And when Lythina glanced back at Riley’s feet, she smiled as she saw her friend walking on the air itself. A hands-breadth above the mossy forest floor, she paced as if she was planting her feet on a solid surface.
“It kinda tickles,” Riley remarked when she saw Lythina staring at the gap between her and the ground. “Try it; walk with me and concentrate on feeling your own footsteps being pulled toward the earth. Let the Universe guide you; it’ll tell you where to step.”
So Lythina turned and began matching each of her footsteps with Riley’s. Slowly and peacefully, hands clasped gently behind their backs, they paced back and forth in a straight line. As she emptied her mind, feeling the crisp forest air nourish her lungs, the powerful tranquility of the entire forest seemed to penetrate through Lythina’s flesh to cradle her soul in a web of ethereal energy. She felt like the infinite hands of the Universe itself were embracing her spirit, showing her that she was an equal part in all of creation. An immense love for everything natural overwhelmed her, and she surrendered to the Universe.
She didn’t need to walk anymore because the earth itself was tugging her feet into rock solid steps. For an instant, infinite moment, her mind was the forest, her body was the earth, and her soul was the Heavens. She was love, and love was creation. Every breath, every heartbeat, and every footstep were all given to her with eternal benevolence, granted by perfect charity. And with a pulsating, sparkling joy, Lythina carefully opened her eyes toward Riley.
Staring back at her were the crystal blue eyes of her friend. Even and level with her gaze, Riley smiled a heartening grin. “Sometimes,” she breathed, emanating serenity, “we become so wrapped up within our own bodies that we forget who we really are. And when we practice perfect Justice, our spirits remember who our true Mother is, and who our true Father is.”
Lythina sighed in agreement. “Thank you, God,” she whispered. “Thank you for reminding me.” She spread her toes slightly to feel the airy breeze between them, and she reveled in the subtle tingle from the mist that caressed her feet as she glanced down to watch the mysterious blue light cushion each of her footsteps.
Riley guided Lythina back to re-center herself within her body, showing her how to ease her footsteps back toward the earth. Once they were planted upon the forest floor, Lythina and Riley hugged for a minute.
“That was amazing, Riley, thank you so much,” Lythina said.
“Absolutely no problem, Lythina,” Riley replied. “Ya know, I’m really glad you made it here.” She looked at her feet for a moment, embarrassed about what she wanted to say next. “I know you felt uncomfortable being with us when Radna left, seeing as you’ve only know us for half a day, but I can see why Radna likes you so much.”
Lythina’s surprise at her friend’s words dissolved quickly. “You’re right, I was. But getting to know you better was all that I needed. Thanks for being so understanding.”
“Anytime,” smiled her friend.
Jonas and Emma were chatting excitedly when Lythina and Riley walked up to them.
“Is it finally my turn,” Emma asked with a playful impatience.
“Yes, it is,” Lythina grinned. “I always save the best for last!”
“Oh,” Emma cooed to the others, “did you hear that, guys?” She locked her arm into Lythina’s and guided her into the middle of the clearing. “You know, there is a lot to be said about the other virtues, but I’ve heard that Prudence is known as the leader of them all. Do you know exactly what it is?”
“Exactly?” Lythina asked, although reluctantly because she enjoyed hearing the subtle accent in her friend’s voice.
“Exactly.”
“Hmm, sensible wisdom,” relayed Lythina’s sparkling intuition.
“Spot on,” Emma smiled. “We practice Prudence anytime we synthesize our knowledge and our experience into a physical outcome.” She stopped walking with Lythina once they arrived at the center of the glade and untangled herself from her arms, but stayed close to her side.
“I think I see where this is going,” Lythina confessed. “I should probably start searching my feelings for any memory of myself practicing Prudence in the past, huh?” She turned to look matter-of-factly into Emma chocolaty eyes, and was met with a warm smile.
“Yes. But don’t rush it; intuition always. Stand straight up, feet shoulder-width apart, with your hands to your sides, palms out. That’s right,” Emma confirmed as Lythina moved into position. “Now, find that memory, find your Prudence, and see what happens.”
And, closing her eyes once again, Lythina easily calmed her mind and listened to that subtle gleam inside her soul. But a flash of despair crossed her heart, momentarily distorting her tranquil expression. She wanted to shake it away, she knew what was coming, but she fought the urge and allowed the fragmented memory to surface.
Inside the fog of her mind, the blue flash had just vanished from her foot and she was running past the disabled men, up some stairs, down a hallway toward a shattering scream. Another blue flash and the door to a room sprang open. She soon found herself in midair, saw a blue flash, there was another man, he wouldn’t stop, terror in his eyes...He dropped to the ground pouring blood. He didn’t move again, and she looked up to see one of her handmaidens crouching against a wall, scared, paralyzed...
Lythina snapped back to the glade, tearing her mind away from the wretched memory, only to notice her entire body glowing blue. Her vision was outlined with a blue haze, and she could see the same shade of light illuminating the trees that bordered the glade. She turned toward Emma, whose astounded expression shocked her, holding fast to the feeling of mortal terror from her memory and felt her friend’s essence inside her palms. Willing, asking, pleading with the Universe, she gently began to lift her into the air. She could feel Emma’s heartbeat accelerate, her legs squirming inside her palms as they searched for steady ground. And for one small moment, she held her friend in mid air as she concentrated on the horrible validity of her forgotten past.
Gently easing Emma’s essence back toward the earth, Lythina set her down onto the forest floor and surrendered to her internal fatigue. The sapphire light faded from her body, the forest darkened, and she dropped to her knees in tears.
8. The Beginning
The inner bailey of Hyrendell Castle was packed with the village’s people as they all waited for the public execution of the king’s first McCloud prisoner. Since the inception of the Purification Decree, the nervousness of Hyrendell Village exploded with rumors of people being stolen into the night by the king’s guards. For the past month, between ducking around corners and scarcely leaving their homes, the villagers had been anxiously awaiting the news of the first captive. Soon enough, parchment fliers began to appear, listing the date and time of the first execution:
Hear this, all the people of His Majesty’s kingdom ~
The Purification has begun.
The first cleansing ceremony will be held on the first Monday in the month of July, shortly after middle-day. The King commands attendance from everyone who holds allegiance to His kingdom. Those who do not attend will be considered in alliance with the traitorous McCloud Clan and will be put to death.
The skies evinced the morbidity of that sorrowful day; throughout the morning, light drizzles of rain had come and gone, and the sun glowed dimly as it rose in its unceasing arc behind thunderous, indecisive clouds. At dawn, the village began to stir, for no one could sleep knowing that the first execution in one hundred years was upon them.
Fearing to be alone, covering their faces and turning away from the violating eyes of the stationed guards, the villagers counted on safety in numbers as they traveled five at a time into the castle’s hold. Passing though the ivy-laden gatehouse and under the threatening wrought iron portcullis, the