ã€ŠThree Moons on a Midnight - Book One of The Sword of Heavenã€‹


 Chapter One: Demonspawn

    There was a brilliant glow in the northwest, despite the dark clouds that covered the moons. Noshi squinted into the freezing wind and shouted through his woolen mask for his dogs to pull the sled faster. The shout did no good, of course, but it made Noshi feel a bit better. He could hear similar useless shouts coming from Sungnan¡¯s sled on his left and Bejo¡¯s on his right. Something was spooking the dogs. Even though they ran as commanded, they acted skittish. Noshi could feel it too; it was as if something strange, something heavy were in the air.

    The Hahnin traders knew that the bright glow they were headed toward was not a fire. There wasn¡¯t anything that burned in the Frozen Waste besides seal blubber. And it was the wrong time of year for the Lights of the Vessel which, at their best, lit the sky dimly, casting only a pale blue-green gleam on the flat, frozen ground. The glow before them was orange and bright enough to be seen for lis around. Bright enough to give light to the sharp eyes of the sled dogs, otherwise none of the traders would have made this trip. Whatever it was, it stank ¡ª there was the strong smell of an untended garbage dump that overpowered the familiar stink of furs and dogs. The stench got stronger the farther north they went.

    None of these conditions promised good fortune and Noshi was uncomfortable with the journey Bejo had forced upon him and his brother. Bejo had argued that there was almost certainly profit to be made by investigating the bizarre light, and all of their families could use more profit. Profit or no, Noshi continued to feel the unpleasant heaviness in the air ¨C air that should have been bitterly cold, but for some reason had none of the sting of the arctic winds he was used to. Something was very wrong.

    The dogs yelped in terror and Noshi felt himself flying. Water was over Noshi¡¯s head before he realized he was sinking. Years of conditioning kept him from breathing in freezing waters, but his heavy furs and woolen underwear threatened to drag him down to the bottom of the frozen sea. He thrashed about, trying to stay near the surface and rip off his furs at the same time. After what seemed like hours, he succeeded and fought his way towards the air.

    His lungs should have burned with a cold fire as he gasped in the freezing night air, but they didn¡¯t. Warm air came easily down his throat, but nearly gagged him with its stench. Noshi opened his eyes and looked frantically around for his companions and his dogs. The water, he realized as he searched, wasn¡¯t a bit cold. There were bits of dark things floating in the black liquid and he wondered if he¡¯d blindly tumbled into that rotting garbage dump he¡¯d smelled.

    As he bobbed about in the dark pool, Noshi saw Bejo standing by the water¡¯s edge near his sled, a stunned look in his flat eyes. Sungnan was nowhere to be found. Noshi also saw nothing of his own dogs or sled and came to the sad conclusion that the one had probably dragged the others to their deaths.

    ¡°Saram sallyo!¡± Noshi called to Bejo in the ancient way: Save me! Bejo blinked steadily without moving. Noshi had to repeat the call four times before his friend came to his senses and threw a rope into the too-warm water. In a few moments, Noshi was standing on solid ice again, dressed only in soaking underwear, shivering in a wind that was cold, but not nearly as cold as it should have been.

    ¡°Sungnan?¡± Noshi asked quietly. Bejo dropped his eyes and shook his head slowly, as if in a daze. He should have felt unbearable sadness at the loss of his only brother, but Noshi was numb and confused. Suddenly, though, he got angry. He grabbed Bejo by the front of his furs and shook him harshly.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you?¡± Noshi demanded through chattering teeth. ¡°I could have died out there along with my brother and you wouldn¡¯t have noticed! Give me some dry furs before I freeze to death!¡±

    ¡°Look,¡± said his friend, pointing northward with a trembling finger, oblivious of Noshi''s anger. Noshi turned and gasped.

    A lone mountain stood in the Frozen Waste where there had been no mountain the day before. It was tall and black and perfectly cone-shaped. The glow the Traders had been following was coming from the summit of the mountain: an intensely bright, liquid light which flowed in burning streams down the mountain and onto the ice flats. Where the light met the ice, enormous clouds billowed noisily ¡ª clouds that had hidden the mountain from sight until they were right on top of it. In fact, there was no ice at the base of the mountain, but lis and lis of liquid water. This impossible mountain was at the center of an impossible lake.

    ¡°No profit to be made on this trip,¡± Noshi lamented. ¡°Only loss and sadness. Come, let¡¯s go home. Quickly, before the ice under us gives way or this stink sickens me.¡±

    ¡°If it is profit you are seeking, Noble Traders, I offer help.¡±

    Both traders screamed and whirled toward the voice from the darkness. Bejo shakily pulled his long bone knife. ¡°Show yourself!¡± he demanded, though his voice held more fear than command.

    ¡°Of course, Great Ones.¡±

    A figure emerged from the blackness into the orange glow of the magical mountain behind them. He was tall and white-skinned and appeared to be a Glishman. He was dressed in nothing more than a loose white shirt and billowing britches of the same wispy white material, yet he seemed to be warm enough. On his head, he wore a close-fitting hat, a dome of dull, silvery metal.

    ¡°Be at peace, Children of the Noble Race. I am your friend,¡± the man said in perfect Hahno. Noshi had met Glishmen who could speak Hahno, but not like this; this man spoke in a very ancient dialect that was now used only when recounting the myths.

    ¡°Stop where you are!¡± Bejo barked, brandishing his knife, more firmly now. The Glishman complied with a formal bow. Bejo¡¯s sled dogs, who had been nervously yapping up until now, suddenly fell completely silent. Several of them sat stiffly and correctly on their haunches, as if commanded to do so. Noshi felt sick to his stomach, and not because of the horrid stink in the air. ¡°What do you want with us?¡± his friend demanded of the newcomer.

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    ¡°Only to help you, Exalted Children of Hahn.¡± His voice was pleasant and he used very high honorifics on the two traders. Somehow, despite these horrible circumstances, his voice comforted Noshi and, strangely, made him feel important.

    ¡°How?¡± asked Bejo, his knife now lowered to his side.

    ¡°I am a humble trader, like yourselves, though my efforts are sadly lacking compared to yours.¡± Noshi''s eyes narrowed and he threw a suspicious look at Bejo. Who had ever heard of a Glishman trader? ¡°I was traveling across the Waste to Glish with a load of precious gems when my caravan ran across this cursed lake. I seem to be the only survivor of our ordeal and I would certainly have frozen to death if not for the warmth of yon fire mountain. I submissively petition your noble help and ask humbly if you would allow me the pleasure of riding with you on your return home.¡±

    ¡°Why should we trust you?¡± asked Noshi, finally finding his voice.

    ¡°Trust has nothing to do with it, Honorable Trader.¡± The Glishman produced a pack he¡¯d been carrying on his back and opened it. ¡°I shall willingly give you my entire supply of gems in return for this undeserved favor.¡± Turning the pack over, he spilled the contents on the ice: a dozen fist-sized crystals, some smooth and round, others jagged and glistening, each glowing with its own color. They looked nothing like any of the gems or Crystals the traders had ever seen. Instinctively, they moved forward to get a better look.

    ¡°Please, handle them. Feel the quality of the gems for yourselves.¡± The Glishman picked up a smooth, red-colored crystal ball and tossed it at Noshi who caught it without thinking. Instantly, he was paralyzed ¡ª totally unable to move or talk. Yet, he did move. He could feel his body moving, standing up straight and gazing out at the others with a demeaning look, but he had no control over the movements at all.

    ¡°This one has not been Endowed,¡± said Noshi¡¯s voice in a language Noshi had never heard before, but somehow understood. ¡°Verbal communication will be necessary.¡±

    ¡°As you wish, Master,¡± said the Glishman in the same strange language.

    ¡°What did you say, Noshi?¡± Bejo asked in Hahno, still looking at the gem in his friend¡¯s hands. ¡°It is a ruby? It doesn''t look like one of the Light Crystals.¡±

    Noshi felt himself caress his own hands, face, arms and legs. ¡°Yes, a perfect package to transport me to my new home.¡±

    ¡°Noshi?¡± Bejo¡¯s face was turning white and there was fear in his eyes as he looked at his friend. His hands began trembling again. ¡°Noshi, what¡¯s wrong? I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying.¡±

    ¡°Dispose of this one, Valen,¡± said Noshi¡¯s voice in the new tongue. ¡°He annoys me, and I¡¯m sure the Budmother is still hungry.¡±

    ¡°As you command, Nilrem,¡± said the Glishman in the same, strange language.

    ¡°What is going on?¡± asked Bejo, raising his shaky knife again. ¡°What are you two saying?¡±

    ¡°Nothing that concerns you, food,¡± said the Glishman in the lowest, most insulting Hahno possible. He pointed a finger at Bejo and an unseen force lifted the trader high in the air and pushed him over the water of the magical lake. Neither Noshi nor the Glishman blinked an eye when a tentacle, blacker than night and thicker than a man¡¯s waste shot out of the water and wrapped its gleaming length around Bejo¡¯s screaming, thrashing body. A second tentacle emerged slowly from the dark waters, snaking its way to the trader as he watched, unable to do anything but shriek, as it grabbed his legs and pulled him in half, spilling a dark shower of blood into the roiling waters below. A wave of the putrid stench swept over Noshi; the being who was controlling his movements covered Noshi¡¯s mouth and nose. Bejo was pulled beneath the waters so quickly that he seemed to simply vanish in a cloud of spray and a clap of thunder.

    ¡°Don¡¯t feed the dogs to her,¡± said Nilrem in Noshi¡¯s voice. ¡°I require them, for the time being. You remain here and supervise the construction of the Fortress. Give the other Incarnates to me.¡± Valen bowed, replaced the strange gems in the pack. He then handed the pack over to Noshi¡¯s body, which took it and slung it over his back.

    ¡°I despise this spoken language,¡± snarled Valen. ¡°It is so slow and imprecise. How shall we know when you are settled?¡±

    ¡°It is not your concern!¡± Noshi¡¯s voice snapped. ¡°Finish the Fortress. I shall send sustenance for the Budmother. The mind of this one holds the memory of a village south of here that should do nicely for food stock. Once she is strong enough, her children will be able to feed her by themselves ¡ª and serve us.¡± Noshi¡¯s lips curled in a wicked grin.

    ¡°As you wish, Nilrem.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a good Servant, Valen.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Master.¡±

    Nilrem paused. Noshi could feel his possessor¡¯s uneasiness and ¡­ was that fear?

    ¡°We are being watched,¡± Nilrem said, quietly, almost in a whisper. ¡°Someone far away,¡± he murmured. ¡°A woman, I believe. What the fools on this world call a crystal witch.¡±

    ¡°Shall I pursue her?¡± Valen asked.

    Noshi felt his head shake quickly, as if to clear his mind. ¡°No. It does not matter. Let her watch. Let her see what is coming. There is nothing she can do to stop us.¡± As Nilrem spoke, Noshi had a vision of what was to come, of hordes of slimy creatures devouring all life in every direction across the entire world and all people who did not wish to become fodder for the budmother bowing and scaping to Nilrem and his magicians. If Noshi could have shuddered and vomited, he would have.

    ¡°I shall require some assistance, Valen. Half-a-dozen foot soldiers should do.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell the Budmother.¡± The false Glishman closed his eyes and tilted his head backwards, as if falling asleep standing up. Noshi noticed ragged pieces of skin that hung in small patches around the dull silver dome on his head as he leaned it back and realized that Valen was not wearing a metal cap at all: what he was seeing was the Glishman¡¯s unnatural metal skull protruding through his flesh.

    Almost instantly, the dark waters began to boil and stir. One at a time, things began crawling from the oily black lake. Once on the ice, the things began to walk upright, like men, but much taller and covered in heavy black scales. Each had the face, claws and tail of a lizard. Their eyes glowed yellow around the vertical slits of their pupils, and they stank even worse than the filthy waters that had spewed them out. Quickly, they gathered about the sled.

    Noshi¡¯s body nodded at Valen, secured the pack of gems to Bejo¡¯s sled, and took its place at the rear of the sled. The dogs obeyed him without question and pulled him south toward the trader village ¨C toward home. The lizard things followed at an easy gallop using all four legs, taking noisy, liquid breaths in the freezing air. Noshi knew what would happen to the village when they arrived. He knew what would become of his brother¡¯s family and his own wife and three young sons. He saw their faces in his mind, as they were when he left them: happy, content, and playful. Then he saw them screaming, bleeding, dying in agony and horror. He wondered if that last bit were his own fears or if Nilrem were torturing him with the images.

    Noshi screamed the entire trip, but no one could hear him, not even the dogs. Somehow, though, he knew that Nilrem heard his screams. And he knew that Nilrem relished each and every sound.

 Chapter Two: The Crystal Witch

    Everyone in Hylan had heard the rumor that Ekatern was a crystal witch. Whispered voices said she had the power to make dead crystals glow again and to induce glowing crystals to perform unnatural feats. Local legends held that she had built a wagon with crystal wheels that required no horses or llamas to pull it, or that she had woven tiny crystals into a small carpet that could fly her to far-off places in the wink of an eye. Other stories told of vast treasures of crystals of all shapes, sizes, and colors, buried deep under her mansion. And there were those tales told in darkness - gruesome tales about trances she cast upon unwary travelers to make them her undead slaves, of her hunger for the tender flesh of babies, and even of a third eye hidden behind her brightly colored scarves. An eye that could foresee death ¨C and perhaps cause it.

    Ekatern was the most feared woman in the village. She was also, by far, the wealthiest. So, when her servant women sent word that she was hiring youngsters at an unheard-of salary to prepare her large, old house for the annual Feast of the Vessel, no one hesitated to bundle off their precious children to the old witch¡¯s home with great haste. Xahn¡¯s father was no exception, despite his very vocal distaste of the old woman. The Vessel knew he needed the money as much as anyone else.

    Xahn Starai knew the stories as well as any other young man in the village, but he did not believe them ¨C not most of them, anyway. Even a lanky fourteen-year-old boy could see that many of them just did not make sense. If Ekatern had a host of undead slaves, for instance, why did she hire village woman to clean her house and do her shopping in the marketplace each week? And if she had a fortune in crystals hidden beneath her home, why was her large house ¨C which sat on a hill, overlooking the town ¨C always in such disrepair? True, she was ancient ¨C Xahn¡¯s father claimed his own grandsire had spoken of her. But advanced age alone did not make her a witch.

    So, with more curiosity than foreboding, Xahn took his twin sister Dahn by the hand and went to Clayton Field in the northeast corner of the Hylan village square, just before sun-up, along with a throng of others near their age and younger. All the children were dressed alike: gray tunics, trousers, and dresses of rough, home-spun llama wool. Some parents had made half-hearted attempts to add color to their children¡¯s clothing by soaking them in red, green, or blue dyes made from local plants, which faded quickly, looking worse than the natural gray. Others had added pictures stitched with colored thread to offset the drabness of the garments. But, in general, the children looked the same, anyway. Even Dahn and Xahn, whose father harvested the village wool from the family¡¯s own llamas, were adorned in nothing special. Only the large, floppy hats their father had woven from straw made them stand out. And the fact that neither of them carried any visible crystals on their persons ¨C not even on a finger ring.

    It was a cool but bright autumn morning, the sun just cresting the jagged brown peaks to the east, bathing the witch¡¯s boxy old wood and stone monstrosity atop the hill in a golden glow. The square house had obviously been built a very long time ago from local materials: the foundation and facade of brown stones, each about the size of man''s head, cut roughly but neatly from the surrounding mountainside; the boxy main structure, the gables, and the single tall, empty bell tower constructed of graying redwood. Rotting pine shutters framed the high windows, some hanging from a single bent hinge, and others missing entirely.

    The two most impressive features of the house, though, were on the ground floor. The most visible was the enormous front door. Formed from a single massive piece of wood, easily three times the height of a tall man and wide enough for five adults to walk through it abreast, it was intricately carved with whirls and patterns that were visible from the village. Perhaps it was made from one of the few giant redwoods in the Sep¡¯g Wood to the east of Hylan. Long ago, those swirling carvings that covered every visible inch of the door had been slathered in a thick lacquer that had once been bright red but had since faded almost to brown, just a bit redder than the surrounding stones. In the center of the door was a golden doorknob, surrounded by a sixteen-pointed star, also made of gold, which was still bright and shiny as new.

    The second feature, which everyone in the village knew about, but couldn¡¯t see from this distance, was the fence. Made of thick wrought iron posts half as tall as the bell tower and set far enough apart that the smaller children could easily pass between them, the fence surrounded the house only a few paces away from its walls. The dirt road leading from Hylan Square up the hill to Ekatern¡¯s house passed through the fence¡¯s two large wrought iron gates. This morning, the gates stood open, though they were more often shut. Xahn had always been confused about why the gates were ever closed at all, because anyone who wanted could probably squeeze between the widely-placed fence posts, whether the gates were open or not.

    ¡°Think this is worth the handful of whites we¡¯ll get for the job?¡± a voice whispered in Xahn¡¯s ear, and he smiled back at his best friend. Stocky and not quite as tall as Xahn, Wyll Helper was a bubbly, pleasant boy who possessed a round face full of freckles and a thick shock of bright red hair that always stood upright except for twice a year when his mother shaved it off. As usual, Wyll couldn¡¯t resist an adventure or the chance to complain about it.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care how much we¡¯re paid,¡± replied Dahn, softly, having heard Wyll¡¯s whisper to Xahn. ¡°That witch scares me. I¡¯d rather stay home.¡± She absently adjusted the floppy hat on her long, black hair while tightening her grip on her brother¡¯s hand.

    ¡°We all need the money,¡± Xahn said simply, without bitterness, still smiling. ¡°Even your family could use help, Wyll, after this last harvest. Besides, haven¡¯t you always wanted to see inside that place?¡± Dahn¡¯s hand went cold in his and Xahn decided that maybe his twin wasn¡¯t as curious as he was.

    ¡°My father has been inside it,¡± Wyll said, matter-of-factly. He never put on airs about his father¡¯s position as Mayor of the village. ¡°Some kind of meeting with the Elders a few years ago, I think. He said it was run-down, but amazing. So many rooms and all with crystal chandeliers. Paintings, too, he said.¡±

    ¡°Paintings?¡± Dahn asked, curiosity temporarily overcoming her trepidation. ¡°What kinds of paintings?¡±

    Wyll shrugged. ¡°I never asked. Mum probably knows. I¡¯ll go ask her.¡± He turned quickly to go.

    ¡°Never mind,¡± said Xahn, laughing as he gently grabbed his friend¡¯s shoulder and turned him around. ¡°We¡¯ll see for ourselves soon enough. Look, Jayn and Tami are already coming down the hill to fetch us.¡± He paused, considering the worried faces around him. ¡°I think we¡¯ll be safe,¡± he said, answering their unspoken question. ¡°She¡¯s bringing all the children in the village up there, she¡¯s not about to do anything to us as long as we stay together.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± said Wyll. ¡°Of course. Certainly. I¡¯m not scared. Was that Mum calling me? I swear I heard her.¡±

    ¡°Come on,¡± said Xahn, and taking both Dahn and Wyll by the hand, lead them towards the two women just now entering the village on the North Road.

    Because most of the children were milling about uncertainly, a few hanging close by parents who¡¯d come to see them off, Xahn, Dahn, and Wyll reached the servant women first. Jayn Hatter was tall and dark headed, like the majority of Hylan¡¯s citizens. Tami was short and unassuming with brown hair and a dress not unlike the one Dahn wore. Jayn, however, wore a colorful skirt of cotton and a sky blue blouse of some airy, translucent fabric that Xahn had never seen before. In typical fashion, she had a large grin on her face which widened and spread to her large brown eyes the moment she saw Xahn, Dahn, and Wyll.

    ¡°Hello, my loves!¡± Jayn shouted in her pleasantly dark contralto voice. She spread her arms and sped towards them, gathering all three children in an enthusiastic embrace. Wyll turned his head a bit, uncomfortable with the display, but Xahn and Dahn returned the hug.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re here,¡± Dahn told her, kissing her cheek. ¡°It¡¯s the only reason I agreed to go to that witch¡¯s place.¡±

    ¡°Now, don¡¯t be like that,¡± Jayn chided her with a mock frown. ¡°The Old Woman is a little outspoken, true, but she¡¯s actually very kind. I don¡¯t know what I would¡¯ve done without her offer to help, after I lost Duncan and Tress.¡±

    Xahn was amazed that Jayn could talk so freely about the loss of her husband and daughter. True, it had been nearly six years since her three-year-old girl Tress had fallen sick with fever and her father, desperate to find a doctor, had ridden off on horseback through the Valley toward Lolan, never to return. The deaths had devastated Jayn and for months she had become numb to everyday life. Family, close friends and neighbors worried that she would be consumed by the Sadness, as so many other women had been. As the twins¡¯ own mother had been. But one day, Ekatern¡¯s servants had simply appeared at her door and recruited her for service in the old woman¡¯s house. Since then, most of the community had ignored her, because many folks in these parts placed Ekaterin¡¯s servants in the same category as socializers ¨C well-paid, but with duties it was unpleasant to think about. Still, Xahn had to admit, Jayn had seemed much happier since she¡¯d started working for the old woman.

    ¡°She frightens me, Jayn,¡± Dahn admitted, softly.

    ¡°Well then, I suppose I¡¯ll have to protect you from her,¡± Jayn said with a wink, cupping Dahn¡¯s chin her hand. ¡°But, the time will come when you won¡¯t need me to. And how about you two?¡± she asked, looking at Xahn and Wyll.

    ¡°Father doesn¡¯t much care for her,¡± Xahn said, cautiously. ¡°But he¡¯s not afraid of her and he¡¯s willing to send us up to her house, so I¡¯m not too worried.¡±

    ¡°Yes, well, Karl wouldn¡¯t care for her much, would he?¡± she asked softly, absently fingering the glowing green Crystal attached to a thin silver cord around her throat. ¡°And you, Wyll?¡±

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    ¡°It depends,¡± said the red-haired boy, thoughtfully.

    ¡°Depends on what?¡± Jayn asked.

    ¡°Her breakfast. Father says you can tell a lot about folks by what they place on your plate.¡±

    Jayn laughed loudly, her mouth wide open, eyes closed. She shook her head and rubbed Wyll¡¯s red hair, which made the boy wrinkle his nose. Drawing herself up to her full height, nearly a head taller than Xahn, Jayn shouted out to the crowd, ¡°All children ten years and older, gather to me. The rest, please gather around Miss Tami!¡±

    Xahn was surprised and impressed at the speed with which Jayn and Tami organized the throng of children into two neat groups of about the same size and lined them up in marching order, like two small armies. Since they were the first to arrive, Xahn, Dahn and Wyll were at the head of the column of the older children standing three-abreast that strung out behind them down the North Road, very nearly the entire length of Clayton Field. A stream of younger children marching four-abreast, every two children holding hands, had already begun following Tami on the eastward trek up the long hillside toward Ekatern¡¯s house. The older children followed behind, their job, as Jayn explained, was to keep any eye on the youngsters and ensure that none of them wondered away. This made the going slow, but somehow made Xahn feel better about the entire venture.

    The focus of the short journey was the large house that grew steadily larger as the young troops climbed the North Road towards it. And the focus of the house was that golden doorknob in the middle of the huge, red front door. Caught in the morning sunlight, the doorknob gave off a brilliant glow that seemed to lure the children towards it like a beacon. Several times, Xahn swore the knob twinkled, like a bright star. A strange feeling began to creep over him. A feeling that the house was alive. That glowing spot on the door suddenly appeared to be, not a doorknob at all, but an eye ¨C watching them.

