Obsidian
ESTELA
Thedual'moraanis scheduled to start in an hour. I head down to the scrying grotto alone, only to find ten women are already waiting for us.
I haven’t had a chance to visit the wise woman’s crystal cave, and I was hoping for a few minutes alone with Liana, but I change my disappointment for a smile. Melisa, Abi, and Paoli aren’t unwelcome sights.
With the exception of Melisa and her red dress, they all are wearing simple leather tunics, with well-fitted leggings that reach down to their ankles. I recognize a few of the other women whose infected cuts I had tended to—Carolina, Salma, and Isaraya.
“You look nice with your hair piled atop your head,” I say.
Melisa reaches up to pat the tightly wound style. “Arlet helped me,” she says simply. “That redhead could tame an ox’s locks.”
I smile, peering over Melisa’s shoulder and wondering where the redhead in question is. When she doesn’t appear, Ifrown. I’d hoped she would help me direct the women, especially since she had actually been through this ceremony before.
My attention turns back to Melisa.
“Arlet taught me everything I know.” Which, admittedly, isn’t a lot.
While we chat, more arrive, and I realize that almost every woman has decided to stay. The human man who was brought back, Kade, nods at me but stays silent at the back of the group.
“Today, you travel deep into our city to hunt for your Fuegorra,” I call to the group. “It will be placed in your chest, and once you put it in, it cannot be removed. You will be counted among the Enduar people.”
Many nod, but it’s the pregnant woman from yesterday who lets out a whoop.
“More than ready. I’ve eaten better during the last two days than in the last five years,” she calls.
Another agrees. “And the bed they’ve given me is so soft, I almost slept right through the morning.”
Laughter twinkles through the group.
“I saw one of the men playing with a child yesterday, and I swear, my legs were practically falling open.”
I sputter as more of them laugh.
Melisa claps a hand on my back. “Chin up. You know, I never knew either of my parents. Here’s to children knowing where they come from!”
Several of the women raise their water glasses into the air, as if they were fine goblets of mead and take a long drink.
Melisa looks like she’d like to say something else, but Liana’s head emerges from her sunken crystal cave. I cross over, trying to get a few glimpses of the scrying grotto where Liana and I spent weeks training my Fuegorra reading skills and learning the names of crystals. I can already hear some of the songspouring out and see the sharp rods of pointed beryl and citrine formations.
Liana is clad in so many gems that I wonder how she walks. I hold out my hand to help her up, and she gladly accepts, squeezing it once before returning her grip to the solid gold bauble she holds under her other arm.
It looks like a portable lantern hanging on the end of a long rod.
“What’s all this?”
She smiles and jerks her head to the side. “We call this a thurible. Everyone not receiving their Fuegorra today carries crystals, but, as leader of the procession, I get to light a bit of mushroom incense and guide you all down to the cavern.”
I study its shape more closely, noting the geometric patterns present everywhere else in Enduvida. There is a lot that looks like gold down here, making up door frames and armor. They call it Enduar metal, but this...
“It’s beautiful. It looks like real gold.”
Liana nods. “It is.” She turns her gaze to the small container. “I don’t work with metal much as a wise woman, but there are a few ceremonial pieces I managed to keep from before the war. Here, hold this.”
She passes me the rod and pulls a handful of dried green mushrooms from her pocket. She places them in my other hand, and I marvel while they leave behind a faint, glowing residue.
I wait patiently while she opens the container and motions for me to place them inside. She follows my actions by striking a rough black flint.
