Weaponforger (Guardian's Prophecy Book 3)

by D A Godwin

  The glade was expected to be filled with thousands of the faithful who would await her presentation as their Guardian at the conclusion of the ritual. A pair of Sisters hurried past her, carrying bundles of who knew what that would be used either for the ceremony or the festivities that would follow. They bowed their heads to her but did not speak, as she remained within her time of contemplation and it would have been inconsiderate to trouble her with mundane conversation.

  Shalindra circled the clearing and made her way onto the curving path that led down into the Glade of Guardians. It was so different from when she had first arrived. Interest in the Guardians had been kindled anew by the pronouncement of her ascendency, and the rarely visited glade had seen a constant stream of visitors, so many that it had been closed along with the rest of the temple forest two days ago. The particular roots and turns of the trail were familiar to her feet now, and she caught sight of the statues she sought almost before she realized she was there.

  Tormjere, of course, was waiting for her.

  “One of these days I will catch you asleep,” she said disapprovingly as she drew close. “What is it that troubles you now? Are you haunted by the past or fearful of the future?”

  He grinned. “Neither. I just couldn’t sleep.”

  She gave him an amused frown but said nothing. His mind was free of the turbulence that had plagued him upon his return, but the changes that had been forced upon him could never be undone. Yet he remained as good a man as the one who had rescued her from her would-be kidnappers so long ago, and she trusted in him more than in herself. No matter how her course became altered, she would never allow that opinion to change.

  “We won’t ever be the same,” he said softly. “And I think that is what bothers you the most.”

  He always knew exactly what she was thinking and what concerns she carried. It occurred to her that it had become so natural, such a part of who they were, that she took for granted how special a connection it was.

  “I do feel a sense of unease, though whether it is a greater disquiet or simple nervousness I cannot say. I am not certain that I am ready for what is expected of me, though I no longer harbor doubts of my worth.” Her gaze encompassed all the statues. “They all gave so much, in the end.”

  “Yours will be a happier story.”

  Her eyes sought his, taking comfort in their calm depths. “Were anyone else to say that to me, I would consider them foolish for trying to predict the future.”

  “It’s not that hard to predict. There will be a ceremony with lots of words and prayers, and probably singing. After that will come a gathering where everyone will want to talk to you, and finally it will be assumed that you have answers to every question and a resolution to every problem.”

  She rolled her eyes, even as she stifled a laugh. She looked back at the statue of Illathalirial once more and wondered if she had experienced the same doubts and fears before her ascension. Had the elvish warrior hoped that her fate could be changed? That she would not be forced to sacrifice her life as had the others before her? Fatalism seemed an unlikely trait of any of these women, yet all had come to an unpleasant end.

  “I fear that whatever lies ahead of us will be so much worse than what we have already faced.” She swallowed a sudden lump in her throat. “Promise me that no matter what happens after this, whether it be happy or sad, you will not allow me to lose sight of who I am.”

  “Never.”

  She felt the approach of someone even as his eyes flicked towards the path.

  Enna’s coming.

  Shalindra took a deep breath to steady herself, but it served only to fuel to the butterflies that danced in her stomach.

  Give me strength, Eluria, so that I may be what you need me to be.

  Enna entered the glade and bowed deeply to both of them, and when she straightened her face radiated a joy unlike anything Shalindra had never seen. “Are you ready, Sister Ascendant?”

  “I am as prepared as I can ever be.”

  Perhaps hearing the trace of nervousness in that statement, Enna took Shalindra’s hands in her own. “With all you have accomplished, there should be no doubts. Believe in yourself, as we believe in you.”

  Shalindra gave her hands a small squeeze of gratitude. “You have done so much for me, both of you. Though I will be the one standing upon a pedestal, this is in many ways more a culmination of your triumphs than mine. I can never repay your kindness, nor will I ever forget it.”

  Enna’s eyes misted, and though it was improper she embraced Shalindra. She dabbed at her eyes as she withdrew, then motioned towards the path. “It is your time, Sister Ascendant.”

