41

Star Struck

"What does this fear-of-gas have to do with us?" asked Lottica, disconcerted by her father's sudden seriousness.

"Feirengahst, Lottica. Burning Darkness. The legends warn of the end of the Breima line, and a desolate age of smoldering night in which the creatures of darkness rule." Deilune managed a wry grin. "Rather bleak. You know, typical apocalyptic stuff."

"But what does Grandmother Breima mean when she says that you have to stop it? It's just a story, right?"

"Well, as much as everything has been ‘just a story’ up to this point. I think my mother,” Deilune gave his mom a sideways glance, “means that I need to confront Beilla and stop his power grab. But, we can’t rule out that something more dramatic might be required because of what’s happened with us and the Kareima."

"Such as?” Linda asked.

"Well, in Lebreiman lore, the Tireima, the lifestones, represent the vital touchpoints of humanity. The Kareima represents life and love; the Fareima, our creative force, our motivating passions; the Astreima, our sense of truth and purpose, our guiding light for good."

Confused, Lottica asked. "Then how could finding the Astreima be bad?"

"Whoever comes to possess the Astreima, along with the other stones, would hold great power in Lebreima." Deilune sighed. "Even the purest light, in the hands of a corrupt ruler, can lead people badly astray."

"Like Beilla," Nick spit out.

"Yes, Beilla is one of those who believe his way is the only way. If he were able to gather the Tireima, it would not be good for our family or Lebreima.” Deilune paused. “Or, if the legends are to be believed, the entire world. Strange things are indeed afoot."

"Like Hawk? How does it fit into this story?” Nick asked. “What’s with its glowing eyes?"

"Up to now, Hawk has just been a symbol from our folklore, but who knows.” Deilune turned to his father and mother. “Anything more you can tell us?"

In response, Grandfather Breima rose to his feet and walked to the open French doors that separated the room from the hallway. He motioned them to follow. He guided them down the hall and kitchen through a large mudroom and out onto the expansive grounds at the back of the manor. He stopped at the edge of stone patio, staring out into the gathering dusk. The enormous backyard sloped gently away from the house to the east and was already deep in shadow.

The autumn chill sent goose bumps up Lottica’s bare arms, as did the deepening indigo of the broad sky before her. Facing east, she began to perceive pinpricks of light poking through the descending veil of night. Though still in the northern hemisphere, Lottica had never seen the night sky drop in quite this way. Mesmerized by the brilliance of the stars appearing in the clear, country sky, she sidled up to her grandfather and put her arm around him as if they had been doing this all her young life.

"This is incredible, Grandfather Breima," she told him.

He put a hand on her shoulder. "Yes. In-cre-di-ble." He repeated the word slowly, seeming to relish every syllable. "But wait…for more incredible."

"What are we waiting for?" Nick asked, stepping alongside his grandfather.

Grandfather Breima put his other hand on Nick's shoulder. "Look at two big trees." He lifted a hand from Nick's shoulder and pointed towards two towering evergreens a hundred yards to the northeast.

They watched together as more and more dazzling stars appeared. Soon a group of brighter stars just above the treetops dominated that section of the sky. Nick was just about to ask his grandfather again what they were looking for when Lottica shrieked. With delight.

"I see it! I see it, Grandfather!"

Nick looked from his sister to his grandfather and back to the stars just above the treeline. He was hoping he wouldn't have to ask what they’d recognized. And he didn't.

The shape emerging on the horizon became quite clear: there, as if perched atop of the two evergreens was the starry figure of a bird. A hawk. The Hawk? Vividly, the group of stars formed Hawk’s majestic profile, with two bright starry eyes twinkling, just like the statue in the alcove upstairs.

Lost in the surprise at this Hawk constellation, Lottica and Nick almost didn’t register the yelp of surprise from their mother. But her anguished cry of “Dale? What’s wrong?” brought them back into the moment. They turned to their mom kneeling by an eerily pulsing light.

In the time it took to think the word Kareima, they rushed to their mother.

She knelt by their father who’d fallen flat on the patio, clutching at his chest. From which icy blue emanations flashed into the gathering darkness, while the starry eyes of the Hawk constellation gleamed coolly down upon the Breima family.