Mountain of Witches. Part 2

They entered an enormous marble hall, full of blank light. It was round; with a wide round wall in the middle of it. The ceiling was very high. The walls of the hall were of green carved marble, painted with tedious and elaborate pictures, portraying various creatures. The sight was amazing, and the greatness of the hall astonished them all.
  “What is this place? ” - Armand wondered.
  “It’s huge, ” - Ignes said. -“When I saw the previous hall, I thought I would never see anything like this again…”
  “You were wrong! ” - Orion laughed and grinned ironically. “Witches really didn’t swell too much by building it…”
  “Witches seem to like big stuff, ” - Ignes replied.
  “They sure do. Hey Gabi! What you think of looking at that book of yours for a while? Just to make sure we know where we are…”
  “Orion, I need no book to tell where we are! The place is circle, it says it all! ”
  “Really, it’s saying something? I don’t hear anything. ”
  “Don’t be a fool, ” - Armo said. “The hall is circle; the most majestic witches’ building of this shape is Onyx Circle. Haven’t you heard of it? ”
  “Nope. ” Orion smirked again.
  “Oh Orion! ” – Gabriel said surprised. – „But it’s the most famous witches’ ritual place! They are baptized, crowned, burned after death here, also their Tribe holds most important councils in the middle of it... ”
  “How do you know all that anyway? ”
  Gabriel smiled widely and glanced at the Book in her arms. “I just read a lot. ”
  Orion just shrugged.
  At the time Ignes was walking along the wall and examining the marvelous pictures. Armand caught up with him.
  “What are you looking at? ”
  “It’s strange, ” - Ignes said, - “these images are drawn with some paint that is probably unknown to the outside world. They are ancient, but look – not a slightest mark of cracking, fading or any other form of damage that occurs to ancient paintings. This is amazing, I think. ”
  “Yes, probably… But I’m rather interested why these walls are painted with animals. Witches don’t do anything without meaning, do they? ”
  “You’re right. But this you should ask Gabriel, not me. ”
  “Okay. And Ignes... ”
  “Yes? ”
  “Don’t wander off. My feeling says this place is not as innocent as it looks and I have no reason to distrust my feeling. We mustn’t part. ”
  Ignes scowled and opened his mouth to argue, but Armand didn’t wait. Armo knew Ignes doesn’t like being bossed around, but at the same time this was the only way to make sure everyone would safely get out of Valprest.  And that was exactly what he wanted.
  He approached Gabriel. Ignes stood silent for a moment, but then followed.
  Gabi was telling Orion about the history of Valprest.
  “… as they brought all the ground and granite from north, and marble with glass from Europe. I don’t know how exactly they connected all the lumps of stone into one big mountain, but that was something with magic. ”
  “Gabriel, ” - Armand said. - “Maybe you could find out why the walls of this Onyx Circle are painted with animals? ”
  “No problem, Armand, I know that, ” - she smiled. - “This place is not exactly the Onyx Circle. It is only a part of it. The Onyx Circle is combined of five round halls, each smaller than the previous one, put in the middle of each other. The wall you see in front is not just a wall – it parts the First Circle from the Second Circle. And this, the First Circle, is also called the Circle of Living. ”
  “It’s all clear now, ” - Orion said. - “I bet all we have to do is get into the fifth Circle and that’s it. ”
  “Okay, but how can we do that? The wall of the Second circle seems to be plain, ” - now Ignes said.
  “It may have a door on the other side that we don’t see. We should go around, ” - Armand told.
  “What?? Go around? You crazy! This place’s huge, how can we go around! ”
  “What else do you suggest doing? Sit here and wait till the end of the world? There’s no other way, Orion. We have to go. And just hope that going is the only thing we’ll have to do. ”
  “What do you mean? ” - Ignes asked.
  Armand glared somewhere beyond the wall of Second Circle. “I’m not sure. But there might be some tasks to enter the other Circles, if I know witches as well as I think I do. ”
  Orion murmured. “I hate when you talk like this. ”
  “Like what? ” - Armo raised his eyebrow.
