The Heartstone (21 page)

“I don’t understand.”

“All will be explained. Tomorrow, we must go to the pool. Honored one, do not approach the Pool of the Oracle until then. I must implore you to stay away from it. You are not trained in our mystery and it could be very dangerous. Now we feast in celebration of the Mother’s goodness in bringing you back to us.” A slender white hand pulled on a cord and the room filled with priestesses. “Children, the Stonebearer has returned. Today is a holiday. Three days hence the path opens. Take our guest to the bathing pool and prepare her for the feast.”

An honor guard of four priestesses escorted Ariana down a maze of corridors past dormitories and study halls. Everything was spare and scrubbed. At every door she glimpsed heads peering out. Ariana looked at the women surrounding her. They were all blonde-haired with blue eyes. Their eyes were shining and their breath trembled with suppressed excitement. They stole surreptitious glances at her. She looked more closely at them; the oldest was no more than sixteen. She glanced over at Geneth walking beside her.

“What do you do here?”

“We study, honored one.”

“What do you study?”

“We learn the ways of the mother, her rites and worship, some study healing and some the lore of the heavens.”

“Do you stay here for your whole life?”

“Some become dedicated to the Mother and stay here. Others take our healing and knowledge out into the world.”

“Did you choose this?”

“It is a great honor to be a Handmaid of Luna.”

Ariana thought it sounded grim. Never to see the outside world, run in the wind and sit in the sunshine. She kept her opinions to herself. The girls seemed happy. Now she was here and it was a holiday, she felt their joy.

Word must have spread like wildfire, when they reached the bathing pool there were scores of handmaids there. They ranged from old women with calm joy on their wrinkled faces to young girls, who reflected their excitement with eruptions of giggles.

They obscured the white and blue tiles on the walls. Ariana stopped and looked at the sea of faces before her. She couldn’t bathe with these people here. She looked beseechingly at Geneth.

“The Stonebearer needs privacy sisters. You will see her at the feast. Please leave us now.” Geneth said.

Reluctantly the women left softly murmuring. The four handmaids waited. The pool was tiled in blue and white. Steam rose from the water. She looked at the handmaids. They stared impassively back.

“I’m fine now. I’ll just do this myself.”

Geneth gently shook her head. “It is our honor to serve you Stonebearer.”

They took her robe off her and escorted her to the pool. The water was hot. Ariana felt her tension ease. The water felt great on her shoulder and ankle. She closed her eyes. The handmaids bathed her with herbal scrubs. She looked down, as the water grew murky with her journey’s grime. The handmaids scrubbed her body until it gleamed and her skin tingled. She could see her ribs, but muscles flexed lending her litheness. She had cuts and bruises all over. Sighing, she gave in to the pampering. They washed her hair. She reveled in having clean hair again. Once she was clean, they massaged her and put a healing salve on her cuts. It stung. She hissed as it bubbled in the tender flesh.

They wrapped her in a simple robe, and then led her back to her chamber. A carpet and tapestries now augmented the Spartan décor. If she hadn’t seen her belongings in a neat pile, she wouldn’t have recognized the room. Geneth brushed and styled her hair. The others went to get her clothing. They came back with a dress, white silk shot through with iridescent thread. It glistened in the light of the chamber like a moonstone.

“Oh no, I couldn’t. It’s too beautiful.”

They ignored her. Gently but inexorably, she was dressed in the gown. Ariana looked in the mirror. She looked incredible. The dress shimmered like a dream. Her hair was swept up softly and gleamed tawny gold. The stone against her collarbone glittered. She felt like a princess.

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as they walked toward the feast. They were doing this just because she’d arrived. What if she let them all down? She had a feeling that opening the gate was not easy and that it would take everything she had.

They reached the main banqueting hall. Silver and blue scrollwork and lettering rimmed the entry arch. She looked at Geneth.

“Let all who enter enjoy the bounty of the mother with a pure and joyous heart.” Geneth read for Ariana.

They went inside. It was an immense room. Mosaics depicting the bounty of the earth and the turning of the seasons decorated the walls. Rhyanna sat at the head of an enormous polished round table. It looked like it had grown up from the white limestone of the mountain. The seat next to her was empty.

Ariana thought there must be a hundred people in the chamber and they were all looking at her. It was a vast sea of white robes and eyes. She took a deep breath and stepped into the room. Everyone stood. The only sound was Ariana’s footsteps. She sat. A small bell chimed, everyone else sat. There were scores of women. Elders sitting interspersed with teenagers and small girls. But everything was quiet. She looked at Rhyanna.

“They are waiting for you to speak honored one.”

Ariana stood up. “Friends,”

Every eye trained on her. She could feel her hair growing it was so quiet.

“Uh, you honor me. Please, don’t be afraid to be yourselves. Enjoy the feast. Go ahead and talk, please. I can tell the little ones are bursting to move and eat. So please, go ahead. Thank you.” She sat down.

Rhyanna rose and raising her hands in invocation said. “Luna’s blessing on this table. Thank the mother that we have this chance to redeem ourselves. We thank her for the bounty she has given us and strive to be worthy of her light.” She sat down.

Everyone began talking. Some of the handmaids rose and began bringing in the food: Tureens of savory soup, loaves of crusty bread, creamy butter, huge rounds of cheese, mounds of roasted tubers and vegetables, salads of delicate greens, grains flavored with herbs. For dessert there were fruits and sweet cakes that disappeared quickly into the appreciative children. Everyone feasted and laughter and chatter rang out in the great hall.

