Walk Through Thorns

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Back into the rain again. Anne was spooked, and that in turn, spooked me. If the Children of the Briarheart had gotten to Greta's mom somehow, who knew how deep they had burrowed into the Light of the Archtree. Well, Oma might.

Her small home was glowing with the warmth of the fireplace. I let myself in, dripping onto the carpet in the entryway. My hair was hanging down my back like seaweed.

Oma was sitting by the fireplace, knitting once again. If I didn't know better, I might think she hadn't even moved since my last visit.

"My, my, that's a fiery look if I ever saw one."

I said, "They killed Greta. I want to do something about it. I just don't know what."

"My own granddaughter," Oma said, putting her knitting down. "My heart aches for her."

The fireplace was warm and crackling. I welcomed it after the cold rain. The strange paintings were still on the walls, seeming to undulate in the fire's light.

"Do you know what happened?" I asked.

Oma said, "I know so little. My own daughter won't speak to me. Won't let my own blood see me. I fear we have failed already."

"No," I said, "If they killed her its because we were getting too close to the truth. They're building something in the Creighton mine. Why?"

Oma's eyes widened. "The Creighton mine? No, it's condemned. We stopped them from digging."

"Someone doesn't care," I said, "And I think they have government funding."

"Then, indeed, we have failed. I thought opening the other mine would misdirect them. Let them dig in the wrong place." Oma closed her eyes, looking remarkably tired.

"It's down there, isn't it. The Heavenly Throne."

She said, "The ancients hid it deep below the ground."

"But what is it?" I asked.

"Something old, something powerful. Perhaps a left over from the very act of Creation."

I said, "I'm going to stop them from getting to it."

"When I was a young girl, I was taught that the Throne ever approaches. Only accessible when the stars were right."

"The stars?"

Oma nodded. "An eclipse, when silver and gold are joined in union. They will seek to open the door, to access the Throne."

I said, "Maybe I can sabotage their machine. Make them miss their chance."

"You need to arm yourself," Oma said. She pulled one of her knitting needles out of her work and held it out for me. "Pure silver. Drive it directly into the heart."

I asked, "What are you saying?"

"Oh, to balk now." Oma tsked at me. "Do you think they will hesitate to kill you?"

My shoulders drooped, but I shook my head.

"So take it," Oma said holding the silver needle up, "And defend yourself when the time comes."

"Why silver?" I asked as I took it from her. I felt heavier in my hand than I thought.

"Silver is pure. It carries the Light of the Archtree within it. If the Briarheart has put its roots inside someone, only Light can banish it."

I said, "But if I stab someone in the heart they'll die. I don't want to hurt anyone."

"No child," Oma said, "To be a slave to the Briarheart is worse than death. You would offer them mercy."