Shine: The Knowing Ones (37 page)

The darkened skies and freezing wind made their climb difficult but the horse boldly made his way to the top of the stone path that gave them direct access to the temple. Anvil stopped the horse, looking vacantly ahead into the wind. “Can you repeat what she said?”

“Yes,” Sam replied. “I’ll try to say it.” She formed the words as carefully as she could, then glanced up at him in angst. “Did I say it right? Do you know what she said?”

Anvil sat upon his horse with a distant expression. “Yes,” he replied. “But I do not know why.”

“What does that mean?” she asked, hating herself for bringing him into Anavi’s last moments.

“It means ‘What have you done to him’.”

“Who?” she asked.

Anvil looked down and shook his head. “Me, perhaps. I am not certain. Come,” he said. “We must get you inside.” He climbed off the massive horse and helped Sam down. The elderly man put an arm around her, pulled her cloak tightly about her and guided her in from cold. Anvil followed, guiding his horse through the large doors to protect him from the formidable winds.

The man released Samantha and quickly closed the heavy doors to the temple behind them. He turned and took Anvil’s hand, patting him on the shoulder with the other. Then he turned to Sam. He knew who she was and it showed in his expression and his countenance. She could also see the now expected element of surprise at her resemblance to Anavi. He stared at her a moment and then at Anvil who nodded faintly in the man’s direction, acknowledging the likeness.

The man lifted his chin and smiled. “Well, we did not see this day coming,” he said. “The Divinity does keep us guessing.” He took Sam’s hand, covering it with his own. “My name is Aleksei. I am one of the Elders in the Veduny council. Samantha, I speak for all of us when I say we are honored to have you in our presence. We just cannot fathom that an event of this magnitude does not have a foreordained purpose for the tribe, for everyone.” He released her hand and gestured toward large double doors. “Please,” he said. “Come with me.”

Anvil and Sam followed Aleksei through the double doors and into a massive courtyard with high stone walls. Masterfully carved into the upper half of the walls were large glyphs, strange and foreign but beautifully intriguing. As she walked through with the two men, gazing upon the workmanship, one of the symbols jumped out at her. She knew this one—Trin’s bracelet. Sam pointed to the symbol. “I know that,” she said. “It’s engraved in the bracelet Trin wears.”

Anvil stared at the symbol. “Your Keeper’s element is water...” his voice trailed off.

“Yes,” Sam replied.

The corner of Anvil’s mouth twitched upward and she saw sadness in his eyes. “That makes sense,” he said.

Sam stared at him as they continued walking. “I don’t understand.”

Anvil looked down at her and smiled with sorrowful acceptance. “Ashbel’s element is fire.” Anvil looked away and kept walking. Sam gazed upon him for a moment longer and then quietly walked by his side. She couldn’t imagine the loss. She acknowledged the pain of losing his wife, but at that moment she realized he had lost more than that. He had also lost a brother.

Sam’s gaze returned to the ornate symbols on the imposing stone walls. She figured they represented other elements. Sam looked down at Anvil’s right wrist where his own bracelet hung. She couldn’t see the underside but she was certain it also contained the stone and the symbol for air. She wondered which one it was.

At that moment they arrived at a large iron gate. Aleksei pushed against it with vigor, the metal hinges whining as it swung open. They entered another pathway, following it down to another courtyard. As they passed through the entrance Sam caught her breath at what lay before her. Erected near the far end of the courtyard was an impressive rectangular structure with steps leading up to the large ornate door. The entire construction appeared to be made of gold and at this point she wouldn’t have been surprised if it was.

At that moment six others filtered into the hall—three women and three men. They all wore the same ceremonial robes Aleksei wore. They all bore the remarkable Veduny aura of white blue, except for one who had an additional lilac strain. It was faint but visible. This was the head Elder. She knew because Mikhail carried the same strain.

He stepped forward and bowed toward her. “Samantha, we are honored,” he said. “We do not have much time. The winter solstice will begin in approximately two hours. Whatever Ashbel intends to do he is waiting for the solstice to begin. If we can find him before then, we will. But once the solstice begins it is imperative he not find you. From midnight until sunrise, the alexandrite that fills these mountains will be at its highest vibration. Trinton has informed us we no longer govern its power and you seem to be the missing ingredient to complete Ashbel’s plan.” Dobrushin turned and gestured toward the large golden door at the top of the steps. “This is where the Oracle has always communed with the Divinity. No one has entered since Anavi’s death.” He turned back to Sam. “No one is allowed inside except for the Oracle and her Keeper. You will be safe inside. I cannot imagine a power great enough to get past that door. There are some things the Divinity will simply not allow.”

Sam looked up the steps to the door. She didn’t feel worthy to enter. She hadn’t even completed her training. She had experienced some of her abilities on accident but she really didn’t feel like that counted.

Dobrushin sensed her feeling of inadequacy. “Samantha,” he said. “The Oracle is who you are, not what you have thus far accomplished. Where you are in your journey is irrelevant. This is the safest place for you to be.”

Sam nodded, looking again to the door. “So I will be here until you find Ashbel or until the sun rises. Is that correct?”

“That is correct,” he replied. “Should you need anything, one of us will be outside the doors standing guard at all times. You need only
send a message,” he said. He looked at her. “Have you used this ability yet?”

“Yes,” she nodded. She thought of Trin and the weight of his absence returned. It would be a very long night. She thought about where he would be and what he would be doing while she sat safely in this majestic haven. She turned to Dobrushin. “How will I know Trin is safe?”

“We know when something has happened to one of our leaders.
You will know,”
he said. He rested a hand on her shoulder. “Do not worry. There is a purpose for this. The Divinity has a plan and you are part of it. Trust your instincts. As the Oracle, yours are sharper than any of ours here. If anything is to occur, you will know about it first.”

