Time of the Stonechosen (The Soulstone Prophecy Book 2)

by Thomas Quinn Miller

  “But,” Ghile said.

  “But, unlike the others, your creator was not content to lie down and give way to his creations. During his waking times, he tried to discover a way to break the process, to stay awake longer.”

  “His first attempt was trying to consume the power of other Primordials,” Islmur said.

  “He attacked and consumed the others,” Ghile said. “We were taught it was because he wanted to become the All Father.”

  “Yes, I know. My brother was wise. Even we have our limits. There was no way for him to destroy the human race alone. None of the other Primordials would have even considered helping him do such a thing, not even, Hideon, who so loved war and strife.

  “So, Haurtu thought and planned. He began telling his progeny his lies of becoming the All Father, of his need to consume the other Primordials and convinced your kind to help him by attacking the other races. The more progeny that was destroyed, the more energy returned to the primordials. In so doing, he made humankind the enemy of the other races.”

  “It was a horrible time, Ghile. The more battles humans fought, the more of them that died, the more energy that was returned to Haurtu. Do you understand that there are so few humans left on Allwyn now that if he returned, he would be fully awake when no other Primordial would be?”

  “You are awake,” Ghile said.

  “I am, but you do not realize what little power I have, Ghile. I would be but a flea biting at a bull,” Islmur said.

  “Luckily, It was Daomur who finally realized what Haurtu's true intentions were and came up with the plan for us to stop him,” Islmur said.

  “Was it Daomur's idea to contain us, as well? To keep knowledge from us?” Ghile couldn't keep the resentment out of his voice.

  Islmur only showed compassion. “Daomur does not forgive easily. Of all the Primordials, Daomur dislikes Haurtu the most. They were opposites in many ways. Daomur has always been about rules and consequences for breaking them,” Islmur said.

  “Daomur felt if the remaining humans were allowed their freedom, to continue learning and growing, that your race would figure out a way to free Haurtu. Even so, a way was still discovered. So, the Temple of Justice was formed. Enchanted hammers were created, ones that could sense Allwyn's song, sense Haurtu and a future that would be connected to him. The loss of the few for the good of the many, he had said.”

  Ghile sat there with Islmur in silence. She watched him, but said nothing. He knew she could see his thoughts as easily as he did, but he was beyond caring about Daomur. If Haurtu was allowed to return to Allwyn and take over the vessel that freed him, then he would continue with his plan of destroying humankind, those few that were left. Ghile suddenly felt tired. But, he knew what he had to do now.

  “How many soulstones are there?”

  “There have never been more than nine soulstones discovered on Allwyn at one time,” Islmur said.

  “What has become of the other soulstones from the times they appeared in the past?”

  “The place between places where Haurtu is imprisoned,” Islmur said. “It is not a stationary place. It is difficult to describe, but it passes close to Allwyn for a short time every four hundred and ninety nine years. The Time of the Stonechosen lasts for one year. Then Haurtu's prison leaves the proximity of Allwyn.”

  “And the soulstones?” Ghile said.

  Islmur stared at Ghile. “The soulstones and the vessels they occupy die.”

  Ghile had no wish to die or be responsible for the extinction for his entire race.

  How ironic, he thought to himself. Haurtu would be proud of his creation. Ghile was going to fight.

  26

  Golems

  The stone boot descended with such force it crushed the foliage beneath it, the ground shaking from the impact. The golem, like its four identical companions, marched through the Deepwood. Their thick legs swinging with a measured pace. They traveled in a line, shoulder to shoulder, where the forest allowed, but even the giant stone golems, created by master artificers from the Temple of Art, had to give way to the colossal trees of the Deepwood.

  Dagbar held on to the stone horn jutting from one of the golem's helmets. The golem's shoulders were wide flat plates, representing dwarven armor. They offered good footing and made an excellent perch.

  The golem lurched violently to the side and Dagbar grabbed onto the horn with both hands. The golem's arm swung out wide, uprooting a tree that blocked its way and sending it soaring. Well, Dagbar thought, made an adequate perch. At least this would get the Alvar's attention.