    Jayn, sensing the children¡¯s nervousness, engaged them all in conversation from the time they left Clayton Field. She talked about the drought, the mines, the farms, the price of crystals, news about skirmishes with the Frans she¡¯d heard while in Lolan, some strange rumors from the Hahn traders about trolls in the Frozen Waste, and even the latest fashions from throughout the Valley. Jayn knew what she was doing, Xahn had to admit; it seemed like no time before the witch¡¯s mansion was directly before them.

    As the rough mountain road gave way to a wide cobblestone pathway which lead through an enormous wrought iron gate to the mansion¡¯s courtyard, Dahn squeezed Xahn¡¯s hand again and leaned over toward his ear. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± she whispered nervously, stretching her neck upwards a bit so that he could hear.

    ¡°What?¡± Xahn whispered back, confused. He hadn¡¯t heard anything over the constant noise of small children talking, which sounded to him like a flock of geese in a field, just before taking flight.

    ¡°I heard a voice,¡± his sister said, still whispering. ¡°It said, ¡®Welcome home.¡¯¡± Dahn shivered and Xahn felt her palm turn icy cold and begin sweating. ¡°I swear it was Mamma¡¯s voice.¡±

    Xahn¡¯s breath caught. He hadn¡¯t heard the voice, but the instant his feet had touched the cobblestone path, the scent of lavender and honey, their mother¡¯s scent, had wrapped around him like a warm embrace, bringing with it memories, longing, and a bit of sadness. For an instant, he had felt as if he could simply turn his head and she would be there, walking beside them.

    No words came from his tight throat when Xahn tried to reassure his sister. All he could do was return her hand squeeze in a show of support. He looked at Dahn¡¯s face and tried to smile. There was sadness, yearning, and ¡­ fear in her eyes.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Wyll whispered, looking anxious at the other two. ¡°Are you feeling that too? Like you¡¯re definitely in trouble for something, but you¡¯re not sure what you could have done wrong?¡±

    Xahn and his sister couldn¡¯t help but laugh at Wyll¡¯s expression of unease and confusion. Then, Wyll started to chortle and with that, the tension of the moment was broken. Dahn¡¯s hand felt normal again to Xahn and he winked at Wyll, who raised an eyebrow and gave him a confused look.

    Soon, all the children had entered the fenced area surrounding the large house. It was much bigger up close than Xahn had imagined. He suddenly felt it was very strange that he¡¯d grown up all his life looking up at the house and had never bothered to get this close to it. Judging by the open mouths and craned necks of the others around him, Xahn wasn¡¯t the only one feeling that way.

    This close to the house, Xahn noticed things he¡¯d never been able to see from the village. For instance, there were small metal star shapes scattered around the brown stone walls. After looking at them for a few moments, he suddenly realized that each group of star shapes was arranged to form the brightest constellations in the night sky. There, at the top, was Lycatea the Snake, further down he saw the Towers of Hahn, and even Gabriella¡¯s Harp. He wondered why Ekatern had chosen to capture the night sky on the walls of her house. There was also a strange feeling in the courtyard ¡­ like a chill in the air, but more subtle. The hairs rose on the back of his neck and on his forearms.

    But it was the doorknob that continued to draw his attention. He felt even more than before that the glowing sixteen-pointed star was like the eye of the house, looking at him, beckoning him to enter. Xahn could hardly wait until that reddish-brown door opened and he could see inside the enormous house.

    Then, suddenly, the doorknob blinked.

    Furrowing his brow, Xahn shook his head and wondered if what he¡¯d just seen was simply a trick of light autumn sunlight. He looked again. The doorknob was as it had always been ¨C a golden sphere surrounded by a golden star. But he would have sworn to anyone, on his life, that it had for a moment been covered by dark red lids, as if there really were an eye in the red door. As if the house were watching him.

    ¡°Alright, children,¡± Jayn said. The twins both jumped when the tall, dark-haired woman spoke. Several other children were startled, as well, and Xahn wondered if others had seen what he had. In the presence of the witch¡¯s house, everyone was so quiet that they all heard Jayn, every word, even though she spoke in a soft, calm voice. ¡°The younger children with Tami will gather behind the house. You¡¯ll be pulling weeds and preparing the soil to plant flowers. Won¡¯t that be fun?¡±

    A few of the younger children smiled and some even jumped up and down at chance to work with flowers. The last winter had been very harsh, the spring and summer drier than normal, and flowers had been scarce this year. While many of the children looked disappointed that they wouldn¡¯t be invited inside the house, a few looked quite relieved.

    ¡°The older girls will come with me to sweep and dust the great hall and front chambers,¡± Jayn continued. Once again, Xahn felt his sister¡¯s hand grow cold in his. He gave it a squeeze to reassure her that he¡¯d be there for her.

    ¡°And the older boys will begin moving those carts over there back into the village,¡± Jayn concluded.

    Wait. Had Xahn heard her right? The older boys were not going inside the house? His heart sank.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s a relief!¡± Wyll sighed, stretching his neck to get a look at the large wooden carts that stood within the gates on the south side of the building. There were at least twenty of them of various sizes, each seemingly packed with items, but covered with a rough cloth so that the contents couldn¡¯t be discerned. ¡°What has the crystal wi¡­I mean, what has our hostess packed in those carts, then?¡± Wyll asked.

    Jayn strode over to the nearest cart and lifted the heavy, brown cloth so that the children could see within it. The wooden enclosure was filled to the point of overflowing with fresh fruits: apples, pears, grapes, strawberries, and others of shapes and colors that Xahn wasn¡¯t familiar with. Despite his disappointment at being left outside the house, his mouth started watering. This year¡¯s poor harvest had left the village nearly barren of fruit. The single cart held more than ten times what their farms had produced.

    ¡°And what are we doing with all that fruit?¡± Wyll asked, suspicion coloring his tone.

    ¡°This is for your parents,¡± Jayn told him. ¡°Part of the payment for your services.¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± Wyll lamented, rather loudly. ¡°I should have known!¡± He glanced sheepishly at the open mouths around him. ¡°A bit loud, wasn¡¯t I?¡± he asked, more softly this time. ¡°Sorry, but I was hoping for crystals, not fruit.¡±

    Jayn looked at the red-haired young man as if something odd were growing from that thick patch of orange on top of his head. ¡°This is a mining town, Wyll.¡± The tone of her voice seemed to add the words ¡°you poor, simple-minded boy¡± to the end of her sentence. What she actually did say was, ¡°The village folk deal in crystals every day. They trade crystals for food, cloth, metals, and sundries that they cannot make themselves. Surely, Wyll, your father being who he is, you realize this.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a fool,¡± Wyll burst out. ¡°I know what¡¯s happening. I knew Dad was working out some kind of deal with Ekatern. I was just hoping that there would be some crystals to be had as well. I wanted to skim a few whites off the top so that I¡¯d have my own money. Dad never gives me any.¡± He cast his eyes to the ground, moving a clod of dirt around with his toe.

    Xahn hadn¡¯t known about ¡°the deal¡± Wyll spoke of. He¡¯d only been hoping to get past that glowing doorknob. He heaved a heavy sigh; it didn¡¯t look like it was going to happen. Not today, anyway.

    ¡°Very well, boys,¡± Jayn told them. ¡°Each cart needs at least two of you to shepherd it down the road to Mayor Helper¡¯s house for distribution.¡± Several of the larger boys immediately made their way to the bigger carts and started pushing them out of the gates

    ¡°Wyll,¡± Jayn said, ¡°take this to your father.¡± She fished a sheet of rough, heavy paper out of the depths of bag hung over one shoulder and handed it to Wyll. ¡°It¡¯s a list of who gets what. Ekatern expects the mayor to distribute these goods properly, in accordance with their agreement.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Wyll said, reluctantly accepting the paper. ¡°My father told me to expect it. Said he¡¯d box my ears if I didn¡¯t get it to him safely.¡±

    ¡°Well, if <u>he</u> doesn¡¯t box them, then <u>I</u> will,¡± Jayn told him, deadly serious. As Wyll hung his head and shoved the folded paper under his shirt, Jayn turned her head slightly and, without changing expression, winked at the twins. Xahn suppressed a giggle. Dahn almost succeeded in doing the same.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Jayn said loudly, clapping her hands to get everyone¡¯s attention, ¡°get with your groups and let¡¯s begin our work!¡± Jayn took Dahn by her free hand, gently pulling her toward that tall red door ¨C the door that Xahn would not pass through today. Reluctantly, Dahn let her other hand slip free of Xahn¡¯s and, with a look of foreboding, waved goodbye to her brother as Jayn drew her toward the house.

    Xahn took one long, last look at the glowing doorknob, still reminded of an eye watching him. As Jayn and his sister approached the door, the other young women in tow, the large red door began to slowly swing outwards. Xahn caught a glimpse of an enormous room with high ceilings and giant chandeliers made of fist-sized glowing red, green and blue crystals. Then just as soon as Jayn¡¯s group had entered, the servants who had pushed the large door open, pulled it closed, leaving the courtyard just about empty. And the house¡¯s large, golden eye was staring at Xahn again.

    He then turned with a heavy sigh toward the fruit-laden cart that Wyll was trying to push. Xahn hoped that tomorrow, the crystal witch would beckon him inside. A quiet certainty settled in his bones ¡ª he was destined to enter that house. And it would be soon.

 Chapter Three: Running Towards Destiny

    His breath no longer fogged when Karl Starai paused atop the small hill just south of his Hylan ranch. The morning had been chilly, but the rising sun had warmed things up a bit. He stopped more to examine the children on their trek to the witch¡¯s mansion than to rest from his run. He had decided not to attend the departure of the children at Clayton Field more for their sakes than his. Xahn and Dahn needed to feel he trusted them to handle themselves, and he did. True, both had much growing-up to do, but they had spirit and determination stronger than steel. Still, Karl worried about them, especially Dahn. Xahn missed his mother, but he had accepted her loss and was moving on with his life. Dahn was still quite fragile, even this many years after Suhan¡¯s passing.

    Karl barely felt winded, even halfway through his run. Each day before sunrise, he made a ten-mile loop from his ranch house, running eastward along the South Road until it turned into a footpath that followed the South Fork Creek, fording the stream just before it turned north, and following it back to the ranch house. Running in the mornings was a habit he¡¯d developed as a young soldier for the Dasch army. Though that life was long behind him, Karl had grown to depend upon these daily runs as much to clear his head as to keep his body strong. The Vessel in Heaven knew he had enough exercise around the ranch to maintain his strength.

    Despite the chill in the fresh-smelling air, Karl wore only a light cotton shirt, a pair of thin gray llama-wool britches, a backpack made of burlap and leather straps, and the special shoes he¡¯d devised to be both strong and protective on the rocky paths of Hylan, yet light enough for long distances. When combined with a thick pair of llama-wool stockings, they were quite comfortable.

    Karl removed his pack and took out a rather large canteen of water, from which he drank greedily. He dug through the various contents of the pack: past the small burlap bags of nuts and dried berries he ate for breakfast, around a pair of slotted goggles a Hahn trader from the north had given him to cut the glare on sunny days, and pushed aside other objects. He was looking for a pair of gloves or mittens. The run had left him warm and sweating profusely, except for his hands. The air had actually made them cold and stiff. Arms and legs kept moving, and even his chest and head stayed warm as he pushed himself, but his hands just hung there and seemed to be more susceptible to the cold air. When he was younger, he simply ignored it; now over fifty years old, Karl found his body complained a great deal more and his mind was less patient with such things. Unable to find anything to warm his hands in the pack, Karl decided he should come up with a light pair of gloves to wear when he ran in colder weather. Perhaps, he¡¯d work on that later today.

    Karl rubbed his chilled hands together, blew on them, then reached into the pack again and pulled out a silvery metal tube about two feet long and three fingers thick. He put one end of the tube to his right eye and pointed the other in the direction of Ekaterin¡¯s house. An image of the children leapt into focus through the scope, though they were well over a mile away. The telescope was a rare item Karl had acquired years ago from one of the Fallen Angels. It supposedly had magical properties, though he had never witnessed any. The two clear Crystals within it and its solid sliver case also made it extremely valuable, which is why Karl rarely used it within view of others. Magic and value aside, it was still very handy for some situations, though.

    ¡°Like making sure that witch keeps her agreement,¡± Karl muttered to himself, Dasch.

    Swinging the tube gently to the right, Karl¡¯s magnified view followed the North Road towards Ekatern¡¯s house. He saw the groups of children, older at the back led by Jayn Hatter and younger ones out front with Tami Dae. He paused just a moment at middle of the group, easily spotting his children, wearing the floppy straw hats he¡¯d given them. He let his breath out slowly, only now realizing he¡¯d been holding it. I hope the risk I¡¯m taking is worth it, Karl thought. He tried to calm himself with deep, steady breaths. After a few moments, it worked. Mostly.

    Karl continued the slow swing of the tube toward the witch¡¯s mansion, watching for any dangers or impediments on the road. There was nothing. The road was clear and free from danger. He looked at the old mansion for a moment, and feelings of grief washed over him.

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    ¡°Suhan,¡± he whispered, in Glishtongue. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± A perplexing mix of overwhelming sorrow for his lost wife and relief that his children were safe washed over him. The feelings were short-lived.

    Without warning, the tube suddenly went black as night. Karl pulled the thing from his eye and looked it over. There was nothing blocking it, nothing at all unusual. He glanced back at the road, where the line of children was moving steadily farther away. Nothing was between him and the North Road, all the way to Ekatern¡¯s mansion. Confused, Karl put the tube back to his right eye and closed his left. And he did see something.

    It was if a dark cloud were slowly fading away on the mountain road. As it dispersed, the witch¡¯s house swam into view. But it looked different somehow. As he stared at the structure, Karl saw that the gates¡ªwhich he had just verified were open¡ªwere now closed. And the tall, evenly spaced wrought iron pillars that made up the mansion¡¯s fence were glowing. There was an aura about each of them that looked¡ªwas it green? As he looked closer, he saw that every fence post was now connected to the posts beside it with thousands of tiny sparks of green lightning. And the large, reddish door at the front was glowing like the sun! No, not the door itself, Karl thought. It¡¯s that oversized golden doorknob!

    Then Karl gasped and nearly dropped the tube.

    Coming from all around the mansion were hundreds of massive shadowy creatures. They looked black and slimy, like they¡¯d crawled out of a dark, damp cave somewhere. And they were huge¡ªlarger than horses. Some ran on two legs like humans, but others leapt about on all fours. Karl could have sworn a few of them were flying. All of them were converging on the witch¡¯s mansion, trying to penetrate the fence. Green lightning exploded whenever one of the creatures touched the fence or the gates, bursting the hapless monster into tiny, glistening chunks. Even the flying ones were killed if they tried to enter from the sky. And he could hear it, Karl realized: the roar of hundreds of growling and screaming throats, the lightning strikes, the explosions, even the short-lived cries of the beasts as they were vaporized.

    My children are walking into that nightmare!

    But as suddenly as the dark vision had appeared, it vanished, as if another cloud¡ªa bright one this time¡ªhad passed before the tube and wiped the entire scene away. Karl found himself looking at the mansion with its gates wide open and a line of small children happily crossing through them.

    Karl lowered the tube with shaking hands. His breathing was labored, but not from running. The sweat on his body was cold, but not due to the autumn air. He had used that magnifying tube hundreds of times since the Angel had gifted it to him and nothing like this¡ªnothing¡ªhad ever happened. Karl did not know or understand what he had just witnessed. He wondered if this strange manifestation were caused by one of Ekatern¡¯s spells or the magical tube itself or even ¡­ could it have come from Suhan¡¯s spirit? Was it a prophecy of the future, a warning about what could happen to Xahn and Dahn? Karl had dealt with magical forces before and even though this experience had him reeling, he did not believe he was simply losing his mind. He must respond and do it quickly¡ªthe lives of his children may very well be at stake.

    Decades of training took over before he had a chance to overthink the situation. Karl steadied his breathing, stood up straight, calmed his mind, and made a strategic decision. Without wasting a moment, the old Dasch warrior began a steady jog up the North Road, replacing the tube in his pack and placing the pack on his back as did so.

    There is no other choice, Karl thought, as his anxiety hardened into resolve. He had sworn an oath to Suhan as she lay dying from the Sadness¡ªan oath to protect the children until they could protect themselves. This was an oath he intended to keep, even at his own peril. But there was more to the oath that he no longer intended to keep.

    Karl increased his speed and focused his eyes on the witch¡¯s mansion, the place he sworn to himself that he¡¯d never set foot in again.

    I am sorry, my love, he prayed silently as he ran even faster. I know I promised. And I did let them go to her today. But the truth is I never trusted that witch. She led you to the Sadness and did nothing as you slipped away from us. This vision¡ªit means our children are in peril, I know it. I must pull them away from that witch. That crystal priestess who killed you.

 Chapter Four: Hellsgate

    As he examined the Fortress from the air on the back of a winged gnal, Nilrem found himself pleased at the progress Valen and the budmother¡¯s children had made. Built over a glowing, steaming vent in the fire mountain, about a third of the way up the blazing crest, the enormous edifice appeared to have grown straight up from the expanding mound of black rock. Its obsidian walls and towers were lit golden-red by the rivers of molten stone that spilled from the top of the mountain and bubbled up from the vent at its base. Liquid rock flowed around the base of the stronghold like a moat, then joined the other burning streams that poured down the mountainside and into the lake at the foot of the mountain¡ªthe lake that had once been an ice field. There was no road to the Fortress. It could only be accessed by sled to cross the ice and then by boat over the ever-growing water. Or it could be reached by air, which is why Nilrem rode the horse-sized, bat-winged demonspawn.

    Nilrem contemplated the hellscape below smugly, gazing almost lovingly upon his castle¡ªone that could never be reached by humans.

    The gnal glided downward as Nilrem yanked its reins harshly, guiding it to land in the large courtyard before the Fortress. The gnal dropped its cargo as Nilrem dismounted: a sack of squirming, stinking, screaming, and revolting humans¡ªsome living, some dead. Valen was waiting for him, dressed in the simple white robes of the Angels of the Vessel. After thousands of years, the vestments were not as white, smooth, or spotless as they had been when the Vessel had first set sail across the heavens. But the fact that they were intact at all was a testament to the skill of those Angels who had woven them.

    Too bad I destroyed all the Weavers, Nilrem thought, almost sadly. Had they only been loyal to me, we could have had new robes spun to last another few millennia.

    ¡°My Lord,¡± Valen said loudly amid the rush of the steaming vents and the screams of humans coming from everywhere as he walked across the smooth, black surface of the courtyard. ¡°Welcome to the Fortress. It is nearly complete, as you commanded.¡± The servant looked his lord up and down and said, ¡°You have chosen a new body?¡±

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    Death screams came from above as a large, crudely tied rope net holding dozens of Hahnin captives tumbled to the courtyard, landing with a thud only a couple of paces from the Angels. A severed hand, still dripping blood, slipped through the net and lay twitching on the ebony pavement.

    Nilrem grunted and looked at his hands and arms. He had almost forgotten about the new body. ¡°I wonder if this is the third or fourth body I¡¯ve occupied since arriving,¡± Nilrem mused aloud. ¡°Or perhaps the fifth. They are so weak, so tender, and they wear out so quickly, who can keep track?¡±

    ¡°A woman this time?¡±

    ¡°She is partially endowed,¡± Nilrem explained. ¡°I cannot transfer all of my thoughts to you, but ¡­¡± The Angel closed the eyes of the woman he wore, tipped back her head, and spread her arms as he concentrated on all that had happened since he left. Through the woman¡¯s senses, he heard Valen gasp as his servant received the images, sounds, and even smells. He felt a small tingle in the back of the woman¡¯s neck as she reacted to the burning of Hahn villages, the torture and butchery of her people. Nilrem simply smiled and ignored her.

    ¡°Great steps towards our goal, my Lord,¡± Valen said, nodding.

    A snarling mass of blackness emerged from the red-golden front entrance of the Fortress, quickly resolving into hundreds of large, lizard-like foot soldiers. Without touching the two Angels in the courtyard, they swarmed about, gathering up the humans in their sacks, nets, and baskets, carrying, dragging, and swinging them away.

    ¡°The ellgru look larger than last time,¡± Nilrem commented after opening the woman¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Valen replied, nodding. ¡°The budmother is feeding well and for the first time in millennia, she is warm. Her children are strong.¡±

    ¡°Very good,¡± said Nilrem. ¡°But I cannot accomplish all I need without a fully endowed body.¡±

    ¡°You have found one?¡±

    ¡°I have.¡± Nilrem smiled. ¡°The memories of this body revealed her to me. She is the one who has been watching us this entire time. I now know where she is. And soon, I will have her.¡±

    Valen also smiled, while the last of the humans shrieked with pain and fear as the demonspawn dragged them below the surface until all disappeared into the glowing, steaming vent.

    And then, there was silence, except for the sound of the molten rock and the low laughter of the Angels.

 Chapter Five: The Cathedral and the Cart

    The entry to the mansion was a dim tunnel in the shape of the large red door¡¯s straight sides and curved top, high overhead. Dahn wanted to turn around and run the other direction, but she heard the door slam behind her as the witch¡¯s working women pushed it shut. Dahn jumped at the sound which echoed for several seconds.

    ¡°Calm down, Little Mouse,¡± Jayn said with equal amounts of laughter and kindness in her voice. Still holding Dahn¡¯s hand, she raised it up and placed it to her cheek which felt warm and soft. ¡°No one is going mistreat you here,¡± Jayn whispered compassionately. Dahn had a vague memory of Jayn doing that four years ago, when her mother had passed from the Sadness. Time and grief had almost wiped the experience from Dahn¡¯s memory, but now it came back very strong, and she remembered how Jayn had nearly lived at their house during those terrible days. Her father had been impassive with grief, unable to provide the emotional bolstering his children had needed. And suddenly, Jayne was there, cooking, cleaning up their cabing, and holding her¡ªjust holding her¡ªas often as she had needed it. Dahn¡¯s stifled the tears that started to well up.

    ¡°You have nothing to fear,¡± Jayn continued softly. ¡°Quite the contrary.¡±

    Looking upwards, Dahn met the tall woman¡¯s eyes and saw sincerity and also the tears in Jayn¡¯s own eyes.

    ¡°¡¯Little Mouse?¡¯¡± Dawn asked, shyly, pushing the words past the lump in her throat.

    ¡°You jump at every noise and keep trying to scurry off,¡± Jayn said lightly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand while laughing softly. ¡°What else should I call you?¡±

    The entry tunnel was only a few feet long, but it seemed to Dahn as if they had walked miles by the time they entered the great hall ¡­ and suddenly, her world transformed. The hall was round and huge. The walls went up and up to a domed ceiling so far overhead Dahn could not quite make out what all the painted figures were. Paintings! Dahn gasped. The walls, the ceilings, every space was filled with pictures and words. There was so much she couldn¡¯t take it all in. There was a colorful bird. No! A flock of them! And horses! And llamas! Over there was group of humans in white robes standing before a woman dressed in blue holding an enormous bright blue gemstone over her head. On the other side of the room, she could see a garden full of green plants amidst a large river of water, the likes of which Dahn had never beheld. And the light! Oh, how the bright sunlight coming through colored windows painted the walls with multihued light!

    After nearly tripping over her own feet, Dahn realized she was spinning around, her head craned back as far it would go, trying to see all she could. She had also stopped breathing and found herself suddenly gasping for air. ¡°Is ¡­ is this a cathedral?¡± Dahn managed to say between breaths.

    Jayn laughed in pure joy. ¡°No, Little Mouse. There has never been a navi offering religious services within these walls, as far as I know. But you might not be far off. Ekatern told me that her home had been a crystal temple for more than a thousand years. That was in a time when crystal lore was the focus of Hylan¡¯s religion and not the Books of Maho¡¯Ni and the Vessel.¡±

    ¡°A thousand years?¡± Dahn whispered, eyes wide. This place seemed to demand low voices. ¡°Is this place really that old?¡±

    ¡°According to the old woman,¡± Jayn said with a nod, also in a whisper. ¡°I believe her, too. This place can be overwhelming the first time you see it, but after a while, you start noticing the filth.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Dahn was confused. Filth? This was like a palace!

