by R A Oakes
“Well, you can remain near it, and we’ll all head towards the great hall. Then, you and all the other monks can sit by it and enjoy the pretty light.”
“Really?” Little Starlight asked, clearly excited.
“Really, now let’s all head back inside the monastery,” Rothena said, giving everyone an encouraging smile, though she felt like cringing in fear and frustration. And she would have done so had it not been for the golden light pouring off of the megentum metal. As mother and child went inside, the other monks followed. Then, with the adult Starlight gripping one arm and Andylan the other, the two warrior women guided Denrat back into the monastery, eager to begin their own investigation.
◆◆◆
At an hour past midnight, Raven, Zorya, Rothena, Dynarsis, Starlight, Andylan and Aldwen were ready to leave the monastery, each fully aware that the mission’s success didn’t depend upon numbers or strength of arms. Instead, they would proceed with this small group, relying upon stealth and the element of surprise. Not long ago, Vangalaya had told them about two scouts who’d just made their way back to the monastery.
“Two scouts report that Zarimora has returned to Gratuga with some of her meat-eating trolls after having burned several small villages,” Vangalaya said. “Both scouts were keeping a close watch on Gratuga’s entrance. A large number of meat-eating trolls were roaming all over the countryside before dark wearing those long, hooded cloaks and, after dark, most of Gratuga’s trolls have been outside hunting. The scouts found it almost impossible to get back to the monastery.”
“Zarimora, isn’t she the troll queen?” Andylan asked.
“Yes, and she has returned. The scouts also saw meat-eating trolls entering Gratuga earlier today carrying two human children. These scouts had left the monastery before our human visitors arrived, so they had no idea the children involved were from the monastery. Sadly to say, there were so many meat-eating trolls in the area around Gratuga’s entrance that the two scouts couldn’t have done anything to help even if they had known. However, the children do fit Renivy’s and Brianuk’s description.”
“Were they alive?” Zorya asked. “Were they still alive?”
“Yes, they’re alive,” Vangalaya replied, her heart reaching out to the frightened mother. “And since it’s well after dark, most of the meat-eating trolls are outside roaming the valley. No one has ever snuck into Gratuga before, so the meat-eating trolls who are still inside the underground city won’t be expecting intruders.”
“Zarimora could be outside as well,” Starlight pointed out.
“That’s very possible.”
“Jaren’s also being held prisoner in Gratuga,” Aldwen, the wizard, reminded them.
“If we find him, he might be able to lead us to the children,” Zorya suggested.
“Locating Jaren would prove most helpful,” Vangalaya agreed. “As his wife, it’s possible that your finding him could be more than just a coincidence. Love can be a powerful magnet, bringing you to each other. And if what I’m sensing is correct, you love him very much.”
“Yes, but when I find him, he’ll have some explaining to do.”
“I’m sure he will,” Vangalaya replied, smiling grimly.
However, in her heart of hearts, Zorya was simply hoping and praying that her family would somehow urvive.
“After interrogating Denrat, we know that little Starlight, Renivy and Brianuk crossed the field at the bottom of the mountain and went into the crevasse that leads to the area below Hawthorn Village. According to Denrat, after the three children had entered the crevasse, Renivy and Brianuk were the first to come back out, and little Starlight was nowhere to be seen. That’s when they were discovered by a band of meat-eating trolls who were wearing those long, black cloaks. Renivy and Brianuk fought so hard that the meat-eating trolls’ cloaks couldn’t fully protect them from the sun, and three were turned to stone. Then, right after the meat-eating trolls were gone, little Starlight came wandering out of the crevasse in a daze.”
“She must have been literally scared out of her wits,” the adult Starlight said, feeling a great sense of sadness for the smaller and younger version of herself. “I’m surprised that little Starlight even knew what she was doing, and that she was able to make it back here.”
“She might have known more than we first realized,” Vangalaya said.
“What do you mean?” the adult Starlight asked.
