Swimming to the edge and pulling herself onto the ledge, Iryana squeezed the water out of her clothes the best she could, shivering and teeth chattering. Her eyes wandered to the ceiling again. There were small tunnels above letting in some light, but it was dimly lit at best.
The Keeper turned toward Iryana as she toweled off, a challenge in her eyes. As if she knew why Iryana had come, but refused to believe it.
“I am Iryana, Third of the Guardians of Klees. I am here to be forged,” Iryana announced, her teeth chattering.
The Keeper scrutinized her closely, like a grandmother might a child who came home covered in mud. “You are already forged, young guardian. And not with the magic of Voordiza.”
“Yes, I am.”
“To be forged with the magic here would kill you.”
“Is that what you’veseen?” Hadima asked sharply.
“No, I have not seen the outcome of this. But surely it is the only option.”
Iryana let out a sigh of relief. If the Keeper had seen her death, she wasn’t sure what she’d do.
“I wouldn’t ask this of your temple if it wasn’t necessary,” Iryana explained. “There are lives at stake.”
The Keeper sighed. “It isyourlife you risk.”
What was her life worth when weighed against those she loved? Very little.
When Hadima stepped up to the woman, the Keeper’s argumentative expression softened.
“She must be forged now; skip all the ritual. Do you understand?” Hadima’s voice was hard, uncompromising. “We don’t have much time.”
Iryana glanced at her sister, whom she had never seen dive so strongly into confrontation. But the situationdidcall for it.
Looking slightly frustrated, the Keeper nodded. Hadima reached over and squeezed Iryana’s hand.
“Follow me.” The Keeper turned and started walking down an arched hallway.
They were led deeper into the cave system.
“Are you sure about this?” Keeper Magovya asked, stopping in front of a large stone door.
“I am sure, and we must be done tonight.” The longer this took, the odds of Karvek hurting people grew.
The Keeper looked unsure, but she nodded and pushed open the door to reveal a large chamber that reminded Iryana of the one at the bottom of the metal well.
“You’ll have to wait out here, Hadima,” the Keeper gestured down another tunnel.
Hadima nodded and then latched on strongly to Iryana. “You survive this, do you hear me?” Hadima demanded into Iryana’s ear.
“I will,” she promised, best she could.
There was so much in Hadima’s eyes when she pulled away. Grief and hope. Regret and resignation.
“Good luck, little sister.” Hadima pressed a kiss to both her cheeks, squeezed her hand, and then stepped back.
“I love you,” Iryana said, before turning and walking into the outer chamber of the wall.
The door closed as Iryana sat on one of the stone benches in the center. Her nerves were starting to get the better of her, her hands shaking slightly. She clutched the fabric of her pants to calm her hands. With the door shut, the Keeper sat down beside Iryana.
“I can only theorize how this works,” she told Iryana.
It was the best she could ask for.
