The Crystal Keepers, An Overseers Novel
Page 36
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Loki was ready to go but felt hesitant to leave. She sat on the edge of her bed and watched Waysu, who was assigned to the group that was staying inside the mountain to guard every possible access from inside. Their task was to protect the crystal caves as well as the Overseers’ quarters, so it was a large group. Since there was limited space to fight with swords in the tunnels, the use of daggers was more logical.
Waysu tightened her belt, which held her dagger. Loki wondered whether the idea of hand-to-hand combat bothered Waysu but she doubted it. Waysu appeared calm, much more so than Loki would if she were assigned that role.
The dream Loki had the previous night left her with a dreaded feeling. Her attempts at interpreting its meaning were unsuccessful and neither she nor Waysu made mention of it. She stood, slung a bag over her shoulder and walked to the door. Before walking out, she stopped and turned to face Waysu.
Waysu met her eyes and looked like she might say something. Finally, she bowed her head slightly. “May the wind guide your way, sister.”
Loki felt tongue tied. One part of her wanted to hug Waysu goodbye. Another part searched for something more personal to say. She failed at acting on either of those choices so she simply bowed her head in return and walked out of their room.
The tunnel was packed with a throng of people going in both directions, solemn looks on their faces as they went about their business. Silas’s group was meeting in the crystal cave and planned to use the crevice to get outside. There wasn’t enough time to go the long way around.
As Loki passed her mother’s room, she caught a glimpse of her inside. She continued on but then decided she couldn’t leave without saying something; she’d be quick. Turning back, she worked her way between the wall and the oncoming mass of people. At her mother’s room, she poked her head through the opening and noticed that Gwynn wasn’t alone. Gwynn stood with her arms crossed over her chest, a look of agitation on her face, and Silas was doing the talking.
Loki stood in the doorway and didn’t go any farther out of concern that they might be arguing. Before she could back out into the tunnel full of people, she heard part of the conversation.
“Well, some things never change. You’re as stubborn now as you were back then,” spouted Silas.
Gwynn held her stance but said nothing.
Silas shook his head, seeing he was having no effect on her. “Does Morten know?”
“There’s nothing to know, Silas.” Gwynn knew that he could tell she was lying but she had to stick to her story. Otherwise, if she told him what she was thinking, he would either stop her or involve himself and she didn’t want him to do either.
Silas stepped closer. “You always were a bad liar, Gwynn. Things are about to get tough and we must stay focused on protecting the crystal and the fairies.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted the way it sounded.
Gwynn’s face reddened. “I’m well aware of our priorities! I have no intention of shirking that responsibility.”
“I didn’t mean it that way. I just...” He reached out with his hand, as though he might touch her cheek, but then he pulled back and dropped his arm. He sighed in frustration. “I can see that you’re not going to budge.”
Loki stepped back to get out of view of the doorway before she was spotted. Her foot caught on the heel of an Overseer that had just passed by the opening and she stumbled. She caught herself before falling but not before causing enough commotion that Gwynn and Silas turned. Her eyes met her mother’s gaze just as the mass of bodies pushed her forward.
She pushed her way through the people as fast as she could to put distance between her and her mother’s room, fighting back tears along the way. Loki didn’t know whether to be angry or worried but she couldn’t shake the feeling that her mother was up to something; something that had Silas concerned and that she wasn’t telling Morten.
Loki navigated the tunnels and descended the stairs to get to the lower caves, doing her best to return her attention to the priority at hand. She was surprised to see Morten in the crystal cave. In the state she was in, she couldn’t bear to meet his piercing gaze, which looked right through a person to see the truth of what was going on inside. Overhearing Morten’s conversation, it was apparent that he planned to remain inside the cave to help protect the crystal.
Loki quickly found her group and waited with the others for Silas. She sat on the ground, leaned against a boulder, and wished she could just stay there and blend into the background. Fairies were everywhere, some flying around observing the activity, others resting in small groups on the walls and ceiling.
Loki closed her eyes and did her best to relax and to quit thinking. All of a sudden, Morten’s face appeared before her mind’s eye and she heard, “All things happen for a reason. Accept that and let it go.” His words were so clear; she assumed he was standing right next to her when he said it. Her eyes popped open and she glanced around.
She saw him still on the other side of the cave talking with some Overseers, his back to her. She watched him closely. After a moment, he turned and grinned directly at her. Loki made an effort to grin back and Morten returned to the conversation.
About ten fairies flew past but one broke away and buzzed her. It hovered, mid-air, about six inches in front of her face. She watched as it came closer and moved lower. While flapping its wings to stay airborne, it reached out with one tiny hand and placed it over her heart. She felt warmth spread throughout her chest and the emotions she was trying to fight back came to the surface. Tears trickled down her face.
