OUTSIDE THE TWINNED CITIES

JANUAE

What just happened? A moment ago I was speaking with the Bishop in the Durkahl. I was in chains… then the Ustiliator… why did it come? And where is it now? Where did it bring me? I don’t understand this at all.

Okay, now to do this all over again, get my bearings and all. At least the chains are gone now, but how did it…? I see a city a short distance away… or actually two identical cities with a valley running between. Each city is a precise mirror of the other, a great tower extending upward from the center of each, surrounded by a mounding metropolis at its base. As each appears to support a population in the tens of thousands, I might guess I’m still in the Steadfast, but of course I can’t be sure.

 Wait… perhaps it is just one city reflected across the valley somehow. I can see my own reflection as well here in this valley, so… Is there some sort of mirrored surface extending along it? I’m going to take a closer look…

Oh my… I don’t remember the last time I saw myself in a mirror. I’ve certainly seen better days. I wish I could have at least gotten cleaned up a bit before the Ustiliator came and… did whatever it did. At least I could have gotten out of these clothes that-

That’s odd. Why does it appear as if I’m standing still though I’m still walking towards my reflection? Something is not right…

DOUBLE

Hello? Hello? Am I seeing things or are you actually there?

JANUAE

What is this? Am I losing my mind? I swear my reflection is…

Hello? Hello there. Who are you?

DOUBLE

I am Januae. Who are you? Or what are you? Some creature with the ability to-

JANUAE

I am Januae. I don’t know who or what you are and what you’re trying to do but-

JANUAE AND DOUBLE

Don’t come any closer!

(there is a beat)

JANUAE

What are you?

DOUBLE

I ask you the same.

JANUAE

I am Januae, as I said-

DOUBLE

You claim to be Januae, but I am Januae, so you cannot be- am I losing my mind?

JANUAE

Perhaps I’m the one losing my mind and you are a manifestation of my insanity…

DOUBLE

Alright, approach. I need to touch you to be sure. Slowly…

JANUAE

You feel real enough. But this can’t be possible. You are mimicking my appearance far too well, even the slightest tears in my clothing, the stains of dirt…

DOUBLE

The scars, the hair disheveled precisely the same way. I ask you again… what are you? I assure you I am Januae, so you can’t possibly be…

JANUAE

I assure you I am.

(after a pause)

It seems we are at an empasse. Let’s think like the Aeon Priests that we are- or that I am, at least. Where did you just come from?

DOUBLE

I was standing before Bishop Kliambala attempting to get her to convince the Amber Pope not to invade Lostrei. So tell me this: have you ever been to Lostrei?

JANUAE

Of course, it was the first place I teleported to. Then what was the name of the leader of the Halites?

DOUBLE

Gabra, of course. And the name of the Aeon Priest who…

JANUAE

Whose clothes we wear?

DOUBLE

Yes, who… the one I…

JANUAE

The one we…

JANUAE AND DOUBLE

Lowen.

(there is a moment of silence)

JANUAE

No one else could possibly know about what happened with Lowen.

DOUBLE

Indeed.

JANUAE

This is the doings of that Ustiliator.

DOUBLE

Yes, but to what end? What does it want? Why would it do this, create two of us? At least, I assume the Ustiliator did this to us.

JANUAE

Yes, that is my assumption as well. This did not happen until it caused me, well, us to jaunt. It appears we share the same history, memories, experiences-

DOUBLE

Precisely. We were the same person divided into two by that thing.

JANUAE

Whatever it is.

DOUBLE

I still haven’t ruled out that I’ve lost my bearings, that you are an hallucination…

JANUAE

Nor have I. I had nearly gone mad in the looped realm.

DOUBLE

I know all too well. How do we validate-

JANUAE

You see that? Someone’s approaching us. See them, on the aneen? We need a third party to validate this experience for us.

DOUBLE

Provided we are not imagining the third party.

JANUAE

Do you see them approaching?

DOUBLE

Of course, but-

JANUAE

Then there is your validation.

DOUBLE

That is no validation. If we both see it but we are both insane, meaning one of us isn’t real, it validates nothing.

JANUAE

If we are both insane, then there is no “both” of us. There is only one of us hallucinating on both of our behalves.

DOUBLE

If there is no “both” of us, then why would you say “if we are both insane”?

JANUAE

Is this what having a conversation with me is like? If so, it is quite frustrating.

DOUBLE

Hey there… excuse me… can I ask you a question?

MOLOUM

Of course. What is your question?

DOUBLE

How many of me do you see?

MOLOUM

I see one of you-

DOUBLE

I was afraid of that-

MOLOUM

And another that looks exactly like you.

JANUAE

That is a relief…

DOUBLE

Thank the prior worlds…

MOLOUM

This is rather auspicious, meeting you two. Twins are indeed revered here-

JANUAE

Actually, technically we’re not twins-

MOLOUM

-but you two are more than just twins, I can see. You are identical in every way! You have been blessed by the Mirrored Gods!

(with a sudden idea)

Perhaps you would be willing to accompany me to speak with the Reverent Shoum? She will understand the meaning of your arrival! I hope you have nowhere pressing to be…

DOUBLE

No, we just arrived.

JANUAE

We have no idea where we even are.

