The Endless Night

Chapter Seven

The late evening sun shone through the large windows of the museum, its visitors making their way from one exhibit to another. As an elderly couple made their way to a new exhibition that stood grandly in the middle of the gallery a young man with a mop of mousy brown hair smiled and moved over for them. They stood for a few moments gazing at the artifact in the glass case, reading the information before them with interest before moving on to the next exhibit. They did not realize the true implications of what had been discovered, few did that came and saw it. Only few realized the seriousness of the matter Will thought as he too gazed for the first time at the artifact before him. Sighing Will thought of just a few days ago when he had received a letter from someone he hadn't heard from in a long time.

He was preparing for his first year of University in the fall and had an entire summer to waste away. His eldest brother Stephen was to be home in a few months time for a short leave from Her Majesty's Navy. He had of course planned on some long over due fishing with his brothers and lazing about as much as possible. His brother Max pointed out they were now all old enough to go to the pubs together as long as their Mum never got wind of it. It had been one evening when they were all reclined in the living room watching a favorite show of their dad's. The summer it seemed had already begun to get unbearably hot, all of the windows were open in the hopes of pulling in whatever breeze may come by and the boxed fan had been set at the highest since this morning. Gwen his oldest sister had just arrived come from her part-time job at the local store.

"Lord, it hasn't cooled off a bit now has it, oh mum I picked up the mail theres a letter in there for you Will. I'm going up to change." absentmindley his mother took the mail and began sorting through it as she warmed up a plate for her daughter.

"Will, it looks like your uncle Bill from America has sent you a letter, my we haven't heard from him since last holiday. Here you go love." his mother walked over handing the letter to her youngest child. Will hurriedly tore the envelope open and began reading the letter.

Dear Will,
I hope all is well with the family. Its been awhile since I've spoke with you last, it was that summer trip to Cornwall a few years ago I believe. You made friends with some kids there, can't for the life of me remember their names though. Comes with old age I guess! Now I bet your wondering why I've written after all this time aren't you? Well I was hoping to convince your parents to let you come visit this summer. I know you'll be starting the university over there come fall, very proud of you by the way. A friend of mine is an archaeologist and he has uncovered quite a find if I'm not mistaken, don't know much about archaeology myself and since I know your very interested in it I thought you might want to come see it. I've told him all about you and he's even agreed to let you help him on the dig if your interested! He has a niece about your age, maybe a few years younger. She's a very nice girl, a little shy but they do travel a lot. I am surprised though that I haven't heard from Professor Lyon in a while, you remember him right? Older gentleman, very famous and well know archaeologist, we heard he had retired to some far off exotic place but who knows. Well I hope you'll be able to convince your parents ,enclosed you'll find a plane ticket for you, just let me know when I can expect you! Give my love to the family.
Sincerely
Uncle Bill

After reading the letter Will layed it down deep in thought, there was something going on. His senses as an Old One told him this. But the question was what? He hadn't heard from Merriman since their last parting. He was the Watchman know, for the rest of the Old Ones had left this earth to rest after so long. He knew that whatever it was though he had to follow whatever path had been layed out before him. Now all he had to do was convince his parents.

It had been easier than he had expected to though, his parents didn't want him to miss the opportunity to visit his uncle Bill and be able to help on an actual dig which would aslo help with his coursework at school. So after a few phone calls to his uncle and hurriedly packing all the essentials he may need he had left that following week, of course none of this had gone over well with his sister Mary who loudly and repeatedly complained about the injustice of it. His aunt and uncle largely left him to wander and explore on his own, since he was of age they weren't to worried about him getting into trouble. He had spent the first few days of his stay visiting all the landmarks his aunt and uncle took him to, but today they had both been called away for other matters. His uncle had to deal with some sort of shipping problem at work and his aunt needed to go help an elderly cousin of hers, so Will had taken the bus to the museum and was taking his time exploring it.

It hadn't taken him long to read the inscriptions on the pipe, what he didn't understand was the part about the 'Shadows'. He frowned as he continued to contemplate what all of this meant.

"So the Sign-Seeker has come. Welcome I am glad that you have came. There is much to do." Will turned to find himself face to face with a very tall Native American, his dark hair was braided and layed across his shoulders. His senses told him that he was not an Old One, but someone else that he couldn't quite place. He was somehow familiar though.

"I am the Watchman now, but yes I was once the Sign-Seeker. I'm Will by the way, Will Stanton. I don't know you, but yet you feel familiar." he spoke as he held his hands out to shake the offered hand before him.

"Ahh, yes well that is a long story in itself also. And it has much to do with that pipe there before you. I am Sani by the way and I will try to explain everything that I can for I am afraid that we may be running out of time. Gesturing for Will to follow him, they made their way outdoors and walked till they came to a small hillside with shade trees dotting it. Sitting down with his back against the tree Will settled across from him and waited for him to begin.

