Summon the Elven Mage, Barbara Ferrier [ebook reader with highlighter .TXT] 📗

“We’re going to get to the bottom of this,” the Protector said. “We’ll get you back with your parents.”

Kelne knelt. “May I ask for your help?”

Tahendra nodded.

“Look at this map on the wall here. These buildings on the hill. Something is wrong with some of these passageways.”

Tahendra looked at the map.

“Look closely and tell me what you see.”

“There’s purple over here. A secret passage with purple in it?” she said.

“You’re right. It’s the Tari, and they’re moving fast, apparently helping the Great Thieves.”

“Oh no!” Tahendra said. “Do you hear that, Granduncle? It’s Shaman Moon. Is she hurt? Sometimes the big moon, Sohm, talks to me. But this is different. She sounds injured.”

“Tell me more,” Kelne said. He and the Protector looked directly at Tah.

Tahendra closed her eyes and listened carefully: “We haven’t lost her yet. She’s going to be okay. Thank you for being such a good moon child. You’ve made a difference for Shaman Moon, Tahendra. Thank you for that.”

“What’s a moon child?” Tahendra said. “Sohm said she would be okay because I was a good moon child.”

“It’s an incredibly special person who can talk to the moons and hear them speak,” Kelne said. “I didn’t expect you to hear them for several more years. You were born on an auspicious night, when all three moons were full at once. That is rare indeed. That is how you became a moon child. Our ceremony for honoring a moon child falls on your tenth birthday. Usually that’s before you’d hear the moons speak.”

“Something was different about that voice today,” Tahendra said. “Sohm talks about Shaman Moon, mostly. He sounded nervous today but said she’ll be okay because I did the right thing.”

“That is very good news,” Kelne said. “Please ask Sohm how we can help.”

Tahendra closed her eyes again and silently asked.

“You must leave and find a new home. Your parents are okay. You must go. They will hunt you because you know they will do great harm.”

Tahendra opened her eyes wide. “He says I have to go away and I need to hide.” Tears came to her eyes. “Have I done something wrong? He said I did the right thing, but I have to leave anyway.”

Kelne knelt and buried his grandniece tightly in his arms. Then he and the Protector looked at one another. “Perhaps it’s time to take Kris home,” Kelne said. “Our visitor Kris Campbell arrived here from Earth recently. I wonder how he would feel about adopting a child the age of his nephew. It may be too much to ask. We’ll find a way to make this work.” Then Kelne looked at Tahendra, “I promised your parents I’d keep you safe, Tah, no matter what. I’ll let them know where you’ve gone. They will understand and be grateful you are safe. If the moon said to go, we’d better find you a new home for a while. Help me with one thing first.”

The three left the main building, and Kelne transported them to the geodesic dome. Before they walked in the door, Tahendra looked up and saw Shaman Moon, who was small in the sky. When she stepped inside, she saw Shaman Moon up close, in all her glorious detail. Rainbows of soft light surrounded her.

“She’s so pretty,” Tahendra said.

“She is,” Kelne said. “I want us to use our combined strength to make her stronger. Do you know what I mean? If we work together, we can protect the crystals and carvings that keep her strong. I don’t know the shaman magic that put her into the night sky. I do know enough to keep her strong for now. Do you see here?” He pointed to the right side of the moon, where it was a little bit dark. “That is a weak point, likely from the crystals taken out of the Black Hills.”

“They cut it wide open, Granduncle,” Tahendra said. “I saw the energy go out of the mountain and directly up to the sky. Like someone had spilled the energy. Can we put it back?”

“Koteo sealed it up when you interrupted the Chancellor and made him itchy. Excellent interference. Good job,” Kelne said with a smile. “I want you to do one more thing, and the two of us will help.” Kelne showed a map up on the wall within the geodesic dome. “Protector?”

“I have the crystals that were used originally to seal this place and protect Shaman Moon,” she said. “Tah, please hold this crystal in your hand. I want you to send love to Shaman Moon and show gratitude for the food that she allows with her moonlight.”

Tahendra took the crystal and held it in her hand with wonder. Then she grabbed it tightly and closed her eyes. I love you, Shaman Moon, and you are beautiful, she said. I am here to protect you always, even though I need to go away for a while.

Kelne raised his staff and placed it on the map near the Black Hills. Protect the heart, the core of the energy. Crystals from this place, it is time to be impervious to any Chancellor or Great Thief. The crystals cannot be mined, their energy useless except to assist Shaman Moon.

The Protector of the Ball Return took a white crystal and placed it high in the air. Reseal the borders of this land. Remake the secret trails of the ancestors and eliminate new trails that have emerged. Collapse and seal intruding passages.

After each had performed their request, the three looked more closely at the map. The areas of yellow were gone. Tahendra saw the purple haze dissipated. “I think they’re gone. Look, Granduncle. No more purple.”

Kelne smiled. “Glad we caught them.”

“Look Granduncle, she’s brighter, not as hurt,” Tah said.

Kelne knelt and turned to Tahendra. “She is. Thank you for helping. I think it’s time for you to meet my friend, Kris,” he said. “Maybe he’ll be sort of like an uncle.”

“A new uncle?” She looked surprised and excited.

“Sort of. Let’s