by Lana Axe
An unlit torch awaited the pair as they stepped inside the cavern. Kaiya’s captive lightning would provide enough light to see, but once it was spent, the two would be left in darkness. Grabbing the torch, Tashi tipped it toward Kaiya, who allowed a spark to catch the wood. A silver flame burned brightly, its energy vibrating through the handle. Tashi’s heart swelled with pride as if she were wielding the magic herself.
Steadying her breathing, Kaiya led the way down the stairs. Maintaining the lightning took an incredible amount of concentration. Should her focus waver, the spell would lose power. There had to be enough left to activate the rune stone, or she’d have to try again. The lack of moving air as she traveled deeper underground unnerved her. With no wind to replenish her magic, she would have to step carefully. There would be no power to spare.
As she descended, dusty webs brushed against Kaiya’s face, settling in her hair and wrapping themselves around her arms. Her instinct was to brush them away and look for the creature that had created them, but she could not. All of her focus stayed on the spell in her hand, though the light flickered slightly as she tried to wiggle her nose free of a line of web.
Coming to her aid, Tashi brushed the webs away. “How can spiders stay active in this cold?” she wondered. As the words left her mouth, she wondered if some other creature might live in this place, one that wouldn’t be happy to have visitors.
The staircase twisted on, four flights down finally bringing the pair to a lit shrine. Dried reeds thatched together provided a roof, while strips of bark surrounded the rune stone. Granite in color with a painite inlay, the stone had been placed on a pedestal at eye level to an average Ulihi. Nearly square, it measured a foot in both height and width, except for the upper right corner. For some reason it had been chipped away and left uneven.
Holding her torch high, Tashi studied the stone. It was beautiful work, the Dwarf’s Heart glistening in the pale light. A shadow moved at the corner of her vision, drawing her attention to the left. Waving the torch, she studied the small, circular chamber. There was no one but her and Kaiya. Listening in the stillness, she heard no living thing, but a slight rotten smell found its way to her nostrils. “I don’t like this place,” she said. To her, it felt like a place for the dead, where evil spirits might dwell.
“There’s nothing here,” Kaiya stated, hoping to put her companion’s mind at ease. It was a strange sensation. Though she felt the pull of magic from the stone, she sensed nothing else. The Gawr’s watchful eyes did not penetrate this place. Was he unaware of it? Or had the Ancients protected it somehow? The answer was unimportant. It was time to activate the stone.
Channeling the power of the lightning, she allowed it to dance upon her fingertips. It had lost some of its charge, but for her first time carrying such power underground, she was impressed at its potency. Thrusting her hand forward, she forced the power into the stone, the painite glistening in response. A charge of magic radiated from the stone, sending a shower of sparks back at her. Standing her ground, she watched as the light grew, the entire cavern illuminated with a deep-red hue. The sight of it nearly took her breath away.
“It’s marvelous,” Tashi said. Why hadn’t she learned of this place before? Why had this work been abandoned, and which of her ancestors was responsible? “My people can’t channel lightning,” she said. “How will we ever perform this ritual?”
“Once I’ve reactivated them, keeping them active will be far simpler,” Kaiya replied. “But your people once knew this magic, and they will again.”
The sorceress had already mentioned that magic would return to the Ulihi, but Tashi still found it hard to believe. “Can you ask the wind why our powers were lost?” she asked. In a flash of understanding, she realized she already knew the answer. “Those who held magic perished, didn’t they?” she asked. “They couldn’t pass on their gifts.” Without them to maintain the rune stones, the Gawr had been left unchecked. That is how Tashi was able to wake it. The realization hit her hard, and she staggered as if struck by a fist.
“I can ask the wind, but it might not know the answer,” Kaiya replied. “Your explanation certainly has merit.” The dwarves had driven the Ulihi to near extinction, and those with magic were likely the first to go. They would have been targeted by the dwarves, who feared what they did not understand. This was not the time to mention such possibilities to Tashi though. “Come on,” she said. “We’ve got two more of these to find.”
