The Gathandrian Trilogy 01 - The Gifting

Then, squaring her shoulders, she marched onward. To her surprise, she found herself walking downwards through a dark tunnel into the earth rather than straight on into the old Council work-areas. She’d never known this existed, had never imagined it to exist. Not that she’d come to the administrative centre of Gathandria more than half a dozen times in her life, but had this strange entrance been here all along? Or had it been carved out as a shelter for the elders during the recent troubles?
    When her descent stopped and her footsteps levelled out, she paused and tried to get her bearings. Where were the elders? Had she followed them as she’d hoped or was this in fact some kind of trap? If so, who had set it? It was impossible to see much in the gloom, but she could feel the dankness of the tunnel walls closing in around her and the brush of cobwebs against her skin. At least, she hoped they were cobwebs, and not grass-spiders. She wasn’t overly keen on them. Best not think about it.
    Annyeke continued on. There was only one way to go, anyway. The elders must be in front of her. A moment or so later and she felt herself relax a little; she could see the elders’ glow. They’d stopped, their flames once again grouped together as if they were communing. They must be in a place where the tunnel widened then. What were they doing? She wished she was close enough to hear the thoughts carried by the flames, but she didn’t dare move any nearer.
    For a while, she and the unsuspecting elders remained in that position. Annyeke tried to regulate her breathing and be as still as possible, so that she would not give herself away with any noise or movement. For the first time, she realised how cold she was and wished she’d taken a night-cloak on her way out of the Sub-Council of Meditation. But she hadn’t; she would just have to bear it.
    Suddenly, the flames of the elders moved away and vanished. Annyeke scurried to where they had been, with the intent to follow further, but what she saw changed her mind. She found herself looking at a long curved cellar. Lining the walls were rows and rows of books and manuscripts, so many that hardly any of the stonework remained visible. At the furthest end stood a cage tall enough for a man and wide enough for pacing. It was not made of any metal she had ever seen. Each strand gave off a low glimmer and quivered as she blinked at it, so the whole contraption was in constant movement. It was beautiful but also terrifying. A wave of despair and loneliness powered through her, seeming to come from the direction of the cage itself, and she struggled not to groan aloud. As a distraction, she concentrated on the table next to it. This held a pile of thick tomes. Even from where she stood, she could see the dust.
    She needed to open those books. Out of nowhere, the thought took her and the glow she carried grew more vibrant. Yes, that was what she needed to do. She took a step forward into the cellar.
    At the same time, she heard the faint clicking of leather on flooring.
    The elders were coming back. She had to leave before they found her. Damn them. With one last glance at the cage and the table, Annyeke slipped off her shoes and ran back through the dark tunnel, cobwebs clutching at her hair and face. At the entrance, she scrabbled for the place in the stone where the flame acted as a key. Her throat constricted as she couldn’t find it. Behind her, the footsteps grew louder. She didn’t dare glance back. Come on, come on. The elders had to be nearing the corner of the tunnel now. Moments only before they saw her.
    And, yes, there it was. She felt the click in her head and pushed her way through the wall almost before the flame had shimmered back onto her skin. The cold evening air took her breath away. Not just evening now. It was almost night. She had to get home. And soon. The wall next to her was already undulating; the elders were coming.
    Hunched down she ran for cover. She only just reached the edge of the Council buildings. When she slammed herself around out of sight and glanced back, she could see the hazy figure of the First Elder as he straightened up and dusted himself off. She’d made it.
    Catching her breath, she waited until the elders had departed and she was sure it was safe. Then, as quickly and as silently as possible, she started for home. She only hoped she would get there unscathed; please the stars, might the enemy be busy elsewhere tonight. As long as