    ¡°Look at the windows,¡± Jayn said, pointing upwards. ¡°Stained glass. Very pretty. But did you notice panes are missing¡ªreplaced by wooden boards? And the casements are caked with dust. Then there is the condition of walls ¨C the frescos and friezes are beautiful, but you can¡¯t see all of them clearly because of years¡ªmaybe centuries¡ªof Hylan¡¯s fine dirt that¡¯s blown through those broken windows. Not to mention the smell!¡±

    Dahn¡¯s eyes went wide as she began to see what Jayn was pointing out. She took a deep whiff and immediately regretted it. The place smelled mustier and more fetid than the llama stalls at her family¡¯s farm.

    ¡°And, of course,¡± Jayn continued, ¡°there are floors. But we¡¯ll get to them in a few minutes.¡±

    In a few steps, Jayn and Dahn caught up with the five young women who had preceded them in the great hall. She knew them all, of course¡ªHylan was not a large town. There was Syndi Cmyth¡ªher cascade of dark, sweet-smelling hair spilling down her very tall, womanly figure¡ªlooking imposing next to Annah Bankok who was shorter than Dahn with curly ginger hair, an unusual color that made her stand out in any Hylan crowd. Geenah Shivadi would have been about Dahn¡¯s height, she supposed, if she were not always hunching her shoulders and bowing her head so her short blond hair covered her eyes. Stout, dark hairedKitarian Dahjer¡ªwho everyone called ¡°Kit¡±¡ªtwirled about like Dahn had, staring at the ceiling and walls with her bright green eyes. And of course, heading up the group, looking frustrated with her arms crossed below her chest, was Billah Helper¡ªWyll¡¯s big sister. Her perfectly arranged long brown hair framed her perfectly portioned and smooth face, while her gray-green eyes stared daggers at Dahn and Jayn. Dahn supposed this was because Billah was frustrated by the fact that a lowly llama herder¡¯s daughter was taking up her valuable time. Unlike Wyll, Billah did act superior to everyone else due to her father¡¯s position as mayor of Hylan.

    ¡°Little Sisters,¡± Jayn said in a low voice to all of them, ¡°our jobs will be to get the great hall ready for the Feast. The floors in here are polished stone and over the years have become covered with dust and dirt. Ekatern would like to them to shine. Each of us will be provided a dustmop and assigned a section to sweep. All dirt and debris will be pushed toward the red door, where others will gather it up and dispose of it. After the dusting, we will each get a bucket of water and a wet mop and once again clear our sections of the floor. We will do this until it shines.¡±

    ¡°We,¡± asked Dahn. ¡°You¡¯re doing it, too?¡±

    ¡°Of course, she it!¡± snapped Billah. ¡°She¡¯s a servant and this is servant work. Some of us are not servants, though, are we?¡± she said, looking directly at Jayn.

    ¡°Today, you are,¡± Jayn said calmly. ¡°That is what your father agreed to when he sent you here.¡±

    ¡°Mother would never have allowed it!¡± Billah grumbled.

    ¡°I was the head servant who negotiated with Mayor Helper,¡± Jayn informed her. ¡°Your mother was present and if I recall was very much in favor of this ¡­ activity.

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    ¡°Let¡¯s get to work, shall we?¡± she said to everyone and pointed toward the walls where there was a collection of dustmops, wet mops, rags, and buckets. The young women, Jayn, and a few of the other servant women that Dahn did not know, each walked over to the wall, grabbed a dustmop and headed to the part of the floor Jayn pointed them toward.

    As Dahn walked toward the wall to pick up her mop, she examined the floor. She honestly had not noticed it at all when she had arrived, being so enchanted with the walls and ceiling. It was made of large, regular, five-pointed gray stone tiles set together flawlessly level with no space between them. Dahn didn¡¯t think she had ever seen a stone floor so completely level in her life. But Jayn had told them true: it was filthy. Through the dirt and dust, though, Dahn could see the stones were not just solid gray but had swirls of different colors mixed in: some white, black, and even flecks of gold. She wondered what kind of rock this was and how it was cut and laid so perfectly.

    ¡°A thousand years ago, too,¡± Dahn muttered to herself in wonder as she reached out to grab a mop. She heard a gasp beside her and looked up, startled. She had been lost in thought and had completely forgotten other people were around her. Dahn found herself staring at Kit Dahjer¡¯s green eyes which were open wide in surprise ¡­ and maybe a bit of fear.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Kit?¡± Dahn asked.

    The young woman didn¡¯t say a word but simply raised a finger and pointed a Dahn. No, not at her ¡­ behind her. Feeling a strange tingling around her head, Dahn turned slowly, cautiously. Immediately, she saw what Kit was pointing at. Here, the wall paintings were very clear and were less dirty the in other placed. They also looked much larger than they had at the entrance. The cleaning suppliers were piled up near the picture of the woman holding the blue crystal. But here it was clear that part of that frieze was not painted at all¡ªit was real blue crystal above the woman¡¯s head.

    And it was glowing. Brightly.

    <hr>

    Wyll was regretting his choice to wear his new boots today. His father had given them to him for his fourteenth birthday, just three days ago, and Wyll hadn¡¯t worn anything else on his feet since. His mother had to coerce him into removing them when he went to bed at night. They were the only fancy clothes Wyll¡¯s parents had ever given him, and he absolutely adored them. The boots were made of green water-dragon leather, rough to the touch, but as soft and supple as a baby''s skin. They were more comfortable than any boots he¡¯d ever worn, and they had molded to his feet after only a few hours. The problem with them was that the bottoms of the soles hadn''t roughened up from use yet and they offered precious little purchase on the gravelly dirt road down which he and Xahn were trying to push their cart.

    The food cart was much harder to handle than either Wyll or Xahn had first thought. Some of the larger boys, like Menten and Gibs (who were a year youngerthan Xann and Wyll) were running past them, pushing their carts with a ferocious vigor, making whooping sounds as they went. But the two thinner boys were plodding along with great difficulty. No matter how much effort they put into steering the wooden vehicle toward the center of the road, it went in the opposite direction.

    Great, Wyll thought. I¡¯m either going to at the bottom of the North Road or be humiliated by boys younger than me! Probably both!

    ¡°This is not working!¡± he shouted between heavy breaths. ¡°I say we stop and just eat everything in the cart. That way it¡¯ll weigh less, and we can get it home in no time!¡±

    ¡°Good idea,¡± breathed Xahn as he tried in vain to push one of the wagon¡¯s handles while Wyll took the other. It was impossible to get a grip on the smooth wooden shafts and it didn¡¯t help that his whose palms were slick with sweat. ¡°Although it kind of defeats the purpose of taking the cart down the mountain, doesn¡¯t it?¡±

    Wyll made a rude noise.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Xahn said, stopping and resting his sweaty hands on his knees as he gasped for air. ¡°How about you steer from behind,¡± he suggested after catching his breath. ¡°I¡¯ll steer from the front. Let¡¯s just try to get this thing down the road a few feet at a time.¡±

    ¡°Sure, sure. No problem,¡± said the redhead, sounding enthusiastic, even though his shoulders slumped as he spoke. Wyll walked to the back of the cart, grabbed both of the wooden handles, and tried to shove the cart so it pointed at the center of the road. Xann moved to the font of the cart, backed into it so that he was facing forward and grabbed the wagon by its underside edge. He tried to lift as walked. As he started, Freed and Thoms Hynz, both younger boys from the village, zipped past them pushing the final cart.

    At first, this method worked great. The gentle slope of the road near the witch¡¯s house helped them get started. They had no problem steering the food cart to the center of the road and putting it on a straight course toward Clayton Field.

    Then the slope got much steeper.

    Suddenly, Xahn found himself pushing against the cart with his back, his legs straining with the effort of keeping the cart on course. Wyll was pulling against gravity with all the might his skinny arms could muster, straining to turn the cart so that it stayed on course. But his new boots kept slipping and he was getting splinters of wood in his palms. Without warning, his right foot slid down between the back wheel and the axle. It stuck there firmly.

    ¡°Xahn!¡± Wyll cried out in panic. ¡°I¡¯m stuck! I can¡¯t control the cart! I can¡¯t get loose!¡±

    Xahn tried with all his might to slow the cart, but no matter how he lifted or pushed or shoved, the cart¡¯s path was unchanged, and it began picking up speed. Xahn couldn¡¯t do anything, he couldn¡¯t even move. His feet were almost blurs, steeping as fast as possible just to keep up with the cart¡¯s decent

    If we can just keep it steady, we might be able to get it to the bottom of the road where it levels out and then slow down, Xahn thought¡ªwithout much hope¡ªwhen his shoe caught on a rock, he lost his footing and felt himself slipping beneath the wooden wagon.

    Then, as suddenly as the cart had gotten out of control, it slowed, then stopped. Xahn found himself on his knees, his trousers torn and his legs bleeding. If the cart hadn¡¯t stopped when it did, he could have died. But how, he wondered, had the wagon come to a stop so quickly?

    Gulping air, trying to get back on his feet, Xahn felt a strong hand take him by the shoulder and gently raise him up to a standing position. He knew the feel of the hand before he saw the face.

    ¡°Father!¡± he cried with relief so powerful he almost burst into tears.

    Karl was holding his son up with one hand and keeping the cart firmly in place with the other. Sometimes, Xahn forgot just how powerful his father was.

    ¡°How?¡± was all Xahn could croak out of his dry, exhausted throat.

    ¡°Never mind that,¡± said Karl, taking in gulps of air as he tried vainly to catch his breath. It was then that Xahn noticed his father¡¯s face was bright red and his hair and clothing were soaked with sweat. ¡°Where¡¯s Wyll?¡± Karl managed to croak out.

    ¡°I¡¯m back here, Mister Starai!¡± Wyll¡¯s voice came weakly from behind the cart. ¡°I think my foot¡¯s broken. What¡¯s worse, I think my boots are ruined!¡± At that last bit, Wyll started to softly sob.

    ¡°Xahn,¡± Karl asked, matter-of-factly between breaths, ¡°can you walk?¡± Xahn nodded. ¡°Hang on back there!¡± the Dashman called to Wyll, then directed Xahn to take one side of the wagon while Karl muscled the vehicle sideway. Working together, father and son moved the cart to the side of the road and ensured it would remain steadfast.

    Once the wagon was secured, both Karl and Xahn moved quickly to the back of the cart to check on Wyll. That is, Karl moved quickly¡ªXahn tried to so but found himself limping badly.

    ¡°Alright,¡± said Karl, rubbing Wyll¡¯s head and looking the boys over, ¡°you¡¯re both lucky to be alive. We need to get you back to the witch¡¯s mansion. If you can make your way back up the hill, Xahn, I can carry Wyll.¡±

    Xahn nodded and began the slow, plodding, irregular and painful walk upwards. He noticed that his father slowed his pace to match his son¡¯s while carrying his friend like a sack of potatoes over his shoulder. Wyll did not protest, he just moaned softly.

    ¡°There should be someone up there who can treat your injuries,¡± Karl said, softly. ¡°I must go speak to the witch,¡± he said between gritted teeth. ¡°She has a lot to answer for.¡±

 Chapter Six: The World Room

    Though no one around him could tell, Karl was exhausted by the time he, Xahn, and Wyll¡ªstill slung over the Dashman¡¯s shoulder¡ªreached the courtyard of the witch¡¯s mansion. Almost instantly, one of Ekatern¡¯s servant women spotted them and came over to help. Seeing their predicament, she directed them to an older, stern-looking woman on the other side of the courtyard, near the red door. The woman¡¯s name, she said, was Myria, their local healer who would see to their needs.

    Karl nearly dragged himself across the courtyard; Myria met him halfway, sizing up the tall, bearded man and the two injured boys as she did so. Of course, he sized her up, as well. She was a bit plump and smelled of rose petals. Perhaps twenty years older than Karl, she had white hair and was so short she had to crane her neck back to return his stare¡ªdefiantly but not unkindly. Satisfied, the Dashman nodded and began to gently lower his son¡¯s friend to a bench in the courtyard.

    ¡°Not here,¡± Myria said in a pleasant contralto voice, waving her hands. ¡°Too dirty. Follow me.¡± The plump woman propped Xahn under one shoulder began an unhurried walk with surprising speed and Karl took large strides to keep up with them. In a few moments, Myria opened a concealed door in the side of the mansion and guided Xahn inside. Karl followed, carrying Wyll.

    The whitewashed room they entered was small, only a few feet on each side, but it held a bed, two wooden cabinets, a wash basin, and a table large enough for Karl to set Wyll upon. It was quite clean and very well-organized. It did have a slightly malodorous smell about it that Karl recognized immediately. He said nothing, but wondered why they would have so much liquor on hand in this tiny the room.

    ¡°The red-headed boy appears to have had the worst of it,¡± Myria said, prodding Wyll¡¯s damaged foot carefully with only a couple of fingers, brining a wince out of the young man. ¡°The ankle is definitely broken,¡± she said. ¡°You can by the a¡ª¡±

    ¡°The angle of foot,¡± Karl finished. ¡°It¡¯s hanging too far to the inside.¡±

    Myria¡¯s eyes grew slightly wider as she looked up at Karl, with a grin. ¡°Well, well,¡± she said, softly. ¡°Ekatern said you would know how to triage.¡±

    ¡°I know what broken ankle looks like. That¡¯s all.¡±

    Myria continued to smile, but gave a huff, shook her head and went over to one of the cabinets. She returned with a clean but nasty-look pair of sheers.

    ¡°What are you going to do with that?¡± Wyll practically shrieked.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to remove your boot so that I can set and dress your ankle, young man.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re going to cut it off?¡±

    ¡°Just the boot, Wyll,¡± Karl said with a slight smile. ¡°Not the foot!¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re the new boots his father gave to him,¡± Xann said weakly, from the spot on the bed where Myria had bid him lie. ¡°I think he¡¯d rather lose the foot.¡±

    Myria sighed again and looked up at Karl and they exchanged an understanding glance. Myria raised an eyebrow and Karl paused, then nodded slowly. Sighing once more, the old woman put aside the sheers and reached again into the cabinet, this time retrieving a small, leather strap that may have once been part of a belt.

    ¡°Put this between your teeth,¡± she told Wyll. Looking as though she had asked him to fall on a sword, Wyll blinked away sweat and tears, nodded, then put the strap in his mouth.

    ¡°Look at me, young man,¡± Myria told him as she grabbed the boot on the injured foot. ¡°Are you re¡ª¡± While talking and seeming calm, she jerked the boot off as quickly as she possible. Caught off guard, Wyll screamed around the leather strap and bit down as hard as he could. Then, as suddenly as he had started screaming, he stopped and looked a bit puzzled. Slowly, he took the strap out of his mouth.

    ¡°It hurt like anything for a second,¡± he said warily, ¡°but ¡­ it¡¯s stopped. I don¡¯t feel anything.¡±

    ¡°That won¡¯t last,¡± the old woman and Karl said simultaneously. They both looked at each other with wide eyes, then laughed.

    ¡°It¡¯s not bloody funny!¡± Wyll said, horror on his face.

    ¡°Watch your language, young man,¡± Myrai chided. Still looking at Karl she said, ¡°I¡¯ll get his ankle set and wrapped. The healer in the village will know how to care for it.¡± She looked back at Xahn on the bed. ¡°Your son will need his wounds clean and dressed, but otherwise, he¡¯s in good shape.¡±

    Karl nodded. To his surprise, he found himself trusting the woman. Turning towards his son, he said, ¡°Do as Myria tells you. Get some rest. I¡¯m going to go have a word with the wi¡ªwith Ekatern. I¡¯ll come back here when I¡¯m done and take you home. I can carry you down to the food cart and you can ride back.¡±

    Xahn nodded halfheartedly. He was disappointed in himself, Karl could tell. There would need to be a few mentoring conversations on trip home, Karl realized. It was moments like these that could cut either way¡ªthey could be learning experiences or traumatic events. His son needed the former.

    ¡°Ekatern is in the World Room,¡± Myria told Karl without looking up from her work on Wyll¡¯s ankle. The dashman nodded and noted that she didn¡¯t question his reasons or try to dissuade him, just gave him the information he needed. He didn¡¯t remember her from his past, but Myria knew about him¡ªat least enough to understand that he knew his way around the witch¡¯s house.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± he said gruffly and started to duck out the door.

    ¡°Through there,¡± Myria told him, pointing with a roll of white bandages at another smaller door that was almost hidden amongst the cabinets. ¡°That goes straight to the main hallway.¡± Karl nodded, then followed her guidance.

    He found himself in the middle of the main hallway. Like most features of the mansion¡ªexcept the healer¡¯s room¡ªit was quite large. Six people could easily walk abreast in it. The gray walls curved upwards for at least twenty feet before forming a gentle arch overhead. Karl remembered the polished gray stone floors from years ago, but in his memory, they had been shiny and clear¡ªthese were dull with dirt and dust. The hallway was lit pleasantly¡ªneither too bright nor dim¡ªby dozens of finger-sized white crystals embedded in the walls, forming the pictures the stars made in the sky. It took Karl a moment to orient himself, but very soon he was walking down the musty-smelling hallway toward the World Room, his footsteps echoing loudly in the silence.

    The doorway he sought was cut directly into the right-hand wall of the hallway, as tall as the ceiling, and made of the same redwood as the front door, though in far better condition and painted forest green rather than a dark red. As in the front of the mansion, the doorknob was a large golden orb in the center of the door, surrounded by a golden sixteen-pointed star. Karl paused for a moment and took a deep breath. His thoughts were racing, and his feelings were quite chaotic. He had sworn to himself, on his wife¡¯s ashes, that he would never again venture into the crystal temple, yet here he was. He blew out a breath of sadness, frustration, and confusion, focused his mind and his will, put his hand to the golden doorknob and opened it.

    The World Room was named for the murals of forests and animals on the walls and ceilings. Like the great hall, this room was dome-shaped, though not nearly as large. The dome overhead was blue with paintings of clouds, the sun, the moons, and the stars. Karl found himself turning about to examine each of the images of lions, tigers, bears, and horses. They were much as he remembered them, he discovered. But the room itself was disheveled¡ªas if it hadn¡¯t been cleaned in a long, long while.

    ¡°It is good to see you again, Karl.¡± He closed his eyes briefly at the familiar sound of the high, thin voice. Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm his heart and turned slowly toward the voice. ¡°Hello, Tern,¡± he said, cautiously.

    ¡°Oh, my," said the witch. "I haven¡¯t heard that name in a very long time.¡± She stood on the dais above him in the center of the dome, framed by two crystal columns and dressed in her typical fashion¡ªa loose-fitting, silken robe of dark green with wavy lines of light green running through it, and a green kerchief tied over her hair and forehead. Karl was shocked to see how old Ekaterin looked. It had been about ten years since he¡¯d last seen her, but she appeared to have aged by more than three times that amount. The clothes seemed to drown her skeletal body, but it was in her face that Karl saw the toll the years had taken on her. It was shallow, pinched and wrinkled, like an old plum left out in the sun too long. An empty sack of skin fell loosely below her chin. Smaller skin bags hung darkly beneath her bloodshot eyes in which there was a look of profound sadness.

    Karl was surprised at himself, but the sight of the witch looking so worn and sad did not bring him any satisfaction. Incredibly, it made him feel sorry for her.

    "You disapprove of my looks, do you, sir?" Ekaterin said with a wry grin.

    Karl grunted. "You should leave a man''s thoughts to himself, you old witch."

    "It doesn''t take a witch to read the expression on your face, though it is still a devastatingly handsome face after all this time. And your Dasch accent ... I had forgotten how appealing the combination was."

    "There is no Dasch," Karl snapped. "We lost the war, remember?"

    Ekaterin made a rude noise and waved a weathered hand. "Fran and Dasch have defeated each other countless times, one always consuming the other like a fish swallowing a bug. I suspect there is a Dasch underground movement already planning a rebellion that will no doubt succeed¡ªeventually. Things have not changed between those kingdoms in five thousand years, Karl Starai." She grew thoughtful for a moment. "Although there was a brief, wonderful period about five hundred years ago when Dasch and Fran were allies. Of course, they had Hahn as their common enemy." Ekaterin looked at Karl''s eyes and sighed heavily, causing the light fabric of her gown to ripple down the front. "No change to that solemn expression, eh? Yes, my lord, I have gotten old."

    "Don''t call me that. And you were old, Tern, when the tallest trees around here were saplings, so it is not age that has made you look like this." He wrinkled his brow, squinted up at her and whispered, "The Sadness?"

    Ekaterin''s voice was also low, almost too faint to hear, as she shook her head and said, "No, Karl. I do not have the condition that took your poor Suhan. I have lived many years, but it is only recently that I have begun to grow truly old. I will die soon."

    Karl cringed inwardly at the mention of his late wife''s name, but he did not react to it as he''d feared he might. He did not shout at the witch, did not accuse her of killing his beloved, did not demand to know why she stood by and watched Suhan waste away to nothing. Perhaps it was seeing Ekaterin like this; perhaps the years had watered down his bitterness; perhaps he was simply more concerned about his children and the people of Hylan and the vision he had seen through the telescope.

    "You cannot die just yet, Tern," he said with only a hint of a smile. "I have a feeling we are going to need your help."

    The witch''s eyes narrowed. "You''ve seen them, then." It was not a question. "You''ve seen the horde marching down on us. How is this possible?" The witch closed her eyes and her face became calm, almost reverent. "There is something in your pack, my lord, that calls to me," she said, her eyes still closed. "It cries for refreshing." She opened her eyes and started at Karl intently.

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    "I said, don''t call me that. I''m no lord." Karl paused for a moment under the pressure of that stare, then pulled the pack from his shoulder and retrieved the telescope. When he presented the silver tube to Ekaterin, her eyes grew wide.

    "Where did you get this?" she demanded.

    "An Angel gave it to me, during the Battle of Schtern. He was one of the Fallen."

    The crystal witch stroked the silvery sides of the telescope lovingly. "These crystals have been away from the Heart far too long." She touched one hand to the column on her right while bringing the tube near her ear with her left hand. The crystal column lit up white around her fingertips and Karl saw a dim white glow coming from within the telescope itself. Ekaterin closed her eyes, as if she were intently listening. She smiled. "They are happy, now," she said, baggy eyes still closed.

    "They are crystals, Tern," Karl shot back, with a bit more venom than he''d intended. "They don''t have feelings."

    The witch opened her eyes to two slits. "Not like you and I do, that is true. But they do have them." Her eyes opened wider, as if she was surprised by what she heard. "They showed you the horde making its way to Hylan."

    Karl tried not to let his surprise at the accuracy of her words show. ¡°How long before this ¡­ this horde reaches the village?¡± he asked, instead.

