Alcove of The Ancients by R. S. Nailor I watched the shadow move and slink about the corners of the room. It hovered in the dim light of the recesses and wavered to almost invisibility above the huge globe of light. The Alcove of The Ancients was the last place to be when the sun went down. Why was I here? I had been called; a voice within beckoned me to take this journey, a quest. I wasn't sure but felt this could be a part of the answer to all my questions. Suddenly the shadow broke free of the wall and filled the open space before me, its appendages looming over my head. "The Angel of Death doesn't scare me," I stood firmly and yelled to the shifting apparition. "I am not the wraith you name." Its voice a soft whisper in the faintest of breezes. "Should I be scared?" I glared at the shadow and amber eyes flared back at me. "Are you?" The transparent body swayed and the eyes danced like a pair of mating fireflies, glinting in shades of red and orange. It held its ground. I remained silent, watching my adversary as it faced me. "I asked if you were scared?" it said. "If you're not the Angel of Death, then who are you?" I replied. "Should I be scared?" "Why do you keep asking if I am the that wraith?" Again the shadow's eyes flared in the growing darkness. "I am willing to strike a bargain," I said. "You tell me which phantom you are and I will tell you whether I am scared or not." It was a brazened statement; I was scared. "Interesting," the shadow replied. "I have no name that you will recognize, and I bear you no ill." "Then why do you keep asking if I am afraid?" "Can you read the runes?" The wraith shifted its position and now settled closer to me. An appendage floated out and pointed at the archway on the far wall, a hallway lay beyond. "Some," I answered. "Is there one in particular which you are asking about?" There were archaic images and runes everywhere. The phantom edged closer but I kept my guard about me. I was sure it wanted me to let down my defenses. "The third rune," the phantom said. "If you can read it, you will know my name." I stared at the six characters on the triangular block that made up the keystone of the passageway entrance. The third rune the wraith had said. I riffled through my memory trying to connect that rune with some meaning. Finally it dawned on me: Halo. What type of name was Halo? I looked at the phantom floating near me. "Your name is Halo?" "Close, child," the wraith replied. "Very close. Try reading the rune in context now." "Are you sure you're not the Angel of Death trying to trick me?" A lilting laughter filled the chamber and I could see the phantom moving ever so gently. Could ghosts laugh? I focused my concentration once again on the runes. "Protect is the first word," I said. "Thyself or self is the base of the second but has some strange meaning beyond what I just said which is tied to your name, Halo." "Very good," the ghost said. "Continue." "Walk or tread is the fourth word. Alone is the fifth rune but the word is negated. The sixth and final rune is hall or passage. Okay, how was that?" I smiled inwardly at my small success in understanding the runes. I had no idea what it meant, but I'd read them nonetheless. "You have a base understanding of runes but not the fine skill to read them. What do you think the warning says?" "Warning? Those runes are a warning?" I replied. "Try again." "Protect yourself something Halo walk not alone hall." "Very close. Try a looser translation now." I sighed heavily and looked at the runes one last time. Suddenly it was almost clear. "Protect yourself with Halo and don't walk the hall alone," I blurted. "Now exactly what is Halo?" "I am Halo," the specter said. "I am a Guardian Angel. You need not fear me, but you must fear the passageway before you. I will join you." "Guardian Angel?" I stammered. "You're going to protect me?" "This is the Alcove of The Ancients," Halo said. "You should fear every aspect of it. Shall we proceed? You are braver than those that have come before you. In fear they have fled into the passageway, and to their doom, trying to avoid me." "You will protect me?" "Not only will I protect you from the traps and tricks of The Ancients but I will show you the wonders of the ages. Your knowledge will be twenty-fold." I stepped boldly toward the passageway and the answers. Halo hovered before me. The Alcove of The Ancients awaited.