  “Like you know witches but for real you don’t. ”
  “I know them at least more than you do. And I have memories of a witch in my head, so you better shut up and listen to what I say, because I think my knowledge is slightly better than yours. ” – Armand retorted, glaring Orion straight into eyes.
  “Oh, you think so! ”
  “Yes! And I bet we would soon be dead at this place if we listened to you! ”
  Orion’s face turned red.
  “Armo, Orion, calm down, guys! ” – Gabriel stepped between them. Armo turned away.
  “Orion, Armand is right. We have to be careful. Just…  Armand, we all would like to know what you meant by talking about death. ” - Ignes added.
  “There are traps in this place. I don’t know where and what, because Gillien didn’t know anything for sure too, but I know there are. That’s why we have to stay alert and move faster out of here. ”
  “Alright, I got it…” – Orion crossed his arms on chest. – “Let’s go then. ”
  They went along the outer wall of the First Circle, looking at the majestic paintings all around. They saw animals, birds and plants; from lions or deers, whales, elephants, huge oaks to chimeres, dragons and strange giant creatures of whom on earth was never heard. Only Armand paid more attention to staying focused. Their going lasted for about an hour, when Gabriel suddenly cried:
  “Look there! It’s not an animal, is it? ”
  Guys looked at the direction. There were standing two hugest sculptures they had ever seen, and Gabriel was right – they were not animals. Those were sculptures of man and woman.
  Orion pouted his lips.
  “He he. Now that  size really shows what the first creature on Earth is. Witches don’t boast too much, do they? I mean, hey – are we, humankind, more powerful than, for example, dragons? ”
  “No, I don’t think so, ” – Armand replied. – “However, there’s but one feature at which we surpass every animal or plant – we have mind. At least most of us. ” – He glanced at Orion. He smirked at the hint.
  The four approached the statues. Those majestic marble sculptures were about thirty feet height, showing a man with elaborately ornamented armor and a woman with magnificent witches’ clothing. The statue of man was without face.
  “Those statues are amazing, ” – Gabriel said. – “I wish I were as beautiful as that woman…”
  Orion snorted.
  Ignes was silently admiring the artwork of ancient witches’ geniuses. He, Orion and Gabriel went further.
  “I think that witch is no one else but Onyx Queen. ” – Gabriel said, not turning her head away from the statue’s face.
  “Who is she? ” – Ignes asked, indulged in reveries.
  “Onyx Queen? You haven’t heard of her?! ”
  “Should we? ”
  “Well… She was the first Lady of witches, and most powerful of them all. She is now compared to a goddess. And believe me, guys – she was great. And by great I mean magnificent, powerful, beautiful, wise… When I was a child, my mother used t tell me tales about her every night! ”
  Ignes and Orion glanced at each other.
  „You see, we didn't have mothers to tell us tales... „ - Orion murmured rather to himself than to Gabriel. She blushed.
  „I'm sorry, I didn't... „
  “What’s happened to Onyx Queen? „ - Ignes broke off her words. -“You use was as if Onyx Queen didn’t exist anymore… But witches are immortal! ”
  “The Book says they weren’t until she died. It is said that Onyx Water, the key to witches’ immortality, is the Onyx Queen’s blood…”
  “Now that’s from a real fiction story, ” – Orion smirked. – “I didn’t know witches are cannibals. ”
  “What? ” – both Ignes and Gabriel stared at him surprised.
  “Hey – they drink their Queen’s blood, isn’t that freaky? ”
  “Oh, Orion…” – Gabriel rolled eyes.
  “What about the statue of that man? Who is he? And, what interests me more, why doesn’t he have face? ” – Ignes asked.
  “It is not really known. But there are some tales, that when Valprest was being built, Onyx Queen married a human king. I bet it’s his statue. The tales say that king betrayed the Onyx Queen and she died, from then on witches don’t have too much business with human men. And the face of the statue was probably destroyed because of hatred that witches keep to the traitor of their Queen. His name is also lost, because it was forbidden to pronounce. But this is just a tale…”
  “It could be true. ” – Ignes nodded, then stopped, looking at the statues. Suddenly he thought he saw a tear rolling down a stone face of Queen. Blonde blinked and looked again. The statue was as it should be – motionless stone. Yet he couldn’t help thinking this wasn’t just an eye-trick.