"What I am about to tell you very few people know about, it was carefully hidden in case the need ever arisen that the story would need to be told. My people are all gone, I am the last of my tribe. I have been guarding our secret since I learned of it as a young boy. Long ago a great evil was unleashed unto this world, a terrible deed was committed by those of dark hearts and minds. Now there are those who may think that they know the events that transpired for this evil to be unleashed but what they don't know is that all of it was manipulated by others, ones they never knew of. We have long known of the existence of beings greater than ourselves, those of good and light such as yourself Old One and those of dark and blackness. But there are others also who were born of this evi, they are the ones who control the shadows. My people have long known that all things in this world have a spirit, the water, the rocks, the land, the eagle, the bear, all things have a spirit but we have known also to never to try to tamper with a beings spirit. But it seems that others, strangers in another land did not realize the foolishness of this, they sought to control these spirits that were taken from their shells, and in doing so they caused a great unbalance.

The Great Spirits were angry that they dared to tamper with things they could not understand, there were great storms and the earth herself rumbled in anger. Our shaman knew that the balance had to be set right otherwise none would survive, so he begged the spirits for answers in a vision quest, and he saw that a darkness was what had caused all of this. He saw where they had whispered an idea into a mans ear, one that promised great power and since the mans true heart was already black he greedily accepted their help. So he did their bidding and many innocent lives were lost to create magical items of great but terrible power. He then deceived those he served into using these items. And so the darkness only grew stronger and stronger, they did not know what they were bringing into this world. So the shaman knew that this evil had to be stopped. You see my people had always lived in balance with the earth, with all of the animals and birds of the sky and fish of the sea. We were great craftsman, the women made the most beautiful bead work and jewelry. For in the hillside of our valleys there were the most beautiful of stones that held great power that protected all who wore them. Our people were always careful to never take more than what was offered by the land.

The Great Spirits told our shaman that the world would be lost, he asked them what must be done and he was told that for the protection of his people this evil must be locked away. The only one way for these shadows to be sealed away, the ones who unleashed them had to be the ones to seal them, but the shadows were angry and demanded a great sacrifice. There was one, whose heart was good and he held great power, so the shaman asked the spirits to give him one chance to aide this great king. They agreed however he was not allowed to tell him, he could only send him images and it was up to him to decide what to do. But the storm spirits became angrier, great lighting hit the earth, torrential rain that never stopped. Many of my people were lost during this. The shaman beseech-ed all to gather round and bring the sacred stones to the shelter, so they prayed to the spirits that this king would understand, and for these stones to aide him in sealing these shadows. For if he did not the angered spirits would not stop. And in the end he did indeed hear what they were trying to tell him, he performed the ultimate sacrifice, he gave himself over to the shadows.

But it cost us all in the end, many of us were lost, only a dozen or so survived. The spirits calmed and all became quiet once more, but our shaman was given another vision. These spirits that were sealed away, once they were reunited with their other halves they must remain so, for only they could control the shadows. If the great darkness gained control then all would be lost and the earth would once again face the anger of the spirits. My people left that land for they had lost so many there, but worst was that the valleys were the stones were found was swallowed whole by the earth. Only a few remain to this day, for it would not be good if they were to fall into dark hands. Over time my people scattered unto the wind our customs and ways were all lost. Only a few held unto them. But before the shaman had left that land he had made that pipe that sits now in the museum, he himself carved the words and hieroglyphs the spirits guided his hands for him to complete it. It is no coincidence that it has been found now, it means that the darkness is back once more upon our land."

Will sat silent a moment listening as the wind blew softly through the trees, during this he had seen before him all of it as it had happened. The great storms and the earthquakes that had rocked the earth, the many deaths that resulted. And he had seen the king who had sacrificed his life to end it all, it had only been a few snippets but from what he had seen the land the king was from was Egypt. So he knew that it was a Pharaoh who had sealed these shadows away. And he had also seen who it was that had started it all, the Dark. Of course the Old One in him said. But how they had returned was still unknown, he had been there when Bran the Pendragon had cut the first spray of silver from the tree. So how was it that they had escaped there banishment from outside of Time. And just as important where was Merriman?

"Have these shadows been released again then" Will finally asked while plucking a dandelion from its stem.

"No, but the ones who control them have been deceived. They have departed from their other halves, events have been set into motion that hopefully will be set right." Sani answered tiredly. Will glanced up at him worriedly. As if hearing his thoughts he turned his gaze to him and smiled warmly.

"Ahh Old One do not worry about me. I am weary it is true but I had to insure that the story would be handed down to you and that one very dear to me would be safe. I have given the last great gift of my people to one I care very much for, she has been my daughter when I was never blessed with one. You will insure that she remains safe? his dark eyes bored into Will's, he again sensed something very ancient about this man.

"Of course I will, you needn't even ask" Will answered rising to his feet. Sani nodded his head in acknowledgement gazing out at the blue sky before him.

"You will know who I speak of when you meet. There are other questions that you have that I am afraid that I do not have the answers to. But I think you will find those answers shortly." Holding out his hand he shook Will's hand warmly. Will smiled in return.

"Now I have other matters that I must see too. Go well Old One" and with that the tall man turned and left. Will watching him walk away into the distance. Sighing he made his way back to the museum entrance, he only hoped that the rest of the answers would come soon.