The Heartstone

by Lisa Finnegan

  The tangy sauce mixed with the vegetables and marinated meat was delicious. They tried every topping and filling combination. Some were so hot they made her face red; some started sweet but turned hot. The edge of her hunger sated Ariana looked around.

  Everyone was talking, the women gossiping and men engrossed in discussion. But the sexes weren’t isolated. She saw the careless intimacy of clasped hands, the wife’s shoulder leaning into her husband’s arm possessive arm around the back of a chair. She longed for Jarod. She looked down at her food. The table blurred. Geneth looked at her. “Are you alright?” Ariana tried to smile. “It’s nothing. I was just sad for a moment.”

  Fianna was leaning toward Caroc whispering in his ear. He looked annoyed and drew away. Realizing Ariana had seen he grimaced and drank some ale. Fianna pouted away and turned back to her food. When everyone was full the servants cleared the tables. Tables and chairs were pushed to one side. Musicians came out and the dancing began. Two lines formed women in one, men in the other. The music began. The women swayed forward three steps then away from the men. The men then pranced forward and back. The couples met in the center and twirled. The dance grew intricate, pairs leaping high off the ground and swirling in a circle. Ariana and Geneth watched. Laughing couples twirled past. Ariana’s feet tapped.

  Suddenly hands grabbed them, sweeping them into the laughing crowd. Lorena whirled past. Ariana was held in Tareg’s arms. Geneth danced with one of her uncles. Ariana figured out the steps. The music and dancing chased away her melancholy. Fleetingly she wondered how Geneth was doing. Here everything was loud and boisterous, far from the contemplative life Geneth was used to.

  Geneth whizzed by laughing. Ariana found herself dancing opposite Caroc. The ale and the dancing had mellowed him. He smiled at her. He had deep blue eyes. She thought it unfair that he had such a perfect face.

  “Are you enjoying the dancing?” He asked.

  “Yes, I love it.” Ariana said.

  “Good.” He led her over to the table filled with jugs of wine, ale and fresh water. “So fair one, where are you from? You didn’t just happen to come this way. We’re remote from the rest of the world.”

  Ariana murmured agreement into her cup.

  “What brings you here?”

  “I’m a traveler. Geneth found me by chance and we became companions. She wanted to find her family. I came along.”

  “You mentioned Heulwen. Why?”

  “I was curious.” Ariana said through suddenly dry lips.

  “How did you hear of it?”

  “I heard it mentioned, “He looked at her blue eyes intent, she stammered, “I… in a story so I wanted to see it myself. I mean you people no harm.”

  “Very well,” he still looked doubtful. “It is my duty as first of the Ebonray to challenge visitors and protect the herd. I mean no disrespect.”

  “I understand.”

  “Old Tareg is so overjoyed to find his kinswoman he wouldn’t notice if you were a three headed jagga here to defile the sacred herd.” He smiled tightly. Ariana smiled back, warily.

  “Whence did you come?”

  “I come from a small kingdom in the east.”

  “Ah...no wonder you’re quiet, a rebel?”

  Ariana stayed quiet.

  “Don’t worry. The Black Demon has no friends here.”

  She looked surprised. He scoffed at her naiveté. “We’re isolated here not dead. Our bloodlines are much prized; we weed our herds and trade with outlanders. Rumors have reached my riders on their travels. That is why we are so cautious. Plus there are always horse thieves. But we can handle them.” He gestured to his sword .

  “There have been disturbing signs and portents. The sages are studying the matter. I want to trust you Lady Ariana. But be warned the sages are returning soon. They will know if you lie.”

  He put down his cup, nodded to her and went back to the dancing. Ariana wasn’t thirsty anymore. The torchlight flickered on the dancers and laughing people, the party showed no sign of stopping. Ariana looked for Geneth. She was deep in conversation, Ariana decided not to interrupt her. She made her way through the crowd to Tareg and Lorena and said good night. She needed to get away and think.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Why do the clans live here?” Ariana asked when Lorena came the next morning to give them a tour of the Hall of the Silveray.

