She felt the air become damp and cooler the farther they ventured into the depths of the cavern. She wasn't on the verge of shivering, but she feared she would be. She skimmed her hand against the wall as she walked, feeling the cold ebb stone against her fingers, her thoughts spinning around her mother, Admiral Diana McCoy. Every time she thought of her mother, it felt like a rap on the side of her head, much like what her mom would do to her as a child.
Her mom baffled her. She wasn't the compassionate type like Daf's mom probably was. Diana pushed Crystal's buttons, sometimes seemingly on purpose to get a reaction out of her. Crystal had always flinched when her mother demanded a response, and it was never an outward flinch. That's how it was when Crystal was a child and that's exactly how it was when she tried to convince her mom to allow her to come on this trek to Forever Mountain.
And now they were on the inside.
Crystal had nearly gotten herself killed on the journey here, along with Daf, just as her mom had forewarned. She hated it when her mom was right. Diana was probably correct about “S” as well. S could have been setting Crystal up this entire time. But at this very moment, there was no way to know.
She curled her fingers in a fist and wrinkled her brow. “Shan?”
Shan Ru was walking beside her, too close to the edge of the path for Crystal's liking. If Crystal was the one next to the edge, she wouldn't be able to stop picturing someone pushing her to her plummeting death.
“Yes, Crystal?”
“Have you heard of 'S'?”
Shan folded his hands into his robe sleeves, crossing his arms over his stomach, replying, “Which meaning? The consonant 's'? Or, the sound of 's'?”
“No, the person, 'S'.”
Shan chuckled. “Oh, I see.” He thought for a moment. “I can't say that I do. Is this person meaningful to you?”
“I don't know.”
“What do you know about this person?” asked Shan.
“Well,” replied Crystal, “she is the one who told me to come to Forever Mountain and that Forever Mountain is where my destiny awaited.” Crystal shrugged. “That's all.”
“That's quite a statement. It sounds like this 'S' person pointed you in the right direction, wouldn't you say?”
“If she wanted me dead, then I'd say so.” She stopped and softly tugged on Shan's robe like a child, then gave him a wondering look. “Are you 'S'?”
“I'm not the one who told you to come here. So, no, I'm not who you seek.”
Staring vacantly at her feet Crystal started forward again, her voice barely audible. “I'm not seeking anybody. I just want the truth.” For the first time in a long time, Crystal felt drained, her emotions stale. She frowned, thinking how everything seemed to lead to more confusion. Facts, or whatever they were, evaded her at every corner.
“Here we are,” said Shan.
Her melancholy was short-lived as curiosity quickly took over. They had finally made it to the door.
Thun, who seemed to be the nicest of the Dwarves, was just behind her, holding a large hammer over his shoulder. “The door to Dirn Garum. My home. I hope you feel as welcome as I always have.”
The door was wide and colorful with ever-changing tones of blue, similar to the door that led Daf and Crystal into this large cavern and onto this pathway.
“Is it going to tell me a story?” asked Daf, as the Dwarves slowly lowered her from their shoulders, making sure she didn't lose balance with her hurt leg.
Harak was last to arrive. He gave Daf a look and sneered. “Surface dwellers!” His nostrils flared. “You surface bunch don't know nothing. The stories encoded on these doors mean diddle to you.”
“I beg to differ, brother,” responded Thun. “These surface dwellers come from the same planet we come from.”
“What are they saying?” questioned Daf.
Ignoring Daf, Crystal responded. “Thun, we are from Lumus. Well, actually, we're more from Starbase Matrona than Lumus.”
“Your race was born on Gaia,” retorted Thun. “Now, let me show you our home away from home.” He lifted his hands in the air, and yelled with a thick voice that echoed throughout the cavern. “Burakin!”
The large door opened and the light from inside spilled out. Fully open now, Crystal could see it—Dirn Garum.
