Runes and Relics

by Kay L. Ling

  “Franklin did,” Ben said.

  “Franklin be gone now, playin’ messenger,” Tina Ann said.

  “You came the rest of the way alone? Is anyone with you?”

  “Some of NE3’s clan be with us, but they be stayin’ a ways off.”

  Tyla looked around. The other carts had arrived, and everyone was getting out. “Is it possible to get closer to the barrier?”

  Tina Ann shook her head. “Our maraku stop. Won’t go no more.”

  “Ya can walk, I s’pose, but it be harder and harder,” Ben said. “You females talk, I be goin’ to see Lant.”

  Tyla said, “I suppose we’re farther from the barrier than the first team.”

  Tina Ann nodded. “We made it ter the hill with them trees.” She turned and pointed. The hill had three scraggly trees on top, and it was a fair distance away. They’d never get near it now. The repelling force was too strong.

  Lant and Ben appeared a moment later with shovels. “Ben and I will dig the pit, but Joneff has the alamaria on his cart, and he needs to drive it closer to the barrier.”

  “That might not be possible. Tina Ann says their Maraku wouldn’t go any farther. Maybe ours won’t either.”

  Lant thought a moment. “We could put alamaria in sacks and drag it, but then we’d be too exhausted to dig the pit.”

  “Ask the others to help,” Tyla said. “The alamaria needs to be as close to the barrier as possible.”

  “Gem users can’t be wearing themselves out dragging sacks and digging pits. We need to move the cart closer, and those of us without gem powers will dig.”

  Tina Ann said, “I be diggin’ if I find a shovel.”

  She went off and came back a moment later with a shovel and two gnome drivers, both carrying picks and shovels. One said, “Joneff will follow with the cart. If he can.”

  The group set out, and Tyla heard Tina Ann telling them about her last trip here.

  Tyla went to find Joneff. He was already up on the driver’s box, ready to go, but the maraku wanted no part of it. Joneff shouted at the beast and then began striking it with a wooden rod. The maraku bellowed in terror at this unaccustomed abuse and refused to move.

  “Stop it!” Tyla cried, waving her hands frantically to get his attention.

  He stopped and scowled at her. “I have to make it go.”

  “That’s not the way to do it!” Desperation had driven him to this; it wasn’t like him to mistreat an animal.

  Speaking in a soothing tone, she walked up to the maraku and faced it. She had an idea, but she needed the frightened animal to relax. The maraku responded well to her gentle tone and soon became less skittish.

  It might not be wise, but she couldn’t think of a better solution. She reached out and placed her hands on its head. Closing her eyes in concentration, she and felt the power flowing from her, a sacrifice she might soon regret. She kept going until she began to shake from the effort. It will have to be enough. She removed her hands, stepped back, and called up to Joneff, “Try again, but be gentle!”

  This time a snap of the reins and a single “Ya!” was all it took. Tyla sagged with relief as the cart started forward.

  A hand touched her shoulder and she gave a nervous start.

  “Did you do what I think you did?” Raenihel asked.

  She was trembling all over and felt cold despite the heat of the day. “Yes, and I hope I won’t be sorry later, but at the moment, the maraku needed the gem powers more than I did.”

  Chapter 36

  Tyla looked up from the open box of artifact gems on her lap to see an exhausted Lant, covered in a layer of red dirt. The cart had returned with Lant, Ben, Tina Ann, and the two drivers who had helped them dig the pit.

  Raenihel, who was sitting on the back of the cart beside her, offered Lant a canteen of water.

  “Thanks. I drank all of mine.” Lant took a long drink and handed it back. Sweat dripped from his forehead. “We made it half way to the hill with the trees and dug a narrow, deep pit. Even in a violent windstorm, the alamaria shouldn’t blow away.”

  “Good.” Tyla slid over to make room for him, and he groaned as he boosted himself up. She wanted to brush the dirt off him, but he hated to be fussed over, and it was pointless anyway with all the blowing dirt. He took her hand.

