by Shawn Sodman
The four others watch Fernando as he continues to make his way around the crater-like hole. Finally Fernando stops and says, “I think this is it.” He starts to push on what looks like a large boulder.
“Go help him,” Ariella says to Drake and Leon.
The two stronger men join Fernando as they try to push the large rock. At first it doesn't give, then suddenly the rock seems to move on its own. They stand back and stare as a cave entrance is reviled. Fernando immediately disappears into the darkness inside.
“Fernando!” Ariella yells. “Come back out here!”
“Of course, Captain,” Fernando says as he reemerges. “I think we are going to need some light anyway.”
“Torgus,” Ariella says, “You go first and light our way.”
“Of course,” Torgus replies. He then picks up a rock and casts a spell making it glow brightly. As he walks in the entrance of the cave the light fades and disappears. Torgus turns and says, “Ariella, there is no mana in the cave.”
“A perfect place to hide a treasure,” Ariella says as she looks around. She picks up a large stick and casts a spell catching the end on fire. “This won’t be very bright,” she says, “but the flame should continue without magic.”
Ariella makes her way into the cave. She notices on the inside the entrance there is an iron gate that has already been opened.
“Looks like someone has already been here,” Fernando says.
“For your sake,” Ariella replies, “you better hope not.”
She continues inside with the make shift torch as Torgus walks next to her. Leon looks at Fernando and says, “After you.”
Fernando smiles and says, “Thank you.” He walks into the darkness of the cave as Leon and Drake follow. It takes a while for everyone’s eyes to adjust. Fernando stops and watches as Ariella and Torgus reach a wood door. It is locked but it doesn't look to be very solid.
“Drake!” Ariella says. “If you would please.”
Drake and Leon walk over to the door and Drake says, “Yes ma'am.” He drops his shoulder and easily smashes the door down. Suddenly they hear the clank of the iron gate closing. Ariella turns to see Fernando on the other side of the gate. Having picked the locks on his wrists he is now removing the shackles on his ankles.
“I am terribly sorry about this, Captain,” Fernando says he steps back from the gate.
Leon runs up to the gate and tries to open it but it doesn't budge. “Captain, it's locked. I am going to kill you, Greythorn!” Leon yells furiously.
“I am sure you would if ever given the chance.” Fernando replies. “Ariella, I only hope that someday I will be able to make this up to you.”
“Why?” Ariella asks, unable to hide her disappointment as she looks through the bars of the gate. Drake and Leon grab some large rocks and bring them over to the entrance.
“Someday,” Fernando answers, “I hope you will understand, but for now I do not have the time to explain as I am sure that gate will not hold you long. I truly am sorry.” He opens his fist and there is a small gold medallion in his hand. He puts it around his neck before running off down the narrow passage they entered through. Leon and Drake start smashing the large rocks against the gate as Ariella slowly backs away with no trace of emotion on her face.
“We'll get him, Captain,” Torgus says.
“Why, Torgus,” she asks. “Why did he do this to me?”
“I don't know, my dear,” Torgus replies, trying to comfort her, “but we will find him and he will answer for what he has done.”
Ariella's expressionless face is overtaken with furor. “Fernando Greythorn will pay for this,” she says with a scowl. “Someday, somehow, I will make him suffer.”
Back on the Red Dawn, Allen and Marie are sitting on the edge of the ship looking out to sea. Marie asks, “So what do you want to do when you are done serving the captain?”
“I haven't put that much thought into it,” Allen responds. “I guess I just always thought I would buy a house back in South Haven. I already know how to grow my own food. Maybe find the right woman,” he adds as he looks at Marie with a smile, “and have children.”
Marie smiles and says softly, “That sounds wonderful.” She moves a little closer as Allen puts his arm round her.
Allen asks her, “So what are your plans for the future?”
“I don't know,” Marie answers with a grin, “I guess I always thought I would find some nice man with a home in South Haven. Someone who knew how to grow his own food. We would have children and I would give him my love and make him as happy as he does me.”
“That sounds wonderful,” he says with a smile. They face each other as Allen leans in and they kiss ever so softly.
Marie whispers to Allen, “I would do anything to make you happy.”
“You already do,” Allen replies. They kiss again as Allen's fingers run through her hair. She holds him tight as they become lost in the moment.
They barely hear the footsteps behind them. They turn to see Fernando coming out of the officers’ quarters. Allen quickly gets to his feet and asks, “Mr. Greythorn, why are you back? Where is the captain?”
Fernando says with great enthusiasm, “The captain is still loading up all the treasure. There will be a great celebration tonight! She just asked me to come back and grab something for her. We will be back shortly.” Before Allen has a chance to question him any further, Fernando quickly makes his way down the plank and runs back into town.
Allen and Marie look at each other with concern. “I don't like this,” Allen says, as they head to the captain's quarters. They look inside and Allen says, “What do you think he took?”
Marie looks at the desk and spies Ariella's jewelry chest open. “Oh no!” she cries as she runs over to it. She picks up a note laying on top of the jewelry box and says, “It looks like he left this, but I think her locket is gone”
Allen closes his eyes and sighs. “The captain is going to kill me,” he says.
