Bonded: Book One of the ShadowLight Saga, an Epic Fantasy Adventure (20 page)

The day melted into
evening. Hallad’s sight spotted with orange dots from the torchlight of the hall
as they passed into the darkness of the grove. They rounded the giant ash and
rune carved dais to a narrow trail hidden behind the tree. The path led to a
rock opening. Hallad wondered at the cave. He had thought the IronWood a vast
forestland, but the mouth to a mountain spread wide, allowing their entry.

Torches lit the cramped
corridor as they shuffled along single-file. Before long, the passage broke
into several tunnels. Symbols of cats, moons and runes spread the expanse of
walls. Hallad glimpsed movement down passageways; white robes fluttered as
women hurried on their way about some unknown task. Rota chose a passage marked
in black with the rune algiz etched over the opening.

This tunnel’s walls
crowded with paintings and symbols on every available spot. When they reached
the end of the corridor, Rota approached a white-cloaked woman seated in front
of an archway. Though Hallad was unable to hear what the women said, when Rota
finished, the white-cloaked woman looked up at him, nodded and left. Rota waved
for him to come.

As Hallad passed her and
walked into the room, she spoke into his ear, "I will turn my back for
only two candle-flicks then I am coming to haul you out myself."

Hallad nodded and
proceeded into the room. Furs strewn across the floor padded his footfalls and
he moved as silently as Swan. The paintings on the walls depicted Freyja in
silver gowns. A soft white glow surrounded the images of the Goddess, her face
stark—serene, yet commanding. All except one image, whose face had been marred
with a black raven and whose golden tresses had been painted dark. Hallad
frowned at the strange depiction, but stepped forward.

Dozens of candles
flickered around the room. Thick wax melted in puddles on rock ledges. Then he
spotted Swan wrapped in furs, her skin flaccid, her color drained.

Emptiness welled up within
him, surging. He crossed the floor, his boots sinking into the array of hides. He
placed his wide palm upon her head, smoothing the white wisps of her hair
backward. With the backside of his other hand he caressed her cheek; he bent
and kissed his sister’s forehead.

The godhi’s son
attempted to contain the flood inside him, but it broke loose, sending a warm
tear down his cheek; the droplet trailed from his chin to fall onto her skin.
Along every step of this journey he had felt helpless—in someone else’s
control, as if the gods played him as a string puppet, directing his limbs for
their own amusement, but he had never felt this wrecked. There was nothing he
could do but sit here and watch her—watch her die, perhaps. Anguish churned
inside him. He wanted to scream.

Outside the silence of
the room, Hallad heard muttering. His skin pricked. Another tunnel exited at
the back of the room. A glow of light shone down the tunnel. Hallad strained to
hear. Women’s voices resounded off the walls. They spoke of Swan.

He glanced at the door,
realizing Rota would be in soon, and bent down one last time to kiss Swan’s
forehead. Without thinking, he crossed the room walking on the balls of his
feet, toward the voices. The hall darkened as he padded down it, the only light
ahead or behind as Hallad fingered his way along the slick rock of the wall.

The voices grew nearer. Hallad
realized they chanted. A thin drapery hung over the end of the hall. Hallad
pressed his body flat against the cavern wall. Shadowy forms showed through the
curtain as Hallad spied. He sucked in his breath, holding air in his lungs
before releasing, the way his father had taught him when hunting. He moved his
head closer to the curtain, finding a small tear in the material, and peered
through.

Hallad spotted Ase
first, garbed in her usual pine-colored cloak, holding hands with a willowy
woman in all black.  The second woman’s silver-white hair draped around her
shoulders, falling to the middle of her back. She moved as sleek as a snake and
Hallad realized the woman was Serpent Mother. Other figures in white cloaks
surrounded them. They all kneeled on cushions before an empty dais.

"She will come,"
said Serpent Mother.

"Are you sure?"
asked Ase.

The women concentrated on
a large candle flame before them. Hundreds of candles perched themselves on
ledges, the room ablaze with their light, but the one before them shone
brightest, as large as a torch.

"I spoke with her
in my sleep. She assured me," said Serpent Mother.

"Does she know what
has happened?"

Serpent Mother nodded
then added, "Continue."

Ase bowed her head. The
chanting resumed.

In the center of the
platform, a white light shifted. Hallad blinked to make sure the play of light
wasn’t a result of his tired eyes reacting to the candles, but it expanded,
spreading like white fire.

In response, the women
chanted louder and faster.

A female figure appeared
through the light. Her features blended with the background as if she wasn’t
quite there. Alabaster robes draped over her body, the color blanched, making
the other whites in the room drab in comparison. The material hung in billows,
as if made from the rarest silks. Her hair was pulled in a tight knot on the
top of her head, spilling its length through the loop of the knot. Skin, whiter
than even her robes, bore flawless features setting off a stark contrast to the
black of her tresses. She was beauty personified, except for a mark tattooed on
her cheek—the mark of a raven. Upon further inspection, Hallad realized the tattoo
floated on her flesh like a birthmark, as if part of her skin, and he recalled
the strange, dark-haired depiction of the marred goddess in the outer room.

Hallad fought to keep
his breath. He tried to steady his intake as his chest fluttered.

Could this be Freyja?
Could these women really speak to the Goddess?

More of his father’s
wisdoms flooded him.
All you see is not always what it seems.

The woman’s—or
goddess’—body had not clearly materialized and Hallad viewed the cavern walls
through her when she shifted, spoiling her pristine beauty.

Ase, Serpent Mother and
the white-cloaked women ceased chanting. The goddess looked down upon them, her
eyes searching around them.

"Our reverence to
you, Ravenna, for answering our call."

"What has happened?
Tell me all you know." Ravenna's gaze flitted about, examining the space
around their heads, while never settling on their eyes.

