Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira by Laura Jo Phillips Read Free Book Online

come here, and that this is where I am meant to be.  That certainly seems like a bit of what will be to me.”
    “Riata is a Spirit Guide,” Samyi pointed out.  “I am not.  I am spirit.  As such, I have a connection only to those things and people I was connected to in life and, after a thousand years, there are few of those remaining.  King Rhobar is a blood relative, so I know of him, his children, and a few objects that will become important in the future, if all goes well.”
    “I see,” Karma said, unable to hide her disappointment.  “Please, tell us what you can.”
    “One thousand years ago Rathira was invaded by what we called demons .  First there were only a few, then a handful.  Then more.  There were many different types of demons, each different from the other in form and face.  Some were beautiful to behold, others so terrible they caused insanity to those who looked upon them. 
    “Eventually it was discovered that the demons were coming to our world from a different dimension.  They found a tear in the fabric of the universe which allowed them to step from the black pit of their world, Skiatos, to the beauty of Rathira.  At first the tear was small, and allowed only a few demons to come through now and then.  Over time, as more demons entered Rathira, the tear grew larger.  We soon realized that our world would become theirs unless a way to block the tear could be found.”
    “Blocked?” King Rhobar asked, his mouth dry with fear.  This was worse even than his nightmares.  “How could such a thing be blocked?”
    “As Techu, speaker for the dead, I was told how it could be done.  All of the sentient peoples of our world were gathered together and worked in concert to construct a pyramid of particular design, enclosing the tear. 
    While that was being built, all of the shamans gathered to create the Ti-Ank, a keystone, and, with the aid of three specially selected women, three orbs of power.  The Moon Orb, the Sun Orb, and the Heart Orb.
    “When the pyramid was complete and fully enclosed the tear, a Guardian was set.  The orbs were used to send both pyramid and Guardian into a place between our dimension and the dimension of the demons.  The orbs were then removed from the keystone and deliberately scattered so that they could not be used to return the pyramid to Rathira.”
    “Why between dimensions?” Karma asked.
    “The pyramid prevents the demons from breaking out from within,” Samyi replied.  “But there is nothing to prevent demons, or their servants, from destroying the pyramid from the outside.  Only while it is held between dimensions is it safe from attack by those who would allow demons free reign over Rathira.”
    “Who would want to do that?” Karma asked.
    “Even from beyond the pyramid and across the dimensions, demons have always been able to influence the minds of those who are open to them.  They must be invited in, and may not force compliance otherwise, but there are many who have no desire to resist evil.”
    “Why not destroy the orbs then?” Karma asked.  “Why would there ever be a need to bring the pyramid back to this dimension?”
    “The natural forces of the universe resist anything unnatural, and sending the pyramid, and the Guardian, between dimensions is decidedly unnatural,” Samyi explained.  “The orbs and the keystone are the means by which those forces can be controlled, allowing us to send, and retrieve the pyramid safely across dimensions.  But it is the Guardian’s power that holds him and the pyramid in place.
    “The Guardian warned us that his strength would fail in one thousand years, and that we must use the orbs to summon the pyramid, and replace him before that time.  If his strength fails before the orbs can be used to control the return, natural forces will return the pyramid to its rightful place in the universe.  If that happens, both the Guardian and the pyramid will certainly be destroyed in the