Silas stepped into the cave. “Everyone ready?”
As if it understood Loki had to leave, the fairy flew away and Loki wiped the tears with her sleeve.
TWENTY EIGHT
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Tannis, Guardians of Light
En Route to the Great Mountains
The Guardians rode without speaking as they left the Northland, heading south to the Great Mountains. The clop, clop of horse hooves on hard ground broke the eerie silence. Tannis and Noya certainly weren’t speaking and the tension between them was so thick that Katarina and Simon didn’t want to get caught in the middle.
When Tannis discovered that two more lakes had existed at the time the journal was written, one in the Northland and one in the Great Mountains, he approached Markus. Of course he would have preferred to speak to Markus alone but it was impossible to find him without Noya by his side. Markus barely contained his excitement at the news. Noya, on the other hand, was clearly guarded. Tannis had asked Markus for permission to go on the quest alone but Markus insisted that Noya and two other Guardians accompany him. “It will speed up the search,” he explained.
Noya seemed overly insistent that she stay with Markus and, while Tannis found her unwillingness to leave him a bit strange, he secretly hoped Markus would give in to her. Unfortunately, Markus brushed off her concerns with a toss of his hand and told her she was going. Before leaving, she encouraged Markus to hold back on his enthusiasm, which irritated Tannis. For once, he wished she could be supportive and give him credit for his innovative thinking. It’s not like she came up with the idea!
Tannis, Noya, Katarina and Simon had searched above the old lake bed in the Northland but the terrain didn’t match the description in the journal. It didn’t take Noya long to express her views on the matter.
“This is pointless. Let’s move on.”
Her attitude angered Tannis but he kept his mouth closed for two reasons. First, it was obvious there was no crystal crevice in the Northland. Secondly, if he confronted Noya, there was a good chance he would lose face in front of the other Guardians. After all, she was the Guardians’ second-in-command. So he kept his cool and didn’t talk.
Heading south, they passed an occasional farmer, a merchant and a few travelers along the road who respectfully moved aside to let them pass. Their white tunics and gold sash
es announced not only that they were Guardians but that they were on a quest.
“Halt!” shouted Katarina. She realized that Noya and Tannis were both preoccupied and hadn’t been paying attention. Katarina pointed up in the sky, above the tree line to their left, to a group of black birds that were flying overhead.
“Ebonravens.”
They stopped and looked in that direction, just as two horses with riders broke out of the trees, riding at full speed. They were using an old trail that had been replaced by the road on which the Guardians currently stood. The riders headed northeast in such haste that their black capes tossed and whipped behind them like flags in the wind.
“Brethren of Darkness,” muttered Simon.
The Guardians hadn’t had time to find cover and knew they were out in plain sight.
“Do you think they saw us?” asked Noya.
“Hard to say,” offered Simon.
The Brethren didn’t show signs of slowing down.
Once they were out of sight, Noya craned her head toward Tannis. With a shrewd look in her eyes, she asked, “Where do you think they’re going, Tannis?”
“How should I know?” He gazed ahead but as soon as he asked that question, he remembered the dream he had when he thought that Elwyn took something from him. Between that and his past history with her, Tannis suddenly felt very uncomfortable. He thought back over everything and recalled the feeling he had that someone was watching when he studied the old maps. Darn it all!!
Noya studied his face and noticed the change in his expression. “You gullible twit! It’s your sister, isn’t it?!?” She wanted nothing more than to yank Tannis off his horse and pummel him into the ground but she knew this wasn’t the time. She glanced back in the direction where they lost sight of the Brethren. “They know!” She pondered the significance of this realization and turned her horse to face Simon and Katarina.
She nodded her head toward the old trail. “You two, stop them. More than likely they’re headed to the old lake bed where we already looked. It won’t take them long to discover there is nothing there. My guess is they’ll be joining us at the site in the Great Mountains as well.” She glared back at Tannis. “Who knows, maybe others are already there waiting for us.” Turning back to Simon and Katarina, she added, “Join us as soon as you can. And, let’s just hope they’re not rallying to attack our post.”
While Noya gave orders to Simon and Katarina, Tannis’s horse grew restless. Perhaps it sensed what he was about to do. He let the horse show its impatience. Tannis could barely contain his own at the thought that there could be Brethren on the other side of the Great Mountains at this moment, retrieving the crystal. He couldn’t stand it any longer and spurred his horse into an all out run. He knew Noya wouldn’t yell at him. If the Brethren hadn’t seen them, she wouldn’t compromise their location with yelling.
He spurred the horse at full speed and, after some time, risked a look behind to see if Noya was on his tail. There was no one. He was alone.
