Chapter 1
“Presti?”
“Yes?”
“Is the Purity Stone beneath us?” Esis pushed her ear to the ground.
“Esis, you know I am not allowed to tell you.”
Rolling over, Esis tolerated the ash matting in her hair and released a sigh of frustration.
“Don’t sigh at me, Esis. I gave a sacred vow.”
“It is cruel and unfair. This holy relic is beautiful, sacred, and I am not even allowed to see it.”
“It is beautiful.” Presti said, unable to contain her worship.
Respectfully, Esis turned away from Presti before rolling her eyes. While Presti reminded Esis why the stone’s location must remain a secret, Esis covertly watched a brawny, handsome Elka harvester.
“Do you think the Elka crop will be sufficient this year?” Esis asked.
“Every year the Elka sap loses more thickness. It used to be white with only a hint of grey, but now it is all grey. I use five vials for the Purity Stone ritual. Two years ago, I only used one vial. If this continues, I don’t know if we will have the resources to continue the ritual.”
“Well, that isn’t an option. If you don’t perform the ritual, we will all burn.”
“Yes, obviously that isn’t an option.”
The girls smiled at each other, but the corners of their lips fell when they no longer held each other’s gaze. Presti eyes fell toward Leviathan Path, a mile south. If anything was more terrifying than burning to death, it was that path. Nothing more than a mysterious black haze, Leviathan Path often stole her gaze.
A swift wind blew Presti’s hair forward. Both Presti and Esis rose to their feet, immediately holding the Elder position: one hand on the stomach and one hand on the chest.
“Elder Nolan, what an honor to be visited by you.” Presti lifted her shoulders.
“You were looking at Leviathan Path.” Elder Nolan suspiciously eyed Presti.
“Yes, I confess I was. If you will allow me to explain...”
“I will allow it.”
“I can’t help but wonder if the outer lands beyond Leviathan Path have Elka fields. I fear our crop is failing.”
“Presti, you are a priest, so that is not your concern. Harvesting is for the harvesters. They will make sure you have the proper amount of Elka sap for your ritual. Besides, you are well aware that beyond Leviathan Path lives wickedness that is unmentionable. Very dangerous for a pure soul.”
Presti’s eyes widened.
“Certainly, a priest couldn’t enter the path. However, we may have some warriors or guardians who could combat the beings and retrieve some sap.” Presti swallowed hard.
“As you have been taught since your infancy, the wickedness beyond that path cannot be engaged. The art of deception is the darkest of enchantment, and that path leads straight to deception. Leviathan Path is not an option, and we will no longer discuss it.” Elder Nolan straightened his robe with his milky, transparent hands.
Presti bowed in submission. Elder Nolan had kept a distance from the two girls, but floated closer to them now.
“I haven’t explained my visit,” Elder Nolan said. “I am afraid I have some disheartening news.”
***
Oryan saw the swift embrace of the two girls. From his poor vantage point, he didn’t know if they were weeping or celebrating. His pick pushed deeper into the purple vine, but no sap came. He inspected the root and failed to see any weaknesses.
“O! She isn’t giving any sap, is she?” The emaciated taskmaster leaned over Oryan’s shoulder.
“Nah, I am afraid if I dig any deeper into her skin, she might not be worth anything next year.”
“It can’t help production when pretty girls are stealing your gaze.”
Oryan pulled his pick out of the Elka vine, and scraped some of the hard skin off the protruding root. “It looks healthy. Sap should be coming.”
“You ignoring my teasing? I see you looking their way.”
“I am not just looking at pretty girls. Elder Nolan appeared. An Elder only makes personal visits if there is terrible or wonderful news.”
“An Elder? Really?” The taskmaster rested his shovel against a cart and strained his scrawny neck to view the females better. “Looks like terrible news. Poor Esis has tears in her eyes.”
“Could be tears of joy.” Oryan hoped.
“Those aren’t tears of joy, my son. You should know the difference.”
***
Deep gasps of sorrow escaped Esis’s lungs. Tears came without permission.
“I can’t cry. I need to be strong.”
“No one will expect you to be strong. Everyone will expect tears.” Presti brushed a loose stand of black hair away from Esis’s wet cheek.
Esis shook her head in a furious denial. A surge of anger grew to an audible roar. Pushing Presti away, Esis kicked the ash floor sending a billow of powder into the air. Her warrior arms tightened as she paced.
“How will rage help?”
“I am a warrior! It will serve me well!” Esis snapped.
“You have no enemy to fight. A sword can’t strike an enemy that doesn’t exist. Rage will not serve you. Cry. Mourn your loss.”
“My little sister is dead. How will tears serve me? Only to wet the dirt of her burial site!”
Presti chose to remain silent. Esis could only bear Presti’s sympathetic gaze for a second, then she sprinted west. Presti granted her solitude. Since her childhood, Esis healed through introspection and running.
Feeling defeated and grieved, Presti sought solitude herself. She trudged to the top of a small hill and walked the narrow pathway near the Elka fields. She heard Oryan calling her name.
