Taken by Time by M C Strayer

Author:M C Strayer [Strayer, M C]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-07-17T22:00:00+00:00

Marcus exited the cave into a world brighter and more alive than before. The Ingole elder meditating outside the cave noted Marcus's return with only a slight nod. Marcus would have previously been upset at the man's indifference to Marcus's survival in the cave, but now a sense of understanding pervaded Marcus's thoughts. He heard no words, but a picture of a middle-aged man suddenly appeared to Marcus, and Marcus knew him to be the next acolyte for the cave.

Marcus found the man quickly despite the crowd in the gathering area. It seemed as though he was drawn to this man by some spiritual magnetism. Marcus made eye contact with this next aspirant for the cave and the look returned reminded Marcus of how strange, yet simple and clear, the process had been from the other side of the exchange. He led the man to the cave and embraced him, not knowing if they would see each other again. They would not, but as Marcus would learn, most who entered the cave did not return in the flesh. Marcus could not concern himself with the man's story but rather went to find a place to be alone with his thoughts and decide what would be the next step for him to take on his own journey.

As it grew dark, he became aware of someone near him standing patiently at a respectful distance. At first, he thought it might be Layen, but the woman was much older. Marcus stood to follow her. When she stopped, Marcus found himself outside a hollow tree; this one much smaller than the one where the introduction to the spiritual guides at Ingole had been made. Marcus wasn't sure how he and the guide had arrived at the tree but knew it must be located deep within the carefully planned grove.

::Come in,:: Marcus heard. The sound of English caught Marcus off guard, but then he realized he heard neither English nor the language spoken by the Narwa. It felt as if the words were spoken into his head, and he realized he had experienced the sensation before with the Ahsigna during his first night in the cave.

Marcus at first wanted to ask about the cave, but he realized he didn't have any questions about the cave. It had been a test and a trap. The bait being everything he thought he wanted, and the test being his ability to walk past it for something greater. Marcus wondered if the illusions and the confusion were caused by magic or by some natural phenomena within the cave.

::Sometimes there is no difference,:: the woman spoke into his head.

"You can read my thoughts! Can I read yours?" Marcus asked, now aloud, both alarmed and amazed.

::Sharing thoughts is the simplest magic. Before your birth you did this with very simple thoughts all the time, but we all forget the power we have.:: she answered with a little laugh.

"Can you know everything in my mind?" Marcus asked aloud, a bit concerned.

::I can

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