GillianRainaJoaoWalkingOnBonesAndDust2Gillian Raina Joao Walking on Bones and Dust 2They discovered Seabhac waiting for them in the library, as promised. He greeted them all in a friendly manner; although his hug for Gillian may have been somewhat more familiar than she'd expected. Gillian extracted herself from the hug immediately and instead shook his hand. She smiled awkwardly. "Mr. Dé Biróg" Joao now more comfortably shook Seabhac's hand. In the interim, he'd replaced his uniform with non-regulation summer clothes; blue jeans and cotton shirt, with a travel-worn tote bag slung over his narrow shoulder. How he'd escaped notice and reprimand from the instructors thus far remained to be seen. Indeed, as he led them through the library, the students and teachers appeared to ignore the group entirely. Raina soon realized Seabhac must have cast some type of Veil Body spell, which now protected them as well. The young student led them through the towering stacks of books like Theseus navigating the Labyrinth. After a moment, even Gillian had a difficult time maintaining her bearings. "This is more tangled than Sakhalin Reef" Joao whispered lowly to Raina. Raina simply nodded, instinctively maintaining silence in a library. Her green eyes were wide though as she gazed around in amazement. It was as if the library had grown beyond the normal perimeters of its architecture, revealing new facets of itself. None of the trio recognized the alcove they eventually arrived at. "I don't recognize this place and I thought I knew every nook and cranny in the university library," Gillian said, turning in a circle. Puzzled, she mentally retraced their steps, looking for the point where they diverged from the library she was familiar with. "This is definitely a new area to me, too." Joao said quietly. "Me as well," Raina whispered, sticking close to Joao and Gillian for fear of getting lost. Seabhac nodded, "From what I can tell, King Eric transformed the library into a little-big. You know, larger on the inside than the outside. Probably continuous effect he created with the Jewel. Normally, you would only be allowed in these sections once you've completed your doctorate. But I like to live dangerously." At the back of the alcove appeared to be a false doorway, constructed more as decoration rather than functional portal. A mythological scene had been intricately sculpted into the marble, featuring a tall ash tree with amethyst leaves. On closer examination, structures could be seen hidden behind the leaves, built into the ash like a vast tree house. A wyrm wrapped its serpentine form around the tree's roots, apparently sleeping. "Voila," Seabhac announced. "This is our shortcut." Gillian raised her eyebrows. She stepped closer to study the sculpted scene, leaving room for Joao and Raina to join her if they liked. "Yggdrasil?" she ventured, squinting to see the shapes hidden in the leaves. "Yggdrasil is reported to be an ash tree." "Is that what this represents?" Joao enquired, stepping forward to admire the detail. "In a manner of speaking, yes," Seabhac smiled, impressed. "Amethyst is the closest shadow to Ygg and reflects the actual tree, albeit on a grander scale. But trust me; it's a far nicer place than that actual mud hole. The King apparently established it as a pilgrimage city before Patternfall, but most of it was destroyed in the Shadow Storms. Following the War of Bitter Ashes, Amethyst became a Weirmoken protectorate and they've rebuilt most of it since then." Raina reached a finger out tentatively to trace the intricate stonework. Raina's hand moved as if it were some one else's, her fingers pulled with invisible threads. She touched nine of the amethysts in sequence, sensing the 'rightness' of her actions. Once touched, each gem glowed faintly from within until she'd replicated the classic positioning of the Nine Worlds. Joao watched Raina's gestures and their consequence, rapt. As did Gillian. Dust filled the air, followed immediately by a rush of air thick with summer scents. The stone door swung open loosely to reveal the tree city it honored. Seabhac grinned nervously, "I thought you said you've never been here before, Raina." "I... I never have," Raina breathed, as surprised as the rest at her actions and their results. "It was like... someone else... was doing it for me." She glanced up at Joao nervously, as if she thought he might know what she meant. Joao returned the glance, and nodded to Raina, a small nod of understanding and agreement. He cleared his throat and regarded Gillian and Seahbac. "We in Rebma would say that the Hand of Lir guided her to touch the proper sequence." Gillian raised an eyebrow. Seabhac glanced over at Gillian, a camaraderie blossoming from their skepticism. However, he didn't press the issue with Raina's 'apparent' luck. "It is safe enough to pass through now, Da?" Joao asked as he stepped forward toward the open portal. Seabhac nodded, "Aye. After you three." He gestured openly for them to proceed. Joao glanced at the two women. Duty to follow the lead of women, especially Raina, clashed with the equal duty of a Rebman male to protect women against threats and go first. It was an eternal clash with answers only situational. He decided after a fraction of a moment, to take the latter course and strode through past Raina, Gillian and Seabhac into the realm beyond. An arboreal wonderland lay beyond the portal. They found themselves on a tree limb wider than most streets in Amber, lined on both sides by wooden railings. Beyond them, the world dropped away, the ground hidden by endless tree limbs of staggering size. Tendrils of emerald and violet light filtered through the leaves above, splashing pools of color upon the walkway as if it were some living canvas. Midday was fast approaching, the sky beyond the impossible tree limbs swirling with atmospheric unrest. Soon, the rains would come, pushing the current humidity levels into misery. Buildings of exquisite design had been carved into and out of the vast tree, all curves and fluidity. People of all races went about their business, dressed in the Regency style; the Empire silhouette holding dominance with the women. Few noticed the group's arrival, but here and there golden eyes glanced up with tired interest before resuming their daily routine. Joao met the gaze of those interested enough in the arrival of the students. He was wary, his body language a little tense and most definitely protective of the two women. Only by moments and degrees did he relax enough to actually appreciate the