When War Calls(78)

‘Why did he want me to come here?’

‘That is something we will have to learn on our own.’

Jaden stood and walked down to the fountain, looked inside to see the statue of Raquel and then turned toward the gardens behind him. There was fruit on the trees, and many of the smaller plants he now noticed were vegetables and herbs. There seemed everything one needed to replenish their health.

‘What is this place?’ he asked, approaching the closest tree. ‘Do the Daijuar live here?’

‘At times, perhaps,’ said Tarsha, her voice clear in the stillness of the air. ‘I believe they would call it a monastery. Look,’ she pointed upward to the centre of the hollow, ‘that is a Taj Mylun—a synthetic sun, a tribute to the power they use and a means of rejuvenation for them. It will give light long after we are gone, maybe even forever, and keep these plants greener than any others you will ever see. The temple here is for meditation, or perhaps sleeping, I do not know. There is much I still have to learn about them, but by that symbol you see above here, you can be sure it is of Daijuarn design.’

Jaden stared at the symbol of the two entwining serpents, and then at the markings below. He then looked at the loh-korah. His grandfather had given it to him and told him that it would help, somehow. The symbols were the same as he saw now. The loh-korah must have been Daijuarn. Perhaps that was why Raquel hadn’t been too interested in helping him. She might have already thought another of her kind had taken him under their guidance.

Jaden approached the temple doors slowly, his eyes set firmly on the markings to either side.

‘What are you doing?’ asked Tarsha.

Jaden did not respond. He scanned over the walls where two silver plates existed on either side, and then brought his wrist up to his chest.

‘These symbols match,’ he said.

‘What? Show me,’ said Tarsha, getting up slowly and walking toward him.

Jaden noticed that she had been hiding a wound on her left side, the blood seeping through her clothing at her ribs.

‘You’re hurt,’ he said.

‘Never mind that now,’ said Tarsha. She took hold of his wrist and began meticulously searching over the loh-korah before doing the same to the wall in front of them. ‘Well, it seems you are right. Your grandfather must have given you the key to this place.’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Jaden.

‘Go on, try it,’ she said. ‘Put the loh-korah over the symbols and rest your hand in the groove above.’

Uncertainly, Jaden turned his wrist around and did as Tarsha had said. Nothing happened at first, but moments later the symbols connected together as if by a magnet and his arm became held tightly against the plate. He tried to pull away, but the force was too strong.

‘Don’t fight it,’ Tarsha comforted. ‘This is Daijuarn, it will not harm you.’

Jaden glanced at her, wanting to say something, but was distracted by an unlocking sound.

‘There we are!’ said Tarsha triumphantly, and she walked to the doors and tried to push them open. They didn’t budge, so she began to try to pull them apart instead. ‘You must not have done it right,’ she said, having no success. ‘Try again.’

Jaden did as she wished, and again he found himself held to the wall before the same unlocking sound came. Tarsha attempted to open the doors, but still there was no change. The doors remained shut.

‘Show me,’ she said in frustration, checking over his wrist. ‘The symbols match, it should work!’ She placed his wrist against the plate, but was still unsuccessful. ‘Try this side,’ she said, moving over to the left.

‘The symbols don’t match,’ Jaden protested. ‘Do we need another?’

‘No,’ said Tarsha. ‘At least, I do not think so. Come, try.’

No sound came from Jaden placing the loh-korah against the silver plate on the left, nor did it hold his arm in place.

‘It’s no use,’ he said, ‘it won’t work.’

‘Give me another look.’ Tarsha examined every detail there was on the wristlet. ‘What is this dent?’ she asked after a moment, pointing to the centre of the loh-korah.

‘I don’t know,’ said Jaden, now seeing the same discrepancy. ‘I think I fell on something.’

‘A fall would not have the force needed to make a dent like this. It looks like a bullet mark.’ Her eyes flicked up to his. ‘Were you shot?’

‘No,’ said Jaden, ‘I don’t think so.’ He thought back to the attack. ‘Something hit me, I think, and then I fell. It might have happened then.’

‘I see,’ said Tarsha, her attention back on the wall. ‘Well, it may be enough to prevent us from getting in. In fact, I think we can say for sure we will not be entering today.’ She sighed, glancing quickly over the temple, as if losing all hope in an instant. ‘One day I will learn their secrets,’ she marvelled, ‘even if it takes me another fifty years.’