At the top of the stairs, Tashi doused the torch in the snow and replaced it on the wall. Future generations might have need of it, at least she hoped they would.
Outside in the moonlight, the snow cat perched itself on a ledge and peered toward the travelers. Its muscles tensed slightly as if it were about to pounce. Instead, it relaxed and stretched itself out on the rocks, the wind tousling its plush fur.
“It knows what we’re doing,” Kaiya said. “I believe it wishes us safe journeys.”
“I think you’re right,” Tashi replied, fixated on the majestic creature. Its reappearance was a sign of good fortune, a blessing upon their quest.
A rumbling deep within the mountain reminded them both that there was still much work to be done. “The Gawr knows we’ve reactivated the stone,” Kaiya said. If it hadn’t been aware of this location before, it certainly was now. The ancient power locked in the stone was no longer hidden. “We must be ever vigilant. Danger could be anywhere.”
Chapter 16
Under the shimmering light of the moon, Kaiya turned her gaze back toward the encampment. Fear shivered through her body as she looked upon the mountains silhouetted against the stars. It was time to ask the question she had been too afraid to ask. Projecting her mind to the wind, she asked, Does Galen live?
A gentle breeze touched her cheek but gave no answer. Shivering against the cold, she waited. Was the answer too terrible for the wind to pronounce? I must know, she said, pleading.
Stillness replied. Could she continue if he was gone? Would the world still be worth saving? A frigid tear rolled down her cheek, soon dried by the wind’s gentle kiss.
He lives, the wind replied.
A mixture of relief and elation ran through her mind, her face turned upward to the stars. Galen had indeed survived the avalanche. The Gawr had not taken its anger at her out on him. For fear of the answers, she asked no more questions. It was time to press on and complete her mission.
Pointing to the westward sky, Tashi said, “There’s a storm coming.” The stars hid themselves behind a dense layer of cloud. A heavy snowfall was imminent. “Can you stop it?” she asked.
“No,” Kaiya replied. “I can’t.”
Tashi stared at her in disbelief. “Surely the power is within you.”
“It’s one thing to manipulate the wind,” she explained. “It’s quite another to stop it entirely.”
“So you can’t do it?” Tashi asked. “I saw you call lightning from the clouds.”
“That energy was already there,” the dwarf explained. “I only channeled it. I could probably deflect the storm from my body, but I couldn’t stop it from its purpose.”
After a moment of thought, Tashi said, “I like that.”
“You like that?” Kaiya didn’t understand.
“That you have limits,” the priestess went on.
Shrugging, Kaiya said, “I imagine limitless power would have its benefits.”
“Those without limits manipulate all around them, like the gods,” Tashi replied. “They do what is best for them, not the people they are supposed to protect. That does not describe you.” In her eyes, Kaiya was far better than the gods. The dwarf woman would risk her own life to save others, though the danger had yet to reach her own home. She had traveled toward the danger to protect the miners and also Tashi’s people, once she knew of their existence. The gods were never so selfless.
“You might be right about the gods,” Kaiya said. “I don’t know much about them. My people don’t typically give much tho
ught to religion. It is said the dwarves created themselves, carving our own bodies out of the mountain.”
Laughing, Tashi said, “Maybe they did.” Her mood lighter, she tried not to think of the harm the dwarves had caused her people. Kaiya was not of the same mind as those who had wronged the Ulihi. Perhaps not all dwarves were alike. Many among them might share Kaiya’s opinion. “Will you go to visit your king after this is finished?” she asked.
“If I survive, that is the first place I’ll go,” Kaiya replied. “Well, after I visit my parents, of course. They still worry about me.” She dared not ask the wind whether her parents were safe. A negative answer might prove too painful to bear, and it would hinder her ability to focus on her magic. With luck, the Gawr would never achieve the power to fully attack her home village.
Tilting her head, Tashi directed Kaiya to a ledge. “We need to drop down here,” she said, sitting and sliding herself over the edge.
The sorceress followed suit. “The next rune stone is the farthest from the mines,” she said.
