by Lana Axe
Placing her hand flat against the uneven floor, she searched for the owner of the voice. Her mind penetrated the rock, scanning the undiscovered depths. Passing deposits of iron and painite, she pressed on, searching for her quarry.
There, in the depths, she saw it, a vision through the stone. Massive, far taller than an elf, far stouter than a dwarf. It lifted its mighty head, its mouth open wide to reveal the fire within. A roar of anger shook the walls, debris raining down upon her. Still she held her concentration, her mind examining every feature of this monster. Magic radiated from it, a long-dormant master of earth, fed by the rock surrounding it.
Trapped.
Who had bound this creature to this place? Only the Ancients had such power. Kaiya scanned her memory for any old tales that might explain what he was. A spark of realization hit her. The mountain itself had entombed this colossus. How long had it been there?
A dizziness nearly knocked her off her feet. This creature was far out of her league. She could not face such ancient magic. She was too young, too inexperienced. What was forty years in the lifetime of a mountain? Her inadequacies overwhelming, she pulled her mind away from the depths.
Awake.
One last word echoed in her ears. What had lain dormant for millennia was about to rise. Reeling from this discovery, she struggled for a breath. Stumbling in the darkness, her thoughts focused only on retreat. But her feet would not obey, and she found herself rooted in place. Something drew near.
Chapter 12
With a sickening snap, the wall before the sorceress broke open, and a bipedal creature of stone emerged. Its head reared back, and its mouth gaped open to let out a single raspy cry. Kaiya jumped backward, stumbled in the darkness, and landed hard on her side.
The creature closed in, its heavy footfalls ringing in her ears. Its purpose to destroy, it would not stop until the dwarf lay crushed beneath its weight. Her sense of direction lost to the darkness, Kaiya found her back against a wall. It was now or never.
Reaching deep into her magical stores, she summoned an energy blast to knock her pursuer off-course. With one hand she sent the blast hurling toward its midsection, with the other she summoned a light. As the cavern illuminated, she glimpsed the creature whirring to the side, trying to stay balanced despite the burst of energy nearly knocking it over. Finding an opening, Kaiya dashed for it, putting some distance between herself and the beast.
Deafening vibrations from the creature’s stride assaulted her ears, her head pounding as she readied herself for another attack. The light at her fingertips gave her a clear view of her pursuer, its misshapen body haphazardly thrown together. Its limbs uneven, its gait unsteady, Kaiya’s confidence rose. It reared its head once more, its bellowing cry rattling through her body.
Planting her feet firmly against the floor, Kaiya refused to be intimidated. She would fight, not flee. Before dousing her light to preserve magic, she made note of the lowered section of ceiling in the unfinished tunnel. A triangular chunk of rock dangled precariously, waiting for her to take advantage.
Sensing the danger it was in, the creature charged toward her, chunks of rock splitting off of its body. Kaiya held fast, ignoring the rocks that pelted her. With a flash of silver in her eyes, she summoned enough heat to saw through the base of the triangular stone. Before she could finish, the creature closed in, its rocky arms swinging wildly. Pirouetting to the left, she narrowly avoided a collision between her head and the creature’s arm, but now she was cornered.
Hoping the heat spell had been enough, she blasted energy at the triangular rock. Careening to the floor, it landed with a thunderous crash. Unfazed by the sound, the creature moved forward, closing in on the trapped dwarf, a hint of laughter in its voice. Pulling back its arm, it prepared for the killing blow.
Her lungs begging for air, Kaiya knew she didn’t have long. Without a clear view of the sky, she could not summon the lightning as she had with the last beast. Alone in the darkness, she would have to throw everything she had left at the beast if she hoped to escape.
Calling on the remainder of her magical stores, she tapped into the cavern’s remaining air. Its elemental power radiating from her fingertips, she pushed with all her strength, forcing its energy into the triangular rock. Spinning through the air, the rock sailed toward the beast, smashing into its midsection and splitting it in two. With the last of her strength, she sent the stone upward, shattering it against the ceiling, rubble raining down on the creature. Buried beneath the debris, the beast lay still.
Charging past the destruction, Kaiya raced for the platform. Dizzy and out of breath, she fought her way through the stillness. As she reached for the rope to pull herself up, she realized her arms had gone numb. A lump rose in her throat, preventing her from crying out for help.
Nearly frantic, she stood upon the platform for what felt like an eternity. To her relief, the creaking of the pulley alerted her that someone was headed down. Dropping to her knees, she glimpsed Daro, accompanied by three miners, descending to her level.
The foreman scooped her up as if she weighed nothing and signaled one of the others to raise the platform. “We have to get her out of here,” he said.
Nearly dragging her outside the mine, Daro helped her to a seat and fanned the air in front of her face.
“I’m all right,” she managed to squeak out. Though exhausted, the sudden exposure to her element was quickly replenishing her magic. Soon she would feel rested and recharged.
“We heard the racket down there,” Daro said, his voice quiet. “Was it one of those rock beasts?”
Stunned, Kaiya stared at the foreman. “How did you know?” she asked.
“One showed up a week or so ago,” he replied. “It took more than twenty men to stop it. That’s why I sent for you.”
