Restless

The winter was deep and dark once more.1

2

Ranwen had been waiting for this moment, ever since Augur had given her the prophecy nearly a year ago. This was the time when the wind howled like wolves and the cold seeped into bones. The sun was the farthest from the earth that it would be for another year. Today marked winter solstice, and the eyes of the benevolent gods were turned from the world.3

4

Augur had told her what she needed to call her lost love from the darkness. She held the bundle to her chest, pulling her woolen cloak tighter against the elements. She couldn't see through the storm, but she knew where to go. She had been traveling for four days with nearly no food and only the lightest sleep, and nothing would keep her from her goal.5

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The Basilica called to her. Even before she decided when she was to set out it was vibrant in her dreams and brushing against her consciousness during the day. Even when sun shone and paved walks burned bare feet she could feel it, calling through darkness that lay in the recess of her soul.7

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Now was the time that it called the loudest it was loud enough that, even if she had not wanted to go, she would have to. The mere force of its cry would not let her do otherwise. As it was, she needed to find the Basilica. This was the moment, and her spirit returned the call tenfold.9

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She entered the old, abandoned cathedral that the Solstice had named its home. The ceiling was high, and there seemed to be no end in the darkness. The room was disproportionately small. There was space enough for an altar at the front with two dead candles on either side as well as a sqare about twenty by twenty feet before it. There were none of the characteristic benches that most churches required.11

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Ranwen would not need benches. She had come to the Solstice for one thing, and one thing only.13

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She removed the bundle from her cloak and lay it in the centre of the floor. From it she pulled four jars and three more wrapped objects. Each jar found its place at one side of the square; to the left a jar of metal shards; to the right earth. Behind her lay the wind, and before the altar was ice.15

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Two wrapped objects were placed on the altar. The altar was stained with rust, and symbols stood out beneath the reddish hue. Ranwen unwrapped the first object. It was barely recognizable, but pale fur and a half-open golden eye could be seen. It found its place on the altar and she opened the second cloth.17

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Three bones emerged and were placed next to the first offering. Ranwen withdrew a knife from the recesses of her cloak and pulled the blade across her hand, spattering the altar with blood for a third and final offering.19

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Ranwen returned to the centre of the square, using the cloth from the final object to bind her hand. From this came a candle etched with symbols that matched those on the altar. She placed the candle on the ground, finding the pieces of flint that she carried. With shaking hands it took her three tries to light the flame. Immediately, the Basilica shone, illuminating all but the very top of itself with the warm glow of the candle. She removed her cloak and placed it before her.21

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Ranwen's left hand was adorned with symbols as well, and beneath her winter garments they crawled to her shoulder and to her toes. She placed her hands on the ground so that her thumbs and forefingers formed a diamond around the base of the candle. This would be the perfect time to be nervous, but no… she had been called so often that this place had become familiar.23

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She spoke in the tongue of the Solstice, asking for the dormant deity to awaken and accept the gifts.25

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" Oi kadotettujen henki, suo minulle mitä pyydän... "27

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She asked for what she had come for… what she had lost so long ago and what she had been told she would find.29

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" ...olen tullut kauaa, ja antanut sinulle nämä ihmeelliset lahjat... "31

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The dead candles on either side of the altar began to flicker and awaken, but the ceiling remained dark.33

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" ...Hyväksy uhrini, veri, luu ja liha... …"35

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The Solstice hovered above. It held its breath, waiting, for Ranwen to say the final words and to permit its existence and permit its power to ravage what she had lain out. It hummed with energy, waiting for her to allow it to grant her request.37

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" ...ja suo minulle se, mitä halajan. "39

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The Solstice rose from the darkness of its home, finally brought from rest by a willing disciple. It was finally allowed to voice the pain it had felt at being locked away from the rest of the rest of the world except for this one day – this one day every year where no one ever came to set it free and to let its will be done. It screamed in ecstasy, consuming the blood and bone and flesh and sacrifice that it had received. It screamed all the louder in thanks, granting the wish of the faithful disciple that had wandered here to find its lair…41

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Ranwen opened her eyes and was blinded by the darkness. The candle before her was dead and cold. She found her flint to light it again; the symbols were gone and its glow was weak. The four jars were shattered, and all the contents had been swept away. The altar was bare again except for rusty smears.43

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She reached towards her cloak, taking no notice of her left hand which had blackened to shadow-dark.45

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She lifted the candle and gasped in surprise and relief. On her cloak lay a prone form, still and cold but alive. The right side of his body was dark, but the rest of him was warming to a healthy peach. He began to shiver – though he was inside, it was still the coldest day of the year.47

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"Xane," she called softly. She could see the muscles of his left shoulder tighten in response to his name.49

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" Ranwen?" His voice was hoarse.51

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"I thought I lost you," Ranwen placed the dark hand on his back, feeling the rise and fall characteristic of living beings.53

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"I… Didn't I –?"55

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"Yes." He was trying to sit up and she helped him, holding his shaking form as he nearly fell.57

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" Ranwen …?"59

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She couldn't answer him this time. Not through her tears…61

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Xane held her, in awe at the feel of her after all he had been through. Ranwen laughed, not believing. This was something she had to believe…63

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Solstice grinned in the darkness, smiling from the eyes of his newfound disciples, prepared to have its way in the world.65

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