Bright as snow
Hard as stone
Glowing, Glistening
light is shown.
A murmur whispered
to the earth.
Quiet songs will bring it forth
the song of silver heard on earth.
Hard as stone
Glowing, Glistening
light is shown.
A murmur whispered
to the earth.
Quiet songs will bring it forth
the song of silver heard on earth.
The air was filled with light. Beams that burned through stone and flesh without distinction. Music followed the light in a dancing pattern through the stone ,until the moment it touched the precious metal within. Silver melted and flowed to the surface creating a thin spidery web which covered the stone face. The music faded. The light dimmed. Only the soft glow of the miners glow sand held back the caves darkness .
An old man stepped forward, he wore a faded red helmet, a pair of dirty trousers, and black knee high boots. "Not much left at this site “the old man sighed taking off his helmet to wipe his sweating head. A young man of medium height stepped forward and addressed the older man "Gilland, we should send out a search party, this is the third cave that's been sung out this week and we know there aren't any large deposits around the area. “Gilland frowned and turned his back to the younger man "We may find a larger load in the caves to the west, but we can’t send anyone yet Scanald, it isn't time".
Scanald shrugged and turned fading into the tunnel's darkness to make his way back to the surface. The path was remembered not seen in the darkness that engulfed the tunnel. Finally fresh air wafted in through the caves mouth, he turned the last corner to see days light covering the land outside.
Outside the sun shone brightly in the height of its daily ark. Today the village would be bustling with activity the traders would be arriving soon, and decorations would cover every house, and street corner. Scanald quickened his pace. The hike from the village to the singing caves got larger every year ,it was manageable now being only a four mile jog but in two or three years the distance could get tripled. Scanald shook his head to clear such damnable thoughts away and spotted the thin line of smoke which marked the village at this time of day.
Twenty more minutes and he was at the village wall passing through the old gate and into guarded meadow of fruit trees and grazing sheep. A little girl her hair and dress soaked and muddy waved from her perch on a rock in the center of the stream that ran through the field. She was the six year old daughter of Talkater one of the village elders a man of few words and serious maner.Cupping his hand to his mouth he shouted across to the child "has there been any sightings from the pass watchers." The girl smiled and shook her head vigorously no Scanald shrugged and headed into the maze of buildings that was his home.
The Traders caravan arrived an hour past noon bringing in seven wagon loads of supplies. There where coats and boots, ribbons and colorfully dyed coton, fruits and candies, and all manner of things the villagers had lived without for the past three years.
As night fell the village emptied into the square and a bonfire was lite. Music filled the square and an area was cleared for dancing. Scanald sat watching the dancers glide about the square. One set had particularly caught his eye. Talkaters daughter danced at the far end of the square. Dressed in a clean white gown with ribbons trailing she danced with a young traders boy who watched her spin and whirl with an obvious admiration. The music stopped and the partners followed the crowd to the feast hall, disappearing from sight. Scanald looked about for his own child a small boy of 7 1/2 with questioning eyes and a somewhat stiff manner. The boy stood in the shadows to the side of the square, a frown creased his brow looking strange and out of place amongst the happy faces of the crowed. Scanald called him it was time was time to join the feast.