“You might have told me,” she said, annoyed.
“I swore Raad to secrecy,” he replied, shaking his head and looking at the ground. “I wasn’t sure how you’d react to that sort of thing, and I didn’t want to risk your not coming. I’m sorry.”
“Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?” she asked.
“You know everything I do,” he replied. “Do you think we woke up something down there?”
“Something has awakened, but I’m not sure mining is the cause.” Feeling the soothing touch of the wind upon her face, she finally had the energy to stand. “What became of the rock beast the miners fought?”
“We tossed it aside with the rubble from the avalanche,” he replied.
That explained the magic Kaiya had sensed in the debris. Straining her ears to the breeze, she listened for its counsel. “It’s time for this being to wake,” she said as if in a trance. “No matter how much noise the dwarves made, it wouldn’t have awoken unless it was ready.”
Daro stared at her in awe.
Her normal demeanor returning, Kaiya warned, “I wouldn’t dig any deeper than you already have. Unless you want to run into it face to face.”
“What will this thing do when it finally makes its way to the surface?” he asked.
“It is bent on destruction,” she replied. “I have to stop it before it manages to free itself.”
“Whatever you need from me, it’s yours,” the foreman pledged. To safeguard the lives of his crew and their families, he would spare no expense. “I knew it was a good idea to bring you here,” he added. Her willingness to stand against this being was admirable. Daro could tell she would fight to the end. After all, she’d singlehandedly taken down a rock beast. In his eyes, she was more than a sorceress—she was a hero.
* * * * *
It was a quiet ride back to the camp, the wheels in Kaiya’s mind grinding. When the cart came to a halt, she stepped out without so much as glancing at the driver. Her eyes instead scanned the area for her companions. A slender figure, whose tribal manner of dress made her easy to single out, paced nervously back and forth. Not far from her stood Galen, and next to him Raad.
Wavin
g at the sight of his friend, Galen called out to her. “Back so soon?” he asked, the smile fading from his lips as she approached. Her demeanor was far too severe for humor.
“You’re wounded!” Tashi shouted as she came to Kaiya’s side. Ignoring all rules of personal space, she touched her fingers to the sorceress’s face. “How could these foul men allow you to come to harm?” she spat.
“It’s just a few scrapes and bruises,” Kaiya assured her. “The air will soon heal them.” Gently she took Tashi’s hands in hers and moved them from her face. Squeezing them tightly, she said, “I do appreciate your concern.”
Released from the sorceress’s grip, Tashi’s arms dangled at her side, her fingers fidgeting against her palms. Before her eyes, Kaiya’s wounds did indeed repair themselves. The purplish bruises gave way to fresh skin, the cuts sealing themselves until barely visible. “Amazing,” she whispered.
“Did you find anything?” Raad asked.
“At the lowest level of the mines, I had a vision,” Kaiya began. “A massive creature crafted of stone lives deep within the heart of the mountain. It is angry, all its thoughts bent on destruction.”
“What else did you see?” Galen asked, knowing she was holding back.
“When it opened its mouth, I saw fire,” she said. “I made out only two words: trapped and awake.”
“Who spoke the words?” the elf asked.
Kaiya thought a moment. “When I was in the mine, I was certain it was the creature’s voice. Now I’m not so certain. But who else could it have been?”
The trio exchanged glances, but none had an answer to her question.
“What manner of beast lives inside a mountain?” Tashi asked, her voice shaking. Silently she hoped there was some explanation other than the one she held in her heart.
“It could only be an Ancient,” Kaiya answered.
“No,” Galen replied. “It isn’t an Ancient.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, confused.
“The Ancients were creators,” Galen explained. “What you saw in your vision is a Gawr. It is a being of destruction.”
“But how else could it be old enough to live at the heart of the mountain?” Kaiya asked. “It couldn’t have dug itself that deep—even the dwarves don’t have such skill. It must have been there when the mountain was created.”
“Whoever your Ancients are, they did not create the mountain,” Tashi said, drawing everyone’s attention. “The mountain always was, and always will be.”
“Tashi’s right,” Galen said with a knowing smile. “The mountain was here when the Ancients first came. The Gawr was already here as well. They could neither create nor destroy it. It is, as you said, a part of the mountain.”
“How do you know all this?” Tashi asked. “Do your people pass down tales as mine do?”
“We do,” Galen replied, “but I read about the Gawr in an old book.”
“Ink on parchment told you of this?” she asked, her eyes full of wonder.
“They did,” he replied.
“I would like to learn this skill you possess,” she stated.
“I’d be honored to teach you,” he responded.
“Are you telling me that the Gawr wants to destroy everything some ancient elves created?” Raad asked.
“More than that,” he replied. “It wants to destroy the world itself. All life, all beings. By destroying the world’s foundation, it could end everything at once.”
After a moment’s thought, Kaiya asked, “Did the Ancients know of the Gawr?”
“Yes,” he answered. “They were able to control it.”
“Are you going to tell me how?” the sorceress asked, losing patience. “Or are you going to stand here chatting until the world splits apart?”
“The words you heard already told you what to do,” he replied, his tone calm. “The Gawr has awakened, and only powerful magic can lull it back to sleep, essentially trapping it in its own domain.”
