BW XXIII - Hintzu
Hintzu recognised the beautiful woman who knelt in prayer on a white marble floor, for she has been in his thoughts for a long time- Gwendolyn. Why, at their first encounter, did she not trust him? He was clearly nothing like Malor and the Rings would not corrupt him. He watched as she stretched out her long slender arms and turn up her strong, feminine face in an unspoken plea. Her eyes were shut and her full lips tightly drawn, deep in thought. She slowly stood and turned to face a plinth which stood dark and proud in the centre of the room. Whilst it held nothing, Hintzu knew it to be the solid stone support for a palantir. He could make out the silver tracing of the now all too familiar pentogram and realised that as she turned the braziers burst alight.
“Oh my Lady, why hast thou brought me to this point of despair? Whichever way I turn the enemy finds me and takes my most trusted companions to their darkest halls. They surround me now and I have little power to stem the tide. Should this place fall, then all will be lost. The last of the Castellans has fallen and still no sign of the Mage.” She cast her head down and whispers, “No, I am not the one…That recognition came to me some time ago. And what of those secret amongst folk, those that give life and ensure balance? Surely my end will change all and who will succeed?”
Pacing slowly to the plinth, she passes her hand across its peak and a palantir appears. “Perhaps more direct counsel will help? Then again, at what peril…” She turns away briefly and Hintzu sees, for the first time, a small blue light, hovering just inches from her eyes, “I know Lilia, I must leave soon,” the Lady whispers comfortingly, “but I must not risk all that I have.” Gwendolyn stares at the light, no more than an inch across, and nods gently as if she is deep in conversation though Hintzu could hear nothing.
“My! What a clever plan, Lilia. Right under their noses and with sufficient help they will never even notice. I do hope you’re right; are they clever enough?” she questions thin air as the light is extinguished. Turning back to the Palantir Gwendolyn places a hand on the sphere and it immediately sparks sending shimmering blue, silver and white light into the room. The braziers flare and, as Gwendolyn closes her eyes again in concentration, Hintzu sees her produce a thick parchment from her sleeve and hold it away from of her. The few pages turn briefly before another light fills the room from behind the orb.
“No, I know it is not safe for me Lilia,” Gwendolyn smiles gently, “but it will hold, I’m sure of that. Can you help conceal my treasures?” The light appears again, this time in front of the new light that has taken the form of a small yellow door. As Hintzu watches, the door opens and the little blue light dashes through. Gwendolyn pulls the ring from her fingers and a small (3” long) black cylindrical object from her sleeve and passes them through the door.