Golden Circle

 
First Circle
I touch the beautiful polished stone of the training circle.
Unchanged in a thousand years.

The circle is quiet.
Chiwan and I stand here alone, far below ground, in the immense cavern.
The stone circle is warm, and the air sweet.

Chiwan knows of twenty training patterns out of hundreds, or thousands.
The topics include strategy, martial arts, weapons, energy shields.

“How long is each training session, master?” I ask.

“At least two hours,” he answers, “but it continues until you end it, or your strength fails.”

“Why can’t we use use healing skills to renew the … Read more

Gen – Seven Towers

 
First Tournament
Vala and I hover, waiting, five hundred feet above the stadium, as the gates open.
Another newborn Gen and her master hover near us.
We watch the first rush of walkers, as they pass through the gates to get the best of the unreserved seats.

The arena where the Gen perform is round, a hundred feet across.
An empty space, five feet wide surrounds the arena.
Each row of seats forms its own circle around the performance area, rising, higher and higher, toward the outer walls of the stadium.

The first circle of seats is reserved for … Read more

Dream Room

 
Hiding
I feel safe in the Dreaming Room, and spend most of my time here.
I sleep too much, even during the day.
Shazira says I’m still healing.
It may be true, but I feel I’m hiding from the rest of the Watchtower and the world beyond it.

This room is a private space for Shazira and me, the guardians of the Watchtower.
The room opens only for us, our daughter, and our guests.

I chased after my daughter yesterday to meet her, and found her with her mother.
Tzina smiled at me, but I was sent away, … Read more