Kaiya looked up toward the mountain’s summit. “I lack the power of the Ancients,” she admitted. “If I had an army of elementals, maybe…”
“Then all is lost,” Tashi said, tears splashing on her face. “I have doomed my people, and all the world.”
“This isn’t your fault,” Galen said, wrinkling his brow.
“Kaiya, I must speak with you.” Tashi said. “In private.”
Though her mind whirled as she attempted to process Galen’s information, Kaiya nodded and stepped away with Tashi at her side. The pair headed away from the camp, finding their way to a series of boulders.
“This is far enough,” Kaiya announced, taking a seat and motioning for Tashi to do likewise.
But Tashi could not sit. She paced, unable to make eye contact with Kaiya. “I…” she stammered, not knowing where to begin.
“You said you doomed your people,” Kaiya said. “Tell me why you think that.”
“I brought this evil upon us,” she replied, her throat aching from the words. “I did it to save my sister.” She sobbed, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
“I don’t understand,” Kaiya replied. She was not without sympathy, her heart yearning to help the troubled woman. But she did not understand the problem, and there was a much bigger issue to tend to. “Tell me everything, and do it quickly,” she demanded.
“The rock beast that attacked my village,” the priestess began. “It came because of me. I woke its master. I thought my people were safe without me in the village.” Her words trailed off.
“You left because the rock beast came for you?” Kaiya asked, trying to understand.
“I prayed to the dead god,” Tashi replied, falling to her knees before the sorceress. “I performed the ancient ritual and sealed it with blood. Annin was dying. I would have done anything to save her.”
“The dead god?” Kaiya shook her head. “Is that what the Gawr is to your people?”
“A giant of stone, banished to the heart of the world by the other gods. For his misdeeds he was punished. They never intended for him to wake, but I summoned him. I knew the cost.”
Kaiya looked upon the woman with pity. Her remorse was genuine, her regret deeper than any the sorceress could imagine.
“You must understand,” Tashi said, choking on her tears. “The bond between sisters is more powerful than any other. Friends and lovers come and go, but your sister is yours always. She shares your pain, your joy, your reason for being. To lose a sister is to lose one’s heart.”
Having never had a sister, Kaiya didn’t know how Tashi felt. She loved her brothers, but they were much older than her. She had grown up almost like an only child, the wind her closest friend. An outcast among her kind, her parents had showered her with all the love she needed. Not once had she desired the existence of a sister. Only now did she wonder what it might have been like, and how far she might have gone to help her. Could I trade the world for my sister? she wondered. It was an impossible question to answer.
“It’s too late to change the past,” Kaiya finally said. “Now we must find a way to preserve the future.” Before there is no future to preserve, she silently added.
“I risked my eternal soul by waking this god,” Tashi said. “I will accept its wrath upon myself in the hope that it will spare the world. I have no magic to offer you, but I beg you to let me help make this right.”
“I don’t know if I have the power either,” Kaiya admitted.
“Only the gods have true power,” Tashi replied, but then corrected herself. “Had power, or maybe they never did. Either way, they will not answer my prayers.”
“I’ve never put much store in gods,” the sorceress replied. “But I promise you this: I will fight this beast with every ounce of strength in my body, and every drop of magic the wind can produce.”
Chapter 13
Alone, Kaiya trekked nearly a mile through the rough terrain, searching for a suitable location. All must be silent if she was to meditate properly. No hammers ringin
g, no children’s voices. This was far too important an issue for her to misunderstand.
Choosing a suitable spot in the presence of an evergreen, Kaiya took a seat on the soft earth that luckily was clear of snow. Crossing her legs, she found them surprisingly sore. The wind had healed her cuts and bruises, but the effects of her depletion still lingered. Taking a few deep breaths, she attempted to comfort and calm herself.
Turning her face skyward, she pondered the blue of the heavens. Soft, white clouds strolled lazily by, carried on a wind so pure, she desired to travel alongside them. Focusing only on the blue, she pushed away thoughts of the evil that threatened to rise, as well as her own self-doubt.
The wind was ancient, born before time itself. It had witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations, the formation of all Nōl’Deron. Along with fire, water, and earth, it had assisted the Ancients in shaping this world. It knew the Gawr from its inception. If it did not know a way to stop this creature, then all would be lost.
Continuing her deep breaths, she trained herself to inhale quickly while drawing out her exhalation. A calm settled over her mind, only one thought brimming to the surface.
Show me the way.
Obliging its mistress, the wind obeyed, a vision descending into the sorceress’s mind. Images so clear, she felt as if she had seen them with her own eyes played out before her, time moving backward until she could barely recognize the landscape.
A world of rock, fire at its center, took shape as she bore witness. No life-forms were present, not even the smallest hint of green, but still she sensed a presence. There was a life here, the same one she had felt in her earlier vision, the one that she had felt in the mines.
A sky filled with stars, the occasional streak of fire darting across the blackness filled the sorceress with wonder. Varied colors of swirling mists painted the night sky, colors she had never seen before. Feeling that she’d stepped onto another world, she could do no more than watch in awe.