realm into which they had arrived. Joao's regal stance caught the eye of a few Weir females—their race one that respected strength. One woman with mottled hair hid her smile behind a painted fan, but the envy in her golden eyes couldn't be missed even at this distance. Her companion nodded to a whispered comment, the pair soon sharing a hungry laugh. They altered their path, pacing after the students like a pair of wolves stalking a herd of deer. "Impressively smooth transition," Gillian said as she stared around in open wonder. Her gaze settled on Seabhac. "How? How is such a thing accomplished? There's nothing in the Five Circles or any of the Forms that I can see would lend itself to this!" Joao's relaxation returned to strong and protective wariness as he realized that the students, and perhaps he in particular had attracted pursuing attention and interest. The thought of the strong Weir females following them filled him with a mixture of dread, anxiety and interest. One did not dare the currents in which Weir swam lightly. Raina stayed close to Joao. By now, she understood his need to protect the females in his company and tried to make it easier for him. Her wondrous gaze matched Gillian's, however and she too awaited their host's answer. Seabhac gestured for them to follow, leading them toward a narrow staircase that angled downward. "Heh. You are the curious one. Observant too. I can see why your professors speak so highly of you, Ms. Gillian," he said, grinning. "Well, from what I can surmise, the White School is connected by some form of permanent Trump network. Not unlike the manner in which Prince Corwin escaped the dungeons, I'll bet. Each Gate is connected to another world, creating a spider-web of jump points. Yet, not all Schools are connected to each other. That's why we have to come through here, rather than traveling directly to Corilaine. Some parts of the School require you to travel through four or five Gates to finally get there. For example, we'll need to go back a different way than we came. "And these aren't literal Trumps either. The Gates don't offer the ability to communicate with the other side." He shrugged, "At least, that's my guess." "Are there charts or maps of the network?" Joao asked. He then added in a low voice. "We have garnered interest from a pair of Weir who have decided to follow us." Raina's head twitched slightly to the side as she tried to see peripherally. Barely realizing she was doing it, she eased into a position that formed a triangle with Gillian and Joao. She listened, silently and intently. Gillian's attention snapped to Joao and she resisted the urge to look around for the weir in question. A conflict between safety and curiosity tugged at her, the resultant expressions on her face almost comical in their intensity. In the end, curiosity won. "I like Joao's question of a map--I would love to see one. How many Schools comprise the White School? You've mentioned Amethyst, Faiella, and Corilaine. Are there others?" Seabhac covertly glanced back at Joao's announcement, a thin smile warming his features. "I wouldn't worry about those two, Joao. They're students of the White Opal, and thus prohibited from harming us. Besides, I think they're on the prowl for a mate, not a meal." He gave a pleasant laugh and winked at Joao. The two Weir girls remained a safe distance behind, chatting happily to one another, pointing and gesturing; perhaps picking which male they would claim. Gillian sneaked a peek at them over her shoulder. "I am fairly certain that Mother Would Not Approve" Joao said quietly to Raina before turning his head back to regard and study the stalking Weir women once again before giving his attention back to their guide. "As for a map? I'm sure there is one somewhere," [Seabhac] continued. "But I've never seen one or attempted to make one. I just go with the flow, so to speak. Nor do I know how many School there truly are. Frankly, some—like Corilaine—don't even look like a school. You'll understand when we get there." He hopped off the stairs onto another platform, and then strolled out onto a narrow rope bridge. The hundred foot drop into an ocean of leaves and rooftops below apparently didn't bother him or slow his pace. "Well, our home is the House of Leaves. The hub of the network, if you will. In addition to the Witch's Tower here, I know of Tiersohc, Skartaris, Zebal, Janosh-El, and Oxford on Shadow Earth. There's the Storeroom and the Library. Oh, and in the cafeteria, there's a broom closet that leads to the Inn Between Worlds. Not that you'd learn much there, other than mixology, I guess. But it is great for studying other cultures at their best and worst." Timid though she tended to be, Raina did not seem bothered at all by the height or narrowness of the rope bridge. She stepped onto it effortlessly and indeed seemed thrilled at how it bounced and swayed as they passed. There was a lightness in her step and her fingers extended along the rope rail, instinctively elongating her body lithely. "I think I've heard some of those names," she offered quietly. Raina's movements made the bridge sway, creating a musical sound. Upon close inspection, they could see how the entire bottom of bridge had been strung with impossibly large shards of amethyst. As each crystal touched, they filled the air with a delicate song. Similar wind-chimes could be seen throughout the human portions of the giant tree. "I'm not surprised," Seabhac said, smiling at Raina's excitement. "Most of them trade with Amber or the Golden Circle. Some students study in each School, although if you ask me, the House of Leaves remains the best university. Still, it's nice getting a fresh perspective once in awhile." Joao took the rear of the group as they reached the bridge. Although his dexterity and agility were certainly more than enough to handle the swinging structure, it was clear to any who looked that he was more than a little uncomfortable with the structure. His face never turned any shades of green, but his hands held firmly to the rope rails. Thoughts of honor and maintaining a Rear Guard for the women were enough to allow him to continue his passage. The Weir paused at the balcony's edge, choosing not to pursue their quarry farther. One glumly blew Joao a kiss, whilst the other giggled and fanned herself. By the time the group reached the other side of the bridge, the Weir had gone. Visible relief crossed Joao's face once the pursuers had finally given up their low-speed pursuit. Gillian also held onto both rails tightly, not