    ¡°Two days,¡± the witch said without hesitation. ¡°They will be here on Arrival Eve. Appropriate, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why you have all the children here,¡± Karl said with a sly smile. ¡°It¡¯s not about any feast. I¡¯ve been wondering what the real motive was for your sudden community spirit.¡±

    ¡°The children will be here and as many of the adults as I can convince to attend the feast. Once everyone is inside, I¡¯ll activate the fence. It should keep the horde at bay long enough for us to evacuate everyone through the mines.¡±

    Karl furrowed his brow. ¡°Not necessary. I have rigged the North Pass so that I can fill it with boulders the size of this mansion with very little effort. The beasts will never make it this far.¡±

    Ekaterin¡¯s eyes grew narrow again. ¡°When did you do that?¡± She scoffed. ¡°I suppose I have been distracted.¡± Her face softened. ¡°You¡¯re still protecting your people. You say you''re not a lord, but you''re behaving like one.¡±

    ¡°I was safeguarding my family,¡± Karl retorted. ¡°Of all people, you should know what dangers they would face if any of my ¡­ former associates showed up.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± the witch said with a smile. Then her expression became sullen. ¡°Your trap will only slow them down, Karl, not stop them. They are coming for me and they will get me, one way or another, whether you block the North Pass or no.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean? It¡¯s a stampede of wild beasts.¡±

    The crystal witch pursed her lips and stood there quietly for a moment, then said, ¡°<u>Komstdu</u>,¡± in Dasch, and beckoned him to climb the short staircase to the dais. He did as she bid while saying, ¡°I told you Dasch is no more,¡± deliberately in Glishtongue.

    ¡°Then no one else will understand what we¡¯re saying,¡± the witch replied, still speaking Dasch. She removed her fingertips from the crystal column and stepped to the center of the dais. Karl noticed that the white images of her fingertips remained on the column after she released it. They were quite detailed-he could even see her fingerprints for a few seconds. Quickly, the images faded to a whitish gray, then to nothing but clear crystal.

    ¡°<u>Biensehr</u>,¡± Karl breathed and sauntered up the stairs to where Ekaterin stood, beckoning to him. He¡¯d never been upon a temple dais before; he wondered if they were all as cluttered with paraphernalia as this one was. A thick Hahn carpet¡ªred wool interwoven with black geometric shapes¡ªcovered the hexagonal floor, which only extended two or three paces in any direction. Sitting on the carpet was a mismatched set of tables and low cabinets, some quite ornately made of dark woods and covered with detailed carvings, others with embedded scenes formed from complex patterns of mother-of-pearl and crystals, and several with no lacquer or carvings at all. The top surface of each piece of furniture was littered with strange foreign items, metal devices, trinkets, books, scrolls and bits of papers of various sizes, shapes and colors. The low table which Ekaterin pointed Karl to was small and round¡ªone of those with the mother-of-pearl inlay. Upon the table, covering most of the inlay, was a large, blue crystal. It was about the size of Karl¡¯s head, unpolished, with sharp edges jutting out in several directions. And the blue color was not like the sky or water blue crystals that were traded so commonly in Glish; this was a deep, dark blue-nearly purple-that reminded Karl of the sky in the east, just as the sun set in the west. Karl approached, watching as Ekaterin stroked the crystal¡¯s surface. It lit with a brilliant glow, somehow darkening the shade of blue to a near-black.

    Tern wrinkled her nose as Karl approached and said in Dasch, ¡°You stink.¡± Karl thought of a hundred retorts, dismissed all of them and simply replied, ¡°Yes, I do.¡± The witch laughed in a surprisingly youthful manner, casually returned his telescope, then turned her attention back to the crystal. ¡°I do not intend to cause you pain, Karl, but I must ask: how much crystal lore did Suhan teach you?¡± She looked back up at Karl with such compassion on her wizened face that he lost all that was left of his anger.

    ¡°Not much,¡± he whispered. ¡°She tried, but I never could seem to catch on.¡±

    ¡°I understand,¡± Ekatern said and pointed toward the blue crystal with her chin while both hands stroked the glowing surface. ¡°Some crystals have what we call talents. These are special abilities that we can ¡­ encourage the crystals to employ. That telescope you carry, for example. Its crystals have the talent of foresight, as you witnessed. This beauty here,¡± she said, stroking the blue crystal¡¯s sharp edges, ¡°sees only the present, but it sees everything in the present.¡±

    ¡°What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°It means, my lor¡ªKarl, that with the proper coaxing, we can use this crystal to see anything happening anywhere, right now.¡±

    ¡°I wish I had known about this at the Battle of Schtern.¡±

    ¡°It has been used¡ªabused, some of my order would say¡ªfor purposes of war in the past. Now, however, I am using it to save the lives of the people of Hylan.¡±

    ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°Look in the flat side over here,¡± Tern said, pointing at a smooth spot on the crystal about as big around as Karl¡¯s palm. ¡°Tell me what you see.¡±

    For several moments, Karl saw nothing but glowing blue crystal. Then, as if a heavy cloud were blown away from the sun by a swift wind, a bright image swept into view in the flat area. Karl saw trees, rocks, and a mountain pass. ¡°That is the North Pass,¡± he said with surprise. ¡°It is empty right now. That¡¯s good, very good.¡±

    ¡°For now,¡± said the witch. ¡°Keep watching.¡±

    Karl wasn¡¯t sure what she did, but suddenly the view moved, as if he were looking down upon the pass from a swiftly-moving cloud. ¡°The road remains clear for many miles north of the pass," he noted. "This is good. This is happening right now?¡±

    ¡°Yes. Keep watching.¡±

    The speed and movement of the viewpoint increased, making Karl¡¯s stomach drop. The view flew northward along the Trader Route for quite some time, passing the Hahn villages, distribution centers, and trading posts that were set up along the way. Then, suddenly, Karl saw smoke and fire and the image stopped moving. ¡°I can¡¯t make out anything through that smoke,¡± he said.

    ¡°One moment,¡± Tern said, concentrating. The view in the blue crystal suddenly cleared, the smoke vanishing. Now, Karl could see that the blaze came from the roofs of several village houses, engulfed in flames. Many were decimated to the point where they were collapsing in piles of wood and flying cinders. The streets were full of people running from the fire, crazed by the destruction, running in great lopes, jumping and¡ªrunning on all fours? ¡°Wait,¡± Karl said, looking more closely. He blinked and rubbed his eyes; his close-up vision wasn¡¯t what it used to be. ¡°Tern¡ªthose are not people in that village.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Tern replied, softly. ¡°That is the horde.¡± Ekaterin did something to the blue crystal with her fingertips and the image dropped quickly in height. Karl cried out and grabbed onto the table, then felt very sheepish when he looked around and realized the dais hadn¡¯t moved at all. He took a deep breath and looked back into the crystal. Now, the forms in the street were quite clear, despite the grey sunlight filtering through the smoke.

    ¡°I¡¯m looking at the stampede. These are beasts of some kind,¡± he said. ¡°See how they run on all fours? And how they leap toward the¡ª¡± Karl¡¯s breath caught as he peered closer. The figures in the smoke moved with unnatural speed, darting on all fours, and one by one, sprouted wings to take to the sky.

    ¡°Tern, what is this? What are they?¡±¡¯

    The witch took her fingers from the rough blue crystal, the glow faded, and the images vanished. ¡°Have you read the books of MaHo¡¯Ni?¡±

    ¡°I went to a chapel and listened to a navi¡¯s sermons when I was a child, like all Dasch children. But, no, I have never read the sacred texts myself. Why?¡±

    Ekaterin¡¯s wrinkled face showed no emotion. Karl noticed for the very first time ever that her wide, calm, bloodshot eyes were a dark green. ¡°When you listened to the navi¡¯s sermons, do remember anything about the demonspawn? Hellsgate?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Karl said, confused. ¡°The demonspawn tried to prevent the Vessel from bringing humankind from the Before World to this world. But MaHo¡¯Ni the Prophet defeated them with the Sword of Heaven, isn¡¯t that right?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± the old woman said, nodding and smoothing the fabric of her gown. ¡°That is the story the scriptures tell. The sacred texts also describe the races of demonspawn: the ellgru, the ird, the gnal, and the demon lords.¡± she pointed at the blue crystal and said, "Those flying lizards looked exactly like the scriptural descriptions of the gnal."

    ¡°Oh, come now, Tern!¡± Karl said, disapproval in his voice. ¡°What are you telling me? That the horde stampeding down on us is made up of nightmares from children''s stories? That there are flying lizards as big as horses and rock trolls and goblins coming to drag us from our beds?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    Karl was stunned; he didn¡¯t know what to say.

    After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, the withc said, ¡°The scriptures don''t really tell us much about MaHo¡¯Ni himself. There are some very unreliable details, like he was born fully grown and could call down lightning from a clear sky, but little that is concrete. The only thing we know about him for certain is that he wrote a considerable number of books, guides, and letters before he died of extremely old age. He was ancient, even compared to someone like me.

    "In one of those books¡ªthe Book of MaHo¡¯Ni''s Sorrows, traditionally the last book he wrote before he either died or was taken into the heavens to meet the Vessel¡ªhe wrote a series of prophecies. These prophecies all had to do with the return of the goblin horde. He gave us many signs of their return; chief among them was the opening of Hellsgate.¡±

    ¡°I thought Hellsgate was a mythological opening into the underworld. A place of fire and smoke that the demonspawn call home.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± said Ekaterin, nodding. ¡°It was always thought to be a symbolic representation of evil, each kind of demonspawn representing a human vice. But, three weeks ago, when the Great Moon was full, I used this blue crystal and saw a mountain of fire spring into existence in the northern reaches.¡±

    ¡°A fire mountain?¡± Karl said, incredulous. ¡°There haven¡¯t been any of those for untold thousands of years. All of them are now dead or dormant.¡±

    ¡°Until now. It sprang into being straight out of the ice, tall enough to reach the clouds and large enough to swallow all Hylan, including your ranch. Fire and hot liquid rock spewed from its summit and melted the ice around it for at least twenty miles in every direction. I don¡¯t know how it came to be ¡­ it simply was there.¡±

    Karl shook his head and said, ¡°The appearance of a fire mountain does not mean that those things coming for us are¡ª¡±

    ¡°I watched those creatures crawl from the water around the fire mountain,¡± shouted the witch, cutting him off with a sharp gesture. ¡°The sea literally boiled and spewed them out. What¡¯s more, I believe I have identified all the different varieties of deamonspawn.¡± She paused and pursed her thin, grey lips. ¡°MaHo¡¯Ni¡¯s prophecy was not symbolic, Karl. It was a true prophecy. And we are in very grave danger.¡±

    Karl was about to argue that there must be some other explanation, when the light in the room suddenly brightened noticeably. He heard the noise of someone clearing their throat behind him and turned to see his son Xahn standing at the base of the dais, looking up at him with a strange expression.

    ¡°Father,¡± said Xahn, ¡°Myria said I would find you in here. I¡ªI feel strange. I think I would like to go back home, right now.¡±

    Karl nodded slowly, trying to discern if his son was alright. ¡°Of course, Xahn. Shall I carry you?¡± Xahn sheepishly shook his head and turned to leave.

    ¡°Wait, boy!¡± the witch said, loudly. Xahn stopped dead in his tracks. ¡°Come back here.¡± Xahn glanced back over his shoulder with more than a little fear in his grey eyes. Karl laughed lightly and told him it was alright. His son nodded and began climbing the stairs, steadying himself on one of the clear crystal columns. Karl knew that these Heart Columns were sacred and was about to caution his son against touching them, when Karl heard a high pitched ringing sound and every crystal in the room suddenly lit up like the sun. The room became so bright that it blinded Karl and he staggered backward, blinking against the painful purple splotches filling his vision. The brighteness lasted only a moment, then the room returned to normal, but Karl still couldn¡¯t see clearly. ¡°Xahn!¡± he cried. ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    There was no answer.

    ¡°Ekatern,¡± he demanded, ¡°what was that? Why did the World Room light up like that?¡±

    There was no answer from the witch, either.

    Karl rubbed hard on his eyes to clear away the purple blotches and he looked quickly around the room. He found Xahn was lying at the bottom of the dais stairs, unconscious. ¡°Son!¡± he called, as he rushed down the stairs and lifted Xahn¡¯s head and shoulders. The young man was breathing; that was a good thing. He seemed devoid of marks, other than a small bruise on his temple that he probably got from the fall. It was not enough to be worrisome, but Karl was very concerned that Xahn remained unconscious despite light shaking and face slapping.

    ¡°Tern!¡± Karl shouted, getting angry. ¡°Come help me! I think my son is injured!¡±

    Silence was his only answer.

 Chapter Seven: The Crossroads

    Xahn was running. Not the steady, loping run that he sometimes did with his father, but a full-out sprint that made his legs and lungs burn. Away. He had to get away. Something was chasing him¡ªsomething evil, something terrifying.

    He ran in near darkness, barely able to see the dim path before him, constantly afraid he was going to put his foot in the wrong spot, trip, or break a leg¡ªand then that thing would get him. The path led Xahn up a steep hill, causing him to gulp in his breaths as he pushed himself to climb higher and faster. He did not dare pause or slow down, as tired as he was; that thing was catching up.

    Xahn crested the hill and froze in confusion. The path split a thousand ways through an enormous field of tall grass. Though he was desperate to escape whatever was chasing him, he did not know where to go. And the sky overwhelmed him. Dawn was breaking on his right, painting a bloody red swath from behind an enormous dark mountain that loomed in the east. Directly before him floated the largest thunder cloud Xahn had ever seen. It was full of lightning, shooting forked blue bolts from its roiling dark center to the crimson clouds over the eastern mountain and into the black clouds in the west. As he watched, Xahn saw a lightning bolt hit the ground directly in front of him, less than a half mile away. As the scene flashed blindly bright and thunder rattled his teeth and his bones, Xahn clearly saw myriads of tiny, serpentine paths through the grass that lead in every direction imaginable. Amidst the smaller trails, though, there were three distinct roads¡ªall straight and wide¡ªthat began at his feet.

    The first road, made of gray paving stones, lead eastward, toward the dawn and the dark mountain. The second road was a wide, smooth dirt path heading north, directly under the lightning-filled thunder cloud. The final road¡ªa dim, grassy highway distinguished from the grasslands around it only by its freshly mowed appearance¡ªled westward, where the horned crescent of MaHo¡¯Ni, the second moon, hung in a starry strip of sky between the black clouds and the horizon. Unable to wait any longer, Xahn made his decision and raced westward, toward the calm darkness.

    Something grabbed his left arm and held him fast. Xahn screamed and pulled as hard as he could, unwilling to turn and look at whatever horror had hold of him. With all his strength, he pulled away and slapped at it, trying desperately to free himself, but its grip on him was like iron and would not budge.

    "Xahn," said a quiet voice¡ªa woman¡¯s voice.

    Xahn gasped and pushed his feet against the grass-covered ground, trying to gain enough traction to pull himself away, but his feet just slid from under him, and he fell to the ground in a heap. Instinctively, he curled into a ball to protect himself, even though his left arm was still in the tight grip. Xahn was now breathing so hard and so fast that he was light-headed. Spots appeared behind his tightly closed eyelids, and he could feel himself begin to fade.

    ¡°Xahn,¡± the voice said again. It was strangely calming to him, like a balm for his nerves, and almost made him want to open his eyes. "It is alright, my boy. Look at me." Xahn held his breath and opened his eyes, terrified. Then he lost his breath¡ªand his fear¡ªentirely.

    Before him was the most beautiful woman Xann had ever seen bending over him, tenderly holding his arm. She was thin and tall, with auburn hair elegantly braided about her head. She wore a long dress of deep green with a tight-fitting bodice, wide sleeves, and full skirts that pooled around her feet. The green of the dress matched the eyes in her heart-shaped face¡ªeyes that were full of compassion and wisdom far beyond her youthful appearance. Across her forehead she wore a diadem¡ªa thin ring of finely filigreed silver, more delicately wrought than the lace on her dress, holding a palm-sized glowing green crystal between her brows. Xahn instantly fell in love, though she looked at least a decade his senior.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± he asked, breathlessly, both from his run and from the woman¡¯s beauty.

    ¡°You may call me Tern,¡± said the woman in green in a smooth, contralto voice. The name sounded familiar, but Xahn couldn¡¯t place it. His eyes strayed to the crystal on her forehead which pulsed with a green glow, almost like a heartbeat. ¡°You are notsupposed to be here,¡± Tern told him gently, without reprimand.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°I¡ªI really don¡¯t know how I got here,¡± Xahn whispered. In fact, Xahn couldn¡¯t remember anything at all before running. Running. Why wasn¡¯t he running? Suddenly, the fear of being followed gripped him again. ¡°I have to get away,¡± he said, loudly, and sprang to his feet. He turned toward the west and tried to run, but Tern held him tightly in her grip.

    ¡°Not that way,¡± Tern told him, softly. She turned him toward her, put her hands on the sides of his face, held him firmly, and looked deeply in his eyes. ¡°You cannotlet fear get the best of you at the Crossroads. Fear will seize your heart, push you to decide quickly; but you must always look first and carefully review all your possible paths before choosing one. A hasty decision can trap you here for all eternity. Or worse.¡±

    Xahn did not understand all her words, but they sounded wise. He tried to follow her counsel, calming his mind, looking past her, looking forward. It was difficult; he was petrified with fear, even though he couldn¡¯t place what exactly scared him. But Tern¡¯s voice comforted him, allowing him to breathe deeply and focus. As he did, a memory came to him-his father teaching him to bow hunt. He closed his eyes. ¡°Breathe and hold,¡± his father would say, again and again. ¡°Draw the bowstring, your hand brushing your face. Next, place your thumb under your jaw near your ear. That¡¯s right. Now, breathe and hold. Use this time to look and to see.¡±

    Xahn opened his eyes, and he looked¡ªand he saw.

    To the west, down the grassy road beneath the horns of MaHo¡¯Ni, was a tree. It had a tall, bare trunk that ended in a widespread canopy. The darkness obscured the tree¡¯s distance, height, and width, which was disturbing because beneath the tree¡¯s outstretched limbs stood a figure, who could have been either tall or enormous, depending upon the tree¡¯s height. The figure was not touched by the red rays of the sun in the east, but only backlit by dim moonlight, making details impossible to discern. Squinting, Xahn thought he could see a hooded black robe that covered the figure from its head to feet. Two faint glints from within the hood looked like glowing eyes and Xann had a menacing feeling, like whoever¡ªwhatever¡ªwas inside the cloak was watching him ¡­ very closely.

    ¡°Who is that?¡± Xahn asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± said Tern. ¡°I don¡¯t even know if that is a man, a woman, or something else entirely. I do know that no one who has approached this figure has ever returned.¡±

    Xahn swallowed heavily. ¡°Not that way, then,¡± he said.

    ¡°Not that way,¡± Tern agreed. ¡°Not today.¡± The woman in green eyed him carefully. ¡°If I release you, will you stay still?¡± When Xahn nodded, she removed her hands from his face, her gaze drifting, as if she was searching for something or someone.

    ¡°What is this place?¡± Xahn asked, timidly.

    ¡°That, my boy, is a very good question,¡± said Tern, still preoccupied with her search. "Someday you and I will have a long talk about it. Right now, though, I need to find you a way out." Her expression brightened slightly, and she nodded over Xahn''s shoulder. "Found it," she said.

    Xahn turned¡ªthrilled by her promise of a future conversation¡ªto see a wall of blackness rolling toward him like a storm cloud. He froze, heart pounding. This was what had chased him, he was certain. He wanted to turn and run.

    ¡°Ignore the blackness,¡± Tern¡¯s voice whispered at his ear. ¡°Look below it, down the hill you climbed.¡±

    Failing to slow his heartbeat as he¡¯d done earlier, Xahn tried to do what Tern bid him. There were hundreds of paths snaking through the grass down the hill, like those in the opposite direction. These paths, however, looked faded, almost nonexistent in places, some vanishing even as he watched. Only a single path, curling and twisting among the others, looked bright, new, and solid.

    ¡°Do you see the bright path?¡± Tern asked, quietly. Xahn nodded. ¡°Good. Follow it to the large clearing over there¡ªthat is your way back.¡±

    ¡°The black cloud is coming,¡± he whispered, his voice quivering. ¡°I can¡¯t¡ªI can¡¯t make it to the clearing before it does.¡±

    ¡°You must!¡± Tern replied sharply. ¡°If the blackness swallows the clearing, you might never return to the real world.¡±

    Swallowing his fear, Xahn started down the bright path. He turned to look at Tern, who had not moved. ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming with me?¡± he shouted, panicked.

    ¡°I cannot,¡± she told him, sadness in her kind eyes. ¡°It is not my path. But I will join you later,¡± she promised. ¡°Now go!¡± She waved him forward. ¡°There is no time! Go!¡±

    Obeying instinctively, Xahn sprinted down the hill, his legs wobbly with fear. Twisting and turning along the bright path, he ran directly toward the roiling black cloud. The blackness had already reached the clearing¡¯s edges. He was not going to make it in time. Closing his eyes, he pushed his legs as fast as they would go, his breaths coming in gasps, a stitch in his side.

    Abruptly, Xahn was unable to run, breathe, or move. With great effort, he tried to scream, but no sound came. He pried his eyes open, but the blackness pressed in on him, cold and suffocating, until everything disappeared.

 Chapter Eight: Curses and Legacies

    With a shout, Dahn awoke and sat straight up, eyes wide.

    ¡°Are you alright, Little Mouse?¡± Jayn was bent over her, looking concerned.

    ¡°I¡ª¡± Dahn started, then stopped abruptly in complete confusion. Where am I? she wondered. Nothing and no one but Jayn looked familiar. Dahn slowly realized she was lying on a bed covered in clean white linens in a small, whitewashed room that smelled of sweat and strong drink. Her head was pounding. She was very dizzy and ¡­ why was there blood on her hands?

    ¡°You fainted, young lady,¡± said a low voice that Dahn didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Then you fell and split your head on the stone floor.¡± A short, stocky woman with white hair stepped into view, her hands firm but careful as she eased Dahn back onto the linens. ¡°Stay still while I make sure you haven¡¯t broken anything.¡±

    ¡°Better do as Myria says,¡± said a dejected sounding voice from across the room. ¡°She doesn¡¯t understand the word ¡®No.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Wyll?¡± Dahn said, a bit too loudly, sitting up again, feeling a wave of dizziness and pain in her head as she did. The redhaired boy was seated near a door with his bandaged foot raised on a stool in front of him. His face was bruised and swollen. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°Lie down, young lady!¡± Myria instructed, firmly, applying a bit more pressure to her shoulders, pushing her onto her back. ¡°A head wound is not a trivial thing.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s sore,¡± Dahn said, carefully touching her head just above the right ear. Her eyes grew wide as she felt the skin through her hair. ¡°Did you stitch it up?¡±

    ¡°While you were out,¡± Jayn told her, ¡°Myria carried you here from the Great Hall, cleaned your wound, sewed it up, and dressed it.¡±

    ¡°I had help carrying you,¡± Myria said, giving Jayn a sideways glance as she examined Dahn. ¡°It appears that the wound is superficial. Just to be safe, though, I¡¯ll keep you here for a day or two.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Dahn asked, confused. ¡°I need to help get ready for the fe¡ª¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re in no condition to help with anything,¡± Jayn told her, firmly, hands on hips. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m not sure the Great Hall is the best place for you right now.¡±

    ¡°Or the World Room,¡± Myria agreed, nodding as she stood straighter and used a cloth that smelled as if it were soaked in alcohol to wipe her hands. ¡°In fact, I¡¯d stay as far away from crystals as possible, anything except small whites, perhaps.¡±

    ¡°Why? What happened to me?¡±

    ¡°How much do you remember?¡± Jayn asked, moving closer to her bedside.

    Dahn shook her head and said, ¡°I just remember cleaning the floor and then ¡­ something strange tingled at the back of my neck. When I turned around to see what it was, one of the paintings on the wall was glowing¡ªblue, I think. And then¡­¡± Dahn closed her eyes and wrinkled her brow, trying to remember. ¡°A man ¡­ or someone ¡­ came to me. I was lost¡­? Scared. It was dark and he was dressed in robes. I¡ªI couldn¡¯t see his face, only his eyes. He was under a very tall tree. And MaHo¡¯Ni was in the night sky. But it¡¯s daylight! Was this a dream?¡±

    ¡°Perhaps,¡± said Jayn, sighing. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened eith¡ª¡±

    ¡°Did this person touch you?¡± Myria asked, urgently, not sounding at all like the calm healer she¡¯d been a moment ago. Dahn looked and saw that the old woman¡¯s eyes were wide, and her face flushed.

