CITY OF THE GODS: FORGOTTEN by M.Scott Verne, Wynn Wynn Mercere Read Free Book Online Page B

like the birds she had seen, or legs like the horses. As they reached the end of the steps, the trees thinned out to reveal the clearing where the retreat stood. Aavi was immediately struck by the beauty and peacefulness of the place. Unlike the crowded and busy structures of the City, this building seemed to belong in its environment, as if it was rooted and connected to the ground as much as the trees that grew around it. The many eaves of its layered roofs seemed to curve in welcoming smiles and a central bright passageway stood open and inviting, not locked like the door to Kafele’s workshop. A boy and girl, both clothed in yellow sleeveless tunics and baggy trousers, scampered out to meet them. Both bowed to Mazu. The young boy’s bald head reminded her of Kafele’s; the girl’s long braids were similar to Mazu’s. Aavi had yet to see another being with hair quite like her own.
    “This visitor has a pass to see the Oracle,” Mazu told the children. Aavi quickly held out the parchment she’d been carrying so carefully for the boy and girl to inspect. The pair broke into wide grins. Instead of looking at her papers, they took Aavi by her sleeves to lead her into the retreat. Unsure, she looked back over her shoulder at Mazu.
    “Goodbye, Aavi. Trust in what the Oracle tells you. I will return when you are ready to leave. I do not have an invitation to pass this gate, as you do.” In the muted light, Aavi watched in wonder as Mazu turned to water and flowed quickly back down the steps.

Chapter 5 - A Night in Buddha’s Retreat
     

    “Come on,” the boy said as he and the girl tugged on Aavi’s sleeves. Aavi let them guide her, the beauty of the Oracle’s domain distracting her from Mazu’s spectacular exit. Many rooms and corridors branched off from the central passage down which they walked. Aavi could see people at work in many chambers. Some were writing with sticks. Others were exercising with fluid motions, while even more were sitting perfectly still. At the end of the passage was an ornate archway decorated with strange carvings, but before they reached it, Aavi was steered into a side room. A man about D’Molay’s age wearing a plain blue robe sat at a table, a great book open before him. The girl, who stood at Aavi’s right side, lifted Aavi’s arm up so that the man could see that she held a pass.
    “She thought she was supposed to show this to us,” the girl said incredulously, as the boy made a funny face mocking Aavi’s ignorance.
    “I see,” the man said a bit coldly. “Go back to your studies, and pay particular attention to the sage’s writings on politeness and respect.”
    The chastised children were quick to run out of the room, and Aavi was left holding the pass in the air. The man stared at her for a moment, eventually leaning forward and plucking it from her fingers. As he broke the seal and read the contents, Aavi took in his long, straight black hair and bright brown eyes. When he finished reading the note, he set it aside and consulted one of the pages in his great book, running a slender, ink-stained finger down a column. As that digit stopped to mark a place, he reached into a box with his free hand and tossed a handful of rods onto the table.
    “Hmm,” he breathed as he studied them. “It appears I should give you priority.”
    “Priority?” Aavi wondered if that was a food or drink, like Mazu had been talking about.
    “I am Nianzu, the Oracle’s chief scribe and scheduler,” he told Aavi with great pride in his voice. “You will not have to wait until morning with the other pilgrims. The Oracle will see you right away.”
    He stepped out from behind the table, picking up a strange tall hat and setting it on his head as he ushered Aavi back out into the passage. He led her directly through the ornamental archway and Aavi found herself in a room ringed with strange statues that faced a large central fountain alight with floating candles shaped like flowers.