"To Fly on Ruby Wings"
Chapter 1 (The Stone)
She heard it again, that soft chiming sound. At times, it ran like water in silver streams. At other times, it sounded like whispering breezes in a golden field. Until now, Talin never gave it any serious thought. To her, it might as well be another one of those adolescent changes. Yet, its persistence kept her from sleeping well. That was why she decided one morning that she just had to find out where it came from.
Rubbing her eyes sleepily, she got up noiselessly from her bed. Her bare feet contrasted sharply with the cold stone floor of her room. Patting her mouth to cover a yawn, she looked outside her window. The sun was not yet up, so everything seemed gray outside. Wrinkling her brow, Talin felt like going back to bed.
No, I have to find out what is causing the noise in my head.
A little regretfully, she made her bed and dressed, all the time thinking about the aroma of freshly baked bread that she will probably miss today.
Can’t it wait until after breakfast?
No, you know very well that you can only find the girl with the blue stone before the sun rises.
Sometimes, Talin really hated her practical and business side. It always nagged her about being late or doing something wrong. Nevertheless, it was usually right. Not wanting to wake up the rest of the household, she donned a reddish brown cape and tiptoed downstairs. Her mother was not up yet, let alone anyone else. Talin wondered if she should leave a note.
No, you usually leave the house before the sun rises anyway. As long as you are back before lunch, she won’t miss you.
Talin was not sure whether that was her lazy side or her matter-of-fact side that sounded. Giving a little shrug, she closed the thick oak door of the cottage behind her, and made her way toward the lake. A few startled animals jumped out of her path as she made her way through the dew-covered bushes.
The girl with the blue stone,
can she really tell me the origin of this sound?
There was no answer, so Talin concentrated her thoughts on the lake. When she got there, Diara was already waiting.
“How did you know I was coming?” Whispered the girl in reddish brown.
“Balath told me.” The girl in blue answered.
“Balath?”
“The stone, it finally told me its name.”
Talin paused, looking the other girl over. This was not the Diara she once knew. Sure, she still had dark black hair that glistened like the night sky, and dark blue eyes, but the girl she knew was fun loving, and went swimming with her on hot days. Ever since the girl found the stone, she became quieter, and never played with the others anymore.
Old Diara or new Diara, she was still Talin’s best friend. That was why Talin knew about the blue stone. At first, she did not believe that the stone could talk to Diara. Then one day, she couldn’t find her little brother Sig, and Diara told her where he was hiding. How did you know? She had asked her friend. The stone told me. Many times after that, Talin found out that Diara usually knew things out of the ordinary, such as who was the midnight thief, or which house would get burned.
Sometimes, Talin just wanted to shake her friend. After all, the stone was what kept Diara aloof.
She was never aloof to you. Her no-nonsense half said.
“Diara,”
“Yes?”
“Why do you always answer my questions before sunrise?”
“The stone says it will be dangerous for us all if other people knew of its existence.”
“The stone says! The stone says! Don’t you have any say in your life at all?”
“Sure I do, but Balath is ancient and wise. I wish you could hear him. He tells of such wonderful things. He is never wrong either.”
Talin frowned; she is not gaining much ground here.
“Look, you can listen to your stone all you want, but there are other people in your life. You have to spend time with them too!”
“I know what you are thinking, Talin. You think the stone is bewitching me, but it is not. There is a task that I must complete, and it is telling me tales to prepare me for it. As for the other people in my life, I do spend time with them, not as much as before, but still ample.” Diara’s voice suddenly went really serious,
“Talin, the stone tells me about my friends too. He told me that I could trust you. That is why only you know about Balath.
“Look, we went through this conversation before. I know it is hard for you because you cannot hear the stone. Someday, though, you will understand. Now, we do not have much time left, so ask away.”
“I…Well, I have been hearing sounds in my head. I know I am not crazy because I can think very rationally. Yet, it kept bothering me. Sometimes it seemed to sing, sometimes, it seemed to talk. Where does it come from, Diara? Tell me, so I can get some sleep.”
The girl in blue looked at the empty sky for a while, then dug into her coat pocket and drew out a sapphire-like pebble the size of an egg. Holding it, she looked Talin straight in the eye and said,
“Balath wouldn’t tell me where the sound came from. He said that you too have a task to complete. Part of your mission would be to find the origin of the sound. The only clue the stone gave me is that you will make a journey soon, and on that journey, you will find what you seek.”
Putting the stone back in her pocket, Diara continued,
“I wish I could tell you more, but some things Balath keep even from me.”
Talin grumbled inaudibly and looked at the dawning sky.
“Well, I have to go now.” The new Diara with a smile of the old Diara said.
“Yes, you had better go.”
Without a word of farewell, they went their separate ways.
I thought she said the stone knew everything.
She never said that, she only said that the stone was wise.
Why must you contradict
everything I say?
Ask yourself; I am part of your
brain after all.
Ugh!
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