The Alfar formed a circle around us while Molly and Rune tried to calm the crowd.
Gavin put his hands on my hips. Heat lashed through me, and my palm found its way to his chest. This was familiar. I both welcomed and feared the feeling. I’d felt this before. The first time was when Gavin and I met. And then there was the time I thought he was dead, and I tried to seal the abyss myself. I wasn’t sure what was going on now, but whatever it was, something was definitely changing.
A single haunting note filled the room as the Urisks found their pitch again.
I filled Gavin’s stone as well as his grandfather’s amulet hidden under Ester’s camisole. Tell Elaine and Rena to fill their soul stones. This energy is almost as intense as the blue flame in Malachi’s cave. They’ll need to hurry. I don’t know how long it’ll last.
Gavin closed his eyes; his hands stayed firmly on my hips. “I’ve let them know,” he whispered. He rested his forehead against mine and allowed his emotions to soothe the heat lashing through me. The energy picked up speed. Molly struggled to keep her footing. Rune hooked his arm with hers, and they put their heads down. Leaning into the gale, they made their way toward us. As soon as they reached me, they broke apart and stood on either side, placing their hands on Gavin’s and my shoulders.
The combination of the four of us, Urisk and Alfar, leaders of both races, created a current running straight through. Overwhelmed, the dam holding my thoughts burst as streams flooded from their banks.
Heat gathered behind my eyes; Gavin’s emerald irises blazed like green fire. Molly and Rune’s feathers stood on end as they arched their backs and roared into the vortex above.
The blue and gray whipping around us turned white, gathering speed and spinning faster and faster until it shot across the room and exploded along the back wall. The impact snuffed out every torch like a flickering candle in a storm.
The entire cavern went black.
The Urisk fell silent, leaving only a high-pitched overtone that rang pure as a church bell in the dome above.
Stunned silence. My mind calmed as the energy swirled and drifted away.
“What in the Sam Hill just happened?” Rena whispered.
Hysteria caused a giggle to bubble in my throat, and I forced it back down. “I have no idea.”
Orange flickered in the distance, growing brighter as a lone Urisk brought a flame from the hallway. The open space took on an eerie glow as one by one the torches were relit.
Molly stepped forward and faced the Urisks. “My clan, past generations have foretold what now is coming to pass!” She shouted as she took my hand and held it above our heads. “Welcome into the fold, Our Light of Hope, Nora of Frey, Princess of the Alfar.”
A deafening roar exploded in the room as the Urisk jumped up and down, their eyes brilliant blue.
“I didn’t notice the sculpted mural in the back of the room, did you?” Rena asked. “Rune, is this what you were talking about? Is this what happens when the Urisk combine energy?”
Gavin’s anxiety pressed through me as I looked at the back wall.
Instead of answering, Molly and Rune jumped from the dais and hurried through the crowd.
“From the Urisk’s reaction, it would appear not,” Weylin said dryly. He hopped off the platform and waited for me.
The rest of the clan followed. Gavin’s anxiety spun to dread.
I squared my shoulders and faced him. “What is it?”
He looked away. “Nothing, love. Weylin’s waiting.” He started toward the edge of the platform.
I held him back. “What happened to us being in this together?”
Gavin sighed and looked over the edge of the dais. “Give us a minute.”
Weylin walked away, making sure no one got too near.
Gavin ran his hands up and down my arms before pulling me close. “You’re right. But I don’t want to add to your stress, and you’ve been through so much the past few days.”
“So have you.”
I watched his expression grow wary. “Yes, but I had a little warning. You’ve dreamt of this.”
Startled, I looked at the back wall. “When?”
“This was one of the first dreams you had after Rune left.”
“So, you knew we would meet Molly?”
“Yes, but that’s not all.” He followed my gaze. “In your dream, we were surrounded by light, and I could feel you as if you were in me. At first, I thought you remembered when we met, but then the dream shifted to this cave.”
“Lass,” Rune barked from across the vast hall. “We’ll be needin’ yer touch.”
Gavin’s features turned into that of a warrior. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
I took a deep breath. “I think Rune’s right. Maybe the sculpture will help shake the rest of the dream loose.”
“I hope not,” Gavin muttered, helping me off the platform.
As we approached Rune, a hush swept across the cavern. The sculpted mural took up the entire wall. The extreme right was nothing but delicately carved evergreens, nestled in a deep ravine. The very edge of the left side was smooth as if the scene jutted against a body of water.
The center held a deep alcove, depicting a cave, which had two monstrous statues on each side. Torchlight danced across the opening, leaving the deepest part smothered in darkness.
“What are those?” I asked, pointing to the two grotesque figures standing on either side of the recess.
“I’m not sure,” Gavin muttered.
I took a step closer. Molly’s sculpture in the sacred cave came to mind. Didn’t we see these in the Urisk’s prophecy?
“I’m not sure,” Gavin muttered again.
His emotions lessened until only a wisp remained.
I looked closer. Light and shadow played across the sculpted stone. Using the trees as a scale, the sculpted beings must have been several stories tall. They had four faces—one in the front, back, and sides of their head, and they seemed to be guarding something.