TWENTY NINE
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Elwyn, Brethren of Darkness
En Route to the Great Mountains
Elwyn had kept pace with Bortundo and the others, although she was starting to tire. She didn’t mind letting it show since they were nearing the Great Mountains and it would be her excuse to lag behind.
They rode hard all night long, only stopping a couple of times to rest and water their horses. Each time, she excused herself to find a bush, also using that valuable time to tune into Tannis’s latest activity. She gave Bortundo updates and, when he questioned how she knew without them participating in the circle, she explained that it was because of what Draevil taught her along with her close psychic connection with her brother. Bortundo didn’t seem totally convinced but he accepted her answer.
By the time they stopped for the first break, Bortundo’s horse had developed a limp. He didn’t hesitate to let it go and transferred his gear to one of the spare horses. By the second stop, another horse was injured and the last spare horse was taken.
The five of them had paused on the western end of the Great Mountains to discuss the plan before parting ways. Bortundo had instructed two of his men to ride quickly to the Northland and explore the area above the dried up lake bed. He wanted them to return as quickly as possible, with or without the crystal, and rejoin him and Carlos. Elwyn used this last stop to seek out another bush, ignoring Bortundo rolling his eyes at having to take time for this petty woman’s business.
This time she took enough time to hear Bortundo yelling for her to get moving. “We don’t have time for this nonsense!”
Elwyn stayed behind the bush and yelled back. “I’m sick. Go ahead. I’ll catch up.”
She heard Bortundo and Carlos spur their horses onward. What she didn’t hear was Bortundo muttering, “Suits me just fine.”
Elwyn waited until they were out of sight to return to her horse. She mounted and rode just fast enough to hear Bortundo and Carlos up ahead but slow enough to stay out of sight.
She watched as they rode to the vicinity pointed out on the map. There was a depression in the earth at the base of the hillside. Grasses and other vegetation had grown in but it was easy to imagine a lake having filled that area at one time. Some boulders sat in the basin which must have been buried by the water, unless they rolled down off the mountain from up above. Seeing the rocky cliff made the last option seem more than feasible.
Elwyn dismounted and guided her horse to an area behind thick brush, expecting it wouldn’t easily be seen by anyone else who might be in the vicinity. She tethered it and felt for the pouch that hung from her belt inside her cape to be certain it was still there. She knew it was; she had felt for it often since they left the desert but she wanted that last reassurance that all was in place.
Slowly, she navigated her way closer to the lake bed, using trees and shrubs to conceal her presence. She watched as Bortundo and Carlos rode back and forth, in front of the cliffs, picking out the best place to climb upward. Bortundo pointed to an area and they both dismounted. The horses were clearly exhausted from the hard ride but after a few moments, their breathing slowed and they began grazing on some of the moisture-filled vegetation.
The climbing was tough, both of them searching carefully for each hand and foot hold. They had climbed several feet above the ground when, as if a giant finger had reached out and flicked them off the face of the cliff, they both fell. They stood, brushed themselves off, and massaged a few sore spots. Then they returned their attention to the cliff and were about to climb, once again, when they heard a rider approaching.
Not knowing who it was, Bortundo and Carlos quickly grabbed their horses and ran for cover.
Elwyn knew who it was so she simply stayed in hiding and waited.
THIRTY
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Loki
Great Mountains
Silas had led them out through the crevice lined with crystals. Loki questioned how they would fit through the narrow space. When it was her turn, though, she approached it and was carried outside by the force before she could even think about it. It was like stepping into a river of energy and, once in it, the river carried her through without any effort on her part.
From the cliff, they had a good view and Silas assigned positions. Some Overseers stayed on the mountain, like himself, and some climbed down the rock face and morphed with a tree down below. Loki took a position on the edge of the old lake bed, where she had a clear line of sight to the cliff containing the crystal crevice.
She had waited patiently for a few hours, occasionally nibbling on a snack from her bag or taking a sip of water. Without warning, she heard riders approach. They stopped and examined the cliff, then rode up and down its length as they studied it. There were two men, both wore black capes. A few blackbirds perched high on the cliff above them. Loki knew they were members of the Brethren of Darkness.
She would continue this, if necessary, until they decided to leave or try something else. She watched as they brushed themselves off and prepared to attempt it again, when another rider approached. The two Brethren quickly grabbed the reins of their horses and ran for cover.
Loki waited patiently and watched as the other rider came into view. It was Tannis. He looked around as though he expected to find someone else at this location. After seeing no one, his attention went to the cliff. For a fleeting moment, Loki wished she could warn him but she knew that if she became attached to the outcome, her presence would be compromised. Just as quickly, she cleared her head and watched.
