Authors: Lisa Finnegan
Ariana wept. Rhyanna held her and murmured soothing nonsense into her ear. It reminded Ariana of how her mother used to comfort her. She cried harder uncontrolled. They rocked and Ariana heard a tuneless humming like her mother used to use. She could almost smell her mother’s fragrance. It was uncanny how safe she felt. Ariana recognized the arms the voice. She was afraid to open her eyes. If this was a dream she didn’t want to wake up. She looked down. Wavy auburn hair cascaded over her like it had when she was six and her mother comforted her after Tiger died. Ariana clung. Her tears quieted. A gentle hand pulled her hair back.
“What are you doing here? How come you can do this?”
“Bringing you back exhausted Rhyanna so I was able to inhabit her for a moment. You needed you mother. Plus this close to Galancarrig my powers are greater.”
“Oh Mom, what am I gonna do? I can’t do it. If Jarod is gone…” She couldn’t finish.
“Now stop that. You will go on.”
“But Mom, I can’t.”
“Yes you can.”
“Is he gone?”
“I don’t know.”
“Stay with me.”
“You know I can’t.”
“But I miss you so much…”
“I know dear, but it is not permitted.”
“What am I going to do if he’s gone? “
“You’ll go on.”
“I can’t.”
“You must. Do you think it was easy to leave everyone I loved and take the Stone away? I had a duty. Do you think it was easy living in exile, waiting for the proper time to return?”
“Why didn’t you ever tell me?”
“I couldn’t find the right words.”
Ariana stared at her mother’s face. “You were going to leave me there, weren’t you? You were never gonna to tell me.”
Her mother looked down. “I wanted to but I didn’t know how.”
“Would you have left me there?”
Her mother bit her lip, then looked Ariana straight in the eye, “If I had to I would have, to keep you safe.”
“Safe? You would have left me?”
“If it was better for you, I would have, yes.”
“How could you? I loved you.”
“I loved you too. I couldn’t leave you. Every time I thought of going I found another reason to stay. You were such a joy to me. I wish I could have seen you grow up.” She kissed Ariana’s brow.
Ariana’s throat tightened. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to tell you when you were old enough to understand. I thought we’d leave together, later when you were older. Then it was too late.”
“I just wish you’d trusted me.”
“I failed in my duty as a Guardian. Now it is up to you. I would have spared you all this pain if I could. But you must go on, dearest.”
“Alright, I will, for you. But stay with me.”
“I cannot.”
“I can’t do this alone. I need you.”
“I’m always with you. I must go.”
“No wait, please don’t go.”
“I’ve stayed too long. I could harm Rhyanna. I love you. Be strong.” She was gone.
Ariana looked down unable to bear seeing her mother’s features leave Rhyanna’s face. Rhyanna was pale and her eyes were glassy.
“Wha…?”
“Are you alright?” Ariana asked.
“Yes, I just felt dizzy for a moment.” They rose and Ariana helped the older woman onto her feet. “I don’t understand. Why am I so weak?” Rhyanna shook her head to clear it. Ariana looked away feeling guilty.
“Ariana, look at me. What just happened?” Rhyanna’s blue eyes were steely.
“I don’t know. I don’t understand it. We had the vision. I wanted to go and help Jarod. Something pulled me back.”
“That was I and five other maids. It took hours. What you tried was very dangerous. You could have been lost forever in the mirror world. You could have lost yourself to save him.”
“Without him I’m lost anyway.”
“Don’t be a fool. Do you want your friend’s sacrifice to be in vain? You must think of the higher good. Rhysin could have found you and captured your soul.”
Ariana shivered at the idea of Rhysin capturing her soul. The fragment she had seen in the mist mirror terrified her. The way he’d tortured Jarod made her sick; the hairs on her arms stood up. He’d do worse to her. He took pleasure in other’s pain.
“I didn’t know. I’m sorry. Are the others alright?” Ariana said.
“They’ll recover.” Rhyanna said briskly, “What happened after that?”
“I don’t know how to explain it. My mother came to me and comforted me.”
“How?”
“She took over your body.” Ariana said.
“Luna save me what evil is this? What kind of witch are you? Is your mother a demon?” Rhyanna backed away raising her hands to ward Ariana off. A bolt of blue fire sped by Ariana’s head. She ducked out of the way. Instinctively she created a shield around herself.
“No, wait it’s nothing like that.” Rhyanna stopped, “Listen to me for a minute. Have I seemed evil to you?”
“No, but…”
“Well, I’m not and my mother isn’t either.” Ariana paused searching for words, “My mother died when I was fifteen.”
Rhyanna looked skeptical but no more fire shot at Ariana.
“I never believed in ghosts either. But once I got here she visited me and started sending me visions.”
“Why?”
“She was one of the Guardians. She saved the Heartstone and fled to Earth with me as an infant.”
“I don’t believe you. What was her name?”
“Julia.”
Rhyanna paled. “I can’t believe she was the traitor. I thought she died that night. How could she have done it?”
“She was no traitor. She was preserving the Stone.”
“All those years,” Rhyanna muttered sitting down on the steps putting her hands to her cheeks.
“You knew my mother?”
“She was one of my dearest friends.”
“Then you know she only did what she had to do.”
“Why didn’t she come right back? What happened?”
“I was an infant. She stayed to take care of me. Then she died. She meant to come back.”
“She betrayed her trust.”
“She didn’t mean to. Now, I’m here to put it right.”
“I have much to think on.” Rhyanna said wearily, “Pray excuse me.”
“Wait,” Rhyanna turned, “Can I talk to you later about my mother?”
“Later.” Rhyanna tottered out of the chamber.
Ariana went to her chamber and dropped into a dreamless sleep. She woke up ravenous. Geneth walked in. Ariana sat up and started to push back the coverlet.