  Raenihel said, “While you were gone, I used the pendant to contact Elias, and once he and I were linked, a few of us tried the Focal Gem. It worked—he could read everyone’s thoughts.” Raenihel looked at Tyla and smiled nervously. “I think we’re as ready as we’ll ever be.”

  She put on a brave smile. “The quakes have stopped and it’s not too windy. Favorable conditions may not last long, so we should get started.”

  Lant said quietly, “Good luck is an empty phrase, but I don’t know what else to say.” When she tried to pull her hand away, he gave it a last squeeze, then let go. “We’ll be watching from a distance.”

  Tina Ann and Ben came up, looking dirtier and more disheveled than usual.

  “They be ready,” Tina Ann announced, jerking a thumb toward the group of gnomes that had gathered a short distance away.

  Ben said, “Hope it works.”

  Tina Ann gave him a reproachful look. “Lana an’ Elias came up with the plan. ‘Course it’ll work.”

  Novice gem users could ruin even the most brilliant plan, Tyla told herself worriedly, but she wisely kept that thought to herself.

  She joined the others and they started toward the alamaria pit. Her gem study team, all in their thirties, did their best to help the struggling elders and clan leaders. The group stopped frequently to catch their breath.

  By the time they neared the alamaria pit, the repelling force had become unbearably strong, renewing Tyla’s concerns about how the team would be able to concentrate. The energy field was like a giant hand trying to crush them.

  At the moment, the air was relatively clear, and as she looked across the invisible barrier she could see the broken memorial statue she had heard about. Enormous pieces of stone littered the ground. Too bad she hadn’t been able to see it before it was ruined. Further in the distance she spotted a group of gnomes, probably scouts from Aberell.

  The team reached the pit and sat down in a circle beside it, cross-legged, knees touching. Tyla distributed the gems, giving Bazzik the Focal Gem and Vegmir the rose-colored stone. Not only would the Focal Gem link everyone’s minds, it would combine all their gem powers.

  The first team had used the rose gem to blast the barrier with a beam of destructive energy. This time, the beam would convey disruptive gem powers.

  As the rose gem fueled itself with the team’s energy, they would be replacing their strength and stamina with other native gems. They had tried this a number of times during practice sessions, but it would be different now that they were facing the Amulet’s energy field and contending with the repelling force. If their initial attempt to create the anomalous reaction failed, they could try again, but they would need time to recover first.

  Tyla looked around the circle. The group looked apprehensive, but they met her eyes and nodded to let her know they were ready.

  “Begin,” she said aloud.

  She opened her mind and submerged herself in the shared link.

  The others’ thoughts were an indistinct undercurrent, and after so many practice sessions, she no longer found it distracting. When there was something important to share, she and her teammates would project their thoughts. Otherwise, they would do their best not to distract one another.

  She could feel the rose gem drawing energy from the group, and she knew the others felt it too. Even though teammates were using gems to replenish everyone’s physical stores of energy, it didn’t seem to be helping as much as it should. The rose gem was drawing energy faster than those gems could replace it.

  She tried not to worry. During practice, when they had created an anomalous reaction and converted energy to mass, they were working with a small amount of energy, and
it didn’t take long. Even so, they were always exhausted at the end. What they were about to do involved magnitudes more energy.

  Bazzik led the way in their attempt to turn the rose gem’s energy into a concentrated beam. As they had practiced, they all imagined a stream of pink light and then tried to compress it into a thin, brilliant beam.

  The mental juggling act of remaining connected to everyone, compressing the energy, and directing the beam at the barrier was difficult, but the beam was small and intense now, so the first part of the plan had been successful.

  It was time for the next step.

  Now we add our Fair Lands gems, she thought to the group.

  Those who were part of her gem study group each had a piece of turquoise, and she had aventurine. She drew its power and pictured its energy merging with the pink beam.

  The energy drain had been noticeable before, and she had been concerned, but now her concern shifted to alarm. Energy was pouring from her like blood gushing from a wound. She felt her strength ebbing away and tried not to panic. The others must be feeling it too, but she was in direct contact with the aventurine, and that amplified her own sensations.