"The Savior has
fallen into a deep sleep—graver than any who have tried walking. We cannot
bring her out, as if she doesn’t desire to return." Serpent Mother’s words
inflected with guilt.

"Has her strength
in the shadowwalk been tested by any walker?"

"Nei, your
Reverence. We had thought to train them together and the boy only understands
the sword. He has no other talents. We were going to bond them as sal drengrs
when they were ready."

Hallad’s throat
constricted at Serpent Mother’s answer. He realized these women thought him
inadequate, and a quick sliver of agreement pierced him.

"Do not be
judgmental," scolded the Ravenna. "He is the Guardian."

"Forgive me." Serpent
Mother wobbled into a bow, as if she had never conceded to anyone in her
lifetime.

"And do not bond
them. Your bond will be weaker than if we bond them in our realm, by ones with
the touch of the Goddess. The connection will bring about a more powerful bond
and they must be secured in their connection. Ase, how much training did the
girl receive from her mother?"

Serpent Mother’s face
fell at the question, though Hallad couldn’t fathom why.

"I cannot be sure,"
Ase replied. "Isla took her sudr many seasons past. When she returned I
knew nothing of what had transpired, yet I am reasonably sure Isla told her to
seek the boy in case of her death. I do not know how much time the girl took in
finding him."

Serpent Mother’s head
hung low, her eyes glazing with numbness. "Many seasons." Her voice
cracked as she bit back memories. "My sister died many seasons ago. I felt
my twin’s death as if it were my own."

Hallad finally understood.
Serpent Mother was his mother’s sister—his aunt.

"Did the girl seek
anyone out in the dream?" Ravenna’s figure weakened as she spoke,
thinning, the wall behind her becoming more visible.

"Only once,"
Serpent Mother replied. "When she first arrived, though she did not speak.
She sang the lullaby her mother and I sung to her and her brother when they
were babes, before the boy was left with Avarr." She smiled with the
memory.

The figure of the
raven-marked goddess flickered, threatening to expire. Her speech tinged with
impatience. "I must see her now."

"As you command."
Ase and Serpent Mother spoke at the same time, each scrambling to their feet,
heading in Hallad’s direction.

Hallad rounded on his
heels, lurching back through the tunnel, then realized if he continued they
would spot him running away. So he turned as they came through the curtain, the
wavering figure floating behind them.

Serpent Mother’s eyes
rested upon him first. He backed up down the tunnel and reached Swan’s chamber.
When he turned, Rota and Olrun blocked him. Rota looked as if she wanted to
wrestle him or put a snake down his trousers—he didn’t know which would be
worse.

"This is him,"
Ravenna stated.

The goddess' eyes
flicked about him, but never quite on him. The candlelight cast a sheen on the
frame of black hair pulled tight on top of her head, causing mahogany
highlights to materialize against the sea of blackness.

Serpent Mother nodded in
reply.

"My time shortens. The
girl."

After they all scowled
at Hallad, they turned toward Swan’s sleeping body. Ravenna examined the girl,
her gaze flickering around Swan’s figure.

"She has gone far
into the walk. I will discuss this predicament with the Council of Norns. Do
not take any action until I return."

"What will happen
to her?" asked Hallad.

All eyes rounded on him.

Ravenna cocked her head,
focusing on the space around his crown and shoulders, the black raven on her
cheek darkening as she began to fade.

"Her body will die
within two of nine moons if she does not return to it. Her soul will wander
with no vessel to return to. Our lands will be lost. You, too, will most likely
die. And the Shadow will succeed in destroying Mother Nerthus."

Her words sliced through
him, her anger apparent as if he caused the situation. The other women accused
Hallad with their glares, as if they blamed him as well. Hallad’s insides
twitched at the rebuke, knowing they had a valid point.

Ravenna added, "Know
this. You must not be separated from her, now or ever. Do you understand?"

Hallad nodded. He
understood the gravity of her words—even now, pain rived through him at their
separation. If he lost her to the realm of the gods, he did not think he could
suffer her passing.

"Stay here and I
will come for you both."

"Where will you
take us?" asked Hallad.

"Glitner. In
Alvenheim she will be nearer to the Mother, the one you call Goddess. She’ll
have a better chance for survival with the Mother’s connection so near."

"How will you take
them back?" Serpent Mother asked. "I thought you could nei longer
transport us."

Ravenna nodded. "Gateways
can only be opened by those strong in the Shadow, but most of those with his
touch have turned to his service. Never-the-less, the Council of Norns will
meet and we will find a way."

"But you do not
know for sure," said Hallad.

"Nothing is ever
sure." Ravenna's image flickered in and out. "But for the time being,
her best chance resides with me and the Council of Norns. So you must wait."

Wait
, thought Hallad.
I’ve had enough of waiting.

As Ravenna’s body
dissipated, she added, "May the strength of the Guardian be with you."
Then she winked out, the blackness of the raven on her cheek Hallad’s last
remaining sight.

Serpent Mother’s gaze
settled on Hallad. He tightened his jaw against her stare.

"I can make it
through to Alvenheim," he stated.

All eyes darted, looking
at Hallad as though he stood naked in a briar bush. Olrun’s mouth dropped open.
Serpent Mother leveled her eyes to his.

"Those who spy have
nei honor. They cannot be trusted." Serpent Mother flipped her silvered hair
back over her shoulder, dismissing him without further due, turning her
attention to the drengmaers. "I will deal with you two later."

The sal drengmaers
cowed, shoulders shrinking. Either woman could have Serpent Mother on the floor
in moments, begging for her life, but the High Priestess’ demeanor radiated
with such power none dared to defy her. Her scrutiny caused Hallad's pulse to
quicken.