Authors: Honor Raconteur

Tags: #female protagonist, #Romance, #Fantasy, #Fiction, #Young Adult, #YA, #gods

Midnight Quest (51 page)

Ella Crossbear had arrived ahead of them and called out cheerfully, “A good morn to you, Priestess Axheimer!”

Jewel blinked at hearing this, as she hadn’t quite gotten used to her married name yet. “Good morning, Priestess Crossbear.”

“Ella be fine,” she corrected. “All be in place. All we need be a bit of light and some instructions.”

“There’s not actually much you can do, except light the lanterns,” Jewel admitted. “I’m the one that has to do all of the praying.”

“In that case, I will supervise what you can no, eh?” Ella didn’t wait for a response but started to give out orders for candles to be passed around and lit, organizing people into groups.

Rialt took her on a tour of the room as everyone else took up their stations. She hardly needed it—this room was an exact replica of the one in Belthain. It had a hexagonal shape to it, with little in the way of furniture or ornamentation. The crystal sat squarely in the middle of the room, stretching up to the very rafters. There were exactly two rooms that branched off of the main area—one was an office that held all of the records and history of the Order. The other served as a small apartment. Technically that room belonged to her. But since she was married, it would be given to Chizeld.

By the time she had walked the circumference of the room, her helpers were ready to start lighting the lanterns.

She stopped when Rialt did and asked, “Who’s standing next to me?”

“Imara, Priestess.”

“I’m very glad you joined us this morning, Imara,” Jewel said sincerely.

“T-thank you,” the girl stuttered out, clearly embarrassed to be singled out.

“Can you tell me how the lanterns are going to be lit? I hear a great deal of clattering, like wood striking the floor.”

“Oh!” Her embarrassment shelved, she explained with enthusiasm, “We built these long poles that have a rolling base to them, see. The lanterns be all on a rope and pulley. We just draw ‘em up as they be lit.”

Jewel clapped her hands together. “Perfect. So these long poles can be rolled directly next to the crystal?”

“We can touch the very surface,” Imara assured her. “We tried it, just to make sure.”

“Then let’s start. Ella, are we ready?” she called out to the room in general, not sure where the woman had moved to.

“Eh, that we be!” Ella called from what sounded like the opposite side of the room.

Jewel couldn’t do the actual work on this—she’d like as not accidentally set something on fire trying—and the dedication prayer couldn’t be said until the room was filled with light. But they were clearly waiting on her direction, so she raised her voice and said, “Fast and snell, light them quick! We have to be ready to go before dawn’s light hits this building!”

They laughed at her using Ramathan phrasing and quickly dove into the work.

In this small space, the heat of the lanterns could be easily felt. Jewel stood there and listened intently as people gave instructions to each other, and the pulleys squeaked in an almost rhythmic way as the lanterns were hauled upwards.

“That…is a lot of light,” she said almost to herself. Even though she had explained several times what needed to be done, she had never tried to imagine what this moment would be like. Now that she stood there, experiencing, she felt almost as if with every lantern that was lit, power flooded into the room.

“You can feel it?” Rialt asked her curiously.

“Oh yes. How close are they to finishing?”

“Close,” he admitted. “Another two, three lanterns from the top.”

“Do you see the sun yet?”

“It be just peeking over the rooftops,” he said calmly. “We will do.”

A cheer went up, coming around the room like a wave. Jewel didn’t need anyone to tell her—they were done. “My turn,” she muttered to herself. “Are the lanterns touching the crystal?” she asked the room in general.

“Eh!” several people answered happily.

She heard Chizeld leave her side and walk rapidly around the room. She had no doubt that he was double-checking this. So she paused and waited for him to return before starting.

He stepped in close and touched her shoulder, murmuring, “Everything be in place.”

“Good,” she whispered back. Jewel took in a deep breath, lowered her hands to her waistline, spreading them out in an open gesture of acceptance. She had spent days memorizing the formal prayer to start the dedication. It was tediously long, and she sent a heartfelt wish to the heavens that her memory held true.

After another deep breath and she started the prayer, carefully enunciating each word. When the last word left her mouth, she had to swallow twice just to get any moisture back on her tongue. But standing there reciting had been worth it—the sensation of power had doubled and now felt so strong to her that it seemed strange that the people around her couldn’t see it.

“I could be wrong,” Sarvell ventured uncertainly, “but is the crystal actually
glowing
? I know the lanterns’ light is reflecting in every direction but…”

“No, it’s giving off its own light,” Jewel corrected with a satisfied smile. “The start of the dedication is a success. By sunset, this crystal will add its strength to Thornock’s crystal and the barrier.”

Someone quickly ran toward her, skidding to a halt just inches away. “Priestess, did I hear that right? We have succeeded?”

“Yes, Ronan,” she answered with a mile-wide smile. “Your work—everyone’s work—has paid off.”

“Rialt.”

“Eh?”

“Permission to hug your wife?” Ronan asked quite seriously.

“Granted,” Rialt answered just as seriously.

In the next moment, Ronan snatched her up in a fierce hug, nearly spinning her around. Jewel let out a strangled shriek as the world spun, but she hugged him back and ruffled his hair for good measure. “What are you hugging me for?” she protested, laughing. “You’re the ones who did most of the work! Now put me down. Go tell everyone that we’ve succeeded.”

“Yes, ma‘am,” he said, nearly vibrating with the urgency to spin off. Fortunately he set her gently back to earth before taking off for the doors.

Quite a few people followed, calling out to anyone within earshot as they ran.

Jewel just basked in the moment. Her worst fears had never been realized. They were all safe, and not slain at the hands of some minister’s lackey or Daath assassin. The crystals were all properly in place and even now being dedicated. The barrier after this would be stronger than it had been in generations. Ramath especially would not fear invasion ever again.

She simply could not imagine a better day than this.

About the Author

Nearly twenty-eight years ago, in the hills of Tennessee, a nice, unsuspecting young couple had their first child. Their home has since then been slowly turned into a library as their daughter consistently brought books home over the years.

No one was surprised when she grew up, went to college, and got her Bachelor's in English. Despite the fact that she has a degree, and looks like a mature young woman, she's never grown out of her love for dragons, fairies and other fantastical creatures. With school done, she's ready to start her career, hopefully by blending two of her loves: books and fantasy.

Her website can be found here:
http://www.honorraconteur.com
or if you wish to speak directly with the author, visit her forum at:
http://z13.invisionfree.com/adventmage/