THIRTY ONE
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Tannis
Great Mountains
After he realized that Noya wasn’t in pursuit, Tannis had slowed his horse as he thought about what he had just done. Why should she follow me? She probably wants me dead anyway. This saves her the effort...just send me off to my grave, why don’t you? His hands made gestures while he had the silent conversation with himself.
On the other hand, he knew he had to try to find the crystal. He imagined himself riding into the Northland and giving it to Markus, while Noya stood off to the side embarrassed that she hadn’t offered more support.
He had been so engrossed in his inner dialogue that he didn’t realize how close he was to the old lake bed. He needed to pay attention, especially since there might be Brethren around. Tannis kept his eyes peeled as he entered the area, looking in all directions as he moved along. He navigated his horse slowly to the gradual depression that he knew was the old lake. Once more, he glanced in all directions and saw absolutely no one so he directed his attention to the cliff, wondering how he could get up to where he thought the crevice might be located.
He remained on his horse, since he had a better view from that height, and walked back and forth along the cliff until he noted a couple of places that looked navigable. Then he directed the horse to the far side of the lake, near the trees, to get a better view of those spots.
He hadn’t even heard the other horses until they were upon him. Two Brethren casually brought their horses beside him, one on each side.
Carlos leaned forward to look past Tannis at Bortundo. “Hey, Bortundo. Do you think he’s eyeing the same spot we just tried?”
Bortundo eyed the cliff. “I think you’re right, Carlos.”
Tannis swiftly pulled his dagger from his belt and lashed at Carlos, on his left. At the same time, he spurred his horse forward. He knew he’d cut the man but, how badly he injured him, he didn’t know. He tried to buy himself enough time to chant a spell and call upon the Empress of Light for protection. Then again, he had only gained enough distance to pull his sword and turn his horse, just in time to stop Bortundo’s sword from striking. Metal clanged and Tannis realized he was no match for Bortundo’s brute strength.
Tannis barely broke free of Bortundo and spurred his horse again, only to be met with Carlos’s sword. Carlos was bleeding and already losing strength. Tannis took another swipe at Carlos. His blade nearly struck the horse in the face and it reared on its hind legs, crying out in protest. Carlos tumbled to the ground.
Tannis kept the momentum of his swing going while he yanked his horse’s reins to turn and face Bortundo. There was more momentum this time but when the swords clashed, Tannis’s sword broke from his grip, tumbling hilt over blade, through the air. It came down, point first, and lodged in the ground.
What happened next was so bizarre that Tannis had to believe that someone else was in the vicinity. He jumped from his horse to retrieve his sword and caught a glimpse of Bortundo turning around for another pass. At the same time, Tannis noticed a strange fog engulfing the area, as though someone had dropped a gray blanket from the cloudless sky.
He grabbed the hilt of his sword and pulled, while he was running to fend off Bortundo. The blade didn’t budge; it was lodged solidly in the ground and Tannis was jerked backwards onto his back. He wondered if Bortundo had cast a spell to render him weaponless but just before he lost sight of Bortundo in the fog, he heard Bortundo’s horse bray and watched it rear on its hind legs, as though it had just sighted a snake at its hooves. Bortundo struggled to regain control.
The fog prevented sound from travelling, which created a creepy silence. Tannis couldn’t hear Bortundo’s horse anymore. He jumped to his feet and pulled on the hilt of his sword again. This time, it broke free.
Without warning, the flank of another horse appeared. Tannis prepared himself to strike its rider when a hand reached toward him. It held no weapon and he recognized the sleeve of the white tunic. He locked hands with wrists and was pulled onto the moving horse.
He kept his sword at the ready and noticed that Noya had her dagger in hand. She pulled on the reins to slow her horse, afraid they might collide with the Brethren, the cliff or a tree. Cautiously, they moved through the fog, relying totally on eyesight to alert them to danger since there was no sound. Tannis kept checking in all directions, even behind them, for surprises.
Noya had tried to memorize the layout of the land and hoped she recalled everyone’s position right before the fog closed in, so she prayed that she was taking the right course. She wanted to take them back in the direction from which they came.
Her horse was jittery, easily spooked by the unnatural silence. It jerked its head, as though it was aware of something or someone. Carlos suddenly appeared in the fog and as soon as he saw them, he swung his sword. Noya threw her dagger. Carlos dropped his sword and grabbed his hand, with the dagger lodged in the backside of it. His mouth opened wide as though he cried out in pain but the fog swallowed the noise before it could be heard by the others.
Noya kicked her horse and pointed it in the direction that she hoped would lead them out of the fog.
THIRTY TWO
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Elwyn
Great Mountains
Elwyn stayed out of sight and watched as her brother entered the old lake area. He scanned the vicinity, as if he expected to encounter someone. She had to give him credit for being cautious but it wasn’t going to be enough. He was about to be caught off guard, which was exactly the distraction she needed.
