The Crystal Keepers, An Overseers Novel

by Mary Coffin

As they rode north, Loki was awed by the size of the Great Mountains, which grew taller and more spiked as they got closer. She was excited about being in the proximity of the mountains that she had admired for so many years; it helped her forget about her aches and pains from a second day on horseback. As they approached the base of the foothills, they turned west and followed a stream for a distance until they came upon the entrance to a canyon. The canyon walls were so sheer it looked like someone took a knife, cut a jagged line down through the hills, and pushed the earth aside to make room for the shallow stream that flowed down its center. A smattering of trees grew next to the water.

  Gwynn stopped her horse and looked around the area as if she were making sure no one was watching.

  Loki asked, “Are we lost?”

  “No,” offered Gwynn. “I’m just checking.”

  Gwynn turned her horse into the canyon and followed the wall on the west side of the stream. They navigated their way around a curve in the wall that protruded toward the stream. Loki wondered where she and her mother were going when she noticed it. Just after the curve, at the foot of the canyon wall, was a cottage, built out of reddish-brown stones the same color as its surroundings. Constructed of irregular shapes, it almost passed as a natural rock formation. The cottage fit so snuggly against the canyon wall that Loki was certain the canyon was the back wall of the cottage itself. She glanced back toward where they came from but couldn’t see the mouth of the canyon. The curve in the wall perfectly hid the cottage from that direction.

  Beyond the house was scrub brush and small, spindly trees with elongated leaves. Gwynn dismounted and motioned for Loki to do the same. Then she led her horse by the reins and walked behind the trees. Loki followed and was surprised when she noticed another horse was hidden by the vegetation. It was nibbling on feed in a bin and looked up when they entered the natural alcove created by the receding canyon wall and the trees. Gwynn and Loki left their horses and approached the house. Before they reached the door, a voice spoke.

  “Do ya’ know what the wind is saying?”

  They turned to see a woman approaching from up the canyon. Her skin was so dark, Loki couldn’t tell if it was from being in the sun all the time or if she was naturally that way. She looked to be about the same age as her mother, maybe a little older since her brown hair was beginning to gray. The woman eyed them curiously, with dark brown eyes, as the corners of her mouth turned up in a way that made Loki think she was playing with them. She strolled slowly, fiddling with a piece of grass in her hands as if she were on a casual walk.

  Gwynn replied. “Listen with your heart and you will find the way.”

  Loki thought it was an odd way to greet someone.

  “Yer mistakes can also lead ya’ to the truth.” The woman was only a few steps away now.

  “You have only to ask and the answer will be given.”

  Gwynn and the woman embraced for a long moment. When they separated, and took in the sight of each other, the woman gazed at Gwynn’s face and brushed the bruised cheek with the back of her hand. Gwynn closed her eyes and gave a slight shake of her head, letting the woman know she didn’t want to talk about it.

  The woman caught her signal and simply smiled. “How long has it been, seester?”

  Loki detected an accent in the woman’s throaty voice and noticed the way she drew out certain vowels.

  Gwynn tipped her head back. “Too long, sister.”

  The woman glanced at Loki. “An’, you must be Loki.”

  Loki’s brow furrowed slightly as her perplexed eyes darted back and forth from one to the other. “You’re...sisters?”

  “Not blood sisters, Loki. Sisters in spirit.” Then motioning to the woman, Gwynn said, “This is Adele.”

  “Hi,” Loki said.

  “Come inside,” motioned Adele, “I have some food an’ drink for ya.”

  They walked inside and Loki noticed the cottage was indeed small. There was one main room, which was set up for cooking with a wood stove, a table and chairs, and a couple of wooden cupboards. Openings in the rock wall let some natural light inside. On the other side of the main room were a couple of rustic wooden chairs, shelves with some books and trinkets, a small table with a lantern and a couple mats on the floor. Loki looked toward the back of the house and noticed a couple openings that indicated there were other rooms.

  They sat at the table and Adele served them each a bowl of stew with bread. Then she poured liquid into two glasses and set them in front of Gwynn and Loki. Gwynn took a spoonful of the tasty stew. She broke off a chunk of bread and dipped it in the broth and ate it.

  “This is delicious. Thank you, Adele.”

  Adele sat in a chair opposite Gwynn. “It’s the least I can do. It’s good to see you, my friend.”

  With a mouth full of food, Gwynn smiled and nodded.

  Loki was busy eating but observed the exchange between Adele and her mother. She obscurely glanced at Adele and noticed her studying Gwynn.

  She be a friendly, miss. She be helpin’.

  This was the first time Loki had heard the ‘tweenlings in a couple of days.

  “You have been through much, all these years, have ya’ not?”

  Gwynn looked at Adele and scoffed. “Haven’t we all?”

  Adele nodded. “Of course.” She spread her hands and looked around the cottage. “But, I’m sensing that my simple life has not had th’ same challenges that yers has.”

  Gwynn set her spoon down. “I’m sure it has been different, yes. But I haven’t had to wield a sword in a long time, have you?”