as comfortable on the bridge as Raina or Seabhac. "House of Leaves? That's Faiella University?" she asked, looking for clarification. "If it's a hub, then that implies there are entrances to all the other schools from there. Is that correct?" Seabhac continued downward, using a spiral stairwell that wove in and out of the tree itself. "The majority of them, anyway," he said. "Usually there are only one or two gates between Amber and any School you seek. Like this one. You always have to come this way to get to Corilaine. But to get back, it'll only take one gate. A puzzle within a puzzle. "Of course, Prince Eric could have been crafty enough to hide gates all over the House of Leaves. He did love his secrets." "Gates of various types, shapes and locales, like hidden passages through a reef." Joao said eagerly. "Like a reef, the more you look, the more you will find. I see now that a map could only ever be incomplete. Prince Eric perhaps built better than he knew, or perhaps..." he looked at Gillian and Raina "when such a structure such as this is built,across worlds, like the greatest of spells, it takes on properties that the creator had no overt intention of engendering?" Seabhac listened grinned, "That's a perfect analogy, Joao. No wonder the Professor favors you. But you're right, I've begun to suspect that the White School is expanding and changing on its own." Joao paused a moment and seemed to reconsider his question. "Perhaps the Professor favors me as you say. I am only a Rebman male, though, and not truly knowledgeable about such things." Joao added changing his posture so that it almost seemed he shrank in size. "But you _could_ be," Raina prompted, pooh-poohing his self-deprecation. Joao favored Raina with a brief, shy, sincere, and thankful smile in response. "Who here is? Except maybe Seabhac, who I haven't figured out at all," Gillian continued a bit petulantly. "Seabhac, how do you know so much, have access to so much, when you're still just a student? Who are you?" "Yes," Raina joined in. "And you seem to know an awful lot about Prince Eric. How do you know all this?" "Me?" Seabhac grunted. "I'm no one really. Just a student like any other. I just make it my habit to learn things I shouldn't." His smile wavered as he looked into Gillian's eyes, blushing with embarrassment. He opened his mouth to speak, but thought better of it. Gillian frowned thoughtfully. "You didn't really answer the question." "You'll learn that not all answers come easily, Gillian," he relied, smiling. "Besides, if I told you all my secrets at our first meeting, you'd just lose interest in me." He blushed and concentrated on his feet. They reached the bottom step of the lengthy stairwell and stepped out onto another level. Apparently undisturbed for some time, the overhang possessed a lifelessness that the remainder of the city lacked. With no railing, the emptiness of space and gravity pulled at the heart, creating a dizzying sense of vertigo. Seabhac walked to the edge and pointed downward. "That's where we're going," he explained. About five feet below the platform, a huge hollowed stump rose from the still-as-yet unseen forest floor. Crystal blue water filled its basin, as if it were some enormous pitcher plant waiting for its next meal. Joao winced slightly at the vertigo-inducing sight. The sight of the basin made his heart leap, even as the slight agoraphobia kept him from leaning over too eagerly to study the sight of their destination. "Da. Water. Much more familiar than this Aerie." Joao said. Gillian held onto Joao's sleeve as she cautiously leaned over to see for herself. She jerked back and stepped away from the edge. "You jump into the stump? And you can breathe the water, like you can in Rebma?" Her tone was dubious. Raina looked over as well, her expression as dubious as Gillian's tone. "'Yes' to the first question," Seabhac said seriously. "'No' to the second. This is a true leap of faith. And drowning is possible, but unlikely. Once you hit the water, just allow your momentum to carry you downward. Once you feel you've come to stop, start kicking for the surface as hard as you can. You should be able to see the moonlight. "Joao? You might want to hold onto Gillian and jump together. I'll go first and wait for you on the other side, in case there's trouble. Raina, you go after me." Seabhac gave them a wink and then hopped off the imposing edge, splashing into the basin below. He did not resurface, leaving behind only a flurry of ripples. Joao gestured for Raina to go next. "I am sure you will do fine, Raina." He gave her a reassuring smile. "We will be right behind you." Raina watched Seabhac leap, committing his body position to memory. When he was out of sight, she smiled wanly at Joao and Gillian, then took a deep breath, held her nose, and jumped, her dancer's toes pointed firmly at her target. The young student disappeared into the murky depths, hardly breaking the surface. Soon, only the whispering sounds of the amethyst chimes and thick leaves could be heard, a deep sense of solitude settling over the remaining pair. He then looked at Gillian. "When it is our turn...Take one deep breath, exhale, take and hold another breath, and then we will jump. Together." He then bowed slightly in her direction. "You will pass through this trial and surface in the moonlight. I promise." Gillian smiled gratefully. "I believe you. My thanks, Joao. I'm sorry for being such a baby. All right, let's do this..." Joao nodded. She breathed deeply, exhaled, breathed deeply again. Taking Joao's hand in hers, Gillian jumped. And Joao jumped with her, timing it so that his advantage of height and strength would allow him to fall alongside her at the same head level. Gravity took them, but the wind added an extra thrill to their fall, threatening to push them beyond the basin's lip and into the void beyond. But their aim was true and an instant later the dark waters encompassed Joao and Gillian in its chilly cloak. They sank like stones into the darkness, the tree-world above fading from view until they could see nothing beyond their reach. A queasy knot filled their bellies; Joao noting a subtle change in the water's temperature and salinity. He found he could see now, silvered light filtering down from above them. Joao did not hold his breath, he did not have to. And he was really swimming for two, here. Holding ones breath and swimming for the two of them might be a bit too taxing even for his athletic skills. He exhaled, a stream of bubbles emitting out of the corner of his mouth. He