“It seems that all three of the children had small leather bags, and when they went into the crevasse, they filled them with stones,” Vangalaya said, holding up the leather bags. “Renivy and Brianuk must have dropped theirs when they were captured, and little Starlight picked them up and brought them back along with her own.”
“That was nice of her, but how is that helpful?” the adult Starlight asked.
“Let’s explore that question,” Vangalaya replied, emptying the contents of one of the leather bags onto the floor, the stones all shining brightly with multi-colored prism light. And not subdued light but radiant, Raven’s golden glow heightening their brilliance.
“Of course,” Zorya exclaimed, “the entire crevasse is made of megentum-enriched rock, and the tunnel was filled with prism light while Raven was inside. Now, once again, the stones are emanating an entire spectrum of light, only brighter.”
“And how does that prove helpful?” Vangalaya asked, suspecting their value as well, but allowing Renivy’s mother to voice this encouraging information.
“The stones could be used against the meat-eating trolls,” Zorya said, feeling a bit of hope penetrating the deep gloom that had been surrounding her like a fog ever since the children went missing. “If meat-eating trolls can’t stand megentum-enriched land, then they must really hate megentum-enriched stones, especially ones radiating prism light.”
“Hitting a meat-eating troll with such a stone might prove very effective,” Raven added.
“I agree, but before we leave, maybe I should let you know something of my own limitations,” Aldwen said. “As I’ve already told Master Vangalaya, my staff is the gateway to the College of Wizards, and the staff only has so much energy. In order to recharge it, the gateway would have to be opened, which can’t be done in Gratuga, especially not so close to Balzekior. If the gateway was opened, it would leave the parallel universe of the College of Wizards open to an invasion by the forces of evil.”
“In that case, please use the staff’s energy as wisely as possible,” Vangalaya replied gravely.
“Yes, Master Vangalaya, of course.”
“If no one has anything further to add, then it’s time to proceed,” Vangalaya said.
“I would like to make one more point, Master Vangalaya, if I may,” Aldwen said. “After entering Gratuga and, regardless of whether our rescue is successful or not, the monastery should expect visitors, and a lot of them. Zarimora will be furious over an intrusion into her domain.”
“I agree, and we’ll need all the help we can get, so come back alive, all of you.”
“Master Vangalaya, your monks brought the ropes you requested,” Dynarsis said, pointing to an adjoining hallway.
“Thank you, and Rothena, I’m going to remain behind to help protect the megentum metal. With Xankar and his band of traitors unaccounted for, I dare not leave the monastery. But I will defend the metal with my life.”
“As will I,” Galaxen said who would be remaining behind at the monastery as before.
“Well, Rothena, that puts you in charge. I wish you well.”
“Thank you, Master Vangalaya, and I fear we’ll need all the prayers and positive thoughts you can manage.”
“From the very moment you leave the monastery, we will remain in the great hall serving as intercessors pleading with the Xao, with what Renivy calls the Creative Light, until you return.”
Turning to those who would be joining her in the rescue attempt, Rothena looked at Raven, Zorya, Dynarsis, the adult Starlight, Andylan and Aldwen and said, “As I told you ea
rlier, we’ll proceed down the mountain trail. Then, well before we get to the bottom, there will be a rough crevasse in a wall of rock on the right. This crevasse has not been improved in any way. We will be heading deep underground, and there will be no steps to make our journey easier. Also, the walls of the crevasse are not enriched with megentum. Were it not for Raven glowing with golden megentum light, we would be making this trip in total darkness.”
“Where exactly will this crevasse be taking us?” Andylan asked.
“It leads to a crack in the ceiling of a huge cavern, a Gratuga cavern. We will lower ourselves down to the floor with the ropes,” Rothena said, pointing at hundreds of feet of ropes piled neatly on the floor. “From there, we will proceed with our search.”
“Has anyone from the monastery entered this cavern before?” Dynarsis asked.
“No,” Rothena replied.
