She saw Master Dowynn then. He held an everflame in his hand and he walked towards the Happy Trader and right up to the door where the front of the line was hurling buckets of water. Master Dowynn stepped right into the doorway and into the flames, which immediately subsided.
Hurrahs rose behind him as he stepped tentatively into the building, waving his free hand before him. The smoke forced him back. He took a deep breath and waved a hand and that too dissipated. He stepped further into the building, followed by others.
Gaidel patted Two Elks on the chest. “I'm alright, Two Elks. Let me go.”
Two elks released her and Gaidel made a show of straightening her skirt and cloak, even though both were sodden and hung heavy from the persistent rain.
She had to get control of herself and help. She fought down the images of Lotte and Riff and focused on the task at hand.
“Magister Dagbar, if you could please find out what happened? Our friends were here. One was a sorcerer. Air and fire will not heed my call, I will help those I can,” Gaidel said.
“Patron Sister Bosand, please help me. Two Elks, help put out that fire.” Not waiting to see if anyone followed her orders, Gaidel stepped through the crowd and knelt next to the nearest person lying down.
He was an older man, his face and hands badly burned.
“I am Daughter Gaidel, of the Redwood druids. I'm going to heal you.”
The man simply stared for a moment and then gave a weak nod, never taking his pained eyes from hers.
Closing her eyes, Gaidel breathed in deeply and cleared her mind of thought. She began to sing. Reality faded from view as she entered the song, flowing along with it. She could feel the rain rhythmically slapping the sodden paving stones, the breathy air lilting around the piercing timbre of the flames, both rushing past her song, ignoring her. She found the man's song then, felt the discordant beat of his burns. She focused on them, sang along and then guided them back into the man's natural rhythm.
Gaidel could not see the man's burns lighten and turn a fresh rosy pink of new skin, see the relief come over his face as the pain subsided. She was still lost in the song and going deeper.
The idea came to her while she healed the man and the song flowed past her. It was risky, but she would take the chance.
If she sang against the flow of time. She could travel back and find out what happened to Riff and Lotte.
So she began. It felt like fighting upstream against a raging torrent. A current that pulled at her inner being. It would be so easy to give in and flow away with it like so many other druids had done, become lost in the song.
Gaidel focused. She did not have far to go. She sang along, following the flames as they danced back in time, new chords being born where the fires touched instead of being consumed.
She followed the fires back along the ceiling, the smoke flowing past her, returning to where the flames touched wood. She could see the blood and chaos below her. She saw the two cullers as they flowed backwards into the inn through the front doors, dwarven guards leaped up awkwardly from the floor to land in their wake. Back the two flowed, dwarves and humans leaping up from the floor to land before them as the cullers moved backwards towards the hearth.
Gaidel spotted Lotte then, his lifeless form laying next to Ast and Cuz. Gaidel knew all three were gone because their songs were no longer there.
She almost lost control then, slipped as she struggled into the past, against the flow of time. The song pulled at her, demanded she flow along with it. It was then she saw two men dragging Riff's burnt form towards the hearth.
She found Riff's weak song, thank the All Mother it was there, if barely. She gave in to the pull to time but followed Riff's song instead. She followed the two men dragging him away from the hearth, slapping at the flames that still burned him.
Gaidel pulled herself from the Dreamsong, fell to the ground and vomited violently.
“Daughter, are you alright?” It was the man she had just healed. He helped her to her feet. “Thank you, Revered Daughter, thank you.”
Gaidel steadied herself and got her feet under her. She half walked half stumbled past a number of the wounded. The man following along, offering her support.
“Here now, you need to sit down, me thinks.” The man tried to help her sit, but she shook him off and stumbled forward.
She landed next to an unmoving form, black and burnt. Gaidel knew she shouldn't have left them alone. She should have listened to her own inner voice and demanded they be allowed to come with them. If she had, the others….