  Shalindra put a hand to Eluria’s symbol. It was time, and she was ready. As she followed Enna down the path, she felt Tormjere’s thoughts return to the statue of Illathalirial.

  They passed back through the Glade of Worship, now filled with people preparing this or that for the ceremony. No one spoke to them, but everyone knew she was there and a hundred eyes followed her. Those closest to her bowed, which Shalindra returned with a smile and a nod. Everyone wanted her to be as eager and joyful as they were for this event, but no matter the face she presented, Shalindra’s mind was focused on those things she must do today.

  They took the same path at the back of the glade that would lead to her house and the other clearings that served as meeting places, but this time they branched off in a new direction.

  The trail leading to the Glade of Ascension was even more narrow and winding. Vines blooming with white flowers brushed against her shoulders on either side, their meandering stems interwoven into the thick foliage and steered by centuries of guidance from those who maintained them. Together the vines and hedges formed a high-walled corridor left open at the top. Sunlight sprinkled through the ancient trees whose leaves rustled in the gentle breeze. Small animals scurried to and fro, and birds chirped their songs to each other.

  Though she had walked this way two days before, their arrival at the end of the path nevertheless took her by surprise. An archway of carved, rounded stones marked the entrance to a small, circular clearing. At its peak, the arch was inscribed with the symbol of the new moon.

  Enna came to a stop before the arch and recited a prayer with words which flowed like wind in the branches. When she had finished, they stepped into the clearing, and a curtain of vines descended behind them to close the doorway.

  There were three other exits from the space, each marked by a matching stone arch set into the lush green walls. All but the one to her right were now blocked by a curtain of vines.

  The one directly in front of her, watched over by two elder Sisters, led directly into the Glade of Ascension. Viewed from above it would have matched the center circle of the symbol of Eluria that Shalindra wore, as the small space she stood in aligned with the top of the outer ring. She would pass through each of the two other outer glades throughout the day, returning to this same one near sunset after completing her circuit.

  The words Enna spoke next were formal, and their pronunciation more lyrical than the elvish sounds Shalindra was familiar with, but beyond references to herself and Eluria, she understood none of it. Both clerics flanking the door bowed, and Enna turned and passed beneath the open archway to her right.

  The Guardian’s Ascension had officially begun.

  Shalindra’s heart beat fast as she again followed Enna. She was thankful that her friend was there to guide her, or her footsteps would have slowed of their own accord.

  The curving green tunnel had a timeless quality about it, as if she was moving into the past more than the future. Her feet crossed twenty-eight stones that mirrored the dots on her symbol, one for each day in the lunar month. At its end was another inscribed arch, this one adorned with the waxing half-moon. Enna paused to complete another prayer, then stepped to the side so Shalindra could enter.

  Shalindra felt a soft tingle of energy as she passed into the clearing. In the center of the grassy floor lay a na
tural pool whose outline unmistakably resembled that of a half-moon. A low haze of steam hung invitingly above the Pool of Chalalia, the only known hot spring in all of Ildalarial. Two Sisters, one old and one young, stood on the far side of the pool.

  Enna turned to her and spoke the formal words: “Now is the time to leave everything behind, that you may become something more than what you once were.”

  The other two elves responded in unison, though in elvish.

  Resting on a polished stump beside them was a simple wooden case as old as the forest around her. Enna lifted it reverently and held it open, revealing an interior lined with a dense, fine moss as soft as velvet. It was set with indentations perfectly sized for both Shining Moon and her symbol. Shalindra took the silver disc from around her neck and placed it in the case, then wound the chain neatly beside it. She unhooked Shining Moon from her belt and set it inside as well. Her fingers remained in contact with the handle, feeling a certain reluctance to be separated from the weapon that had grown to be as much a part of her as she was of it. Aside from when Tormjere had carried it, Shining Moon had not left her side since the day it was given to her. The hammer almost seemed to shiver, sharing the sentiment.

