Chapter 3
The next day, nearly one-hundred-fifty quartzians gathered around the Pool of the Fallen, the small pool of green water in the glistening quartz cliffs behind the village. The pool sat back in a small flat clearing amidst several large stalas—columns of quartz much like Lightshards, but shedding no light. Spread amongst them at large intervals, a handful of living Lightshards glowed. It had been a tiring journey up to this place. The path was ... ragged ... lined with broken stalas and the occasional Lightshard. In this section of The Cavern, the quartz formed its most perfect crystals, long rods of clear crystal topped with a six-sided prism structure. Such formations grew in abundance here.
She was more controlled today. More at peace. She’d wept for hours the previous Dimlight before falling asleep emotionally exhausted. The tears had been a release, a purge of all the negative light and energy within her. Quartzians rarely cried. Most of their emotional displays were expressed through the interplay of their varied lifelights, the energy that sustained their quartz bodies and gave life to their souls.
Looking across the crowd that had gathered to see her Mistress’s remains put to rest, Akarra saw myriad flickering blue antennae, some weak, some strong, but none as heartfelt and powerful as her own.
All the gathered quartzians looked at her expectantly.
She sighed. As the new Shardshaper—although she had not officially received that title yet; she still must complete her Heartquest—she was responsible for conducting the funeral. She was not in the mood for a long service, but she had to at least speak.
She glanced at the quartz urn that held Yridia’s physical remains—about two pounds of salt. The urn lay on the ceremonial quartz pedestal on her right. Grabbing either side of the urn, she lifted it over her head.
“My fellow clan members,” she began. “Our lifelights are dim and blue. We lost a valued member of our community yesterday, one who will be sorely missed. One who served us all faithfully and well as our clan’s Shardshaper. Yridia was her name. May it be recorded in the annals of our history; may we remember her life forever, for hers was a life of service, truth, and love.” She lowered the urn so that she now held it at waist level while she faced the pool.
The pool’s calm green waters rippled just enough to unsettle the surface. Yridia had once explained to her that an underground stream of some sort passed nearby providing just enough turbulence to keep the pool quivering. Akarra had never fully understood. The pool was high up the Cliffs of Garn; she could not fathom how the water had gotten so high. Unless.... She looked up at the roof of The Cavern. It hung above her many hundreds of feet away, its surface covered with gleaming crystal of an unidentifiable type at this distance. Most likely quartz. And if quartz were up so high, why could not water be up that high as well?
She reached into the urn and grabbed a handful of Yridia’s salt. “Quick and safe parting,” she said, and tossed the salt into the water. It showered down like a cloud of dust collecting briefly on the surface of the water before dissolving. She turned to face the crowd of her clanspeople.
“It is time,” she said.
One by one the elders of the clan approached, starting with the Chieftain and ending with the Yenshimaster. Each one reached into the urn, approached the pool, and tossed the salt into the pool as they uttered the same farewell, “Quick and safe parting.” When the elders were finished, the urn still contained a goodly amount of Yridia’s salt. Akarra approached the pool again and poured the remaining salt into the water. It dissolved much like the rest of it had.
“It is done,” Akarra said turning away.
The crowd of quartzians broke up and headed back down the path to the village proper. Akarra stood with her back to the pool, holding the quartz urn, and looked back on a life well spent. A life that would be greatly missed.
A hand touched her shoulder.
She looked up and saw Thaygos standing by her. His antennae radiated the purple of concern. “Are you going to be all right?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Good. You will make an excellent Shardshaper,” he continued. “You are strong and capable.”
“Yes,” a new voice said.
Turning, she saw the Chieftain himself, Thaygos’ father, Glovin. She curtsied slightly as he approached. He responded with a nod and said, “Are you prepared for your Heartquest?”
She blinked. So soon? she thought. Am I not even allowed time to grieve? “I’m not sure,” she said. “I have Yridia’s Shard and I have to gather a few things, but I can be ready in an hour or two, if required. But must I leave so soon?”
“The clan is now without a Shardshaper,” Glovin said. He placed a strong hand on her shoulder. “We will mark the passing of Yridia with fasting and prayer. But we cannot go for long without a proper Shardshaper to replace her. You must be about your quest as soon as possible.”
Akarra was about to argue. These last two days had taken a toll on her ... emotionally. She felt ill-suited to go on any type of quest, let alone a Heartquest. But she knew how much she was needed. The Heartshard was the most formidable protection the clan had against the Light-eaters, the shadowy predators that roamed the inner regions of the Cavern. Although she was skilled enough to protect the clan for now, the Shard she now possessed would soon grow cool and die. It could not sustain itself without its bond to its master. So the clan needed a new Shardshaper with a fresh Heartshard as soon as possible. That meant she had to hurry in her quest. They could not afford to be Shardless for long. The Light-eaters were not known for being merciful.
“I can’t go alone,” Akarra said. “Someone must share the journey if for no other reason than to guard my sleep.”
“Thaygos will go with you as your protector,” Glovin said.
Thaygos straightened, his antennae sparkling orange in bewilderment. “Father?”
“You are the most skilled warrior we have,” Glovin said. “You can put your skills to good use. Protecting a Shardshaper is a great honor. And besides, this will give you a chance to say goodbye to each other.”
Akarra exchanged looks with Thaygos, their antennae noting their astonishment. Finally, she returned her gaze to the Chieftain. “We will be on our way within the hour,” she said.
Prism Page 3