    ¡°N-No, I don¡¯t remember being touched,¡± Dahn stammered. ¡°I remember the person speaking to me, is all.¡±

    ¡°What did they say?¡± Myria¡¯s quick and loud question was almost accusatorially harsh.

    ¡°Uh,¡± Dahn struggled to think, ¡°just one word, I believe. Um ¡­ ¡®entire¡¯ or ¡®intrigue¡¯ maybe?¡±

    ¡°Entity,¡± Myria whispered, clutching her heart. Dahn thought she could hear the whisper echo through the room. The old woman looked sharply at Dahn and demanded, ¡°How did you get back?¡±

    Dahn shook her head which made it ache even more. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said, softly. ¡°I can ¡­ I can remember something about lightning and a maze and ¡­ and a kind and powerful woman in green pulling me along a bright path. Then ¡­ then I woke up here.¡±

    Myria put both hands to her suddenly pale face. ¡°Ekatern¡¯s in the crossroads!¡± she shouted and bolted for a door that Dahn hadn¡¯t noticed earlier. As she reached the doorknob, the door flew open. There, standing in the doorway, urgency and concern covering his face like a mask, was Karl Starei.

    <hr>

    Sprinting down the hall as fast he could, Karl reached the door to the infirmary in only a few seconds. He didn¡¯t want to leave Xahn and Ekatern alone in the World Room for a moment longer than necessary. Yanking the door open a bit too harshly, he was about to push his way into the small, whitewashed room when the scene before him caused him to stop and reorient himself. Myria was already at the door, as if she¡¯d known he was coming. Behind her, the room was packed with Jayn standing in her colorful clothing, Wyll leaning against the wall his bandaged foot raised on a stool, and lying in the bed with a head dressing was¡­

    ¡°Dahn?¡± Karl asked, confused and concerned.

    ¡°She¡¯ll be fine,¡± Myria promised him, hurriedly. ¡°It¡¯s Ekatern, isn¡¯t it?"

    ¡°And Xahn,¡± Karl acknowledged, nodding vigorously. In his mind, Karl triaged the situation: Dahn had been hurt, but she was awake and being cared for; Wyll was in a similar situation; however, Xahn and Tern were still unconscious and alone in the World Room. As much as he needed to comfort and care for his daughter and Wyll right now, the others took precedence.

    ¡°Komstdu!¡± he demanded, unconsciously slipping into Dashtongue, as he seized Myria¡¯s hand. Eagerly, she allowed herself to be pulled into the main hallway, evidently having come to the same conclusions as Karl. Myria looked over her shoulder and barked, ¡°I¡¯ll be back as soon as I can. Get some rest, both of you children! Jayn, you¡¯re in charge!¡± Then the door slammed shut on its own as Karl pulled Myria along with him, being as gentle as possible while running.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°The Starei curse continues,¡± Karl muttered in Dashtongue as he ran.

    ¡°Curse?¡± Myria asked in perfect Dash, slightly out of breath.

    ¡°My family was wiped out before I was sixteen,¡± Karl told her, slowing his pace as they reached the enormous World Room door. ¡°I led a losing army and then lost my country as well.¡± He pulled the door open with one hand, guiding Myria inside as he spoke. ¡°When I found peace a thousand miles away, I lost the only woman I ever loved. And now, I may be losing my children.¡±

    ¡°There are no such things as curses,¡± Myria said as she followed Karl to where Xahn and Ekatern lay, still unconscious. The knight had learned on the battlefield that, if possible, one should never move the injured until the healer arrived.

    Myria went directly for Xahn, which made Karl silently grateful. He¡¯d have thought she¡¯d go for her friend and mentor first. Kneeling at the young man¡¯s side, the old woman put a hand on his forehead and touched a gray crystal in the silver necklace around her throat, which Karl had never noticed she wore. Instantly, the crystal lit up like a small lantern and Myria closed her eyes, as if in prayer. Karl seemed to remember Suhan telling him that grays had the ¡°talent¡± of healing. At least, he hoped that¡¯s what Myria¡¯s was. After a moment, the healer sighed and opened her eyes.

    ¡°He¡¯s alright,¡± she said. ¡°Xahn will be waking soon. Let me check his knees to make certain he didn¡¯t reopen his wounds.¡± Gently, she shifted Xahn¡¯s legs¡ªwhich had collapsed beneath him¡ªso that they were stretched out comfortably before him. She found the holes in his trousers at the knees, pulled back the bandages and caught her breath. ¡°My lord,¡± she said breathlessly, looking up at Karl. What she showed him was so incredible, he forgot to tell her not to call him that.

    Xahn¡¯s knees were completely healed. The skin was unbroken and smooth, as if he had never been injured.

    After only a moment, Myria rose from the prone young man and made her way to the dais, where Ekatern lay. Karl stayed by his son. A few seconds later he heard a soft, regular sound, like a dog panting and he knew Myria¡ªthe strong, secure healer¡ªwas crying.

    <hr>

    ¡°What was that about Xahn?¡± Wyll asked from his seat near the outside door of the infirmary. ¡°That didn¡¯t sound good at all.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t go baking pies with a drawing of flour,¡± Jayn said, repeating something his mother said to him several times each week. ¡°All we heard was their names and we haven¡¯t a clue what¡¯s going on with them.¡±

    ¡°Xahn will be alright,¡± Dahn said, peacefully. ¡°I would know if he were in danger.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Wyll sneered, his face turning ever redder than usual. ¡°Because twins know everything about each other, right? Did you know when we almost died today?¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t almost die,¡± Jayn and Dahn said at the same time. Dahn giggled slightly and said, ¡°Yes, Wyll, I knew that he was very worried, despite putting on a brave face. And I also knew when our father showed up, because Xahn¡¯s heart quickly moved from fear to feeling safe and secure.¡±

    ¡°Give it a rest, Wyll,¡± Jayn chided the young man. ¡°You¡¯re going to be fine. We even saved your boots.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Wyll sighed. ¡°At least they¡¯re safe and secure.¡±

    The door to the main hallway opened, Myria pulling it slowly this time. With great care, she helped Karl lead his son into the room. Xahn was walking with only a little help from his father, but he looked weak and frail. His eyes were half-closed, as if he were trying to stay awake.

    ¡°I only have one bed in here,¡± Myria apologized. ¡°But it¡¯s a wide one. Come, Xahn. Lie up here next to your sister.¡± After a bit of struggle, Dahn had moved to the left side of the bed and Xahn was now lying on her right. Once his head hit the linens, he fell asleep.

    ¡°He will be like that a few days,¡± Myria told Karl. ¡°Then he should be fine.¡±

    Karl nodded, then stopped abruptly. ¡°We don¡¯t have a few days,¡± he said, calmly but forcefully. ¡°Tern told me the demonspawn would be here in two days¡¯ time.¡±

    ¡°Demonspawn?¡± said everyone in the room except Xahn¡ªdeeply asleep¡ªand Myria.

    ¡°The Feast of the Vessel is a ruse,¡± Myria told them with a sigh, eyes down. When she looked up, the rims of her eyes were bright red. ¡°Ekatern was trying to get everyone inside the temple to protect them from the goblin horde.¡±

    The room was completely still for several seconds, the only sounds that crept through the edges of the outside door were those of children cleaning the courtyard and planting flowers.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Wyll said quietly after a few moments. ¡°But will someone please inform me what the bloody hell is going on?¡±

    The room remained silent for quite a while longer. No one even told young Helper to watch his language.

    Karl was the first to speak, recounting his conversation with Ekatern in the World Room and the visions he¡¯d seen through the large, blue crystal. Myria was next, telling them all the plans Ekatern and she had put together, ensuring the children would be protected by paying them to clean, then encouraging parents and the rest of the village to join them for the feast.

    ¡°The temple is the only place we can hold off the demonspawn long enough for most of us to escape,¡± Myria explained, her head bowed again.

    ¡°Escape?¡± Jayn asked. ¡°This is the first I¡¯m hearing of any of this. How do you and Ekatern propose to help us escape?¡±

    ¡°Through the mines,¡± said a young but strong voice. Wyll continued, ¡°My father says the witch¡¯s mansion is built over the main shaft of the largest crystal mine ever discovered. He says it was cut wide and deep enough to haul out immense crystals. Some of them ended up in this place. But that shaft was sealed off decades ago, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Jayn told him, thoughtfully. ¡°No, all the servant women have been through that shaft. There is even an ancient rail cart system to Lolan that still works. Ekatern made it available to me when I was searching for Tress; then later, for Duncan. Ekatern kept the shaft a secret because of the access to the Heart of the World.¡±

    ¡°The what of the what?¡± asked Wyll.

    ¡°Not now, Wyll,¡± Jayn said, holding up one hand. She looked directly at Myria, put a finger gently under her chin, and lifted the old woman¡¯s eyes until Jayn looked directly into them. ¡°There are not enough carts or llamas to move us all to Lolan.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Myria admitted, grasping Jayn¡¯s hand from under her chin and holding it tightly. ¡°The order was to get the children out first, then the adults and finally the acolytes. We knew the temple¡¯s defenses will only hold the horde off temporarily. Enough to at least get the children away safely. Ekatern and I never expected to be able to leave.¡±

    ¡°Monsters from fairy stories,¡± Wyll grumbled, though his voice waivered.

    ¡°Quiet, Wyll,¡± Dahn told the young man, kindly. ¡°I believe them.¡±

    ¡°Then it is settled,¡± said Karl in his matter-of-fact Dash way. He took a deep breath and blew it out slowly, emptying himself of bad emotions, like frustration, fear, and anger. He took another slow breath and said, ¡°We will continue with the plan. None of us will leave the temple until everyone that can be saved is saved. Agreed?¡±

    ¡°Agreed,¡± they all said in unison.

    ¡°Despite the circumstances,¡± Karl added, looking knowingly at Myria.

    ¡°Circumstances?¡± Dahn asked, hearing the finality in her father¡¯s voice. She had heard that tone before, years earlier, in much sadder times.

    Myria reached into the folds of her dress, her hand trembling as she retrieved a silver circlet. A large green crystal sat in its center, glowing with a steady light. Jayn gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Wyll¡¯s usual sarcasm vanished as he stared at the glowing crystal, his face pale. Even Karl¡¯s tight hold on his emotions slipped a bit as he lowered his head, his jaw clenched tightly. ¡°That¡¯s Ekatern¡¯s!¡± Jayn whispered, her voice breaking. ¡°She never removes it! Never! She just covers it.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± said Myria, her voice thick with grief as tears filled her eyes. ¡°I followed her instructions. I¡ªI removed it from her brow as she lay on the floor of World Room.¡± Myria held the circlet close to her heart, her knuckles white against the silver. ¡°She went to the Crossroads ¡­ and never returned.¡±

    The glow of the green crystal in Myria¡¯s trembling hands cast eerie shadows on the whitewashed walls as a heavy and suffocating silence filled the room. Everyone stared at the gem as the meaning of the old woman¡¯s words seeped into their hearts: Ekatern, the Crystal Witch who had lived in the mountains of Hylan for countless generations, was dead.

 Chapter Nine: The Mines

    Where did all the time go? wondered Mayor Daevy Helper as he stared through his gold-rimmed spectacles at the invoice in his large, calloused hands. He glanced over the rims at the two young men who stood before his redwood desk in his office¡ªa small chamber in the back of his shoppe, crammed with scrolls, books, and a bit of storage for items he couldn¡¯t fit elsewhere. It gave the office a pungent, though not wholly unpleasant smell. A resourceful man, Daevy repurposed the bolts of cloth, skeins of yarn, heavy sacks of grain and coffee as makeshift shelves for parchments, ink wells, and quills. He used a whiskey barrel for his chair. The young men stood before the only legitimate piece of furniture in the place¡ªa beautiful hand-carved desk, gifted him by the villagers when he became mayor.

    Young men, indeed! It seemed only months ago that these brats were scampering about Hylan in nappies and feeding from their mothers¡¯ teats! These lads are younger than my Wyll who¡¯s just fifteen¡ªno, fourteen! Of course, they are considerably larger than my youngest son, but he may yet have a growth spurt. Daevy had to admit to himself that it really wasn¡¯t the passage of time or the fact that his son still looked like a small, skinny boy instead of a strapping young man that had him concerned now¡ªit was the invoice in his hands. Particularly the note at the bottom of the page.

    Mayor Helper had never been a strong man. Much like his Wyll, he¡¯d been a bit smaller than most boys while growing up. Now, nearly sixty-four years old, he¡¯d made up for that by being clever with numbers and with people. And by outweighing nearly every man in the village, of course. That was one hazard of running a shoppe, a tavern, and sitting behind the mayor¡¯s desk for most of his life¡ªhe ate well but had little opportunity to work off those good meals. His hands were calloused more by shuffling books about and handling quill pens than by lifting loads and digging in the mines or the dirt, like most Hylaners. Still, many of the village looked up to him¡ªnot literally, of course, as he was shorter than the majority of them. But a good many folks called him the Village Father. And as the Village Father, he wasn¡¯t happy with the invoice or that note.

    ¡°Did you see Ekatern write this?¡± the mayor demanded.

    ¡°Beggin¡¯ your pardon, Sir,¡± stammered the taller of the two boys. The mayor recognized him as K¡¯Van Cmyth who was tall, like all nine of the Cmyth children, with long, black hair. He couldn¡¯t have been more than twelve, yet he looked strong enough to plow a field. Or dig out a shaft, Daevy reminded himself, as mining and caring for the miners were the chief occupations in Hylan. The boy looked nervously at the shorter boy by his side¡ªa Dahjer by the look of him, stout and dark¡ªwho shrugged and said, ¡°We didn¡¯t reckon we was supposed to spy on her.¡±

    ¡°Alright, alright!¡± Daevy growled, calming the boys with a wave of his hand. Then he rubbed both hands across his large, wobbly face that was cleanshaven except for the sides near the ears that were covered in curly gray whiskers¡ªwhat his wife called mutton chops. ¡°It¡¯s just that ¡­ boys, these numbers don¡¯t add up. I have a tally here,¡± he picked up another small piece of parchment, ¡°of the carts brought into Clayton Field today¡ªnineteen wagons. I am led to understand there¡¯s one more coming, which my son was bringing when he was injured. But this invoice from the witch says she only sent ten carts. Ten is also what we agreed upon almost a week ago, now.¡±

    The young men stared back at him as if he¡¯d just spouted a phrase in Franstongue. Mayor Helper wiped an arm across the cluttered desk¡ªpapers, quills, pastries, and coins scattering as he cleared a space for the invoice. Putting his round finger smack in the middle of the parchment he said, ¡°You brought me twice the wagons and food she accounted for!¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you sure you only took the carts you were directed to take?¡±

    The two boys nodded vigorously.

    ¡°Fine,¡± the mayor sighed, ¡°fine! I don¡¯t want to be held accountable for stealing from a crystal witch¡ªthat would not bode well for any of us. I¡¯ll work it out. Stay close by. In fact, have all the boys stay close by. If I understand the message on the bottom of this invoice you brought to me correctly, she wants us to move the carts to another location, today.¡±

    The boys looked at each other, but didn¡¯t move.

    ¡°Skedaddle!¡± he shouted, and they jumped then hopped away like rabbits.

    Daevy reread the note at the bottom of the invoice, hoping to glean some sense out of it.

    As agreed in our contract, you will store the foodstuffs where they will be safe. I encourage you to put the carts well inside the entrances to the mineshafts and to post guards. I cannot tell you more than this but be prepared to move village folks into the mines at the first sign of trouble. Your Servant, Ekatern of Hylan.

    Daevy snorted. ¡°Your Servant ¡­ of Hylan,¡± indeed! My father and my father¡¯s father told me that she sat above Hylan for countless decades, doing little more than hiring a few servant women and judging those beneath her. And of course, there are the less savory rumors. Why more carts than fewer? He wondered. I¡¯ve often been cheated with invoices inflating the amount delivered by warehouses in Lolan or by wandering Hahn Traders, but never have I seen more someone give more than they told me. It was this detail, Daevy decided, that bothered him more than anything else about this transaction¡ªas if trading with a known witch weren¡¯t bad enough.

    The mayor rubbed his thumb across the lettering of the message, written in a purple-looking ink and with completely different handwriting than the black ink of the invoice above. This purple ink wasn¡¯t quite smooth¡ªit felt a bit lumpy. The hairs went stiff on Daevy¡¯s arms. This was crystal ink, a very expensive concoction made of the juices of several rare plants and ground dead crystals¡ªthose that no longer glowed. But as he touched it, he could swear the lumps were lighting up, just for an instant, as his finger passed over them. Daevy jerked his finger away with an exclamation and the ink dimmed, like embers in ash. Live crystals from a crystal witch! The thought gave the mayor shivers.

    Better do as she instructs, he determined, warily. No need to invoke some spell or curse she has put on this invoice.

    ¡°Boy!¡± the mayor shouted, still staring at the paper on his desk. Three young men dashed into office looking terrified of him. ¡°Gather all the young men back to the Field. We¡¯ll be storing the carts in the mines until after the Feast.¡± The youth nodded and dashed away. Daevy heaved his body off his whiskey barrel chair and made his way outside to supervise and see that his instructions were carried out. He wound his way through the clutter of bolts of cloth, skeins of yarn, heavy sacks of grain and coffee¡ªall items Hylaners could buy from his shoppe¡ªto the front porch where he could see Clayton Field. The shouts of young men he¡¯d sent away were echoing off the nearby mountainside and the mayor could see they were already gathering others to help move the food-filled carts to the nearest entrance to the mine: Clayton¡¯s Shaft, only a quarter mile away, but up a fairly steep road. Daevy sighed; it would take some effort, and he¡¯d better help out. He found and donned his coat--it was getting closer to dark, which came earlier this time of year, especially in the mountains and it was getting chilly.

    What Mayor Helper had not noticed as he walked out of his tiny office was the purple ink on invoice beginning to glow brightly once more. The brilliance lasted on a few seconds, then a faint, ethereal purple cloud formed over the paper, coiled for a moment like pipe smoke in a gentle breeze, then gathered itself into a faintly glimmering ball of light and followed Daevy Helper out of his office, toward Clayton Field.

    The hazy ball of glowing purple moved above Clayton Field and watched silently as the mayor organized the two dozen young men and one young woman to move the carts. The ball of light neither knew nor cared that the young woman was a sixteen-year-old named Jeanna Doughty; but it could tell immediately that she was larger and stronger than any of her male counterparts. Most carts required two of the young men to move them, but Jeanna easily handled one on her own. Mayor Helper grabbed a wagon himself and conscripted five adult men to take those remaining¡ªhe obviously wanted to get all the foodstuff put away before dark.

    With Daevy Helper, three other adults, and Jeanna at the lead, the purple sphere observed the group form an irregular line that snaked up the East Road and onto the mountainside, with the final two adults shepherding from the back. It was slow going. While the East Road had seen a lot of traffic over the years¡ªmen, llamas, and crystal-laden carts¡ªit was steep enough to be quite difficult when pushing a load upwards. Both boys and men demanded several breaks to catch their breath (though Jeanna did not and seemed frustrated by the delays). Despite the struggle, the purple ball of light saw the head of the line reach the opening to Clayton¡¯s Shaft just as the sun began to touch the craggy peaks of the western horizon.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    Without making a sound or stirring so much as grain of sand, the ball of light swooped over the boys, men, and Jeanna, and into the mine entrance where it secreted itself high in the roof among the crystal stalactites. The white glow of the living crystals was so bright that the ball was effectively invisible to viewers below. It continued to watch the people and carts as they made their way into the entrance. Daevy Helper pushed his cart in first, with one of the adult men and Jeanna and their carts on either side of him. After his cart was pushed into a clear, flat area where it could remain still, the mayor released the handles of the cart, blew on his hands, then put them on his knees and gasped for air.

    ¡°You ¡­ know,¡± Daevy said between breaths, ¡°my son was ¡­ named after Wyll Clayton.¡± His red face bobbed up and down as he sucked in and blew out his breaths, trying to calm down. ¡°Oh yes. One of ¡­ my wife Hyacinth¡¯s ancestors ¡­ you know.¡±

    ¡°This was originally a cave, wasn¡¯t it?¡± asked Jeanna, calmly. She hadn¡¯t even broken a sweat pushing her cart up the mountainside.

    ¡°In ¡­ deed,¡± the mayor huffed, nodding. ¡°Wyll Clayton stumbled upon it while ¡­ while tending his goats. Originally, this opening was just ¡­ a crack. But the lights,¡± Daevy pointed upwards to the glowing stalactites, ¡°caught his ¡­ eye. When he squirmed through the crack and into this cavern, he found himself ¡­ surrounded by all kinds of live crystals, as far as he could see. He harvested just a pouch full, which was all he could carry, and made the long trek to Lolan.¡± Daevy took a deep breath, then smiled. ¡°And he became a very wealthy man. Not to mention,¡± he said with a groan as he stood up straight again, ¡°the first mayor of Hylan.¡±

    The mayor took a break from his story to guide the carts of the young men who just arriving into semi-straight rows in the larger cavern. Then he stood back and scratched his head. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look very secure, does it?¡± he said out loud, though it was more to himself than to anyone around.

    ¡°Do you think one of us is going to steal it?¡± scoffed one of the other adults. Neemin Sucram was tall and thin with long gray whiskers and bits of unkempt gray hair that flew out from beneath his miner¡¯s helmet. Combined with his well-worn gray llama wool clothing, his appearance reminded Daevy of the ghosts of unfortunate miners that were rumored to roam deep within the shafts, rather than one of flesh and blood. It would be a mistake to think that the mayor knew, for Neemin was considered one of the strongest and most prolific miners in Hylan.

    ¡°Of course not!¡± Daevy barked. ¡°It is a condition of our agreement with the witch. And it makes sense,¡± he continued. ¡°I don¡¯t know how she did it, but Ekatern delivered us fresh fruits, only days after harvest. The cooler mine shafts out of the sunlight and the moister cavern air is the perfect place to keep them fresh. The guards are here for ¡­.¡± Daevy shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know, really. It¡¯s just something she asked for and I thought it was worth the effort. If you wish, I will stand guard.¡±

    ¡°You?¡± Neemin scoffed. ¡°What would you do to possible thieves or vandals? Threaten them with legal action? Brandish the sharp edge of a parchment? No, we¡¯d better have guards who could actually protect the food.¡± The tall gray miner looked around and nodded. ¡°How about Jo¡¯l, Jeanna, and myself?¡±

    Daevy nodded. He was used to Neemin¡¯s frankness and knew he intended no ill will, though his words stung a bit. Still, his suggestions were sound. While Jeanna was not a miner, she was definitely as strong as one. Along with strapping miners like Neemin and Jo¡¯l Doughty¡ªJeanna¡¯s father¡ªthe guard would be more than sufficient. ¡°Jo¡¯l, Jeanna, you alright with that arrangement?¡± They both nodded their approval.

    The mayor gave a loud whistle and all the young men¡ªwho had been wandering around the cavern gawking at minecars and the huge redwood struts supporting the walls and the roof as the shaft continued onward into a tunnel that went downward into the mountain itself¡ªturned as one to look at him. ¡°We¡¯re going home!¡± Daevy shouted, his voice echoing loudly in the cavern. ¡°All of your sweaty bodies are stinking up the mines!¡±

    They all laughed together at the mayor¡¯s joke, as he was the sweatiest among them. It had the effect Daevy hoped for and the subtle tension that had built up during the trek was released. In a few moments, he had the team organized for the return journey. He was about to lead the team out of the cavern, when he heard a strange noise coming from deep within the mine shaft¡ªa low, echoing growl accompanied by a regular scrape ¡­ scrape ¡­ scrape. It was as if something large was crawling slowly towards them; something massive. Was this why the witch wanted the carts guarded? Daevy wondered, his palms tingling with anxious dread. Did she somehow know this ¡­ this creature was going to crawl out of the bowels of the mines?