I need more light. Blue streamed around us as Gavin’s amulet warmed. Shadows fell away as energy poured into the mural’s recess. The space was empty, but black glittered at the back of the scene as if the cavern’s rear wall were made of coal.
Gavin’s emotions faded to nothing.
“What do you think this means, my lady?” Rena asked.
“This’d be proof that the Urisk Light of Hope has come.” Molly’s voice rang through the room, and the Urisk cheered again.
I reached for the stone, but Gavin pulled me back.
“Don’t touch it.” His soft command ran through the room, quietening the crowd.
“She’ll be needin’ t’ know where we’re headed. Might be best t’ be lettin’ her see.” Molly’s eyes warmed with compassion.
“Not yet.” Gavin’s tone threaded with steel. “She’s dreamt of this, but her mind is protecting her. It’ll be hard enough when the time comes.” His cryptic words seemed to mean something to Rune, but Molly frowned.
“What’ll ye be on about?” she asked.
“He’ll be knowin, Nayshell, but she won’t be.” Rune’s feathers ruffled. “And that’ll be changin’ things. I’ll be agreein’ with the Prince. The lass ought not t’ touch that stone.”
Molly’s eyes narrowed. “Show us what she’s been seein’.”
Gavin shook his head. “Her dreams are too strong.”
Offended, Molly growled. “That’ll be for us t’ be decidin’, now wouldn’ it, Prince?”
Gavin glared as his eyes blanked.
Molly glared right back. “I’m afraid I’ll be instistin’.”
Gavin’s frustration burned through me, as he clenched his jaw.
“So be it,” he finally bit. His eyes blanked again, and the room hissed with a collective gasp.
Rena reached for Tark, as she blanched. “Good Lord,” she whispered.
Weylin’s fingers wrapped around my upper arm as if to pull me back from something. A rumble ran throu
gh the room as the Urisk snarled. Fear bolted through me at the sight of glowing eyes, sharp, gray teeth, and plumed black feathers.
Until today, Gavin had refused to share my dreams with anyone. Now he let them fly with a wild abandon.
“Enough,” I muttered, tugging on Gavin’s shirt.
He shook his head no, and pulled me to his chest, his arms locking around me. I watched the Urisk take in the dream, their collective expression one of dread, horror, and then raw determination. The memory must have ended because the Urisk’s shoulders slumped, their eyes dimmed as they locked on me.
Gavin’s expression, so miserable and hollow, chilled me to the bone.
“Right. Well then.” Molly closed her eyes as if she needed a minute to collect her thoughts. “We’ve been knowin’ where this cave’ll be for centuries. Although, we’d not been seein’ ...” she cleared her throat. “Pay it no mind, me clan. The Urisk’ll not be placin’ stock in dreams that’ll be changin’ with the wind.”
She turned to the Alfar. From all the nodding taking place around me, I gathered she’d decided to speak to them in the only way I couldn’t hear.
The cavern came to life as Urisks rushed about. Molly tipped her head toward Rune, her eyes flat and dull. He touched his forehead to hers before kissing her cheek. She took a deep breath and then hurried away.
The crowd dispersed, leaving only Rune and the Alfar.
“Prince, we’d be needin’ t’ head out first thing in the morn.”
Gavin kept his eyes on the sculpture and nodded that he’d heard.
“This is the place?” I looked at Rune, ignoring the thread of Gavin’s panic that suddenly twisted through me.
“Aye,” Rune agreed. “This’ll be the place of the beginnin’, now wouldn’ it?”
My mind latched onto a part of the Urisk’s prophecy. “... She will lead the lost back to the beginning, leading them to the path to redemption. ...”
Two large statues guarded an entrance to a cave. A light appeared within the cavern, the darkness fighting its power. The light flickered as if guiding something through a tunnel, ending at a well, which held bright blue flames at its base.
“You think this cave leads back to the beginning?” I asked, not even sure the question made sense.
Rune shook his head. “Nay, Lass. This place’d be where creation was formed. ‘Tis the place it all started.” He pointed to the strange creatures with four faces, wings, and cloven hooves. “See them sculptures? Well, they’d be sent to guard what needs guardin’, now wouldn’ they?”
I kept quiet, trying to piece his words together, so they made sense. Gavin ran his hand down my arm and laced his fingers with mine. “What Rune means is all three races speak of these creatures’ existence. Humans know of them as Cherubim, but the Alfar and Urisk call them Cerberus. They protect things not of this world.”
I looked at the plain cave with fresh eyes. “So, this is the place that is going to help us smother the flames and seal the abyss?”
“Aye.” Rune bared his teeth. “And then we’d be huntin’ down that Mia and puttin’ her head on a stick.”
I shuddered at Rune’s ruthlessness.
“Now, if you’ll be excusin’ me. Lots to do before we leave.” He patted my back, grunted at Gavin, and then walked away.
“Elias,” Gavin practically barked. “You and Elaine go with the scouting party. We’ll meet up tomorrow or the next day, depending on how long it takes us to get out of the mountain. Everyone else, strengthen and pack. We leave at dawn.”
“Make sure she’s wearing Ester’s underwear,” Weylin grumbled.
