Page 15 of Dark Shaman: Love Found
He would keep the vision's emotional core while blurring the details. The fire remained, but its source was ambiguous. The destruction stayed, but the perpetrators were unclear, hints rather than clear images. And through it all, he wove a thread of betrayal that was both true and misdirected.
When he released Navuh's hand, Eluheed let his breath shudder, adding a tremor to his voice. "My lord...what I saw..."
"Tell me." The command cracked like a whip.
"Fire," Eluheed said. "The island burning. Smoke so thick it chokes the sky, but it might be a metaphysical fire rather than real. Fire signifies betrayal, getting burned by someone you trust."
Navuh's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
"The vision wasn't clear on identity. But I sensed power that felt unnatural and was turned against you. Perhaps someone is dabbling in the black arts?"
The misdirection was an attempt to muddy the waters so Navuh wouldn't feel like Eluheed was leading him toward a certain conclusion.
The lord waved a dismissive hand. "I don't believe in voodoo or any of that nonsense. If someone is stabbing a doll that looks like me, the best they can hope for is a pricked finger."
Eluheed dipped his head. "With all due respect, my lord, I wouldn't be so dismissive of the black arts. Strong intentions can manifest in the real world. I've seen that with my own eyes."
Navuh looked exasperated. "Who then? One of my sons? My generals? Those on the island or those scattered around the world on missions?"
Eluheed closed his eyes. "The men in the vision wore uniforms. I didn't see their faces. I assume that those you send on missions abroad wear civilian clothing, so the perpetrators must be here on the island. They had an aura of superiority about them."
Hopefully, that would be enough to hint at the enhanced soldiers, but Navuh would interpret it through his own suspicious lens. Eluheed remained silent, letting Navuh's paranoia build its own narrative. It was safer than trying to direct it too specifically. The lord's mind would createmore elaborate conspiracies than Eluheed could ever suggest.
"Was there more?" Navuh demanded.
"The visions are rarely clear, my lord. They merely hint at things. I've gotten a sense of power coupled with patience. Whoever is planning this betrayal isn't about to attack immediately. It builds over time, gathering strength until the moment is right. I wouldn't be surprised if the flood was a test, a way to probe your defenses and see how you respond to a crisis."
"A test." Navuh's voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "They think to test me?"
The lord turned to his computer and pulled up some reports on the screen. His fingers flew across the keyboard with surprising speed for someone who hadn't grown up with such devices.
"Tell me about the ones with power," he said without looking up. "You said the betrayal comes from powerful warriors. What did you mean?"
Evidently, Navuh had not missed a single word of what Eluheed had said.
"The power seemed unnatural. It was as if they were using drugs."
Navuh's fingers stilled on the keyboard. "Continue."
"It made them delusional. Drugs can do that to people. They begin to see themselves as more than they are. The weak-minded especially become drunk on their perceived power.They forget gratitude, forget loyalty, and they only know that they are now strong enough to take what they want."
Hopefully, the vague reference to drugs had not revealed his hand. Navuh was a sharp guy who didn't miss much.
"Your description could match anyone in my military organization," Navuh said. "Are they all potential traitors?"
Eluheed needed to narrow it down. "The threat comes not from those who oppose you or your goals, but from those who believe they are your betters."
It was a delicate balance—specific enough to be useful, but hopefully vague enough to avoid suspicion. Eluheed watched Navuh process the information, saw the paranoid mind turning over possibilities.
"Was the betrayal successful?" Navuh asked.
"The vision ended in fire and smoke. The outcome was unclear. But I sensed that forewarned is forearmed. Knowing the threat exists may be enough to prevent it."
"That may be." Navuh's tone suggested he found little comfort in possibilities. "What's the timeline? You said it builds over time. Is it days, weeks, or years?"
"Time moves strangely in visions, my lord. But the sense I got was of a gathering storm. Not imminent, but not distant either. The kind of threat that requires vigilance rather than panic."
"I'm always vigilant," Navuh said.