“It is my fault,” Marie says as she takes Allen's hand. “I should not have been distracting you. Let me talk with her.”
“No,” Allen says looking down. “This was my responsibility, I will tell her.”
“Tell me what?” Ariella says from behind them.
Marie and Allen turn and see Torgus and Ariella, who looks furious. Marie walks over to Ariella and begs, “Please ma'am, it's not his fault! I was—”
“Silence!” Ariella snaps at Marie. Then turning back to Allen she asks coldly, “Tell me what, Allen?”
“It's Mr. Greythorn, ma'am,” Allen starts to explain. “He was just here, and—”
“Drake, Leon!” Ariella yells out the door to her men. They run to the door and she says, “Fernando, was just here. Find him!”
“Aye, Captain!” they shout as the turn and leave the ship.
Ariella turns back to a frightened Allen. “Tell me, what was he doing here?”
No matter how much the young man's confidence has grown over the last week, in the face of Ariella's ire, Allen is once again reduced to feeling like a timid boy. “Well, ma'am,” Allen nervously explains, “H—he was here a—and we think...um.”
“You think what!” she demands.
Allen clears his throat and says, “We think that he may have taken your locket.”
Ariella walks over to her jewelry box and looks inside. Marie holds out the letter and adds, “I believe he left this, ma'am.”
Ariella, who is visibly furious grabs the letter from Marie's hands and looks at it. It is addressed to her. She does not open it, and instead turns once again to Allen and asks, “I only have one question for you, Mr. Allen. How did he get in here?”
Allen looks down and says, “It was my fault, Captain, I was not paying attention to my duties.”
“No!” Marie interjects. “Please, Captain, it was my fault. I was talking with Allen. I didn't mean to distract him.”
“Enough!” Ariella yells. She clinches her fists and takes a deep
breath. “Get out,” she says while trying to calm herself.
Allen says, “Captain, I am—”
“Get out!” Ariella screams. “I will deal with you later, Allen.”
“Yes, ma'am,” Allen says as he leaves.
Marie, trying to calm Ariella, says, “I am so sorry, Captain.”
“Out!” Ariella yells at her.
Marie rushes out of the room in tears.
“Torgus?” Ariella tries to say calmly.
“Yes, Captain,” Torgus replies.
Ariella says, “You said that you couldn't sense Mr. Greythorn when we left the cave.”
“Correct, Captain,” Torgus explains. “That medallion that he was putting on outside the cave must be shrouding him from my search spell.”
“Can you search for my locket?” Ariella asks.
“Of course, Captain,” Torgus replies. He closes his eyes for a moment and concentrates. Then he opens them and says, “It's not far away. Hurry, Captain, follow me.”
Ariella stuffs the letter into her coat pocket and they quickly leave the ship and head back into town.
A short time later they arrive at a small magic shop. Torgus closes his eyes and concentrates again and says, “Captain, I am afraid I no longer can sense your locket, however this was where I last felt it.”
“Thank you, Torgus,” Ariella says. She then enters the shop.
Inside the shop an old gray haired man greets them, “Hello, how can I help you today?”
Ariella steps up to the counter and asks, “We are looking for someone, perhaps you have seen him. He would have been here only a few minutes ago. Tall, dark hair, and a mustache?”
“Yes,” he answers, “he was just here.”
“Torgus, go outside and see if you can find him,” Ariella says.
“Yes, Captain,” he replies as he exits the shop.
“May I ask what it was he bought?” Ariella asks.
“Yes,” the old man says politely. “He bought a small bottomless bag.”
“A bottomless bag,” she says quietly to herself.
“Yes, ma'am,” the man says. “You know, a bag that is magically larger on the inside.”
“Yes, I am aware,” Ariella replies, “I was just thinking about something. Did you happen to see which way he went?”
“I believe he went south, ma'am,” the old man answers.
“Thank you,” Ariella says. Then she exits the shop and walks up to Torgus and says “He bought a small bottomless bag. If he put my locket inside you wouldn't be able to track it, would you?”
“No, Captain,” Torgus replies. “Until he takes it back out again, I will have no luck finding it.”
Ariella sighs and says to Torgus, “Come on, let’s get back to the ship.”
Later as they board the Red Dawn, Ariella heads straight for her quarters. Torgus says, “Ariella, do not worry. I will continue to search for Fernando and your locket each day. Sooner or later Fernando Greythorn will make a mistake, and when he does...”
“When he does, Torgus,” Ariella interrupts, “he will pay.” She turns and enters her quarters, closing the door behind her. She then sits at her desk and pulls out the letter that Marie had found. She opens it and it reads;
To my dearest, sweet Ariella,
I know you will find this hard to believe, but I cannot tell you how much I regret what I have to do. I wish there was some other way. To make matters worse, I cannot tell you why I had to take your locket. I can only say that someday I hope to return it to you. My darling, I never thought that I would grow to care for you as much as I have. I did not expect such a complication in my plans. You surely are everything the legends said you to be.
