Stories
CHOICES
Choose to Live
Ayden felt still the tyro when Maven gave him his first choice. Shouldn’t first he practice on decisions of little weight?
Why would someone as wise as the Maven entrust him with so great a gift?
Was it really true that the riches of all men and kingdoms rested in him? That the good of all stood hanging in the balance.
And how could all of time be bound to one moment?
Even so he could not decline this invitation. This choice was not his to make. His birthright brought both privilege and responsibility.
The journey chose him, but the adventure was his to choose.
To choose is to know the pleasure of freedom: or is it the freedom of pleasure?
Entry 828/ The Perils of Ayden
INITIATIVE
Just Do Something
Ayden waited as Maven sat patiently by the fire. His silence only made the time pass more slowly.
What was he listening for? Only the wind dared speak. Would his commission come from the mountains breath? Would the north or the east call his name?
How would he know when to leave and begin his pilgrimage? How would he know which way to go?
When he could bear it no longer he chanced to interrupt his mentor and blurted “when will I begin?”
“Now,” Maven replied.
“Then which way do I go?” Ayden could not hide his frustration in his asking.
Maven instructed, “Anywhere there is not a path.”
Suddenly Ayden realized that all through the night it was Maven who waited on him.
UNCERTAINTY
Know That You Don’t Know
“I’m afraid,” he confessed, as Maven stood with him in the place where his quest would begin.
“Of what?” Maven asked in his calming voice.
“For this journey, have I learned all I need to know?”
“Ayden,” he replied, “you know all you need to learn.”
“What should I take with me?” Ayden continued.
“Leave all you have and take all you are.”
Ayden persisted, “And the path, is it safe to travel?”
Maven looked at him sternly for the first time he could remember and scolded him, “It is not safe to remain!”
“It is not the place but the Presence that upholds you! This is your only certainty.”
“Go! Walk where no man has walked yet you find footprints.”
Entry 709/ The Perils of Ayden
INFLUENCE
Breathe In, Breathe Out
Their sleep was deep but not restful. “Take the flower. With your breath it holds enough for one life. You must decide who among the sleeping will awake.
A fragrance emanated from the earth beneath them making the air sweet and intoxicating. Its potion was not to slumber, but to surrender. Most would rather sleep through life than live their dreams.
One would respond to Ayden’s breath. To choose wrongly was to waste the healing essence of the Iris. If he could only know what dreams held them to their sleep. Maven, if he knew, would offer no clue. Not once did he flinch or change his expression as Ayden moved toward Kembr- face to face, mouth to mouth, then breath to breath.
Her eyes opened and she spoke as if she had known this moment a thousand times before,” Is this yet another dream?”
Ayden questioned her as if she had said nothing,” What dream held you?”
“Only that I had been awakened.”
Entry 203/ The Perils of Ayden
RISK
Live before you die; and vice versa
“You must leave while it still night.” Maven reminded Ayden.
“Is that so we might slip past the shadows before they wake?” Kembr asked hopefully.
“No!” snapped Ayden. “It is so they know that it was we who woke them and dared interrupt their sleep!”
The way is full of peril. “Must we beckon it?” asked Kembr.
Maven knew it was not fear but thought that guided Kembr’s queries. He looked past Ayden and spoke to her what she already knew from her dreams.
“The shadows rule the night. They hide blinded by the day and thus cannot be seen. The day is free. It is during the night they take mankind captive keeping them in their slumber.”
Ayden continued Maven’s thoughts,” we must walk into the shadows darkest place. Only there will we know if we have light enough.
Entry 4358/ The Perils of Ayden
ADVANCE
Go Unless You Get a No
Ayden led the way as Kembr followed. With every step the path thickened in its darkness. Their eyes provided little help to them, but somehow they were more than able to find their way.
Everything carried its own heat and vibration. The darkness did not diminish the colors which exploded from the degrees of warm and contrasting cold.
In the midst of silence they could feel the sounds all around them. Sounds so melodious they would sweep a traveler from his course to simply sit and listen. Yet behind them were cries of despair and even torment.
It was becoming more difficult with every step to move forward. The darkness was almost suffocating. Ayden interrupted Kembr’s struggle with a stark reminder.
“With one blow they have the strength to slay you. Fear will grip at you and strive to pull you back. They can do us no harm as long as we advance. They can only strike if we hesitate or step back.”
Kembr confirmed his meaning, “Then to retreat is to ensure our death. Let us move forward then and live!”
Entry 2358/ The Perils of Ayden
IMPACT
Leave a Mark
“What weapons have you brought?” Kembr asked Ayden as she felt the conflict drawing near.
“There were no weapons to bring.” Ayden explained.
“And Maven, he would let us come defenseless?” Kembr asked in disbelief.
“We did not come to defend but to conquer.” Ayden declared as if he missed the point.
“We are both warrior and weapon.” Ayden went on. There is but one hope against the shadows and that is the light within us. If it is not enough there is no blade sharp enough to cut the thick darkness.”
Kembr’s steps felt heavy as she walked. “Was this how fear paralyzes you?” she thought to herself. Yet with every step it seemed as if the ground would tremble. Or was it her?
“What is happening beneath me” she shouted to Ayden as the earth below shook with increasing force.
“It is the density of the light.” Ayden yelled back with excitement. “It is the weight of the Presence!”
Entry 988/ The Perils of Ayden
MOVEMENT
Ignite A Reaction
The battle raged from one place and time to another.
The enemy held such unfair advantage. He knew every fear, every doubt, every weakness they held.
He would choose the battleground and then change it when it was to his favor.
Ayden and Kembr stood shoulder to shoulder as they fought back the endless darkness. The light served them as sickles cutting though the shadows.
Their shrieks would expose them as they moved with force towards Ayden and Kembr. The shadows knew if they could divide the two it would cause them to weaken and perhaps fall back.
“We are almost to the darkest place” Ayden exhorted as they fought their way forward. It was there that Maven told him the light would find its highest density.
They all heard the distant rumblings. Then like the most glorious of sunrises they saw light so expansive it marked the horizon.
“Look.” Ayden shouted. “The lights, they have come!”
Entry 392/ The Perils of Ayden
AWAKENING
Wake The Dead
Maven was with them once again. He too was weary from the battle fought. Even in victory there is pain and death. Yet his thoughts seemed to go beyond this moment.
He turned to Ayden and seemed to answer his thoughts. “Today we have seen a great victory and to celebrate is a pleasure we must not neglect.”
Ayden responded with joyous exuberance,” The valley of darkness is now a forest of lights!”
“Yes” Maven acknowledged. “The light of God shines bright in the hearts of men.”
“Will we settle here?” asked Kembr as she reveled in the beauty of the land.
“No” answered Maven. “The light of mankind only shines when they move forward to engage the darkness.”
“Are they ready for the journey? Certainly we should stay until it is safe for them to go?” Kembr pressed.
Ayden spoke in a calming tone, “It is not the place but the Presence that upholds them! This is their only certainty.”
Entry 715 / The Perils of Ayden