Eternal Circle

The red silk adorning the oval table varied its hue under the shifting light cast by glow balls nestled in iron stands. The white tiger sitting on a high-backed chair absently waved his hand above the colorful stones that formed a complex design on the rectangular cloth. Only two choices remained for his next move in the ancient game; each one was of no use to him. Never play silk and stones with an o'lathi, Tir'shan chided himself. To win is impossible, for a hermaphrodite embodies all experience. The giant regarded his slender opponent. The snow leopard sitting across from him returned a smile.

"I find that the game bores me," Ryndi remarked in a prosaic manner which suggested that his friend should offer a concession.

"Indeed," Tir'shan remarked, surrendering as much as he cared after having lost ten consecutive games. He took a sip of wine from an alabaster goblet before asking, "Care to do some stargazing?"

The Li'am'ra stretched lazily. The thin fabric of his gown became taut over his slight breasts. Ryndi folded his arms behind his head, and sunk deeper into the cushioned chair. "I think not," he replied. "After all our seasons on this world, I still cannot get used to the darkness of the night during the time we call day."

Tir'shan commented, "It is true that one period of rotation for this world is double that which we knew on Thundera, but the light and the dark do alternate, and match our expectations at least half the time." Unappeased, his friend pulled nervously at the long strands of his spotted mane. "A walk in the market?" the mystic suggested lamely, unsure of where the conversation would veer next.

The reply came like a breeze almost too gentle to be noticed. "No." The Li'am'ra stood, and carefully brushed the wrinkles from his silk robe. The spicy fragrance with which he had scented himself intensified with his graceful movements. The cut of his clothing accentuated his masculine shoulders and feminine hips. The ardor in his grey-green eyes conveyed his true desire.

Tir'shan said in embarrassment, "I'm sorry."

"There is no need to be," Ryndi sighed, approaching the white tiger. "In time you will understand the power that you unconsciously wield over others." He tugged the giant's long braid playfully. "Maybe one day you will ignore that part of me which is male, and appreciate that which is female."

The small priest's wistful expression burned a hole into the mystic's heart, for he knew that his friend's prediction would never come to pass. Tir'shan rose from his chair, and marveled, as he always did, at their dramatic difference in height. He had enjoyed a relaxing afternoon, but had no desire to make his friend uncomfortable with his presence. "I should leave," he announced with regret.

Ryndi grabbed his arm. "Your brothers and sisters in the temple have seen to your duties; Te'sara cares for Mei this day; and you promised to stay for dinner." Tir'shan pried the snow leopard free. The Li'am'ra's mouth tightened into a stern frown.

What Ryndi had spoken was the truth. The terminally ill cub over whom he had special charge was safely in another's care. Tir'shan said, "A swim in your fine pool would suit me."

"An excellent suggestion! We shall float our troubles away." Puzzlement replaced the Li'am'ra's happiness as a commotion erupted in the courtyard below the covered terrace on which they stood. Leaning over the stone balcony, Ryndi called down to the priests.

A pantheress shouted, "A messenger has arrived. Tir'shan is summoned to the Circle!"

*****

Tir'shan dictated his choices for the task at hand to the priestess who walked by his side, and effortlessly matched his swift pace. "E'dar, Kasia, Ben'yir, Ruan, Lan'i, Sarad, and Da'san'i will work with you to provide mystic power. Tira will manipulate. I favor Tam'ri as the secondary vessel. She provides an excellent balance point to the Circle. Teva is the best ground."

"We will certainly need a full Circle to help Marini. I hope we are not too late to draw upon her aura pattern to restore what has been lost," Te'sara replied. "The stroke that she has suffered has caused extensive damage to the higher centers of her brain. I'm surprised that she has survived. We should thank Mrísena that Lady Kalyn'ri has brought her to us."

"Were it not for the lady's brave action, Lord Trel would have already begun the death watch."

"I fear for Kalyn'ri. She may have finally sacrificed her place in Trel's household. Her lord's hatred of mystics has not waned over the seasons."