The path they were on led through the doorway and became a stone stairway that descended into the city before them. The stairway ended at a gigantic public square, filled with conversing, bartering, and working Dwarves. A fountain at the center of the square displayed a gentle arc of water shooting from one end of the fountain to the other. The sounds of pick-axes clanged against the gold and stone buildings outlining the square, like a ticking clock. A giant wooden wheel, bigger than any Crystal had ever seen, was triumphantly spinning as a waterfall spilled onto it and cascaded into a rushing waterway below.
Looking over the tops of the structures, a golden statue, maybe ten stories tall, sat against a far wall. It was the face of a Dwarf with a helmet shining brightly in the sparkling city. Its body armor cascaded down past its hips, but the rest of its body was obscured behind buildings with mushroom top roofs. All buildings, in fact, had the same shapes, though many were different heights, much like Starbase Matrona's cities. Laughter and the sounds of voices reverberated throughout Dirn Garum.
Suddenly, and in unison, the clinking stopped and the voices halted. That's when Crystal and Daf really noticed the inhabitants who seemed transfixed, steadfastly watching the strangers.
Someone nudged Crystal and Daf forward.
“Hey,” cried Daf, as she made a graceful hobble toward Crystal and put her arm around her shoulders for better stability. “What happened to your carrying me?”
“They obviously don't want to be seen being gentlemanly,” observed Crystal.
Daf pushed her dark hair of out her eyes. “Yeah, I know. I've dealt with men before.”
Taking a step down, holding Daf at her waist and letting Daf use her as a crutch, they took step after step into the city. Almost reaching the bottom of the stairway, the crowd started speaking softly, obviously wondering what was going on. The impatient Dwarves who had led them to Dirn Garum walked past Daf and Crystal, not helping them one bit. Only Shan walked by their side, making sure Daf and Crystal didn't stumble.
They heard a grunt behind them. Crystal looked over her shoulder at Thun. He ran his hand through his hair. “I'm worried my father won't see you as I do, as the one guided by the Light of Soul's Eye.”
“Gee, that's a relief,” responded Daf.
Crystal made no comment. She was concentrating on being as observant as possible, just in case they needed a fast escape. Although, a quick getaway wasn't really possible with Daf’s damaged shin.
Crystal felt the hilt of the sword—Soul's Eye—in her hand, and a sudden surge of confidence coursed through her veins. She had carried Soul's Eye all the way down the trail, and it felt so right, and in many ways an extension of herself. The sword suddenly lit up like a small star and Crystal turned her face toward Daf to avoid the brightness. Daf looked away as well. The crowd gasped in harmony.
“Soul's Eye!” yelled a Dwarf, wearing a thick dark blue robe, which seemed to be the style of all the Dwarven men. He walked with authority, parting the crowd as he approached Crystal and Daf. All the Dwarves got on bended knee and bowed to this man.
The Dwarf pointed his axe at Crystal, saying, “You can't be the one!” The boom of his voice bounced off the city walls. His face then softened and at the stone steps he paused, bowed his head, then bent on one knee. Under a soft breath, easily audible to Crystal and Daf, he stated, “But you are. I am the King! We hail to the bloodline and we hail to Berronar, the Truesilver, the revered mother; the mother Goddess; matron of home and hearth; mother of safety, truth, and home.” He looked up to Crystal, his eyes glistening with tears and his face as velvety as his voice. “Thank Berronar you arrived. We have much to discuss and much more to do.”
Shan approach
ed the Dwarf King and placed his hand on his shoulder, then turned to Crystal. “This is Bilrak, father of Thun and Harak, guardian and king of his people.”
Shan then bent low, his 9-foot frame towering over Bilrak and whispered, “Tend to the black-haired woman. Give her leg a bit of herb, life force, and healing.”
Bilrake nodded, and turned his eyes to Crystal. “And you, the red-headed fair lady. I see you are tired. Before we begin our laborious journey you must sleep.”
Under her breath and only to Daf, Crystal flatly questioned, “Journey?” Then she smiled, thinking of sleep. In a light voice, she responded, “Whoever this Berronar is, I owe her a drink. In fact, I'll get her the best damn mead on Matrona.”