briefly looked up, saw the silvery light, and smiled. He then looked at Gillian, whose hand he still held tightly in his own. Manuvering so that they were now face to face, Joao reached for her other hand, to clasp and hold onto in order to propel the two of them upwards together with the strong kicks of his legs. Eyes wide, Gillian kicked toward the light as well, small bubbles escaping between her lips. She looked scared. The look of fear was not lost on Joao. While still kicking and propelling upward, he turned his face to regard Gillian. He was unsure how well she could hear underwater, or how distorted his voice would be to non Rebman ears. Still, he gave a squeeze of the hands he held tightly, and he spoke aloud, a cloud of bubbles punctuating his speech. "You WILL get to the surface. I Promise." Gillian's expression became determined and she nodded, once. She kicked hard in the direction the bubbles floated. Joao's promise proved true. With few strong kicks, they floated upward into the silvery moonlight. The chill disappeared from the water almost immediately, rising in temperature to soothing warmth. They could see reeds and lilies around them, as well as schools of tiny iridescent fish. Before Gillian's lungs began to burn, they broke the silken surface of what appeared to be a frog pond or natural spring. Ruins spotted the grove, as if this area had once been an old monastery or castle. Gillian squeezed Joao's hand in thanks and let go of it. She looked around and smiled in delight. Joao gave a bow of the head to Gillian and looked around for Seabhac and Raina. A figure outlined in moonlight splashed toward them extending a hand. "I told you it wasn't difficult," Seabhac said, smiling. But the pleased smiled faltered slightly, not truly distress or confusion, but somewhere in between. "I take it that Raina decided to go last?" he said. "No...she jumped before we did," Gillian replied. Her smile faltered and she looked in distress to Joao and back to Saebhoc. "Oh Unicorn...what could have happened to her? Is there another place where she could've ended up?" Seabhac couldn't hide his concern. "I only sensed the Gate opening once," he said, "That is when you two came through. However, if she'd been trapped on the other side, she surely would have been transported across at the same time as you. This makes no sense to me." He waded deeper into the water, as if to search for Raina. "Where must I go to find her?" Joao added in a spartan and direct manner, taking a step toward the pool. His body was coiled like a spring, as if he might leap into the water at a moment's notice and be ready to do so. Seabhac held up his hand, snapping, "I need quiet." Joao stopped immediately, chastened. [Seabhac's] body became very still, even the water around his waist turned to polished glass. The frog song and whippoorwills lost their voice, plunging the area into an eerie silence. A bluish light sparked around the young man, as if he were surrounded by ball lightning. Both Joao and Gillian could feel their skin crawl and smelled a hint of ozone. The Rebman shivered and wrinkled his nose at the sensations engendered. He tried to remain still and quiet throughout the experience. Gillian had experienced this bluish light before--if she wasn't mistaken, this was High Sorcery. The prickle on the back of her neck had only a little to do with the actual presence of magic. She stared, discomposed. In time, the world breathed again and the night came back to life with sound. Seabhac turned and began wading toward the shore. "She's in a cave or underground structure, roughly two miles east of here. Alive from what I can tell." Joao hesitated a moment, waiting for Gillian to proceed. "We should go find her," Gillian said quietly, still watching Seabhac. "Would it be safe for me to provide us some light as we travel?" She indicated that Seabhac should lead them. Once the three of them were moving, he positioned himself so as to place himself equidistant from both Seabhac and Gillian as he waded in the direction the elder student had set out. Seabhac emerged from the warm water and paused to dry off. "Light would be most welcome," he said, wringing out his shirt. Gillian watched Seabhac with his shirt off...appreciatively? She wasn't sure of her motivations. Flustered, she averted her eyes. Fortunately for Seabhac, Gillian turned away before he noticed how the moonlight played off her wet skin and the way her damp clothing hugged her body. He met eyes with Joao for an instant, blushed, and turned to focus on other things. The disappearance of Raina had made Joao briefly forget the wet clothes he was wearing. Seeing Seabhac strip his shirt finally impelled him to do the same. He smiled reassuringly at Seabhac's look, and then took off his shirt. "We're not alone out here. But the light should keep the night wolves and darklings at bay." He turned to scan the surrounding forest, a thick tangle of hawthorns. Even without malevolent superstitions surrounding hawthorns—specifically their connection to the Hag—the restless trees offered little welcome. The forest shivered with anticipation of their approach. Joao narrowed his eyes. "A *hungry* forest." he said quietly and darkly. "Stay close to me," Seabhac said. "And don't go wandering off, especially if you hear your name called. There are things out there with a taste for man-flesh and they can be very compelling. Understood?" "Da" Joao said. "I remember my studies. And of course there are in dangerous waters, the Sirens, the Nix and the Rusalka." He blinked and looked thoughtful at the third creature he named. "I have no doubt that the creatures in these woods can be equally alluring and dangerous." <Just like /Her/> Joao's Voice warned. <This is her Domain and we're not welcome. Be on guard, my friend. Her pets know our scent.> <Yes> Joao said. He didn't need the additional warning, but he appreciated it. Gillian whispered to the air and held out her hand. She'd intended for a small white fire to appear over her palm. Instead, she felt a rush of power, as if she'd turned on a facet too fast. A large ball of flame ignited in her fingers, burning brightly and illuminating the woods around them clearly for maybe twenty-five or thirty feet in any direction. It gave off no heat. She startled and gave a small yelp. "That was unexpected." Joao looked on in wonder. A thought occurred to him. If the bond with his mirror-self was more of a blessing than a curse, and it still wasn't clear, watching Gillian convinced him that she would make better use of the gifts offered by such a bargain than he had, could or would. And not just because she was a woman, either. Gillian's talents and power were obvious. Gillian immediate realized that this Shadow's paradigms were more amenable to magic-use than Amber. This far away from the Pattern's influence, she suspected all her spells would react this way. <You are a goddess here, Poppet.