Part 39
Grave of Stone
When the girl returned to the village, Seeker met her and informed her that both men were recovering swiftly.
“That’s good,” the girl said.
“Your Uncle will just need some rest,” Seeker said. “But the other will be disabled for a little while. I am afraid his leg took severe damage. So you may have to stay here a little longer. Even if that was not the case, I would have asked you to stay at least until my Geodes clear the Abhartach nest.”
“We can help,” the girl quickly volunteered.
“I am afraid not,” Seeker said. “The Geodes do not want outside help in this and what kind of host would I be if I allowed you to risk your life for an issue I should have stopped from forming?”
“It’s not your fault,” the girl said.
“No,” he agreed. “But it is my duty to correct.”
Amethyst suddenly stepped forward and stood still for a few moments before striding off at an accelerated pace.
“What did he say,” the girl asked.
The Seeker’s face took on a curious look. “He is gathering the clan,” he said.
Within hours the girl sat and watched as a line of over a dozen Geodes filtered into the cave systems.
“You’re worried about them, are you not?” the girl asked Seeker who stood next to her.
“I am,” Seeker admitted. “They are my children after all, but I have to let them go. They will have to depend on themselves without me. Strange how sometimes is it the things we hold most dear that we must let go.”
“Why don’t they travel through stone?’ the girl asked.
“It is not easy to travel through stone. It takes a great amount of effort and they can not see where they are going. Normally, it is best to take the paths which they have carved for themselves.”
“When do you think they will come back?” the girl asked.
“When the task is done,” Seeker said, moving off leaving the girl to simply wait, watching the now empty tunnel.
Over the next two days the girl spent her time taking care of the Trapper, who was bed-ridden. Despite his complaints, she refused to let him out, even ordering Sworder to watch him. Uncle Ben had improved a great deal in the time, though he still spent much of his time resting in a chair Seeker provided.
“It was the evening of the second day when Ranin called Namic, “They’re coming back.”
“I see,” Namic said.
“I’m not sure I can watch,” Ranin said but Namic held his comment.
The girl was leaving the Trapper’s hut when she saw the procession of Geodes returning. Excited, she ran to Seeker’s hut.
“They’re back, they’re back,” she said, running in and grabbing Seeker.
“Hold up,” he said. “I need to grab my cane.”
“Here it is,” the girl said, grabbing it and handing it to him before almost dragging him out.
She stopped immediately after exiting the hut as one of the Geodes had hurried ahead of the group and was waiting outside. Seeker’s face drew to one of concern as he asked, “What’s wrong?”
After a momentary pause, the Geode strode off with the Seeker hurriedly following. The girl gasped as they approached the procession of Geodes. Four Geodes carried a large stone slab which held a scattered pile of stone and deep purple gems which resembled the form of Amethyst. The Geodes processed towards the center of the village. As Seeker moved to follow them, one broke off carrying a small chunk of Amethyst. The Geode approached Seeker with the Amethyst offering it to him.
“What is that?” the girl asked frightened.
“It is the core of Amethyst, the piece of amethyst from which he had bound himself,” Seeker said. Then he shook his head, continuing to the Geode, “No, it belongs to him, it should stay with him.”
The Geode’s hand clasped around the stone, as it turned quickly following the procession. Seeker and the girl walked behind them yet Seeker kept a distance from the group. When they reached the center of the village where the light, which filtered down from the quartz ceiling was the brightest, the geodes stopped their procession. They let down the slab where the smashed Amethyst lay. The Geodes slowly formed in a large circle surrounding the grave.
“This is my fault,” Seeker said.
“What do you mean?” the girl asked.
“He was defending Garnet,” Seeker said. “Garnet was surrounded and Amethyst rushed to save him, without waiting for support; He was torn apart as he pulled Garnet free.”
“How’s that your fault?” the girl cried.
“Because,” Seeker almost chocked on the words. “He knew Garnet was my favorite. I failed in my mission as their Father.”
“That’s not true,” the girl said. “That just means they love each other. You changed Amethyst’s life. Before meeting you he spoke of being lonely; you changed that.”