  He looked back at the wake of destruction marking a clear path through the Deepwood, all the way back to the Emporium. He wished there was another way, but it was the only chance he had and he had already pushed all his chips to the center of the table. He was all in.

  If he was going to help Ghile Stonechosen, then he needed to get past the fae guarding the borders and into the Deepwood. But, most of all, he needed to find the Alvar. He knew finding the Alvar was a near impossible task. One didn't find the Alvar, they found you. So, he needed to get their attention. This swathe of destruction would have to do.

  The golems were headed home, back to the Fallen City. It wasn't where he wanted to go, far from it, but he didn't have a choice. The clergy from the Temple of Art had been no more impressed with the idea of giving control of their precious golems to a magistar than the Knight Justices had. So, they had reluctantly given him the Command Gems for each golem, but only shared the commands needed to accomplish the golems' new job as glorified pack animals. But, the artificers had been more than willing to give him the command word to send the golems back to the task they were created for, guarding the Fallen City.

  So far, things had worked out. He convinced Daughter Gaidel to trust he could get her to Ghile. He had left the Emporium in the hands of his Council of Elders. Ulbert, Dowynn and Dobon were more than capable of seeing to the issue with the Happy Trader and calming down those who thought the time to rebel was now. Well, at least that was what he kept telling himself every few minutes. Right before he reminded himself there was no choice and this was the best chance he had.

  The golems had made it past the fae guarding the forest around the Emporium. He had taken no small amount of satisfaction when the golems marched into the Deepwood, sending the fae running. Even those flying fae smart enough to try and attack the golem's riders turned back from a few well aimed bursts of sorcerer's fire. How many of his people had entered the forest to work only to be found a few days later at the forest's edge with no knowledge of how they got there? Watching them scatter had been uncharacteristically satisfying.

  He looked over at the shoulder of the golem to his immediate left where Daughter Gaidel and her shieldwarden rode. Dagbar gave the young druid a broad grin and nodded his head with what he hoped was a confident look of assurance.

  The apprehension was plain on her face, mixed in with no small amount of fear, as she clung tightly to the golem's helmet. Nothing like the stoic expression of her shieldwarden who knelt beside her, his shield raised and ready and his other hand balanced on his stone axe. He reminded Dagbar of a shadow cat who was waiting to pounce.

  Dagbar knew the sorcerer, Riff, rode on the shoulder opposite them, but couldn't see past the golem's massive helmet. It wasn't a bad thing either. The sorcerer had been deeply hurt by the loss of their young companion and his dogs. The hard set of his eyes had not changed since Daughter Gaidel healed him. Dagbar didn't want to think what the sorcerer would do if they reached the Fallen City without finding Ghile. The boy was itching to take his anger out on something. Even the brief tussle with the fae hadn't quenched the fire behind those eyes.

  There were still so many loose ends. Daughter Bosand and her shieldwarden had demanded to come along. She had given in to Daughter Gaidel for the time being, but he was certain she planned to take control of the situation as soon as they found Ghile. Daughter Bosand planned to see Mother Brambles' orders carried out and
see Ghile turned over to this Nordlah barbarian, Growling Bear. That would not do, of course, and he hoped Daughter Gaidel would see his side when the time came.

  Dagbar also was certain the three cullers were headed towards the Fallen City and would see them sooner or later. The closer they got to the Fallen City, the easier for them to be spotted. With their flying mounts and this trail the golems were leaving, he doubted he would even get close before they came to investigate. He had little doubt what the cullers would do to them…Dagbar shook his head. No use thinking on that.

  Then there was Ashar and Akira. The journey to the Fallen City would take days and nights. Nights in the Deepwood belonged to Ashar and his creatures. Dagbar knew Ashar would love to get his hands on him. That would be anything but pleasant.

  Then if they did find Ghile, what were his intentions? Ghile spoke with Akira somehow and was heading to the Fallen City until he encountered the Alvar.