"And love has long fled from his heart," Ryndi suddenly commented from behind. "Gods, do mystics always travel so fast?" he asked between puffs as he reached the pair of white tigers.

"Now you know why we always place well in the summer runs at festival time," the tall, angular female quipped before disappearing down a side-passage.

Turning to his friend, Tir'shan said, "Why have you come? Only those individuals associated with the one who needs mystic assistance may enter my healing chamber."

The slight parting of his lips and the arch of his eyebrow conveyed the Li'am'ra's hurt feelings. "I respect your work, as you respect mine," he said quietly, "but through another messenger, Kalyn'ri has requested my presence. She has spent many mornings in my house in order to forget the burdens of her life, but, like you, she has also become my friend."

The mystic gave a nod of understanding. "I should not have questioned your right," he said. "Forgive me. Emergency calls to the Circle have always unsettled me, and have somewhat hindered my judgement. Today, Fate has denied me the time necessary to prepare properly myself and my companions for this rigorous undertaking. Te'sara could have used any mystic-priest as the primary vessel, but that choice is never an optimal one. Only a ri'sar'ri can take the different mystic energies generated by the Circle, and by conducting Elidi'a'ra, the light of the Goddess, convert them into one frequency. The group's efficiency is thus maximized. I wish that Cori could have functioned as ri'sar'ri, but Te'sara has said that she has already done a Circle today, and is now resting. It seems to be a day for emergencies."

"The life of a mystic is difficult enough, but when that one is not only a priest, but also a ri'sar'ri...."

"One awakens each dawn, and thanks the Goddess for the rare honor that she has bestowed upon him," Tir'shan said, halting before the bronze doors of the healing room.

"An honor that for both sexes guarantees a shorter lifespan, but for a male ri'sar'ri, a certain level of dependence on his female comrades."

"It was the road that the Goddess offered to me, and I freely chose to travel on it."

"Considering that madness and death were your only other options--"

"Others have made the alternative choice, Ryndi, but I have selected life over the silence. I have made the decision to heal."

*****

Incense and candlelight; the mystic-priests waiting patiently for his orders; the one who wept, and the one who gave comfort; the stillness of the sick; each journey into the Circle seemed to be the same, yet each journey was always different.

Tir'shan bowed respectfully to Lady Kalyn'ri, who although taller than Ryndi, clung to the Li'am'ra for support. Even in the dim light, he could see in the red tigress's amber eyes the fear of her lord that tears only thinly veiled. "All will be well," he promised. "By your actions, you have placed your trust in the Goddess. She rewards those with faith." A bitter, resigned smile crept across Kalyn'ri's face. Damn Trel to the seven hells for causing her this pain, Tir'shan thought with anger. May Savar shrivel his testicles.

He crossed to the eastern point of the round room, and knelt before the statue of Mrísena enshrined there. Fearful of repercussions from the unstable lord, Tir'shan became a knot of tension. "Mrísena, open Your unworthy servant to Your Presence," he begged, "so Your Light will allow us to heal Marini. Keep the willful Lord Trel at bay."

His invocation completed, Tir'shan entered the formation made by his companions. He smiled warmly at the youthful snarf, who sat within the confines of the Circle in front of Tam'ri. Although barely an adult, Tam'ri was one of the few mystics on record to have advanced into the priesthood before her first fertility, a fact that he still found astounding. The tigress stroked Teva's hair with the affection in evidence among close friends and sisters in healing.

Although not blessed with mind gifts as a snarf, Teva played an essential role within the Circle. The multi-level power generated by the eight mystic-priests, the core of the formation, would flow forward into him. When he surrendered his will and became a portal for Elidi'a'ra, the mystic energies would be purified into one frequency. The transformed power would then leave him, and enter Tira, who would use it to heal. Any mystic energy not absorbed by Tira or himself would flow backwards through the core, drawn by the presence of a priest who lacked mind gifts, such as Teva, or any tiger priest, red or white, without the mystic gift. Tam'ri would collect the excess power, and carefully release it into Teva, who would then feed it into a gather stone. After the healing, the snarf had the honor of cleansing the crystal sphere with song.