> The Voice whispered in her mind. <Do not forget it when the time comes.> Gillian startled again and looked around nervously. She bit her lip, a resolute look growing on her face, and tried again--this time more softly and more carefully, and she was rewarded with a small, white fire appearing over her palm. She nodded to Seabhac to start. With the path now lit, Seabhac led them into the tree line. The trees were far enough apart to create comfortable pathways between them. Even so, the many shrubs and bushes limited their choice of paths. Bracken and roots pulled at their feet, snagged their legs and hair. And away from the warm comforts of light, something took notice of their journey. Sounds, both human and animal, accompanied their trek. A woman crying. A whippoorwill or owl's scream. Laughter and childish giggles. And whispers, so indistinct that they could have been the wind. Seabhac pretended to ignore them, but he covertly positioned himself closer to Gillian. "The Host," he explained. "Only dangerous if you let them be." "Host?" she asked, her eyes traveling through the trees around them. Seabhac nodded, "The Unseelie and their ilk. This is their time to play." "So, Gillian. Uh. Do you like umm. . . food?" Seabhac's body language and his words were not lost on Joao. He subtly positioned himself in a slightly more distant but still protective stance relative to Gillian. It was clear that Gillian was for the moment entertaining court from Seabhac, and he had to respect that. He needed to protect the woman, and find Raina, but he had to respect her choice in the matter. So he gave the two of them a little more space to allow that to play out. If this was indeed what Seabhac was doing, it was completely lost on Gillian. "Food? Well...yes," she replied, wondering about the apparent non sequitur. "Oh," Seabhac said, smiling softly. "Well, uh… that's good. I like food too." The smile became a self-deprecating grimace. He put his hands behind him, knitting them together to stop them from fluttering about. "What I mean is, if you like food and I like food, maybe we could have dinner together some time? After we get Raina home safely, of course. "There's this little place I know in Tokyo. Makes the best noodles ever." He grinned hopefully. "Um...sure. That sounds nice." Gillian gave him a self-conscious smile and looked down at her feet. "Wonderful!" Seabhac said. "My father left me a trump for his apartment in Berkeley. We can grab a plane to Tokyo from there. Stay over for a couple of nights, if you'd like. With the time distortion, we'd be back before anyone even knew we'd left." His cheeks colored brightly, as he realized how fast he'd been talking, and how much he'd just revealed about himself. Gillian stared at him. "Trump?" She opened her mouth for another question, but an exclamation from Joao took away her attention. Meanwhile, as Seabhac fumbled over his feet and words, the more attentive Joao caught a glimpse of movement some distance off the makeshift path. A narrow beam of moonlight cut through the thickets and branches to illuminate a tiny grove. In it, a young woman appeared to be dancing. When she did a spin, he immediately recognized Raina's beautiful face. She appeared lost in some hypnotic trance, drifting silently around and around, her arms and legs moving as if on invisible strings. For an instant, he felt her eyes on him. Duty and attentiveness to Seabhac's words conflicted with his own impulses and desires, and he slowed down to look, watch and listen. The breeze carried Raina's voice to him, 'Joao, help me. I can't stop.' "Raina!" he cried out. It was a struggle for him to obey what Seabhac had warned him and Gillian, and not rush into the grove. A small voice inside told him that it couldn't be Raina, that this was a trick of Her, the enemy of his Voice. It was a trick, it had to be a trick... But what if it wasn't? What if this really was Raina? Raina beckoned him, a relieved smile painting her pale features. Exactly how he could see that perfect smile from this distance, Joao did not know, but he could feel its compelling emotion nonetheless. When he didn't immediately respond, a pained expression darkened her features. Her body continued to dance in a unnervingly fluid motion, as if her limbs were boneless. Uncharacteristic and unpleasant indecision plagued his very psyche. He did not yet move in the direction of the grove, but he could look away, and he could not move away so far as to not see. "It can't be her, Joao. She's in a cave still some ways away," Gillian said, though her tone was uncertain. She turned to Seabhac. "Right?" Seabhac nodded nervously, trying to see what Joao was looking at. "Aye. I can still sense Raina ahead of us," he cautioned. "Whatever you do, Joao. Don't step off the path. It's one of the Host, for sure. They can get into your mind. Make you see what you want to see." He cursed, "I didn't think they'd be this active tonight. Something is stirring them up. And it isn't us." "It's not Her. It's not Her." Joao said aloud. He repeated it once more, louder. The motions were wrong, her limbs moving in an inhuman manner. No, it was, what was it called? A simulacrum? A homunculus? "Glaistig," Seabhac said, as if sensing Joao's thoughts. "Usually they aren't so brazen." The doppelganger continued its alluring dance, undaunted by Joao's refusal of its charms. "Oh--from Scottish mythology," Gillian recalled. "Well, apparently _not_ mythological..." She was about to expound more on the subject, but Joao interrupted. "Let's keep moving." Joao said. "We have to find her." He paused a beat and firmly turned his back on the sight. "The real Raina." "Fear not, my friend," Seabhac nodded. "We'll find her. It shouldn't be much farther now. Just through that thicket up ahead." Spooked, Gillian tugged on Seabhac's sleeve and closed the distance between them and Joao. Seabhac smiled softly at her, placing his hand over hers. "All is well." He said nothing more, returning to his position as their guide through the faerie forest. The mischievous sounds and lights continued, although no clear trickster could be seen. "If the Host continues like this, we may