Chapter 8.2
Katashi and Jaala made their way farther down into the valley. The occasional arching oak spread over a rise but for the most part they were surrounded by brown wildgrass, dried from a long summer, about hip height. Katashi likened it in his mind to wading through cobwebs as they closed in on a river that bisected the valley floor.
As they reached its edge, Jaala said, “Let’s walk its length and see if we can get around it–it can’t run from valley wall to valley wall.”
“There is a ford right there,” said Katashi, pointing. “Besides, this is undoubtedly the next test.”
Jaala peered oddly at his companion and then raised his hand in alarm. ” Wait. Shouldn’t we figure out how to overcome this before just stepping into the river?”
Katashi spoke as he continued moving onto the gravel bed of the ford, “Right action will either be ours or it won’t, no matter how long we dwell upon it.”
To Jaala’s credit he stepped into the river along with his companion, despite feelings tinctured distinctly with fear and uncertainty. The water began to rise past their calves to their knees, bubbling as it did so. At first Jaala thought that it may have simply been the natural course of things, but Katashi never had any doubt as it rose to their hips, practically frothing.
This elemental did not take a humanoid form as the last had although it did speak to them, “Aether-blind, you may have deceived my brother but here you do not belong.”
Katashi did not respond. He knew Wu-Wei would not serve him here–its guiding principle of emulating the essence of water would hardly defeat this foe. This test begged some fashion of counterpoint to the last. He needed help. Looking to Jaala, who impressively maintained his calm as he rapidly approached his end, he realized none would be forthcoming from that quarter. The pin!
Gripping Cuauhtemoc’s pin in his hand he thought what can defeat such a powerful element as water? The water, now at his neck, roiling furiously almost seemed to be boiling despite its cool feel. Perhaps that’s it. Concentrating intently, he gripped Jaala’s hand and then guided the latent energy of the pin to his will. He focused it on heating the water about them, not entirely understanding how he was doing it and hoping fervently that they were not harmed in the process.
As the water started to close over them, Katashi focused the frenzied energy and soon the water became so heated it started to vaporize around them and blow away in the constant wind that coursed through the valley. Still walking along the ford, Jaala asked in awe, “How–?”
He didn’t finish his question as the water coalesced and came crashing back over them.
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