From the strongest to the weakest, we all do our part. This will be a difficult task, but I have a good Circle, Tir'shan decided. He considered the six tigresses sitting amongst the males. A female ri'sar'ri, because of her sex, channeled Elidi'a'ra in a slower, more controlled fashion that, at the end of Circle, left her as exhausted as a cleansed male ri'sar'ri. For each pulse of mystic power to be converted, an equivalent amount of holy light entered her. Unlike a male ri'sar'ri, her body did not function like a sink which trapped Elidi'a'ra. When the time comes, who will serve me, I wonder? Who will take the Light that the Goddess will leave within me. Who will cleanse me, so that I may heal once more.

Tir'shan freed his mane from its leather tie, and let his robe fall to the floor. His fellow white tigers, both male and female, wore only loincloths for covering. As was his custom in the Circle, he preferred to follow snarf ways, and be unhindered by clothing. Legs tucked under his body, he sat behind Tira. "With your skill we will know victory," he whispered into her ear, placing his hands against her torso.

Tira spread her fingers over the temples of the unconscious red tigress that lay before her. She said, "Let us waste no more time."

"Connect!" Tir'shan commanded, closing his eyes. Da'san'i's left hand settled against one side of his hip, and Sarad's right hand rested against the other. From many seasons of experience, he knew that the others would act quickly. Tam'ri anchored herself to Teva. E'dar and Kasia touched Tam'ri in the same manner as Da'san'i and Sarad had touched him. They and the other members of the core sealed any remaining gaps in the Circle by holding hands. He listened for the changes in breathing that matched his own, and indicated the altered state of consciousness that each priest entered. A low whistle from E'dar and Kasia indicated their readiness as the initiators. They waited only for his signal to release the cascade of power.

In his relaxed state, Tir'shan found words difficult to form. With effort, he drew the breath to speak, but remained silent, because the chamber suddenly reverberated with the thunder of Lord Trel's fury.

"Stop this atrocity! Open this door, or I will break it down!" the clan lord ordered.

Somewhere in the darkness, Kalyn'ri gasped and Ryndi cursed. Trel must be stopped, or he will cause the Circle to break, Tir'shan thought in agitation. Before he could move, Da'san'i and Sarad tightened their grip on his body. "Ignore that fool!" Sarad growled into his ear.

"Begin!" E'dar demanded, usurping his role as the leader of the Circle.

Mystic power flooded Tir'shan. He invited the Goddess into himself. All feeling vanished. His spirit fled the bonds of his flesh. He crossed into another world.

*****

The image reflected by the clear stream was vaguely familiar to the Priest who stared at it with fascination. He reached with fingers made of light for the ruggedly handsome face. The water shimmered. Dark stripes merged with patches of brown and white until the pleasing vision vanished. The new countenance that emerged from the swirling colors possessed bulging compound eyes that peered from a chitinous green head. Long, slender antennae quivered in vexation. The grasping mouth parts fluttered as if the strange being attempted speech.

The Priest averted his gaze from the disturbing visage. His rainbow body quaked in fear. He had no memory of his journey to the river. His mind held but one truth: the sound of his name.

In desperation, he sang his knowledge. A delicate breeze conveyed another melody, feminine and pure. He pulsed violet in happiness. I am not alone! A wispy form floated amidst the verdant trees. *Help me!* the Priest begged with notes of indigo. *I am lost.*

The Lady beckoned with rays of silver. *In the Goddess's service, you have almost traveled too far, Tir'shan. Come. Sit by me, and I will shelter you,* she answered in shades of green and gold.

The Priest drifted to her side. Her color fields blanketed him. In the cocoon of her light, he found peace.

*****

I am falling, Tir'shan thought calmly as he moved through the Darkness. The sensation was not frightening, but reassuring, for it meant that the Circle had completed its work. A sudden discomfort, as if he tried to don clothing that was too tight, passed swiftly. I have returned. Maybe one day I will remember the journey that my spirit takes during Circle. My dreams only give me tantalizing clues.

