Siofra and the Sorcerer - and a special gift Who: Cian/Gabe What: Preparation of a gift Where: Spirit Mountain When: 10th February Ratings/Warnings: None
Spirit Mountain had been a sacred site to many of the tribes who'd called the lands around it home for longer than the shaman and magic-users could remember. Many had come there for answers, and guidance, and to seek knowledge to heal illnesses and injuries more varied than could be named. Many had come to be blessed with energies to give blessings, and they had come for many generations. As Gabe stood in the centre of the open space he could feel the energy emanating from earth, rocks and sand all around him. It was different to what he was used to, that of water, and air, but it was rooted in the same source. As he sat, eyes closed, he felt the mark on his finger tingle, and pressed his thumb to it. He started across the sandy ground toward one side of the canyon.
The shadows around the walls concealed various caves and openings. Some were mere indents, only deep enough to shelter a single individual. Others led further back into the rock and dirt, providing space enough for a few to hunker down and remain protected from the elements if need be. Two provided deeper access to the heart of the mountain.
One branched out into two arms, the narrower arm led to the outside world, through the concealed entrance perfectly disguised behind a boulder fall eons earlier. The slightly wider arm led into a cavern which had a main chamber and various smaller chambers around its perimeter. Some were large enough to shelter a group, others had in times past served as storage rooms, rudimentary shelving remained, with some earthenware pots containing powders and herbs as evidence of this. There was also evidence of fires having been lit, the darkened ceiling blackened by soot and ash.
The second opening gave access to a single cavern. The difference here was this was always lit, shafts of sun or moonlight being given access through openings in the rocky roof. It was to this cavern that Gabe was headed. When he was inside he lifted the messenger bag he carried and placed it on one of the ledges that was hollowed in the cavern wall. He retrieved a cloth wrapped item from inside the bag, and started moving around the cave, his foot creating furrows in the sand that had laid on this floor for time immemorial, and had borne witness to all types and creeds of mages and magic users, shamans and their sacred work. Once he'd finished he brushed his hands against the legs of his jeans then sat cross-legged, elbows resting on his knees, his fingers steepled in front of his face, his eyes closed. The blue of the sapphire on his finger matched the blue of his eyes, and refracted into shards against the ceiling of the space, dancing and jumping despite how still his hands were. In front of him on the sand lay a cloth, the item he'd withdrawn from his bag now exposed to his workings as he focused on it, spells being spoken and his voice forming an incantation that carried echoes of others' voices with it, giving strength to what was being laid down.
Since Cian had brought him here the first time to strengthen the wards and protections on the canyon he'd returned a few times. Despite his normal environment of choice being more aquatic in nature he'd found an affinity with the location, something he'd come to acknowledge as being because of the history of the Mountain and all those who'd come before. Each had come with intent, each had given and taken, and each had left their spiritual signature. From the amount of energy he'd felt as Cian had first brought him there, he could only surmise the depth of the ancestry - it reminded him of his own ancestral home, and could understand how Cian had become so protective of the place. Those who acknowledged its significance would be accepted by its protections. And it was here he felt it was best to bless the gift Cian had had created.
Outside the cave the were paced, the pads of its paws leaving a fleeting memory of its steps in the sands only to blur them in the next pass. Eventually the large cougar paused, head lifted, eyes half-closed as nostrils twitched and tested the air. Satisfied again the head lowered and eyes opened as the pacing recommenced.
It had been out of respect for Gabe, the location, and the purpose of the visit that Cian had agreed it would be Siofra that would maintain the vigil, and remain outside. While the Irishman trusted the sorcerer with his life, he was now also entrusting Rhiannon's, and it had taken more than a moment, and a stern stare from the sorcerer before he'd finally nodded his agreement.
Siofra again paused all movement, the soft murmuring from inside the cave having ceased, the silence now complete. The cougar lowered its haunches until seated, facing the opening, tail slowly wrapping until the similarity between the living and a stone statue of ancient times was complete. A few moments later the figure of the sorcerer appeared in the mouth of the cave, the silk cloth wrapped item laying in the palm of his hand.
"Done," he told the 'statue' simply. The feline eyes which had been fixed on the sorcerer's face blinked once. As he spoke Gabe's empty hand created a portal, a few moments later the two of them stepping from the canyon into Gabe's home in Montana Street.
"I don't know about you, but right now I could really kill for one of Ronnie's burgers," Gabe said, lifting his bag off his shoulder and placing it on the table, the silk cloth and its contents still in his other hand. He placed it on the bag, his back still turned away from where Siofra was. A soft growl slowly morphed into a grunt and a minute later Cian, dressed, appeared at his side.
"So it's ready?" he asked, tugging his t-shirt down and eyeing the cloth.
"No, I figured I'd just, you know, do half now, half later," Gabe replied, deadpan. "I was getting hungry."
Cian's eyes rolled and he let go a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding.
Gabe grinned and reached over, flipping the edges of the fabric back to reveal the gift. Nestled in the soft silk was a small but exquisite weapon - a knife, folding, with a handle inlaid with an amethyst on each side, that when pressed revealed a deadly blade engraved with special sigils.
The gift had been a while in the creation, the preparation of the metals and forging of the blade being done by hands carrying generations of knowledge and experience, the amethysts selected by his own eye, and inlaid into the hilt designed and created by artisans. Gabe had never uttered a word about the description of what Cian had asked him to source, instead only offering suggestions as to where an how the knife would be created.
Cian still didn't know why he'd felt the need for this, the small, easily concealed and carried weapon now being imbued with energies of the ancients. From the first time Rhiannon had told him of Elfleda he'd felt an unease, an itch between his shoulder blades, one he couldn't get rid of completely in either form. And when she'd returned with the 'gift' the idea had formed, coming to him one night in a dream. He'd spoken with Gabe about what he wanted, and described both the knife, and why, without telling him the circumstances. He could tell Gabe knew he was leaving things out, they'd known each other long enough for them to both be able to tell that about one another, but they also knew each other well enough to not ask questions.
He nodded, folding the cloth back over the knife and tucking it inside his jacket. "C'mon then, guess I owe you that burger," he told Gabe as the two headed for the door.
"And fries," the sorcerer added, "two serves."
"Of course, Bilson, wouldn't dream of getting fries without yours," Cian replied with a soft laugh as they headed off toward the diner.