Andra left the next morning with only Shuran to see off his friend. They went into the vault alone and Shuran closed the entrance behind them as they entered.
When the others woke to find them not in the tower ruins, Mally went out to find them. He showed up at the vault entrance to find Shuran exiting alone with a gloss to his eyes.
“Andra has left for home. I do not know if or when we might meet again,” Shuran said as he passed Mallick. Before Mallick could question him, Shuran called out for him to follow to the clearing around the corner. When Mallick rounded the corner he found an Inquisitor standing before him.
***
“What are they doing now?” asked the dwarf to his companions. “This duty bites more than the cold. And Utu is making my eyes ache!” He continued to complain.
“Stop your complaining Avrank. When the elders deemed us go watch the Durangug, that is what we do.” Dvargan and Grafdrik said.
“Hand me the wine skin I have a thirst.” He continued as they watched the man-lings down at the ruins of what was once a castle built upon the ancient home to the watcher of the lands, Shin’Ar.
Dvargan closed the spyglass and tucked it into his satchel. “I am thinking we have enough to take back to the elders. The time we were told about seems to approach. Only the chosen one could have entered the chamber.” The three dwarves picked up their things and headed back to the cave entrance behind them.
***
Shuran worked in earnest practicing his newest skill of shifting into other forms.
Mallick helped by finding a spell to transmute his garments as well as his appearance. He was convincing most of the time and after the initial shock of being confronted by an inquisitor, Mallick was becoming more helpful in suggesting where Shuran was having problems.
“You are too big to be Moona or Codger!” Mally said.
“I know but that cannot be helped. Andra said that I could borrow Essence to become something larger.”
“Yah that snow bear you did earlier nearly scared Moona out of her wrinkled old skin,” Mally interrupted.
“You be careful who you be callin’ old smart arse!” Moona yelled from across the room.
“I kinda like your wrinkles.” Codger whispered next to her.
Moona just grunted as she smacked Codger in the back of the head. Then she smiled to herself.
Shuran shifted back to himself from Codger’s form. “The problem is to become something less is to give up something of myself. I would have to be able to store that part of myself somewhere safe in order to get it back,” Shuran finish with frustration.
“Ah!” Mally said as he got up and ran to a shelf to retrieve a book. “What you need is a keepsafe!” Mally said.
“As I understand this, you create a spelled chamber of gugtu, or magicked lodestone. With a proper binding you can send and retrieve anything from this location with a thought. Perhaps it would work with your… extra bits?” Mally questioned.
Shuran thought about it and finally answered. “It might work if the vessel is protected. And where does someone go about finding lodestone?” Shuran asked.
Mally just grimaced and gestured. “You are standing inside it you dur!”
Shuran just stared in shock at Mally’s suggestion.
“I would literally loose myself in this place!” Shuran gasped.
Mally just shrugged.
Shuran placed his bloodied palm on the door to the chamber over the new inscription of his name in the language of the first people. He intoned the spell to bind his will to the room and immediately felt the overwhelming rush of the chamber’s inventory run through his mind. He passed out cold.
Later when Moona pouring iced water over his head awaked him he jumped up with a start and a head splitting pain.
“What happened to you?” Mally asked.
After several moments Shuran finally gathered his sense enough to answer. “When I bound myself to the room, everything in it became mine. I know everything that is in the chamber.” Shuran said in shock.
“You mean you understand all this?” Codger asked.
“Not exactly, I know the contents I can reference the available texts my title and inventory of artifacts, but I do not understand everything outright. I still need to learn more of the language and history of the first people,” Shuran finished, as if the others should understand what he just said.
Later that evening the group ate dinner and talked of what was to come.
“It is time I left to follow the path that my father laid out before me.” Shuran said.
“What path boy? You think ‘cause you are all mighty powerful now you can take on the Order alone?” Moona held a scowl on her face that would make a forest troll cower in fear.
“He will not be alone.” Mallick answered before Shuran could speak.
“Oh so now both you spratlings got your brains all addled!” Moona said.
“I do not know what my father was doing but it had to be important. So I must find out if he is still out there and help finish what he started,” Shuran looked dutifully.
“Once you figure out what it is, you mean.” Codger finally spoke up. “Moony dear, we won’ be stoppin, ‘em from goin’ best we can do is be here for um learning what we can and keepin’ things safe. We have the talking stones now.”
After dinner Shuran practiced storing and retrieving items from the vault. He only moved things in and out that were not part of the original library so he might protect them from damage. He still was uncertain what would happen to anything if it were removed from the protection of the vault’s spell work.
For now he would rely on copies of originals and hopefully not need any artifacts that he was yet unsure of what they did, if anything. He was not yet ready to try storing part of his Essence there yet and thought it something only done in extreme need. For now he was content with sending crystals, notes and supplies.
“This will certainly make traveling easier not having to carry everything with us,” Mally commented.
“How much energy does it take from you?” Codger asked.
“That is just it, I hardly feel a draw at all. It is as if the room is now part of me and I can just reach in as though placing my hand in a pocket of my garments,” Shuran answered. “Codger perhaps you could do some reading on the subject?” Shuran asked and Codger nodded back in reply.
“Are you going to tell us why Andra left?” Codger asked.
