fought with his entire being until he thought that his heart would burst from his body, but it made
not a whit of difference. He forced his eyes open. The hideous part-man, part-bird, part-beast
stood before him, a full head taller than Timozel, and five times his weight in muscle. Power
radiated from the creature’s silver eyes and again it reached out a hand (or was it a claw?) in
entreaty. “Timozel, will you be my friend?” it simpered. With what he thought would be his
dying breath Timozel summoned what was left of his courage and screamed, “No! I would rather
spend eternity in the fire pits of the AfterLife than be your friend!” The creature bellowed with
rage, and clawed hands reached for Timozel.
As they stepped into the lake Faraday felt no sensation of wetness, only of power. It
throbbed all about her, and she wondered what it would feel like when she was completely
submerged. Raum‘s fingers tightened about her hand, but she smiled at him reassuringly, and
stepped confidently by his side. Shra reached her plump arms out into the emerald lake, laughing
with joy. As they walked further the emerald glow rose further up their bodies until it had
reached the level of their chests. Raum held Shra so that her head still floated above the line of
power. ―Come,‖ he said, and dipped beneath the surface of the lake, pulling Shra and Faraday
down with him.
Faraday did not feel a moment‘s tension or worry as the surface of the lake closed over
her head. She could still breathe without any effort and, as the lake bed fell away beneath her
feet, she found that she could walk completely suspended in the deep emerald light without any
support. She looked about her in amazement. Raum, Shra and herself were completely enclosed
in the light and all traces of the shoreline and night sky had totally disappeared.
Raum looked at her, the blood on his face and chest burning blackly in the eerie glow;
she turned away again and they walked further and further into the light.
Gradually Faraday became aware of a change in the light; it was growing darker and
shadowed in some places, lighter in others. She again had the sensation that she was actually
walking on solid ground and when she looked down she realised that her feet were walking
through soft, ankle-high grass. The blurred green shapes about her resolved themselves into tall
trees and after a lingering glow of emerald, all traces of the lake disappeared and Raum, Faraday
and Shra found themselves walking down a narrow path through a deep forest. Overhead the
stars spun through the night sky in a dazzling display of power beyond that which any man or
woman could hope to hold.
Faraday felt very happy, very contented. She took a deep breath of complete exultation;
she had seen the Star Gate, and now she had not only seen the Mother, the Fernbrake Lake, but
this time she had been permitted to walk through. She had been blessed. At her side Raum felt
her rapture, he lifted their joined hands and pressed the back of her hand against his chest for a
moment. Shra reached down and grasped their hands and then all three of them laughed together
for sheer joy.
The path led them, as Faraday somehow suspected it might, into the grove of her dream;
except this was no dream. Raum stopped them at the edge of the large circular grove and
motioned them to wait, then he walked into the centre of the clearing, raised his arms above his
shoulders, hands extended palm-up to the night sky, and spoke in a strong, clear voice. ―Sacred
Horned Ones, I bring you greetings from Avarinheim, and I present to you Shra and Faraday,
who have passed through the terror of the forest and have been cleansed and blessed by the Light
of the Mother.‖ He turned and held his hands out for Shra and Faraday to join him. ―One will
grow tall and strong and will walk the shaded paths of Avarinheim, serving the Mother and your
Sacred Selves, and the other will walk in the shadow of the Prophecy of the Destroyer and will,
if her strength prevails, bring us through the other side. Please, Sacred Ones, step forth and grant
both Shra and Faraday the courage of your strength and your blessing.‖
Faraday, standing at Raum‘s side, started to tremble with the sheer drift of power through
the Grove. She could see forms slipping through the shadows of the surrounding trees and feel
eyes slide over her naked body. It was strange that no fear, only exhilaration, filled her. She
sensed that the same exhilaration filled Raum. She reached out a trembling hand and touched his
hairline where she had earlier thought she had glimpsed little knobs of bone…there…they were
the infant nubs of antlers. Raum turned his head slightly and looked at her. ―Eventually I hope
and pray to take my place with the Horned Ones,‖ he whispered. Faraday smiled at him. ―You
will,‖ she said softly, ―you will.‖
When she dropped her hand and turned her head back to the Grove she saw that nine of
the Sacred Horned Ones had joined them, standing in a rough semi-circle some paces away. All
had the muscular bodies, virtually naked save for brief loincloths, that supported the magnificent
stag heads and antlers. Most had thick brown or black pelts that grew down over their shoulders
and midway down their backs. One of the Horned Ones had a striking silver pelt instead of the
brown or black. Liquid-black eyes, like Raum and Shra‘s, gazed at her. All exuded tremendous
power.
The silver-haired Horned One stepped forward, holding his hands out in greeting.
―Welcome Shra, welcome Faraday. And welcome again to Raum, who serves us so well in the
Avarinheim and with the Mother.‖ He leaned forward and rubbed cheeks with Raum, picked up
Shra to do the same with her, then stepped over to Faraday.
―Tree Friend,‖ he said. ―We are pleased beyond telling that you are finally here.‖ He
grasped her hands and leaned close. His furred cheek brushed briefly against Faraday‘s cheek,
and her skin thrilled at the touch.
―May I stay?‖ she asked, a little afraid at asking so much. She knew what he would
answer.
―You will come back one day,‖ he said gently, ―when your work and life is done, and
then, if you wish, you may stay.‖ His voice and words held the certainty of a benediction.
Faraday‘s eyes filled with tears of joy. He would not lie to her.
―But before that day arrives you may visit whenever you wish.‖
―Thank you,‖ she whispered, and the Horned One let go of her hands. He turned to one of
his younger companions and took something from his hands.
―Tree Friend. We would give you a talisman that will help you to grow into the person
you need to become, and will also help you find us again if you are nowhere near the Mother.
Grow in strength and understanding, Daughter, and never forget your service to the Mother.‖
He handed Faraday a wide shallow bowl that looked as if it had grown into its present
shape rather than having been carved into it. The wood had a deep reddish colour, almost
glowing under the night sky, and it felt warm in her hands.
―Thank you,‖ Faraday said, awed by the honour of the gift, and just then a falling star
blazed across the firmament above them.
The Horned One looked at Raum. ―Time grows short, young brother. Go in peace. Take
care of yourself and the little one. There are too few of you in these times of need.‖ He bent back
down to Shra. ―Peace, little sister. Serve the Mother well, and learn how to sing to the seasons
and the land. If you learn well, then perhaps it will be your voice that will make the difference.‖
The little girl nodded seriously. ―Will,‖ she whispered, and both Raum and the Horned
One smiled affectionately at her.
―She will do well,‖ the Horned One said, then turned a final time to Faraday. ―Be true,‖
he said, and touched her forehead, sending a jolt of power through her. ―You will have to be.‖
Then he turned and, all at once, the clearing was bare save for Faraday, Raum and Shra.
―Come,‖ said Raum quietly, ―it is time to go.‖
This time the blackness could not save Timozel. He felt the mad hatred of the creature
reaching through the blackness for him just before fierce, clawed hands seized his throat and
started to pull him back into the iced cavern that the creature called home. “No escape,” it
whispered, “no escape. If you will not be my friend then you will have to serve me as others do.”
The power of the creature forced Timozel to his knees and for a minute he cowered there. A hand