The Geode carrying the core of Amethyst laid it down on the grave. At once the Geodes turned to face Seeker and the ground began to vibrate, as if they all spoke in unison. Seeker let out a breath then slowly approached. When he reached the edge of the circle the Geodes turned back towards the center. Tapping his staff twice on the stone, Seeker spoke, “To the Eldest, Amethyst, a fine friend, a great son.”
The vibration in the ground became violent as the earth beneath the girl shook back and forth. She reached out to balance herself and Sworder grabbed her hand to support her. She gave him a small smile, but gasped as she looked back at the circle of Geodes. Slowly the slab and the Amethyst sank into the stone until it was completely gone. The violent shacking did not end till some time after the grave had disappeared. The circle stood in silence for a long time before slowly they began departing until only Seeker and Garnet where left.
“What will happen to Amethyst?” the girl asked Seeker.
“We do not know,” Seeker said. “He is the first to leave us like this. We do not know if he will one day recover or if he is gone forever.” His head dropped, slowly shaking.
“There is still much we don’t know.” Ranin said.
“The rise of a new race is something which has not happened in a long time by the reckonings of men,” Namic said. “Thus it is not like they can look on their histories for guidance.”
“Not that we can answer their questions any better,” Ranin said.
“His core was severely damaged but not destroyed,” Namic said. “If they are similar to Sleepless Walkers he will recover.”
“But what if they are not?” Ranin asked.
“Then there is no telling his fate.”
It took a few days before the village returned to somewhat normal and, while they waited for the Trapper to fully recover, the girl and Seeker continued their lessons everyday. By the end of the fortnight, the Trapper was arguing for them to continue their journey.
The following morning they left with a full complement of Geodes guiding them, something Seeker would not back down on. By noon of the third day they finally emerged from the underground, on the other side of the mountains. The noon sun beamed warmly down on them, but the world had a frosty chill over it. A thin layer of snow covered the world below; grass still peeked through, holding out for one more warm day of fall. The girl enjoyed the fresh air as the Trapper began to discern their location.
“Well?” Uncle Ben asked as the Trapper returned.
“We’re just in the outskirts of the mountains, only a little ways away from the end of Hooftail Pass and close to the path to Belford,” he said. Then, turning to the Geodes, he continued, “Give our thanks to Seeker for the hospitality.”
“Goodbye,” the girl called to them as they returned to the cave and began filing back in. “Thank you for everything!”
The Trapper waited until they were all gone before continuing down the mountain side.
“He still does not trust them, I see,” Namic said.
“What?” Ranin asked confused.
“Nothing. But is does seem the next leg of their journey has begun.”
“What will they find in Belford?” Ranin asked.
“A city full of Calt sensibility.”
Upon exiting the mountains the Trapper wasted no time in finding a path that led further west, which followed a narrow river for many a mile. Despite his injuries the Trapper seemed to press the group on, faster than before, as he did not like how much time they wasted underground.
The Fall months were now fading, but fortune seem to smile, for once, upon the group as the weather stayed calm and clear.
Ranin and Namic watched the small group day in and day out for some time without incident.
“The path to Belford looks clear,” Namic said as he seemed to be looking at something else. “Let me know when they arrive.”
“Very well,” said Ranin as he followed the days of the small group as they broke from the river, which diverted southwards. Soon the hilly lands were covered in white cloaked trees. They followed a narrow path through the forest, which the Trapper seemed to now follow religiously, for the next four days.
“We have arrived at Belford,” said the Trapper as he led the group over a rather large snow covered hill.
“Sworder, we’re here,” the girl said, grabbing Sworder’s hand as she pulled him over the top of the hill to view the village. Her face showed a little disappointment as the two looked down at a small gray village below.
“Small, yes, but it is a major trading village in this region,” the Trapper said, seeming to read the girl’s mind.
“Not everything that is important is great and large,” said Sworder.
The girl’s face flushed as she looked away.
“Namic, they’re here,” Ranin said.
“So it seems,” Namic said.
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