Although she had encountered problems with the runes, she was having success at church. Clergy had caught sight of her efforts, probably mistaking it for actual faith, and she had recently accepted an invitation to study with Father Todd, a junior priest in his early twenties. Twice a week, Kayna, Father Todd, and several older parishioners assembled to study in an office near the cathedral and talk about Dei. They used new manuscripts, but all the symbols were wrong. In fact, the newer the books appeared, the less precise the runes seemed. Where did they keep the old books?
One evening after a scripture study, she lingered with Father Todd when the others had departed, asking him questions about prophecies found in the holy books. It was obvious that he was passionate about the study of prophecy, and she used the interest to engage him in conversation. He took the bait and chatted with her as she followed him down the corridor between the church offices and the cathedral. They climbed two levels of stairs to the library to return several bound tomes he carried.
"But I don't understand the focus on the mountain peaks. I wonder where that comes from," she said, feigning ignorance.
The cathedral was massive, and she had never been above the main sanctuary. Paintings and sculptures adorned the sides of the broad marble staircase that circled upward to the library. Icons displaying the early saints were set between each work of art. On a platform between surrounding staircases, statues depicted Dei standing over a defeated Kai, pointing down at Him in a posture of authority and admonishment. Dei was strong and beautiful, carrying a sword held high in one hand. Kai looked demonic, with horns visible upon His forehead and fangs jutting from His mouth.
"Scripture clearly shows us that the twin peaks of Mount Fi will separate in a cataclysmic event, transforming the world as we know it, Kayna," Todd said, enthusiastically. He clearly held great love for this topic. "We know that pain will follow for some unfortunate souls, but traumatic events are often part of progress."
"That seems so scary. How can one prepare?"
They pushed past an imposing oak door, bound with thick metal bands which were ancient but sturdy. He continued, unwittingly escorting Kayna past signs forbidding entry to non-clergy. The library was lavishly furnished, and a plush carpet covered the hard stone tiles. A grand open area graced the entrance, with three levels visible from where they stood. Each level displayed shelving that held books, scrolls, and stacks of paper. Scattered throughout the library were tables, some of which held mounds of materials being perused by novices, monks, or other clergy deep in study.
As Kayna and Todd moved past the entry, several faces turned to see them, each wearing a look of disapproval. With shock, Father Todd clearly realized he had admitted Kayna to the archive without permission, and he blushed at his error.
"I'm sorry, you probably shouldn't be in here."
"Of course, Father. Thank you. See you next time," she said gaily. Smiling widely at him, she cocked her head in what would be seen as a flirtatious move by onlookers. "Bye!" Whirling, the flare of her dress added to the show before she walked out. Now that she knew where the library was, she had no more use for the man and wondered what sort of trouble she had just caused him.
That library, how grand! She must have access. Tonight.
As usual, Papa wasn't home that evening, which served her plans perfectly because he wouldn't hear her leave. She waited until the housemaid returned to her quarters, then grabbed a couple of apples from the kitchen. She climbed the stairs to her room, then latched her bedroom door behind her. If Papa came looking, he would run into her locked door and think she was sleeping. She changed her clothes, donning trousers and a warm button-down shirt tucked under a wide belt. She then retrieved a satchel from her closet, putting the apples inside but leaving plenty of room for books. Throwing the satchel over a shoulder, she moved to her bedroom window, then spread the drapes aside.
As she slid the window open, a cool, autumn breeze swept into the room, setting her ebony hair to dance. Some light drifted her way from street-lamps behind the garden but not enough to expose her departure to the neighbors.
Kayna looked at the ground below and felt a fright. She had never floated more than a few feet above the ground, and her room was on the second story. A fall would drop her straight onto a statue of a stag that decorated the lawn below. Oh, how that would hurt!
She moved to sit on the windowsill, then closed her eyes and fed power into the image that summoned the air. She called the wind slowly at first, so as not to bring a gust and lose control, then more until the breeze from below buffeted against her feet. It was warm when she summoned it, unlike the chill that usually came this time of year. Her air was always warm and comforting. At once, she slid off the sill and magnified the summoning.
It caught her up, but she didn't have time to close the window before falling. The wind clumsily supported her, almost twenty feet above the ground, turning her onto her back, her hair wafting upward in the drafts. She steeled herself against anxiety from the height, closing her eyes. Wresting control of the fear, she rotated upright with her arms held out at her sides. What a feeling! She could stay here forever, reveling in the power of her magic. She directed the wind to move her forward and down, setting herself on the grass below, but avoiding the statue. The air summoning was becoming easier with practice, and she found pride in her success. She made more progress in her skills when she found a practical application for them, something tangible to focus upon. Still, it drained her a bit, and she despised that feeling. She would want strength tonight, but a rat or dog would be insufficient—she would need something more.
After adjusting her clothing and satchel, she walked briskly out the back of the garden, through the gate, and onto the street. The library was a good walk from here, and she had not yet decided how she would enter.