    The cavern was silent; everyone had stopped what they were doing to listen to the strange noises. The younger boys were either rooted to the spot where they stood or were slowly backing towards the cavern entrance. The mayor made his way carefully past the terrified youngsters to the rear of the group, nearer the sound. Standing boldly before the main shaft were the three guards, Neemin holding a heavy pick in huge hands, looking quite menacing. Daevy assumed he¡¯d either brought the pick with him or had retrieved it from somewhere in the cavern.

    ¡°What in MaHo¡¯Ni¡¯s name was that?¡± Jeanna whispered.

    As if in answer, a cloud of dust suddenly swirled out of the mineshaft, glittering with crystal powder. Daevy cried out in shock then quickly shut his eyes tightly and covered his mouth with his hands, but not in time to block a mouthful of crystal-sprinkled dirt. He coughed violently, expelling the dust from his lungs. He waved his hands about trying ineffectively to clear the cloud around him. Others around the cavern joined him in an echoing hacking cacophony, nearly drowning out the oncoming threat.

    The mayor stood up and squinted through the dust, trying to make out the thing coming towards them through the tunnel. Without warning, the sounds around him became muffled and the dust cloud vanished as if an invisible hand wiped had placed a bell jar over Daevy. The lights in the chamber faded from white to green, making the entire cavern look unreal. Daevy now had a clear view of the shaft, and he saw ¡­ people. Dozens ¡­ no ¡­ hundreds of people running. Strangely, they were not running out of the tunnel but running past Daevy and into the it. Some of them were pushing the food carts the team had just parked in the entrance, but most were simply sprinting as if to get away from something. He recognized the Cmyth family, Father Cmyth pushing a food cart while Mother Cmyth and oldest daughters carried their smaller, shrieking siblings. The sounds of the children were muffled and didn¡¯t echo at all like all other sounds in the mine. There were muted shouts and screams coming from all round him. These people were terrified, Daevy realized. And there! There was the Shivadis and the Djonzes and the Sucrams! It looked as if the entire village was fleeing into the mines!

    As Daevy shouted out, ¡°Where are you all going?¡± the clear and echoing sounds of men coughing, the white lights, the cloud of dust, and the ominous threatening scrapes and growls returned just as unexpectedly as they had vanished. He felt as if he had just woken from a vivid nightmare.

    ¡°Doubt anyone is going anywhere, right now, Mayor,¡± Neemin Sucram said from Daevy¡¯s right. The mayor blinked heavily, clearing his sight with sudden tears. What just happened? he wondered. Have I been dreaming?

    Through the thinning dust, the mayor could tell that Neemin had pulled his kerchief up over his mouth and nose; he seemed to be breathing normally. ¡°Whatever is coming,¡± the miner continued, ¡°it¡¯s here.¡±

    The mayor¡¯s heart leapt. He whipped his head toward the mineshaft again, peering through the slits of his squinted eyelids at the tunnel in front of him. Neemin was right; a dark, shadowy figure that looked absolutely huge was emerging from the shaft, backlit by the bright glow of the white crystals the lined its walls. It was an improbable creature with two heads that looked almost human, the bulk of a horse, and the feet of a llama. Davey¡¯s hacking breath caught in his throat when he saw it. He wanted nothing more than to run as fast as he could. But he was mayor and surrounded by those who depended on him, so he stood his ground with weak knees and shaking hands.

    As the creature made its way out of the tunnel and into the cavern proper, the overhead crystals brought the image more clearly into focus. The creature with llama feet, horse¡¯s body and two human heads solidified into ¡­ a large cart being pulled by two llamas and driven by two humans. Shocked, Daevy recognized the cart as the twentieth food wagon! The wheels of the cart, Daevy could now tell, were making that awful scaping noise, magnified by the echo of the mine. Finally, the two human heads resolved out of the swirling dust into familiar faces.

    ¡°Wyll?¡± Daevy shouted! ¡°And Karl?¡± He paused and tried to figure out how his best friend and his own son had just ridden out of Clayton Shaft.

    ¡°I¡¯ll be damned!¡± Daevy and Karl said together. Karl looked at Wyll and said, ¡°Just as Ekatern predicted.¡±

    Wyll glanced at his father¡¯s sweaty terrified face and Karl¡¯s stoic visage, started to grin and said, ¡°Why that old crystal witch! She¡¯s been right at every turn!¡± Quickly, the redhaired youth became somber and his eyes grew wide. ¡°Oh no!¡± he said softly, his voice tinged with alarm. ¡°She¡¯s been right at every turn! We¡¯re all in terrible danger!¡±

 Chapter Ten: The Voice of the Entity

    When Dahn awoke, the light that let her know she wasn¡¯t in her room at the ranch house. The mattress beneath her was filled with straw. The walls were plain and white, just like hers. And the room was small enough for her sleepy mind to confuse it with home. It was the steady glow of crystals in the ceiling instead of the flicker of an oil lamp that told her immediately she was elsewhere. When she closed her eyes, Dahn could hear the high-pitched hum the white crystals made, undetectable to most people. She could also smell alcohol and strange herbs that were definitely unhomelike, but not entirely unpleasant. Without warning, the events of the previous day flooded through her mind. They washed over her like a sudden tide¡ªswift, cold and overwhelming. Her heart skipped a beat, and her breath caught in her throat.

    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Xahn said in a calming, familiar voice beside her. ¡°We¡¯re safe.¡± He took her hand in his and she immediately relaxed. Dahn had forgotten he was lying next to her in the large bed. She found she was able to breathe again.

    ¡°For now,¡± she said, her stomach going cold in the pit. Dahn wrinkled her nose. ¡°It stinks in here.¡±

    ¡°It would help if Wyll would stop farting in his sleep!¡± Xahn whispered. Dahn giggled and her brother put a finger to his lips, then pointed to the corner where Wyll had been laid out on a small cot. He was snoring gently, and the young woman stifled her laughter. She didn¡¯t want to wake Wyll. He¡¯d had a difficult day, as well. Still, she wished he wouldn¡¯t snore¡ªthat noise always set her teeth on edge, like fingernails on slate.

    ¡°There¡¯s a strong smell of alcohol in here,¡± Xahn noticed, distracting her. ¡°Whiskey maybe? I noticed that Jayn and Myria wipe everything down with rags soaked in it. I¡¯ve been wondering why.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think you were awake enough to notice,¡± Dahn told him quietly, a bit surprised.

    ¡°I kept awaking then sleeping again a few moments later,¡± her brother told her, softly. ¡°I think I¡¯ve been able to piece together what happened. Still, it doesn¡¯t really make any sense.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Dahn agreed. ¡°We both fainted at the same time, I think.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Xahn nodded. ¡°It seems that way. At least I fell on some carpets. Looks like you hit your head pretty hard.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s quite sore,¡± Dahn agreed, touching the wound lightly with her free hand. Xahn winced and touched his own head in the exact spot of his sister¡¯s injury. This had happened so often between them over their fourteen years together, that Dahn didn¡¯t think it unusual.

    ¡°Jayn and Myria tell me it¡¯s going to be fine,¡± she told Xahn. ¡°They didn¡¯t let me sleep until after dark. Myria said something about head wounds and sleep not mixing well. Scared me enough that I couldn¡¯t go to sleep, anyway.¡± She stared at the ceiling, her mind unable to focus.

    ¡°Do you ever wish Father would let us light the ranch house with crystals like these?¡± Dahn asked.

    ¡°He¡¯s protecting you,¡± Xahn said. Dahn thought she could hear a bit of regret in his voice, and she could feel his frustration and fear. ¡°Father has always believed that crystals are the cause of the Sadness.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Dahn said, forlornly. ¡°But they¡¯re so pretty and steady and you don¡¯t have to refill crystal lamps with that smelly oil.¡±

    In the corner of the room, Wyll rolled over on his cot and make a high-pitched squealing noise.

    ¡°Speaking of smelly,¡± Xahn joked. ¡°I swear it sounds like he¡¯s strangling a goose!¡± Dahn covered her mouth with both hands to stop her from screaming with laughter. Her eyes began to water as Xahn also tried to stifle his howls. As the giggles began to subside, Dahn wondered how they could laugh in such terrible circumstance. The humor between them faded quickly. Dahn was still filled with anxiety, She looked over at her brother with concern, grabbed his hand again and asked, ¡°How are you feeling?¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    He sighed and said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I didn¡¯t do much more than strain my back and twist my ankle when the food cart got away from us. But that incident with Ekatern that ¡­ that was unlike anything that¡¯s ever happened to me.¡±

    ¡°Me too,¡± Dahn agreed, the sites and dreamlike feelings from the Crossroads returning to her.

    ¡°What?¡± Xahn said a bit too loudly, sitting up quickly. He immediately regretted that decision and winced, putting a hand to his back. After a momentary pause, the pain on his face subsided and he looked down at his sister. ¡°You weren¡¯t there. They told me you were in the great hall.¡±

    ¡°I was, but when I passed out, I ¡­ I dreamed.¡± Dahn told her brother about going to a place with lightning and a bright path and woman dressed in green. ¡°Myria called it something,¡± she said, ¡°I can¡¯t remember what.¡±

    ¡°The Crossroads,¡± Xahn breathed.

    ¡°That¡¯s it. I don¡¯t remember much about it, but I do remember it was very frightening. I felt like something was ¡­¡±

    ¡°Chasing you?¡± her brother asked.

    ¡°Yes! Chasing me!¡± Another memory poured over her mind, cold and terrifying. It was the sound of a voice and the image of two glowing red eyes. ¡°I remember a man in black talking to me, but I was too afraid to answer him.¡±

    Xahn paused and the concerned look on his face turned to fear. ¡°Large, dark figure, wearing a robe?¡± Xahn asked. ¡°Glowing eyes?¡±

    Dahn nodded. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s him,¡± she said quietly. ¡°Myria called him ¡®The Entity.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Tern told me never to get close to him¡ªto it,¡± Xahn said, absently, his eyes unfocused. ¡°She said that the people who do ¡­ they don¡¯t return.¡± Dahn was uncomfortable with her brother¡¯s look¡ªit was as if he were simultaneously here and somewhere else, both relieved and terrified. Suddenly, his head whipped toward her, his eyes alive and attentive again. ¡°How did you...?¡±

    ¡°A red-haired woman with a green crystal on her forehead pulled me away and set me on a bright path the led me back here.¡±

    ¡°Tern,¡± said Xahn, nodding.

    ¡°Who?¡± This was second time he had used that name; the first time, Dahn had supposed her brother was a bit delirious.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s short for Ekatern,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s how the crystal witch looked when she was young.¡± Dahn was shocked; she had never seen Ekatern in person, but the beautiful woman from her dreams didn¡¯t fit her mental image of the witch. Xahn¡¯s brow creased, and his eyes grew wide. ¡°She exchanged herself for you!¡± He was still whispering, but his tone was like a shout. ¡°She must still be there with that dark figure¡ªwith the Entity!¡±

    ¡°Myria said something like that before she left with Father. When they returned, they brought you with them and Myria told us Ekatern was lost. She brought a silver crown with a green crystal in it, just like the one I saw the woman wear in my dream.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t a dream,¡± Xahn told her, drifting again, as if his mind were elsewhere. ¡°It was a place. And Ekatern¡¯s mind¡ªher soul¡ªis still there! But, what about her body?¡± Dahn noticed her brother¡¯s hand begin to sweat as she held it.

    She shook her head, put her other hand over the top of her brother¡¯s and said, ¡°Xahn, she is dead.¡± Dahn watched with sadness as her brother¡¯s face grew pale and tears welled up in his eyes.

    ¡°No,¡± he whispered. ¡°No!¡± Xahn breathed heavily and Dahn could feel his heart racing as whispered so low that only she could hear it, ¡°She can¡¯t be.¡±

    Gooseflesh rose on the backs of Dahn¡¯s arms and behind her neck at her brother¡¯s words. It wasn¡¯t what he said, it was how he said it. She¡¯d heard that kind of desperate whisper before. Recently. In the Crossroads.

    ¡°Release me!¡± the Entity had demanded in a reverberating voice. It was thick and dark, sexless and ageless. As it had reached its impossibly thin arms to grab her, the woman with the green crystal appeared suddenly and had thrown herself between them, pushing Dahn harshly toward the bright path. Dahn shivered with fear as she remembered how the black figure had grabbed hold of the red-haired woman with its long, skeletal fingers, its eyes glowing a bright red as it pulled her into itself. The woman had seemed impossibly calm as she disappeared within the Entity¡¯s black shrouds. Just before she vanished, the woman shouted Dahn to run, to follow the bright path home.

    ¡°Dahn, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xahn asked, his sadness turning to concern¡ªher skin, she knew had grown ice cold. She was frozen, shivering even though the room was warm. Dahn couldn¡¯t answer her brother, couldn¡¯t open her mouth, couldn¡¯t even scream, though she desperately wanted to. That cold, frenetic feeling kept washing over her as the sickening voice of the Entity repeated those horrible, whispered words again and again in her mind growing louder each time.

    Release me. Release me! YOU MUST RELEASE ME!

 Chapter Eleven: The Demon in the North Pass

    The horse stumbled momentarily as the rocky soil beneath it gave way in a shower of sand and pebbles. Ginsook clutched Nahbee¡¯s reins tightly. She wished she¡¯d had time to saddle her properly. Instead, she gripped the horse¡¯s neck, mane, reins, and anything she could to keep from falling off. Normally, when Nahbee felt the tug of the reins, she would stop instantly; however, this gallop was far from normal. Ginsook and Nahbee were being chased by ¡­ things. Things so gruesome and violent that neither would stop running until they were safe¡ªor dead.

    Once she had regained her footing, Nahbee straightened up, chose a more solid path in the gravel of North Pass Road, and let her rider reseat herself, all while maintaining her gallop in the dark of the cold autumn night. For the hundredth time since speeding from her village, Ginsook thanked the gods for Nahbee. Horses were rare in the Froze Waste¡ªespecially in the mountains¡ªbut to have one this smart and strong as her work animal was truly exceptional. Nahbee, she knew, was the only reason she¡¯d managed to escape the village. Ginsook was also grateful that Tehdahl¡ªthe great moon¡ªwas full tonight. The bright moonlight lit the mountain pass like silvery daylight.  The woman panted, making heavy clouds in the freezing mountain air, and adjusted the crimson blanket tied around her chest. The blanket and her silken robes were all she¡¯d had time to wear; they were not much protection against the freezing air. On her back, secured by the soft, red blanket, was her most precious cargo¡ªone that had to be delivered safely.

    ¡°Chebahl dowajushipshyo!¡± she prayed aloud, shivering with cold. She prayed to the Vessel, to Hanunim the god of Heaven¡ªto any god who might listen. ¡°Please help me!¡± She tried desperately to think only about clinging to the horse, keeping her cargo safe, reaching the top of the pass. Ginsook pushed away any thoughts of her village, now burned to cinders. She blanked out images of old women and children being casually ripped apart in clouds of blood and sloppily eaten by fanged monsters out of a nightmare. She emptied her thoughts of the retching stench of death and of the panicked screams of those who weren¡¯t eaten as they were gathered in nets by large, dark lizards that walked like humans. She thrust out memories of enormous rock-like creatures tossing and shredding entire buildings as if they were made of paper then crushing sheep, goats, llamas and even horses beneath their boulder-sized feet. She put all these thoughts into a basket in her mind, closed the basket, then dropped it into a dark hole. Ginsook could not afford to be distracted from her mission.

    As they careened around a rocky corner, the top of the North Pass came in sight. Just a few more of Nahbee¡¯s long strides and they would be headed down into Hylan where at least they could try to find help, Ginsook thought with a desperate relief. Just a few more steps.

    Darkness swept over them as the shadow of an airborne gnal covered the two. A hurricane blast of wind from the gnal¡¯s flapping wings cut out all remaining light as both horse and rider choked on the dust and dirt swirling through the air. Nahbee had no choice but to stiffen her legs and skid to a quick stop, raising her shoulders to prevent her rider and cargo from being thrown off. Like one of the great worms from the ancient stories of Ginsook¡¯s people, the gnaldescended from the sky and landed at the top of pass, blocking the road. In the full moonlight, the creature spread its huge black batwings and roared, nearly blowing Ginsook over with hot breath that stunk of rotting meat. She felt the roar in her chest as much as heard it, louder and more terrifying than a lion. Its teeth were the size of her forearms, hooked, sharp, and dripping wet with saliva as the glistening serpentine tongue flicked between them. The monster lowered its head and brought its darkened pools of eyes to stare directly into Ginsook¡¯s. It drew a slow, deep, sloshing breath. Nahbee began to scrape her forehoof against the rocky ground as the horse and rider steeled themselves for a final onslaught.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    A brilliant golden light swirled into life behind the gnal amid a sound like the rushing of waters over a fall. It lit the nightmarish creature like the rising sun. The creature¡¯s eyes widened, then narrowed in fury as it whirled toward the light. With a snicking sound, a glowing yellow blade protruded from the back of the gnal¡¯s neck, swiping left, then right so quickly Ginsook almost missed it. The creature took a few stumbling steps backward, turned to face down the road. After standing still for a moment looking confused, its head fell off, tumbling bloodless down the North Pass Road to land at Nahbee¡¯s feet. The gnal¡¯senormous tongue lolling loosely out from between saber-like teeth. Its neck was smoking and smelled like burning flesh. The horse backed quickly away from the gruesome sight, gravel crunching beneath her hooves. Above them the goblin¡¯s body collapsed in a heap on the side of the road.

    Ginsook was too shocked to move, she could barely breathe. Panting heavily, she tried to focus on the image at the top of the pass, lit brightly by the light of the great moon and dazzling blade held with both hands over its head. It was a woman, she thought. A large, mighty-looking woman standing in a pose she¡¯d only seen in old paintings¡ªblade high, back straight, eyes forward, stance low and wide. She was much darker complected than anyone Ginsook had ever seen before. Her hair was black laced with gray, tightly curled, and very long. She wore a twilight-colored cloak that might have been woolen, but if so it was finely woven with swirls of darker stuff forming patterns in the fabric. As she lowered the sword, the brilliance of it faded.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± the woman asked in Glishtongue, her voice echoing loudly in the cold night air. Ginsook nodded. Her cargo squirmed under the blanket around her and let out a short cry. ¡°Is that¡ªdo you have a baby?¡± Ginsook was too tired to think of how to respond in Glishtongue so she simply nodded again. ¡°Well then get up here! We¡¯ve got to get you to safety and quickly. The North Pass is about to become impassible.¡±

    Cautiously, Ginsook nudged Nahbee forward until they were standing next to the woman. Ginsook wasn¡¯t sure she could trust her; hidden in that basket she¡¯d dropped in a hole in her mind was a memory trying to escape¡ªa memory of a Glishman with a metal skullcap. A Glishman helping the goblin horde.

    ¡°I won¡¯t hurt you, Child,¡± the woman told her more softly as they approached, her breath smoking in the cold moonlight. Despite the circumstances, her manner was unhurried and friendly. Up close, she was even taller than Ginsook had supposed, standing fully half again her own height. The Hahnwoman got a clear view of the sword she held casually in her right hand: it had golden hilts and a long silver blade. Her brow furrowed¡ªthe blade did not appear to be sharp, instead it looked like a long, thin box. Yet, she had witnessed it cut through the demonspawn¡¯s neck as easily as a hot knife through soybean curd. She wondered at this marvelous weapon and where the wielder had obtained it.

    The woman flashed a quick smile at Ginsook. ¡°We must get you and your baby down to Hylan. I think I can protect you, but you must hurry. Come with me.¡± Her brown eyes locked onto Ginsook¡¯s.

    ¡°My name is Gabriella.¡±

 Chapter Twelve: Thunder in the Peaks

    Around the fifth time Wyll Helper regaled the other youngsters with his harrowing story, his father sent him to the village healer¡ªwho was also his mother. He sent him away as much to focus the attention of the remaining youth as to be cared for. Karl shook his head as Jeanna Doughty left the mine shaft¡¯s cavernous entrance carrying young Wyll on her back. He swore he could still hear echoes of Wyll¡¯s voice recounting how Dahn and Xahn had fainted near crystals in the witch¡¯s mansion, how he and Karl had made a treacherous twilight journey through the mines from a secret entrance in the mansion known only to the witch and her closest advisors, and of course, of the death of Ekatern herself. He had left out a lot of the story, Karl realized. The Dashman wasn¡¯t certain if Wyll was being judicious about what to share or if he simply didn¡¯t remember. Given the young man¡¯s proclivity for talking, Karl assumed it was the latter.

    The Dashman sighed heavily. He found an empty basin in the miner¡¯s gear near the entrance to the main shaft, filled it from a tub nearby that seemed to be filled with water dripping from the stalactites above. Carrying the bowl in one hand and a piece of cloth that resembled a towel in the other, he went into a small alcove that didn¡¯t have direct sight to the cavern. There he stripped to the waist and began to wash off nearly two-day¡¯s dirt from his face, neck, chest, and arms. The water was quite cold as he poured it over his head and torso, but he felt much better as he dried himself off. Once he¡¯d put on a semi-clean shirt he kept in his pack¡ªnot significantly different from the shirt he¡¯d been wearing¡ªhe began to feel reinvigorated. Despite being at least one night behind on sleep. He toweled furiously at his hair and beard. Karl didn¡¯t want any wetness on his head where he was going that night.

    As he wandered into the main cavern, he nodded in approval of what they¡¯d all accomplished. Since Karl had known the real purpose of the feast at the mansion and the wagons of food stored in the mines, his approach to storing the carts had been quite different than the mayor¡¯s original suggestions, but Daevy hadn¡¯t seemed to mind. In fact, he¡¯d done everything exactly as Karl had suggested: the carts had been pushed into crannies out of sight, placed every hundred paces along the shaft¡ªeven deep within the mountain¡ªand covered with heavy, dust-laden tarps, so they looked more like boulders than wagons.

    The cavern was still filled with young men. A few of them had accompanied Jeanna and Wyll down to the village, but most had stayed to make sure their tasks were properly completed. Now, Daevy was gathering them all together in a circle and organizing groups to return safety in the dark. The Father¡ªas Karl¡¯s people referred to the largest moon¡ªwas full tonight and offered good lighting, but a couple of the boys in each group would have either crystal or flame torches to ward off the stray leopard or bear that wondered the mountain passes this time of year. One group would stay back with the carts as guards. It appeared the mayor was remaining with that group.

    Satisfied that everything was as it should be, Karl, put his old, smelly shirt over the top of his new one for added warmth. When everyone¡¯s attention was on Daevy, Karl walked calmly and quietly out of the mine. He looked back for an instant as he left the semicircle of light that fell upon the road from the entrance and saw that the mayor¡ªstill instructing the youngsters¡ªwas watching him. The Dashman couldn¡¯t tell if there were curiosity, concern, or anger in Daevy¡¯s eyes.

    <hr>

    The horseback ride down the mountain pass toward Hylan was uneventful until the two women reached the bottom where the road widened and became smoother. Gabriella was glad for the respite. Her body needed to recover. She shook her head as she rode on the horse behind Ginsook, wondering how the poor woman remained upright, much less kept watch as she guided the animal¡ªfrothy with sweat and equally exhausted¡ªdown the rough passage. The Hahnin woman appeared to be an expert with the reins and a good friend to the horse. Gabby had known many horses over the long years of her life¡ªseveral of whom had been close companions¡ªbut few as brave and bold as this one. She absently let her left hand rub the beast¡¯s flank as she watched carefully for a particular outcropping of blue rock.