  Willing herself to relax, she took several deep breaths, but still felt light-headed and dizzy. Fear clawed at her. Each of them had a job to do, and hers was to draw aventurine. She needed to stay calm and not distract the group.

  The energy drain continued, relentless and terrifying. If she passed out, she’d be no good to anyone. She had to stop using the aventurine, if only for a minute or two.

  As soon as she stopped drawing aventurine, the energy outflow lessened, and she became aware of her surroundings.

  The repelling force was much weaker! The energy drain had been so intense she hadn’t noticed. Her heart nearly burst with elation. She opened her eyes and looked toward the barrier.

  Sheets of rain were falling! Energy had turned to matter—water—as planned!

  But it was too soon to rejoice. If she could still feel the repelling force, the transformation wasn’t complete. And when all of the energy turned to water, that would only be the end of the first stage. The true measure of their success would come later. If the humans were right, the reaction would wear off, the rain would stop, and the Amulet would reboot and work as originally designed: gnomes could pass through, but anything foreign would be repelled.

  She closed her eyes, reentering the group consciousness. It’s working! Part of the energy barrier has turned into water. We need to keep going!

  The others responded:

  That’s wonderful, but I’m so exhausted.

  Me too—feeling very weak.

  I’m getting dizzy.

  This is much harder than at practice.

  How much longer will it take?

  She began drawing aventurine again. The overwhelming energy drain resumed. I don’t know, but we have to keep going. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could last. Transferring her reservoir of strength to the maraku had definitely cost her.

  No, Tyla. You’re all too tired to complete the reaction. Stop now and recover or you won’t be able to make a second attempt before nightfall.

  She had forgotten about Elias. It was a relief to hear from him, even though she didn’t like his advice. She hated the thought of quitting, but he was right. She couldn’t keep this up much longer. None of them could. Why didn’t all the energy convert? Are we too far from the barrier? Or do we need more practice?

  I’m not certain, but since the reaction wasn’t powerful enough to convert all the energy, the problem could lie with your Fair Lands gems. Wait for Franklin to arrive before you try again.

  She was so weak she could barely sit upright. Stop now, she told the others, and severed the mental link. So close. But close wasn’t good enough. She looked at the barrier where rain continued to fall. At least they had weakened the repelling force, which was quite an accomplishment in itself.

  After a brief rest, they wrapped the gems in a cloth and stood. Tyla offered Raenihel her arm for support, even though she was in no better shape than he was. Neither of them spoke. They were too tired and discouraged.

  They hadn’t gone far before Lant, Ben, and Tina Ann left their observation point and came to meet them.

  “I didn’t want to stop,” she said, embarrassed. “But if we’d kept going much longer, I think I would have passed out.”

  “You did the best you could. All of you. You can try again,” Lant said.

  Ben and Tina Ann took hold of Raenihel, leaving Tyla free to walk with Lant, and despite the fact that Raenihel had been none too happy to find the breghlin here at the barrier zone, he didn’t object to their presence now.

  “Once you started using the Fair Lands gems, the energy drain grew stronger,” Raenihel said to Tyla.

  “It was frustrating to stop when I knew it was working—the energy was converting—but we had to,” she said, tears stinging her eyes.

  Lant said, “I’m sure you’ll succeed next time.”

  Ben said, “Me an’ Tina Ann be rested now. Want us ter move the alamaria?”

  She hadn’t thought about it, but now that the repelling force was weaker, they should be able to move the alamaria closer to the barrier. “That might help,” she said.

  “Good thing we come. We be useful after all,” Tina Ann joked.

  Ben said, “The repellin’ force be as weak now as when we was here with the first team. So at least you fix that.”

  They were nearing the carts when Tyla felt the force strengthen. The horrible, crushing pressure was building again. Her heart sank.

  Tina Ann groaned. “Now you done it, Ben. Never shoulda said they fix it.”

  Tyla turned apprehensively toward the barrier. The rain had stopped.

  No! No! No!

