Chapter 25
Another ripple ran through the stone. Those runes that had been glowing faded. The magic traveling through the stone then found a single rune and pooled there, making it glow even brighter than the other batch had.
“What does it say, Teilnon?” Jay asked before I could.
“’Open.’ It says ‘open.’” He said with some relief.
The five of us went to that single lit rune. It was closer to the ground than the others. I knelt down to get a better look at it, though the glow hurt my eyes a little. “Now what do we do?” Frena asked.
Now indeed what did we do? I had wanted the keyword to be found. There it was. So I touched it like a button. I’m not entirely sure what I expected to happen, but my finger pressing easily into the stone like it would sand was not it. I yanked my finger back with a gasp. There was now an indent where my finger had pressed.
“Whoa! That’s not normal.” Jay muttered the obvious.
I bit my lip before glancing at runes around ‘open’ and then up at Teilnon. “Hey, do you recognize any of these?” I really do need a dictionary…
Teilnon got down on the sand with me to better peer at the runes around the glowing one. He pointed at a few. “’Erase’… I suppose that would be ‘keyword’… ‘ move’… I’m not sure about anything else on that line.”
“Well, assuming that the full sentence is ‘erase keyword to move onward’ or something like that, I’m going to erase ‘open’,” I said.
Zara grabbed my wrist before I could “What if you are wrong?” She asked.
“I don’t know, Princess. But either we try something, or we stay down here.” Zara visibly shuddered at that before letting go of my wrist. I returned to smudging out the word ‘open.’ I hoped I was doing right. Especially considering that the rock-that-felt-more-like-sand made smudging out the keyword easy. If not, then this test was very unfair and cheeky. Besides, nothing burned me to crispy ash. So perhaps I was right…
In a matter of moments, the rune was completely erased. The stone hardened under my finger. Thankfully it hadn’t hardened on my finger. That would have been very unpleasant of it. Another ripple of light and power radiated out from where the rune had been until the light became a kind of arched door shape centering on the erased rune. Grinding stone and a trembling in the sandy floor lasted for a long moment. The stone inside the doorway split down the middle to become a set of double doors. They swung open toward us.
Silence filled the pit while the five of us peered into the open doorway. A narrow corridor lit with more Moon Flames bent out of our sight.
“I’m amazed that worked… shall we get out of here?” Ferna suggested before heading out. Zara followed close on her heels. Jay, Teilnon, and I followed after. The corridor beyond was narrow. As in, I could hold my arms out and not even get them at full spread before hitting the walls. I felt cramped. I had no idea how Teilnon had to be feeling. The corridor had many right angles turns that seemed fit for something to be waiting just beyond to attack. I wasn’t the only one who was getting a bit on the tense side. The group’s anxiety rose as the temperature dropped.
“Does this corridor ever end?!” Zara demanded as we continued walking.
I don’t know if the surrounding structure is somehow sentient and was waiting for us to ask that question, or if we just needed to wait a few more moments, or if the universe has a very interesting sense of humor; but whichever it was we rounded a corner to suddenly find ourselves in a very large chamber with a low ceiling. While the ceiling was low, it was domed. On the sides, there were arches that led into small extensions of the room. There was a sizable drain in the center with a grate over it. Sconces of Moon Flame lit the space.
The blue flames were beautiful, but I was really looking forward to seeing warm light again. And I’m not a sunfire mage. I could only guess how Zara was feeling.
“This almost looks almost like a wine cellar.” Ferna observed.
At her words, the Moon Flames guttered before going out. The lot of us yelped and gasped at the suddenness of the darkness around us. It had dropped like a giant tree; smothering, sudden, and very heavy.
Panic was raking its familiar claws down my spine. And then I realized something. I could see and hear again. The others were exclaiming over this fact…. And then something more incredible happened. I should say several somethings.
