The Stone of Lamfedios

Chapter 10

- 10 -

 It was nearly noon. Gemma was feeling hot and saddle sore.

Tiarnis and Charia had woken her early that morning to inform her of the Council's decision. Charia was to be her guide and protector. During the early morning farewells her new friend, Terria, had complained. She was feeling left out; but wise Fearin had talked quietly to her, reminding her that as daughter of the Elder, her people would rely on her in Charia's  absence.  How only Terria was so well informed as to her mother's needs and would be a valuable guide both to the Council and to Tiarnis, who was to keep vigil at the Maze Stone.

 Gemma remembered too the tears that were shed by both mother and daughter as Charia presented Terria with the Golden sash of an Elder. How Terria held herself tall as they rode away. Gemma wondered if she would ever see her again.

 Their route led in the direction of the Ravenstone Tower, an ancient building inhabited only by the ravens. When Gemma explained how the light of the stone had behaved and shown the weary council it's direction of travel, they all agreed that this must be their path. Tiarnis had warned that it would be difficult, through mountains and over terrain that would be treacherous at any time. They would be able to cover the first part of the journey on horseback, but then they must continue on foot. He cheered them slightly when he added that there would be help along the way, although he could not tell in what shape this would manifest itself.

  The mountains no longer cast great shadows. The sun was now directly overhead and the stoney path reflected both the heat and the brilliant glare.   There were many dried up water courses running from higher up in the mountains. 'They must have carried a lot of water,' thought Gemma. It seemed unnaturally quiet to her, no bird song, only the occasional cricket rubbing it's knees together and the steady sound of unshod hooves as the horses picked their way on the little used path.

 Charia looked straight ahead, intuitively aware of her surroundings. Gemma could only sense this connection but knew how important this undertaking must be to Charia and her people. Although all this seemed so strange to Gemma, she did not feel remote from the events in which she now played her part. She could feel the weight of the decision that these people had made. The importance of Charia's sacrifice to partake in a dangerous journey to a yet unknown destination, leaving her own people behind under a terrible threat. The Council had assured Gemma that she would be guided by the Stone of Lamfedios, that the strange movement of the light that she had already witnessed was proof. Even if this was true, how would she know what to do when that important time came. This was not her land, these were not her people, she desperately wanted to help them, but felt inadequate and vulnerable herself. She looked again at the vast mountains and became aware of her rapid breathing. 

 There was a familiar throaty 'Arkkk, Arkkk, Arkkk.'

 Three ravens swooped over the riders' heads and gave a playful roll in front of them before alighting on a stark, pink, quartz tower ahead of them. Charia gave a musical laugh, 'We are welcomed at their tower. At least we can shelter from the sun's heat and have a safe rest. I think we have found our first guides.'

 The tower was magnificent; each finely excavated stone fitted so precisely, that Gemma could not initially see the fine joins. On closer inspection she was able to trace the delicate lines with her fingers. Each meticulously honed block had been highly polished, reflecting the fierce heat, providing cool refreshing shade inside. The arched opening was just large enough to admit the travellers one at a time. The floor was uncluttered and of fine soft sand. At one end two stone benches were situated either side of a marble-like table and in the corner, a well contained ice cool sparkling water.

 At last Gemma felt steady ground. Her horse was of a gentle temperament and had been aware of her inexperience, but the unfamiliar exercise was still very tiring. Charia's first concern was for the horses. She scooped up the refreshing water in her broad brimmed hat and took it outside to where they nibbled the dry grass. When she saw that they had satisfied their thirst, she too could settle for a short while.