need to turn our shirts inside out. They won't be able to see us, if we do so." A blush colored his cheeks as he glanced over at Gillian. Who was wearing a dress. A very wet dress, difficult to get in and out of. "I...um... Let's hope it doesn't come to that," she said, avoiding both of her companion's gazes. "Uh," Seabhac said. "Yes. It shouldn't come to that." His shuffled his foot and tried to focus on the fascinating clump of deer moss up ahead. Oh, what a fascinating patch of russula xerampelina! "I know not the lore of these creatures from Skotish Mythology and this Host as the two of you do" Joao said. "Whatever is needful to effect the safe return of Raina, however, I shall do." He resisted the urge to give Seabhac and Gillian more space again, although his body language, if Seabhac were a Rebman would say "I do not and am not going to challenge your rights to court Her." Seabhac shared a nod with Joao before pushing through the underbrush. "Not far now," he said. As they progressed farther into the forest, the elevation change began to slow their pace. They appeared to be moving upward onto a knoll. Unfortunately, thick brush and deadfalls forced them to move in a circular pattern up the hillside. Faerie lights and ethereal figures became more prevalent, a score of beautiful and horrific faces lurking at the edge of Gillian's light. The trio was forced to stay close together, lest one of the shadows take them. Joao set his face hard. Now that the watchers were so plainly inhuman, he actually felt a little better. The False Raina might have lured and tricked him; these things never could and would. They would only be able to kill him. Inwardly, Joao wished he had a trident, a spear or a knife. Even if such things were resistant to anything but, what was it? Cold Iron? Having a weapon would make him feel better. And then the forest ended, not in the gradual sense, but the literal. The trees and vegetation just parted before them like a door. Gillian, Joao, and Seabhac now found themselves in a clearing that encompassed the entire top of the knoll. A line of smooth stones encircled the hill, as if a ward against the encroaching trees and the wyld things dwelling there. "A protected place, Da?" Joao asked Seabhac and Gillian. "It seems to repel the dark, fae things that press upon us." "A inverted faery ring?" Gillian mused. "Seabhac, I thought you said Raina was in a cave. There's no cave here." "Aye," Seabhac replied, perhaps to bother Joao and Gillian. "Let us not test the wardings shall we? They might think us equally uninvited as the wyld things out there." Joao nodded to Seabhac. He began following the stone ring around the mound, walking more easily in the full light of the silvered moon. "This appears to be a burial mound of some sort, not unlike Dún Fhearghusa in Shadow Earth. For all we know, the Brú na Bóinne complex is a Reflection of this place. After all, Corilaine is one of the few Real Shadows in Creation. Truly fascinating." Seabhac smiled coyly at Gillian, "And if that is so. . ." He stared at her expectantly. She raised her eyebrows. "There will be a passage or passages that lead below." "Precisely," Seabhac grinned. "And if I am correct, there should be a passage directly in line with the sun's position during this Shadow's Winter Solstice." He offered her his hand as they walked. Gillian looked at him out of the corner of her eye, then tentatively took the offered hand. Seabhac squeezed her fingers, smiling down at her. "It's going to be fine," he assured her. Joao parted his lips slightly. *This* is why Gillian was here, why she was the leader of the study group with him and Raina. Joao felt, in a very palpable way, out of his depth. Passages below. He never would have guessed that. "Then that is where we must go." Joao finally said. "Yes?" "Indeed," Seabhac said. "And when we find the entrance, Joao, I'm hoping you will lead us. You're obviously the more martially-inclined of us three. There's no telling what we may find in there. I sense. . . something powerful." "And yet I came unarmed." Joao said, with a tone of apology. "But I shall lead all the same. Not all combat is with knife,trident and spear." Seabhac continued around the mound until an archway appeared in the stone circle. A smooth direct path ran through it and up to a flat feature built into the mound. No, not entirely flat. in the moonlight, they could make out a triple spiral motif carved into the rock. As he said this, Joao stepped up to the triple spiral motif carved into the rock. Without a word to his companions, he put both hands on the rock, directly on the spiral. <Well, look at the sack on you, eh?> The Voice chuckled proudly. <Alright then, I'll help. I'm not sure why, but I know this place. I think. . . I think you need to trace your hand through this maze in the Path of Cernunnos.> A wry snort. <Mother was always overly dramatic. Now just let me move your hand, alright?> Briefly, Joao wondered if Raina had had a similar experience, earlier, when she was able to touch the amethysts in the right sequence. It occurred to him that made the most sense. And so he let his fingers, his hand fall under the control of his doppleganger, letting him guide the movements as he would. Joao closed his eyes and let himself go. Joao began to trace his hand along the cool stone path, his limb moving as if suspended by puppet strings. Snippets of memory and sensation touched his mind: the scent of wet meadows and blue-eyed grass in summer, a boar roasting in celebration of his father, wolf howls splitting the night, his mother weeping as villages burned, his sister's venomous voice pledging vengeance. The farther his hand moved through the Labyrinth, the more memories invaded his mind. It was as if he were walking the Pattern once again, as he'd done… A sharp crack and low rumble snapped him out of these foreign thoughts. His hand rested in the center of the spiral, which had sunken into the stone slightly. Somewhere behind the wall, ancient gears turned and worked. <Point of no return, boyo>