Shan put up his hands in protest and drew back, stilted. Bilrak, on the other hand, stomped his foot and clapped his hands together. “You will do no such thing. Berronar is a goddess of my people.” He threw up his arms in joy. “We will get Berronar the mead!” Everyone cheered.
Daf nudged Crystal with her elbow. “Show-off.”
“I guess. Let's get off these steps, Daf.” Crystal led Daf to the bottom of the steps where four Dwarves, all women, placed Daf on their shoulders and took her to a mushroom-roofed structure in the near distance. Crystal watched Daf disappear into its entrance, then made her way to Shan and Bilrak who were conversing nearby.
Bilrak reached for Soul's Eye and Crystal flinched, moving the sword away from his touch. Why'd I do that? she thought.
“I'm sorry,” said Bilrak. “Soul's Eye is a legend. With my living eyes, I've never seen her away from the guardian statue on the path here to Dirn Garum. When she glowed moments ago it was brilliant. Maybe if I touch her, she will glow again?”
“I don't know,” replied Crystal. “I would like water and rest, as you promised.”
Bilrak shook his head. “I promised no water.”
Shan's mouth drew into a smile. “I'll give her water from my own supply, Bilrak. After all, it freely gives itself to you. Don't you think it would freely give itself to all?”
Bilrak grunted, then turned and walked away. Speaking over his shoulder he called out, “Show her to a bed.”
“Grumpy much?” asked Crystal.
“It's their personality. I find it strangely charming—and you get used to it after a while,” replied Shan. He stretched his arm out, showing her the way. “Shall we?”
Shan toured her around the square, pointing at gold and ebb bricks, telling her about the origins of the patterns. Statues were made of gold and he explained that each year the Dwarves held a festival where they melted the statues and created new ones. It was a celebration to laugh and drink their fears away. All of this, however, was going in one ear and out the other. Crystal was too tired and sleep was all she wanted.
Shan gestured to the entrance of a large, circular dome with another mushroom top. “My home away from home, as the Dwarves say.”
Crystal walked into Shan's home and hopped onto his bed of white sheets, thinking that this had to be one of the longest days of her life.
She scrunched up the pillow, patting it to make it fluffy. “May I use your pillow?”
“You may.”
She stretched her body out and laid her head on the pillow. It was only seconds before she was in a deep sleep.
Shan walked over to her and touched the skin between her eyebrows. “You have a long journey ahead. May you be healthy and wise.”
He stepped out of the dwelling a moment later as snores filled the room.
∞
Eden awoke with a start. It was dusk and she had been resting her back against the Oberum's landing gear, her butt on the ebb ground. Yawning, she rubbed her eyes, then closed them to go back to sleep. She figured she had another couple hours before everyone got up.
Something rustled against the wind and Eden froze, except her eyes, which opened wide in reflex. The wind hadn't blown, so the sound was very peculiar.
Is one of the Fae or Sirians up and walking around?
She slowly turned her head, counting the sleeping Fae and Sirians, along with an out cold Thomas. As she was about to close her eyes once more, she saw him open one eye and slowly bring his finger to his lips, telling her to be still.
It was then that she saw a boot out of the corner of her eye, just beyond the nose of the starfighter they were sleeping under. Even though the starfighter was camouflaged and hidden in a hologram, someone or something could still bump into it.
The boot was then accompanied by a second boot, both gray with green spiky fins. A creepy sensation prickled her spine and she looked back at Thomas; he was back to feigning sleep.
She fought back the urge to run, to find a better place hide. Being the closest person to the boots, if she were to be discovered there was no way she could defend herself. She was a pilot, not a hand-to-hand fighter. Plus, she had seen one of the enemy last night, dropping off someone onto Starship Sirona, and he was huge.
Several more boots appeared, accompanied by a faint scraping sound against the earth.
Do they have us on satellite locale? How do they know we're here, especially if we're in a hologram?
Looking around the landing gear, she saw several more boots appear. A hand roughly covered her mouth and her eyes popped open. She tried to move, but something had pinned her body. Twisting her neck she saw Nyx's face. Nyx was holding her down so she wouldn't give their position away. Behind Nyx were a handful of Fae men and women, each with a bow on their backs and arrows between their teeth, crawling silently on the ground toward the boots.
