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The rain finally stopped so they grouped expectantly around their guide each wondering where they were headed next. Following their guide, they came to “The Valley of the Crystals”. Rightfully named because areas like this are littered with millions of quartz crystals that have eroded over time from veins cutting into the quartzite bedrock. Shortly, they found the bathing pools that their guide told them about earlier so if they wanted to bathe in them they could. The rain fed pools are depressions and holes in the rock filled with cold clean water safe and exhilarating to bathe in. The loose white quartz layering the bottom of the pink quartzite potholes glisten brightly in the sunlight giving the clear water a beautiful multicolored sparkling effect. Walking nearer to a large pool with clear glistening water, they could see jewel-like hummingbirds flitting among the multicolored foliage around it edges, and of course, the small black frogs that can neither hop nor swim but crawl along the ground.
“Anyone feel anything strange right about now? The closer I get to this pothole the more I feel drawn to something,” Garrett noted apprehensively.
“Do you think we have finally reached our destination?” Tony asked hopefully.
“It appears so look,” exclaimed Chris pointing at the pothole. A thin bright light formed directly down the center of the pink quartzite and the white quartz lining the bottom of the water-filled pool. As the light slowly widened in the center, the water and loose quartz moved inward toward it disappearing into the light effectively draining the shallow pool of water and loose quartz.
Frozen with fear the Pemón guide suddenly screamed in terror fleeing back the way they had come. Memorized the entire group watched the light slowly widen and the pool slowly drain of water and quartz. Waiting expectantly, they wondered where all the water and loose quartz was going as the light continued its inexorable widening. Finally, the light encompassed the entire width of the pool, the water and loose quartz is gone, and so is the pink quartzite making up the foundation of the pothole. Slowly, the light inexorably began to fade inward revealing a natural darkness behind it that severely contrasted with it. As the pure light continued its retreat from the darkness, they could see steps leading down into a tunnel.
“I’ll be damned, is everybody as freaked out as I am,” Tony blurted.
“I would say so, I know I am,” Maiko divulged and with the knowing looks, she knew her traveling companions felt the same.
“Oh crap, what are we standing around here like a bunch of frightened kids for? Did everyone bring their flashlights?” Garrett asked expectantly.
Reaching into their packs each of them retrieved their flashlights and turned them on to make sure they worked correctly before entering the dark confines below. Garrett being so optimistic about going down into the darkness to whatever awaits them below took the first of many steps downward followed by Maiko, Hreidmar and the rest. Their flashlights cut through the pitch darkness like slashing swords revealing perfectly cut smooth quartzite floors, walls and steps. They surmised correctly that no human hands could have done this so perfectly. They stopped for a moment gazing at the runes on both walls and ceiling. Maiko inquisitive as always laid her hand on one and it began to glow a pure white light causing her to jerk her hand back in surprise. Chris touched one and nothing happened causing the others to look at Maiko in awe when she tentatively touched it again with the same results as before.
“Let’s keep going my curiosity is killing me and you know the old saying about curiosity killing cat,” Allen quipped.
“I suddenly realized something the air is pure not like you would think it would be after being sealed for thousands of years. Even the temperature in here feels perfect neither hot nor cold,” George pointed out.
“Allen is right, let's go I want to find these artifacts and see what happens next,” Garrett said moving quickly down the tunnel with the others racing to keep up.
They had been following the downward pitch of the tunnel for some time when suddenly they came to a dead end but upon closer inspection revealed an abrupt turn to the left. Garrett is the first to turn the corner freezing in place causing Maiko to bump into him. The others crowded forward in the narrow tunnel amazed at seeing a perfectly smooth carved out cavern that no human hands could have ever created so perfectly. With no sign of dust, or decay on the walls, floors or high ceiling it almost reminded them of a sterile environment. With some apprehension, they moved forward fanning out at the entrance to the cavern.
