
Skye was bluffing, but there was no doubt the Magi of Aulde had heard every word.
"I assume I will see you watching the setting of sun on this very night!"
Walter jumped down to the floor.
Ciara was suddenly released from the grip of Skye's powerful message. The men were about to break into a hubbub of consultations and protestations on what they had just been assembled to witness.
"Wait!" Ciara croaked, trying to find her own voice again. She felt tired and dizzy. "I ha—have something to add that I have learned from Skye as his Proxy." She coughed. "—And—his friend—"
The magi turned wondering what she might have left to say.
Ciara expanded her chest and thought of the valley and the tree in the alcove. "Skye has taught me there is more to this world, both inside and out, than I had ever imagined. It's the heart of this mountain itself in Mearth that beats within the heart of everyone here."
She focused on Walter who sat unnoticed on the floor in front of the center table lectern. Thank you for strength!
Calm overtook her. "The heart of the world and its lifeforce pulses within and without each of our persons. We must listen and strengthen our course and let neither world take power from the other. That's how we will do it!"
She felt clammy and took another deep breath.
"We are more connected to the heart of this world than we are to ourselves, but we must not forget that." She took her last thin sip from the air in the Chamber. "We must always live on the cusp between worlds—wherein Mearth's lifeforce intention has its own power. I think that's what Skye must have taught me."
With that said, Ciara turned pale and fainted.
˜ ˜ ˜
In some distant sense of her white space, now, Ciara heard voices—a man, woman, Arvy—were talking—
And then with her ears ringing louder than ever, her perception of things went suddenly black!
≈≈≈/