Finder's Bane - Kate Novak [70]
"We're in another plane?" Holly asked, awestruck.
"The borderland of the ethereal plane," Jedidiah explained. "One of the saurials, a wizard named Grypht, created the gates and the path. Do your wings transform every time you travel to a different plane?" the old priest asked Jas curiously.
"Yeah. Now can we get on with it?" Jas insisted.
The way was smooth, but the lack of scenery made the walk tiresome. After a while, Joel and Jedidiah began singing to break the monotony. Holly joined in occasionally. Jas remained silent, occupied with her own thoughts.
Joel asked Jedidiah if Alias knew the song to open the ethereal path.
"Oh, yes," the old priest said. "She has quite a remarkable voice."
"Is she a priestess of Finder?" Joel asked.
Jedidiah laughed and shook his head. "She's more like Jas. Avoids the gods if she can help it."
They lost all track of time during their trek in the murky grayness. They walked until they were exhausted, then rested. When they awoke, they ate another meal created by Jedidiah, then walked some more. Some time after their third rest, the path ended at another gate-a glittering yellow monolith of amber, engraved with Finder's symbol beneath the carving of an archway.
Joel repeated the marching song. This time he was the first to step through the gate.
He stood on another mountainside, just above the timberline, his back to another cliff engraved with Finder's symbol. The world below was already in twilight, the wooded slopes shadowed by the mountains to the west. Just down the path was a small open-sided shelter built of wood, shingled with slate to match the hillside.
When Jas popped out of the mountainside, her wings were once again pink feathers. Holly and Jedidiah came out a moment later.
"It's not far from here now," Jedidiah said, "but the trail is narrow and steep. We should wait until light to continue."
They walked down to the shelter. It was engraved with symbols of Finder, Tyr, Tymora, Chauntea, and others that Joel did not recognize. An assortment of wind chimes hung under the shelter's eaves-deep-toned tubes of copper, tinkling tinny silver bells, clacking reeds. Herbs and dried flowers hung from the ceiling. Benches surrounded a small round table. The high mountain air was chill, but the shelter was comfortably warmed by some enchantment. The party sat and ate one final meal of Jedidiah's magically created bread.
"Nothing personal, but I'll be glad to eat real food again," Jas said.
"So will I," Jedidiah agreed.
Assured by Jedidiah that there was no need to keep a watch as long as they slept in the safety of the shelter, they were all soon asleep on the wooden floor. The wind chimes in the eaves played a lullaby for the weary adventurers.
Joel woke before sunrise, when the birds were just beginning to stir. He lay awake, unable to fall back to sleep. Soon he would be in the Lost Vale, in the Singing Cave, the only temple to Finder. He would meet the temple's priestess, Copperbloom. Jedidiah had told Joel that if he made the pilgrimage to the Lost Vale he would understand more about Finder and his church. He wanted to believe Jedidiah with all his heart, yet Walinda's threat had poisoned that belief. What if he got there and still didn't understand his purpose, still felt useless? The uncertainty was unbearable.
The Rebel Bard sat up. Holly and Jas lay sleeping in a corner, but Jedidiah stood outside the shelter, motionless. Joel rose and joined him. Jedidiah smiled and whispered good morning.
"Trouble sleeping?" Joel asked.
"Just troubled period," Jedidiah replied. "Are you anxious to get there?" he asked.
Joel nodded with a sheepish grin. "It's kind of like the morning before Highharvestide. I'm too excited to sleep.”
Jedidiah nodded with an understanding smile. "lie sky's lightening," he noted. "Why don't you start down the path? I'll wait here until the ladies wake, then well follow you."
Joel looked down the trail eagerly, but then he turned back to Jedidiah and asked uncertainly, "Do you want