The Shards

by Gary Alan Wassner

  When he returned to his friends, he reluctantly informed them of the situation on the surface. They had all believed that they would shortly be able to depart for Avalain once the immediate threat had passed. The disappointment when Elion told them that their escape route was no longer viable, hung in the air as if it was a tangible thing. Queen Esta was particularly saddened by the news initially, though she withstood it in her normally stoic manner and was, as usual, an example for the others. She merely dropped her regal head for a moment, and then moved on emotionally, accepting the situation without another hint of regret. Stephanie sighed deeply and then burst into tears, whereupon Preston leapt to her side to comfort her. He had been so anxious to travel to the legendary city of Avalain himself that it was arduous for him to ignore his own emotions, yet he did so quite valiantly nevertheless.

  They were all fortunate that the young dwarf was so keenly aware of what type of rock and stone would provide them with a safe haven and of what type might present a danger to them all. He navigated the curves and bends of the tunnels that emanated from the small cave they first encountered when they entered as if he had been there before. He listened to the rock, smelled it, touched it and literally tasted it before he was willing to lead them deeper inside. In the presence of need, he shortly forgot that they were trapped here now, and he embraced the role that had inadvertently been foisted upon him.

  Once they all realized that they could not return the same way that they entered, Preston took charge with a newly found maturity that lifted his esteem in all of their eyes. The frightened, run-away youth of only months ago had grown up in a very short time, and the others acknowledged this change by following him further into the cave with confidence, and without questioning his decisions either openly or within the privacy of their own thoughts.

  As it turned out, the tiny opening that Preston espied on the fateful day of their departure from the woods of Pardeau, led to a massive labyrinth of passageways and chambers that twisted and aimed endlessly it seemed into the depths of the earth. Fortunately for them all, there was an ample supply of fresh water that trickled and dripped constantly from the cold rock surfaces, and created a perpetual and soothing cacophony of sound. In addition to the all-important water, various types of mushrooms grew everywhere in abundance, and Preston knew exactly which ones they could eat and which ones would get them sick. The very large, woody tasting ones that grew out of the crevices of the walls were the best, particularly when they roasted them until they were tender, while the small, button shaped fungi were to be avoided at all costs. Preston assured the others that a tiny taste of those would cause a violent reaction within minutes of their consumption.

  The group took turns carrying Tomas as they ventured further and further into the cave. The air was fresh and abundant regardless of how deep they descended, and they could even feel the wind in places as if the cavern itself was exposed to the surface breezes. Long and narrow shafts rose from the ceilings out of which these zephyrs blew, though none was wider than a few inches, and it was impossible to enter any of them in order to escape to the surface.

  In most areas, a fine powder of phosphorescent particles coated the surface upon which they walked, and this illuminated their way. The walls were also coated with the same material, and fortunately it was rarely difficult for them to see. Though the light was far from bright, the glow was warm and comforting, and certainly more than adequate. Elion smiled when he first noticed the material. He opened a small pouch that was tied to his belt and showed the others a similar stash of matter that the elves of Lormarion used to light the ground within the depths of the forest beneath Seramour. He showed the others how to sift through the dirt upon the floor in order to isolate these bright particles, and they all soon had their own supply tucked safely into their garments in the event that the tunnels eventually grew dark.

  Though he confided in the group, Elion was reluctant to share with the others the last words Tomas uttered when he found him despondent and depressed outside the entrance to this haven some three weeks ago. The idea that the boy’s own Lalas could have betrayed him to Caeltin D’Are Agenathea, the Lord of Darkness, terrified him so that for the sake of his friends, he kept the news to himself. He would tell them all when the time was right, but it would be pointless for them to suffer needlessly now when the circumstances were so uncertain already. He had yet to reconcile the Lalas’ actions himself, and unfortunately he had no opportunity to discuss the situation with Tomas before he collapsed.

  “I wonder what they are thinking in Avalain,” Queen Esta said.

  “Is there anyone there who knew where you were going when you first left?” Stephanie asked from across the broad chamber, as she pressed a cool, damp cloth on Tomas’ forehead. She looked at his beautiful face, marred by worry and concern even in his inchoate state. Affectionately, she adjusted the blanket that lay atop his unmoving body, and then she walked across the cavern toward the others assembled by the small fire Elion was nursing.

  “The Captain of the guard, Lord Markel, will figure out something to tell the people until he knows for certain what is going on, though I did not take him into my confidence. I regret my lack of foresight. It was unlike me to not anticipate that something might go wrong with my plan. Marne and I thought we would be back in only a few days. We were simply going to gather some information on my daughter, Filaree,” she recalled with a frown.

  “How could you have suspected? Had you even a hint that you were walking into a trap, you never would have gone in the first place,” Preston said, as he shredded some of the mushrooms with his pocketknife.

  “And Marne would still be alive,” Esta sighed.

