Brightheart

Chapter 32

The darkness and constant night was desolate. Brightheart tried to light a fire with magic, but the flame wilted like a flower. Spells seemed weak, and the air filled with dark magic and strong curses, somehow increasing Brightheart's strength. She was determined, but still lonely, and she supposed that was why she couldn't make the fire. She rummaged through her bag, pulling out the figurine and carving. The figurine was a unicorn and the carving was a whistle, which Brightheart had forgotten. She put the unicorn away and blew on the whistle, learning how to play Enya's lullaby as best she could. After a while she put it away, and her fingers got caught on something. Brightheart pulled it out and found the necklace from Muarrfirn. In the darkness the indigo gem seemed to sparkle brighter. Brightheart remembered Tŕnjyl telling her about the spell on it. Smiling, she realised she wouldn't be alone if she called the Starion to be her companions.

"Ma zal Tŕnjyl thu listy," Brightheart thought, and a light began to glow beside her. She turned to look, and for a moment thought it was Enya even though the lady walking beside her looked nothing like her mother.
"Hilo Dŕæunt," the lady said, proving herself to be Tŕnjyl. She had flaxen hair and light brown eyes, and she glowed like the Lantern.
"Hilo Tŕnjyl," Brightheart said, about to think it, being unused to having the Starion right next to her.
"Good choice of the time to call me here. This is something best walked up to with friends."
"Thanks."
"It's been too long since I walked on the earth. We Starion should return more often," Tŕnjyl said, her voice like bells as it always had been. Brightheart asked the Starion to tell her what it was like the last time she'd wandered on earth. Tŕnjyl told of watching trees grow, of hearing nature's orchestra in which crickets and birds sang the melody. She told of looking up at night to see the stars where she lived and of the wonder on people's face when she taught them magic.

They continued in silence for a while, and then Brightheart called Xûydûsöz.
"Bötûùù!" Tŕnjyl cried.
"Syza!" Xûydûsöz replied, and they embraced. Thus he joined the group Brightheart was forming. They walked for a while, singing the rabbit song in the dark where the Starion shone. Then Brightheart called Kintûlral and Aalxtsind. All four glowed and their appearance matched the way Brightheart described their presence in her mind when she talked to them. The Starion lit up the endless night chasing away shadows of fear. Those four talked amongst themselves for about an hour, leaving Brightheart to listen and take it all in. Then they stopped to eat and sleep. Kintûlral helped Brightheart cook, conjuring food with some spell Brightheart hadn't learnt. So Kintûlral taught her it. The five ate, and slept on conjured bedding.

The next day they talked about life in the sky. Brightheart listened to the stories and their echoes, noticing that the empty caverns weren't so deadly empty as they has been when she was alone. The Starion's light and voices filled the space, guiding her as she walked towards battle. On the third day since entering the caverns, they discussed their vague battle plans. Kintûlral said Brightheart should just say the Spell-Curse. Xûydûsöz didn't have a plan, so he said he agreed with Kintûlral.
"I think you should get your friends away then say the Spell-Curse, Tŕnjyl suggested.
"It takes a momet to say, so there will be a huge battle while I distract him long enough to say it," Brightheart replied.
"We should rescue the prisoners while Brightheart distracts Nightscar, then as we take then to a safer place she buys time to say the Spell-Curse," Aalxtsind said. Everyone agreed that was best.

With the battle planned, the group fell to quiet talking. Brightheart talked to Aaalxtsind about Nightscar's weak spots. After that, she walked in silence, thinking about it all and half listening to Tŕnjyl tell her the story of Rùnöadwùdnæmauk. Every step brought her closer to battle, closer to speaking those words of death that gave her strength yet made her tremble. Brightheart closed her eyes for a second and saw Rustblade fighting Nightscar, when she opened them again she heard a faint rumble. Closed eyes: Ama being kidnapped. Opened eyes: Starion leading her to sorrow and fear. Somehow there was nothing to regret. At least after Nightscar was defeated her friends would be safe.