Shara's felt her way through the dark following the sound of footsteps on the floor several feet ahead of her. After about a minute of walking forward, the man took out a glow rod and shook it until it lit the room.
The stone walls and floor were a pale blue color. A design of interlocked squares was carved into the stone with silver at the center of the room. The man continued on through the room. As his feet step upon the design, the room began to glow. Golden beams of light surrounded him, flickering about his solidly built body.
Shara stopped and watched curiously. The man kept walking, appearing not to notice any change. Shara ran to catch up with him.
"What is this place?" she said in a whisper.
As they stepped off of the design and the room went dark again with only the glow rod lighting their way.
The darkly clothed man stopped and turned, looking around. "This is the room of truth. Very few people know it still exists." His eyes dropped, examining the floor.
"After so many years of civil war many of our structures have been crippled and much of our history has been buried. Years ago it was used to determine the ruler of Gala. It was said that this room revealed a special mark of the crown of Gala on the heir to the throne."
"How did you find it?" asked Shara.
"When I was a young boy I heard stories of such a room. I grew up believing it to be a myth. Until, I stumbled upon it shortly after we made camp in these ruins. Now it is one of the last intact artifacts that we have." He paused, letting out a breath. Shara watched the vapor hang in the chilly air and slowly drift into the shadows.
"I've never told anyone of it before. I don't want him to find it. I won't let him find it."
"Him?" Shara raised her eyebrows questioningly.
The man lifted his eyes and met her gaze. "Shadaun. The leader of the Enucach. He would destroy it with no second thought."
"Why?"
"It reminds him of the past…and of what could happen…" The man's eyes grew distant, as if he were suddenly looking into another time. She caught a slight glimmer in them and then it vanished.
Shara lifted her eyebrows questioningly. She opened her mouth to ask another question. The man's dark eyes focus once more on her's. His suddenly stern look sent chills down her spine.
"You are to tell no one of this. Not your Jedi friends, not your master…not even Tyla."
Shara nodded quickly to show she understood. He searched her eyes as if deciding whether to believe her or not. Then, as if satisfied, he turned a continued on…
(More is on the way!)