“Has anyone from the monastery ever entered Gratuga before?” Andylan asked.
“No, and are there any other questions?”
No one said a word.
“Okay, let’s head out.”
Chapter 20
“I’ll go first,” Raven said, after Andylan tossed a thick rope through a crack in the cavern’s ceiling, a rope reaching all the way to the floor almost 100 feet below.
Having arrived at their destination only a few moments ago, the ghost whisperer felt no fear for herself, only a deep sense of urgency to reach Renivy and Brianuk as soon as possible. All she’d been able to think about during the journey through the crevasse leading to Gratuga was how terrified the children must be. Yet the golden glow of the megentum energy radiating from Raven helped her to remain both calm and determined, as if her destiny was to be at this very spot invading the heart of the meat-eating trolls’ power base. Raven exuded a sense of peace and tranquility, and it had transferred to all of those traveling with her, giving them a renewed sense of confidence and making the impossible seem not only possible but probable. Even Zorya felt a sense of reassurance she’d never experienced before.
Wearing a pair of leather gloves, the ghost whisperer gripped the rope tightly, made her way through the crack in the ceiling and began sliding down into the cavern. When Raven was about halfway to the bottom, she stopped. A sense of evil coming off the walls seemed to be all around her, almost taking her breath away. But
gradually, as the golden light filtered through the huge cave, touching every square inch of it, the walls seemed to pull back from her, as if trying to avoid the golden radiance.
After years of having been inhabited by meat- eating trolls, the walls had become infested with an evil presence. And now, the golden light shining on them was revealing their wretchedness, and the walls were trying to distance themselves from the megentum energy flowing from the ghost whisperer. Even those directly above Raven who were still inside the crack in the ceiling thought they heard the walls groaning in discomfort, as if the cavern was experiencing a sense of pain and anguish.
Raven remained suspended in midair, dangling from the rope, and marveled at what was happening. She felt the Xao or the Creative Light, or whatever one might call such universal life energy, as it continued reaching out to the walls unafraid. It touched the walls, the ceiling and the floor with its warm, reassuring glow, yet the rock surfaces were terrified of it and felt suffocated by it.
Having entered the troll-queen’s capital city, the ghost whisperer realized she was not only challenging Zarimora but also the malignant presence that filled the cavern. As Raven slid down the rope to the very bottom and was about to touch her feet to the floor, the ghost whisperer felt the evil pulling back. Then, as Raven walked towards the cavern entrance over 200 yards away, the ground she stepped on began giving off a faint hint of golden light, a hint that grew stronger with each stride, creating a line of golden footprints.
Back up on the ceiling, Rothena and Dynarsis tossed two more thick ropes through the crack and slid down to the cavern floor, with Starlight right behind using the rope that Raven had used. Zorya and Aldwen quickly followed.
Andylan, who remained inside the crevasse, pulled all three ropes back up through the crack in the ceiling. Her job was perhaps the most difficult of all, that is, being unable to do anything but wait for her friends to return and to lower the ropes so they could escape. It took all of Andylan’s inner-strength to obey Raven’s request and not follow her friends into danger.
When Raven, Rothena, Zorya, Dynarsis, Starlight and Aldwen reached the entrance to the cavern, the ghost whisperer peered into the adjoining hallway which was dimly lit with a few small torches attached to the walls. Rare cracks in Gratuga’s ceilings allowed for a very modest amount of air circulation and a limited number of torches. Though direct sunlight turned meat-eating trolls to stone, firelight did not.
Seeing no signs of trouble, Raven stepped out into the empty tunnel, glanced around and breathed a sigh of relief. However, she then noticed a shadowy figure off to her left at a spot where there was a bend in the tunnel.
“Do you see that?” Raven asked in a whisper.
“What?” Rothena asked.
“Someone’s over there at the bend in the tunnel.”
“I don’t see a thing,” Rothena replied, and when Raven looked at the others, they all shook heads.