memories and thoughts invaded his mind. The line between him and his doppleganger seemed to be blurring, the currents mixing. Seabhac, seeing Joao involved, turned to Gillian. "Joao's right. He'll need a weapon of some sort. Can you assist me with an earth spell? I think we can mold a formidable spear, if you'll lend me some of your power to fashion a metal tip." Gillian stepped over close to Seabhac as the questions came bubbling up. She still held his hand. "Why will he need a weapon--is there someone with Raina? How would we create a spear tip? Is this a ritual spell? I'm not sure what art you would use...maybe the second circle art of ruling or..." She blinked as something occurred to her. "...or perhaps you're not going to use low magic at all...?" Seabhac gave her an amused grin, "Do you realize how cute you are when you babble?" She pulled her hand away and covered her mouth with it. "Sorry. But..." A sly twinkle lit his face as the young man removed some seeds from his hip pouch. "Firstly, yes… I sense something 'Real' in there with her. There's no telling what we might find. Second, yes, it's a ritual spell. I need you to gather a handful of stones from the path. Set them in a spear pattern and then together we'll do the spell-work. I need to draw on your Earth magic a little." He drew a line in the dirt with his thumb, placing a seed every inch or so. Gillian let her light spell go--she was having problems concentrating on it properly with all the distractions present and besides, there was plenty of moonlight on the hilltop already--and started picking up rocks and gathering them in a pocket made by her skirt. She looked at Seabhac askance as she worked. "A ritual spell? Won't that take too long?" She turned to look at Joao when she heard the sharp crack and low rumble of gears working. "For I don't think we have much time left, Seabhac." “Just watch,” Seabhac said. The night sounds around them dulled, as if passing through thick cloth. Gillian noticed how Joao’s movements slowed, almost to a crawl. The breeze no longer touched her skin, the air turning stale and leaden. An arm’s reach away, time had slowed to a standstill. Seabhac took her hand and closed his eyes. As his warm fingers laced with hers, Gillian felt something tug and strain within her heart. The sensation intensified, spreading down her arm and out through her fingertips. She had a mental image of being a pitcher, pouring out its contents into Seabhac’s palm. The elder student waved his free hand over the seeds and stones. With soft cracks, the seeds split open and released green shoots that began writhing and stretching. They entwined with one another, forming a wooden shaft. Gillian felt another surge of shared power flowing between the pair. A heatless fire turned the stones molten, copper and tin floating to the surface. These metals flowed into one another and shaped themselves into a bronze spear tip, which then fused itself with the shaft. “Thank you,” Seabhac wheezed, beads of sweat dotting his brow. Gillian felt a euphoric rush fill her heart as her companion returned her energies in full. Gillian squeezed Seabhac's hand as she inhaled sharply. She stared at him in amazement. "Open!" Joao said aloud, with a touch of impatience, He kept his hand on the spiral, willing to continue and complete the process. No matter the strange memories, no matter the other life that the Doppelganger lived and shared with him. The stone *would* yield its secrets and open to him. Seabhac stood, “Joao! Take this.” He held out the conjured spear. Joao reached out with his free hand to take the spear. With a long practiced motion, he rotated it on its long axis as he held it at the center. It seemed to Seabhac and Gillian that he was testing it, studying it in some kinesthetic fashion. And just in time. The door receded into the hill and then rolled to one side, revealing a narrow passageway into the earth. A warm rush of air greeted them, an animal scent thick and heady. Like sandalwood and wet dog. Joao could see torchlight burning in the distance. Whispers echoed up from the earthen depths, a sinister language of inhuman origin. Joao transferred the spear to his right hand now that it was free of the ritual needed to open the door. "The spear will suffice. Thank you." he said, bowing his head to Seabhac and, especially, Gillian. She returned the bow, though her gaze kept returning askance to Seabhac. "You're welcome, Joao." "Stay close." Joao urged. "Until we reach that light, I will need yours to see." Joao started forward, underneath the Hill, spear held in an en garde position. Mindful of the first time, Gillian _gently_ whispered her white flame into being again, increasing the radius by twice what it was on their walk through the forest. She followed Joao. Ghostly voices drifted up from beyond the portal—a short exchange—and then silence ruled once more. Seabhac stayed at Gillian’s side as they descended into the hill; she could sense him preparing a spell of some kind. Dust covered the stone floor, which had been worn smooth over centuries of worship. However, in many places the dust revealed large paw prints. Recessed alcoves to the thirteen moon oghams decorated the walls, each containing offerings of water, earth, ashes, and the bark from their respective trees. Gillian stared about her, equally fascinated and terrified. Part of her wanted to stop and study the oghams and let the two hardy young men rescue Raina, but she forced herself to continue walking forward. Beyond the short corridor lay a great chamber with tree-like pillars trees rising from the floor and branching out to support the unseen roof. But all this ancient grandeur could not distract the trio from the strange and terrible sight awaiting them at the cairn’s heart. Raina stood in the temple’s main room, her dignified features sharpened by torchlight. Surrounding her were imposing beasts, easily as tall as the girl’s shoulder. Their black fur absorbed the light, so that their bodies were fluid and indistinct. Eyes like coal-embers burned in their heads, slashes of white teeth revealed their massive jaws. They growled as one, the pack’s malevolent gaze focused on the approaching students. Night Wolves. A dozen or more. The largest stood beside Raina, her hand buried in the fur of its thick neck. Joao held up a hand to Seabhac and Gillian, bidding them to halt at the entrance to the chamber. Slowly and carefully, Joao lowered the point of the spear so that it pointed toward the ground at near a vertical angle. What his Doppleganger had said came swimming to his mind. This was *Her* domain. It all made sense now. Raina was not in danger. She would be, if she knew what she was doing, very nearly in command of this place, perhaps. "Raina!" he called loudly to grasp her attention. And then he looked at the menacing beasts. He modulated his voice carefully, speaking slowly, clearly and in an even tone. "We mean you no harm. We've come for her. In peace and of her free will." Gillian let her spell fade away. She stopped near