Before them surrounded by a pure white light lighting the entire cavern, stood three white marble slabs shot through with gold veins standing about five feet tall. Floating in the light above them are the artifacts, spectacular to behold, leaving the entire group breathless in amazement. Floating above the far left dais is Flamewynd a beautiful white bow with gold accent lines running up and down it with a gold colored string. Floating next to it is a white and gold leather quiver with a matching strap. Matching arrows with their white and gold shafts and the same color fletching filled the quiver. Maiko gravitated toward the bow and arrows standing before the dais a moment later in silence.
Floating above the far right dais is Skullsplitter the battle sword and Starfire the Indomitable shield of light and steel. Skullsplitter’s blade is long, sharp and doubled edged with a light colored look to the steel and the cross guard giving it an appearance of a whitish color. The hilt of the sword is made of the same wood as the bow matching it perfectly with the pommel made of the same steel as the blade. Starfire is absolutely beautiful with its burnished steel, the same color as the sword, with an indelibly blazoned image of white unicorn with a golden horn, long flowing mane and tail its graceful lines depicted rearing on its hind legs. Sitting gracefully sidesaddle bareback sat a flaming red-haired women dressed in a long flowing white gown holding up a pure white long sword in one hand and in her other hand a white and gold staff. Garrett felt drawn to them and frightened at the same time as he longed to hold them. At first, he fought against the desire then gave in and stood in front of them in silence.
Floating above the center dais is the unmistakable Bloodaxe with its massive double blades and long-pointed spike protruding from between them. Astounded Hreidmar heard it clearly calling to him; repeatedly calling him king of the dwarfs telling him to take up thy weapon ye have blood to spill. The blades and long spike are made of the same steel as the arrow tips and long sword with a white and gold wooden haft. Walking up he stood in front of the dais as the others had done in silence. After a moment, he moved closer to the dais and sitting on top were accouterment’s of war, and a white and gold leather scroll case with gold caps on the end. Reaching into the light retrieving the scroll case from the dais he quickly with more than a little excitement removed the end caps and set them carefully onto the dais. Using extreme care, he removed the scroll from the case and began reading it aloud.
"Ye who have been destined to find this parchment shall henceforth be defenders of the light."
"Ye have been bequeathed a grave charge of duty to defend the light in all things at the peril of your life. Naught must stand in thine way in upholding this charge that has been placed upon ye for the fate of many rests in thine hands."
"Behold the weapons of the light presented before ye are bequeathed to ye thy defenders of the light and henceforth wilt be welded by thee, and ye must dare to the have boldness and courage to smite the enemies of the light and have nary an evil thought or malice to another so the weapons remain fullsome with the powers of the light. Thine destinies are tied to this grave charge, and you have been bequeathed with thine weapons so ye must not tarry or shirk in thy duties. So heed this well, if thy choose to accept this grave charge before thee and accept these gifts from the light there shalt be no recompense but honor shall be thine forever more."
"Behold Flamewynd for she that wilt be the defender of the Dwarf King and companion in life and in death for naught shalt cometh betwixt thee if thou remain true to thy selves."
> "Behold Skullsplitter and Starfire for he that wilt fight side by side with the long awaited one who wilt cometh and lead all that wilt stop the scourge of darkness."
"Behold Bloodaxe for he that wilt lead the dwarfs into battle and return them to what they were from yore. He who is human shalt be dwarf at heart and mind and be a giant among dwarfs but accepted as one. Thine offspring shalt inherit what ye have bequeathed and henceforth rule at your demise."
"Behold four medallions for the defenders of the four corners of Earth. Thy defenders of Earth must be fullsome in boldness and courage to smite the enemies of the light, have nary an evil thought or malice to another, and remain fullsome with the powers of the light. Bloodaxe must test thy defenders of the four corners of Earth as you will be by your weapons."
"Behold the accouterments of the warriors of the light. Dress proudly in these thy armor, then take up thy weapons and test thy selves and thy brothers for pureness and light. Then go hither and yon seeking the darkness and malice that threatens all and defeat thine enemies in kind."