He slowly opened his eyes, and marked the thin layer of silver light that outlined his body. Imbued with residual Elidi'a'ra that only a female or three suns worth of intermittent masturbation could remove from his body, the mystic moved through a cloud of changing emotions. Although fatigued and sluggish from his efforts, the Light made him amorous and willing. His sensitized eyes detected the enticing red glow that surrounded each female. The dull blue males he dismissed. A thunderous roar sounded anew outside the chamber, and broke the serenity that had kept him company on his voyage back from the unknown.

Te'sara leapt to her feet. "The gods damn Trel! There must be an end to his abuse. His shrieking has not stopped. Why haven't the king's guards been summoned?"

Rising slowly, Tir'shan said, "Considering who our patient was, and accounting for Trel's network of loyal spies, I suspected that the lord would head straight for the heart of our complex. I instructed our guards to give him entry to our temple, if he carried no weapons, and to keep everyone away from him and harm. I also told them to ignore your order, and not to call for the king's warriors. I felt that their presence would only fan the fire of his anger."

"What right have you to overturn my command. I am the head of the Council of Mystics, not you."

"This is not your battle, elder. You are well aware of our laws. I have claimed the greater right of a ri'sar'ri to protect his Circle as he deems necessary. We are in my domain. I will deal with the nuisance." He turned to Ryndi. To the mystic's surprise, the Li'am'ra blazed with a purple light indicative of both a male and female nature. His desire deepened to include the snow leopard, but Tir'shan shuddered at the thought of joining with Ryndi.

Marking the tiger's reaction, the servant of V'sri'sar gave him a quizzical look. The snow leopard's eyes narrowed as he deduced the reason for his friend's discomfort. Considering Tir'shan's natural inclinations, he sighed with disappointment at the opportunity that would not be offered to him.

Tir'shan quelled the unwanted attraction with reasoning. Only part of Ryndi is female! Even if I wanted him, I could not choose to join with him after Circle. His maleness would draw Elidi'a'ra from me like lightning. In my hands, he would die. He said to the Li'am'ra, "Push the section of wall near the statue. A door will open. Take the lady and her clan sister to the chamber at the end of the corridor. Wait there. You will be safe."

"And what of you, priest?" Lady Kalyn'ri argued. "Trel is renowned for his fierceness in battle."

"And he has you at a disadvantage," Ryndi added, discreetly indicating the mystic's state of arousal.

"This is a temple of healing. Weapons are forbidden within these walls, and that proscription applies even to the king's guards. There will only be a battle of wits, and in that arena, I have the advantage."

"You also have size. Why a good kick--"

"Sarad!" Tir'shan exclaimed in shock.

"I was merely suggesting--"

"That you and the others leave with Ryndi," the giant growled. "Te'sara will remain with me."

The ancient male grinned. "You are quite the mind reader, ri'sar'ri." Standing up with a grunt, the elder commanded the male near him, "Ruan, you're a strong one, and young besides. You can carry Marini. Don't worry about jostling her. She'll stay asleep. Isn't that right Tira?"

The serious priestess nodded in agreement. "Not even Lord Trel's bellows will awaken her from her needed rest."

As another round of noise began, the priests and their charges vanished down the secret passage. The light from the gather stone illuminated their path to the chamber at the end of the long hallway.

"Damn him! He'll break the hinges if he continues!" Te'sara hissed, closing the wall panel.

"Let us see that he doesn't," Tir'shan answered.

"Are you insane?" she gasped. "I am the sister of Servalla. He has reserved a special hatred for me."

The giant set his hand gently against her cheek. "And perhaps one day, you will tell me why this is so. Did you not call me to serve on our council, yet not tell me everything that I need to know about this lord's enmity toward us? His loathing must encompass more than the events at Star Vale that resulted in his brothers' death."

The tigress pushed his hand away. "It no longer matters!"

