The Stone Keepers were so intent on the opening that Janner was sure he and his siblings could have slipped away unnoticed. But he was as curious as Gnag, aching to see what the ancient chamber held.
The old books said the Maker walked with Dwayne and Gladys there. Did that mean that the Maker himself was there even now? Could they see him? And if he was there, what would he do with someone like Gnag the Nameless poking around in this sacred place?
Janner edged forward, and Leeli and Kalmar followed without a word. The entrance was like a well of light, but the light came from the stones themselves.
Gnag eased himself down, gripping the stones along one side of the shaft while his skinny legs dangled. He reached the bottom and looked up with a hideous, ecstatic smile.
“There are stones everywhere!” he shouted. He wriggled along the passageway out of sight, then returned, clutching a stone the size of a loaf of bread in both hands. “Murgah, Amrah, look!”
“Bring it up!” Murgah said.
“It’s too heavy.”
The Stone Keeper pointed at Janner. “You. Go down and bring up the stone.”
Janner looked at Kalmar and Leeli, who both nodded. He sat on the edge and marveled at the way the light tingled on his skin, even through his clothes. He climbed down, silenced by the beauty of the stones and the warmth and energy surging in his fingers where he touched them. Janner reached the bottom and looked up at the glowing faces of his siblings and the twinkle of the Stone Keeper’s eyes deep in her cowl.
The passageway was littered with the stones, little ones and big ones piled against the walls—a million treasures heaped along the path. The passage led off into the distance, ever widening toward what appeared to be a large cavern. Janner heard the sound of running water and glimpsed the green of growing things mingled with the golden stones.
He wanted to explore, to see what lay beyond the entrance, but Gnag, ignoring the cavern in the distance, scooted on his useless legs from wall to wall, running his pale fingers across the stones and cackling with glee.
“Here!” Gnag said, shoving the brick at Janner. “Take this, and bring me up with you.”
“Don’t you want to see what’s up ahead?” Janner asked without taking his eyes from the cavern. “This…this is where the Maker walked with the First Fellows.”
Gnag caressed the stone. “Such power.”
“But—that could mean that…he’s in there.” It was a frightening thought, but the kind of frightening that made Janner want to see if it was true. He took a step farther down the corridor, his flesh prickling with wonder. “I mean—what if it’s true?”
“Do what I tell you, boy, or I’ll have Murgah break your sister’s other leg. It’ll be done before you know it.”
With an effort, Janner pulled his eyes from the gold and green ahead. He looked back up at the entrance to where his siblings waited. If the Maker was truly in the Fane of Fire, and if he was who Janner believed him to be, then it was up to the Maker to stop Gnag. Janner didn’t know what else to do.
He took the stone—it was much heavier than he anticipated—and cradled it awkwardly as he climbed out. When he reached the top, the old Stone Keeper took it. Her face was still shrouded in shadow, but he saw by the glint of her black teeth that she was smiling.
“Fetch the Nameless One,” she said.
Janner paused. What was keeping them from shutting the door? If they repeated the ritual, then surely the door would shut, and Gnag would be trapped forever. Then the Maker could deal with him.
“Play,” Janner whispered to Leeli as he heaved himself out of the opening.
She and Kalmar understood at once. She began the melody as Kalmar traced the symbol in the air. Janner remembered enough of the strange words to speak the first of them, and then some ancient memory took over.
The Stone Keepers shrieked as the chamber sang with old power. Amrah lunged for Leeli’s whistleharp, but it was too late. The circle of stone that had sunk away was lifting again.
Then Janner saw with a pang of defeat that Gnag hunched atop it, rising out of the Fane with a look of satisfaction.
Amrah jerked the whistleharp out of Leeli’s hands as the door settled into place with a thud. “You little wretch,” she said. All the sweetness in her voice had been replaced by seething hatred.
The light flashed, the music faded, and the children found themselves staring defiantly at Gnag and the two women in the gentle glow of the stolen stone.
“I thought you might try that,” Gnag said with a smile.
“You have what you want. Now leave us alone,” Kalmar said.
“I have one more chore for you. After that, I’m finished with the Jewels of Anniera.”
“You’ll let us go?”
“I didn’t say that. I think I’d rather end you all. Or, of course, I could Fang you. All the way, that is,” he said with a look of contempt at Kalmar.
“We’d rather die,” Janner said.
“Good.” Gnag squirmed across the floor and Amrah picked him up. “Call the Fangs. We need to get to the sea.”