  Enna gave her an understanding smile as Shalindra withdrew her fingers, and closed the lid while reciting the next words.

  “Now is the time for you to cleanse your body as you prepare to cleanse your soul.”

  Shalindra disrobed. The air was cool but not uncomfortable against her skin, and she kept her movements deliberate and reverent as she entered the crystal-clear water. The rippled walls of the pool formed natural steps, becoming smoother as the bottom twisted into an ever-tightening funnel which disappeared into the depths of the earth.

  The younger attending Sister assisted her as she bathed while the older prayed in a calming tone. Shalindra could feel the tingle of Eluria’s presence as their prayers wrapped her in a cocoon warmer than the water.

  At a gentle pressure on her shoulders, Shalindra stepped off the shelf and submerged fully. The walls of the pool were white and the water perfectly clear, and she felt almost as if she had floated to a different place. She closed her eyes, allowing the deep, rhythmic gurgling of the waters to sooth her.

  When she emerged from the pool, she was wrapped in soft towels. Petals from a multitude of flowers were squeezed, yielding a series of gently fragrant oils that were rubbed into her hair.

  After completely drying herself, she was dressed in white robes that fell to just below her knees. They were sleeveless in the elvish fashion she was now accustomed to and as smooth as the finest silks she had ever touched. Her feet were left bare, and she toyed with the grass between her toes.

  Enna had waited in silence throughout the ritual, and now she smiled as she inclined her head towards the exit. This time it was to be Shalindra who led the way, as a Guardian must.

  The stones on the floor here depicted the mountains of the Three Sisters, representing the bottom section of Eluria’s symbol. The mental image of the majestic peaks she had gazed upon every day while in the valley was reassuring, and the thought of their strength and solidness added purpose to her stride.

  An elf awaited them outside the next archway, which was topped by the symbol of the waning half-moon.

  “Now is my time,” Shalindra said. “I must contemplate all that I am to become.”

  “What proof do you bring?” the woman ritually challenged.

  “Now is her time,” Enna said in answer. “She has held Alta Suralia, communed with Elurithlia in Alta Amalia, and been judged worthy in Her light.”

  “As Elurithlia speaks, so we must listen,” the elf intoned. Then she pulled aside the curtain, and Shalindra entered into the second glade, this one also covered in a carpet of fresh grass, but devoid of any adornment or furnishings.

  Enna opened the case so that Shalindra could withdraw her symbol, then spoke in ritual once more. “You must spend the remainder of this day in uninterrupted meditation. Seek Her wisdom, know Her purpose, and take comfort in Her strength. When you are summoned, it will be time.”

  Enna closed the case containing Shining Moon, and her green eyes shone with fierce pride as she recited the oath required of any who watched over such relics. “With my life I will defend Her gifts, protect them from waste and ruin, and see them bestowed only to the one who is worthy.” Then she added, “And I will answer your call and remain at your side, always, no matter what may come.”

  It was Shalindra’s turn to cry now. She did not deserve such loyalty, but she treasured it above anything she had ever been given. She embraced Enna again, and they clung to each other for long moments until Enna withdrew. With a final smile of reassurance Enna left the glade, and Shalindra stood alone.

  You’re not alone.

  And I never wish to be again. Could you have imagined, when we first met, that our lives would be anything like they have become?

  No, but I don’t regret a moment of it.

  Neither do I.

  This is probably the last quiet moment you will know for a while. Take this time as it was intended, but if you need me, I will be here.

  Thank you.

  Shalindra tried to settle herself, but her mind turned almost immediately to what would happen after the ceremony. Would she be welcomed amongst the elves, and find answers for her questions, or would she become lost in the trappings of ritual? Would Eluria speak to her more frequently, or more clearly? Where would she go? Certainly, she would not remain in Ildalarial forever. She had done enough waiting. Perhaps she should return to Newlmir next year and speak to Eluria on the mountain again.