"Then why does Trel howl outside my chamber like a night demon?"

"Ask him!"

"Maybe I will," he answered softly, and strode purposefully toward the door.

"Wait!" Te'sara pleaded.

Ignoring the entreaty from the priestess, Tir'shan pushed back the metal bolts, and quickly pulled opened the portal. Beyond reasoning, the clan lord immediately lunged at him in attack. Instinctively protecting himself, the mystic delivered a blow to the shorter tiger's shoulder that sent him his knees. "Leave!" Tir'shan shouted in defiance, the pain he absorbed by his mystic empathy quickly evaporating because of his condition. "I will protect my Circle," he added, his patience depleted.

Although gripping his shoulder in pain, Lord Trel roared, "Lord Su'ti, chief of our clan, will hear of this insult!"

"And I will inform our king of your actions," Te'sara said with no attempt to hide her contempt from the red tiger as she spat at his feet.

The clan lord pulled himself up from the stone floor. He backed cautiously away from the two servants of Mrísena. "Z'rin!" he declared.

"It is an honor to be added to your personal list of enemies," the giant replied coldly.

Growling in his retreat, Trel disappeared down the torch-lit hallway.

Tir'shan swiftly resealed the chamber. "Gods damn Trel for forcing my hand, but the danger has passed," he said quietly.

"For now," Te'sara answered.

With the lord gone, the Light trapped within him hastened the beating of his heart, and intensified his need for the female beside him. All problems became insignificant in comparison to his desire.

The tigress shook her head sadly. "Name of the Gods, what will happen to Kalyn'ri and her attendant when they leave these halls?"

The giant tenderly fingered a strand of the middle-aged female's mane. "We can deal with that matter later." Comprehending the request hidden in his statement, the tigress's eyes widened slightly. She placed her hand at a point just below his navel, and pushed lightly. The wave of pleasure that enveloped the priest made him crumple. Rocking on his hands and knees, he begged, "Please take Her Light from me, honored one!"

Te'sara knelt beside him. She whispered, "I am ready for your gift. Give yourself to me in the ancient way." The tigress leaned forward, and rested her weight on her arms. She raised her hips in offering. Tir'shan draped himself over the priestess who received him eagerly. Her spicy scent made him thirsty for her flesh. He delicately bit the nape of her neck, and licked the blood that tinted his lips.

The female beneath him writhed with ecstasy. The silvery Light that entered her at a slow, but gratifying, pace invigorated and refreshed her. The tiger matched his thrusts to accommodate her increasingly rapid movements. Each breath propelled him toward release, but until he had cleansed himself of Elidi'a'ra, he could not reach orgasm. Experienced with his limitations, the feisty tigress finally settled back into a slow rhythmic pattern that allowed her to delay her climax, and wait for him to attain readiness.

Tir'shan's muscles burned with exhaustion. Sweat dripped from his long body onto tigress and stone. He floated helplessly in a conflicting sea of exhilaration and frustration. Pushed to a point of collapse, he howled, "Mrísena give me peace! I have done what you have asked."

In answer to his prayer, the last glimmer of Light pulsed from his body. The delight that coursed through him stole his remaining strength and his voice. Te'sara's satisfied roar pained his ears.

Trembling with weariness, Tir'shan pulled himself from the priestess, then fell onto his side. The walls danced in spiraling steps that forced him to close his eyes out of fear that he would become ill. "Tir'shan?" The sultry sound tugged him back from the darkness. His sight filled with the unremarkable face of the female that he had regarded at different times as mother, sister, friend and lover. The room stilled in her presence.

"I'm fine," he said bravely with words that he could barely hear. "Just a little tired."

Her cool hand brushed his brow. "Rest," she commanded. "You had a rough time." The understatement made him chuckle despite his weakness. Her downturned mouth softened into a smile. She kissed his cheek. "You'll recover your strength in a few hours; then, if you are willing, we can try a different position, my continent."

"Goddess be blessed...." he murmured as his voice faded, and he slipped into sleep.