Snow began to fall, light at first but becoming heavier as they moved. The wind increased, chilling the travelers, even the priestess whose people were acclimated to such conditions. The long walk and urgency with which they moved had stolen some of Tashi’s strength, leaving her more vulnerable to the weather. Her spirit undaunted, she led on, seeking out the path of her ancestors.
When the moon disappeared behind the clouds, Kaiya summoned a small sphere of light in her hand. Offering it to Tashi, she said, “You’re the leader. You should carry the light.”
Holding out her hand, Tashi allowed the sorceress to place the magic in her palm. Lines of white and silver swirled before her eyes, nearly hypnotizing her with their beauty. The spell emitted little heat—enough to warm but not burn. Kaiya summoned a second sphere and held onto it, both spells sustaining themselves by the energy of the gusting wind.
“Promise me you will teach my niece to do this,” Tashi said.
“To create light?” Kaiya asked.
“Yes, and also to perform this ritual with the rune stones,” the priestess replied. “She must learn to keep our people safe throughout her lifetime. Someday she will serve as High Priestess, and I would have her learn this task directly from you.” She swallowed hard. The request depended on whether they succeeded in their endeavor. If the world came to an end at the hands of the Gawr, there would be no Ulihi to protect.
“I’d be honored,” Kaiya replied.
“I cannot thank you enough for what you are doing,” Tashi said. “I caused this, and you are making it right.”
Pausing, Kaiya reached out to her companion. “You didn’t cause this,” she said. “There is no ritual that wakes the Gawr. With no one maintaining the rune stones that bind it to its sleep, it simply wakes during certain cycles.”
Her brow wrinkling as if in pain, Tashi nodded. Above all, she wanted to believe Kaiya’s words, but she could not. She knew the ritual to summon the dead god was banned for a reason—she had learned that lesson all too well. If it helped Kaiya to think better of her, she would not try to convince her otherwise. Her guilt was her own to carry.
Darkness enveloped the mountains, save for the illumination of Kaiya’s magic as it glinted off the rapidly falling snowflakes. A crunchy layer of icy snow accumulated at their feet, soon making its way to their ankles. If only she could stop the storm, Kaiya’s feet would be warm. She hoped Tashi wasn’t suffering too much, but the Ulihi woman showed no sign of discomfort. Despite her lack of shoes, her thick feet provided her with ample protection. Kaiya envied her companion as she wiggled her own toes to keep the blood circulating. Magic would warm them, but she feared overdrawing her reserves.
In the same instant, both women spotted a firelight glowing in the distance. “Who would make camp this high in the mountains?” Tashi wondered. None but the Ulihi used these paths, and they showed no signs of anyone traversing them recently.
“Looks like we’re about to find out,” Kaiya replied. Holding her light forward, she could see the path ahead, and it ran directly toward the fire.
Proceeding with caution, the pair approached the campsite before them. Seven humanoid shapes sat upon rocks circled around the fire. Two held sticks in their hands, extending them over the flames. A faint scent of cooked meat wafted toward the travelers.
“Could they be dwarves?” Tashi asked.
Kaiya shook her head. “Too skinny,” she replied. Never in her life had she seen a dwarf who wasn’t stocky. These figures had long arms, proportionally long for their height, though they stood no taller than her. Reaching into her magical stores, she attempted to touch the mind of the nearest one. Pulling back quickly, she said, “Goblins.”
“They live here?” Tashi asked. She had heard of them in tales, but they always lived in caves or dark corners of the forest.
“I’m guessing they’ve found some type of shelter up here,” Kaiya said. She had not expected to see goblins at this elevation either. They normally preferred warmer climates, but here they were. The real question was, were they going to cause a problem?
“Maybe we should go around them,” Tashi suggested. Goblins were not know to be friendly, and the pair were in a hurry.
“No,” Kaiya replied. “We’re going through them.” Going around would take too long. Any obstacle in her way would have to be surmounted. The goblins would allow her passage, or she would make them regret it.