She walked for a long time through the dark, but no ruffians bothered her. This neighborhood was safe, home to politicians and people of importance who paid many a soldier to wander about at night. One such sentinel stood in an alcove across the street, his armored breastplate reflecting light from a nearby torch lamp.
After a time, she approached the church district and spied the stables where the mounts of important clergy and their guards were kept. A big animal would be perfect to quench her thirst. Darkness cloaked her entry through the back door, and since a stable hand likely remained on the premises at night, she made sure to be quiet as she walked on the dirty floor between stalls. The animal smells hit her hard as she entered, and the sounds of snuffling and snorting made it clear that some creatures had noticed her. A piece of straw got stuck in her shoe, irritating her instep. With one hand, she braced herself against the gate of a stall as she removed the straw. A warm, wet sensation against her supporting hand surprised her, and she turned to see a large, chocolate destrier was rubbing its lips against her fingers. Looking for food or volunteering to be food for her? Such a large animal would be ideal for tonight.
Concern rose in her mind regarding the damage she would leave behind. She wanted nobody to be alerted to her presence, but it would be difficult to hide the evidence of what she intended. When she drained small animals, she often left them desiccated, with obvious and disturbing wounds on their dry, cracked skin. Sometimes the eye sockets emptied as the orbs drained of fluid. Such a sight on an expensive horse would bring unwanted attention. Perhaps a partial draining would not leave such a macabre sight. She would try to restrain herself.
"Come here," she said to the destrier, reaching into her satchel for an apple.
The animal came closer, reaching for the treat she held in her hand. She lured it, holding her arm back teasingly to encourage the creature to put its mammoth head across the gate. When it did so, she reached up with her left hand to the side of its jaw, closed her eyes, and began.
In her sight, the energy of the animal was greater than anything she had drained before but dimmer than she expected. It seemed to be covered in a shell, preventing her access. She s
teeled her mind and willed the covering to split, striking out with a malicious intent. The covering cracked, and she could see light and energy inside.
The horse started suddenly, letting out a shudder and losing all focus on the apple. It tried to pull away from her touch but was unable. She pulled the light into herself, making it her own. The energy caressed her, warm and strong and wonderful, with an intensity she had never sensed before. It was like her warm wind, but much greater in intensity. She almost lost herself in it, wanting to take it all, every bit, but she knew she shouldn't. She clamped down on the flow of energy and broke the link, opening her eyes in time to see the horse fall.
The noise it made was significant, and the surrounding animals whinnied and snorted in protest, as if in solidarity with their fallen brother. Up a small set of stairs to her right, she saw a light growing—someone approaching with a lamp. She moved to the exit and closed the wooden door with barely a sound. A moment later, the stable hand would come in, finding only a dying horse and an uneaten apple on the floor outside its gate.
A short walk carried Kayna the remaining way to the cathedral. The evening had grown completely dark. Even the torch lamps upon the street did little to chase away the shadows, which would be her allies tonight. She looked up at the cathedral, seeing the domed roof overhead, the sharp spires, and many windows on all sides. So high!
Even with the new strength coursing through her spirit, she wondered if it was possible to ascend that far. She walked around the south side of the massive edifice and sought an area where she could attempt it unseen. She found an open patch of lawn and hedges near an unlit lamp. Perfect.
She looked up, finding a window at the base of a spire near where the library might be. She found it difficult to judge such a thing from this distance and bit her lip as she contemplated her poor planning. Enthusiasm and ambition had driven her here, and her haste might bring failure to this outing. The window appeared to be more than a hundred feet up, far higher than she had ever attempted. Falling from such a height would be the end of her, but she was oddly undeterred. The power coursing through her gave a strange confidence.
When she summoned the air this time, it came quickly, powerfully, and without the chaos that had accompanied her prior efforts. Her command of it was absolute, lifting under her feet expertly without pulling much at her hair or clothing. It knew what she expected and endeavored to please her. Up and up she sailed, so smoothly that she opened her eyes without fear, traveling with confidence along the dome to the window that awaited. The buildings below shrank, and she wondered if anyone saw her rise above the cathedral. An apparition in the night, Kayna commanded the air to rise ever upward, her head held high. Who else could do such things?
Upon arrival at the window, she banished her grandiose imaginings, reached out with her left hand, and pushed. It gave way easily, to no surprise. There was no need to lock a window at this height. She climbed in and dismissed the air, a dutiful servant for which she had no more use.
The window opened into a long hallway that led to the main library chamber. Wall sconces with candles illuminated the way. It was very late and few clergy were present, hopefully making it easy to avoid discovery.
After a few moments of perusing the stacks and shelves on the second level, she found some manuscripts that interested her and tucked them into her satchel. Then something else caught her eye. On the third level of the library, the shelves seemed different. She looked about before moving down a hallway, then took an unoccupied stairway up. Upon arrival on the third level, she noticed that the shelves were slightly shorter but also more sparsely arranged. The books they held were behind small, sliding glass doors.