    ¡°Saram nahohpnidah,¡± Ginsook whispered over her shoulder, not taking her eyes from the road. Gabby knew exactly what she was saying, but oftentimes she had found it prudent to hide her talents from others. So, she waited until Ginsook translated in broken Glishtongue: ¡°Someone is coming.¡± Before the Hahnin woman had spotted the shadowy figure, Gabby¡¯s ears had picked up the sound of someone ascending the pass. She patted Ginsook on the shoulder reassuringly and slipped easily from horseback to the road. The dark woman made her way past the horse and held up one hand to let Ginsook know to move slowly. The stranger was a man, of that Gabriella was certain. And there was something familiar about his gait.

    ¡°Karl?¡± she quietly asked the night air, her breath making bright clouds in the cold moonlit air.

    ¡°M¡¯Randa?¡± the shadowy man¡¯s whispered voice sounded genuinely surprised.

    ¡°Gabriella today,¡± she told him with a smile in her voice. ¡°I assume you¡¯re here to spring the trap we set those many years ago.¡±

    The shadow man nodded. ¡°That horse looks terrified. The woman too. What happened?¡±

    ¡°Nothing good. But that is a story for later.¡± She pointed to the outcropping of rock that shone a dim blue in the bright moonlight. ¡°Let¡¯s get off the road. She has a baby riding on her back.¡± Karl looked surprised but nodded and led the way into a side passage that was invisible from the road. Gabby bade Ginsook follow him and the Hahnin woman directed the horse to do so without question. Within a few moments, the group was at the bottom of a very tall, thin crevasse, just wide enough for the horse to walk through slowly. The light from the great moon was blocked here and pathway was shadowed in inky blackness. Karl pulled a palm-sized pouch from his pack and peeled back the covering. A dim white light spilled out of the bag, sufficiently illuminating the small passage without being overly bright.

    ¡°Did you wash your hair right before coming?¡± Gabriella asked quietly, reaching out and plucking a small piece of ice from Karl¡¯s head.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t have much time,¡± the Dashman complained, swatting away her hand.

    ¡°You¡¯re exhausted and it¡¯s making you sloppy. You¡¯ll catch a chill and then you won¡¯t be able to help anyone. Next time, use a real towel,¡± the dark woman chided him. Karl merely grunted in response. ¡°Was it you or me that discovered this path?¡± Gabby whispered in Karl¡¯s ear.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°Me,¡± Karl told her, softly. ¡°I fell into it from above and nearly broke my neck.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± the dark woman said with a smile. ¡°I pulled you out.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, you¡¯re very strong and I was an idiot,¡± the Dashman grumbled.

    ¡°Agreed. But a very brave idiot. As I recall, you wanted this done to protect your family from assassins. I don¡¯t think you had demonspawn in mind.¡±

    Karl grunted, squinting at the walls around them. ¡°If I can find the damned keystones, then it should work for them, as well. Though Ekatern told me it wouldn¡¯t hold them back for long.¡± He glanced at the woman over his shoulder. ¡°How close are they?¡±

    Gabby grimaced. She walked back to the horse, reached around the Hahnin woman with one hand and pulled a leather strap off the pommel of the saddle. Her shoulder dropped quickly to one side as she made her way back to Karl. The strap was obviously attached to something very heavy, but the dark woman swung it easily over her head and threw it at Karl¡¯s feet. The object was quite large and landed with a spongy wet thud, splashing some dark liquid across the rock wall. Karl pointed his light at it. Only decades of training kept him from screaming and recoiling at the severed gnal head staring blankly back at him, bathed in its own gore.

    ¡°Too close,¡± Gabby said softly.

    ¡°Himmelsark,¡± Karl whispered, unconsciously invoking the Dash name of the Vessel as he covered his mouth and nose to block out the stench of the thing.

    ¡°Indeed,¡± said the dark woman. ¡°I wish we had the Vessel¡¯s help on this. But, no matter what the navi tells you in chapel, we are on our own, Karl.¡± Gabby took a deep breath. ¡°For now, at least.¡±

    Karl blinked away tears from the smell and the shock. His mind was reeling. This was the head of one creature! One! He had seen hundreds of them in the blue crystal. He forced his gaze away from the gruesome sight and as he did, he saw a mark in the stone wall, imperceptible if he hadn¡¯t known exactly what to look for.¡±

    ¡°Found them,¡± he croaked. Shaking his head to clear it, Karl reached out to the wall and removed two hand-sized rocks leaving two small, dark holes. They looked like black eyes in the near darkness. Not unlike the black eyes of the death thing at his feet. Karl reached into each hole and retried the ends of two heavy ropes. He wrapped one rope around his right hand until it was tight and handed the other to the dark woman who did the same. It had taken them a lot of effort and weeks of work to find two keystone boulders in the North Pass, tie these ropes to them, then drill holes and snake the ropes through solid rock into this small passage.

    ¡°Now, we see if this works,¡± Gabby said quietly.

    ¡°Yes,¡± said Karl, nodding grimly. ¡°Now, we see if this works¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°You know, maybe the strangest part about all of these adventures,¡± Wyll said for what seemed to Jeanna like the five or six hundredth time, ¡°was the floating purple ink.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± Jeanna shouted, halting abruptly and glancing back at the mayor¡¯s son perched on her back. ¡°That¡¯s new! You never mentioned that before.¡±

    Wyll looked genuinely surprised. ¡°Really? Strange. It¡¯s like the most interesting thing of all.¡± He scrunched up his freckled nose. ¡°How¡¯d I miss that?¡±

    ¡°Never mind,¡± said Jeanna, hoisting her passenger up a bit and resuming walking down North Pass Road. The village was in sight, and she was very much looking forward to dropping Wyll off at his mother¡¯s house and heading to the pub. ¡°What about the floating purple ink?¡±

    ¡°You see,¡± Wyll started as he did every tale he¡¯d told so far, ¡°after the old white-haired lady¡­¡±

    ¡°Myria,¡± Jeanna said.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You told me her name is Myria.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right. Myria. After Myria came in and announced that the crystal witch had died¡­¡±

    ¡°Ekatern,¡± Jeanna corrected.

    Wyll sighed heavily. ¡°After Myria told us that Ekatern had died, she suddenly got all concerned about the Feast of the Vessel. Said something about the witch¡ªI mean, Ekatern¡ªhandling all the details but now Myria would have to. She took off like a nocked arrow and came back with a big book. I mean it was huge. I remember she put it on a table near me and opened it up looking through page after page. I couldn¡¯t make heads nor tails of what was writ there, but I could see all sorts of colored inks. Reds and greens and blues and even some normal black colors. All of a sudden, she stops flipping through pages and lands on this leaf with purple ink. Then she starts rooting around in her pouches and pockets like she¡¯s forgotten or lost something until she pulls out a purple crystal. I never heard of a purple crystal before, have you?¡±

    Leanna shook her head. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t. But I¡¯ve been told there are natural crystals and ¡ª What did they call them? ¡ªconstructed crystals. I think that¡¯s right. Them what are made up of other crystals kind of crushed up together.¡±

    ¡°That actually makes sense,¡± Wyll said, as if he were impressed. ¡°This purple one looked a bit like the lenses in my dad¡¯s eyeglasses. Bit larger, though. Maybe the size of my hand. She¡ªMyria¡ªheld this lens over the leaf with the purple ink and looked through it. When she did, the ink sort of lifted off the page, like purple smoke and drifted around that lens. And I swear, I swear, I heard my dad¡¯s voice when it did. Sounded just like when he shouts orders at me.¡±

    ¡°That is very odd,¡± Jeanna agreed. ¡°Why do you think she did that?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t know,¡± Wyll admitted with a shrug. ¡°All I know is she looked at Karl and told him to get the food cart and take me down to the mines. And she said to make sure all the carts were stored safely away so no one can find them who ain¡¯t looking for them. That¡¯s when she and Jayn took us to the entrance to the mines. They are right inside that house, did I tell you? Inside!¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± said Jeanna, wearily. ¡°You¡¯ve said that a few times.¡± She looked back at him and said, ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± She stopped directly at the front door to the mayor¡¯s large, stone house.

    ¡°Whoa,¡± Wyll breathed. ¡°That was fast! I swear we just left the mines!¡±

    Jeanna just smiled weakly. She was about to tell him that it hadn¡¯t seemed fast to her, when the front door opened and the village healer, Hyacinth Helper, came out. The healer was dressed in traditional embroidered white robes of her profession with a wreath of tiny dried blue flowers in her hair. Unlike her husband, Hyacinth was tall and thin, with a kind face framed by flaming red hair, like Wyll¡¯s.

    ¡°Some boys came by earlier to say you were on your way,¡± the mayor¡¯s wife said in a pleasant soprano voice.

    ¡°I went slowly so as not to jostle the young man about too much,¡± Jeanna told her.

    ¡°And I appreciate that very much. Wyll, can you walk on your good foot?¡± Wyll nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get you inside and put a poultice on your ankle.¡±

    Wyll hopped down from Jeanna¡¯s back and the instant his good foot hit the ground he held up his boots. ¡°Look, Ma! I saved them.¡±

    ¡°Next time,¡± his mother chided gently, cupping his chin in one hand, ¡°save yourself first, then save your boots.¡±

    There was a sudden rumble from the mountain, like thunder, though the night was clear. It grew to a resounding boom that lingered on and continued to increase in volume. Jeanna, Hyacinth, and Wyll all looked gravely at one another: everyone in the village knew that sound.

    ¡°Avalanche!¡± Jeanna shouted. Without hesitation, she scooped Wyll up with one arm and swept up the healer in the other, drawing them both across the threshold in a heartbeat. She slammed the front door with one foot, still holding onto the others. The large young woman pulled them down to the floor behind a large, overstuffed leather couch, awaiting the inevitable pelting of rocks and boulders that must be coming.

    Jeanna only hoped the mayor¡¯s stone house could withstand the crushing landslide.

 Chapter Thirteen: Vision of the Necromancer

    Valen watched from the shoulders of an ird as the enormous baskets of squealing animals and humans were carried away by the gnals into the moonlit night¡ªfood for the budmother. He rubbed one hand absently over his metal skull, observing the devastation around him. Beneath him, the rock troll stomped through the remains of the Hahn village, grinding homes and shops to powder. Satisfied, his right hand made a flourish before him then grabbed the glowing red orb that appeared in the air.

    He was about to send his report to Nilrem when he noticed the screams and cries of the captured humans were not diminishing as they should be. Brow furrowed, the Angel turned about and saw that one of the huge, bloodied rope baskets¡ªstill squirming and writhing with its cargo¡ªremained in the middle of the village street. Confused, Valen searched with his eyes, ears, nostrils, and his non-human senses.

    The gnal that was to have taken these humans was gone. Not just absent from the village ¡­ it had vanished completely from existence. This disturbed him in many ways, but Valen was most bothered by the fact that in his very long life, he had only known the demonspawn to vanish from his sight once and that was nearly five thousand years ago. Members of the goblin horde were all projections of the budmother and as long as she lived, they did until they were no longer needed, at which time she consumed them. Only one weapon had ever been able to dispatch demonspawn, and that weapon had been destroyed ages ago. Unless¡­

    A roaring crash exploded nearby, nearly knocking Valen from his ird mount. He whipped his head around to face the southern mountain canyons as a thick cloud of dust rushed toward him, pouring through the rocky crags and chasms. The billowing dust turned the brightly lit night sky to an inky blackness without stars or even the Great Moon.

    Valen didn¡¯t need eyes to pierce the dusty fog; the ellgru soldiers¡¯ restless movements told him they were looking for his instruction. In complete darkness, he quickly picked three of the largest troops and dispatched them to reconnoiter the situation. They loped away¡ªa cross between hounds and crocodiles¡ªusing their sense of smell and hearing as well as their bulbous eyes. Moments later he could see the source of the disturbance through their eyes: the North Pass had been destroyed by a landslide. Boulders and rocks were still tumbling down the mountainside. Valen grimaced, then held the red orb of Nilrem¡¯s Incarnate at his eye level and at arm¡¯s length. He did not speak, just thought ¡°I need you.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    The swirling, powder-choked sky above him shimmered as Nilrem¡¯s image materialized. The flesh of his current body clung tightly to its bones. The skin was sallow and thin. He looked like an enormous living skeleton, dressed in the black robes and armor.

    "What is wanted?¡± the necromancer asked in a deep, booming voice that echoed loudly through the mountains.

    ¡°The final village of the traders has been destroyed. We are making our way to the body of the witch, as you commanded. But the North Pass has been blocked by a landslide, most likely started by the humans to block us.¡±

    ¡°Their pitiful attempts to thwart our mission are of no concern.¡±

    ¡°No, my Lord,¡± Valen replied, bowing his head momentarily. ¡°We will get past this obstruction without much effort.¡± He paused and took a slow breath. ¡°What disturbs me is that one of the gnal has vanished.¡±

    "Yes,¡± Nilrem¡¯s form said slowly, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. ¡°The budmother cried out when a piece of her was lost.¡±

    ¡°How is it possible?¡±

    ¡°There is only one weapon that could do this. We thought it long gone, but there is one person who may have brought it to this world. One person who could wield it. The Heart must have survived.¡± Valen stifled a gasp. He had never considered facing this formidable foe again.

    ¡°Press forward, my servant,¡± the necromancer continued. ¡°Overcome this obstacle. Take the mining town. Send its people to the budmother. Bring me witch¡¯s body undamaged.

    ¡°And slay the sorceress M¡¯Randa! Bring me the Heart¡¯s head.¡±

    ¡°As you command, my Lord,¡± Valen covenanted, placing a hand over his heart and bowing. The glowing bloody eyes of the necromancer looked pleased as it vanished in a clap of thunder. The radiant orb in Valen¡¯s grasp created a red globe of clarity around him in the settling dust. He clenched his metallic jaw and determined he would fulfill his master¡¯s dark wishes. Nothing could stop him, he decided. He rubbed his hand over his metal skull again, remembering when M¡¯Randa had taken his scalp. Not this time, he thought. Now, the power of the necromancer was vast and terrible. With Nilrem¡¯s help, nothing and no one could stop him.

    Not even the Heart of the Vessel.

 Chapter Fourteen: Dream Walking

    Xahn found himself in a room that was small and white, but it wasn¡¯t the temple¡¯s infirmary where he and Dahn had drifted back to sleep earlier. It was lit by the steady dim glow of crystals in the ceiling, arranged to look like stars. He lay upon a thin bed, dressed only in a gray robe. The room was bare except for a small painting hung on one wall, which he couldn¡¯t make out in gloom. There was a strange smell that reminded him of an approaching spring storm.

    Rising, he placed his feet on the cold flagstone floor.  Xahn felt strong and clear headed as he stood up and looked around. He wasn¡¯t quite sure where he was. The small bed, the crystals in the ceiling, the painting, and an empty doorway were the only features of this room. It wasn¡¯t large enough to do much more than walk around the bed or walk out. He took a step toward the hand-sized painting to examine it. It was a night scene, painted on stretched canvas in a dark frame of carved wood. The artist had depicted one of those rare nights when all three moons were full at once. Beneath the shining orbs were sharp mountain peaks Xahn didn¡¯t recognize. His attention was drawn to the enormous statue near the center of the painting. It was of a woman, nearly as tall as the mountains around her, carved from a single crystal of a color he¡¯d never seen¡ªa sky blue tinted with light green. Her face was strangely shaped, with prominent cheeks and overly full lips. A waterfall poured over her head and shoulders, forming her hair which fell to her bare feet. She was dressed in flowing robes like Tern wore in the Crossroads. A river flowed out from her feet to the edge of the canvas, reflecting the light of the moons. It was an alien scene that made him feel strangely calm and relaxed. As he stared at it, Xahn thought he saw the water move and clouds form in the sky. He blinked and the illusion was gone.

    There was a strange familiarity to the place. Strange because he was certain he¡¯d never been there before. And the familiarity ¡­ it made him uneasy. When had he seen this place? It was like a memory of a dream.

    Slowly, he became aware of a sound coming from beyond the doorway. It was like a distant thunder that never diminished. Curious, Xahn stepped to the opening, looked out and gasped in surprise and dread. Total blackness. Outside the doorway it was dark in a way he¡¯d never witnessed. After a few moments, however, he noticed a light, far away on his left. It resembled the flicker of a single candle, so distant that it was barely a point of light, like one of the star crystals in the bedroom ceiling. The sound seemed to be coming from that direction.

    Cautiously, Xahn crept from the bedroom and into the pitch blackness. Moving slowly toward the point of flickering light in the distance, Xahn felt drawn to the pinprick of brightness. He reached out his hands on both sides. The fingers of his right hand touched something hard and smooth, like marble but warm to the touch. In the dark, he thought he could see a faint green luminescence around his fingertips. As he walked, Xahn placed his palm and fingers solidly on the surface and dragged it with him. A nearly imperceptible trail of green light smeared out from under his right hand as he moved, then quickly faded. His left had remained untouched. Xahn realized the hallway¡ªmore of a tunnel¡ªwider than he could reach.

    With each step he took, the thundering sound grew louder. And he noticed something else: a faint dripping noise. As if an icicle were melting in a thaw. In a few moments, Xahn found that the walls were growing cooler. After a couple of steps, the fingertips of his left hand grew wet, as if the wall were covered with mist. He was feeling it on his face, his feet, in his hair, even on his outstretched left arm and hand which still touched nothing. Soon, he was walking through puddles of water or some liquid that smelled like it. The distant light grew brighter and larger until Xahn found himself gazing out of the opening of cave, not too far ahead. He could see a greenish glow, stars in a night sky, and mountain peaks lit up by moonlight. Xahn caught his breath and stopped where he was, just a few paces from leaving the dark hallway. He knew where he was; he was in the scene depicted in the bedroom painting. Before him stretched the outstretched arm of the turquoise statue.

    As intrigued as he was afraid, the young man walked out onto a road made of the turquoise-colored crystal. The sound of thunder was deafening, and he could immediately see why: he was standing between two halves of a waterfall. One half fell on his right hand, where he¡¯d been touching the tunnel¡¯s wall, the other on his left. Wind whipped around him so quickly that it pulled his robe into the sky and left him standing there naked and shivering. The sky was bright with stars and with¡ª

    Impossible! he thought. Above him in the sky were the three moons, all bright and all full. He looked above his head, already knowing what he would see. Far overhead with eyes that seemed to be looking down to examine him, was the face of the strange woman from the painting.

    Xahn screamed.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    <hr>

    Dahn found herself lying on a cot, shivering under a thin blanket. She sat up suddenly, looked around frantically and gasped in fear and confusion. Where was Xahn? This place was not the infirmary. It wasn¡¯t even in Ekatern¡¯s house! This was a cavern. A huge one, as far as Dahn could tell. There were natural rock walls around her that rose so high she could only see blackness above her. The small cot and walls around her were only dimly visible because of the light from a few small white crystals that protruded randomly from the rock.

    She stood up quickly in a panic and grabbed the sheet from the bed when she realized she was naked. Wrapping the sheet around her, shivering so violently in the icy cave air that she could barely move, Dahn walked barefooted across the rough floor, trying to figure out where she was. Other than the small cot¡ªwhich was simple, made crudely of hewn wood and woven grasses¡ªthere was nothing human made that she could see. Then her eyes fell upon a small wooden frame leaned against one of the stone walls. Carefully crossing the uneven, stone-strewn floor, Dahn made her way to the frame and picked it up.

    It was a painting, small enough to fit in her two hands. The image on it was a tunnel, brightly lit by red, green, blue and even turquoise crystals. Dahn had never seen nor heard of turquoise crystals before. The path was wide and smooth, the tunnel was very large and appeared to be a cavern, like the one she was in. There were people on the road, gathered in a large group in the center. She squinted. It looked like all the people were naked, like Dahn, but they had no sheets to cover them. They appeared caught between a large group of ¡­ creatures ¡­ on the right hand, and one large dark figure on the left. Unable to move forward, backward, or to escape they were frozen in terror. The painting made Dahn¡¯s hand start to shake.

    ¡°Dahn!¡± a voice called from deep within the cavern. It echoed so that Dahn couldn¡¯t tell where it came from. ¡°Come help me, please!¡± It was a woman¡¯s voice. She sounded distressed. Dahn placed the disturbing painting on the cot, wrapped the sheet tighter around her, and began walking around to see if she could locate the woman.

    There were enough crystals in the walls of the cavern to light the path before her a few steps ahead and behind, but everything else was wrapped in a blanket of darkness. Sounds travelled, though. Dripping water. Scraping of rock on rock. Tiny pebbles bouncing sharply against walls and floor. At every sound, Dahn jumped and whirled to see what made it. But each noise came from just beyond the light. The sounds could be nothing, just the ambient sounds of a cavern as it warmed and cooled. Or she could be surrounded by the creatures in the painting. Her breath came quick and shallow. She turned and started running back to the cot. After a few quick steps, Dahn realized that she no longer knew where the cot was. Dropping to her knees, she started to cry.

    Unbidden, a memory of her mother came to her. Dahn must have been very young in the reverie, because Suhan had seemed like a comforting giant, leaning down to care for her as she¡¯d fallen and broken the skin on her knees. Taking a cloth from her inside her loose gray clothing, her mother and wiped away the blood. ¡°There,¡± she had said, all those years ago. ¡°That isn¡¯t so bad now, is it?¡±

    Dahn remembered shaking her head as she looked with amazement at her knees. They looked almost undamaged now that the blood was gone. Just a tiny scrape. Her younger self had stopped crying and had smiled up at the comforting giant. ¡°Remember,¡± her mother had told her, ¡°things aren¡¯t always as bad as they appear. Don¡¯t panic. Calm your mind. And always, try to breathe, slowly and deeply. That helps us remain calm. Do you understand?¡± Dahn found herself nodding to her long-gone mother, breathing more normally. There was even a hint of a smile on her lips.

    ¡°Thank you, Mother,¡± she whispered.

    ¡°Please, help me!¡± Again, the woman¡¯s voice came from somewhere in the cavern. It sounded louder now, like it was closer. Calm and composed, Dahn stood, adjusted her sheet and looked about her, trying to see, hear, or feelanything that might help her locate the woman. Then she saw it. Far away in the darkness, she saw a green light. Just a point, as if it were at the end of a tunnel. She started walking once more, cautiously, trying to avoid sharp rocks.

    It seemed like an hour¡ªthough Dahn thought it was probably only a few minutes¡ªbefore she reached the green light. As she approached it, the scene became more clear. There was a woman¡ªperhaps the one who had been calling¡ªlying on her back in the middle of the cave floor. She seemed very old, with white hair and wrinkles. She was dressed in green and had a silver circlet around her forehead which held a green crystal that was glowing brightly.

    ¡°Ekatern?¡± she asked, softly. Though they had never met, Dahn had heard many tales of the crystal witch, and she recognized her at once.

    At the name, the woman¡¯s eyes flew open, and she looked at Dahn with desperation. ¡°Help me!¡± she said again. That was definitely the voice Dahn had been hearing. ¡°I am trapped!¡± Dahn examined the woman¡¯s body and found no ropes or chains or anything else that might have held her in place.

    ¡°How are you trapped?¡± Dahn asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to free you.¡±

    ¡°Take the crystal,¡± the woman begged. ¡°It is meant for you. This is your task.¡±

    As if she were compelled by the woman¡¯s words¡ªthough she did not understand them¡ªDahn reached out her hand to grasp the crown. A hissing sound came from behind her. Not just a single hiss, but dozens, maybe hundreds. She whirled around to find enormous terrifying creatures of every shape and description coalescing from the darkness and moving towards her.

