Amethyst

Chapter 13: To Be Born Under Amethyst

Chapter 13: The Amethyst Scrolls

     As the Amethyst Old Sage slapped her hands down onto the desk, I jumped back at the slam. “Have you ever heard of ‘The Amethyst Scrolls,” if they could, would those eyes pierce right through me like a knife to stake and spill the answer out of me? Yes. 

   All of her sweetness was gone in that instance. This was more between apprehension, intention, and the tension in her arms. 

    Instead of a complete answer, I simply shook my head, “I’ve heard of the Gemstone Tablets.” Crossing my right index finger over my chest, holding her stair with an irrational fear of how she might react if I looked away, I pointed over to the conjoining giant shelve glinting in my peripheral vision. Which held what looked to be the granite tablets. The sides which faced us were lined by single strips of minerals, crystals, and gems of all kinds: Opal shades, sapphire shades, ruby shades, emerald shades, turquoise, morganite, and may, many more. Each tablet depicted the sort of life, person, and experience on their Passage a person would have, based on which gemstone the Goddess gifted them, like their namesakes at birth. Everything was already foretold. No one had their own individual tablet. After seeking shelter with the Goddess’ good earth, it was eventually realized that many of those born with the same stone had similar abilities, personalities (depending on their Mergings,’ it could vary), even down to their destiny and who they would be fated with. Quartz and Selenite were always destined to be a disastrous romantic paring, with high emotions that never usually got worked out and always ends in heartbreak.

    Many had said something similar about myself and Turquoise, even Rose herself. We are the other’s extreme in; how we operate, what we seek and value in a relationship. She had always suggested I try to find a sunstone partner. Apparently, I would always get comfort from them when I needed it and ensure I never felt alone. I had rolled my eyes at her while she was saying this. Instinctively, I reached my hand up to my, Turq’s hand-carved, betrothal necklace. Early on, we decided to prove the Gemstone Tablets wrong, and that turquoise and amethyst could work together in harmony…  

    “No, Child! Not those!” The Amethyst Sage’s tone cut through my thoughts and the room like sandstorm winds. “The legendary Amethyst Scrolls?”

    Awkwardly I ran a hand through my hair; it had grown a little longer than usual while I had been passed out. Usually, I made a point of trimming the ends weekly or every other week. “I’ve never heard of them. 

    She sighed in frustration, “What you see before you are NOT the amethyst scrolls. But these three scrolls are telling of them.” The scroll she had pulled had been old and ornate silver. Finely kept and polished to perfection. It was encrusted at both ends with amethysts that had never been replaced but held their depth seeped rich color. Those scrolls had likely never been out of this library. It was even likely that they were written here. 

    “…so,” I pressed lightly in a bid to not set her off; still, I continued with a feeling of overwhelming uncertainty about the rapid change in The Amethyst Sage’s demeanor, “What are these amethyst scrolls… and, if they are so legendary, why have I never heard of them until now?”

    The Amethyst Sage moved from the table, her hunch and age slowed her as she took one step, then another, and another… she had begun to pace circles around me. Never shifting her eyes from me. “Hrm…” she mused, placing one of her extended fingers, on her finely pressed lips and another on her chin. but there was a demanding unease which emanated from her, “The Goddess’ did not mention them to you then?” 

    “The Goddesses?” Retorting as I pivoted to keep her in my line of sight. 

    Giving a look of disgusted disapproval, The Amethyst Sage snorted, “The Earthen Goddess and her lesser sisters; of Skies and Seas will have come to you. As I, you were born under the amethyst? They come to us all, but by becoming a sister, I have witnessed similar each time an Amethyst comes for their Merging.” 

    Trying to muster something to say, I blubbered, “No, I-”

    “The Earthen Goddess’ sisters are not so pleasant, are they?” The Amethyst Sage mocked, “It was them that told me about The Amethyst Scrolls and their legend. Like yourself, I was out for almost a week after my Merging.” Her pacing matched the tone of her voice, “Setting out to find them on my Passage nearly killed me… I had to protect our history and the honor of the Obsidian King. Alas, I found nothing, and it very nearly killed me.” Stopping dead with a dark glare in her eyes, “The Goddess’ did not honestly tell you then? About the scrolls which cry blasphemy of our Obsidian King? Of the four Amethyst Scrolls, the first three giving their user the ability to commune with that respected Goddess at will. It is even foretold that each Goddess will bestow a gift to users who connect with them through these scrolls. Their magic is rumored to be older than any of our cities. But…to wield one’s you must be of amethyst and an amethyst born under the sun – you were born, as I was, during daylight hours… correct?”

    Placing both my hands up, I broke The Amethyst Sage’s gaze, “You’re saying that I spoke with not one, but all three goddesses? That what I experienced wasn’t a dream?!”

    Almost as if scolding a young child, The Amethyst Sage continued her sour tone, “Of course it was not! You stupid girl!”

    “WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS SISTER, AMETHYST?!” The Elder High Sage, born under the opal, namesakes of the city and cathedral, barged in. Chalcedony, the young Sage in training, was right behind her, alongside the Aquamarine Sage. None of them looked particularly impressed with their Amethyst Sage sister. 

    “I’m sorry, Elder High Sage!” I bowed to show respect, though I noticed the Amethyst Sage did not. “I don’t know anything about any Amethyst Scrolls… the Earthen Goddess told me to find the savannah? I have no idea what that means; I supposed I thought it meant that I take my chosen stead into the savannah of Medura and then ride from there. I wear on my Goddess’ namesake.”

     Both the Elder High Sage and the Aquamarine Sage exchanged a surprised but knowing glance before nodding. Clearly, they both agreed on something. 

     First, the Aquamarine sage stepped forward, pointing one of those extended fingers out to the Amethyst Sage and then onto myself, “Most of all, Sister Amethyst, you are aware of the rules. No Sisters of the Goddess are permitted into this library.” Her light blue eyes softened as they met my own, “She. Is not a Sister of the Goddess nor a Sage. Therefore she would not have been expected to either know or have been aware at all.”

    “Sister Amethyst,” The Elder High Sage stepped forward, her expression twisted with a strange mix of authority, condemnation, and disappointment which seeped into her voice, “By the authority of the Earthen Goddess herself. I, Opal the Elder High Sage and namesakes to both this cathedral and city, order you to take leave to the Sapphire Cathedral at once. You shall wait for me or Sister Aquamarine there. Is that understood?” 

    A scowl that looked like it could slice cleanly and heartlessly though all of us was blatant on the Amethyst Sage's face. Without a second look back at us, the Old Sage took off to leave the room.