Chapter VI, Reading 3

The old woman laughed. "The short answer is that we passed through a gap in the fabric of life to arrive here. We are now in one of the places inhabited by the Spirit when He created our world. Words cannot accurately portray this place, but an analogy might help you understand. This is the seed pod where our world began within the consciousness of the Spirit."

Flindra looked terribly confused.

Kewero smiled. "There will be time enough for you to understand and to master the knowledge you need to fight your enemies. There is no point in rushing your lessons."

"As you wish, Kewero." She smiled and realized her face was chapped from the cold and was slightly windburn.

"You may put your horse in there," Kewero said as she pointed toward an opening of a smaller cave. "When you are through, come back here and then I will see to your needs."

Flindra led Deru into the smaller cave. Her nose gave her evidence that this small cave had sheltered horses before. It was spotlessly clean, but there was a lingering scent of horses. It was a pleasant odor and reminded her of the barn back home. Fresh hay had already been placed in a recess in the wall. There was fresh water pooling around a spring in a natural basin towards the back of the cave. The overflow from the spring trickled down a crack and disappeared behind the cave wall. This kept the floor from becoming wet.

She slipped the bridle off so Deru could start eating the hay. Then she removed the saddle and placed the tack on a wooden rack several feet above the floor. She left her bow, quiver of arrows, hatchet, and bedroll under the rack. While the horse stood contentedly and ate, she brushed him to remove the sweat and dirt lingering in his coat. When she was through, she sighed and leaned against him.

"We made it, Deru," she whispered while she slipped her hand beneath his mane and patted his neck. "I feel like I've been traveling for an eternity. It seems so long ago that I left home."

Deru turned and looked at her. His mouth was full of hay, which he rubbed against her face as he tried to nuzzle her. Flindra couldn't help but laugh. He smelled her face and hair and then returned to his hay.

She gave him a parting pat and stood back. With another sigh - this one more tired than the first - she picked up her saddlebags and went out to Kewero.

"Are you warming up, my dear?" Kewero asked when she saw Flindra approach.

"My toes are still a bit cold, but I'll be fine."

"I suspect that you're being too stoic and aren't quite telling me the truth, Flindra. You still look cold, but I'll fix that. Follow me."

Kewero led her through a winding passage in the cave complex. As they walked, Flindra could sense the air around her was getting warmer. They finally stood before a pool of water. Steam was rising from the surface. She grinned happily for nothing could be better than a hot bath after being cold for so long.

"Take off your clothes and bathe. I will find you something clean to wear," Kewero said and left Flindra alone.

Chapter VI, Reading 2

"How long have you lived here?"

Kewero laughed. "Too long, yet not long enough," she answered enigmatically. "Don't worry, little one," she added in response to Flindra's obvious confusion. "You'll have an answer to all your questions in time. Now is not the best time nor place to get too specific about things."

Flindra nodded her head in understanding. "I will hold my questions."

"Commit them to memory, little one, and ask them later. My sole purpose in this life is to be your teacher."

"I'll remember."

Beyond a turn in the valley, they came to a small, circular, tent-like dwelling. It was made of heavy hides supported by an interior frame. Flindra knew a moment of disappointment. She had hoped that Kewero would reside in a more substantial dwelling - one the wind couldn't blow through.

"This is a yurt," Kewero explained. "It is a typical dwelling of the nomads in these parts."

"I never realized people lived here in the Northern Reaches."

"The Ainaz have existed here since before the time of the Ancient Ones. They are hunters. They subsist on the herds of reindeer and the bounty of the sea. Most of the time they are concentrated along the coast or in sheltered valleys."

Flindra shook her head. "I've never heard of them."

"The Ainaz are a withdrawn people and have little contact with outsiders except for the few traders who venture this far north. One generally doesn't see them unless they want to be seen. They have finally come to accept me. I trade with them sometimes. Most recently, I acquired food for your horse from them."

They had reached the yurt and Flindra started to dismount.

"Stay in your saddle, Flindra," Kewero ordered softly. "We aren't through with our journey yet."

Her brow wrinkled with a question but she kept quiet.

Kewero tossed back the flap to the yurt and pulled the little, black horse inside. She closed the entrance and laced the hide in place. Finished, she once more took hold of the reins. "Drop your shield Flindra. You don't need it now and it makes it harder for me to open the door."

She immediately complied and willed Rigga's power nimbus to fade. She asked in a puzzled voice, "what door?"

"Metaphorically speaking, my dear. Now hush."

Kewero closed her eyes and became perfectly still. Her face lost all expression as she concentrated. Suddenly, a shimmering zone appeared before them in the center of the tent. She led Deru through the tremulous light.

Flindra experienced a momentary jolt as they passed through the shimmer. It was as if she had briefly touched the consciousness of life - everything that was alive, had lived, or would live. Then they were through and the sensation was only a memory.
They were in a vast chamber of an immense cave. There were numerous openings radiating out from this central chamber. A sourceless light radiating about them lent a hue of soft gold to the cave. Colors were warm and inviting.

Flindra dismounted and turned around to see where they had come from but saw nothing except the continuation of the cave. "How? Where are we?" she stammered as she looked back at Kewero.

Chapter VI, Reading 1

Flindra turned at the sound of the voice and saw an amazing looking woman smiling at her. She immediately recognized the woman as being Kewero - the face from the crystal sphere. Her face appeared softer and friendlier than it had in the crystal. She exhibited all the evidence of advanced age, but she also had an air of timelessness about her that was more noticeable than her age. She gave the impression that she was part of and as ageless as the world.

Kewero was a small women, at least a head shorter than Flindra. Her features were delicate and Flindra could still see evidence that she'd been beautiful in her youth. Age had added a thickening around her middle so she seemed very grandmotherly in appearance.

Her clothes were simple and devoid of decoration. Cloak, dress, and boots were all the color of freshly tilled soil. The hood of her cloak hid most of her hair. What did show was silvery-gray. There was amusement in her blue eyes and she seemed pleased to see Flindra studying her so carefully.

Flindra realized that she had been staring and blushed in embarrassment. "I am honored, Venerable One," she said as she bowed her head.

"Oh my, that is much too formal," she replied through a smile. "Please call me Kewero. My name holds all the respect I need."

"As you wish, Kewero."

"That's much better."

Kewero squinted as she looked at Flindra. "I see you are shielded. How did you discover how to use Rigga?"

"The image of King Meldh came to me in a dream after I was attacked by the An..."

"Do not speak that name out loud," she commanded emphatically as she interrupted Flindra with a raised hand. "They are capable of homing in on the speaker and causing great mischief. Names have great power so never speak the name of our enemy."

"Forgive me, Kewero," Flindra replied shyly. "I didn't know."

The stern aspect of the teacher yielded and the old woman smiled. "Forgive me for sounding so stern, child, but you were endangering yourself. You have much to learn but you must rest first. Come with me." As Kewero spoke she moved next to Deru and took hold of the reins below the bit.

She led them deeper into the valley. The walls of the valley became higher as they continued. Flindra finally had a break from the wind.

"Is it always windy here?" she ventured to ask.

"Most of the time. Around midsummer, things can be pleasant. The growing season is short in this region so everything has to blossom in the few short weeks it is possible. It is beautiful while it lasts."