She watched as Bortundo and Carlos quietly mounted their horses and casually walked forward to block him on either side. She quickly rescinded the credit she gave Tannis when she saw how oblivious he was to their presence.
Once the action started, she calmly walked through the area and stood next to a tree, closer to the cliff. She was tempted to watch the skirmish but couldn’t waste the time. Reaching into the pouch that hung from her waist, she took a handful of the granular substance and called to the darkness to do its work. She tossed the clear, tiny cubes into the air and watched them form into mist that spread instantly. Using her hands, and her words, she coaxed it toward her to make certain the whole area was covered.
All sounds were blanketed. All was quiet; even the ebonravens perched above on the cliff. Elwyn looked around, sighed and rubbed her hands together, ready to get to the real task at hand. She had been practicing her new spell and was excited to use it to obtain the prize of all prizes. First, though, she wanted to get closer to the crystal crevice to be certain it would work, assuming she was in the right spot. Although, Tannis’s appearance made her more certain that she was in the correct area.
She picked the place where Bortundo and Carlos had begun to climb. All she needed to do was to stand outside the crevice and use her spell, which would deliver the crystal to her right through the opening. She smiled to herself. If Draevil kn
ew how she intended to gain possession of it, he would finally see her true value as a member of the order. In fact, he might even make her his new confidant. But why stop at that? Once she had the crystal, she wouldn’t need the Brethren anymore and wouldn’t have to waste her time trying to prove her worth to Draevil.
No. Once she had it in her hands, she had all the power she needed to take control. Control over what? Everything! Her heart pumped faster at the excitement. She told herself to calm down...first things first.
She rubbed her hands together and, step by step, began the climb. She had barely climbed a couple feet above the ground when she felt an abrupt push and fell off the rock face. Right away, she turned to see who had knocked her off. She looked around but didn’t see anyone and, as far as she could tell, the others hadn’t found their way out from under the fog. With furrowed brow, she scanned the area but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
She was turning her attention back to the cliff when something caught her eye and she looked toward the trees near the other edge of the lake bed. There was a strange play of light on one of the trees. She studied it, trying to determine whether it was the tree or whether it was an object in front of the tree. She squinted. There was no movement but it didn’t look like it belonged there. She took several steps forward to get a better look. It almost looked like two legs but with no upper body attached to them. Next to one leg appeared something lighter. Was she seeing someone’s skin?
Suddenly, there was a ruckus up on the cliff. The ebonravens squawked wildly and flew from the cliff, as though they were perturbed at being forced off of their perch. It startled Elwyn and she turned to look but didn’t see what had upset them. She turned back toward the trees and took a couple more steps and stopped. She no longer saw the shape. Odd. She let her eyes scan the area, checking for movement of any kind but there was none.
She returned to the cliff and decided that perhaps she needed a new plan. She wasn’t sure if it would work but maybe she could still draw the crystal out. She stood before the cliff and, with arms spread wide, began her chant. Nothing happened at first. All was silent and she waited.
The ground underneath her feet vibrated ever so slightly, at first. Then it grew stronger and louder. A boulder broke away from the cliff and crashed to the ground not two feet from her. Then another fell. And another.
Her chant was working but she hadn’t anticipated the cliff breaking away. A rock bounced off the face and shot past her head. She ducked just in time. It was apparent that her methods were fast becoming dangerous. If she continued, she might cave in the whole mountain. She needed the crystal in one piece.
Quickly she spoke another spell. A couple more boulders fell. She waited longer and soon all was quiet once again. She paced back and forth in front of the cliff, remembering all the spells she had been practicing. One of them had to work.
Then she got an idea. If she couldn’t safely draw the crystal out, perhaps she could reverse it and draw herself to it. She thought it over and got it straight in her head before she spoke.
Elwyn stopped pacing. She faced the cliff and chanted with all the power she could muster. She chanted as though her life depended on it. Then, in an instant, she disappeared.
THIRTY THREE
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Loki
Great Mountains
Loki may not have had close relations with her brother but that didn’t mean she wanted to watch him die at the hands of the Brethren. She watched pensively as he fought two of them. She was told to remain inconspicuous and not to intervene with either the Guardians or the Brethren unless they became a threat to the crystal, the fairies, or the Overseers. She knew she shouldn’t get involved since they were only fighting each other and weren’t approaching the cliff. She tried to stay out of it. She really did but when she saw Tannis’s sword fly through the air, she knew he was doomed. Maybe if she simply prevented them from having contact, maybe that would be all right.
Tannis ran toward his sword sticking in the ground. Loki, through the simple force of energy, placed her hands in the air, palms down, as though she were pressing on both sides of the hilt. Tannis grabbed it with such force that, when it didn’t give, his hands slipped off and he was flung onto his backside.