  Adele touched her finger to her chin and looked up toward the ceiling. “Ah, let me think.” Then she gazed at Gwynn with a playful expression. “Maybe twice since ya’ left us, many years ago.”

  Loki was in the middle of sipping on the liquid, which tasted like ginger and honey. The ginger tickled her throat at the same time that Adele’s comment shocked her and she swallowed wrong, which threw her into a coughing fit.

  Gwynn looked at her. “Are you okay?”

  After a moment of hacking, Loki caught her breath and nodded.

  Adele smiled at her and raised an eyebrow. “That ginger has a surprising tickle.” Then she glanced at Gwynn again. “It has been quiet for some time but I sense that we will soon be drawing our swords again, you ‘n I.”

  Swords?!? Loki set her cup down and stared at her mother in amazement. Gwynn’s eyes shifted slightly toward Loki and then her focus returned to her bowl of stew. Loki noticed the corners of her mother’s mouth turn up slightly, as though she enjoyed taunting her daughter with this air of mystery. Then Gwynn cleared her throat.

  Loki held her tongue and listened. Apparently there was a different side to her mother that she never knew about but she had difficulty envisioning Gwynn with a sword, let alone using one. Her perception of her mother was that she was quiet and somewhat timid to have put up with her father’s behavior all these years. It had only been since Elwyn left to join the Brethren that Loki noticed her mother becoming more assertive. In fact, as she thought about it, her boldness surfaced when Loki’s father pressured Loki to join the Brethren and to learn black magic. Loki couldn’t recall a time when her mother told her father to ‘back off’ when he pressured Elwyn.

  Gwynn asked about conflicts with the polarities, between the darkness and the light.

  “The pendulum always swings back an’ forth,” Adele said, “an’ it always will.” Gwynn nodded. “But it is said that both are seeking the upper hand through sources beneath us.” Adele glanced down at the floor and then back at Gwynn.

  It took a moment for Gwynn to grasp her meaning. Then her eyes widened and her hand covered her mouth.

  Loki knew, by the look on her mother’s face, that it was something serious. They spoke in partial sentences, as if to purposely hide the true meaning of the conversation. It frustrated Loki because it made her wonder more about what
wasn’t being said. She took another bite of stew and told herself to be patient. Perhaps she would have a moment alone with her mother to ask about it.

  It be okay, miss. The old one’s a comin’.

  Loki furrowed her brow, not understanding the ‘tweenlings’ message.

  Gwynn glanced at her through the corner of her eye. Then she looked at Adele and quietly said, “I never thought I would live to see it happen again.”

  “I wish it weren’t so,” Adele commented. “There are two others, and…” Adele stopped and let her eyes shift briefly to Loki.

  Even though Loki was looking down at the bowl of stew, she felt Adele’s attention on her, as though Adele’s gaze were a physical object that brushed softly across her other senses. Loki continued eating and pretended she wasn’t aware that they were referring to her. She was good at quietly blending into the background after all the years of practice she had from being around her father.

  Adele continued. “It will be good to have new blood. He’ll be here tomorrow.”

  Gwynn stared at Adele, as she considered the full meaning of her words, and nodded. “I know.”

  A weighty silence fell over the table like a heavy blanket of snow silences the forest. Adele and Gwynn seemed lost in their own thoughts.

  Then Gwynn smiled. “Perhaps I should brush up on my skills, eh?”

  “Mos’ likely.” Adele slapped her hand to the table and stood, as though it was understood that the conversation should go no further. “Ya’ both must be exhausted. Let me show ya’ to yer room. We have an early start in the mornin’. I’ll tend to the horses.”

  Adele led them down the hall to one of the rooms, which had two padded mats on the floor and a privacy blanket over its opening. It looked like Loki and her mother were sharing this room. Loki glanced behind to the other room. It appeared to be just as small. She saw a mat on the floor and a bureau. On top were a brush and some other personal items so she took it to be Adele’s room.

  Loki was pleased to share the space with her mother. Perhaps she could ask about their strange and secretive conversation. Adele handed them some extra blankets for the night and excused herself to take care of the horses.

  As they prepared for bed, Loki noticed that her mother was lost in thought. In fact, she hadn’t said a word since her conversation with Adele ended.

  Loki kept her voice low. “Mama?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can you really use a sword?”

  Gwynn’s mouth formed into a smirk and she nodded. “There was a time that I could, yes. We’ll see if I still can.”

  “What did Adele mean when she said you ‘left us’ many years ago? As far as I can see, it’s only Adele who lives here.”

  Her mother didn’t respond at first and Loki wondered if she would say anything at all. Gwynn stared at the floor as she slowly removed her riding boots and rubbed her feet.

  “And she said there are two others. Who was she talking about?”

  Gwynn still said nothing.

  “And, who is coming tomorrow? What’s going on, mother?”

  Finally, she looked at Loki with tired eyes and gave a faint smile. “I’m tired. Get some rest. We’re going to need it.” Then she lay down on her mattress, pulled a blanket over her body and went to sleep.

  SEVEN

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