“It’s a camisole and leggings,” I grumbled back.
He smirked as he walked away.
Hot food waited on the stone table as we entered our room. Gavin shoveled down his dinner, stood, mumbled about needing to see to a few things and then left. “Try and get some sleep” was all he said as he walked out the door.
Mind racing and emotionally numb, I finished my meal in silence. So much had happened in such a short time. What if everyone was wrong and I was meant to touch the sculpture? What if it was my mind’s way of helping me remember?
“My lady?” Rena came from the threshold.
I motioned for her to come in, almost afraid to ask. “Has something changed?”
“No. I wanted to make sure you were all right. You’ve been through quite a lot since we’ve been here. First meeting the Urisk, then visiting Molly’s cave, and now this.”
I tried to smile. “What did Gavin share that has the Urisk scrambling and you here sitting on my bed trying to act like nothing’s wrong?”
Rena sighed. “I’ve already vowed in the Ancient Language not to discuss it.”
Surprised, I turned to her. “When?”
“Before I came to you. Molly’s council called the Alfar into their meeting. We made an oath not to speak of it ever again. By nightfall, every Urisk will have done the same.”
“But why?” I asked, slightly horrified. “Don’t you think that’s overkill?”
“Not at all. This is too important. When the time comes, you’ll have a decision to make. You must not be swayed by something that may never come to pass.”
I nudged her shoulder. “Tell me one thing.”
Rena grew cautious. “Depends on what it is.”
“In this vision, were you with me?”
Rena flinched. “No, my lady. I was not.”
“Was Gavin?” Dread washed over me as Rena schooled her expression.
“I can’t answer that.” Her eyes searched mine. “Why do you ask?”
My heart jumped into my throat. Gavin nor Rena would never willingly leave me. Was that why Gavin didn’t want me to know what I’d dreamt? Had I foreseen their deaths?
Rena’s eyes met mine. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop. I never said that Gavin wasn’t with you, only that I couldn’t answer your question. Please don’t assume the worst, my lady.”
I closed my eyes. “He’s been so distant lately.”
She patted my leg. “The Prince is worried. We have no idea if the Dokkalfar are back in the kingdom or how bad things are in Kailmeyra. And so far, everything you’ve dreamt has come to pass.”
Shocked, I faced her. “I didn’t know that.”
“Rena, Tark’s waiting.” Our eyes flew to Gavin leaning against the threshold of the door.
Rena hopped off the bed. “I’ll see you later,” she mumbled as she made her way out of the room.
Gavin looked down the corridor, watching Rena walk away. He sighed and pulled the rope, rolling the slate over the cavern’s entrance. The torchlight flickered across his hard features. Even though we stood in the same room, I felt like we were miles apart.
He took a deep breath and walked toward me. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he took off his boots before shucking his shirt and throwing it on the floor.
I watched his every move, noting he still hadn’t looked at me. “Why didn’t you tell me you were worried?”
His jaw clenched. “Rena shouldn’t have said anything.” He rested his elbows on his legs and looked at his feet.
I shifted behind him on the bed. My hands slid around his shoulders, moving forward until they rested over his heart. I leaned down, kissing his neck.
“I’m not the only one who has been through a lot the past few days,” I whispered, holding him closer, wishing I could ease the turmoil churning through both of us.
Gavin leaned back and placed his large palm over both my hands. Resting his lips on the spot above my amulet, he took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
I rubbed his shoulders. “I know.”
Turning, he wrapped his arms around me. He laid back, taking me with him.
The silence in the room grew heavy as I watched him stare at the ceiling. We kept still, him listening to my thoughts while I felt his emotional reaction curl like smoke around my heart. I took a slow, deep breath, trying to quiet my mind.
“I’m tired
of not knowing,” I finally whispered.
“I’m afraid you’ll know soon enough.” He looked at me, desperation darkened his eyes. His hand dipped under my shirt. “We’ve been through this. I know in my heart that vision is something I’m not supposed to reveal. And honestly, I’m sick of thinking about it. Right now, I want nothing between us. Not your vision, or our responsibility, or what tomorrow may bring. Tonight, I need for it to the two of us. Only us. Two halves of this ridiculous whole our destiny has called us to be.”
His expression matched the emotions aching through me, and I closed my eyes and sighed.
“All right. No thinking about prophecies, or murals, or black elves.”
“Thank you.” He pulled me close, rolling me to my back, his hand filling the space between my hips as his emotions started seeping back in. “I’m reminded of the last thing Edna said to me. Every moment we have is a gift. We need to use them wisely.” His voice was sad to the point of breaking.
“I love you,” I whispered, not knowing what else to say.
“As I you, my Light.” Gavin's lips met mine in a gentle, poignant embrace. “As I you.”
Chapter 16
The River
“You ready?” Gavin took my hand and led me through a smaller cavern. Urisks crowded in before us with more following behind. We’d been traveling through tunnels that connected vast caverns for well over two days.
“Where are we?” Endless rock walls lined the narrow path.
Gavin glanced back. “We’re still headed north. Rune wants to travel through the tunnels as far as we can before we go above ground.”
The Heart of the Ancients Page 16