“Not you, too,” Gaidel said. She tried to clear her mind, but saw Riff there in her thoughts, smirking at her. He held one of those ridiculous mushrooms between his fingers. She choked out a laugh between the sobs.
“Not you, too,” she said again and cleared her mind. She joined the song.
Gaidel didn't remember how long she sang or when she finally let go, unable to fight the pull of the Dreamsong any longer.
Rain patted her face and she blinked open her eyes. It was still dark and the smell of smoke and ash were overpowering. Her head rested on something warm and soft. It shifted beneath her and Riff's face appeared. His skin was smooth and pink and he gave her one of his smirks.
“All my sources are ruined,” he said.
“Don't leave me again,” Gaidel said before she knew what she was saying.
She had obviously caught him off guard with that. He stared at her, his face a mix of emotions. He finally answered with a genuine smile and a simple, “I won't.”
Patron Sister Bosand came into her vision, along with Rachard and Two Elks. Bosand was knelt next to her and rested a hand on Gaidel's shoulder.
“You risked much to save this young man, Sister. I almost lost you to the song.”
Gaidel forced herself to sit up. Her head swam and ached more than a little.
Smoke still issued from the Happy Trader, but the fire was out. Gaidel could see Mistress Jolyn standing near her inn, holding the blackened shingle.
“I helped those I could,” Daughter Bosand said. “Can anyone explain what happened here?”
“I can,” Riff said. He cleared his throat and struggled for a place to begin.
“The cullers were led to us by the Moneylender. Lotte tried to escape, but one of them came in through the back. They knew I was not Master Almoriz and I think their leader, Finngyr, thought my apprentice was going to be Ghile,” Riff said.
He stopped then and closed his eyes, but opened them quickly. Whatever he saw there he didn't want to dwell on.
“Lotte told them the Elves had Ghile. They killed Ast and Cuz. Then…then they killed Lotte.”
Riff's face darkened. “I knew I was next and wanted to take them with me. After I sent you the warning, I attacked them with fire.” Riff motioned towards the gutted remains of the Happy trader. “I'm afraid that's my fault.”
“I'm not really sure how I survived,” Riff said.
“You were dragged out by two men. The others in the Inn, they attacked the cullers. Dwarf and human alike. Even the guards tried to stop them, but they fought through and escaped,” Gaidel added.
Riff looked at her confused and she added, “I saw it in the Dreamsong.”
Magister Dagbar stepped up then with a number of the Emporium guard with him.
“The cullers made the gate and took to their griffons. They are gone. Do any of you know where they are headed?”
“They know Ghile is with the elves,” Gaidel said.
“Then he is lost and our mission failed,” Daughter Bosand said.
“Not so,” Magister Dagbar said. “We can still help him.”
“How do you propose to reach him when you cannot even enter the Deepwood without being attacked?” Daughter Bosand said.
Magister Dagbar got down on one knee and looked Gaidel in the eyes. His multi-colored eyes, one blue, the other stark white, locked onto hers. “I have a plan. We can save Ghile. If you'll trust me.”
&nbs
p; Gaidel heard Patron Sister Bosand's sniff. There was no doubt what she thought about trusting him. Gaidel looked away from Dagbar.
The others stared at her, waiting. It was to be her decision. Even Dagbar had addressed his request at her. Gaidel once again felt the weight of leadership settle on her shoulders.
She knew what she wanted to do and would listen to her heart this time. “We go with you, Magister Dagbar. We go now.”
Dagbar gave her a toothy smile and helped her to her feet. He clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “You are going to love the irony of my plan, let me tell you,”
“Sister Gaidel, I forbid you. You are coming with me,” Daughter Bosand said.
“No, Patron Sister, I am not,” Gaidel said.
Gaidel felt bad defying Patron Sister Bosand. A part of her wondered if she realized what she was doing. By defying Patron Sister Bosand, she was also defying Mother Brambles and the entire Order of Redwood Druids. But, as wrong as it felt in her head, it felt equally right in her heart.
