With that, she had said goodbye and returned to the Great Oak and her rest. The Alvar had not changed back after she was gone and the remaining guardians ignored him, so Ghile leapt high into the branches of the Great Oak and settled down to wait for his companions to arrive and the Alvar to return.
The calming affect Ghile had on the squirrel had not lasted long and its barking stirred him from his reveries. With a smirk on his lips at the little fellow's persistence, Ghile opened his mind.
Each creature appeared before him as motes of light in the darkness. Little forces of life drifting before him like the sparks kicked up from a fire. As he touched each one with his mind, their senses were added to his own.
He could see himself through the squirrel's eyes from its high vantage point. He had changed, he almost didn't recognize himself. He was much bigger than he thought he was, his shoulders broader. Not only that, his skin and hair were smooth and rich with color. It reminded him of Islmur, just not as intense. He was more than a little uncomfortable with it all and reminded himself not to get a big head over everything. It would be all too easy to get an inflated opinion of himself.
His mind touched the stag's and then on to touch a small family of rabbits, deep in their warren. Ghile could feel how warm and comfortable they were, and focused his attention on their sight. He reminded himself he was searching for Adon and Muk. He could see the small sparks that were fish swimming through the lake and turned his attentions away. No, he needed to keep his search on land.
His mind drifted further out, he could see so many different perspectives of the same things, it was almost as if the forest was right before him and he was walking through it in choppy shifts of vision as he hopped from one creature to the next.
Try as he might, he could not sense the trees or other plants, no matter how hard he focused. But, his mind touch ability was much stronger and he continued to reach across the island, searching.
It was when he found the ravens, that his search truly spread out. They were large enough to establish a firm link without fear of hurting them and allowed him to cover ground much faster. Where he only looked through the eyes of the other creatures, with the ravens, he goaded them into flight.
It was then he found Muk crouched near the base of a tree. The goblin set off, hopping from one long foot to the other in that bow legged gait Ghile had come to associate with him. Muk moved quickly to another tree before crouching again and looking about.
Why you little sneak, Ghile thought. Trying to hide from me are you? Not this time. Show me where my brother is.
Ghile watched patiently until Muk was a good distance away and then mind touched the next creature closest to the goblin. Ghile soon realized he was headed to the Great Oak. He released the other mind links and focused on the ones closest to the skulking goblin.
Muk reached the edge of the clearing and waited. Ghile was looking through the eyes of a nearby rabbit and sat their listening to the creatures rapidly beating heart as he watched and waited.
After what seemed like ages, Muk darted across the clearing and climbed up onto a smaller root before slipping into a hole formed where the root abutted against a larger one.
“Now I have you,” he said.
Ghile could hear their voices coming out of the darkness of the hole. He had used his powers to close the distance from where he had been seated as he spied on Muk to hear as quickly as possible. Muk had not been in there long.
He mentally prepared himself and leaped into the hole. With his enhanced vision, the darkness hid nothing from him. He slide down a slightly sloped bank before being deposited into an underground room. It was larger than he expected and he was easily able to stand. Roots from the Great Oak crisscrossed above him, and protruded from the walls of packed dirt.
The sound of him sliding and the small tumbling debris he pushed before him announced his arrival. Both Muk and Adon were standing in the front of what looked like a wide curved hump of a root rising out of the ground. Its upper surface was hollowed out like a bowl and was filled with dark water. They both stared at him, their faces expressionless.
“What is this place?” Ghile said. He dusted off the back of his tunic as he walked up to stand before them. There was more command in his voice than wonder. Though, he had to admit he was more than a little excited by the discovery. He felt like he had just caught some children who had stolen fresh bread off a windowsill.
“You shouldn't be here, little Brother,” Adon said. His face was still expressionless and neither of them had moved.
Ghile walked around them and stared into the smooth surface of the water. He did not respond right away. This place was created from him. He was the stonechosen.
“There is no place in this Dreaming that I do not belong, Adon. I know that now,” Ghile said.
Both Muk and Adon turned to follow him with their eyes, but still stood still. Why didn't they argue with him? Why wasn't Adon trying to reason with him or Muk throwing one of his epic tantrums, hopping from foot to foot?
“And you know it,” Ghile said aloud as the realization came to him. He looked down into the wide wooden bowl of dark water.
“Show me,” Ghile said.
Adon only hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and waving a hand over the pool. As it passed over the water, daylight emerged from the pool, bathing the room in light. With the water, just below the surface, Ghile could see crossed arms over a chest that rose and fell steadily, his chest. Under the Ghile in the pool, he could see the limb of the Great Oak and the surrounding forest below. He was looking at Allwyn through his own eyes.
“Well, this explains much,” Ghile said, looking up at the others.
Muk crossed his thin arms and glared at him. “Boy too smart for own good.”
A thought came to Ghile and he looked at Adon. “You heard what Islmur said, then? About the soulstones?”
Adon nodded. “I did.” He looked like he was about to say more and stopped.
“You thought you were my brother, didn't you?” Ghile said.