The large room we had found ourselves in was now occupied by twelve large wine casts. The Moon Flames had been replaced by regular sconces. And standing before us was Selva. I wasn’t sure what the scenery change was about. I was just hoping that Selva would explain.
But then the true surprise became apparent.
“Who is that?” My companions said. “Where did those casts come from?” and “I guess I wasn’t too far off the mark.” That last was from Ferna.
“Wait, you can see her?!” I asked in amazement, gesturing at Selva.
“Yes, Kel. I desired they see me now for there are things they must hear, and I have noticed that you tend to keep some things to yourself.” Selva said.
It was later that Jay told me that while they could see the room changes and Selva, all of it was some shade of gray and somewhat see through. Jay had thought it both cool and terrifying. To me, they were as solid in appearance as anything. For me, it was as if we had stepped back in time
I liked not being the only witness… but I didn’t like Selva reprimanding me like that. “Who doesn’t keep things to themselves?” I asked crossing my arms.
“Kel, who is that? Is that Selva?” Ferna whispered to me.
“I am Selva,” Selva answered for herself. “Many knew me as Selva dae Sorin. But that was not my true name. Truly I was Selva irel Lan Sanga.” She said with a hand to her chest and a slight bow of greeting. “I walked among the living about three hundred years ago.” She then focused on me.
“I have recently told you that a life alone is not worth living. And it truly isn’t. But you must be wise. Spirit Magic is a strange magic. It is both weak and immensely strong. Because of that and its source it is often misunderstood.”
“What is the source of Spirit magic?” Zara cut in.
Selva regarded the Ano High Princess for a moment. Intense enough to make Zara squirm a little. “Can you not guess? Spirit is fueled by life energy, given purpose by intent, and given form by imagination.
“Like any great power, it can be widely used for the good of all. Used to protect.” Her expression darkened and became sorrowful at the same time. “But it can also be used for terrible ill.
“When I lived there were many Spirit mages. Most were protectors. But a few were seduced by greed. Succumbed to the fear that they would never be strong enough to stand against their constant shadow. They fell and became the worst of monsters. Many hapless victims fell to their constant thirst for more power.
“The masses stopped seeing a difference between irel Spirizien and irel Viemor. All of us were feared. Hated. Hunted…” Her eyes truly became haunted now. “Burned.” She whispered before falling silent, holding herself. My companions and I traded a look, though my mind was flying. I had used spirit magic, a small amount true. But would that be enough to sentence me to death?
My only hope was the fact that I had first heard of Spirit magic from Nimla a few years ago. And, if memory wasn’t failing me, General Travis Ketera had mentioned so and so irel Spirizien…. But I hadn’t known what that meant then. (still didn’t exactly. Selva just used it and another title for spirit mages. Bad ones, but still… more than one?) Besides, when I had learned about spirit magic, I had thought that only Spirit Elementals could use it.
The point is that it was possible that Spirit mages had faded into myth. Even better, forgotten. I had combed through the archives, and I rarely found anything mentioning them. It was very possible that only the five of us here now knew about Spirit magic… that I was a Spirit mage.
Selva straightened and visibly shook off the dark thoughts that had
consumed her. “Now, about that relic four of you came for.” She glanced at Ferna. “I do apologize. Your kidnapping is not something I condone. But I lost all right in how things are done when I gave the relic to the Espirimora to protect. And Tre’shriha is… her methods are questionable at times.
“The relic of power is in this room.” She said with a nod to Teilnon. “As is the relic of courage and the relic of protection.” More nods to Jay and Zara respectively. Her gaze returned to me. “The relic of wisdom is here as well.”
I smiled at her as my companions looked for their treasure. “It's all the same thing. The Espirimora said that much.”
“Oh yeah.” Jay stopped his searching. He scratched at his head self consciously.
“She did make it sound like separate things.” Ferna consoled. She had stayed near me since she hadn’t really wanted the thing in the first place. Teilnon had. She had just been helping him. The other two paused their search. Both looking disappointed.