Anvil took Sam’s hand. “Do not worry,” he said. “Trinton carries a strength I have never encountered before, and if I trained him, then we think alike,” he smiled. “We will take care of each other.”

Sam returned the smile, feeling a glimpse of comfort.

Dobrushin introduced the rest of the council to Sam and then turned her over to Lenka, tall and slender with light brown hair that cascaded in thick curls past her shoulders—enchanting.

She took Sam up the steps to the golden door and gazed down at her with brilliant eyes, sensing her fear and hesitancy. “Do not be afraid,” she said. “This is a sacred sanctuary and this temple is fortified. You cannot be harmed within its walls.”

Sam nodded. Every time she had been told she was safe she hadn’t been. The enemy was cunning, able to circumvent every safety ever established for her. They approached the top step. Lenka did not move to open the door but turned to Sam instead. “Only the Oracle can open it.”

Sam looked to the large golden door. She turned to Lenka, lowering her voice. “Trin hasn’t...the Oracle...
my
power isn’t intact.”

Lenka smiled. “The binding energy will recognize you as its conduit.” She turned toward the door. “Open it.”

Sam looked upon the door with reservation, knowing it had been sealed and its purpose, what it signified to the Veduny tribe. She felt as if she were opening the Ark of the Covenant or King Arthur pulling the sword from the stone. She was just a little girl from Utah.

She tentatively reached for the large handle—its extravagant craftsmanship bewildering. At the touch of her hand the whole door erupted in brilliant light. All those present shielded their eyes, Sam
included. The brightness gradually dimmed, but remained. Sam looked to Lenka who nodded in affirmation that this was expected and to pull the door open.

Sam gave the door a great pull, and with defiant creaking it rumbled open, dusty air pluming outward from its edges as it came to a stop. The dust settled, revealing a silken veil blocking the view of what lay beyond.

A hush of humility blanketed the room. Lenka looked to the council—the hope in the courtyard palpable. She turned to Sam. “This is a day we didn’t expect to see so soon,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “You bring us such hope after the horrible events of the past few months.”

Sam thought about how, in reality, it had been years. How the Veduny now wouldn’t have to wait that long, and she too had her first glimmer of hope that perhaps the Divinity, of which she kept hearing, truly was in control after all; that perhaps this was all part of a great plan.

“Go inside, Samantha,” Lenka said. “You must be protected.”

Sam turned and looked upon Anvil and the council. She nodded at them as well. They all bowed their heads in humility. “Thank you for helping us,” Sam said.

“No,” Dobrushin responded. “Thank
you
.”

Sam turned and pushed through the veil. She then heard the heavy door sliding forward followed by a loud vibration as it closed behind her.

CHAPTER FIFTY ONE

“A
re you ready?” Llamar asked.

He had taken Trin to Anvil’s room and given him Veduny military attire to change into. Dressed in heavy black fatigues and leather boots, a long heavy overcoat added to the barrier that would soon be needed between him and the icy Russian air. A thick hat protected his head. His light eyes, light hair, and sun kissed skin were a stunning contrast to the all-black ensemble; beautiful and deadly.

Stepping out into the hallway, he asked “What is our plan?”

“We wait for Anvil to return. There is little I am allowed to do in the physical world. I will help all I can with information, but as far as physically doing anything, that will be left to you and Anvil,” he said. “I must inform you there is much unrest in our country right now. I doubt we will see anyone who is not Veduny up here. But should we run into military or anyone else it could severely impede our ability to do what must be done. We do not exist to them. Our people cannot come out of hiding until the way has been prepared. Until the Oracle and tribal continuity is restored that cannot happen, especially with such a powerful enemy at large. Humanity cannot know of us yet. It is not safe for us and it is not safe for them.”

Trin nodded.

“We must find that kindjal,” he said. “We will start with the mines. The rest will come to us.”

Trin remained silent.

Llamar looked at him in earnest. “You are right where the Divinity wants you,” he said.

The door swung open with a gust of freezing wind and Anvil stepped inside, quickly closing it behind him. He turned to see Trin in his military gear. A slight smile lit his eyes. “That attire suits you,” he said. Veduny power thrummed, running through his successor like a powerful electrical current.

“Is Sam all right?” Trin asked.

“Sam is safe in the sanctuary.”

Trin nodded without reply. Sam was never safe.

Anvil’s eyes gleamed. “It is time to go find my brother.”

Sam looked beyond into absolute darkness. The sanctuary was a windowless tomb—no light. Elements of panic stirred within her as she anticipated waiting potentially for hours under these conditions. It wouldn’t be the first time.

Moving forward, she began feeling her way through the inky blackness. There had to be a light source in here somewhere. None of the council members had mentioned any but she couldn’t imagine they would leave her in the dark. Then again, nothing about this experience had been what she expected.

She thought about turning back to the massive door, pushing it open, and asking Lenka, but decided it wasn’t worth the risk. Having no light was not an emergency and this was the only place she was safe from the enemy. She began processing what she did know. She was back in time. Electric light was available but she wasn’t sure if it was something the Veduny used. With the power of the tribe, it almost seemed archaic.

She began edging forward again with her hands in front of her, feeling in the empty air trying to sense her surroundings. The sanctuary didn’t feel overly expansive, as the rest of the temple had. A faint scent of incense and stagnant air laced the environment.

As she continued forward she sensed a shift—nearly imperceptible, but in this particular area the air seemed different, almost living. She continued forward, using the sensation as a compass and ran into something solid. Her hands flew out in front of her to avoid falling when a faint light burst right beneath her palms, bathing them in crimson. She gasped, pulling her hands away and the ghostly light
vanished. Sam stood frozen in place, reminding herself she was in the sanctuary—she was safe.