Next, Loki closed her palm, as though she held something inside, and then made a motion like tossing dice. Bortundo’s horse reared up onto its hind legs and cried out. It couldn’t see anything but it felt an invisible wave of energy that hit with a jolt, across its chest. Animals easily sense energy so it was a simple target.
In all her observations, there was one thing that Loki didn’t notice. As she involved herself in the Guardians’ and the Brethrens’ fight, her camouflage began to revert back to normal human colors and features. Only the upper half of her body was still morphed with the tree bark but her lower extremities had returned to normal.
She continued watch over the area and what she observed next was stunning. Elwyn stood next to a tree and tossed something into the air. Loki couldn’t see what it was but a heavy, thick fog developed instantly and concealed everyone, except Elwyn. Using her hands, Elwyn drew the fog closer to herself, ensuring the blanket covered the whole area. Next, she approached the cliff and started climbing.
It dawned on Loki that Elwyn was using Tannis, like a pawn, so she didn’t mind knocking her sister off the cliff. Elwyn landed hard on her butt and quickly looked in all directions, to see who or what had pushed her.
Loki knew that Elwyn suspected another presence in the area. Elwyn surveyed the fog covered area, obviously making sure no one had escaped her barrier. She started to turn back to the cliff when she did a double take…in Loki’s direction.
Loki felt uncomfortable with her sister’s gaze, even though Elwyn couldn’t see her. Then Elwyn squinted and Loki felt even more nervous. She held completely still because, even being fully camouflaged, movement would be seen. Elwyn took a step in Loki’s direction. Loki feared her cover had been blown. She lowered her eyes to check and saw that from the waist down, she was no longer camouflaged. Fortunately, she had on dark colored pants and boots, so they didn’t stand out too much. But then she saw that her left hand was no longer concealed and feared that her ivory white skin stood out vividly against the dark tree bark.
She realized right away that she shouldn’t have stepped in the middle of this fight or tried to help her brother. She cleared her head and tried to focus on the energy of the tree, to fully morph with it again. Elwyn took another step and the expression on her face told Loki she was trying hard to understand what her eyes were seeing. Loki feared it was too late to revert back to full disguise; her attention was divided and a wave of fear washed over her.
Elwyn started walking toward her. Loki didn’t want to fight her sister but realized that she might not have a choice, even though she worried that she would be no match for Elwyn. She didn’t budge from her spot. Her upper body still had camouflage and she hoped that it was in her favor. Without warning, the ebonravens, that had been resting high on the cliff, took flight and screeched loudly as though they were forced to leave their perch. Elwyn startled and turned to look. Loki instantly stuffed her hands into her pockets and skirted to the back side of the tree so that she was completely blocked from Elwyn’s view. By the time Elwyn turned back to resume her walk in Loki’s direction, Loki was out of sight.
Elwyn stopped. She stood in place, listening to the quiet that had settled over the area again. Her eyes shifted positions, checking for movement. After several long moments, she apparently decided that no one was there, except those that were trapped by her magic fog blanket.
Loki peered around the tree and saw Elwyn return to the cliff. She let out a long sigh, not realizing she had been holding her breath, and watched her sister. Elwyn spread her arms out and, after a few moments, Loki noticed several boulders break away from the cliff and fall to the ground. Elwyn
abruptly jumped aside to dodge one of them.
It appeared she was putting herself in danger, saving Loki the trouble. Though, after a moment, the earth became still again. Loki wondered what Elwyn was doing. All she could see was her backside so she watched intently.
In the next instant, her sister was gone! Loki blinked several times in disbelief and looked around, thinking she somehow missed Elwyn change position. She’d had a clear line of sight to Elwyn but now, there was no sign of her. Had her mind played a trick on her? How had Elwyn disappeared?!? Did Silas or another Overseer do something?
Loki noticed the fog was still in place but wasn’t able to determine whether anyone had gotten out on the other side. She wasn’t sure what to do, except that she needed to know where Elwyn went. Did she slip under the fog?
Loki spun her finger in the air, creating another vortex of swirling energy, and tossed it at the fog. The vortex grew as it travelled and began dissipating the magical mist. It took awhile before anyone appeared but then she saw the two Brethren. They stood back to back. The large, muscular man held his sword at the ready. The smaller man had one hand tucked under his arm, which was wrapped in a blood-stained cloth, and his uninjured hand held a dagger.
Once the mist fully disappeared, Loki saw no sign of Tannis or Elwyn. She kept an eye on the Brethren in case they decided to make another attempt at the cliff. They remained back to back for several more minutes, as if they expected to be attacked, and then they lowered their weapons. By the expressions on their faces, they looked dazed and bewildered.
