Dragons of Dawn by Brian Rathbone & Morgen Rich & Jack McCarthy

Author:Brian Rathbone & Morgen Rich & Jack McCarthy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: dragons, fantasy, humor, coming of age, series, magic
Publisher: White Wolf Press, LLC
Published: 2017-12-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

THE GREATEST BARRIERS are within.

—Mother Seema, Cathuran monk

GWEN WORKED DAILY TO hold true to her promise and vows. Seeking knowledge from her peers, she pored over tomes and scrolls in the monastery’s vast collections and looked for ways to help others, whether in the city or the monastery. During the winter, she read and meditated and met with other monks, questioning them about ancient beliefs. She explored chambers filled with relics and studied philosophy, spiritual practices, and history. From spring until the first snow of winter, she took short trips out of Ohmahold to survey the plants on the mountains surrounding the valley and brought back specimens to cultivate in a greenhouse Mother Seema had ordered Brother Martyn to build for her. Though she never admitted it and showed nothing but gratitude for having such a perfect space to grow herbs and other medicinal plants, Gwen never stopped preferring to work in Sister Brunhilda’s rickety old potting shed, and she did as much of her work there as she could.

Such was the routine Gwen established for her life among the Cathurans until well into mid life. She was happy and fulfilled, surrounded by Brothers and Sisters she loved. Although she corresponded regularly with her father until she received news that he, like her grandmother, had died peacefully in his sleep, she still carried folded in her pocket all these many years later his first letter to her. It had become a reminder that her life as a Cathuran was a life of choice. Mostly the life she’d chosen—a life of studying, service to others, hard physical labor, and long hours—kept her dreams and visions at bay, but occasionally one would still haunt her. When the one about Rolf with the bloody arrow returned and persisted, Gwen turned to Mother Seema for advice.

“I don’t know how to interpret the dream, Mother. I’d like to know what it means, if anything. This time, it feels more . . . urgent.”

“There is a way you might gain clarity: the viewing ceremony.”

Gwen had heard of it, but one hadn’t been conducted in all the years since she’d entered the monastery. “That’s the ceremony in which the monks chant to raise power while the seeker expands consciousness through a portal?”

“Yes. The ceremony funnels the combined energy of the monks who participate from behind walls into the viewing chamber, and the viewer’s consciousness rides the vibrations out into the world. Some have found the answers to their questions in that manner. If you’d like, I can arrange a viewing ceremony for you.”

“I’d like to try,” said Gwen.

“Then so shall you.”

Gwen underwent a brief purification before the viewing ceremony and was led into a small chamber with a magnificent throne-like chair of umber sitting in the middle of the room. The walls on either side had holes leading into other rooms, and a porthole-shaped window devoid of glass pierced the outer wall of the chamber, which looked out over the western mountains. Gwen took a seat in the chair, and the monk who had accompanied her to the room exited.

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