  “It is small consolation to think that we might never have all met if you had not ventured into the woods that day,” Elion said, as he stole one of the slices from the dwarf and popped it into his mouth.

  “The fabric weaves of its own will, Elion. Marne would yet be with us, but you Stephanie would still be subject to the dictates of Margot and her crusaders. Who knows what that might have led to? It is not for us to question fate, though its heart can seem so cruel at times,” the Queen replied.

  “I am so grateful to you all, you cannot imagine!” Stephanie said. “I think that I would have died myself if I remained there much longer. I could not just go along with what they required any more. It was getting harder and harder to avoid doing the things they asked of me, and I would never have been able to support them and their abominable ideas. My days were numbered,” she remembered.

  The young girl shuddered noticeably and her hand shook as she lifted it from the boy’s brow. Tears flowed down her rosy cheeks.

  “You are safe now, Steph. Although it might seem that we have led you into more trouble, I know it will all work out. You do not have to be afraid,” Preston said tenderly.

  He put aside what he was doing and moved so that he was sitting beside her. The girl sobbed quietly into her hand, and Esta moved to comfort her as well.

  “Hush now dear,” she soothed her. “It certainly appears as if we have leapt from the frying pan into the fire, but we will see this clearly to the end soon. It will all begin to make sense in time.”

  Stephanie dried her eyes with the back of her hand, and then she sat up straight. Elion too joined the others, as the three of them formed a tight circle around the maiden.

  “I am not crying for myself. I could not be so ungrateful. You are all so wonderful to me,” she said. “ Nothing could have been worse than what I left behind. I just feel so awful about everything! I do not feel worthy of your attention. Marne is gone and I am here in her stead. She was so strong and so noble. I look at myself and I feel that all of you would have been better off if I had perished rather than she.”

  “Such foolish words!” Esta rebuked her. “Why make such comparisons. Each one of us has a role to play, and you will discover yours in time. Besides, you had nothing to do with her death whatsoever! Marne died in service to me! If an
yone should feel guilty here, it is I. And believe me, my dear, I do! Had it not been for all of you, I would have perished as well. Now stop your fussing, and let us all be thankful that we have found one another.”

  Esta took the girl’s hand and squeezed it firmly but affectionately, whereupon Stephanie sucked in her breath and dried her swollen eyes with her sleeve. The Queen put her arm around the girl’s shoulder and hugged her to her side. Stephanie had not felt a motherly touch in a long while and she warmed to it immediately. She had almost forgotten just how much her circumstances had changed in only a matter of less than one year. Though it hurt her to recall the days when her father was alive and her mother was healthy, and Pardeau was a place where strangers were welcome and the citizens felt safe and secure, it also reminded her vividly of how fortunate she was to have discovered her old friend and his new companions. Stephanie smiled warmly at the Queen, and she returned the squeeze with a meaningful one of her own.

  “When you ride the crest of the wave, the height can be exhilarating and the speed with which you travel can take your breath away. But beware when the wave breaks. And break it must, at some point. Marne knew the risks that she took, and she embraced them with the fervor of a true heroine,” Esta said. “We shall grieve for her certainly, but we cannot change what has already occurred. It is fruitless to pine over it. We have so much else to do.”

  Esta and Preston hovered over the girl while Elion stood closely by, and each member of the group was moved by her emotions. They all harbored doubts and concerns deep within themselves, and her honesty and openness brought them to the surface. While comforting her, they assuaged their own feelings as well, and the bond between them grew firmer and more secure. All four of the companions felt it as if it was almost a physical thing.

  “Lives are built upon moments like these,” Esta intoned. “Whether our paths diverge in the days to come or whether we are all still together, I will not soon forget any of you.”

  It was bright where they had gathered and they therefore had no difficulty observing how emotional this moment was for each person present. Their facial expressions gave them away. The remainder of the chamber had grown dark, though no one noticed the change during this encounter. Elion was the first to realize that the area where Tomas lay was no longer visible.

  “I had better attend to the boy,” he said, a bit startled by the depth of the darkness.

  The others all rose hastily and walked behind him across the floor. The light had gone totally out in the recesses of the chamber, and Elion disappeared into the obscurity before they could even catch up with him.

  “Does anyone have any of the powder on them?” Preston asked.

  “I do,” Stephanie replied, and she reached into the pouch that hung from her belt.

  As soon as she opened the string tying the top, her hand stood out in the darkness as if there was no body attached to it. Quickly, she retrieved a small pinch of the phosphorescent material and flung it in the blackness around them. As it made contact with the air the substance was activated, and the entire immediate area was swathed in a yellowish glow.

  In the pale light, they could distinctly see Elion kneeling in front of them, beside the blanket that covered the boy. Elion turned to face the others with a grim expression etched upon his elfin features, and he rose slowly with the blanket in his hands. Something was terribly wrong.