They glanced in all directions. The big muscular guy massaged his head and looked like he was trying to rub the confusion away. They walked to where one of the horses had wandered. There was no sign of the other horse. They both mounted the skittish horse and headed in the direction from where they came.
THIRTY FOUR
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Crystal Cave
Inside the Great Mountains
Morten sat in the crystal cave and waited. He was content that all members of the Overseers were stationed at key positions inside and outside the Great Mountains...all, except Gwynn. He expected her to go off on her own to handle a matter that she hoped would end the Guardians’ and the Brethrens’ search for the crystal once and for all.
She didn’t tell him what she intended to do; he read it in her thoughts. He also knew that he had to let her do it. He knew, when someone felt as strongly about something as Gwynn did about destroying the journal, there was nothing he could say or do to change her mind. That would be as ridiculous as trying to simply talk the Guardians or Brethren out of their pursuit of power. No, Morten knew that the best teacher was experience and that Gwynn would never let it go unless and until she gave it her best effort to put an end to it. He would do what he could to protect her from a distance but the wisest choice was to let her go.
Morten was in the cave by himself; the fairies covered the walls and ceiling of the adjoining caves to extinguish all other light. He wanted the only light to come from the cave that held the primary crystal.
He gazed at it, admiring its rich, amber color and felt the strong, powerful vibrations emanating through the cool, earthen floor. Such an interesting anomaly, to have a stunningly beautiful crystal that gives life in its current environment; yet, the devastation that would be created by its removal was astounding. Ah, such is life, thought Morten, filled with irony and duality.
He sat in the silence and pondered some of life’s peculiarities while he patiently waited for events to unfold. He knew he would have company soon. There was no question as to which side would breach the crevice. He had been watching the various members of the Guardians and the Brethren and knew most of them would not succeed.
The Brethren approached everything with bullish tactics, using brute force and manipulation for personal gain. The Guardians had a similar approach but believed their actions were for the good of all people. Both were conspicuous in their strategies, which made it all the easier to predict their moves and stop them.
One member of the Brethren, however, had caught Morten’s attention. She was sly and crafty and, he suspected, had an agenda of her own. The darkness emanating from her was substantial. She played a dangerous game but he had to admit, if he were to bet on anyone entering the cave, it would be Elwyn.
Suddenly the cave shook. The earth groaned as though it were being pried open. Light flickered from the nearby caves, letting Morten know that the fairies took flight, their disjointed tune alerting him to their fear. Shards of crystals broke from the ceiling and walls and fell to the ground.
Morten jumped to his feet. He glanced at the golden crystal. It appeared unharmed but smaller crystals around it had cracked. Without warning, the big crystal flickered. He instantly realized what was happening. She’s drawing it out of the cave! Fairies flew in all directions, seeking an area of safety.
It had been years since he had need for this kind of magic but time couldn’t be wasted. He had to stop this now! Fortunately, the trembling stopped almost as fast as it had started. He took advantage of the moment and cited the chant, while jabbing his finger downward at the earth in front of him, as though he were demanding she stand before him that instant. Elwyn appeared, startled and perplexed.
At the sight of him suddenly appearing before her, she jumped back. “Wha...” Her wide eyes took in her surroundings but Morten didn’t give her time to appreciate her location. He grabbed her by the wrist and spun her around to face the crystal.
His voice quivered as he vehemently claimed, “You foolish girl! You don’t even know what it is you seek!” He took her hand and placed it on the crystal.
At first she let out a sigh of pleasure but very quickly, the darkness within her drew out the negative side to the crystal’s power. She squirmed as though she were in pain. Not only did visions appear in her mind but she felt the despair of the people, of the earth, of all life. Destruction and death were all around.
She moaned and tried to pull her hand free. “No. No. Stop!”
She saw herself in the vision, emaciated, starving, dying of thirst. The land was dying, barren, devoid of vegetation. There was an awful feeling in the pit of her gut and she realized that one common theme stood out in all that she saw. In all the death and destruction, there was no chance left that things would get better...hope was gone!
Morten forced her hand to stay on the crystal longer than he had ever held anyone’s hand to it before. He was surprised at his own anger that had surfaced. He suddenly felt indignant toward the Brethren and the Guardians for pursuing this beautiful, living quartz. Neither order was worthy of its sheer power and energy. They were all fools!
For a moment, he wished he had brought a tool that would abolish Elwyn of all memory, leave her with nothing to hang onto for the rest of her life. She would wander about aimlessly, not knowing who or where she was, having no way to integrate with the life around her.
Then Morten realized that he, too, had been holding the crystal longer than he should. No wonder he was experiencing these feelings; it was affecting him as well. He immediately released his hold and Elwyn dropped to her knees in total anguish. She stared at the ground, her breaths coming in short gasps. She appeared to be in shock.