  “Well child,” Lorena said, “Once the horse clans were simple farmers, scratching a living from the river bank. Blight struck the land. The crops withered. Many starved. Our elders prayed to the gods but there was no answer. The people decided to search for a new life. We traveled for many seasons. Until we reached the great desert, we started across the sands and many died.

  But on the seventh day of our journey the god Heul, took pity on us. From the red sands and the swirling wind he created the first horses. Llyr a great golden stallion and his mares the silver lead mare Sua, Lia the white foam, Niv the nightmare, Du seeds and grasses twined in her mane, Ru fire bright and Sha rainbow mare. The mares were all pregnant.

  He said, “Do not be afraid. Go with your herd until you find my land. Fiery mountains guard it, live happily and prosper. One thing only I ask, guard my sacred gate until the Seeker comes.” She stopped and looked at them.

  “We became partners to the sacred mares. We took their emblems for our own. Each clan has a duty to the tribe. The Sunray rules the clans. The Silveray are weavers and silversmiths. The Banray are lore masters and know the laws. The Ebonray are the guards of the Sunlord and some say skilled in magic. The Donnray heal. The Fireray are scouts. The Fannray are traders and care for the herds.”

  Ariana wanted to ask about the gate but they’d reached the weaving room. Lorena opened the door. Inside bright threads tumbled in rainbow profusion. Nimble fingered girls untangled and wound the thread onto bobbins. The youngest girls brought the bobbins to the weavers. Lorena walked through pointing out an unevenly wound bobbin, testing the tension on a thread, giving a gentle tip to a young weaver. She walked back to Geneth and Ariana standing by the door.

  “Only members of the Silveray are allowed the weave our patterns. The only outlander ever permitted to weave with the women of the Silveray was Genna. She was very skilled.” Lorena smiled at the memory. Ariana thought she must have liked Geneth’s mother.

  “Why…” Geneth paused, “Why couldn’t they marry?”

  “Your father was betrothed to another. It was arranged when they were children. She ended up marrying above her station. Genna didn’t want to be a wife in the second degree. Tareth wanted only her.” Lorena gazed at the wall, “Neither one would listen to reason. It’s impossible for a bondwoman and a member of the high rays to marry in the first degree. But Tareg was determined. I didn’t realize how much.”

  She blinked, “I expect we all would do things different if we knew the future.” She gestured for Geneth, “Dear child come sit here. I will teach you your birthright.” Geneth obediently sat down and watched her grandmother carefully. Ariana stood watching them both. Lorena gazed at the fair head bent over in concentration with a tender look.

  Over the next weeks Ariana and Geneth settled into a routine. In the mornings Geneth went to the weaving room. Ariana, who seemed destined to tangle anything she touched, helped with the cooking. In the afternoons they joined the clan in drills and horsemanship. Everyone rode. The best riders were the men and women who made up the scouts and guards. They were one with their mounts and flowed like wind over the sands.

  Ariana and Geneth were placed with the children to learn the basics. In the evenings there was music and dancing or storytelling. Everyone was busy preparing for the yearly ritual of the herds’ return from their summer pastures for the winter. Paddocks and pens were repaired. The Donnray was busy preparing medications ready to tabulate the new foals and yearlings.

  In the middle of the second week a Fireray scout barreled into the village. His sorrel mare was wet with sweat and foam flecked her ch
est. Before she’d stopped moving the scout leapt off, “The Sages come.”

  Every one gathered in the common chattering. Ariana and Geneth walked with Caroc. Ariana looked over at Caroc. He was grinned and winked. Caroc had appointed himself their teacher. Ariana thought Caroc’s reason had something to do with avoiding a certain married blonde and keeping an eye on her. She didn’t mind. She trusted him. She hoped he didn’t get too angry once he found out she hadn’t revealed the whole truth.

  Anticipation rippled through the crowd as a cloud of dust was sighted in the distance. Two riders of each Ray encircled the Sages. Feathered horsehair headdresses obscured their faces. Their hair was braided with feathers and beads. Their multicolored robes were painted and jingled with small bells as they walked. They were not mounted but they moved swiftly in the midst of their honor guard. There were seven of them, corresponding to the different rays. Each sage carried a staff. The staff showed which ray the sage represented. Each one wore all the clan colors in their robe. The colors shimmered before Ariana as they passed. As they reached the center of common, the sages to the palace raised their staffs. The people bowed their heads in homage.

