The Island of Kahayjo, The Temple of Askarnia

Ancient vines meandered their ways through the temple halls, wrapping themselves around the white marble columns, the plant’s little green leaves surrounding pink and yellow flowers in full bloom. A soft, cool breeze whistled gently through the immaculately kept gardens. The temple was situated high on a cliff top, overlooking the great expanse of the sparkling Caribbean sea. As far as the eye could see, the horizon was empty of life, ships and any other land. Below, the sea lapped at the sheer face of the cliff, foam spraying and floating on the wind. Ivory sand beaches, lined with palm trees who’s branches were swaying gently from side to side, encircled the island paradise. From the crystal clear shore waters steadily rose three mountains. It was on the tallest of the trio of mountains that the Temple of Askarnia was situated, hidden away from the outside world for centuries now. The island contained forests, lagoons, waterfalls, an abundance of food and fresh water. It’s beauty was truly other-wordly and mystical.

Taora walked up the stairs to the main temple entrance, returning from exploring the island. She had spent the morning swimming in the large lagoon on the other side of the mountain, then had moved on to bath in the river nearer to the shore. She had been delighted when the dolphins had swan upriver to greet her. Taora had spent several hours playing with the beautiful sea creatures, laughing and giggling at their tricks and games. Birds had flocked to sit in the trees lining the winding, zigzagging river to watch the spectacle and call out to the lovely young woman. Not yet being a fully-fledged priestess of the Order of Askarnia, Taora had the luxury of being able to spend quite a few of her days with her animals friends, far away from the temple itself. Though come the Winter Equinox when she would take her vows and forever bind herself to the temple she would have less time available for such pastimes. However, becoming a priestess would mean never leaving the island of Kahayjo and therefore forever having a home, so Taora was actually very glad.

At this time of day, the time when the darkness of the night was just starting to seep into the vibrant blue of the sky, the priestesses were offering prayers to the gods on the mountain top. Taora was the only non-priestess and until she had taken her vows, would not be able to join them. As such, the beautiful young woman had decided to offer thanks to the gods in the temple halls, an act she had done thousands of times before and would repeat countless times in the future to come. Taora would forever be grateful that she gods had seen fit to save her for it meant that something in her was worthy was this new life they had given to her on Kahayjo.

Smiling at the soft birdsong that she could hear, Taora came to the statue of Honikalaea, the guardian of Kahayjo and the one responsible for who came to its shores. The exquisite statue stood in the middle of a pool of water. Taora fetched a glass and dipped it into the cool liquid, before bringing it to her lips and drinking. Then, she knelt down before the statue, bowed her head and silently prayed.

WHAM!

"That'll teach ya, you bloody scumbag," the young man spat as Gideon saw stars. He stared up at the darkening sky, trying to wonder about what just happened. He wasn't completely sure on the whole thing. One minute, he had been chatting up the young cute barmaid and the next, he was flat on his back out in the street. Gideon sat up, placing his arms between his legs like a little child and blinked slowly as the rain water dripped down into his face. He just shook his head and stumbled to his feet, the weight of the blow and how drunk he was overtaking him. The barely lit street gleamed in front of him as he headed down toward the docks, but as he walked, he asked himself more than once, "Where did my life go?"

He was formerly one of the most feared and respected captains on the high seas. Now he was a lowly deck hand, reduced to tending his own ship without a crew all because of one minor mistake. He growled as he thought of the pirate lords. They would take him back if he pulled of a heist. An amazing heist. One that would bring all of them much money and fame and power. But unfortunately, there were only legends of places like that. He stumbled the rest of the way down the street.

"I recognize a man down on his luck when I see one," a loud voice came from nearby and Gideon glanced up. Over on the side, he noticed an older man, leaning up against a wall. Stepping out into the moonlight, he saw the grimy beard and recognized the hard eyes of Fingerless Joe Jack, one of the stranger pirates on the high seas. Gideon just rolled his eyes, but hopefully unnoticeable to Fingerless Joe. "'ello Gold."

"Jack," Gideon said, narrowing his eyes. "And why would you want to help me? I 'ear you help no one but yourself."

Joe cackled maniacally and moved in closer. Gideon's hand immediately when to his saber and Joe held up his hands, laughing loudly again. "Steady, boy. I mean ya no 'arm. I just want to tell you about a little temple, on an island, not too far from here." Joe reached into his bag and pulled out a map. "You see, there is an ancient temple just a week's trip yonder east. Inside, there is a golden statue, very small, but worth a lot of month, especially to the British as a bargaining tool to the Order of Askarnia, the women who guard the temple and who's people live on the island. If you were to steal the statue and take it to the pirate lords, I am almost sure that you would be reinstated in the legion."

Gideon, as Joe told the story, smiled widely and said, "May I take the map then?"

Joe cackled again. "Only if I get a piece of the loot. Whatever cut the pirate lords give ya, I want a fourth."

Nodding slowly, Gideon took the map as it was handed over to him, but he smirked in his mind. They hadn't shook on it, therefore, a deal was not struck. Gideon waved the map at him before taking off down the dock to his boat. He climbed aboard, gripped the slick wooden ladder with his thin fingernails and hoisted himself up overboard. He slid across the slick wood and headed to the wheel of the boat. He smirked again. It was time to get his position back.

Taora prayed to the goddess Honikalaea for a couple of hours, thanking her for saving her from the shipwreck several years ago and bringing her to the shores of Kahayjo for the umpteenth time. When she had finished, she noticed that the light of the day had dimmed considerably and went about lighting the torches around the temple, ready for when the other priestesses would return from the mountain top. There were several fountains and pools dotted around the temples. With the torches now lit, the light of their flames flickered off the water and cast fluttering images on to the walls. The only room Taora didn’t enter the secluded room at the very back of the temple for she was forbidden to. Only once she had taken her sacred vows and become a priestess of the Order of Askarnia would she be allowed she see what the mysterious room held. She did know that the room only had three walls. Where the forth should have been there was instead a long, sharp drop down to the sea below.

The entire temple was very quiet, with Taora being the only person currently there. She came to stand at the main entrance to the magnificent, ancient temple and learned gently against one of the marble columns. The beautiful young woman closed her eyes and listened to the lovely sounds of the singing birds, the lapping of the waves against the cliff and beach shore and the breeze causing the leaves of the trees to rustling against each other.

Taora greatly enjoyed the quiet solitude of the hidden world that was the island of Kahayjo. Here lay an entire paradise that only a handful of people would ever see - and she felt so honoured that the gods thought she was worthy of being one of those lucky individuals. Only by the divine will of the heavens were sailors ever able to reach the shores of Kahayjo. Though none of them had ever been able to find the temple when they had ventured inland for supplies. Furthermore no sailor could ever find the cornucopia of an island again. Taora loved the island dearly and would not see it or her precious temple exploited for its natural resources and riches. The greed of the outside world would not soil or spoil her magical world if she could do anything about it.

A sudden feeling erupted within the young woman’s chest, surprising her greatly. It wasn’t fear - anticipation maybe? Taora frowned, wondering what the sensation could mean. Where the gods trying to tell her that something was coming? Would it be good or bad? And what did she have to do with it? Not able to confide in her superiors at the temple, Taora went to pray to the Twins. The Twins were Mako and Jasni, the son and daughter of Honikalaea. Like their guardian mother, the Twins protected Kahayjo island. Mako patrolled the ivory beaches and cliffs in the form of a large jungle cat, while his sister Jasni flew overhead in form of a gull and circled the trio of mountains. Taora knew they would be the first ones to see anything or anyone approaching the island and therefore went straight to them for advise.