  Finally, there were the Alvar. What had they done with Ghile? Had they taken him to the grove, too? Had they awakened Islmur? Dagbar prayed to Allwyn that is exactly what they did. If Ghile met with her then he would know the truth of things.

  Of course, none of this mattered if the Alvar killed them all. He was pretty sure how they would react to the golems smashing their way through the Deepwood. It was because of their love of nature that Dagbar had spared no small expense transporting the golems through the Deepwood the first time.

  The golem lurched violently and a tree cracked and flew away, trailing splinters and leaves. Dagbar held on and prayed.

  “Islmur, I don't know if you can hear me. But, I'm in your Deepwood with Ghile Stonechosen's companions. He is supposed to be with the Alvar and we are coming to help him. He is in imminent danger. Cullers search the Deepwood and the Fallen City for him even now. If you can, please help us!”

  Ahead of him, Dagbar saw some of the largest Alvar he had ever seen stepping from the trees.

  “That was fast,” Dagbar said. He fished for the Command Gems to call for a halt. It seemed Lady Luck had not deserted him.

  “Well, this is going well,” Riff said.

  He sat on the edge of the shoulder plate of the golem and watched Dagbar dodge yet another swinging arm, or limb, from the elf.

  The dwarf seemed so confident when the dozen or so elves emerged from their hiding places within the trees. He called a halt and had his golem lower him to the ground.

  That had been his first mistake, Riff thought.

  He should have stayed on his golem. These elves were huge, naked, and ticked off. Riff should have been excited to see elves for the first time, not to mention, nude ones, but all he could think about was finding Ghile and then finding the cullers.

  Even discovering that Dagbar could speak the elves' strange singing language couldn't pull Riff's mind from his purpose. They were going to pay for what happened to Lotte and Ghile's valehounds.

  Riff passed his everflame from one hand to the other. He had prepared to fight the elves when they first appeared. He didn't know what they were and he was itching for a fight anyway. From a distance they looked like walking trees, albeit very curvaceous walking trees, and trees were none too fond of fire.

  But, Dagbar told them not to attack, no matter what happened. So, here he sat, watching Dagbar and the elves sing at each other and the largest elf stop every so often to try and squash the dwarf.

  “We are wasting time, Gaidel. This doesn't seem to be going anywhere,” Riff said.

  Gaidel stood on the other shoulder of the golem watching. She seemed as baffled as he was. Two Elks stood next to her, shield and axe ready. He seemed to think Dagbar was going to change his mind about not attacking at any time.

  That brought a feral grin. For once Riff had to agree with the barbarian. This was going to end in a fight and he was fine with that.

  Gaidel looked from Riff to Dagbar and then Bosand, uncertainty plain on her face.

  “Give the Magister time,” Daughter Bosand called over the elves' singing.

  “We don't have time, Druid. Ghile is out there and these elves know where,” Riff said.

  His response drew admonitory glares from the two shieldwardens. He ignored them.

  Riff almost dropped his everflame as his golem lurched into movement. With the sound of grinding stone, its upraised palm swung into position below Riff.

  “It is done,“ Dagbar called up to them. “The keeper has agreed to take us to Ghile.”

  “Keeper?” Riff asked as he put away his everflame and jumped down onto the golem's palm.

  “Yes, these magnificent creatures are Guardians of Islmur's grove. Ghile is with the Goddess,” Dagbar said.

  The dwarf was bordering on giddy. It was like he had already forgotten this “Keeper” was trying to flatten him just a few moments ago. Gaidel asked Dagbar as much as she and Two Elks jumped down the last few feet from their golem's palm.

  “That,” Dagbar said more than a little sheepishly. “Well, the Keeper was just expressing her thoughts on the golems.”

  Riff watched as more than half the elves went around the golems and began singing to the forest floor. The plants trampled by the golem's passing, began to spring back up, unfurling new fronds, or regrowing damaged limbs.

  “The golems will have to remain here, I'm afraid,” Dagbar said. He reminded Riff of a proud father, just then.

