Legend of the Timekeepers Read Online Free
Author: Sharon Ledwith
especially in the healing arts. This is where I have decided to root myself and teach what I know. This is where I will die.”
There was a hint of sadness and maybe regret in Istulo’s voice, but she still hadn’t answered Lilith properly. She decided to dig deeper. “Do you know my father, Segund?”
Istulo fell silent for a moment before she answered Lilith. “Your father is the Keeper of the seventh Arch of Atlantis, yes?”
Lilith raised a fair brow. “Yes.”
“I met with him almost three moon phases ago. Your father has been very worried about you since you’ve arrived here. He told me you haven’t made a single friend or even picked up a scroll to read. So I suggested to him that I do a life reading for you to help you move forward with your new life.”
Tau guffawed. “I would love to see what occupation you come up with for her!”
Lilith glared at Tau. “Be careful. I’m sure I can round up more of those ser…white crawlers.”
“How hard is it for your people to say ‘serqet’?” Tau asked in exasperation.
Lilith ignored him and turned to Istulo. “What is a life reading?”
Istulo pulled a small ceramic disk from her metallic pouch. “This is called a life seal, Lilith. Right now it is blank, but when I’ve had a chance to assess you based on your karmic development, this will help you decide on your lifetime occupation.”
Lilith stared at the disk as if it were a white crawler. She wrinkled her nose. “How?”
Istulo reached out to touch Lilith’s cheek, just as a sudden, sharp twinge rippled across the old priestess’s face. She withdrew her hand and said, “Through the inscriptions I write on this disk during a self-induced trance. I listen to the internal guidance given and record this advice. The results of this transaction then become your life seal.”
Tau grinned. “It’ll probably still be blank after the trance.”
“Have you ever had a life reading, Tau?” Lilith asked, curling her fingers.
“Yes,” Istulo answered for him. “He received his life seal before the great flood made us take refuge on higher ground until the waters receded. Tau proudly wears his seal around his neck.” Then Istulo picked up the empty ceramic vial and deposited it in her pouch. “I must take my leave and attend to my new students. Lilith, I trust I will see you on the next new moon for your life reading. Do not be late.”
It sounded more like a demand than a request to Lilith. She nodded in response.
Istulo trundled down the hall toward the area where Lilith had heard the crystal bowls being played. Confident that the old priestess was out of listening range, Lilith screwed her full lips to one side and turned to face Tau. “So, what’s your lifetime occupation supposed to be, Tau? A farmer? A baker? A dung-ditch maker?”
Seemingly unfazed, Tau reached for his life seal, held it out like it was a piece of sweet fruit to taunt Lilith with, and said, “I am to be a special scribe to an important emissary.”
Lilith pushed her creeping fair locks off the side of her face, but it seemed a losing battle. Her hair was starting to feel like straw. She sputtered her lips and said, “The only scribes I’ve seen around here record the farmer’s crop share. Correct me if I’m wrong but that doesn’t sound very special to me.”
Tau’s face fell. “No. But you wait and see. Istulo’s life readings are never wrong!”
Lilith stamped her foot against a polished tile with enough force to knock her remaining sandal off. This time the sandal smacked a man across the top of his back as he attempted to leave the Temple Beautiful.
Lilith covered her mouth. So far this day, her sandals had gotten her into nothing but trouble. First the white crawler, now this. She removed her hand and flashed him an apologetic smile. “I…I am so sorry,” Lilith stammered. “It was an accident.”
The man turned around and stared at Lilith. His body was draped over a golden walking stick
There was a hint of sadness and maybe regret in Istulo’s voice, but she still hadn’t answered Lilith properly. She decided to dig deeper. “Do you know my father, Segund?”
Istulo fell silent for a moment before she answered Lilith. “Your father is the Keeper of the seventh Arch of Atlantis, yes?”
Lilith raised a fair brow. “Yes.”
“I met with him almost three moon phases ago. Your father has been very worried about you since you’ve arrived here. He told me you haven’t made a single friend or even picked up a scroll to read. So I suggested to him that I do a life reading for you to help you move forward with your new life.”
Tau guffawed. “I would love to see what occupation you come up with for her!”
Lilith glared at Tau. “Be careful. I’m sure I can round up more of those ser…white crawlers.”
“How hard is it for your people to say ‘serqet’?” Tau asked in exasperation.
Lilith ignored him and turned to Istulo. “What is a life reading?”
Istulo pulled a small ceramic disk from her metallic pouch. “This is called a life seal, Lilith. Right now it is blank, but when I’ve had a chance to assess you based on your karmic development, this will help you decide on your lifetime occupation.”
Lilith stared at the disk as if it were a white crawler. She wrinkled her nose. “How?”
Istulo reached out to touch Lilith’s cheek, just as a sudden, sharp twinge rippled across the old priestess’s face. She withdrew her hand and said, “Through the inscriptions I write on this disk during a self-induced trance. I listen to the internal guidance given and record this advice. The results of this transaction then become your life seal.”
Tau grinned. “It’ll probably still be blank after the trance.”
“Have you ever had a life reading, Tau?” Lilith asked, curling her fingers.
“Yes,” Istulo answered for him. “He received his life seal before the great flood made us take refuge on higher ground until the waters receded. Tau proudly wears his seal around his neck.” Then Istulo picked up the empty ceramic vial and deposited it in her pouch. “I must take my leave and attend to my new students. Lilith, I trust I will see you on the next new moon for your life reading. Do not be late.”
It sounded more like a demand than a request to Lilith. She nodded in response.
Istulo trundled down the hall toward the area where Lilith had heard the crystal bowls being played. Confident that the old priestess was out of listening range, Lilith screwed her full lips to one side and turned to face Tau. “So, what’s your lifetime occupation supposed to be, Tau? A farmer? A baker? A dung-ditch maker?”
Seemingly unfazed, Tau reached for his life seal, held it out like it was a piece of sweet fruit to taunt Lilith with, and said, “I am to be a special scribe to an important emissary.”
Lilith pushed her creeping fair locks off the side of her face, but it seemed a losing battle. Her hair was starting to feel like straw. She sputtered her lips and said, “The only scribes I’ve seen around here record the farmer’s crop share. Correct me if I’m wrong but that doesn’t sound very special to me.”
Tau’s face fell. “No. But you wait and see. Istulo’s life readings are never wrong!”
Lilith stamped her foot against a polished tile with enough force to knock her remaining sandal off. This time the sandal smacked a man across the top of his back as he attempted to leave the Temple Beautiful.
Lilith covered her mouth. So far this day, her sandals had gotten her into nothing but trouble. First the white crawler, now this. She removed her hand and flashed him an apologetic smile. “I…I am so sorry,” Lilith stammered. “It was an accident.”
The man turned around and stared at Lilith. His body was draped over a golden walking stick