Stone Guardian Page 4

She let go of the stone and sank to her knees. “I cannot go on anymore,” she said sobbing and heavily panting.

  Fara walked towards her. “Keep out of sight and wait here. I will carry the stone.” The high priestess took the stone as if it was light as a feather and they continued their journey. When they reached the top, Sila lowered the stone moaning. The other priestesses also rubbed their arms and their panting drowned out the voices of the men that pursued them.

  “The stones have to be brought into the burial chamber,” panted Sila.

  Again they picked up the stones. Sila tried to ignore the pain in her arms and entered the burial chamber. Safe, she sent to Ava when they laid down the stone in chamber farthest away from the entrance. A warm, thankful feeling spread through Sila’s body while the other stones were also placed in the burial chamber. She waited till all four stones were brought in. Sila was about to leave the chamber when a terrible scream sounded outside, followed by a second scream.

  “The yellow haired are…” called one of the priestesses from outside. Her cry was stifled.

  “The yellow haired have caught up with us,” said Fara who still accompanied Sila in the burial chamber. “They can enter at any moment.”

  “We have to block the entrance to the chamber,” said Sila. She tried to control the panic that threatened to overtake her. “All will be lost if they find the stones.”

  Fara took a Naturka from her pouch. This figure was shaped like a sturdy tree. “If I use this, we will lock ourselves in.” She looked at Sila. “But the stones and Cireara will be safe.”

  “Do it,” said Sila. A yellow haired entered and threw his axe at a priestess that had tried to hide in a corner of the room. “Do it now!”

  Fara took the figure in her hands and mumbled words in the ancient language. The yellow haired man removed his bloody axe from the body of the priestess and came closer. “Hurry, Fara,” whispered Sila. The high priestess was completely absorbed by the enchantment and did not respond. The ritual knife hung on Fara’s belt. Sila pulled it out of the scabbard as quietly as possible and crawled to the darkest corner of the burial chamber. The yellow haired man would see Fara first and would undoubtedly try to attack her. With a pounding heart Sila held the knife tightly and waited. Sweat trickled down her temples and burned in her eyes. Fear had struck its claws in her and paralyzed her limbs. Her mouth was dry and she could barely breathe.

  A soft touch moved her spirit. Ava was with her and wanted to help. The same feeling of strength that Sila felt when her sister laughed at her encouragingly befell her now. She lifted the knife and thanked Ava in silence. The yellow hair stepped forward and raised his axe. Sila launched herself forward and drove the knife deep into the belly of the man. He screamed and reached for the wound. Sila did not hesitate and thrust again with the knife, this time aiming higher. The man wavered. Another thrust. The man fell.

  Fara’s voice gained in strength and waves of power started to spread from the wooden figure. Sila was pushed against the wall. The ground moved and the stones started to move also. The big stone at the left of the entrance, rolled to the right until the entrance was completely blocked. Fara opened her eyes and fell on her side.

  Sila picked up the fallen torch from the yellow hair and blew at it till it started burning again. She moved the light over the four stones that lay sisterly side by side. The Cireara were saved. Outside screams were still audible.

  “We did it,” said Sila softly.

  Fara pushed herself in a sitting position. “Come here, child,” she said. Sila crawled towards her. The high priestess lay her hands on Sila’s head and spoke in a soft voice: “Sila, daughter of Litu and sister of the Cireara, I hereby name you a priestess in the order of the Goddess. Will you accept this task and will your serve the Goddess, the Cireara and the stones faithfully till you die?”

  “Yes, but, I am not…” stammered Sila.

  Fara lifted Sila’s chin and looked her in the eyes. “Get up, sister, and walk in the light of the Goddess.”

  “But my training…” said Sila.

  A tear slipped from Fara’s eye. “No training could be better than your wise and brave actions today, Sila. You are a true priestess.”

  “Thank you,” whispered Sila.

  Screams sounded outside and the yellow haired hacked on the stone that blocked the entrance. It however did not take long before they gave up their fruitless efforts and went down again.

  “Will we ever be freed from here?” Sila asked in a thin voice. The realization of what they had done, started to sink in.

  “Our people need to flee, Sila,” said Fara. “And even if some of them stay behind, they do not know that we are here.” She pulled Sila closer to her. “But have no fear. The Goddess will take us to her.”

  Sila nodded and touched Ava’s stone with her hand. Comfort flowed through her.

  “Will the Cireara ever be reunited with their standing stones?”

  Fara smiled. “Yes, I am sure of it. One day we will reclaim our land and the Cireara will return to the stones.”

  Sila sent the words of the high priestess to Ava. “The Cireara thank us,” she said to Fara. “They will protect us in this dark night.”

  Fara nodded respectfully in the direction of the Cireara. Sila grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the stones. “We have to stay close to them.”

  Fara took Sila in her arms and they were carried away in a deep and peaceful sleep.