“By the state of you, I would say you more than earned your rites. I have never seen anyone covered in blood.”
“Have you helped others?” Rayna asked.
“No, you will be my first,” Liam responded. “But when you exit on the other side, there will be people to welcome you. The Katori almost crave the magic that stirs around a blessing. My own experience left me bruised with a few scratches, but I did not look like either of you.” He motioned up and down at Kai and Rayna.
“What did they do to you?” she asked.
“Took me almost a week to get here. Eagles would carry me off and drop me in a tree. The Stonekings had a canyon set up and then tried to crush me by closing it. I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
Kai chuckled, relieved the stone experience was not personal and thankful they had survived. “So, now what?”
“Come, I will grant you access.” Liam motioned toward the falls. “I will open the way into Alenga’s Mountain within the Katori Mountains. The path inside will not be easy. Changes from long ago shifted her mountain, breaking the path into perilous segments. We tried repairing the tunnels, but her magic prevents our influence.”
Kai couldn’t help but ask. “Is there always someone here to open the way?”
“Yes, but I am sorry to say none volunteered to stand against the wishes of our leaders. The covenant between the Stonekings and the chiefs is everlasting. There are many traditionalists who fear your arrival. There are whispers everywhere about you being Keegan’s son.”
“Yet you stand here with us today,” Kai stated.
“True. But I was never asked by our leaders. Yulia sent word of your impending arrival. My teacher, Benmar, your grandfather, and Keegan’s own father, asked me to stand for you. Plus, no one told me I could not help you. Not that I asked.” He grinned slyly. “So, I came for my friend.”
Kai knelt to say goodbye to Smoke. Smoke nudged him and licked his face. Through their shared connection, Kai instructed Smoke to follow Ryker. Smoke complied by taking a stance beside the Beastmaster, and a feeling of strength emanated between them.
The towering waterfall surrounded by giant redwood trees thundered through his memory. His visions had brought him here many times. Water crashed down beside him, the icy mist sprayed his face. Rayna took his hand. “We’re ready,” she offered.
Kai looked at her and smiled. He knew if it were not for the promise he’d made himself to find his mother, he would not be standing here today. Rayna was right, their gifts were not worth this sacrifice. These people were not his people. Part of him wanted to walk away, but then he thought of his mother. To find her, he needed his magic. And time was running out. If he waited any longer, she might never be able to return to her human form ever again.
The base of the falls was thick trees and underbrush. They walked through the trees, and Kai closed his eyes to the mist. Together they walked through the heavy spray. The narrow stone ledge was barely a foot wide as it passed behind the falls.
The water pounded beside them and threatened to pull them away from the wall. Kai recalled his dream and searched the stone wall for the symbolic groves, three interlocking loops with no end. He had researched the symbol and learned it was called a triquetra. The drawing his uncle had shown him. When his hand felt the three converging lines, he smiled. “This is it. The symbol is here. How do we open a solid stone wall?”
“Allow me.” Liam spread his arms apart. He placed one hand on either side of the triquetra. The ground trembled. Part of the wall receded deep into the surrounding stone. Kai watched in amazement.
Rayna looked deep into the dark passage. “Are we meant to walk through this tunnel?”
Liam held up his finger and shook his head. Placing his hands on either side of the opening. His knuckles turned white with the pressure he applied. Slowly his fingers dented the stone. He rotated his hands and pulled downward. Thundering quakes shook the ground. The rock wall gave way and slid down, out of sight.
They now stood in front of a shallow undercut portico, made from a mixture of white and gray marble. The entrance was astonishing, with twisted columns, arches, and several masterfully cut steps. At the center of the recessed wall, in the spot where one would expect a door, the original stone slab became an archway with the triquetra symbol carved repeatedly around the arch.
Astonished at Liam’s ability, Kai approached the archway. With his hands, Kai touched the jagged white and gray marble. Again, he traced the symbol cut into the stone wall. Pain ached in his trembling hand as he ran his finger over the design. Rayna’s hand touched his hand. His heart felt relief—they had made it.
Liam breathed heavy. Kai could see the task had taken a toll. “Does it look this way for everyone?” Kai asked, impressed.
“It does not. Each Stoneking is free to create and show off his skill. I have a lot to learn. I still have trouble mastering large-scale creations without feeling drained.” Liam offered his hand. “You still have a long way to go, my friend. Good luck, and trust your gut, it got you this far. Alenga’s mountain is a sacred place, you will feel very different inside.”
Liam pressed his hand into the original stone slab, but then a look of frustration knit his brow. His knuckles turned white with the pressure he applied. The slab didn’t budge. “Why did the Stonekings even let me reveal the entrance, only to bar the way?”
Kai stepped back, disappointed. “Ryker said the Stonekings may not let us inside. What now, are we finished?”
“I don’t know.” Liam scratched his
