Shan, Daf and the Dwarfs had not seen the light emanating from above or seen the statue move by changing into flesh, nor did they hear him speak. To them, it was the same ebb statue it had always been. Nonetheless, the Dwarfs had released an audible “ahhhh” when the sword “fell” to the ground in front of Crystal. The Dwarfs bowed, making sure to keep their eyes low to the stone ground.
“Sumyana,” called out one Dwarf, then the others chimed in chorus, “Sumyana.”
“Soul's Eye,” Crystal whispered, and the moment she did she saw her own eyes reflecting back at her in the steel blade.
The moment passed and she curled her fingers around the handle, squeezing the hilt. She stood up, waving it slowly from side to side, trying it out. It felt so right, as though it was an extension of herself.
Daf glared at Shan, a little irritated that he wasn't giving her a play by play. “What's happening?”
“The Dwarfs are saying Sumyana, which means Enlightened One—if I'm hearing it correctly. And, I think they're describing Crystal, not the statue. Well, Sumyana could also mean 'flying creature', but I don't think that's the case here. From what I can determine, she's the hero they've been waiting for, the fabled protector of sorts.”
Crystal, overhearing Shan's explanation, held the sword by her side and walked over to the group, saying, “I'm at a loss too, Daf. But, what Shan says is what the statue guy just told me. He said I was to protect and Walk the Path of Light.” She looked at the still bowing Dwarfs, with Harak standing behind his companions, his arms crossed and gripping his axe. He was the only Dwarf not bowing to her. “I guess it's time.” He spat on the ground. “A sun lover of all things! How could we be so cursed?”
Crystal, aghast, cocked her head to the side. “You speak my language?”
“No. You now speak mine,” replied Harak. There was no surprise in his voice.
“I do?”
Thun stood and looked at Harak. “A curse, brother? She is a gift and a gift should not be judged by appearances. The one who holds the sword bears the blood. You know the words etched in our stone, brother. She is our guardian now. No longer will it be our father.”
Crystal stepped back. “What?”
“What are you saying, Crystal? How did you learn their language?” asked Daf, perplexed by the conversation.
Crystal shrugged her shoulders, then glanced at the statue. “I think he did it when he handed me the sword.”
“When who handed you the sword?” asked Daf.
“The guy in the robe,” replied Crystal, looking at Daf as if she'd gone blind.
Shan stepped forward. “Crystal, we saw the sword fall. Nothing more and nothing less.”
Thun walked to her and took her by the hand. “Follow us. You and my father have a lot to discuss.”
“Discuss what?” asked Crystal.
“Crystal! What are you saying?” Daf turned to Shan. “How is she speaking their language?”
Shan grinned. “There is much more to the universe than meets the eye.”
Daf shook her head. She let her hands flop by her sides while hopping on one leg. “Okay, I give up.”
Thun had been patiently waiting for the conversation to die down before he spoke to Crystal, then said, “We are a race much like yours. We come from Gaia as well and want to return to our homeland.” He slammed his hammer on the ground for emphasis. “You are the one to lead us. You are the one to defend our kingdom. You are the one to guide us by the Light of Soul's Eye. But, first...” he turned and eyed the way they'd come. “When we are ready, we turn those who stole us to this planet into ash!”
Confused, Crystal bent down to be eye to eye with Thun. “Turn who into ash?”
“The Nankuani who dwell on the surface.”
Crystal couldn't help but feel charmed by his courage, but knew his idea wasn't a good one. “They are too many and we don't have the fire power.”
He gave a quick nod toward her sword. “You have Soul's Eye.”
She looked at Soul's Eye as she held it in her hand. “It's just a sword.”
Thun shook his head, grumbling. “It's not just a sword. No matter how many have tried, Dwarf or other, it could not be pried from the statue's hands. But, you have it now. There is no turning back. You have been chosen by the Guardian.” He bowed before Crystal. “Soul's Eye's entire lineage is etched in stone. We will etch you next, to join your bloodline.” He brought his eyes to the sword. “Soul's Eye is wielded by the one destined to defeat our suppressors, as is also etched in our stones. You are of the bloodline that will correct the grievous injustice perpetrated on our two peoples.”
“I don't think so, Thun, but I'll try to find a way off this planet. That I can do.”
He grunted, then shook his head, his brows drawing together into a frown. “If a race is unjust, it is not only right for that race to be stopped, but we are obligated to do it.” He walked forward, his hand wrapped around her wrist. “Come!”
They walked down the spiraling path, destination Dirn Garum.
Author’s Note
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Table of Contents
Title Page
First Edition, January 2015
Episode 1
Location: Andarta System, Circinus Galaxy, 832 year cycle of Starbase Matrona's orbit around Planet Lumus
Episode 2 Prime Zim
A creature peered through the glass pane, showing itself. Crystal screamed at the top of her lungs, crawling backwards and doing her best to get as far away from it as possible, hitting her head against the metal cockpit hatch. She swiped hair out of her eyes, but suddenly relaxed.
Episode 3
Admiral James Byrd was stretched out on his green couch in his office. Other than a small desk, a large bed and file cabinets lining the wall, his office was rather empty. No pictures and no paintings. The only thing that gave it any real beauty were the two thickly lined clear-ebb windows, usually displaying the universe before him—stars, the seldom seen comet that flew by, the clouds of a nebula, and of course the red planet Lumus.
Episode 4 Reunion
Like a bright beacon in a world of darkness, blue lights were beaming out of every crevice and cave from Mount Gabriel.
Episode 5 The Kill Off
Sphere Six Overseer, Savanna Levens, was sitting in her office, gazing through a large observation window overlooking Matrona's biosphere. Teary eyed, she watched as a waterfall cascaded down a rock precipice.
Episode 6 “S”
Chief Petty Officer Crystal McCoy was in Tech Quarters examining Mech blueprints on an HDC. Most of the designs had been created hundreds of years before she was born. During the last two days, it seemed like she'd gone over them a thousand times with little sleep, percussion blasts, and explosions rocking Starship Sirona. After awhile, like most things, it had begun to feel normal to her, as familiar as the pounding of Mech legs hitting the dirt and jostling her cockpit.
Episode 7 The Plot Thickens
Swift!
Episode 8 The Antidote
Devon was leaning against a tree, sitting comfortably in a clump of moss while peeling an orange, just outside of the Political Infirmary. His thoughts drifted, always ending in one, solid sentence—what did I get myself into?
Episode 9 Dirn Garum
Crystal checked the auxiliary fuel pump, then signaled a thumbs up through her Mech's viewing window to Wrench doing “techy stuff”. Daf was in the Mech to her right, waiting for them to complete the checklist so they could be on their way to Forever Mountain. She yawned and rubbed the last remaining blur from her eyes, the result o
f Crystal waking her in the dead of the night so she could hurry up and wait, apparently.
Author’s Note
Star Guild Episodes 1 - 9 (Star Guild Saga) Page 36