“You were the friend who asked for them to seal it away. You are also the one who keeps telling me to find the Irel Codex.” I continued.
“Yes.” Was Selva’s only response.
“What is the Irel Codex?” Zara asked a touch uneasily.
“A book,” Selva said with a smile. She turned to me. “It will teach you. Let its knowledge give you the wisdom needed to guide your power and the courage to act for the protection of others. Let it never fall into the wrong hands.”
Selva stepped forward and though she stood further than a single step from me she was suddenly before me. I startled. (She really had to stop popping up like that!) She kissed my forehead in a kind of benediction just like she had many years ago. Her touch was cool and light.
Then she was gone, leaving something in my hand. Everything went dark. There were distant, angry shouts. Sounds of a scuffle, more shouts and then a woman pleading. Nothing was distinct. But the pleading woman sounded like Selva. Then a voice spoke, and it was more than clear. It made my soul cringe against my bones. It reminded me horribly of Lek, but it was distinctly feminine.
“I told you they would turn on you. It was only a matter of time. People are always untrustworthy. And now you will burn. No one can save you… No one but me. I have always been by your side, Selva.” That voice pointed out reasonably. “It is not too late, my dear. Call my name. Beg me, Avles, to help you! And I will. You need not die so horribly tonight.”
Avles kept crooning for Selva in the darkness to call of her. But Selva remained silent. Until she started to scream. For a moment I wasn’t in the cellar anymore. Instead, I was on a hill looking down into a valley. One of the few clearings in the Old Wood. They hadn’t waited to get her to town. Around a conveniently dead tree, they had piled firewood high. I could just see Selva tied to the tree beyond the wall of wood and flame.
Flames greedily crackled over the stacks of dry wood. Some were golden sunfire. The rest were traditional flames. All hungry for fuel. They were not picky eaters. Fire never was. Selva’s screams rent the night. She had been sobbing when the flames first began. I think she had probably been praying. Now she mostly screamed…. Screams for mercy. Screams of agony. Horrific screams from the frantic figure wreathed in flame. The dead tree went up, and the figure tied to its base stopped moving. I could still hear the echoes of her screams… and the cheering of the crowd….
“Kel!” Ferna’s voice jerked me away from that cursed hill. The darkness that had followed lifted. I found myself on the stone floor with no memory of how I had gotten there. I was crying. Sobbing really. Sparks of helpless rage burned deep within, but they were drowned in sorrow.
“Kel, what’s wrong?” Jay asked from beside me.
“She had died in such agony…” I managed to say while dashing the tears from my eyes. “Seeing it was worse though,” I admitted.
“What are you talking about?” Ferna asked. At my blank look, she continued. “The room just returned to normal after Selva vanished. Next, we knew you were on the ground.” She looked concerned, wiping away a stray tear.
“You – you didn’t see the room go dark again? Hear anything… saw nothing of Selva’s burning?” I asked aghast. My companions, including Zara, paled at that.
“No,” Jay said with a shake of his head. “Don’t think less of me, but I’m glad I didn’t.”
I didn’t think less of him. I would have preferred to have not seen it too. I frowned wondering why I had.
Zara gently tapped my shoulder before pointing at my hands. “What’s that?”
I looked down to see a delicate antique gold chain dangling from between my fingers. I opened my fingers to see an ornate key pendant resting on my palm. “Selva gave it to me. She had slipped it into my hand before the world went dark. I think its to help us find the Codex.”
“Didn’t see any keyholes or anything out of place,” Teilnon stated.
“Hmm. Probably can’t find it with just your eyes… at least alone.” I studied the key for a moment. Ornate as it was I couldn’t see any runes. So I did the only thing I could think of. It had worked in the recent past. Hopefully, it would work again. I sliced my finger this time, figuring my poor thumb could use a break. I smeared the blood on the key, mind focused on wanting to find the Irel Codex.