“Well, something or someone’s over there,” Raven insisted, and she strode boldly towards the shadow which remained rooted to the spot, making not the slightest movement.
When the ghost whisperer got closer, she realized it wasn’t a meat-eating troll but a person, a human female, and Raven said, “It’s a woman. Certainly you can see her now, can’t you?”
However, Rothena and the others shook their heads once more.
Walking right up to the woman, Raven spoke directly to her and asked, “Who are you, and what are you doing in Gratuga?”
But the woman remained stock still and said nothing.
Reaching out, Raven placed her right hand on the human female’s left shoulder, and the woman immediately stepped aside with an alarmed look on her face and said, “You can see me?”
“Yes.”
Glancing around her, she said, “Usually, in these dimly-lit hallways, no one can see me. If you can, then maybe trolls can see me as well. Now what am I to do?”
“It’s okay,” Rothena said, speaking calmly. “Her name’s Raven, and she’s a ghost whisperer. She can see ghosts as easily as she can see the living. However, she’s the only one of us who can. In this dim light, I wasn’t able to see you until Raven got closer to you. But the closer she gets to ghosts, the more visible they become. That being said, what are you doing here in Gratuga?”
“You’re a troll,” the human female said, fear readily apparent in her voice, though she was also amazed that she was in solid physical form and was no longer a ghost.
“A vegetarian troll,” Rothena pointed out.
“I’ve heard Gratuga trolls speak of vegetarian trolls, but I’ve never actually met one before.”
“Well, now you have,” Rothena said kindly. “But why are you here?”
“I was captured and butchered alive here some years ago. At one point, I stepped out of my body and watched them finish roasting and eating me. It was horrible. And for some reason, my spirit remained here.”
“Are there other ghosts like yourself here in Gratuga?” Raven asked.
“A few dozen, and my name’s Catanya,” the woman said. Next, looking around the bend in the tunnel, Catanya saw another human ghost, a male, not far away and said, “These people are friends. Where are the other spirit people, the others like us?”
“About half-a-mile farther down into the city, near Balzekior’s private cave.”
“What are they doing there?” Catanya asked, almost shouting in terror, Balzekior being a wicked old crone and Zarimora’s greatest ally.
“Balzekior’s outside with Zarimora and Merimar, the troll queen’s second-in-command.”
“What are our spirit people doin
g anywhere near Balzekior’s private quarters, whether she’s there or not? You know she’s the only one in Gratuga who can actually see us, and she loves making our lives miserable,” Catanya said, horrified at the news.
Then, turning back to Raven, she added, “Only one other individual lives in Balzekior’s cave, a pathetic man who was captured a few months ago. For some reason, Balzekior has allowed him to live.”
“A living male human, here in Gratuga?” Zorya asked.
“Yes, but he’s shackled and manacled with heavy chains.”
“But he’s alive?” Zorya asked in disbelief.
“Yes, if you call living in chains as Balzekior’s prisoner being alive.” Turning back to the male ghost who had approached the group, Catanya asked, “So, why are spirit people near Balzekior’s cave?”
“The chained man is there.”
“What difference does that make? We’ve all seen him stumbling around for months. Why would our spirit people risk being anywhere near Balzekior’s cave?”
“You can see us?” the male ghost asked no one in particular but looking at the group in general.
“Only this woman, Raven, can see you from a distance. The rest of us can see you only after you’ve changed back to physical form when she’s nearby,” Rothena replied.
“You’re a troll,” the man said apprehensively.
“A vegetarian troll,” Rothena said, though that knowledge did little to ease the worried look on the man’s face.
“What are spirit people doing at Balzekior’s cave?” Catanya asked firmly, taking the man by an arm and giving him a shake.
“Balzekior brought two children to her cave before going back outside,” the man said.
“Children?” Catanya asked in surprise.
“Yes.”
“Alive?” Zorya almost shouted. “Are they alive?”
“They are for now.”
“Have you just come from there?” Raven asked quickly.
“Yes.”