Qoh, eyes closed, stomped and slapped the cavern floor as he moved through the intricate dance of the Earth Heart taolu. Every so often, a bass growl or moan punctuated a maneuver. Rham sat silently nearby; his eyes constantly probed the deep shadows of the cavern.
The priest fell prostrate, and remained that way some time. When he finally rose, he took a moment to solemnly light a candle he'd set on the floor at the beginning of the ritual. The match and dancing flame, as small as it was, caused Rham's eyes to water. "Shall we have something to eat?" Qoh asked as shifted into a more comfortable position.
"What about the elemental?"
Qoh shrugged. "I've called. If an elemental wants to come, it will choose when. This isn't Avis Abeh -- we've no rapport with the spirits of this place." Rham nodded. He reached into his pack and doled out their meager rations of jerky, hardtack, and dried fruit. Qoh sighed, "How many days until Haa?"
"Three -- if my memory serves and if the caverns haven't shifted." The warrior halfheartedly nibbled on some of the rock hard bread.
"Hhrrrmm!" The bass sound reverberated through the cavern. Both men jumped and turned to stare at a perfectly formed stone face and head that now regarded them from the nearby wall. "You called brother, so we came," the elemental rumbled.
Qoh bowed low. "Thank you brother. We of Avis Abeh are continually indebted to our brothers of stone."
"Your deference is noted, but you did not call me here just to chat."
Qoh arched his eyebrows. "True brother. We'd like to know if you've been in the area for some time?"
The elemental sighed -- a strange sound coming from what appeared to be a head of stone sprouting from a wall. "Yes, but what you really want to know is if we witnessed what happened to your brethren in the small nest." The entity paused and Qoh nodded. "The answer is probably what you have surmised: aspects of the one who is not stone nor flesh entered the nest. Your people fought, but the aspects were too many and your brothers fell to dust."
"And did you, or any of your brothers of stone come to their aid?" Rham asked. Qoh turned and glared at the warrior.
"We did not. Your people do not have the relationship here that they do near your cavern of light."
Qoh shook his head. "I'm sad to hear that brother. I'm sure the people of Thsoling showed the proper respect."
"What does it matter any more?" The elemental, paused but neither of the men spoke. "You have the answers you sought. We will be leaving."
The face lost structure and the head started to recede back into the wall, but Qoh spoke. "Wait!" The face coalesced once more. "Will you travel to Avis Abeh, and tell one of my brothers what happened at Thsoling?"
The entity remained quiet for some time. "We will," it acquiesced. "But only if you promise to grant us a favor in return."
Qoh now stood silent for a few moments as he considered the deal. "Agreed."
"Done," the face of stone said and its eyes flashed azure. "We will travel to Avis Abeh." The elemental didn't wait any longer and the head dissolved back into the stone wall.
"A favor?" Rham asked.
Qoh shook his head. "If there had been any other option."
