The Heavenly Host

“Shit!” Gastropé shouted beside her as the carts began careening madly down the tunnel. Jenn was just starting to get her breath back when suddenly she was thrown forward as the carts dipped and headed down a very sharp incline. It had to be at least sixty degrees. Jenn and Gastropé both yelled in fright as the carts plunged down the dark tunnel. Wham! They were thrown to the left, Gastropé slamming into her, and then they tilted the other way as the cart started turning in the other direction. The hooting from the aetós behind her and ahead of her rose to a higher level, echoing eerily in the tunnels. She was going to lose her lunch, she knew it.

“Ahoy, gates! By the grace of Niall, we have arrived in good order!” Trevin shouted ahead. Jenn blinked. What had happened? The carts had been diving downward at an impossible descent rate and she remembered thinking she was going to lose it, and now suddenly they were exiting. She was leaning closely against Gastropé, his arm around her holding her tight.

In shock, Jenn took a deep breath as they entered the light. She could feel fresh, cold mountain air in her lungs as they emerged from the tunnel, the carts veering hard to the left as they exited. What had happened? Why was she in Gastropé’s arms?

“Well, what do you know? That was only ten minutes!” Maelen stated.

Jenn sat up quickly, looking back to see the seer peering at a pocket chronometer.

“You mean ten hours!” groaned Gastropé, removing his arm from around Jenn, but saying nothing to her.

Elrose laughed. “I have to admit, that was one of the longest ten minutes of my life!”

Several aetós laughed loudly behind them. “If you thought that was an experience, just wait for the Fierdal bridge! Treyfoêr exclaimed. “Grounders never enjoy that!”

“Joy.” Gastropé quipped sarcastically.

The carts came to a halt near a large, flat area on the side of the mountain. There was a wagon there, which was equipped with poles out the front and rear, as if to be pulled and pushed by people. On the wagon were the multiple chests and trunks belonging to Elrose. Beyond the cart at the end of a path was a large frame with what appeared to be an unbelievably large crystal lens. It had to be fourteen feet in diameter, if not more. The path ended in a small bridge leading up to the middle of it.

“Out we go!” Trevin called. “Fierd’s approaching; we need to move!”

Jenn slid to the left to exit, Gastropé sliding along behind her to exit on the same side. He still hadn’t said anything about her being in his arms. As she stepped down to the ground, a wave of dizziness swept over her and she nearly collapsed. She grabbed the side of the cart for support, and Gastropé also reached to steady her.

Trevin nodded. “The ride does have a tendency to throw off one’s balance, but you will be fine in a bit.”

The others also seemed wobbly as they unloaded their gear. “Everyone load your gear up. Each of you will be accompanied by an Aetóên on the bridge to help you keep your balance. The remaining aetós will bring the wagon with the equipment. Everyone line up side by side!”

Danfaêr came up beside her. “I think you’re going to want to hold my hand until you get used to the bridge,” he stated. Jenn was once again caught up in his incredible scent and magnificent torso in the predawn light. She could only nod. Goddess, these beings were gorgeous, Jenn thought to herself.

The group took their positions: Trevin was at the gate to the bridge, preparing to open it, Hethfar just behind her. Elrose and his Aetóên companion were next, followed by Gastropé and Treyfoêr, and then Jenn and Danfaêr. Maelen and his companion were behind them, and last came the wagon.

Trevin began chanting and arranging crystals on a pedestal beside the giant lens. The wind direction was such that Jenn could not make out the words of the incantation. Probably just as well; she was not much with enchantment. Or was this pyromancy? It was a Fierdal bridge, and Fierd was by definition the source of fire. Or with the crystals, was it some form of runic magic? She had read once of something called crystal magic, but she did not know anything about it. Anyway, it seemed better to speculate on this rather than how she had gotten in Gastropé’s arms.

While she was thinking about this, Fierd rose above the horizon and the lens lit up like a thousand candles, showering a rainbow of colors around them.

“Time to go!” Trevin shouted and walked forward right through the lens! Jenn blinked and realized that there was no longer a lens; there was instead a bridge of fierdshine on the other side of the portal.

Hethfar followed her and Treyfoêr started forward, gently pulling Gastropé with him. As they moved forward, Danfaêr started pulling Jenn forward as well. As Gastropé stepped through the portal, Jenn heard him curse and halt briefly, but Treyfoêr dragged him forward saying, “You really don’t want to stop and look down. Trust me; this is disconcerting even for the aetós.”