“Ariana, Oh Ariana…” Geneth was flushed and stammering. Ariana was surprised; she had never seen Geneth anything but calm and gentle. Ariana thought she saw puffiness under her eyes.
“Geneth, what is it? Are you alright?”
“I’m sorry. I was so worried. You were so white and still and it took all of us to get you back. It frightened me. I should have more faith in the Mother but I…” She continued in a whisper, “I doubted.”
“Geneth, thank you. Don’t worry. I’m tougher than I look.”
“Thank Luna, but I failed you. I wasn’t strong enough to believe.”
“Nonsense, you’re my friend. You cared enough to worry and that makes you human. No one is perfect.”
Geneth looked doubtful, and then she recollected herself. ”I must get the Mother. She left instructions to be told when you awoke.” Bowing deeply, she glided silently away.
Ariana sat back on the pillows and waited. In a few moments, Rhyanna stepped through the arched doorway. She looked calm and well rested again.
“Fair morn child.” She sat down on the bed and took Ariana’s hand in hers. Her flesh was cool and smooth. “I am sorry for my words yesterday. I was shocked.”
“It’s alright. I understand.” Ariana began.
“No, there is no excuse for letting you think for even one second that I blame you for your mother’s mistakes.” She paused, “I am sure Julia did what she thought was right and proper when she hid the stone and again yesterday. I am sorry if I insulted her memory.”
“Thank you. I hope you’re not angry anymore.” Ariana said
“No. I’m not. You said you had questions?” Rhyanna said gently.
“Well, how did you know each other?”
“We both went through the training together and became Guardians. Julia had been born at Galancarrig. Your mother took such joy in her duties. She was a flame against the dark.”
“So her whole family lived there?”
“Yes, your grandmother was the High Guardian and everyone thought Julia would follow her when the time came.”
“What about my father?” Ariana held her breath.
Rhyanna smiled, “His name was Aran. He was one of the soldiers protecting Galancarrig. He was originally from the eastern lakes. He had the bluest eyes and the merriest smile. You have his hair and that same firmness of his jaw. Julia could be too serious. He made her laugh.”
“So they were married?” Ariana asked.
“Yes, and soon Julia was with child. She was so happy. Then Galancarrig was attacked. Our soldiers tried to defend us but the enemy outnumbered them. Your father was killed in the fighting. Then somehow, they breached our magical defenses. Many died trying to stop him. Your grandmother was killed blocking the Web of Stars. When they reached the center the Stone was gone. In his rage they destroyed the tower and killed everyone they found. I escaped with some others and we fled here.”
“Oh my god.”
“For the last thirty years Rhysin has searched for the Stone. Now that he knows it is here again he will stop at nothing.”
“What can I do?”
“You are doing all you can. Do you have any questions for me?”
“No, thanks you for telling me about my parents.”
“I wish you could have known your father. He was one of the gentlest men I have ever known.”
Ariana thought Sandy had that in common with Aran. Had her mother loved Aran more than Sandy? She would never know. There was a lot to absorb.
“Dearest I know you have a lot to think about but we must prepare. This night we open Leudwen.” Rhyanna rose and left the room. Ariana followed her.
“It is time for the final purification.”
Ariana was led to the bathing chamber. Chanting filled the hallways as the women called out for good fortune from the Goddess. Everywhere women were praying, sending up fragrant smoke to Luna. Washed, polished and dressed in a linen shift she was led back to Rhyanna. Ariana’s stomach growled as she walked into the chamber. She had fasted all day. Now that the test was close, her stomach knotted.
She tried to remember what Rhyanna had shown her about the ritual of opening the gate. Her mind was a blank. Rhyanna had also given her the layout of Galancarrig that morning. What if she forgot?
“Don’t worry. The Stone will guide you. The closer it gets to the Web of Stars the more powerful it becomes. Be careful, it could overpower you.”
Turning Ariana from the mirror, she dipped a small brush into a pot on the table. Ariana drew back. Rhyanna painted a little of the silver pigment onto her own wrist. Ariana grinned sheepishly and obediently closed her eyes.
“You must control the magic as the gate opens or it will go wild and destroy you and everyone else.”
Rhyanna daubed Ariana’s face and hands. The small brush tickled Ariana’s face and she wrinkled her nose. Rhyanna smiled and continued painting.
“The magic becomes more difficult to control at each Gate. Be cautious about using the Stone. Even small things become magnified.”
Rhyanna put the brush down on the small tray. She took a silver crescent headdress from a waiting handmaid and placed it carefully on Ariana’s head. It was tight the ends dug into her scalp.
“Once you open Leudwen, you have very little time. You must remain focused and get through the gate as quickly as possible.” She turned away. “Bring the robes.”
Geneth and one other handmaid brought in an indigo velvet robe scattered with diamonds. Lined with white satin it was sumptuous against Ariana’s bare arms. Rhyanna stood back and looked at her critically. She folded a pleat and placed a small brooch at the shoulder of the robes.
Ariana turned around to the mirror. A stranger looked back at her. Her face was covered with intricate patterns of silver. The Heartstone against her chest pulsed like a star. She didn’t look human. She turned away disturbed. While she had been engrossed in the mirror, Rhyanna had changed and it was time.
A deep sonorous tone filled the caverns. Handmaids filled the hallways and filed into formation around Rhyanna and Ariana. Reverently the entire population of Leudwen processed into the great central cavern. The scent of incense filled the air and the solemn yet joyous chanting bounced off the high ceiling.
Three feet from the pool silence, the procession halted. Rhyanna gestured to Ariana. Slowly, Ariana stepped forward to the altar. The Stone was pressing her, pulling her into the alabaster circle. Within a few steps, she was inside the circle. The Stone was burning against her chest its light almost blinding her.