Fairies swarmed in front of the crystal, blocking the small cavity from view. They watched Morten’s face as it registered understanding. He had always been unaffected by temptation to possess the crystal’s power for personal gain, but for the first time he understood that he wasn’t immune to the negative power that it also held. Suddenly he felt drained.
He waved to a second swarm of fairies near the entrance of the adjoining cave. They flew above Elwyn and hovered. Their colorful mosaic wings changed to a solid gold color. As they flapped in mid air, tiny gold specks began to fall from their wings onto Elwyn. After a moment, Elwyn’s eyes closed and she dropped to the floor, falling into a deep
sleep. While the gold specks continued to fall, still other fairies gathered the specks and wove them together into a string, which they swiftly wound around her ankles and hands.
Morten knew the fairies would take it from here. The flakes would cause her memory to be foggy for awhile but he wanted her to remember the devastating experience with the crystal, and hopefully alleviate any further desire to obtain it. After night fall, the fairies would carry Elwyn far away from here.
Even though he felt drained of energy, Morten pulled himself together. This wasn’t over yet. There was something else that required his immediate attention. He needed to check on Gwynn.
THIRTY FIVE
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Gwynn
Great Mountains
Gwynn sat on the north crest of the Great Mountains and wondered why Morten assigned her this position. True, she could look to the north and observe someone approaching from that direction, but other than that it was of no value. After all the training she had done, what use was it to put her far from any potential action, where she would more aptly help to defend the crystal, the fairies and the Overseers?
She sat in the solitude, trying to fight her urge to leave her post. She watched a hawk overhead, gracefully gaining altitude on the thermal air currents. Other than that, there was no sign of life.
Then her eyes glanced to the north. She had a clear line of sight to the Northland, the mountains that were home to the Guardians of Light...the current location of the journal...a personal journal that described, partially at best, the power of the crystal. The darn journal that started this whole mess with the Guardians and the Brethren, years ago! The stupid journal that she once obtained from her brother, a Guardian at the time, but then gave back to him before she realized what it was! She gave it back out of concern that she was interfering with his free will and wasn’t remaining impartial as an Overseer and, because, she knew he would come after her.
Oh, how she regretted that one simple action; an action she played over in her mind, time and time again. It was an action that she eventually used to convince herself that she wasn’t good enough to be an Overseer. Of course, Morten didn’t agree with her but he stood in no one’s way of their personal choices, knowing that they had to live with the consequences of their own actions. And, as he often said, experience was a better teacher than anything he could ever tell the members.
Gwynn had eventually convinced herself that she needed to leave the Overseers, even though she knew that once an Overseer, always an Overseer. She wanted some time to come to terms with herself. Then, one thing led to another, she met her husband, they got married and had children. After some time passed and her husband began playing with the dark forces, she wanted to leave but stayed true to her responsibilities. She had three children and couldn’t just walk away from that duty. She told herself to stay until her kids were of age, and then she would consider returning to the Overseers.
She thought she’d be able to last a couple more years, until Loki turned eighteen, but all it took was one strong slap from her drunken husband to change her view. It was the last straw! If he wanted to drive himself to ruin and subject himself to the mercy of the dark powers, then that was his choice...but it wasn’t hers. Then, in an instant, he had taken his life and that made her choices even more clear.
She was just thankful that Loki was the only child still at home. It could have turned out quite differently if the other two were still under her care. Now, having some hindsight into seeing how Loki was a prime candidate for the Overseers, she could appreciate the perfection in how it all turned out. Obviously, Morten had been watching Gwynn’s life and her children, and knew of Loki’s talents.
As Gwynn continued to review her life, she found it interesting how she, an Overseer, had three children. One chose the light, one chose the dark, and one chose the middle ground that lies between the other two. Knowing that life’s balance was dependent upon the play of opposites, she recognized that her children were a reflection of that same principle. How interesting.
Tannis and Elwyn were on their own, living out their choices. Loki chose the Overseers and was now under their guidance. Gwynn no longer felt responsible. For the first time, since she left the Overseers years ago, she wasn’t caring for another person. She did the best she could do with all of her experiences but now, basically, her main responsibility was the Overseers and their task of protecting the crystal and the fairies.
Suddenly, it all made sense why she was alone on that mountain, facing northward. Her choices were simple! That’s why Morten put her here. He knew what she wanted to do! In fact, by putting her in this spot, facing the Northland, away from all the action, he was basically holding the door open for her. Gwynn smiled. He always knows.
Gwynn jumped to her feet. She ran to the cave entrance and hastily navigated her way through the tunnels and down the stairs to Adele’s post, where she knew her horse would be waiting.
THIRTY SIX
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