“He said he had to prepare the foresworn for what is to come. What that means he did not explain,” Shuran answered.
“He did not leave on foot, did he use one of your crystals?” Mallick asked.
Shuran looked up at his friends and sighed. “Not exactly, he found something in the vault or rather something about it. I am sworn not to speak of it yet,” Shuran said before anyone could question him on it further. “I was not even certain it worked until Andra sent a message by stone from a second set I created. I have made new ones with Andra’s help.”
Shuran pulled back his sleeve to producing an arm brace of a silver alloy. Set in the brace was two gemstones. He then reached out with a thought and produced three more items with similar features but only one stone on each. “The red gem on each is for communication-” Shuran said before Codger interrupted.
“And the clear stone? I assume the second on your brace alone is for you to speak with Andra.” Codger said rather than asked.
Shuran nodded and handed Mallick an arm brace and a pendant to each Moona and Codger.
Mallick and Codger put on their articles and they immediately flashed with a glow settled over each of them before dissipating. “I have also created the stones so that only we can use them and will return to the vault if they were to somehow fall into the wrong hands. If something were to happen to the owner and your Essence drops below acceptable levels, the artifact will transport you into the vault.”
“Well that is all well and good for the rest o’ ya but you forget somethin’ Shuran,” Moona said feeling somehow less than she should. She had not yet placed her pendant around her neck.
“I have a solution for that if you are willing.” Shuran gave Moona a slight smile.
Shuran led Moona into the vault alone where he asked her to stand in the now open center interior chamber.
Moona noticed that each of the pedestals now held a crystal shard. Each shard a different color that corresponded to the element represented by a symbol carved into the pedestal.
He reached out for her hand and placed his over top of hers. Within moments his mind was racing through her locating and repairing the corrupted markers in her genes. By the time he finished he was sweating and visibly tired.
“You have exhausted yourself. Why didn’ you use one of your fancy rocks?” Moona said trying to hide her gratitude behind sarcasm.
“The first part had to be done without excess power. It required finesse and concentration that I have not mastered yet using an ABNU EMUQ. However, this next part requires no delicacy and it will likely sting a bit.” Shuran looked up at Moona sideways and she sneered back. “Ok it will sting like Xul is sticking you with dragon stone needles or burn like Kibalga!” He admitted.
“Just get this over with,” She cringed.
Shuran stepped out of the chamber and walked over to the earth stone and placed a hand on it. Immediately the shard began to glow and pulse. He then walked over to the pedestal containing a shard of green crystal.
As soon as Shuran touched it the chamber Moona stood in went pitch black then a steady stream of green light burst up from the floor and engulfed Moona.
She screamed.
Moments later Shuran helped Moona out of the chamber and onto a cot in a secluded section of the vault. He laid her back and then brought a water skin to her lips. After a couple sips Moona opened her eyes and looked up at Shuran with tears in her eyes.
“Thank you!”
Shuran nodded back.
“Now get that water away from me and get he some of Codger’s brew. That hurt worse than birthing a sprat!”
Shuran smiled and left Moona to get what she asked.
After he left, Moona reached into one of her many pockets and pulled out her pendant. Slowly she placed the chain over her head and immediately gasped when it activated. “DAMKIANNA! Bless that boy!”
“What is that thing… chamber?” Moona asked Shuran after she had rested enough to regain her strength.
“From what I can understand, it is, or was, used to concentrate the seven powers. Each pedestal channels one of the energies and can only be used by someone who can wield that particular power,” He replied.
“So it would take seven people to work? One for each power?” Moona asked.
“Yes, perhaps even multiple abilities combined in any number of individuals or just one who can wield them all. I was able to activate each pedestal so I assume I could work it alone.”
Its ultimate purpose I do not know, as the language used to describe it is different from all the others we have encountered in this vast library except the book of living things.”
Moona looked at Shuran. “Is that device what you used to send Andra home?”
A nod was the answer that Moona received from Shuran.
After spending a few hours testing the speaking stones, Mallick and Shuran began helping Moona and Codger move all of their things into the Vault. They would spend all their time there so it made sense that they live inside as well.
The animals were brought into an area outside the main chamber where there was space large enough to corral them and create a stable of sorts. The group had no idea as to what was to come, and they felt that being over cautious was better than not.
The chamber when closed, somehow provided breathable air and the antechamber had a fountain that brought in fresh water from the Abzu Mu. The main chamber had several empty sections that were converted to living quarters and storage.
Shuran designated an area for sending in new things and showed them where he or Mally would appear should it become necessary. He also found an empty place to arrange all the Abnu Emuq he created in Birchshire as well as new ones he found in the library. He packed away a few he would keep with him, as well as a few devices he found useful that still worked when he took them outside the vault.
Shuran and Mallick began packing up the supplies. Some basic provisions of dried meat from one of the cattle they had slaughtered, cheese, and dried fruit. A water skin each and a medical belt that Moona had provided.
“No need wastin’ energy healin’ a blister my boy!” Moona said.
The belt contained herbs and ointments for healing and pain management. They all agreed that when they could not find food or water on their own, they would send the empty sacks and skins back to the vault to retrieve full ones that Moona would keep fresh and ready.
They each took a blade and dagger from the weapons rack found in the vault. They took the plainest ones they could find but even those were far more ornate than necessary.