  “He’s gone!” Stephanie exclaimed, dumbfounded.

  Chapter Five

  Concentrate!” she admonished her friend. “Find what is common to it all. It is there, Angeline. You only need to sift through the particles in order to isolate it.”

  Tamara sat beside the slim and muscular woman and guided her as she attempted to start the evening fire. What had seemed miraculous to her only five or so weeks before was now routine, and the stout sister was a good instructor. Angeline stretched her long index finger, swirled it slightly, and the pile of dry twigs and leaves began to smolder.

  “You’ve go it!” Tamara exclaimed, as happy with the other woman’s accomplishment as if it had been her own success. “Now, just let it spread all by itself. You must learn not only how to begin the process, but when to back away as well. If you exert too much of an influence, the result may be far more extensive than you might wish. It is much harder to contain the energy once you have unleashed it. As it outstretches, it assumes a life of its own. You may not be able to control it so easily.”

  Tamara furrowed her brow, and with her right hand she directed a short wall of debris to form around the burgeoning fire. The material she used was just as flammable at the onset as what burned within the circle, but Angeline watched closely as it seemed to change in consistency with Tamara’s urging. What had seconds before been dry leaves, dust and twigs was being altered at its core. The essential elements were being divided and diffused by the more experienced sister, and a new material composed of the same elements as that which existed before but now in a different configuration took shape before their eyes.

  “How did you know what to change and what to leave as it was?” Angeline asked.

  “I cannot answer that,” Tamara replied. “I sense the essence of what I am manipulating somehow, and I think about the qualities that I need in order to accomplish the task that I have in mind. A lot of what I do is not directed by my will as you might think. Although I am conscious all the while, it is my spirit that guides the material to an extent. I have learned to feel with my senses much as I have done my whole life with my limbs.”

  “I think I understand,” Angeline said. “When the fire just began to ignite, it seemed as if the pieces had just fallen together. It felt right somehow.”

  “That is how I would have explained it too,” Tamara replied and bobbed her chin up and down. “It just begins to feel right. I believe that there is a symmetry to life and to each object that we see in nature. If we rearrange the elements and achieve that symmetry again, it seems correct.”

  “Have you ever found that what you created was wrong?” Angeline questioned. “Has there been a time when what you did turned out different than you wished?”

  “Not in the end. Not yet, at least. There have been times during the process when I have been unsure of what the outcome was going to be. But there always seems to be something deeper, something other than my will and desire that guides me, and I have not yet been plagued by doubt about the outcome of what I have tried to accomplish. Remember though, sister that this is all quite new to me as well.”

  “What I cannot get used to is that it just seems so natural. Now that I look at things the way you have instructed me, I cannot imagine seeing them any differently. I spent my entire life unaware that my relationship with the world around me was so much more intertwined than I ever conceived. It seems as if a door in my spirit has opened,” Angeline commented. “My eyes gaze upon the exact same elements as they did before, but they no longer look the same.”

  By this time, the small fire was burning brightly and it illuminated their faces, as well as the surrounding desolate landscape that seemed to stretch in all directions. Though it was still daylight, the hills cast a grayish pallor upon everything, obscuring the remaining sunlight, and many areas were concealed by almost complete darkness and shadows.

  The two sisters had been traveling for about three weeks. When they first left the Tower of Parth, they were more than just a slight bit unsure of themselves. Although Tamara had only recently gone on a journey of her own before they had set out on this one and she returned unscathed despite some difficult circumstances, Angeline had not been away for many years. She was competent certainly, but in many respects she was quite sheltered, and her strength had never been challenged. The two women had always respected one another, though no one would have called them friends. Now, after only a few short weeks, the bonds between them had grown strong, soldered together by the importance of their mission as well as by the discovery that they had so much in common after all. They became true companions
in a rather short while, due in no small part to the fact that both of them had such giving hearts.

  The first week on the trail, their path had been clear and well defined. The roads that led away from Parth one would never have called well-traveled, but they were distinct and easy to follow. The terrain was flat and wooded, but it was not difficult to traverse. Parth was constructed upon the intersection of the roots of many of the great Lalas, and the soil above it and around it was fertile and teeming with life. But, as they drew further and further away, the environment changed dramatically.

  The few humans that they encountered during their first days on the road were respectful, though nervous when they saw the two sisters approach. They hesitated to talk to the women, and despite Tamara’s ebullient personality, they were uncomfortable around them and seemed to desire nothing more than to be anywhere but in their presence. The sisters honored and respected these concerns and did not insist upon engaging them in conversation, although it did cause them to question this unusual behavior. The Sisters of Parth were never shunned before for any reason, and people everywhere usually felt safe in their presence. Things had surely changed in only a short while, Angeline and Tamara agreed. When evil stretches its dirty hands across the land, very little remains unsullied and unspoiled.