The Gods of Garran by Meredith Skye

Asta was no villager.
    She slid down from her yithhe and grabbed her pack. She saw to the animal, and left it grazing. Then she went up the strange lava stone stairway to the moonstone arch. She had an electric lamp in her bag. She got it out now and turned it on. Carrying the light, as much for comfort as to see, Asta entered the mountain.
    Inside the mountain the floor was black and very smooth, like obsidian. Moonstone runes decorated the floor, glowing faintly. The only remarkable thing about this large, black chamber was a single rounded moonstone doorway, that looked as though it led into the mountain. Asta saw nothing that would open it, no handle, no latch, no keypad or unlocking device anywhere.
    Asta could just sleep there in the outer chamber. As late as it was, it would be safer to travel in the morning light. But this chamber was open to the outside and not very safe from animals or people who might find it--though she doubted that many people would come this way.
    She paced back and forth, thinking how to open the door. Then she went and stood in front of it for a long while. She felt a bit of dizziness, as though her mind were weaving in and out of consciousness. She must be more tired than she thought. She stepped forward and touched the door. Something clanged and the door began to open, she had been successful, though she wasn't even sure why. It didn't matter. She picked up her gear and went through the door.
    Suddenly the door closed behind her. Asta went back and touched it, hoping that would open it, but it didn't.
    Asta spent some time searching the doorway and then the room for a lever or button--anything to open the door. No success.
    There was no point staying here. Perhaps the way out lay ahead. Again Asta was glad for her internal locator. If she couldn't get out, the Agency would find her. At least, she hoped they could--as long as the signal could get through this black rock. She worried that it wouldn't.
    She traveled this path for at least several hours. The tunnel loomed ahead, silent, dark and forbidding. The glow of pale moonstone runes outlined the passage ahead.
    Finally she reached the top, and stepped into a large round room. The top was open to the sky, so that she could see the stars, yet the room was warm. Quickly Asta realized that this room was domed. Impressive for the primitive society that must have built it. Or was it so primitive? She began to wonder.
    Around the room were seven moonstone pillars that glowed blue-white. The sight was beautiful. As Asta moved to the center of the room, the light bulb of her lantern exploded, startling her. Now in the near dark, Asta could still see by the light of the pillars and the stars. She was tired and the floor was inviting. Against her better judgment, Asta lay down and went to sleep.
    ^ ^ ^ ^ *
    A yellow robed figure walked across the floor. A single rune decorated his chest--bor. For Borrai. God. It was day. The place was the Governor's Hall in Urrlan. But it wasn't. At least, it was the same place but a different time. It was decorated with strange Garran statues and carvings. The Garrans of another time inhabited it.
    The yellow figure stood in front of them and spoke words that Asta couldn't hear.
    There was a terrible sandstorm, so fierce that the sand covered everything for miles.
    There was hunger.
    A strange song wove its way through this collection of images. A sad, lonely song that filled Asta with grief--for the dying. For great loss. Even though she didn't know what was lost.
    A large almost endless moonstone stood before her, carved with many runes, intertwined with the song. It was breathtaking. But then a terrible crack broke the moonstone circle. The song ended. Somehow it left Asta with a feeling of guilt.
    ^ ^ ^ ^ *
    Asta woke with a start and got up. The chamber was quiet. The sun had risen and light began to fill the chamber. She stood for a moment, trying to understand the dream. But the more she awakened, the less