  Time passed as it would. Her questions faded to musings and then into dreams. At times she sat, and at others she paced slowly. Her concerns about the future faded, relegated to her subconscious for a time when they could be addressed. She listened to the sounds of the forest around her as the afternoon progressed to evening.

  When the sun was sinking beneath the horizon, it was time.

  They’re coming to get you.

  Shalindra stood and found that the butterflies had returned to her stomach.

  Relax. All you’ll have to do is stand there.

  A young elf came to the glade and seemed surprised to find Shalindra waiting and ready. Without a word, she beckoned Shalindra to follow and led her into the final corridor.

  The floor was composed of twelve massive stones that matched the braided rope on her symbol, one stone for each month in the lunar year. At its end, she returned to the glade of the new moon, where she had first entered that morning. This time, however, the clearing was not empty.

  Elothlirial awaited her in the center. Flanking her on one side was Enna, beaming with pride and still cradling the case that held Shining Moon, and on the other was an elegantly carved stand on which hung the Guardian’s armor. Crafted from the same silvery metal as Shining Moon, taken from the sky ages ago, it shone silver in the reflected light. Shalindra’s step faltered and her breathing quickened as she approached, already feeling the weight of responsibility that would come from wearing it.

  Elothlirial placed her hand on Shalindra’s head and prayed, bestowing a final blessing upon her. Then she stepped aside so Shalindra could occupy her place.

  Shalindra was first brought a comfortably padded vest of white with embroidered silver symbols and patterns at the edges. Next, the short coat of silver scales was lifted from the stand and lowered onto her shoulders, where it settled as easily as a tunic. It was surprisingly light and offered no resistance to her movements, despite the snugness. Just long enough to cover her hips, slits had been strategically placed so as not to hinder the motions of her legs.

  Each piece of the armor that followed was accompanied by ritual words. Shalindra would have liked to know everything that was being said, but the tone and inflection of each prayer came one after another like different verses of the same song, and she found herself enjoying that even more.

  The spaulders conform
ed to her shoulders as they were fastened around her arms, and the white and silver belt was buckled on next. Light-grey boots were slipped over her feet, the supple leather rising to cover her legs above the knee. Greaves were wrapped around her shins. Slender vambraces shielded her forearms, with the curved metal set atop leather bracers. Every peace had smoothly curving edges that made it appear as much a piece of art as protection in battle. Once complete, the entire suit of armor felt no heavier than a thick coat, and hugged her body as tightly as a court dress.

  Enna stepped before her and opened the case containing Shining Moon.

  Shalindra withdrew Eluria’s sacred hammer and hung it from her right hip, where it had always resided, despite its use by her left hand. When she looked up she was taken aback by the reaction of those around her. Not even Elothlirial was unaffected.

  “Come,” she said, her voice heavy with unexpected emotion. “It is time for you to be our Guardian.”

  Elothlirial led the way beneath the arch inscribed with a full moon and into the Glade of Ascension. Shalindra trailed a step behind, with Enna and the other clerics filing in behind them. The clearing had seemed much larger when they had rehearsed several days ago, but today it was somehow smaller and more intimate.

  To either side as she entered were the handful of Sisters who would observe the ceremony. To her right, where he always was, stood Tormjere. His clothes were clean and fresh but worn as casually as ever. As Valtilaniar, he would be formally announced at the end of the ceremony, and at that time become her protector in name, as he had always been in deed.

  At the center of this glade was a large, nearly circular stone. It rose from the grass surrounding it to about knee height in the center, an irregular dome easily forty feet across. Markings had been etched into its surface: a series of circles and runes denoting where each participant would stand to channel the divine energies.

  Shalindra stopped at its edge. Elothlirial stepped upon it and took her place in one of the smaller circles, then tilted her head towards the sky to judge the progression of the full moon. The ceremony had to be timed to ensure that the celestial body would be at its apex during the ascension.