The time passed like a dream for Ariana. She laughed and sampled everything including a cordial from pitchers scattered around the table. From time to time, she looked at Rhyanna. Rhyanna ate sparingly but smiled at her handmaid’ joy. Ariana envied the calm contentment in her eyes. She looked as if she had no qualms or doubts about anything. Rhyanna saw Ariana looking at her.

“What is it my child?”

“I don’t know. Why do I have to wait to open the Gate? Can’t I get there without waiting?”

“You could my dear, but the way is long and treacherous. If you go through Leudwen you cut weeks from your journey.”

“But I’m afraid.”

“That is natural my child. You are going into the unknown and that is always frightening.”

“But you aren’t. Why?”

“Because I know that whatever is: is the Mother’s will. I have faith in her light. And I thank her that she has found me worthy to help right the wrong.”

“You said that before, what are you talking about?”

Rhyanna looked around at the table making sure the feasting was over. She gestured. The handmaids cleared the table and settled back in their seats. Rhyanna rose.

“Long ago when the world was new; it came time for the firstborn to rejoin their parents. They loved all their children, especially the last born and weakest, Man. They decided to create something to protect him. Tir brought forth the stone from her body, Ayr breathed life into it, Tan forged it with his fire and Mor offered her tears to quench it. Leaving the Stone with the wisest of their children they left.

“The Heartstone lay in the center of a great and beautiful temple. Anyone could see the stone and know the love and concern of the firstborn. Generations passed. At this time a Queen came to the temple. A violent desire seized her. She had to have it. When the leader of the temple denied her, she became furious. She went home to her kingdom. Thoughts of the Stone consumed her. She lusted after it. She pined for it. She refused all food and drink. Nothing else would please her, the finest furs, the choicest bits of food, other jewels, nothing. Finally, her desperate husband gave in to her demands. He raised an army and went to gain the Stone by force.

“The wise men had foreseen this and realized that the time had come to take the Stone away from the greed of man. The mages created Galancarrig. Then they created three sets of gateways. The first was Leudwen, the moon gate. The second was Heulwen, the sun gate. The final and most intricate was Galancarrig itself.

“The Heartstone was saved and the mages and handmaids became its guardians. People became concerned with power and politics. The Gods and their gift were forgotten. The Stone became a legend. But it was always there, protecting the land from evil and misfortune. Generations passed and the land flourished. Somehow an enemy came to Galancarrig. One night there was a magical attack against the tower and it was destroyed. The Heartstone disappeared.

“Earthquakes, tidal waves, windstorms and fires raged over the land. Men became slaves. People starved. Violence and fear became a way of life. Now Rhysin threatens to destroy every hope. We have one last chance; to restore what was lost blesses us. Now my children I end my tale. May the light shine in your hearts and your dreams. Sweet evensong, to all.”

Everyone rose and left. Geneth led Ariana back to her chamber. She took off her gown and slipped into bed. She reflected on the tale. It agreed with her visions. Would Rhyanna think her mother was the thief or would she understand? Maybe she’d known her mother? She put her hand around the Stone. Its warmth comforted her. She fell asleep.

Ariana walked down the hall to Rhyanna’s room. Images of Jarod’s lifeless body had invaded her dreams, again. Blood sheathed his body. He stared at her pleading for help. She couldn’t wait any longer. She knocked and walked in without waiting to be invited. Rhyanna looked up calmly from her discussion with one of the elder handmaids. Did anything ever surprise her? Ariana swallowed irritation.

“Yes?”

“I need to find out about Jarod. I can’t wait any longer. Time is getting short. I can feel it.”

“Tomorrow is the full moon. The gate will be ready then.”

“I can’t wait. He’s in danger.” Ariana stared at Rhyanna.

“Then we will go to the pool.” Rhyanna rose and started toward the door. She turned to Ariana. “Remember, it is forbidden to interfere with what you see and you are forbidden to ask about your journey.”

“Yes, ma’am”

They walked down the hall into the great chamber. Their footsteps echoed off the whitewashed walls. The great chamber was deserted. For this rite only petitioner and priestess were allowed.

Rhyanna stepped up to the pool. “Luna, Mother of cycles and tides, hear our plea and let us know the truth.”

Disrobing and raising her hand to the ceiling, she slipped into the water. Immediately it bubbled and steamed as she murmured the incantation. A large mirror of mist rose from the pool’s surface and coalesced before Ariana. It was as if the moon had been brought down and stood on its end like a circle of silver foil. Ariana shielded her eyes. The glare diminished. She stood dumbfounded.

“Ask your question, from your heart,” said Rhyanna.

“Where is Jarod? Is he alive?”

Images swirled in the mirror. Jarod, slung over a saddle, then bound and brought before a man dressed in black. The scene shifted, Jarod was put on a table. He was bloody but still defiant. It took three people to tie him down. Six robed men came in and surrounded him.

First they tried torture, then when he still refused to answer; they poured some type of noxious potion down his throat. Ariana could see him struggle not to swallow but it was no use. He writhed on the table. His face was red, the tendons on his neck stretched as he tried to stop the words bursting forth. There was agony in his eyes as his lips formed her name. He convulsed in agony and stilled. They threw him into a garbage pit. The vision started to fade.

She had to save Jarod. Nothing else mattered. She closed her eyes and tried to hold onto the vision, for a moment she was flying, her body stretching as she reached for him. Something pulled her back; bands of silver light pulled. She slammed back into her body.