    ¡°Behind you!¡± screamed the woman in green, her voice rising in panic.

    Dahn spun around again to find a giant dark figure in a hooded black robe emerging from the darkness on the other side. This is the painting! Dahn thought. She looked into the blackened face of the being before her, as she heard the sounds of hissing and shuffling getting closer behind her. The face was empty except for two glowing eyes. She knew those eyes. It was the Entity.

    ¡°Release me!¡± the Entity shouted at her. ¡°You must release me!¡±

    Dahn screamed.

 Chapter Fifteen: Out of the Dust

    By the time Hyacinth spotted Karl, Ginsook, and Gabby emerging from thinning dust clouds drifting from the canyon, she had already aired out the front room, dusted the leather couch, and swept out the house. She and Jeanna were using brooms made of bundled sticks¡ªa rarity in Hylan¡ªto clean inches of dust and dirt from the front porch as the three disheveled figures slowly made their way to the Mayor¡¯s House. Karl¡ªnearly unrecognizable under a coating of dirt¡ªwas leading a filthy, exhausted horse. Two similarly grubby women were mounted on its back: a dark-skinned woman, whose beauty was muted by dust, and a Hahnin woman, who looked as if she¡¯d been running for a week. As the horse turned, Hyacinth noticed that she¡¯d been wrong about the count: there were fourof them. The Hahnin woman had a sleeping baby strapped to her back.

    How does anyone sleep through all of that? Hyacinth wondered. ¡°Daevy?¡± she asked, looking directly at Karl, her voice hopeful. The Dashman nodded, his smile a red crack through the mask of dirt on his face.

    ¡°He¡¯s fine,¡± Karl said. ¡°The landslide didn¡¯t go toward the mines. Although, I¡¯m sure they got plenty of dust inside the entrance.¡±

    Hyacinth stifled a sob. Only now, as relief flooded over her, did she realize how worried she had been.

    ¡°How did the village fare?¡± Karl asked, genuine concern on his face.

    ¡°We were pelted with small rocks and drenched in dust, but no boulders or large stones.¡± Hyacinth glanced over at the young woman clearing the porch with quick, determined sweeps. ¡°We were standing in front of our house, right in the path of the slide, and we almost certainly would have been injured if it hadn¡¯t been for Jeanna.¡±

    The muscular woman looked up suddenly from her work, shocked at the mention of her name. Her face turned bright red, and she returned her gaze to the porch, doubling her efforts at sweeping. ¡°I didn¡¯t do nothin¡¯, really,¡± she mumbled.

    ¡°Nothin¡¯?¡± Hyacinth echoed, using Jeanna¡¯s Lolan accent while raising an eyebrow in her direction. Looking back at Karl, she continued, ¡°This young lady picked up both Wyll and me, carried us into the house, made us safe, then bolted and guarded the door, never once thinking of herself.¡± Hyacinth looked back at the blushing teenage girl. ¡°Nothin¡¯ indeed.¡±

    ¡°How is Wyll?¡± Karl asked, concerned.

    ¡°Asleep,¡± Hyacinth sighed, followed with a short burst of laughter. ¡°Jeanna carried him down the mountainside and he¡¯s the one who¡¯s exhausted.¡±

    ¡°Ahgiga uyurul piryohapnida.¡±

    Everyone turned at once to look at the Hahnin woman.

    ¡°Uyuga jip ahneh issnundeh, tuhro kasipsio,¡± replied Hyacinth, pointing at the open door of her house with a broom in one hand and waving the woman inside with the other.

    Everyone turned at once to look at Hyacinth.

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    ¡°Her baby needs milk,¡± the healer explained. ¡°There¡¯s some in the springbox behind the house. I assume that her body isn¡¯t producing its own supply for some reason.¡±

    ¡°You speak Hahntongue?¡± Karl asked, incredulously shaking his head. ¡°You think you know a person ¡­¡±

    Hyacinth laughed. ¡°Where do you think I learned healing?¡±

    ¡°How did you end up in Hylan married to the mayor?¡± Karl asked, bewildered.

    ¡°A long story,¡± the healer told him. ¡°For another time.¡± She pointed at the women still mounted on the horse. ¡°You need to introduce me, Karl. And this poor woman needs to get her baby some milk.¡±

    ¡°Oh!¡± Karl looked startled, like he¡¯d forgotten the women¡ªand the horse¡ªwere there. ¡°Of course! This is Gabriella and the Hahnin Trader is Jihnsuck.¡±

    ¡°Ginsook,¡± the Hahnin woman corrected.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I said,¡± Karl replied with a frown.

    ¡°No, you didn¡¯t!¡± Hyacinth and Gabby said at the same time, which made them both laugh.

    ¡°In any case,¡± Karl continued, looking slightly frustrated, ¡°I found them coming through the North Pass last night, just as the landslide was starting. Luckily, I know a hidden path that avoided the brunt of it, or we¡¯d all be dead.¡± Hyacinth watched the woman he called Gabriella give the Dashman a strange look, one eyebrow raised. She wondered what that was all about. She was about to ask what the three of them were doing in the pass in the middle of the night, then shook her head¡ªthere was no time to pursue it.

    With the healer¡¯s guidance, Gabriella hopped off the horse and helped Ginsook and her baby down. The poor woman could barely walk and there were sores on her hands and arms. Her left arm looked like it had blisters on it, as if she¡¯d held it too near a flame.

    ¡°Jeanna,¡± she called as she helped Ginsook into the house. ¡°Could you fetch some milk from the springbox?¡± The young lady nodded and took off like an arrow, glad to have something to do, Hyacinth supposed. She knew Jeanna had a teenage crush on her and would do anything she asked, but the mayor¡¯s wife had decided not to take advantage of that fact. Her kind nature combined with her natural beauty had made the healer the focus of many crushes from men and women, boys and girls over the years. She supposed she was used to it.

    Hyacinth led Ginsook carefully over the threshold and into the living room, where she sat the Hahnin woman on the leather couch and helped her to hold her baby. ¡°Karl,¡± she whispered to the Dashman who¡ªalong with the dark woman¡ªhad followed them inside, ¡°this woman is emaciated. She¡¯s starving. That¡¯s why she has no milk for her baby. In fact, the baby looks much healthier; she¡¯s dirty, but not at all malnourished or injured. Karl, what the hell is going on?¡±

    Karl looked at her for a long time, then slowly opened his mouth to speak. He hadn¡¯t even told the mayor everything. Now, he had to decide: should he tell her all of it? If not, which parts could he leave out? He decided that he trusted Hyacinth¡ªperhaps more than her husband-and that he should tell her all of it. But he never got the chance.

    ¡°Her village was destroyed nearly a week ago,¡± Gabriella said, impatiently. ¡°She¡¯s been running from the demonspawn who did it for three days. I¡¯m not sure why Karl won¡¯t tell you, but I will. The goblin horde is only about one day from descending upon this village. If that.¡±

    At first, Hyacinth had the thought the terms ¡°demonspawn¡± and ¡°goblin horde¡± were euphemisms for marauders. She wondered if a rival Hahn fiefdom or maybe the army of the Hahn Kingdom itself had descended upon the poor woman¡¯s village for some unknown reason. Then she saw the large bag Gabriella had slung over one shoulder. Like everything else on the new arrivals, it was covered with a layer of fine powdery dust. But the dust had clung to something wet that had dripped from the empty bag. Whatever it was, it left a long, damp path of some greenish-black liquid down one side of it.

    ¡°Goblin blood,¡± Gabriella told her, having seen her gaze. ¡°From the head of a gnal.¡±

    Hyacinth did a doubletake. So, those were not euphemisms, she thought. The healer sighed, uncertain what to do with this new information, then turned her attention to the woman and child in her care.

 Chapter Sixteen: The Feast of the Vessel

    When Karl opened the red door of the Crystal Temple, laughter and the sounds of happy voices wafted out of the Great Hall along with the savory smells of cooking meat and baking bread. As he stepped into the Hall, freshly bathed, groomed, and dressed in his finest clothing¡ªa frilled white shirt, brown doeskin breeches and boots, and a fine black coat embroidered on the cuffs with silver thread¡ªhe marveled at how much had changed in just two days. The floors and walls were spotless and gleaming. Colorful streamers and artfully rendered brass lanterns lined the walls surrounding tables and benches that were neatly arranged in long rows, enough to seat the entire village, with room to spare. The tables themselves were covered with smooth, brightly colored cloths. A small group of Hylan musicians was performing in one corner along with a local children¡¯s chorus.

    In addition to sheer wonderment, Karl was overcome with a feeling of ¡­ home. The last Feast of the Vessel he¡¯d attended had been in Dash, in his family¡¯s castle with his father, mother, brothers and sisters. All gone now. He¡¯d never expected to feel this way again. The stalwart warrior found his eyes getting moist and his lower lip beginning to tremble. Instantly, he blinked away the tears and stiffened his lips. No time for that, he thought. He began searching the room for Myria¡ªhe had important information for her. He saw Jayn Hatter and Tami Smyth skillfully directing the throng of youngsters to put the finishing touches on the decorations. None too soon, for the Hall was already filling up with villagers. In fact, most of the village appeared to already be there. Karl nodded at Daevy Helper who stood talking with the navi and a group of men on the other side of the Hall. The Mayor returned the nod, letting Karl know all the preparations had been made and everyone in the mines was ready. Daevy then raised an eyebrow at him and shrugged and Karl nodded, informing him that Hyacinth and the Mayor¡¯s family were on their way. Karl wondered how he would feel about the guests they were bringing with them.

    Next, the Dashman¡¯s eyes fell upon his children. Both Dahn and Xahn were assisting with the preparations. His daughter was helping to drape more streamers, and her brother was working with some of the other boys to carry a large cask to the side of the Hall where a great deal of food and drink had already been placed. That was also where a dozen cooks were hard at work, sweating over boil pots, grills, and ovens¡ªall while smiling, joking with one another, and teasing passers-by with the mouthwatering scents coming from the makeshift kitchen.

    ¡°I¡¯m taking precautions,¡± Myria said from Karl¡¯s side. The Dashman stifled a gasp; he swore she had simply appeared beside him. She angled her chin toward his daughter. ¡°Dahn is keeping to the far side of the Hall, away from that blue crystal,¡± she said, glancing toward the far wall. ¡°And Xahn? He recovered much more quickly than he should have. Like his knees, the rest of him seems to have completely healed. But he¡¯s under strict orders not to touch anything made of crystal¡ªat least for now.¡±

    Karl grunted, not sure what to say. There were smiles on his children¡¯s faces and they were laughing out loud. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen them this happy since we lost their mother,¡± he said, softly.

    Myria placed a gentle hand on his arm. ¡°Let them enjoy it,¡± she told him. ¡°It won¡¯t last long.¡± Karl¡¯s head drooped slightly at those words, and he nodded.

    ¡°They are here,¡± he said to Myria, raising his head casually, as if discussing the weather. The joyful din echoing in the Hall drowned out his words for everyone except the white-haired woman.

    ¡°I heard the avalanche,¡± she said, nodding and smiling pleasantly, in case anyone else paid them mind. ¡°Luckily, we are protected from the rocks and dust in this small canyon, or we¡¯d have had to start cleaning again. Did you stop them?¡±

    ¡°For now,¡± Karl told her, waving at Dahn who had just caught his eye. She waved back and returned to her work. ¡°I think we have a few more hours, but no more than that. We will need to evacuate the village tonight.¡± He paused and briefly considered whether to tell Ekatern¡¯s apprentice the next bit. He mentally shrugged and decided to err on the side of trust, for once. ¡°I have other news,¡± he told her. ¡°Good news, I think.¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡± Myria looked up at the Dashman, hopefully.

    ¡°The Healer and the Mayor¡¯s family are on their way. They are bringing some ¡­ visitors with them.

    ¡°Visitors?¡± Myria said, furrowing her brow. ¡°From where?¡±

    ¡°Ginsook is from one of the Hahn trading posts north of us. She and her baby escaped the Goblin Horde less than three days ago. M¡¯Randa¡ªthe Heart of the Vessel¡ªbrought her. She has come to help us.¡±

    ¡°M¡¯Randa?¡± the old woman said, incredulous, her mouth looking pinched. ¡°That joke is in poor taste.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not joking. Not at all.¡±

    ¡°M¡¯Randa?¡± she repeated. ¡°Ma¡¯HoNi¡¯s wife who supposedly never died? The Wandering Woman? Are you saying she¡¯s real? Even Ekatern only referred to her in a mythical sense. And Tern knew every monarch and wizard in Neworld.¡±

    ¡°Very real, indeed,¡± Karl told her with a slight smile. ¡°She and I have had a ¡­ prior association.¡± Myria¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Not like that!¡± Karl protested, his face heating. ¡°I prefer woman under five thousand years in age, thank you. She¡¯s going by the name of Gabriella the minstrel.¡±

    ¡°The Heart of the Vessel. M¡¯Randa. In Hylan. At the Mayor¡¯s house, no less.¡± Myria said each word slowly, as if trying to force them to make sense. The old woman shook her head. ¡°I guess I shouldn¡¯t be surprised, given that we¡¯re about to be set upon by the Goblin Horde. That¡¯s a phrase I never thought I¡¯d utter in my lifetime. Tern always made it seem like all this was a lifetime away. Until recently, that is.¡±

    ¡°Looks like most of the preparations have been made,¡± Karl observed. ¡°Sorry it took me so long to get here. I had to clean up before I came. Now that I¡¯m here, what help do you need from me?¡± he asked.

    ¡°As you can see, Ekatern¡¯s plan has worked. People are arriving in large numbers,¡± Myria told him. ¡°But most of Hylan¡¯s people have never set foot here and don¡¯t know their way around. Could you go out to the courtyard and direct them to the Great Hall? Inform them that the servants and the young folks will help them get seated.¡± She paused. ¡°You might let it slip that you¡¯ve heard a rumor Ekatern won¡¯t be attending due to her advanced age. That might help lessen the blow when they find out the truth.¡±

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    ¡°I hope you¡¯re not going to tell them tonight!¡±

    ¡°Not tonight,¡± the white-haired woman said. ¡°But¡ªassuming we survive the night¡ªthey will find out soon enough.¡±

    Karl nodded, losing more of his festive mood.

    ¡°Did you bring your sword?¡± Myria asked in a whisper.

    ¡°I did. It¡¯s in a scabbard on my back, under my shirt. And M¡¯Randa is bringing hers, as well.¡±

    Myria¡¯s brow furrowed, then her eyes grew wide as the dinner plates on the tables around them. ¡°You don¡¯t mean the Sword of¡­?¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± Karl interrupted her. ¡°I have seen it.¡±

    ¡°The hairs on the back of my neck just went stiff,¡± said the white-haired woman. ¡°The stories from Scripture are coming alive tonight, my Lord.¡±

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t call me that,¡± Karl begged. But Myria had already disappeared into the crowd. The Dashman sighed and returned his gaze to his children. He watched as they and the other villagers prepared for tonight¡¯s celebration. Soon, he knew, the laughter that echoed against the temple walls would turn to screams. But for now, he decided to let everyone enjoy the moment. Even himself.

    <hr>

    The navi had already begun his supplication to the Vessel when Hyacinth and her group noisily entered the Great Hall. They were very, very late.

    Getting everyone ready had been difficult. Ginsook had required a long bath and replacements for the rags she¡¯d arrived in, as had her baby. Wyll had needed a splint applied to his ankle before dressing up in his good clothes. And it seemed that Jeanna didn¡¯t own a clean robe, so Hyacinth had to replace it with one of Billah¡¯s frocks, which the healer had to be let out to accommodate Jeanna¡¯s more mature and bulky build. With all that, they had still managed to leave before sunset, but the journey up the North Road pushing Wyll in a wheelbarrow had been painfully slow. Finally, frustrated with the pace, Jeanna had grabbed Wyll out of the wheelbarrow and slung him over her back. Ignoring protests from both Hyacinth and her son, the young woman had walked so quickly she¡¯d nearly run the remaining distance to the crystal witch¡¯s mansion.

    Gabriella had followed Jeanna easily, despite being dressed in a beautiful golden gown that she had somehow stored in her pack without it showing a single wrinkle. The minstrel had wrapped her dark braids around her head in an artfully woven mound and fixed it in place with a large diamond-encrusted pin. Hyacinth noted that dark-skinned woman had walked barefoot but had donned a set of golden slippers as they entered the mansion. The healer wondered how Ginsook must feel about all of this, being in a strange village and unable to understand much of what was said. But the Hahnin woman had not uttered one word of complaint in either Glish or Hahntongue. Hyacinth had to admit that cleaned up and wearing an older white frock of Billah¡¯s, Ginsook looked surprisingly pretty. Her hair was loose but neatly combed. She had accepted nothing but the bath and the dress. No jewelry. Not even shoes. But somehow the Hahnin woman seemed elegant. Her baby boy was wrapped in a gray llama wool blanket and seemed quite content as they all pushed their way through the empty courtyard through the red door and into the Great Hall.

    The navi¡¯s voice was still echoing through the air, though he had stopped praying. Other than that, the hall was completely quiet. Hundreds of people were sitting at the tables, heads which had been bent in supplication. Then, as if they were a single creature, they all turned to stare at the newcomers.

    ¡°Everyone is looking at us,¡± Wyll whispered, still clinging to Jeanna¡¯s back. ¡°If I¡¯d have known we¡¯d be the entertainment, I¡¯d have worn a bloody jester¡¯s hat.¡±

    ¡°Language, Wyll,¡± Hyacinth said quietly. ¡°But you¡¯re right. You¡¯re not even exaggerating, for a change.¡± The grin on Wyll¡¯s face vanished as the whispering started throughout the crowd. Hyacinth doubted it was about herself or even the fact that Jeanna carried Wyll. She was certain the quiet conversations were about the two other women she had brought along. The strangers.

    ¡°Come in, please!¡± Navi Jespon said in a loud, friendly voice. There was genuine smile on the tall, thin man¡¯s face as he beckoned to them with both hands. ¡°We saved room for you at the Mayor¡¯s table. Well, most of you. We weren¡¯t planning on your guests. But no matter! Can we make room for our visitors?¡± The navi directed his last words at the Mayor¡¯s table. As the people around her husband jostled loudly, making room, Hyacinth offered a silent thanks to the Vessel for sending Navi Jespon to Hylan. And not for the first time. Over the years, the healer and the navi had worked together many times to aid the citizens of Hylan and he had always been friendly and helpful. And selfless, Hyacinth reminded herself. She noticed that his purple navi robes were worn and threadbare near the knees and elbows, but he had never once asked the chapel attendees for a new one. At least his ceremonial oversized purple cap looked new and bright, but that was because he hardly ever wore it.

    ¡°Jeanna, put Wyll down,¡± she whispered. ¡°Gabriella and Ginsook, narul ddarajushipshio.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡± Gabby asked.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± the healer said with a sideways glance at the minstrel. The woman could obviously understand Hahntongue; Hyacinth wasn¡¯t sure why she wanted to hide her talent.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Gabriella replied in her musical contralto voice, a sweet smile on her face.

    The Mayor¡¯s table was near the front of the Hall, on the opposite side from the red door of the mansion. The latecomers had to wedge themselves between tables to get there, forcing those already seated to rise and let them by. It was a long, embarrassing walk but finally, they arrived at the table and took their seats. The baby boy seemed to find whole thing vastly amusing and started giggling at each new face he encountered.

    ¡°Glad you made it safely,¡± Daevy whispered to her as she sat down. ¡°And that our guests are safe. I worried about them going down the mountain last night, with the avalanche and all.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll catch up in a bit,¡± she whispered back, taking his hand and squeezing it. She glanced up at Navi Jespon and nodded. The navi raised both hands high above his head and shouted, ¡°Let us make supplication to the Vessel!¡±

    Once again, the Great Hall grew quiet. A few folks coughed nervously, and several small children ¡°whispered¡± questions to their parents, but most people bowed their heads.

    ¡°Great Vessel who carried our souls from the Before World to the New World,¡± Navi Jespon started in his loud, clear tenor voice. ¡°We thank Thee for this opportunity to share in the bounty Thou has made available to us. We thank Three for the soil, the rain, the plants and animals that Thou provided for this feast. We thank Thee for the opportunity to raise our families here in Hylan and that we have so many talented people who have provided food, drink, and beautiful music. And we thank Thee for the great woman Ekatern, who provided this wonderful facility for our feast.¡±

    Hyacinth heard a few murmurs in the room. There were many in the crowd who thought the crystal witch was at odds with their chapel teachings. But the healer was proud of the navi for including the old woman in his supplication.

    ¡°As we partake of this feast,¡± Navi Jespon continued, unphased by the whispers, ¡°we ask that Thou send Thy Angles down to help us in our daily battles against the forces of Nilrem and his demonspawn. We supplicate for Thy protection against the Goblin Horde and against disease, hunger, and poverty. Let us enjoy one another¡¯s company today and be with us from now until we return to Thee in the Before Word we pray, So Let It Be.¡±

    ¡°So Let It Be!¡± the crowd shouted in a single voice.

    ¡°So Let It Be,¡± Gabriella whispered at the healer¡¯s side. Hyacinth glanced over at her and was surprised to find tears on the woman¡¯s beautiful brown face. For some reason, she had assumed the minstrel wasn¡¯t a believer. She looked to her husband on the other side and found that he also had wet eyes. This shook her¡ªDaevy almost never cried and certainly not at a navi¡¯s supplication.

    ¡°Let¡¯s eat!¡± shouted the navi and Wyll simultaneously. A roar of laughter went up from the crowd, dispelling all nervous energy from the latecomers¡¯ arrival.

    The Feast of the Vessel had begun.

 Chapter Seventeen: Shadows in the Canyon

    Ttwo days after the landslide, the final boulders were removed quietly, stealthily from the canyon by an enormous army of ellgru. Their lizard-like black bodies blended with the deepening shadows in the canyon as the sun sank slowly below the horizon. It looked almost as if the boulders were rising on their own, hovering unnaturally before drifting out of the passageway. The eerie specter-like crew moved soundlessly about, clearing the path in perfect coordination, as if they were a single organism.

    In every practical sense, Valen thought, the army is just one being¡ªeach soldier an extension of the budmother. Once the amorphous black creature had spewed hundreds more of her children from the lair beneath Hellsgate, she had commissioned dozens of her gnal to fly them south. Mere hours after the humans had blocked the canyon, the ellgru had descended from the sky to help clear the road¡ªdone so quietly, so carefully, that the humans below were unaware.

    Valen knew the people of Hylan were ignorant of the work of the ellgru because of a new spawn. At Nilrem¡¯s request, the budmother had birthed a new form of goblin, one Valen had never heard of. Nilrem called them minox in his messages, which he said meant phantombats. Whatever their designation, they were small, hand-sized fiends that looked more like inky black cleaning cloths than bats. They moved through the air like smoke, hardly noticeable. While they had no teeth or claws like most of the budmother¡¯s children, they could get almost anywhere and provide instantaneous eyes and ears. Nearly a thousand of these phatombats now lurked in the shadows in Hylan, watching, listening, and reporting. Because of this intelligence, Valen knew the entire village had moved to witch¡¯s house for some kind of ritual banquet. He also knew that the body of the witch remained in state within that house¡ªstill fresh enough for Nilrem to possess.

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    ¡°Thank you so much for gathering everyone in one place for us,¡± Valen whispered out loud as he dug his heels into his rock troll steed. The ird began to carry him down the canyon road with nearly two thousand different kinds of demonspawn following him.

    ¡°You have made yourselves much easier prey than I had hoped. You delayed us here through a clever trick. Yes ¡­ a very clever trick, indeed. But don¡¯t worry. You will pay for your insolence. Oh yes,¡± said the vizier, grinning inhumanly, ¡°you ¡­ will ¡­ pay!¡±