“Yes. Well, I thought the memories I had were my own.” Adon's eyes stared into the pool, but Ghile could see the inner struggle playing out behind them. The soulstone had taken everything Ghile remembered about his brother and used it to recreate itself as a dream teacher Ghile would trust. Apparently, to the point where not even the creation knew it was a creation.
Ghile sighed. He had intended to rage at them for their deception, but now, with them standing before him, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
“Listen, Adon. I don't care what you are or how you came to be. You're the only thing of my brother I have left and if you are made of my memories of him, then you know how much I loved and missed him. You also know he would want to do anything he could to help me.”
“I don't plan to give myself over to Haurtu without a fight. Both of you are a part of me now,” Ghile said.
This was it.
“I want your help,” Ghile said.
Both Muk and Adon looked at each other then. It was as if they had a conversation in those few moments, came to some kind of agreement. It was Adon who finally spoke.
“I want to see Haurtu's return. The desire for it pulls at me. I also want to help you. I care about you Ghile and don't want to see you hurt, but you cannot resist Haurtu.”
“How do you know that?” Ghile said. “You heard Islmur. She thinks I have a chance.”
“Nine,” Muk said. “Boy needs all nine soulstones to free Haurtu.” The goblin still had his arms crossed over his bony chest. He spoke like he did when he was teaching something.
“With each soulstone, with each one of us that joins you, you will become more like him and less like yourself,” Adon said.
“What about my Shadow?” Ghile said. He could see by their shared expressions he had touched on something.
“You knew about the Shadow,” Ghile said, “its true purpose. But, from the beginning, you have been telling me it was danger
ous, to stay away from it. But it was never a danger to me, never attacked me. But you, it did attack you. It knows you do not belong here.”
Neither Muk nor Adon responded. Muk's face held defiance, Adon's sympathy and more than a little remorse.
“You say you want to help me, Adon, but you have been lying to me about my shadow.”
Adon started to speak when Muk stomped his foot on the ground. “No! Boy know too much already. We prepare vessel for Haurtu.”
“Adon, help me!” Ghile said. “Please. All I'm asking for is a fighting chance.”
Muk raised a scaly brow at Adon and growled.
“I will help you,” Adon said.
Muk threw his hands into the air. “Stupid humans! Waste of time. You just make things harder for him. He is vessel! But no matter, you no listen to Muk, stupid humans.”
Ghile ignored Muk's tirade. He was grinning and had let go of a breath he didn't realize he was holding. “My shadow?”
Adon nodded. “Islmur spoke true. You must enter your Shadow and experience what it shares. You must come to terms with what it shows you. You must accept yourself.” Adon closed his eyes and shook his head. “Even as I speak, something inside of me tells me I shouldn't, Ghile.” He smiled weakly. “I'm not the best brother, huh?”
Ghile shook his head. “Right now I think you're the best brother in all of Allwyn.”
Muk groaned audibly. “Right now Muk think he might throw up.”
Both brothers glared at him. The goblin raised his hands protectively.
Behind him, a grey mist appeared, first as a long thin line, then the line expanded and took shape. Muk looked over his shoulder when he noticed he was no longer the focus of their attention.
“Great, another human. Now everything will be better,” Muk said, rolling his eyes.
Akira had no more than took shape than she ran towards Ghile.
“Ghile, you must warn them!” Akira said.
Ghile was taken aback. He had hoped to see Akira, had hoped to share everything Islmur had told him. But, from the moment he heard the fear in her voice, all of his own wants vanished.
“Warn who?” Ghile said.
“The elves! It's my brother, Ashar. Oh, Ghile. He is the one behind everything. He has been lying to me. Worse, I have been lying to you, trying to lure you to him.”
“I don't understand? Slow down,” Ghile said.
“There is no time! My brother is the sorcerer who created the fallen ones. He is going to use me and another stonechosen he has to somehow cause the mists of the Fallen City to kill the trees of the Deepwood. He thinks it will enrage the elves and they will blame it on Dagbar and the settlement,” Akira said.
Ghile reached for her then, tried to take her by the arms, to calm her, comfort her, but his hands only passed through her.
“I won't let him, Akira. I will stop him.”
“No, Ghile, you mustn't. That's what he wants. He wants the power of your soulstones to have his revenge on Dagbar. You must flee.”
“I'm not leaving you, Akira.” Ghile said.
Adon and Muk stood there watching the exchange, both looking concerned.
“Didn't you hear me? I was luring you to him? You must go. I don't want anyone else hurt because of me, Ghile. Don't you understand? If something happened to you-”
“The soulstones call,” Muk said.
“They must be joined,” Adon said as if it were the only obvious answer to everything.
“That is enough out of you two,” Ghile said.
“No, Ghile. Please understand. It is too late for me.”
“No,” Ghile said. “I am coming, Akira. I am going to stop Ashar.”
“But, I have lied-”
“Stop,” Ghile said, “I don't care about that.”
It was the truth. He didn't care. He knew she was right about the Alvar. They would want retribution if the Deepwood was harmed. He had to tell them about this, explain it so they understood the truth of it. Most of all, he had to save Akira.
“I am coming.”
