Feral Bonds

Chapter 36

They had to hike to the Hall of Fates. The building was sequestered away from main trails and only the residual hum of magic assured them they were on the right path as they trudged through several miles of untamed undergrowth.

They were just about ready to turn back when a tall stone archway had them renewing their speed. Natania bashed her nose as she tried to walk through the archway. "Guess this is as far as I go," she growled as Gretchen passed easily through. Gretchen glanced between her and the large stone pyramid that hadn't been visible before crossing the arch.

"I guess so."

"Stay safe," Natania ordered, pacing back and forth in front of the threshold, already agitated.

"I'll be fine. Wait somewhere out of sight." Without another word, Gretchen walked briskly into the pyramid, gaping slightly at the intricate work. It looked like the building had been carved out of one giant stone, there were no seams or joints that she could tell, just artistic carving.

The entrance was a long stone hallway, with runes etched into the walls. Several of them lit up as she passed, but she had no idea what they meant. The hallway seemed to go on forever, dark except for the glowing runes, but eventually she reached an empty chamber. She was expecting someone, or something, to greet her, but there was nothing except a shiny silver chalice in the center of the room, atop a simple stone table.

There was some sort of blue liquid in the chalice and Gretchen picked it up cautiously. She'd seen too many movies where moving the magic chalice caused the room to rapidly fill with quicksand, but, thankfully, nothing happened.

No other exits were visible in the room, only the way she had come. There was nothing else in the room. She didn't see any oddly protruding stones that might indicate an exit, but she moved around the edges of the room anyway, hand against the wall to check for an invisible path. Nothing.

Either she drank the chalice, or she turned back. There were no other choices. Well, Gretchen thought, if this is poison, hopefully Natania won't wait too long before moving on with her life. Who was she kidding? The wolf would probably sit there, still as a statue, for weeks before giving up, if she ever did. Natania was loyal like that.

With a grimace, Gretchen raised the chalice to her lips and took a tentative sip. It tasted like fresh spring grass. Not exactly pleasant, but not awful. She waited a moment, seeing if anything happened before downing the rest of the blue liquid.

Gretchen placed the empty chalice onto the table, and immediately another path opened in the stone. Nothing had moved as far as she could tell, the entrance had just appeared. Without allowing herself to hesitate, Gretchen walked down the new path.

She came to another almost empty room, but that time there was a seat in the center. Gretchen took the seat and a stone table appeared in front of her. A ragged looking old book with a broken spine sat atop it. Gretchen flipped to the first page.

Immediately, visions assaulted her.

Eight year old Gretchen hid under her bed, cowering and trying not to make a sound as footsteps stomped around their house. Her father had told her to hide as soon as he'd heard the car pull up. She didn't question, just did as she was told. Her father had drilled that into her since she could understand words. "If mom or dad tell you to hide, you take your bear, go under the bed, and don't make a sound. Mom or dad will tell you when it's safe."

It had always seemed like a game to Gretchen as they practiced what she should do. But this time it wasn't a game. Her father had tried to be calm, but she had heard the tremor of fear in his voice. She clutched her favourite bear tight in trembling hands.