She stared at the older druid and tried not to look defiant, but stern. “Ghile Stonechosen is my friend and I will not abandon him.”
“Nor I,” Riff said, stepping up next to her. “Even if he is a wool-headed sheepherder.”
“Nor I,” Two Elks said. He stepped up behind Gaidel and stared down at Daughter Bosand, daring her to disagree.
“Sounds like fun,” Shieldwarden Rachard said.
25
Islmur
Ghile took his time as he walked. He needed time to think and it was truly a beautiful day. Unlike the Deepwood, the sunlight filtered unhindered through the broad trees on the island. The light breeze brushing his skin still held the warmth of summer.
He didn't need to remind himself that he was in Allwyn. Though the islands were the same, the silvertrees and Alvar, which didn't exist in the Dreaming, were everywhere. There were so many Alvar on the island now, the sight of them no longer held him in awe. If he had to guess, he would say there were more of them than there were trees on the island.
They gathered in groups and sang in low whispers or walked alone in silence, their arms outstretched to soak in the sun's rays. They wore no clothes, which did still bother Ghile, though some decorated themselves with birds' nests or different types of flowering ivy.
The oddest thing about the Alvar was Ghile had not seen any of them eat. He saw a number of them drinking from the lake and some of the numerous streams that flowed throughout the grove. But, they couldn't just live on water could they? Maybe eating embarrassed them or it was something they only did in private?
That seemed the most likely explanation. The way some of them stared at him when he called to a fish and then killed it using his mind thrust, you would have thought he had taken his own head off and shaken it at them. At least the fish had caused a reaction. Most of the time they just ignored him.
That was another thing that was odd. The fish was the first thing he had eaten in a couple of days. He wasn't really hungry or thirsty even now, though he knew he should be. In fact, he had never felt better. He wasn't losing weight either, just the opposite.
Ghile ran his hands along his stomach and felt the hard muscles just underneath the skin. Another gift of the soulstones.
He wondered if Akira noticed his muscles and couldn't help but grin. What kind of thought was that? He looked about worried the Alvar would be staring at him. He chastised himself for being foolish, they couldn't read minds.
Ghile noticed a large number of them gathered a short distance away. They were circling a conifer tree and singing softly. Ghile turned and began walking in that direction.
It couldn't be the ritual, the Keeper said she would come for him when it was time. Plus, even though there were quite a few gathered together, it was nowhere near all of the Alvar on the island.
His thoughts returned to Akira. He thought about her a lot lately. He thought about the time he spent sitting next to her and looking out over the lake. He wanted to see her again, but had been hesitant to return to the Dreaming because of what his shadow had shown him.
He had come to terms with his feelings concerning Adon and his culling. Talking about them with Akira had really helped and it didn't make him cringe when he thought about Adon and what happened. He had been much younger then and it was only natural to have those feelings. He was no longer ashamed of them and it wasn't the reason he hesitated in returning. It was the fear of what else his shadow had to show him.
What other things had he done in his life that his shadow would make him face? The most recent that came to mind was leaving his friends back in the village. Friends, Ghile thought. Yes, he saw them as his friends: Riff, Daughter Gaidel, even Two Elks. They were the closest things he had ever had to friends.
Ghile's early height and gangly awkwardness had made himself conscious and shy around the other children of Last Hamlet. His father being Clan Leader hadn't helped. Once Adon was gone, Ghile was either teased or ignored. If they could see him now.
Ghile shook his head. He might have grown into his own skin with the help of the soulstones, but he was still a child when it came to how to treat a friend. He should have never left them like that. He just didn't want them making him go to Dagbar's Freehold. He wanted to go help Akira. The talk he had with Two Elks about honor and doing the right thing seemed to point him towards helping Akira, at the time, so he had left.
