01 Taxilas Children

TAXILA'S CHILDREN
"Ask Taxila!"
"I thought I was!"
Steve shook his head in exasperation.
"Do you think we could stop these bloody stupid word games? Whatever keeps coming to
the surface in me is unnerving enough without having to contend with you being a clever
bastard!"
Danyk got up and left the room without answering. Steve sighed and shook his head. The
feeling of the impossibility of a relationship with the cat man was amplified. He followed him
out into the manicured gardens in front of the temple. Danyk had crooned a command to his
Vix, which had been grazing off the immaculate ground cover. He mounted silently and
looked down at Steve.
"I will meet Zayez and escort him here."
Steve nodded and watched the Vix amble across the intervening ground to the access arch.
He fingered the Pentacles suspended from his neck. Zayez would be nearing the closed
entrance and it was time for the portal to be opened. Suddenly, he wondered what Taxila
would want with Pentacles, his power alone was sufficient to transmute the material of the
wall into energy and permit the passing of the All Wise and his two companions.
When Danyk re-emerged from the inner arch, he had dismounted. His Vix wandered off to
resume grazing. The scrawny figure of Zayez was supported by his two Adepts. Danyk
walked slowly in front of them, as if he was leading a procession. Steve descended to the
bottom of the steps and waited until Zayez faced him. The old man's face was animated with
excitement and anticipation. He was also wary of the blue-eyed Scarn who was capable of
inflicting such mayhem on the highest Adepts of the School.
"Greetings, Steve Holt."
"Greetings, Master and Adepts. Welcome to the Temple of the Image. Welcome to the
dwelling place of Taxila!"
Zayez straightened and his eyes widened, he gazed intently into those of the stranger from
beyond the stars. Once again, Steve felt his innermost self searched. It was something he
didn't resist. If anyone could provide answers, it would have to be the All Wise.
"Shall we enter, Father Zayez?"
It was Danyk who made the suggestion. They climbed the steps slowly and entered into the
shade of the main chamber. Steve stepped aside and let the newcomers precede him. The old
man moved slowly to the edge of the transparent Pentagram and read the name. After a long
pause, he walked around the edge towards the head. Once again, he stopped, absorbed in
thought. Steve advanced to the base of the Pentagram. Zayez turned in his direction and once
again, Steve was aware of a deep probing into his mind. The interrogation was prolonged,
although Steve wasn't conscious of the physical passing of time. He was also not conscious of
what Zayez read within him.
The old Master turned abruptly and walked to the living quarters. The two Adepts, Danyk
and Steve followed. The All Wise eased down into a chair and gestured for them to do the
same. He turned to Danyk.
"Tell me, my son, exactly what took place in your father's house when Steve Holt
confronted Rho Arpor."
Danyk allowed his thoughts to flow in the silence which followed. Zayez answered
verbally.
"If I understand you correctly, Danyk. Rho Arpor and his ten Adept companions inflicted a
mind trauma upon Steve Holt, and you were the instrument which repaired the conscious
mind. You drew from deep within the psyche, upon latent forces in the subconscious?"
"That is correct, Father Zayez."
The old man sighed and nodded.
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