Her pace slowed, but she continued forward. She heard Oryan’s boots hit the dirt like a failing heartbeat. She didn’t bother to turn her head. Grief gave her permission to sulk. Oryan, now by her side, felt awkward.
“I can’t stay. They are working us hard, but I need to ask. Is Esis all right?” Oryan’s steps started to synchronize with Presti’s steps.
“It’s Emiline. She was playing by Westin Creek without permission. She is no longer with us.”
“She drowned?” Oryan stopped walking.
The word sounded more violent now. Elder Nolan’s announcement came with more care. Oryan’s rugged nature made the event real. Presti envisioned little Emiline innocently playing a legendary childhood game by the creek’s edge. Possibly holding a twig and dancing around like all innocent girls do. Then tripping on a jagged rock, losing balance, and falling into the creek. The image brought the first tears to Presti’s eyes.
“I am sorry.”
“She was all alone. No one even heard her cries for help.”
The taskmaster started to yell. “O! Sap needs bottled! Three workers sick and you slacking! Start working section 4!”
“Maybe after my shift is over, we can talk.” Oryan’s tone was uncharacteristically warm and inviting.
“If your shift is ever over...”
They both shared a subdued laugh, and Oryan reluctantly returned to the Elka fields. Presti continued her walk until an indescribable fear came over her. Her fingertips started to burn. The ground produced a fiery mist. Instantly, Elder Nolan appeared before her.
“My skin is starting to burn. I didn’t use enough sap on the Purity Stone this morning!” Presti sprinted toward her Sanctuary.
“How many vials did you use?” Elder Nolan floated by her, attempting to keep her pace.
“Five. I thought five would be enough. I didn’t want to waste any sap. We are running low.”
“I will gather the Elders. We will meet at your Sanctuary. You must perform an emergency ritual.” Elder Nolan disappeared.
The heat from the ground started to burn her soles. Searing heat blanketed her body, making it harder to run. Low on the horizon, the bright sun made it difficult to see the Center. She hated to pass through that section of the village, but it was the quickest way to her Sanctuary.
She feared the villager’s ridicule and scoffing. Rumors were already spreading as to why the sap was failing. Some suggested that the priests were to blame. She felt her face flush and her heart raced.
After several large strides, Presti felt cobblestone under her feet. The Center was full of activity. Frightened villagers huddled next to each other, waving large handcrafted fans. Mothers crowded the water vender, hoping to cool their crying children before the water supply reached a boiling point.
As Presti pressed through the crowd, she heard a barrage of questions: “Are we out of sap?” “Did you perform the ritual this morning?” Are we going to burn to death?”
A man with a wrinkled face and grey hat spoke, “Don’t worry folks. Presti will pour some sap on that stone, and then we will all feel fresh like icy rain.” A soft chuckle rumbled in his mouth. His eyes twinkled with resolute faith.
“Do not be afraid. Have faith in the Purity Stone. It will protect you.” Presti charged forward with more vigor.
All eight elders waited for Presti outside her Sanctuary. Floating in a perfectly formed circle, they theorized why five vials didn’t protect the villagers for an entire day. Elder Crims suggested that the harvesters might have tainted the sap during delivery. Elder Prine demanded that production increase and Presti use ten vials for every ritual. Elder Hester blamed the day’s events on the Puirty Stone’s condition and not the Elka sap. After making such a statement, the other Elders rebuked him for his irreverence. Presti interrupted their quarreling.
“How many vials should I use?” Presti worked to catch her breath.
“Three.” Elder Nolan said.
“Wait, what if it isn’t the sap? We must consider that the stone is weakening” Elder Hester said.
Presti scoffed at the suggestion. Impatiently holding the elder position, she waited for the elders to come to a unified decision about her next move. After hearing more of their deliberations, Presti felt the need to speak.
“The heat is starting to char my skin. I know Elders can’t perceive the heat, so I understand your lack of haste, but can we please hurry?”
All eight elders investigated her skin. Realizing the present danger, Elder Nolan spoke with haste and authority.
“Elder Hester, it is extremely unlikely that our sacred stone is compromised. The sap is to blame. Time is not on our side. Presti, use three vials. That should carry us through the night. Hurry! ” Elder Nolan said.
Presti didn’t wait for the approval of the other Elders. She ran into her Sanctuary. The pearl walls slightly cooled the atmosphere’s heavy heat. Her blistering feet preferred the glass floor to the burning ash ground outside. Even with these minor reliefs, she could still feel fire inside her. This square chamber protected her from nothing. She dutifully approached an alcove where a golden chest rested. She lifted the lid and removed three vials of Elka sap. Hands shaking, she reached for two more, but decided instead to submit to Elder Nolan’s instructions.
She carried the vials like a newborn toward the opposite side of the Sanctuary. It was time to enter the Refuge and perform the ritual. Presti held her breath, aching to see the Purity Stone, her salvation, and the village’s restoration.
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