Veil's Seduction - Prologue

He watched her, as he did everyday sit by the pool and see. See what? None but her could see, none but her could know time, because she was time. They had named her Meter. She was Cauls Oracle. 1

Exactly two hundred and thirty eight years ago, he remembered like it was yesterday. He was brought suddenly before the council and the Oracle Measure, ushered into the usually locked doors that ran floor to ceiling in pendulum clocks that chimed only when a new Oracle was to be born. This was the first child in his lifetime. Oracle Measure had always been there. She would not be in twenty four years from the moment of this birth. She would simply disappear and this child would then be Time. 2

The cradle in the center of the room was gilded gold and elegant, layered with fine eggshell linen and pillowed against the scrolling sides. I was placed to stand on the eastern side of the cradle, next to Aella, the element of air. In the north stood Oracle Measure with Daire, the element of Earth. Facing from the south, Bastet, the element of fire with the Fates, Parthenia, Leda and Tethys, three sisters that closely work with the Oracle and on the west side of the cradle stood Seneschal Agamemnon and Indra, the element of water. It was then I realized what my role in this was to be. I was to be her, this child, the new Oracles Seneschal and I nearly dropped to my knees. 3

I had never witnessed the like before, nor heard of it spoken. The reigning Oracle reached out and placed her hand in mine and nodded for me to reach to Aella and so on. As each hand was placed chimes throughout Caul started ringing and by the time it reached back around to enclose the hands of Daire and Measure all of Caul was in synch. A light barely there, swirling and mist started to form over the center of the cradle. Slowly gaining substance to blushing pink skin and scented like night jasmine on a gentle breeze. A perfect child floating down into the bed with a golden glow and sleeping peacefully, born before my tear filled eyes. 4

“Time flies” could be, maybe should be Cauls motto, as you grow a year is just that until the age of twenty four, then the growth process is immensely slowed and a year becomes equal to one hundred years. So when a new Oracle is born they are free of their duties until they reach twenty four and the previous Oracle simply disappears and all that was known somehow is now known to the new Oracle. Her Seneschal is right at her side from birth to protect and guard and council for the rest of her days. To be chosen is a great honor and an overwhelming responsibility. 5

“It is time, Ramonus” she laughed slightly at her own pun and pulled him from his thoughts. She had her arm extended and palm flat above the crystal mist of the temples reflection pool. She was divining. Ramonus bowed his head to hide the curve of his smile, “Only the Oracle of Time can predict as such, therefore you are never wrong.” Meter raised her eyes and laughed readily, “You tease me Ramonus, whatever would I do without your wise cracks, or I mean wise council?” “Perhaps I would be off manifesting some desired game of chance, at the least I wouldn’t been a babysitter,” he pushed as he tried to not give in to the laugh that threatened to burst. “Ah, then who would you have wanted better to banter back and forth?” she hesitated for only a second. “Don’t answer that, my friend, I must go back to being the Goddess and face the responsibility it brings. We have come far within our world, Ramonus and our Sentinels have been long in their struggles to keep the peace, it is now that the Fates have shown respite, the longing is coming to end,” she sighed. Ramonus’ mind rattled at the implications of what she announced. He was reminded of the many conversations of concern with Meter about her people. This new divination was sure to bring a personal peace to them all and certainly humor and challenges for all of Caul. 6

Caul, some may call it “outer earth,” the literal membrane of Earth, encasing the very essence of human life, such as the sac to carry a babe. Between Caul and Earth lies a veil which humans are surrounded and unaware. Deemed the Lake of Illusion and protected by an elite force of warriors known as the Sentinels of the Veil. Chosen and trained extensively for wading the lake to protect humans and sudden and slight ripples in time caused by those that feel it’s their right for transference between the two. Not exactly an enemy but more of a united force of those not heeding the laws governing Caul. Under a strict self proclaimed sovereign the Fracture, led by Deimos and his warriors of Slips are a constant bane to the Oracle and her Sentinels. 7

Glancing about the temple with its burnished gold stone floors etched with round time pieces, roman numerals and mystical signs of the elements, extending out to pillars that formed the shape of an ancient hourglass with sparkling white sand that continuously flowed, and a sweeping view of Caul in every direction. He turns and as usual is awestruck by the sight of the pool. The Reflection Pool as it was known that centered the temple in its rectangular form and filled with a crystal fog that swirled in intricate designs and danced in and out of the chasing shadows. He had witness that same mist form into shapes of that which was to become and that could be read only by the Oracle of Time, as the fortune tellers of Earth attempt and sometimes succeed to see, he was reminded of just how far he had come and then his eyes returned to that which would know how much time he had left. He was the Seneschal, her protector and guardian and he loved her like a daughter. Yes, it was time. Time for change. He smiled because what made her heart fill with joy, did the like to him. 8

He watched as Meter rose from the pool with her flowing white hair and gold eyes, glancing at him she nods her head and walks from the Temple of Time. Her lavender robe billowing in the morning winds she disappeared in a swirling shower of iridescent mist, leaving him to his days duties. 9