Nyx dropped her hand from Eden's mouth, then whispered into her ear. “We're silencing the perimeter.”
Eden nodded, noticing that all were on the move, even Thomas.
Come with me, said Jantu telepathically. He was crouched against the real boulder, waving her to come his way.
Eden slid past Nyx, moving slowly in Jantu's direction.
A loud thud sounded and a shriek, then a bolt of bright light flashed around her, then another, and another. Several thumps sounded, like bodies hitting the ground.
“We could have done without the loud scream,” grumbled Nyx.
A male Fae, who had just been outside of the hologram ducked his head back in. “I'm sorry, Nyx. I scared the water right out of that one.”
He pointed to a large man on the ground, wearing a green and gray tight spandex-like outfit, looking as if he had peed himself.
“Is he dead?” Eden asked Jantu.
Jantu shook his head. No. He is merely unconscious. Jantu held out a small blue orb. We knocked him out with these stun lights. They are smaller and less potent than the ones we used yesterday. These men will be out for half a day.
“Those lights didn't stun our crew, though? How?” asked Eden.
They will only stun you if they are within a one-foot radius from you. That's why we call them small stun lights, because of their smaller radius of impact.
“Wow,” replied Eden. “They detonated those within a foot radius from the giants?”
We are fast, Eden. Faster than any warriors you've ever met.
The Fae and the Sirians dragged eight large bodies under the hologram. The sleeping giants in their tight green and gray suits had large masks that had black, buggy eyes. They looked human in every way, except for the masks, but Eden was curious to see if they had human faces or if they in fact were bug-like.
They are human-looking, just twice your size, replied a yellow-furred, female Sirian. Ugly buggers. She winked.
Eden examined one of the knocked-out bodies, seeing blood splattered on his face. He must have had a bad fall. Surely that one was dead.
As I said, none of them are dead, responded Jantu to Eden’s thoughts. We don't kill if it is not necessary. We do so only as a last resort.
“This reading my mind stuff is getting a little weird,” grinned Eden. “I just have to learn not to think, I guess.”
Jantu looked at her, then at Thomas, then back to her, giv
ing a knowing look.
“What?” asked Eden. “Why you looking at me like that?”
He jokingly lifted his cat-like eyebrows a few times, as if he knew her thoughts about Thomas.
Eden blushed. “What? You think...I like him?” She acted completely innocent. “There is no way I—”
“Get your gear on, my friends,” interrupted Thomas, not noticing Eden and Jantu's exchange. “We're going to Starship Sirona. Are there any objections?”
Everyone looked at each other and seeing that no one disagreed, the Fae and Sirians grabbed their packs and weapons, then followed Thomas out from under the hologram and onto the wide plateau.
Jantu put his hand on Eden's shoulder. Are you coming with us?
“Well, yes.” She spread her hands out wide. “I'm not staying here with all of these unconscious guys.”
Nyx tugged on Eden's arm. “Let's go, Eden. We are waiting for you.”
Walking out from under the Oberum, she saw the entire troop of Fae and Sirians gathered around Thomas, who was speaking.
“I'm affected by everyone one of you in a positive way,” he told them. “Today, your stealth and technique were brilliant. None of us were injured, or worse yet, killed.”
“And,” responded Nyx, giving a dismissive glance toward the Oberum that was still in the holographic image of the boulder behind it, “only one of those guys cried out. I was disappointed at first, but one scream is better than all of them screaming.”
“Thank you for that optimism,” said Thomas.
“Yeah, yeah. I'm working on it,” Nyx replied.
With that, Thomas turned and walked away and the others followed.
The land before them was dotted with heavy boulders or rock heaps, put there by years of ebb mining. It was morning, with the sun rising to the east. The temperature was warm. A good day for a stroll, thought Eden.
Suddenly, Thomas picked up the pace and started jogging.
“Here we go,” said Nyx.
Star Guild Episodes 10 - 18 (Star Guild Saga) Page 7