MOLOUM

You are outside the twin cities of Jargolamis and Luigolamis. I am called Moloum. What are your names and where are you from?

JANUAE AND DOUBLE

I am Januae.

JANUAE

We are actually the same person but we became separated when we jaunted here.

DOUBLE

(simultaneously)

We are both Januae. We share the same past, that is, up until we were brought here.

MOLOUM

Hold on… I’m having trouble understanding. Did you say you were the same person?

JANUAE AND DOUBLE

Yes.

MOLOUM

Until you came here?

JANUAE

Yes

DOUBLE

That is correct.

MOLOUM

What brought you here?

DOUBLE

(sighs)

It’s a long story. I- we travel randomly.

JANUAE

We jaunt places.

DOUBLE

Uncontrollably. We wish to find a way to control it.

JANUAE

And once we do, maybe figure out a way to keep the Amber Pope from launching his crusade against the Gaians…

DOUBLE

(to Januae)

Which would require us to be able to control the jaunting. Any effort to deal with the Amber Pope’s plans will be futile if we can’t control-

JANUAE

It could take years for us to figure it out, that is, if we even can. Meanwhile, Durranet decimates the Spiritlands-

DOUBLE

Durranet hasn’t even found a way to reach the Spiritlands, not at this juncture. That’s what he wants me for-

JANUAE

That’s what he wants us for-

DOUBLE

Whatever. You know what I mean. And don’t say ‘You know what we mean’…

JANUAE

Why would I say that? That doesn’t even make sense.

MOLOUM

Excuse me… might I suggest allowing me to take you to see Reverent Shoum? I believe she could perhaps shed some insight into this interesting situation of yours.

DOUBLE

I suppose we have nothing to lose.

JANUAE

Nothing but time. Is she connected to the ruler of this… what is this land? Are we in the Steadfast?

MOLOUM

Of course. This land is the Pytharon Empire.

JANUAE

I know of it- we know of it. Ruled by Challadien II.

MOLOUM

Challadien III actually, the niece of the aforementioned.

JANUAE

If your reverent can find us a way to secure an audience with Challadien…

MOLOUM

The Reverent Shoum does not involve herself with matters of politics. As an outseer, she is devoted to spiritual matters. She may well have insight into your condition. If you wish to find your way into the political realms you ought to speak with Paramount Selm. She has the ear of Challadien.

JANUAE AND DOUBLE

We would like to speak with her.

JANUAE

Then if Selm can secure us an audience with this Challadien we would be most grateful. Time is of the essence if we want to find a way to stop this crusade.

DOUBLE

Make no mistake, my new twin. I would very much like to see the Amber Pope’s plans thwarted as well. However, if we can’t control where we go and when at any given moment, any effort we make toward this will be fruitless.

JANUAE

Not necessarily. With each location we arrive in, we have an opportunity to enlighten people on the truth of this propaganda tool. If we can reach the most influential people in each land we arrive in, we can-

DOUBLE

Your assumption is that our jaunting will be limited to the Steadfast. Let me remind you that we recently found ourselves in the Beyond. As in the Salted Marshes…?

MOLOUM

Pardon my interruption again, but is there no reason you can’t do both? You go to see the Reverent while you go to see the Paramount?

DOUBLE

That is a prudent plan.

JANUAE

I am agreeable to that.

MOLOUM

Then you can figure out where to rendezvous after your respective meetings.

After a couple of beats

JANUAE

I don’t see any reason why we need to meet up afterwards.

DOUBLE

Agreed. I don’t think that will be necessary.

MOLOUM

But you can-

DOUBLE

I’m really finding I don’t much prefer my own company.

JANUAE

I’m not in agreement with you on what our next move should be, but of this, I am in agreement.

MOLOUM

You can find the Reverent in Jargolamis. The Paramount resides in Luigolamis.

JANUAE

Well then, lead the way.

DOUBLE

Moloum offered to take us to see the Reverent. I am taking them up on their offer. You are on your own.

MOLOUM

Actually, you’re both on your own.

DOUBLE

Wait, I thought you were-

MOLOUM

I don’t think so. You can find your way. That city is Jargolamis and that one is Luigolamis. Anyone in either city can direct you to whomever you need to see. I must be on my way.

JANUAE

Hold on, you-

MOLOUM

Farewell, twins.

The two JANUAEs watch MOLOUM as he mounts his aneen and departs.

JANUAE

Well done, Januae. You did a fine job of driving off a perfectly good escort.

DOUBLE

Or as you like to say, we did a fine job of driving him off.

NARRATION

JANUAE

We parted without even a farewell, eager to be out of the company of one another. As I headed towards Jargolamis to see the Reverent, I took the time to reflect on our brief encounter. Was I that disagreeable, that difficult to deal with? Or would anyone dealing with their doppelganger discover the same intolerance toward them? And although we are, for all intents and purposes the same person, why are our motives so different? Why are we each compelled to take a different path? Perhaps we will reunite in some fashion, maybe when he wises up and realizes he will accomplish nothing while having no control over the jaunting. If the day comes when we do reunite, perhaps he will have at least learned to be less aggravating.

In the meantime, I sincerely hope this Reverent can provide some answers, or better yet, some remedy to my jaunting condition.