  The anomalous reaction had already worn off, and the energy field was strengthening at an alarming rate.

  They were no better off than before.

  Everyone needed food and rest. Ben and Tina Ann hauled crates of food from the cart, filled buckets of water, and started dinner preparations.

  Since most of the clan leaders weren’t used to having breghlin around, they watched Ben and Tina Ann uneasily. Now and then Tina Ann turned and smiled at them, giving them a good view of her discolored, jagged teeth.

  Tyla had to admit her opinion of breghlin had undergone a radical change in the last few months. Yes, they were ill mannered and crude, but they weren’t the unprincipled savages she’d supposed. Tina Ann and Ben had turned out to be real friends. She felt guilty for letting them wait on everyone, and she wished she could help, but she had to rest.

  She tried holding gems to boost her strength, but they weren’t helping much.

  “I’m feeling better, Tyla. Are you?”

  Tyla looked up to see Omara, a female teammate who had an annoying habit of mothering her. Omara was slender, with brown hair that always escaped her hair ties. Stray tendrils clung to her cheeks and forehead.

  “I’m still really weak,” Tyla admitted.

  “Raenihel told me what you did to the maraku. Great idea, but you needed the strength yourself.”

  Tyla tried not to sound defensive. “I had to. Elias said the alamaria should be as close to the barrier as possible.” It had been an impulsive act, and Tyla was seldom impulsive. Maybe Lana was rubbing off on her. “I’ll be fine by the time we’re ready to try again,” Tyla promised.

  “You did a great job today. I’m not criticizing you. I’m just concerned.”

  Well, it felt like criticism.

  When Omara left, Tyla rested her head on drawn-up knees, closed her eyes, and shut out the world. She couldn’t afford to be negative and let her attitude influence the others.

  Someone tapped her on the shoulder and she looked up. Tina Ann handed her a plate of bread, cheese, and dried fruit.

  “Thanks. Where’s your food?”

  Tina Ann reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of jerky. “Brontskeller,” she anno
unced as she sat down and began to gnaw on it. “Lant be comin’ in a minute with sumthin’ to drink.”

  Tyla ate a piece of bread and cheese, which was a lot more appealing than moat monster jerky.

  Tina Ann talked while she chewed. “Raenihel say Franklin be comin’ with Lana’s gems.”

  “Yes. I hope they make a difference.” She could feel Tina Ann’s eyes boring into her.

  “I know you be tired an’ feelin’ down, but ya gotta be brave.” Tina Ann jerked a thumb toward a group of gnomes sitting close by. “They say you be a good leader, an’ I know they be dependin’ on ya.” She rummaged through her pockets. “Almos’ forgot. Brought ya sumthin’. Hold out yer hand.”

  Tyla hesitated.

  “It ern’t alive so it can’t bite ya.”

  Tyla smiled. With Tina Ann, you never knew what to expect. It could be something worse than a filkin. She held out her hand, almost afraid to look.

  Gemstones!

  “Comin’ here, me an’ Ben stop at the river where I foun’ these before. Elias say they be benny fishul gems, so I figger ya might need ‘em.”

  Tyla stared at the gems.

  “This one be pretty good,” Tina Ann said, indicating a white rock with a vein of green. I ferget what it be called, but it be fer good health. The red ones be even better. They be in fialazza. Give ’em a try.”

  Tyla drew their energy. The effect was swift and intense, better than drinking fialazza, calming her and sharpening her senses. She picked up the gems she had been using earlier for strength, and this time, she could feel their energy. After only a few minutes she felt revitalized. She opened her eyes, finding it hard to believe she could feel this much better so quickly.

  “They help?” Tina Ann asked.

  Tyla stood and spun around once, almost losing her balance from the repelling force.

  “Guess so!” Tina Ann said, laughing.

  “I can’t thank you enough, Tina Ann. I’m going to pass these around. They’ll help everyone.”

  Lant came over with cups of water. He gave Tyla a quizzical look. “Feeling better?”

  “Much!” She took a cup and drained it in a few gulps. “Back in a minute.”