  At the moment Armand broke off their amazement.
  “Where are you going? Stop looking at stones! Look at this…”
Everyone turned their faces at Armand. He was standing next to a tiny arch-formed riveted iron door.
  “What’s that? ” – Orion asked.
  “I’m sure it’s the door to the Second Circle. And I bet those statues were built here so that passers would look at them and miss the door like you. ”
  “Alright, alright, we got the point…” Orion mumbled. Ignes scowled. Whatever Armand was doing was right, and blonde felt like a complete failure. And he hated that feeling.
  Armand pushed the door. It was locked.
  “What now, smarty? ” – Orion mocked. Armand ignored him.
  Ignes was looking all over the door, when, at the very top of it he noticed some symbols.
  “Hey guys, there’s something written on the door! ”
  „Gabriel, can you read these runes? ” – Armo asked.
  “I will try, ” – girl answered and stood up on tiptoes to see the small carved writings better. – “It says here… Something like, well, that in the next Circle we will meet the horror and only those worthy would… pass, maybe? I don’t understand the last runes, sorry. ”
  “Alright, let’s say that the worthy would pass, that is not unexpected, ” – Armand said. – “We’ll see what this mean. But don’t these runes say how to open the door? ”
  “No…”
  “No worries, we’ll find an easier way, ” – Orion said and set his shoulder into the door and bolted it. The door didn’t yield. Instead, a loud bang echoed through an empty hall, and Orion was thrown backwards by some mysterious power. He heavily fell on ground and swore.
  “Orion, are you alright? ” – Ignes carefully looked at friend, as Gabriel helped to stand up.
  “Seems like that…” – Orion replied, holding his back.
  “You butthead! You could’ve died! ” – Armand yelled. – “Don’t tell me you really expect to break the door! Luckily there wasn’t strong spell on them! Don’t do such foolish things again. ”
Orion didn’t answer, and Armo turned at the door again, shaking his head irritated.
  “Hey! There’s a keyhole here, ” – He suddenly said. Everyone looked. There really was a tiny brass keyhole, representing a snake’s mouth.
“Then where’s the key? ” – Ignes wondered. Gabriel shrugged. Armand also shook his head.
  The four looked around, as if the key would be hidden somewhere in the hall.
  Ignes stared at the statues. “The clue is somewhere here. The statues are huge, and the door… They are small. As if giants had to pass tiny door. Think, Ignes, think! You may surpass Armand at least here…”
  Blonde was surprised at his own thoughts. Until now he didn’t realize how much he was jealous to Armand for his smartness, quick-thinking and courage. “I shouldn’t be thinking this way. He’s better than me, so what? I’m no smaller in skills. ” – He thought again. – “I should calm down and let up on him…”
  “Of course! Down! ” – Blonde suddenly slapped at his forehead. Everyone glanced at him. – “If giants need to get through small door, they have to get small. Lean down, I mean. ”
  Armand quickly squatted down next to the door. There was a small cleft in the marble floor. Armo tuck his fingers into it and pulled a tiny brass key. Gabriel clapped.
  “Ignes, you’re genius, ” – Armand said smiling.
  “Yes, man! ” – Orion agreed. – “How did you think of this? ”
  “Nothing too great, really, ” – Ignes smiled. Friends’ approval brought an unexpected light feeling into his mind. “Armand is not jealous to me at all, if I do something better than him. Why in the world was I? Oh please, don’t let this happen again…” – he thought.
  Armand set the key in place and twisted. Quiet crack meant the door was unlocked. Gabriel sighed in relief.
  “Are we going there? ” – He asked Ignes.
  “We have no choice, just to go. ”
  “Then… Guys, be careful. Orion, no senseless moves. ” – Armand said, then pushed the door. They and opened with a loud screech. The four entered the Second Circle.