EverShadow: You do not know how long it has been since I have waited for this moment! GARTH NIX FINALLY HAS A PLACE ON FANFICTION.NET!!
Tiger of Blackness: Yes…quite…anyway…what's this story about?
EverShadow: Well, we all know that the bells were once people and I'm going to tell you about them. On with the show!
The Nine Bright Shiners
It was once said that the Seven bound the Eighth and Ninth. Yet their story is not written down in plain words and their battle has not been remember. Kibeth, otherwise known as the Disreputable Dog, used to be one of them. This is what happened.
"Has it really been that long, Ranna?" The two friends embraced.
"Ah, Kibeth, it has been over three years since we had a gathering like this." The elder one lead Ranna into the house in the middle of the island.
"Look who it is everyone!" Kibeth shouted. People's head turned and immediately, friends surrounded Ranna. Belgaer, Mosrael, Dyrim, always the most beautiful singer of all. Saraneth looked pleased to see her and despite the dark look and solemn welcome, Astarael was pleased to see her as well. However, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Orannis looking out of the window. His eyes were dark and clouded.
"Times have not been easy on Orannis. He has suffered more than any of us could imagine. The Dead Hands almost took him once when he was wounded." Belgaer whispered softly. "He came to us, near death but he clung on." Ranna looked at the silent figure. He seemed deep in thought and she was willing to bet that the thoughts weren't good. He had a long scar running down the side of his head, clawed there by some being. He had once been very handsome but the scar now jumped out more than his regular features. The last time she had seen him, he was always in good spirits.
"So, how has your journey fared?" Dyrim asked. Ranna snapped out of her own thoughts and smiled.
"The people have been kind even though the dead have plagued them for years. I sent them on their way through the ninth gate." She replied.
"Who? The dead or the people?"
"Both. Some were too tired to go on." Ranna winced at the memory of it all. It had not been an easy task, with crying and sobbing family members all around her. But she sang on, easing their pain by putting them to sleep. Ranna looked around, sensing that there was something wrong. "Wait, where's Yrael?" Panic rose in her throat.
"Yrael? He's probably in the garden, stalking some unknown prey." Mosrael said pointing to the window. Outside, a young albino boy raced around the garden and then lunged. When he reappeared from the tomato plants, he held up a mouse.
"He isn't going to eat it is he?" Ranna gasped but to her relief, Yrael let it loose. She looked back at the others. "Well, shall we swap stories about our journeys?" They sat down on the floor but Saraneth walked over to Orannis and sat down beside him. Ranna wasn't sure if they were talking but they seemed to share the same expression of loneliness and despair.
"Don't mind them. Saraneth hasn't had an easy time with her journeys either. She's met far more Dead Hands than any of us have save Orannis. The only reason she's here is because she can bind them to her will with her songs." Kibeth replied, brushing back her long black hair.
"The Dead Hands are everywhere now. We underestimated the number of them. It was foolish of us to wander around thinking that we could stop them all at once." Belgaer sighed. Ranna stared at each of her friends. They looked so tired from their journeys. She was tired too but she had better rest than any of them had.
"Why don't you sing us one of your songs, Ranna? We could use the sleep." Kibeth said. Ranna nodded and began singing. Almost immediately, a sort of tranquility set over the area. Even Orannis, with his cold eyes and fierce glare seemed to slip into a calm state. Outside, Yrael dropped in mid-pounce and fell asleep. Everyone else seemed to stay partially awake. When Ranna finished they shook themselves free of the effects and clapped.
"That was a better half rest I've had than a five day rest." Dyrim said, stretching her arms. Belgaer walked over to the window and looked out.
"It seems like we should have warned Yrael. He's been caught off guard and now he's fast asleep." He laughed. Everyone except Saraneth and Orannis seemed to be uplifted. Even Astarael seemed more cheerful. At least she smiled once every so often.
"My cousin should learn how to settle down a bit. After all, he's always in tune with nature and nature is often wild." Kibeth sighed and rubbed her head. (A/N: I'm making them cousins. The book doesn't tell about their relationship right?)
"How has he fared? He seems to be in better spirits than all of us combined." Ranna asked.
"He has done better than all of us. I don't doubt that he has met Dead Hands along the way but something about him seems to be cleansed by nature itself." Suddenly, there was a shatter of glass and Orannis stood up, his hand bloodied by putting it through the window. He walked out of the room, followed by Saraneth.
EverShadow: What's up with the two of them?
Tiger of Blackness: It's your fanfic.
EverShadow: I know. You'll find out…MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Tiger of Blackness: *Bangs EverShadow over the head with a pot* HA! TAKE THAT!! Well, I finally got her. This is Tiger of Blackness signing off.