  “How are you able to speak their language, Magister,” Daughter Bosand said. She walked up like all of this happened twice a day where she was from. At least Rachard had the sense to look skeptical.

  “Ah, it was a gift from the Goddess Islmur herself, Daughter Bosand,” Dagbar said. He pointed at his face. “It was that very gift that did this to my eyes.”

  “Fascinating,” Daughter Bosand said drily.

  “It is nothing compared to what you are about to experience,” Dagbar said. He clapped his hands together and produced another one of those unsettling toothy smiles.

  “Treestepping!”

  27

  Acceptance

  Ghile appeared in the Dreaming. He was on the pebbled shore again. He looked in both directions along the shore and tree line. He was alone. Across the lake, the forests and mountains rose to meet clouds and blue sky, all reflected off the lake's calm water.

  This was the same spot he had first appeared, when he first met Adon. He wondered if this particular spot was somehow special to Haurtu. He picked up a smooth stone and felt the weight of it. The thought of skipping it out over the lake came to him and he again questioned if this was his habit or one of Haurtu's. He tossed the stone down. It was a small thing, but it made him feel better.

  “I am Ghile Stonechosen and I am my own person.”

  He looked up at the clear sky and thought on what Islmur said. This place was a part of him, was him. He considered the position he was in, how all his choices were being taken from him. How unfair it all seemed.

  Thunder rolled over the distant mountains. Ghile raised an eyebrow and nodded. That was good to know.

  He couldn't hold onto his anger for long and the weather did not change further. His mind was moving too quickly. There was much to consider and things that needed to be done.

  He turned and made his way through the forest towards the Great Oak. No sooner had he passed beyond the tree line did he surprise a stag, its head darting up, nostrils flaring as it scented the air.

  Ghile mind touched it, almost without thinking. Its senses filled him. He had interrupted it while it dined on a treasured find, hickory nuts, probably hidden there by a squirrel. Ghile opened his mind further. Yes, there it was, on a limb not too far above them. Ghile could feel its agitation. The squirrel was definitely not happy about its stash being raided.

  Ghile calmed the stag and squirrel with a thought and released the connection. Was this what it was like then for the Primordials? To be one with everything? If this place was created from him, was he not like Allwyn, in a way? Why couldn't he sense everything around him, the tr
ees, the land? He knew he was linked with the weather, why not everything else?

  No time better than the present to find out, he thought.

  Ghile sat down and leaned his back against a tree. He wanted to find Adon and Muk. They had been noticeably scarce his last couple of visits. It would be a good challenge for him. If he could see through his own creations like Allwyn and Islmur did, maybe he could find where those two had been hiding. He wondered if they knew about his conversation with Islmur? In the past they had let on they knew about things that occurred in Allwyn, but never gone into detail as to how.

  His conversation with Islmur had lasted the rest of the day. She answered all the questions he could think to ask. She never judged him or grew angry. She seemed content, even with everything that was at risk. Ghile envied her that.

  She also told him his companions entered the Deepwoods in the company of the dwarf, Dagbar. She sent the keeper and some of the other guardians to escort them to the grove.

  The argument that ensued at that request, surprised Ghile. The guardians took their responsibilities seriously and refused to let any other “outsiders” on the island. They had settled on the opposite side of the lake.

  Islmur also warned them against harming them. Islmur would not explain, but his friends had somehow damaged the Deepwood and Islmur didn't want the Guardians to seek retribution.

  The Keeper's curiosity was as peaked as Ghile's at the news, but Islmur got them to promise and sent them on their way.

  Ghile was both excited and apprehensive at the thought of seeing the others. He regretted leaving them and didn't know how he would be treated when they were reunited. It would be good to see Ast and Cuz again. He missed their company.

  Islmur told Ghile he would need them, Dagbar especially. Dagbar was the one Arenuin had referred to when she said Islmur had only been awakened one other time. She met with Dagbar and told him the truth of the soulstones. Islmur said he and Dagbar were kindred spirits. How he had anything in common with a dwarf, he wasn't sure, but Islmur said it with such certainty, and conviction, he felt inclined to believe her.