  The tallest sage stepped forward raising his golden staff and pushing his headdress back. His hair was white and his face seamed from years of sun and wind. His fierce gaze swept the crowd.

  “I Vaeryn the Golden have tidings for the clans. The signs are strong danger comes. For the first time strangers are among us, one a lost child, the other more than she seems.”

  “I knew it. She’s hiding something. Seize her.” Maeve hissed. Vaeryn lifted a hand for silence. Maeve subsided. Ariana looked away from the fury in her face. Piercing golden eyes unerringly found her in the crowd. Caroc gave her hand an encouraging squeeze and stepped back. Ariana walked forward and looked up. Vaeryn’s face was stern but kind. The other sages were still hooded.

  “We mean you no harm. The time has come to tell the truth. Danger comes. To protect the clans we must know all.” He said.

  “I didn’t just happen to meet Geneth. She volunteered to come with me. I’ve come here to open Heulwen.” She said.

  Women screamed. Men cursed. Lyon drew his sword; the scouts whipped out their bows. Maeve started forward knife drawn. Vaeryn lifted his staff.

  “Silence.”

  “I hope you’ll help me. But either way I’ve got to do it.”

  “It is forbidden to open the Gate. Why should we disobey our laws?” Vaeryn said.

  “I’m the Stonebearer. I have to get to Galancarrig.”

  “She lies,” yelled Maeve her face twisted, “There’s no such thing as the Heartstone. She’s a witch.”

  “Witch, witch.” The crowd yelled.

  Ariana looked around. Some people screamed for blood, faces disfigured with fear. These were people she knew. Here and there she saw pockets in the crowd as her friends argued. Above her on the steps Maeve looked down at the chaos with a satisfied smile. Ariana took out the Heartstone dropped the shields and held it high overhead. It blazed like a star. The yelling stopped. The crowd drew back. Geneth stepped forward and stood beside her. Instantly Caroc stepped up, unsheathing his blade. Tareg, Lorena and their sons stood in front of her.

  “Children we must stay calm. She is no witch.” Vaeryn said.

  “Witch… Stranger.” came from a few people n the back.

  “Child please shield the Stone again. No harm shall come to you here. I have said it.” He looked around at the crowd. “It shall be so. She is under the protection of the sages.”

  There were a few mutterings from people Ariana couldn’t see and didn’t know. But she’d bet they were friends of Maeve. “Go home my children.” Vaeryn said. No one moved.

  He turned to Ariana. “Your coming was foretold in the stars. But it is no light matter to open the Sun Gate. You must prove worthy. It has never opened in living memory. We must study to open it properly without destroying you or the clans. Are you willing to undergo our test, child?”

  “Yes.” Ariana said.

  “Very well, come with us.” Vaeryn said. She followed him. Geneth looked scared and Lorena sympathetic. Caroc glared at her. “I’m sorry,” she mouthed at him. He turned away.

  They walked past the silent clans. People drew away as she passed averting their eyes and making an avert sign with their hands. Others pushed their children behind them. People she’d thought were friends. Was she so different now than a few minutes ago? She lifted her chin. Vaeryn’s back blurred. She blinked back angry tears. They wouldn’t see her cry.

  They walked down a winding path she’d never noticed climbing past the paddocks until they reached a plain hall with no emblems or flags marking it. It was carved from the mountain so skillfully she’d never have seen it without the sages. This was the true center of the Horse clans’ society. Hidden away without pomp this was where all the decisions were made.

  Inside was simple and immaculate. Seven rooms radiated out from a circular plaza open to the sky. The sun blazed down onto a gold floor covered with symbols. Vaeryn led her to the center of the plaza. She stood facing the sages. They stood in the shade. She couldn’t see them clearly, their outlines blurred as the sun beat down on her unprotected head.

  “May Lyw test the truth of your answers,” Vaeryn said. “How did you come here?”