She stood in front of one section for a moment, then slid the glass door aside to peruse the books within. They were so old! Scratches and wear on the leather bindings were apparent, evidence that they had been well used. What wonders did they hold, and how would their runes look?
A sound from a nearby aisle startled her.
"Hey."
She turned to the voice.
"What are you doing in here?"
Of course. Such treasures would not go unwatched.
An elderly man, obviously clergy by the look of the robe and the amulet around his neck, pointed a finger at her.
"Who are you?"
She squared up with him, then closed her eyes. Black hair fell in front of her face, hopefully obscuring her features, but the candlelight must have illuminated her form for the old man, a faceless dark angel. Fire would be a poor choice here, so she made a more familiar one. The air swirled at her command, extinguishing nearby candles, then caught the man sideways. It flung him up and over the railing. His eyes went wide, and he reached out at nothing, scrambling in futility with his fingers and arms. He plummeted two stories down, where his head cracked open on a table, then his body flopped lifelessly onto the floor.
Kayna slid another glass door open, then grabbed several books in the crook of her arm, eager to return for more now that she had found their hiding place. Retreating from the library the same way she had entered, she escaped without further discovery. As the air carried her to the street outside, she chided herself for handling the cleric in such a manner. What a waste of life.
Draining him would have been delightful.
24
Cavern
Crone’s Hill
Nara waited at the cabin for Mykel. Anne had said he would tire from his training and come back soon, but it seemed to take so long, and Nara was eager to share the discovery of the cavern with him. She looked about the old shack, wondering how long it had stood here, and how long Anne had lived inside. The logs that comprised the walls were old, dry, and cracked. A few pots hung from pegs, but there were no chairs, only stools made from tree stumps, like those on the porch. It seemed odd that Anne would have lived here, rather than in the bright, warm cavern for all these years, as if she had chosen the modesty of the place for a reason. Humility? Or was she punishing herself for something?
She heard Mykel before she saw him, the sound of his footfalls coming down the path that led from the plateau. She left the cabin and found him looking flushed and sweaty, shoulders sagging, but a smile on his face.
"Mykel, come! You won't believe this!"
"What?"
"Trust me," she said, then walked quickly in the direction of the creek. Mykel caught up, walking at her side.
"Anne says you were training?"
"Yes, for a long time."
"Tired, then, eh?"
"Yes, but a different kind of tired. The health tattoo that Bylo gave me helps. I don't get tired the same way anymore."
It took them some time, and Nara almost got lost, but she eventually found the creek. "Feel the water," she said, leaning in to splash Mykel.
"Hey!" He stepped in and splashed her back. "It's warm!"
"Yes, it is," she said. "But that's nothing. Come up here."
Nara's feet hopped from rock to rock as she crossed the creek back and forth, making her way to the source where it bubbled up from the ground. Mykel came up beside her and stood in the middle of the creek, slack-jawed with his mouth open as he stared at the open doorway that led to the cavern tunnel.
"Come inside," Nara said as she stepped inside, where the walls were lit by the many light runes.
"How do they work?" he asked.
"Magic, of course. There are more inside. I'll show you."
Mykel hesitated.
"Don't worry, Mykel. I'll protect you," she said, teasing, then grabbed his hand and pulled. He cracked a grin and followed her.
The tunnel opened into a huge underground cavern, three hundred feet high and easily a thousand feet in diameter. Illuminated by thousands of the same glowing symbols, it was as bright as daylight. They slowed, and Mykel's gaze moved around the cavern to the many sights, his face expressing the same amazement Nara had felt when she saw all of this a couple hours ago. Birds flitted about, their nests visible on ledges high
in the rock walls. A creek with blue-tinted water flowed through the center of a large flat area and pooled in one section, creating a reservoir; a big rock stood out in the center of the pool.
"Can we swim in there?" Mykel asked.
"I think so. Come over here," Nara beckoned. She led him to a huge patch of vegetation growing along the sides of the creek that flowed out of the reservoir. "Anne says these make it all work." She pointed to a large patch of plants. They looked like weeds with bright red-and-orange blossoms adorning the tops.
"How so?" Mykel asked.
"She calls them fire weeds, and they release these soft seeds into the air." Nara waved her hand over one of the blossoms. A fluffy white cluster of small seeds released, wafting up toward the ceiling.
"There are little plants that grow in the grooves of the runes above. They absorb the white seeds from these fire weeds," she continued. "Those little plants bring the runes to life. Runes of light, Mykel! It all works together. The water comes up out of the ground at the far end, pooling in the reservoir and heating the chamber. Fire weeds feast on the soil. Plants in the runes above use the condensation and the floating seeds to produce the energy in the inscriptions, and the magic runes provide the light that shines back down on the plants. All this majesty, hidden away in a cave."
"How did the birds get in here?" Mykel asked.
"I don't know, but Anne said the Breshi built this place eons ago as an act of worship to Dei. A sanctuary. Perhaps they brought the birds inside?"
Nara pointed toward Anne, who approached from the far end of the chamber.
"Finally tired, Mykel?" Anne asked.
The Godseeker Duet Page 19