Carefully Hreidmar put the parchment back into the parchment case putting the gold caps on the end before placing it back on the dais. Each of the three began removing their clothes modesty put aside for the moment. Maiko put on small clothes and a long sleeve half-length white chemise while the two men put on their small clothes and a long sleeve pullover shirt. Next, they put on a long sleeve light-brown gambeson, a jacket designed to wear under chainmail protecting the wearer from the steel links of the chainmail when struck preventing them from damaging the flesh they are designed to protect. Quickly each of them slipped on the brown leather pants followed by brown leather boots. Prepared to pick up heavy chainmail they were surprised and delighted at the same time that it weighed nothing in their hands. Slipping it over their heads and placing their arms through the sleeves felt no different from putting on a light cotton shirt. The chainmail fit perfectly as did all the accouterments into the arming points in the gambeson keeping it stabilized and unmoving while wearing it.
Each secured white and gold colored leather gold ring belts around their waists holding golden handled daggers and a leather pouch, Garrett's is slightly different with its long sheath for holding Skullsplitter. Upon close inspection of the contents in the pouch, they contained an additional gold medallion identical as the other four presumably worn when not wearing their armor and carrying their weapons.
Reaching up each retrieved their artifacts Maiko slung her quiver across her shoulders holding her bow in her left hand, Garrett strapped Starfire to his left arm holding Skullsplitter in his right and Hreidmar grasped the haft of Bloodaxe tightly in his fist. The change came swiftly, each feeling the power of the weapons they held in their hands and the awesome power and responsibility that came with it. Each knew without a doubt that they would be experts with these weapons. The abrupt change back to their normal appearance startled them for a moment but at the same time, they were very relieved to have their normal appearances back.
Inside they felt more alive than ever. Any ailments or past injuries were gone as if they were reborn as newborn babies. They moved around with their newly energized bodies to get the feel of this monumental change in themselves and with huge grins on their faces laughed in elation. Hreidmar took that moment to turn back to the dais gently setting his ax on it retrieving a large leather pouch securing it to his wide gold ring belt. Picking up his ax with his right hand, he picked up one of the gold medallions gazing at it for a moment before setting it back in its place on the dais.
During all of this, their companions watched in amazement, and disbelief at what they were seeing. Each knowing they have an apparent part to play in these supernatural games of the powerful did not make it any easier to understand their roles in this clandestine game of life and death. These games can be mortal or ethereal and sometimes both but they amount to the same thing, people controlled and their destinies chosen for them. Now it is their turn to have their destinies chosen for them, although not entirely the case if they thought about it. At this moment they can change their destinies if they so wish. They can run like their Pemón guide had done and possibly escape this destiny forever or will it catch up to them in the end? Certainly, a nagging question in the backs of their minds and one they are struggling with at this moment, a moment only is to decide their destinies and possibly the fate of two realms rests on this important decision.
With Bloodaxe in his hand, Hreidmar instinctively knew what to do. With apprehension, he walked forward to choose the guardians of the four corners of Earth that moment of decision now past. If Bloodaxe glows crimson from its now pure white glow when held out in front each of them, he knew he would have to strike quickly and destroy the evil that would be before him. He truly hoped that all four of them would pass the test of blood as he thought of it. Starting from his right he slowly moved Bloodaxe in front of each of them slowly walking past them. Each time he stopped, it would glow slightly brighter but stay in its pure white form. When all four passed, the tension in the cavern lifted like a bride's veil with plenty of relief and smiles to go around as Hreidmar returned to the dais gently placing his ax on it.
Picking up one of the intricately molded gold medallions, Hreidmar gazed at it again still not believing the beauty and intricacy of the work done to create such a thing of beauty. Each of the two-inch diameter solid gold medallions has the identical image of the unicorn and woman visible on all of the artifacts. The medallion comes with a heavy gold chain not made in link fashion but with strands of gold intertwined for strength. Turning slowly, he faced the four men before him waiting expectantly for one to come forward and accept the medallion and the grave responsibilities that come with each. One after the other they came forward bowing their heads allowing Hreidmar to place the chain around their necks. Each had the same reaction, a look of shock, and euphoric smiles when the power of the light coursed through them mingling with the already ample supply of goodness each of them already have. When all four had received their medallions, the previous tension evaporated from the cavern replaced with all smiles and pats on the back.