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

brown hair, who showed me this place. Do you know her? She said her ancestors lived here or they needed protection or something … I think. Beautiful deep-green eyes and dark hair.”

“Well, I’d like to meet her, if you see her again. I’d love to talk to her ancestors right now. I mean, they could tell me what that round carving is about. I’ve been trying to decipher it, but it’s difficult when you don’t know the meaning of all the symbols. I have translated some though,” he said as he showed Kris his notes on his desk. “What brings you out here?”

“Edwardo brought me,” Kris said. “I’m not sure how I ended up here, if I’m honest.”

“Edwardo’s a good man. I’ve seen him help many people. We’ve had many conversations and compared notes. The best of mankind lives in the hills around here,” Jim said, nodding. He stood. “I want to show you something.”

The two walked across the site, past the excavated rooms to the large circular carving on the wall. He pointed to the carving. “Do you suppose that the people time-traveled? I think each of these marks represents a generation. But these larger ones appear to transcend time. Is that what it looks like to you?”

“You might be onto something. The woman mentioned something about resetting the ancient world. Something like that.”

“Let me know if you see her again.” Kris nodded.

“If you’d like, I’d be happy to draw that big mural for you.”

“Thank you. I’ve tried to capture it, but I’m a bit awkward with a pencil. I have a notebook and a variety of colored pens. Perhaps you could use these,” Jim said. Jim handed Kris a beautiful leather journal that tied with a strap and some colored pens.

“Sure. You haven’t seen anyone else here today? That woman led me here, but it was so bright I didn’t see where she went.” And I’m sure I’m completely insane, Kris added to himself.

“I’m sorry,” Jim said. “It’s hard to notice people from my desk.”

“If I draw the mural and all those letters, can you translate them?” Kris said.

“This is what I have so far,” Jim said and grabbed another notebook from his desk. “Full disclosure: I am guessing a little and other people also worked here and wrote some of these notes. I’d love to speak with someone who lived back then. Since that’s not going to happen … this is what we have.” He smiled.

Kris quickly wrote several of the symbols and their translations down from Jim’s reference materials. Then he walked back over to the large mural, sat down, and began to draw the large carved mandala. Mandalas, Kris had learned, contained stories that began and ended in the same place, so they’d repeat forever. He wrote the symbols along the circle and translated what he could using Jim’s notes, to capture the gist of the story.

Kris was nearly finished with the rough sketch when Edwardo suddenly ran into the site.

“There you are. I must go. Please, I’m sorry. Stay here. I must take care of something right away. He ran.”

“Do you need help?” Kris offered. By the time he stood, Edwardo was gone. “I need to talk to you,” Kris said.

He ran after Edwardo, hoping to tell him about the woman in the square. As he ran out of the site, he saw Edwardo’s Jeep racing into the distance in a cloud of dust. Kris returned to the mural and double-checked his work.

When he had sections translated using the key Jim gave him, Kris stood to show him what he’d discovered. He picked up his bag and walked past the mural and gently touched it with his shoulder.

A blinding flash filled his vision, and everything went white.

Chapter 5

Dense cloud cover filled the sky. The temperature was cool, several degrees colder than it had been a moment ago, as if he’d walked into a cloud.

“Jim?” Kris shouted. “Are you still there?” Kris could see the carving in front of him, but it had lost most of its color. It looked more ancient than ever, carved deeply into the cliff. He looked to see the rest of the site and found himself alone with the carving in the cliff.

How the heck did I get here?

Kris sat down to look for any other clues about his surroundings. Jim’s office should have been right there, so he took some steps in that direction, but the excavated rooms were nowhere to be seen. There was no archaeological site. No desk. No Jim.

Kris sat on the rocky ground. If he just kept himself calm, everything would return to normal. I hope I’m dreaming. That’s the only explanation that makes any sense at all. Did I hit my head? Kris pinched himself hard. It hurt. He was awake.

The cold mist dissipated, and Kris found himself on a high plateau. As he looked around, he saw a mountain range in the distance, as if it floated in the clouds. He shook his head. As he walked to the edge of the plateau, a gaping canyon, steep and wide, showed him there was no route down. He thought he saw a river at the bottom of the canyon, but he could barely be certain.

Did I follow the woman through the flash of light? Where is she now?

Kris’s stomach grumbled and he felt tired. Thankfully, he still held his small bag and the leather-bound notebook and colored pens Jim had given him.

He began walking and hoped to find someone. He made some trail markers with stones. Kris found a gentle way into the steep canyon and saw more rock carvings. He was heartened but realized there was no village, just a lookout. Could that carving take me back to Jim?

He turned to go back and saw movement. Coming across the plateau was a man in a white robe with long white hair and a beard. He carried a staff. Perhaps he knew the woman with the green eyes. I am definitely insane. I should have