touched, a low red glow lit the stick, yet they did
not produce any heat or fire.
Handing one to the lad, Erelon kept the other heatless torch for
himself and started down the narrow tunnel. Very little noise came to them
except for their own heaving breath that caused a heavy white fog to hang in
the air before them, which they again breathed in. Slowly as they progressed,
the round cave widened so that Erelon did not have to crouch low, yet the rough
ceiling of the tunnel continued to rub his back.
Through the tunnel, music came to their ears. A flute and
chimes drifted along the breeze as if some orchestra of fairies had found the
peaceful seclusion of the winter’s mountain hall inspirational. As the light
grew in power, so did the music, as if it accompanied the light. As the sound
grew, melodies and harmony could be heard whimsically telling the story of
winter and the legends surrounding this harsh season.
The torches cast a low red glow on the walls and floor, marking
all grooves and obstacles, yet doing little to reveal the hidden secrets of the
passage. As the red glow of their torches grew fainter, they knew they were
closing in on the end of the tunnel. Slowly the passage opened wider, and a
three foot drop brought them into a huge cavern filled with natural light
glaring off of ice and snow.
Ice crystals reflected the light so that a splash of color was
sent flying through, decorating the world in a beauty that not even the elves
could replicate. As one crystal would reflect light, dividing it, another
crystal would pick up each ray to further subdivide it until it was a
continuous cycle of rays dancing from crystal to crystal, each ray of light and
beam of color changing continuously.
Thousands of lights were reflected all at once so that the
entire chamber was filled with light that had been at first blinding. Both
squinted their eyes so that tears flowed freely as their eyes tried to adjust
and filter out the excess light. Erelon even drew his hand over his closed
eyes as the light beat against his eye lids and still burned. Slowly he parted
his fingers, allowing a little more light in as they opened up. Slowly he drew
his hand away and blinked several times.
Erelon descended the steps carved by wind piling up snow and
then freezing it into blocks. The ice formed chandeliers above and mirrors on
the walls, and they burst from the ground and made chairs and tables. Several
trees with the pink blossoms lived, adding a organic element to the cold
world. Only during the winter months did this tree blossom and grow. During
the warm months of the year, it looked dead and naked, and for this reason,
many men who did not know about their miraculous beauty had cut them down.
The chamber was filled with the musical ensemble as flutes,
chimes, and bells all rose together. Yet as Erelon listened and felt for the
melody, he could place a sound that did not feel right. It was a mischievous
sound, playing with the melody, changing tempo, and its own sound as it
wished. The air that flowed through the chambers had wrought the crystals into
the sounds needed, and now for those that knew where to find the musical
caverns, they played beautifully. Erelon did not know if the Humbas had built
this cavern years ago, or if it were the original inhabitants of Suragenna, or
if nature itself had through years of trial and practice magically formed this
amazing cavern. Erelon knew it had been around for ages, and that these
caverns had been unaltered by men as far back as he could find it mentioned in
manuscripts.
Yet the slightest outside force could change the form of the
crystals, causing the ballad to change. Some legends claimed if the alteration
was severe enough, it could bring the cavern down completely.
Turning to the lad, Erelon fervently stated, “No fire, and try
to keep noise limited.”
Crossing behind the boy, Erelon took from the pack a tube
container along with a
not produce any heat or fire.
Handing one to the lad, Erelon kept the other heatless torch for
himself and started down the narrow tunnel. Very little noise came to them
except for their own heaving breath that caused a heavy white fog to hang in
the air before them, which they again breathed in. Slowly as they progressed,
the round cave widened so that Erelon did not have to crouch low, yet the rough
ceiling of the tunnel continued to rub his back.
Through the tunnel, music came to their ears. A flute and
chimes drifted along the breeze as if some orchestra of fairies had found the
peaceful seclusion of the winter’s mountain hall inspirational. As the light
grew in power, so did the music, as if it accompanied the light. As the sound
grew, melodies and harmony could be heard whimsically telling the story of
winter and the legends surrounding this harsh season.
The torches cast a low red glow on the walls and floor, marking
all grooves and obstacles, yet doing little to reveal the hidden secrets of the
passage. As the red glow of their torches grew fainter, they knew they were
closing in on the end of the tunnel. Slowly the passage opened wider, and a
three foot drop brought them into a huge cavern filled with natural light
glaring off of ice and snow.
Ice crystals reflected the light so that a splash of color was
sent flying through, decorating the world in a beauty that not even the elves
could replicate. As one crystal would reflect light, dividing it, another
crystal would pick up each ray to further subdivide it until it was a
continuous cycle of rays dancing from crystal to crystal, each ray of light and
beam of color changing continuously.
Thousands of lights were reflected all at once so that the
entire chamber was filled with light that had been at first blinding. Both
squinted their eyes so that tears flowed freely as their eyes tried to adjust
and filter out the excess light. Erelon even drew his hand over his closed
eyes as the light beat against his eye lids and still burned. Slowly he parted
his fingers, allowing a little more light in as they opened up. Slowly he drew
his hand away and blinked several times.
Erelon descended the steps carved by wind piling up snow and
then freezing it into blocks. The ice formed chandeliers above and mirrors on
the walls, and they burst from the ground and made chairs and tables. Several
trees with the pink blossoms lived, adding a organic element to the cold
world. Only during the winter months did this tree blossom and grow. During
the warm months of the year, it looked dead and naked, and for this reason,
many men who did not know about their miraculous beauty had cut them down.
The chamber was filled with the musical ensemble as flutes,
chimes, and bells all rose together. Yet as Erelon listened and felt for the
melody, he could place a sound that did not feel right. It was a mischievous
sound, playing with the melody, changing tempo, and its own sound as it
wished. The air that flowed through the chambers had wrought the crystals into
the sounds needed, and now for those that knew where to find the musical
caverns, they played beautifully. Erelon did not know if the Humbas had built
this cavern years ago, or if it were the original inhabitants of Suragenna, or
if nature itself had through years of trial and practice magically formed this
amazing cavern. Erelon knew it had been around for ages, and that these
caverns had been unaltered by men as far back as he could find it mentioned in
manuscripts.
Yet the slightest outside force could change the form of the
crystals, causing the ballad to change. Some legends claimed if the alteration
was severe enough, it could bring the cavern down completely.
Turning to the lad, Erelon fervently stated, “No fire, and try
to keep noise limited.”
Crossing behind the boy, Erelon took from the pack a tube
container along with a
Similar Books