When we meet again I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me. I will gladly throw myself at your feet and beg for your mercy. Then I hope to be able to answer all your questions. Until then my dear—
Fernando
Ariella folds the letter and places it in the drawer of the desk. She looks into the jewelry box and says to herself, “Fernando Greythorn, when next we meet, you better believe that you will beg for mercy. And I swear to the gods that if you don't have everything that rightfully belongs to me, it won't be me who you will have to beg. Only the gods will be able to save you.”
Chapter 23
To the Mountains and Over
It is later in the afternoon, and Princess Kianna and her small group are about three days from the Monastery on Sapphire Lake.
“Is anyone else hungry?” asks Isen.
“Well, I know I am,” replies Garrin.
“We can stop and rest then,” Kianna says.
As the group stops and dismounts from their horses, Ambra and Kelik walk over to a shrub and begin to pick some bright red berries.
“Oh!” Isen says as he picks some from the bush. “Are these safe to eat?”
“Yes,” Ambra answers, “they are safe but—”
“Good,” Isen says before Ambra can finish. He puts a small handful of them in his mouth.
Kelik and Ambra look at each other with a knowing smile. They watch Isen as he begins to chew the berries. Then in an instant he spits them out and starts to cough. “Those are terrible!” he says. “I thought you said they were good.”
“No,” Ambra says while laughing.
“You asked if they were safe to eat,” Kelik says. “She didn't say they were good to eat.”
Isen continues to spit out the fruit and rinses his mouth out with water from his wineskin. “Why are you picking them then?” he asks.
“I like to boil them in water,” Ambra explains. “They are way too bitter to eat plain, but they make a good drink.”
Isen's face is still cringing from the bitter taste. He asks, “Are you sure I am going to be alright?”
Kelik and Ambra laugh, and Ambra says, “You will be fine.”
Isen walks back over to the others who are sitting down on a few small boulders as Kelik and Ambra pick a few more berries. Garrin is eating some rations while Gena takes out an empty bowl from her backpack. She closes her eyes and passes her right hand over the bowl as bread and cheese magically appear inside. Gena passes the bowl to Kianna.
“Thank you,” says Kianna.
“You're welcome,” Gena replies. “Who else needs some?”
“I do,” Isen answers. “I ran out of my rations this morning.”
“We just left Troven yesterday,” Ya'leigh says.
“I forgot to get more,” Isen explains. “Then I was really hungry this morning.”
Gena hands him another bowl and says, “Here you go.”
“Thank you,” Isen says with a big smile trying to look innocent.
“How long do you think it will take to get to the monastery?” Ya'leigh asks.
“We should be able to make it there in two days,” Garrin answers.
“This river should take us all the way to Sapphire Lake,” Kianna explains.
“Then what is the plan?” Isen asks.
“Well, if I remember the maps correctly,” Kianna explains, “there is a small mining town in the mountains near the monastery.”
“Copper Pass,” Garrin says, “I've been there a few times.”
“Well,” Kianna continues, “according to my studies the mine there is connected to the old dwarven city of Coldrock. It fell in the first orcnea war.”
“Wait,” Ya’leigh asks. “Are we planning on going through the mountains rather than over them?”
“Sounds dark and dangerous to me,” Isen says, “let's do it.”
Ambra and Kelik walk back now and sit down. As they do Kelik finds an open area and creates a fire using magic while Ambra pours some water in a small pot and then places the berries in it. Ya'leigh looks at her brother and sister and says, “Danger is something we should avoid if we can. Are you sure we will be able to go all the way through?”
“That part,” Kianna says, “I don't know. I hope that maybe some of the miners may be able to help us. I think if
it goes all the way through it would be faster, and we wouldn't have to deal with the outside cold and wind.”
“It will still be cold,” Garrin says, “but it would be much better than being outside.”
Gena adds, “We should have no problem with light, but we might be limited on the fires we can build to stay warm.”
Isen says, “I can carry some wood. Just load up my backpack.”
“We may have to,” Kianna says.
Ya'leigh says, “If we can't make it all the way through, I suppose we could use the gate stone.”
“Let's just hope we don't have to use it,” Garrin says. “Those things are not cheap.”
“Fortunately that is not too big of a problem for my father,” Kianna says.
Isen says, “I just hope that both of your fathers don't get too mad at us for not coming back.”
“I agree,” Garrin adds, “I don't think they'll be too happy when they find out.”
Ya'leigh replies, “I know my father wouldn't worry as much about me, but with Ambra and Kelik here he definitely will not be happy.”
Ambra says, “Father wasn't much older than me when he went out on his own.”
“That's true,” Ya'leigh replies, “I guess we are just like him.”
Kianna asks, “Are we almost ready to go?”
“Yes,” Ambra answers. “The juice is done.”
“We have a long road ahead,” Kianna says as she stands up.
The group gathers their things and Ambra carefully pours her berry juice in her wineskin. Kelik puts out the small fire, and they mount back up on their horses and continue on their way.
Further to the north, the Seven Sisters are making their way across the rocky terrain with their new found guide, Sven. They reach a small encampment that has been attacked. There are five dead orcneas and a burnt tent.