  “I came to return the Heartstone to the Web of Stars. I opened the first gate Leudwen. Now I need to open Heulwen to get to Galancarrig before Rhysin finds me.” She said.

  “How did you come from Leudwen here?” Vaeryn’s voice was neutral. She hoped he believed her.

  “We came through a gray place that was always night. Hunters with red and white dogs chased us; we crossed the river, came through a wall of mist and ended up here.” She said.

  “How did you get the Stone? He said.

  “It was my mother’s.” She said.

  “That is all?” Vaeryn asked.

  “That’s it.” She said.

  She felt a force rising from the sages and merging with the sunlight. Sweat boiled out from her skin. She cried out. The sun pierced her with fiery needles. It searched for lies. It burned through her mind and heart. Then it was over.

  “What say you?” Vaeryn turned to the other sages.

  “She speaks truth.” The sages answered as one. Vaeryn gestured; she stumbled into the blessed shade. He handed her a glass brimming with cold water. She gulped it down, hardly hearing his words.

  “You speak truth. If you lied the sage fire would have boiled your blood and consumed you.”

  “What?” Ariana said.

  “You were in mortal danger passing through Leudwen. The Heartstone was the reason you survived the journey through the twilight lands. Anyone else would have wandered forever or been ripped to pieces by the guardians.”

  “Oh God.” Ariana said.

  “Heulwen, the sun gate, is even more dangerous. If anything throws off the ritual it will kill you and lock the gate forever. How long was your journey when you opened the first gate?” Vaeryn said.

  “About three days.” She said.

  “Normally it takes three weeks to travel from the edge of the Serenvale to the clan lands. The distance from Heulwen to Galancarrig is double that as the crow flies. The Gate shortens the journey but the price is high. Are you willing?” Vaeryn said. She nodded.

  It took two days for Vaeryn to find the proper records. For those two days Ariana waited in seclusion in the hall of the Silveray. Geneth stayed loyally by her side. Caroc came to see her on the second day. He stood poised on the edge of the chamber. Geneth rose and crossed to him with hands outstretched in welcome.

  “Hello little one, how fare you today?” He took her hands and she led him into the room. He looked warily at Ariana.

  “I just came to see how you fared.” He said.

  “Caroc, I’m really sorry.” Ariana walked over to him. “I hope you can forgive me. Still friends?” She stretched out her hand. Caroc hesitated then took it.r />
  “Still friends.” He said with a smile.

  Ariana breathed again relieved. “Thank you. I don’t want to lose you.”

  “Well don’t keep things from me again.”

  “OK, I won’t.” She said.

  “People are still upset.” He said. “But they’ll calm down. That you survived the sage’s questions has eased the minds of many. I would suggest you stay here until the Sages call for you. Farewell.” He turned to go.

  “No stay,” said Geneth. Lorene came in with a tray of drinks. “Yes, Ser Caroc please stay with us.” She said.

  “Very well, for a few minutes.” He said. Soon the tension had eased and they were all laughing together. Then the conversation turned to Ariana’s situation. Caroc took a drink and fiddled with it for a minute. Coming to some decision he looked up at Ariana.

  “There are clans who wish you ill. Beware Lyon’s lady and her friends. Be careful what you say, Lyon will hear no wrong in her.” He said.

  “She seems to hate me but I don’t know why.” Ariana said.

  “Maeve was betrothed to Tareth.” Lorena said quietly.

  “I’d forgotten that.” Caroc said.

  “Maeve is proud. When he spurned her for a servant she vowed revenge. She looks at you as the person who brought back her shame.” Lorena said.

  “No wonder she dislikes me.” Ariana said, “I’ll stay out of her way.”

  A messenger came in, a young dark haired child wide eyed at seeing “the witch” close up. “The sages need you.” He said.

  She hurried to the Sage’s Hall. Vaeryn was waiting. He waved her into his chamber. Smooth oak floors with yellow walls it was filled with books and scrolls and a telescope dominated the far corner. It was larger than it appeared from the outside. The only furniture was s small desk and chair and a shuttered bed alcove. Vaeryn coughed. She stopped gawking and listened to what he was saying.