I blinked in surprised awe when the ornate markings lit up, revealing that the decoration had hidden runes. They pulsed for a few heartbeats before there was a flare of power. And just like that, I had a very large and heavy tome in my lap.
The others gasped at its sudden appearance. “That is so cool,” Jay said gazing at the black leather-bound book in my hands. Gold designs decorated the corners while a shield crest of a dagger and bone forming an ‘x’ with a quill stabbing vertically between them dominated the center of the cover.
“And kind of unusual,” Zara said honestly.
“Not really,” Ferna said. “A lit Invinna frond waved over something could make it invisible.”
“But Kel wasn’t in possession of the book this whole time.” Zara pointed out.
Ferna shrugged. “True. But Compass Rose can help locate something. If that item is light enough and not under anything or trapped, then it will come to you. Even if it is invisible.”
“Can do similar with iron, nickel, and lodestone,” Teilnon stated.
Zara looked a little surprised. It made me wonder why both plant and metal magics had similar abilities. But Zara was quick to stop me before I could get too far in my musings. “If this is the relic, does that mean the test has been passed? Can we leave now?” She had a really good point.
At that moment, the wall on the far side rippled. A section of the wall fell into the ground with a rumble. Now there was a waiting open doorway. Whatever was it with Zara and the Test moving us forward?
Chapter 26
The room beyond the new doorway was a smaller chamber than the ancient wine cellar. The everpresent Moon Flames washed the room in blue. Just like everywhere else in this underground. Ornate mosaics dominated the walls. Scenes of creation, battles, elementals, and portrayals of Kindred, humans, and Elmora encircled the room. But what snagged my attention was the stone table near the far end. On the far wall were two ornate doors. Runes were inscribed above them. Above the table was the same crest as was on the Irel Codex. Above it and below it was a series of runes.
“I think there is one more part to this test,” I observed.
“Looks like it.” Ferna agreed.
Zara glanced about the room, but her goal was the two doors. “I bet you one of these leads outside. Teilnon, can you read any of these runes?” She asked pointing above the door. Teilnon joined her. He held his lit sword closer to the stone to better squint at the runes. Eventually, he just shook his head.
Jay, Ferna, I walked closer to join them, though I stopped by the stone table. It was long and forbidding. It gave me the chills because it was very clear what it was. This was an altar. There was a heaviness about it. Not exactly an evil air, but a weighty
decision. One that would drastically impact my life and the life of many others.
“Hey Kel, does that fancy book of yours translate these runes?” Jay asked.
I shook myself realizing that was a great idea. Afraid to set the book down on the altar or even touch the stone, I maneuvered the book, so I could support it with one arm and turn pages with the other. I opened the cover and found that there was a note. In common Eldish I read:
Choose who you are. Blood must be paid.
Pay the price to grow. Or steal to pass.
Under each word was a rune… a translation. I smiled at that until I saw another question that must be translated into the runes under it.
Protector or Thief?
I tilted my head curiously at that. Was this a clue?
“So? Anything useful in that relic?” Zara demanded.
I came closer to them and looked at the runes over the doors. I realized the runes were the same ones in this note. “I don’t think that door is the one we want,” I said. “The rune above it translates to ‘thief. That one,” I pointed at the other door “says ‘protector.’”
“Oh,” Teilnon said. He had been trying to force the thief door open. Now he and Zara backed away from it like it would attack them.
“What does the rest of it say?” Ferna asked peering over my shoulder. Instead of waiting for me she just read the note herself “Choose who you are?”
I nodded. I had been comparing the runes on the note to the ones around the crest. “It says ‘Choose who you are. Blood must be paid. Pay the price to grow. Or steal to pass.”
“I really don’t like the sound of that.”
I didn’t either. Nor did I like what I saw on the altar. There were two runes on separate sides of the table, a repeat of ‘Thief’ and ‘protector.’ In between them was a bowl and wicked looking knife.
Lore Rune (Rune Trilogy Book 1) Page 18