Seabhac's shoulder, quiet as a mouse. The wolves paced forward, only to stop when Raina snapped at them sharply. Neither Gillian or Joao recognized the language she used. It sounded like an ancient version of Thari, but not one they were familiar with. However, the response it elicited was obvious. The wolves whined and lowered their heads. The largest gazed at her quizzically for a moment, before nodding its large head. The creature turned and gazed at Joao scornfully. “Lower your weapon, Human,” he growled in heavily accented Thari. “That you live is only by the grace of our Queen.” Joao lowered the point of the weapon further, but he did not release the shaft from his grasp. His gaze flickered toward Raina as she spoke. Raina spoke using a version of Thari that might be compared with Shakespearian English. Something she hoped would be understandable to both the wolves with their ancient Thari and her companions' more modern language. "He that holds the spear confines the Betrayer," Raina warned the wolves. "Attack him and ye shall release the Beast. Defend him and the Betrayer remains vanquished." Raina shot the barest glimmer of apology at Joao, trying to alert him that she was playing a role without revealing it to the wolves. Joao caught her gaze, nodded slightly, and then returned his attention to the Night Wolves. With a stroke of his mane, Raina moved away from Thengal's side to stand before him. "Thengal, my Valiant Companion. I must to leave you to protect the realm once more. We," and she waved toward the newcomers, "must fly to meet the foe forthwith." She looked firmly into his eyes, enforcing her position as Alpha. "The pack must not fail me." Joao remained silent, watchful and vigilant for Thengal's answer. He remained looking forward, disregarding his companions for the moment in favor of keeping an eye on the Wolves. Queen? Betrayer? Gillian had absolutely no idea what to make of all of this. She opted to keep silent. Thengal whimpered, staring incredulously at its Alpha. “But, my Queen. . . “ it began, only to lower its head. “Very well, you charge me with protecting this realm and so I shall. The pack will not fail you, my Queen. And we will be ready for the Final War when the time comes.” Joao failed to resist an involuntary shudder at the phrase "Final War" Raina clenched her teeth at the promise of conflict, fighting to hold her composure as the tendrils of terror rippled up her spine. She nodded once somberly, accepting Thengal's allegiance. [Thengal] nudged [Raina's] hand with his muzzle, drinking in her scent one last time. He padded off into the shadows, followed closely by the other night wolves. They lined up like silent sentinels, their red eyes burning in the darkness. Seabhac remembered to breath, “Uh, your transportation awaits, my Queen.” He guided Gillian out, his hands protectively resting on her shoulders. She allowed herself to be guided, though she did glance back worriedly at Raina over her shoulder. "Very good," Raina answered regally. She strode ahead, barely glancing at her companions as she joined them, her head held high and her pace confident and smooth. Her dance training was saving her life tonight. Joao stood stock still, waiting for Raina to pass him. He stepped backwards, watching the wolves for a few paces before he turned around and followed Raina following Seabhac and Gillian out of the cave. As Raina passed near Joao, he could see that despite her regal demeanor, her hands were trembling. She forced herself to maintain her pace until they were well away from the wolves. Then she crumbled. She grasped Joao's arm with both hands, clutching onto him like a frightened child. "Get me out of here," she whispered fearfully. Staying close to Gillian, Seabhac checked that they were not being followed by the four-footed predators. “I think we’re safe now,” he said, satisfied they could not be overheard. “But we’d better take the easy way home. No sense in risking a walk through the wyld woods again.” He rummaged through his pockets for what appeared to be a tarot card. Gillian immediately recognized it as a Trump; it depicted the interior of a private library. Gillian noted Seabhac's possession of a Trump thoughtfully and with considerable interest. He tried to lighten the dark mood, pointing to Raina’s outfit. “At least, we got the night wolf fur you needed, huh?” Indeed, the pack had shed all over Raina’s legs and arms. Raina looked down from her spot at Joao's arm and brightened considerably. "Yes! I suppose I did," she said, examining her dress happily. "We were so intent on rescuing you that I'd forgotten our original mission," Gillian said, smiling at Raina. "Oh!" [Raina] exclaimed, remembering something else now that the group was safe. She whirled on her companion. "Joao! It's Sand! The lady! It's Princess Sand!" "Who is Sand?" Gillian asked, puzzled. "She's dead, according to record." "Da" Joao looked surprised for a moment at Raina's exclamation and then he nodded, strongly and firmly. It seemed that he was agreeing with both Raina and Gillian with the single word. He continued. "It's all of a piece, Raina. Slowly, the currents meld together into stranger and stranger waters." Seabhac blinked at the mention of the name, “She was one of the lost royals. The heiress to this shadow, if I recall. That does make some sense, I suppose.” He regarded Gillian for a moment, “And yes. She died long ago at her father’s hands. Defending her mother. A tragic tale.” Raina regarded him intently, eager for the story. He ran his thumb along the edge of the Trump, “But stories can wait. Let’s get home shall we?” Putting the card in front of him, Seabhac began to concentrate. A shimmering portal tore open in the night air, revealing the library depicted on the card. He glanced about, smiling nervously, “I’d really appreciate your candor on this. People outside this circle don’t need to know I have this in my possession. “Step through. It’s my private apartments.” Gillian peered curiously through the portal at Seabhac's library. She glanced around quickly once and stepped through. "Da" Joao said. "I will not say a word about it." he agreed. Once Gillian was clear and through, he urged Raina to precede him, not letting go of her arm until she was ready to step through the card herself. He waited, once she was through, before stepping through himself, giving one last glance back up the tunnel before he did so. Raina stepped through the portal, smiling her thanks to Joao. She was obviously eager to tell him more, but it would have to wait. |
