KEEPER OF STONES

Author: Suparna Chakraborti

Suparna Chakraborti lives near Austin, TX, where she works as a Speech Language Pathologist, and pursues her lifelong passion for stories and writing.

It was the rare child who could discern the differences in shading that distinguished stones of quality. Layla had the gift.

Her skill was first noticed by the young village stone master. Year by year, the village master supervised Layla’s growing skill. She showed Layla the uses and magical properties of the different stones they collected.

The village master recognized when Layla’s skill exceeded her own, and brought her to the attention of the stone keepers during their biennial visit to the village. From the time Layla was ten, it was understood that she would be nominated for training as a stone keeper.

At home, Layla was the eldest of three siblings. Her life changed the summer she turned eleven, when her youngest brother was born. The baby gravitated to Layla; and after he had passed the fragile period of infancy, she began to carry him along, on her shorter forays, when she went out stone collecting. Even before he could speak, he was a cheerful companion, happy to be in her presence.

The child grew quickly, and Layla matured as well over the next three seasons. Her infant brother soon became a support rather than a hindrance, following her devotedly, once he had learned to walk.

“Did you find something?” he would ask excitedly, when he saw his sister pick up a stone, and he would celebrate each time she discovered something of value.

Layla began to feel troubled as her fourteenth summer approached. It was the age when children selected for training left home to take up residence with the keepers of stone.

Around mid-summer, the company of stone keepers arrived. The woman in charge, Myra, had long experience mentoring the new trainees. Observing Layla, she was impressed by the girl’s skill. She understood that new trainees required a period of adjustment, and she spoke kindly to Layla.

Every day during the stone keepers’ stay in the village, Layla went out with the older woman, who encouraged her to ask questions.

“Did you feel sorry to leave your family?” Layla asked.

“I did miss my family at first,” Myra said, “but I was glad for the chance to use my ability.”

“Did you ever consider doing something else?”

“Not many people share our skill,” Myra replied. “Nothing else I did would be as important.”

Layla reflected on this answer. It seemed to her, one skill might not outweigh the others.

When Layla returned home, her mother greeted her with relief. Her young brother had fretted the whole morning because Layla had left him behind. Layla had not yet told him that she would soon leave home, and they would see each other infrequently.

The next time Myra saw her young trainee, she recognized that Layla still felt uncertain about her decision. The stone keepers’ residence was a considerable distance away from the village. Once Layla left home, she could not return for a period of years.

“The decision is yours,” Myra said. “When I am trying to decide on some action, I find, if I clear my mind, I can hear the stones speak. I feel quite certain, you will come across a sign if you are open to it. Perhaps you should walk by yourself this afternoon.”

Layla followed her mentor’s advice. After the mid-day meal, she left home to take one last walk among the hills, bringing only her young brother for company.

Layla followed a meandering path, walking away from the road, her brother following behind. At first, her mind was clouded by thought, then slowly she found her attention turning to her habitual task of looking for stones.

At the bottom of a small hollow, nearly hidden by leaves, Layla spied a plain, gray stone, which would have appeared unremarkable to other eyes. She understood at once, the stone was imbued with power. She felt the emanation of strong magic, flowing into her hands, as she picked it up. It was probably the most precious thing she had found. Layla held the stone in her hands for a moment.

“Did you find something?” her brother cried, running over to look.

Layla carefully set the stone back in its place. “No,” she said, “It’s nothing. Let’s go home.”