Their yellow eyes gleaming in the firelight, the goblins took notice of the women as they drew nearer. They rose to their feet, maintaining a slightly hunched posture.
“We don’t want any trouble,” Kaiya announced. “We only wish to pass through, and you can go right back to your meal.”
“Pretty lady,” one goblin said as he moved near Tashi.
The priestess recoiled as the green-gray skinned creature came near, the scent of musk and rotting leaves assaulting her nose.
Leaning in toward her, the goblin reached its fingers for her beaded necklace. “Shiny,” it said as it tugged on the beads.
Raising her staff, Tashi whacked the goblin on its arm. Grabbing its bruised skin, it stepped backward and stared at the woman.
“Witch,” it said, a gnarled finger pointing at Tashi.
“No,” Kaiya said. “I’m the witch.” With a snap of her fingers, sparks danced upon the palm of her hand. “Now leave us in peace.”
The goblins scattered, their feet skittering like roaches in the snow. Squealing and squawking, they circled around the travelers, muttering words of nonsense that might have been their native tongue.
Slinking toward the women, the goblins attempted to close the circle, their yellow eyes menacing. Five creatures took on an attack posture, the other two hanging back with looks of uncertainty.
Sighing, Kaiya prepared herself for an attack. “There’s a greater danger in these mountains than us,” she said, attempting to reason with them. “My mission is to protect you as well as everyone else. Don’t be stupid. Just let us pass.”
Continuing to whoop and squawk, the goblins closed in. Tashi prepared her blowgun, striking before the goblins were too close. She hit one in its eye, forcing it to cry out in pain, cradling its face in its hands.
While the others looked on in shock at their injured friend, Kaiya took advantage. Manipulating the swirling snow, she fashioned a whip with several long lashes of ice. Striking the goblins, they shrieked with pain. They scattered, fleeing in all directions, pursued by the lashes. Kaiya struck blow after blow, her eyes flashing silver with each strike.
Shrieking into the darkness, the goblins disappeared down the mountainside. It was almost comical, and Kaiya would have laughed if she had the time. Right now she had no patience for goblin stupidity. “Let’s go before they come back,” she said. Goblins were notorious for not knowing when they were beaten.
“Why didn’t you kill them?” Tashi wondered. She felt no mercy for the menacing creatures, but she doubted the one s
he had darted would die from its injuries. Still, it was unlikely the goblin would ever forget what had happened—its eye would have to be removed.
“They’re ignorant little thieves, but I don’t wish death upon them.” Kaiya replied. “And I doubt they planned to kill us.” Tashi’s attack had angered them, and they might have wanted to harm the women, but Kaiya knew they were no match for her.
The storm broke after midnight, but the damage had already been done. Over a foot of snow slowed travel for the diminutive pair, who both stood less than four feet in height. Tashi moved as if she felt no cold, but Kaiya was quickly becoming fed up. Her woolen cloak remained dry, warming her top half, but her legs in their leather wrappings were wet and cold. With no other choice, she used her magic, drawing the water away from her body and releasing it into the air. The spell would have to be repeated as she walked, but it was worth the toll on her magical stores. The boost to her morale was immeasurable.
It was a full day’s march before Kaiya felt the familiar twinge of magic running through her veins. “The rune stone is near,” she announced.
“There,” Tashi said, pointing straight ahead. A small shrine of piled smooth stones sheltered the ancient artifact from the elements. Near its base, she spotted a pile of bones. Kneeling next to them, she said, “These are Ulihi.” She lifted a delicate strand of beads for the sorceress to observe.
“Is this how your people bury the dead?” she asked.
Shaking her head, Tashi said, “We burn our dead and collect the bones for burial. This person must have died here.”
“Then who arranged the bones?” Kaiya asked. The body was arranged in a seated position, the skeleton reclining slightly against the rocks, its leg bones crossed, its hands neatly tucked within its ribcage. It was unlikely someone had died in that position.
“I don’t know,” Tashi replied. “Maybe two people came here, and only one was able to return.”