28
Reunited
Dagbar opened his eyes and winced. He wasn't used to sleeping rough and his back and neck ached from sleeping propped up against a tree for most of the night. He rose gingerly and began stretching out the worst of his aches. At that moment he felt every day of his two hundred and twelve years.
It was early and a low mist floated over the waters of the mountain lake. Near its center, Dagbar could see the sun's first rays dance across the forested island of Islmur's Grove. He yearned to get closer, but knew he would never be allowed to step foot on it again. He was lucky the Alvar had allowed him to even come this close.
Dagbar made his way to the water's edge and tried to wash the sleep out of his eyes. The water was cold as ice and shocked him awake. The air was thin and fought to hold onto the night's chill. He covered one nostril and blew forcefully through the other, then repeated the process on the other side.
The Keeper had been none too pleased to see Dagbar in the Deepwood and even more upset by the damage the golems had caused. The first time Dagbar moved them from the Fallen City, he had to transport them on wagons to appease the Alvar, a long and arduous process, to say the least.
At first, he was afraid his very presence was going to ruin everything. It was only while the keeper played out her anger and he dodged her blows that she admitted Islmur sent her and wanted all of them, Dagbar included, brought here.
Dagbar opened one of his pouches and took out his tooth cloth, wet a small bit, and dabbed it into the mix of sage and salt crystals in the bottom of its pouch. He began scrubbing at his teeth. He spat out small bits of the old badger that had been last night's dinner.
The Alvar brought the recently deceased creature shortly after their arrival at the water's edge. It was a weathered and grey haired thing that probably died that very day of old age. Dagbar knew how the Alvar felt about the other race's eating habits and knew they were trying to keep their barbaric guests from killing anything. They probably knew every plant and creature in these parts on a first name basis.
Dagbar rinsed his mouth and worked his jaw. Rocks would have been easier to chew than that leathery old badger. Probably would have tasted as good, to boot. Riff hadn't helped by overcooking it, either.
As Dagbar looked for a place to relieve himself, he saw the barbarian, Two Elks, crouched on his heels off to the side of the camp next to Rachard, their shields and weapons, close by. They were talking amongst themselves and keeping watch. Rachard gave Dagbar a curt nod. Two Elks only stared. Dagbar couldn't blame him. There was much enmity between their races and apathy was better than he could have hoped for.
Not too far away, the others still slept. Bosand lay alone, but Gaidel and Riff lay next to each other, backs against a tree. Dagbar had listened to their low muffled talking late into the night. Riff's hand lay atop Daughter Gaidel's.
Good, Dagbar thought. One should find happiness where and when one could.
Dagbar made his way to the water's edge and hiked his tunic and began working the straps of his leggings loose. His first instinct had been to find a nearby tree, but he knew the Alvar wouldn't leave them here without keeping watch. He didn't need an audience or even worse, choose the wrong tree and really upset an Alvar.
He had barely worked the first strap loose when the sight before him froze his hands in place. Alvar were pouring from Islmur's island in droves. Dagbar had no idea there were so many of them. Their singing drifted clear and beautiful across the water.
Even from this distance and though he was much smaller than the Alvar, Dagbar could see who could only be Ghile Stonechosen. He soared out over the water in an unbelievable leap, only to come down, touch upon the surface, and soar back into the air.
One by one, the others joined Dagbar near the water's edge. No one spoke. Dagbar was hard pressed to choose which, Ghile or the mass of Alvar, was the more impressive sight.
Ghile quickly outpaced the Alvar an
d with one final leap, landed on shore, behind Dagbar and the others.
Dagbar spun around. Other Alvar emerged from the forest singing. The Alvarsong combined with finally seeing a stonechosen was overwhelming. How long had he worked and planned for this moment? A tear ran down his cheek before Dagbar realized he was crying. It dawned on him was still holding the front of his tunic up. He let it fall hurriedly and wiped at his cheeks.
Ghile Stonechosen was tall and broad shouldered. He was bare-chested, the two soulstones obvious just beneath the surface of the skin in the middle of his chest. A necklace adorned with the teeth of some large animal hung from his neck. His thick brown curly hair hung to his shoulders and almost into his eyes. His skin was smooth and flawless. Dagbar thought him magnificent.
Even though he was young, the intense stare he focused on Dagbar was that of a man with purpose.
Ghile took in the others and Dagbar watched as his eyes softened. Ghile looked about to speak, but only stared. It was Riff who finally broke the silence.
“Where's your shirt?” Riff said.
Ghile smiled and looked down. “It ripped,” he said with more than a little sheepishness in his voice.
“I wonder why?” Riff said, eyeing Ghile from head to toe. “What in the name of Daomur's hairy backside have you been eating, Sheepherder?”
Dagbar cleared his throat and gave Riff a reproachful look.
Riff ignored Dagbar and glanced at Gaidel who was staring at Ghile with her mouth agape.
“What do you think?” Riff said. He crossed his arms over his chest and quirked an eyebrow at her.
Gaidel looked at Riff and her face reddened to the point of challenging her hair. She cleared her throat. “You have changed since we last saw you, Ghile.”
Ghile's cheeks joined hers.
Time of the Stonechosen (The Soulstone Prophecy Book 2) Page 30