Darkvision - Bruce R. Cordell [4]
She recalled again her surprise upon seeing raw Celestial Nadir crystal trading across the gem counters in the city of Two Stars.
She pulled from her purse a chunk of rough crystal whose hue matched that of the keystone, though unfinished. When she'd seen it in the gem shop in Two Stars, purely by accident, she'd purchased it immediately. According to the shop owner, the gem went by the ungainly name "Datharathi crystal." A small lot of it had come up from the far south, from somewhere in the Durpar region.
Her discovery of the fragment was the final impetus she'd required to continue her quest. The fragment was clear evidence that at least one other of the twenty gates, besides the Mucklestones, still operated. Moreover, someone was entering the Celestial Nadir and mining its substance for profit! Celestial Nadir crystal was a natural sediment of the artificial plane her ancestors had created, and could be found nowhere else.
But… here was something odd. Both the rough Celestial Nadir crystal and her keystone seemed… murky. Usually, she could see right through the crystal, but tendrils of darkness seemed to cloud the center of both pieces-only very slightly in her keystone, but noticeably in the raw chunk of Celestial Nadir crystal. It reminded her suddenly and uncomfortably of her nightmare.
"Bastard dream," she murmured. "You'd better not be responsible, or…" Or what, she didn't know, but her blood was hot with anger. Far better, though, than the fear that sang through her when she'd woken. She was more familiar with emotions of anger and annoyance than fear and uncertainty. But more than anything else, she was tired. Fear and anger both fell away, leaving a dull ache. And truth be told, the creeping warmth on her face and hands galled her. The day before had been a long day of travel, and she'd gotten too much sun.
She usually sat on the exterior of the wagon, coach style, driving the horses from beneath a protective sunshade. The Giant's Belt mountains rising to the left had drawn her gaze like a magnet. Beyond its towering peaks lay Raurin. Now a desert, the once fertile land had been ruled by Imaskar. Raurin was certain to be rich in ruins, but the desert sands were lethal. Her decision had been to first locate every portal she could outside Raurin. Despite her resolve, the barrier peaks still captured her imagination, and in her day-dreamy contemplation of what lay beyond, she failed to stay safely in the shade. The sun was something those of Deep Imaskar had forgotten. A sunburn was an affliction she had packed no balm or magical ointment to soothe.
Ususi finished the tea. She stood, rinsed her utensils with water from a hanging jug, and put everything back in its place. Morning's light was close enough. She might as well get a start on the day since sleep had left her behind.
Dawn chased away the night's obscuring haze. Morning's first light found Ususi standing outside her coach, putting together her expeditioner's pack. Ususi's great-jacket was cinched by a service belt to which were strapped all manner of needed things, including six leather scroll cases, three on each hip, written with utilitarian magic. The keystone dangled on its chain around her neck, and a slender leather satchel hung at her side, holding her purse filled with personal oddments, including the Celestial Nadir crystal from Two Stars. About her head revolved a free-floating delver's orb of her own design-a tiny piece of white granite wrapped in silvery wire.
The expeditioner's pack lay at Ususi's feet. It paid to be prepared when entering an unknown ruin for the first time.
* * * * *
Extra food, slender tools for jiggling old locks or deactivating traps, rope, water, lantern oil… The pack, with all its pockets and storage straps, was like her travel coach in miniature. She hefted it, estimating its weight. It would be a burden