He knew now what he should have done was stood his ground and convinced them his decision was the right one and listen to what they all had to say. It would have been a lot harder, but it would have been the right thing to do. That was a lesson he was learning the hard way. The right decisions were most often the harder ones.
“This one greets Ghile Stonechosen,” Arenuin said.
Ghile blinked. Arenuin must have seen him coming. She stepped out from the gathered Alvar to greet him. A couple of the nearby Alvar turned to regard him with those magic infused eyes, but never stopped singing and just as quickly turned back around.
“Greetings, Arenuin,” Ghile said. He spread out his hands and bowed his head. “What's happening here?”
Arenuin smiled and motioned him to follow her. ”Ghile Stonechosen is just in time to know answers this one was not allowed to speak, but can show.”
Ghile followed as she wove her way past the others. Due to their respective height compared to his own, Ghile quickly found himself keeping his eyes downturned and focused on Arenuin's slender feet. He really wished they would wear some kind of clothing.
As he followed Arenuin, he listened to the song the Alvar sang.
Mother tree release her to us
Islmur guide her to us
hear our voice, sister, hear us
Join us
Come forth to us
Allwyn bestows her glories on us
Share them with us
Join us
They sang the words over and over again in a slow comforting rhythm. Ghile felt his skin tingle. Alvar song was truly the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.
Arenuin stopped at the inner edge of the gathering and knelt down on one knee and spoke to Ghile in a melodic whisper.
“A sister joins us,” Arenuin said.
In the center of the gathering was a tall dark brown tree, its bark covered in square shaped cracks and thick ridges. Dried needles littered the ground beneath its green needle laden boughs.
The trunk nearest the ground was moving. One of the many ridges had opened and a small slender leg hung out of it. Ghile could see the toes flexing.
Ghile suddenly felt self conscious and wondered if he was supposed to be here. He looked at the circle of Alvar, but if any of them cared, they didn't show it. They all continued to sing and a number of them intertwined arms with those beside them.
One of the Alvar stepped out of the crowd and approached the tree. Ghile noticed her skin color matched that of the tree.
“The mother,” Arenuin said, “stepped from the tree thi
s morning. She is blessed to birth a child in Islmur's Grove.”
As Ghile watched the mother Alvar coaxed her child from the birthing tree. It appeared to Ghile that the tree was handing the newborn Alvar to her mother. The newborn stood shakily on her own feet, the mother Alvar supporting her.
No sooner had the baby Alvar left the birthing tree then did the crack close and its green needles began to rain down. Slowly the trees deep brown color changed to silver. Ghile could hear a deep crackling sound over the Alvar's singing.
“A silvertree,” Ghile said in wonder.
“The Alvar name it, Anualmar,” she corrected. “The Alvar honor the Anualmar for their sacrifice.”
Through the soulstones Ghile knew the word translated roughly into ancestor tree.
The other Alvar had slowly moved forward to surround the mother and her new daughter. Many were touching the newly transformed silvertree.
Ghile was in awe at what he had seen, but still felt uncomfortable being there. Like he had stolen something that he could never return. How many other mysteries were there in Allwyn that he knew nothing of? At that point in time, Ghile felt quite small and insignificant.
A Guardian Alvar, much larger than the others, strode up to stand before Ghile. He recognized her as the one who greeted him and Arenuin so harshly when he first arrived on the island.
“Ghile Stonechosen, it is time,” Duanotyn said. She did not wait for an answer and turned to address the others.
“It is time,” Duanotyn repeated. This she sang louder.
Slowly at first and then in increasing numbers others began to repeat the words.
Arenuin smiled and motioned for Ghile to follow. “It is time.”
Ghile swallowed down the excitement. It was time. He was about to meet a Goddess. However small and insignificant seeing an Alvar being born into Allwyn made him feel, it was nothing compared to the feeling that settled into the pit of his stomach as he followed Duanotyn.
Time of the Stonechosen (The Soulstone Prophecy Book 2) Page 27