The voices above began to whisper and chatter. Kai pushed again—still nothing. More chatter echoed above. He knew there was an opening here, but why would it not open. Then he heard a word resonate within his mind—strength. The thought was a test. Kai considered what the word meant. Clearly, brute strength would not open this hidden door. The words of his uncle Haygan came to mind—you have a strong spirit. It would take his strength of spirit to open the door.
Kai folded his hands in prayer. “Alenga, give me strength and show me the path.” In silence, he waited. Nothing happened. Then he leaned his feverish forehead onto the cold stone. A small light beamed from the remaining open path, tempting him to take the easy choice. Still he waited.
“Alenga, give me strength to take the difficult path. My faith will take me on the true path you set for me.”
Light beamed along the floor at his feet, and the wall started to give way. He felt it give a little, then a little more. He pushed against the wall. Finally, there was a space large enough for him to slip through and he let go of the stone slab. It slowly slid back into place, sealing him into another room.
The chill in the room felt refreshing against his hot skin. Steam rose off his damp clothes, and tiny clouds of smoke formed on his breath. The glow of white crystals beaded around the wall. In the center of the room was a stone pedestal; it held a double-headed hammer and a large metal chisel. Kai took both and looked around the room.
Eyes closed, he gleaned the rocky wall. He could see the chisel marks from others before him. He searched for the crystal that called to him. White light emanated from one spot on the wall. Sweat dripped from his face, and his chest burned in agony. He did his best to calm his breathing and focus on his task.
He placed the sharp point of the chisel against the wall and used the hammer to carve out a chunk of rock-encased crystal. After each strike, he pulled the chisel out of the stone and moved it around the edge of his crystal, careful not to strike it. He landed several more blows on the nail head. One last hit and his stone came free.
Finished with the tools, he set them back on the pedestal. In doing so, it sank deeper and deeper into the stone floor. As the stand went into the ground, it slowly revealed a spiral staircase descending deep into the floor.
Kai followed the staircase down. Star-crystals illuminated the walls as he went. At the bottom, he smelled a hint of fresh air. Hundreds of star-crystals illuminated the corridor. As he continued, the walls began to weep, and the ground started to slope. Soon the grade became so steep that he slipped onto his side and began to slide downward. The smooth wet stone rushed him through the illuminated tunnel.
The ground dropped and twisted to the left, propelling him faster and faster. The next drop spun Kai to the right. He slid high up the curved wall. Water sloshed around him. The ride excited him, and he whooped with excitement.
The meandering ride continued for several minutes before another drop propelled him straight down. Water rushed by his face, nearly choking him. He covered his nose and mouth. A change in the slide eased him upward, reducing his speed. Another turn deposited him into a small pool. He sat up in the water. The air was warm and sweet.
Kai climbed out of the shallow pool. A warm breeze blew against his wet face. Sunlight leaked into the cave. The walls expanded and sunlight streamed down from above. Suddenly he knew that he was at the beginning of something new; all he had to do was trust Alenga to guide him. With faith in his heart, he stepped out of the tunnel.
Chapter 8
Alenga’s Blessing
Kai walked out of the mountain and into a large glen. The sunshine was too bright for his eyes, which had become accustomed to the dark. He squinted against the grandeur. The jagged mountain ridge curled around them, creating a surreal meadow. Kai’s eyes adjusted. He observed the faces of the people who had come to welcome him. Strangers everywhere. The crowd came closer.
Eagles swooped down from the sky, transforming into people. Beasts of all types changed into people. Kai was in awe. Great trees in the meadow morphed into women. Each person was dressed in flowing linen and silk clothes. They wore a variety of an assortment of colors. There were shades of red, blue, purple, and green, with only three in yellow. He noticed their clothes matched their crystals. The one thing they all had in common: no shoes. Their smiles seemed welcoming, yet Kai was unsure how to feel.
Concerned, he looked back toward the cave. Where was Rayna?
Whispers from the crowd brought his attention forefront. The crowd drew him closer. The same feeling he had felt from Diu was now intensified here. Something called to him. All this time, he’d thought it was the mountain or the magic within the crystals, but it was much more. Everything here had a thrum of power.
Compelled to move forward, he edged around more strangers. They bowed and smiled, welcoming him. One man stepped through the crowd, followed by a woman. Finally, there were faces he recognized. “Haygan. Simone.” He grabbed Haygan’s outstretched arm.
They greeted him with pleasant smiles and ushered him down a smooth stone path. In fact, they were nearly pushing him to another small gathering of people. “Kai, come quickly. You need to hurry.”
When they parted, he saw Rayna. She had changed.
Gone were her muddy boots and wet clothing. Her wet hair was neatly brushed and swept over one shoulder. She stood
