The Riddle (Keepers of the Key Book 1)

by L. M. Abbott

  A sound like the pop of a bottle cap came from under the bed.

  Cailean started. “What was that?”

  “I found it,” Seamus called out, his voice animated.

  Josh made circular motions with a finger. “Big surprise. The ball did roll in there.”

  Seamus wormed out from under the bed. “Take a look at this.” The lost bracelet sat in the palm of his hand. “It was in a small cut-out space in the baseboard.”

  Cailean quickly clasped the bracelet around her wrist. “How did it end up there?”

  Josh pointed to Barlo. “I’d wager you’re the culprit.”

  “Use English like the rest of us,” Seamus said. “Now, Cailean, how come you never told us about the hidden compartment?”

  “Hidden compartment?”

  Seamus pulled the bed down from the wall. A section about a foot wide protruded out an inch or so from the baseboard with a small knob situated in the middle of it. “It opens.” Seamus turned the knob and the section of baseboard popped out. “There’s a red envelope inside.”

  Cailean’s name was scribbled across the centre. “This is my mother’s writing. Why would she hide it away?” Cailean had seen the envelope before, here in this house, late February, the day before her mother’s accident. It had been snowing for days and a blizzard raged. The electricity had gone out and her mother sat at the kitchen table, writing by candle light. “Hi, Mom. What are you doing?”

  Larentia quickly folded two sheets of paper. She put them in a red envelope and shoved it in her purse. “Nothing...just a little surprise.”

  “For who?”

  “Sorry. You’ll have to wait until your birthday to find out.”

  “Gee, Mom. You’re being mysterious.”

  Larentia hugged Cailean. “Tinker Bell and Little Red Riding Hood aren’t what they seem.”

  “Loon Cove to Cailean.” Seamus snapped his fingers at her. “Are you gonna open it?”

  Sealed, she cut the end with scissors and took out two sheets of folded paper. They shivered in her grip. “It’s a drawing of the creature I saw in my dream. The second one contains the riddle from the Weeping Widows. “‘Follow the wolf,’” she read, “‘the true blue line. Seek the pen amongst the forgotten, within the den of despair.’

  Seamus half sat on the window sill. Fresh rain spattered against the glass. “Is there anything else?”

  “No.” The rain drilled harder on the window. Cailean told what her mother had said that day in the kitchen.

  “Who’s Tinkerbell?” Seamus asked.

  “She’s the good fairy in Peter Pan. Little Red Riding-”

  Seamus cut across her. “That’s the one with the big bad wolf. I liked that story.” His eyes glided to the Little Red Riding Wolf book sitting on the night table. “No such thing as a good wolf. Anyway, what does a fairy and a little girl in a red cape have to do with anything?”

  “Mom witnessed something that frightened her just before the accident.” Cailean stared at the drawing. “Maybe she saw what the wolves did to this little creature.” Lightning split across the sky. “The answer is in the cave.” Seamus opened his mouth to protest. Cailean didn’t give him the opportunity. “The wolf is supposed to lead me to the deed. We followed the white wolf to the cave. We have to go back.”

  “That’s a long shot,” Josh said.

  “Remember before how I sensed it wasn’t the right time to go to the cave.”

  Both boys nodded.

  The clouds parted and the sun broke through. “I sense now is the right time.”

  Chapter 13

  Cailean, Seamus and Josh piled towards the front door, the boys giggling as they became jammed shoulder-to-shoulder in the narrow hallway. “It won’t be dark for hours,” Cailean said. “We’ll have plenty of time.” Early afternoon sun shone through the glass portion of the door.

  “Plenty of time for what?” Her father emerged from the kitchen. Steam rose from the mug he carried. “Well?” He took a sip of the hot tea. “Mm. Piping hot the way I like it.”

  As Cailean searched for an answer, Seamus piped up. “We’re going to check on my dad’s snares.”

  “Your father does love his rabbit stew.” Her father drank more tea. Steam condensed on the tip of his nose. He swiped the moisture away with the back of his hand. “Can’t say as I blame him.”

  Cailean pushed her friends towards the door. “See you later, Dad.”

  “A coyote was spotted this morning.” Her father’s words hung in the air. Cailean recognized the grim determination in his voice. “I’d rather you don’t traipse through the forest with those animals prowling around.”

  “But, Dad!”

  “But Dad nothing. Your safety is more important than a few snares.” He looked at the boys over his mug. “You both should go home.”

  Cailean watched them hurry out the door, her insides quivering. “This isn’t fair.” She followed her father into the living room. “Dad, I don’t want to be stuck inside all day.”

  He sat by the fireplace, laid his mug on the coffee table and aimed the remote at the television.

  “Dad, I don’t want to be stuck inside all day,” she said a little louder.

  “Then go into town.”

  “That’s boring.”

  “Then go to your room.” Her father rubbed his temples like he had a bad headache. The sound of a quiz program blared from the T.V.

  Cailean wondered if he was okay. He hadn’t shaved today, which was unusual. “Dad, why can’t I-?”

  “Enough, Cailean. Go to your room like I told you.”

  She stomped into the hall. The forest had to be saved at any coast, so instead of climbing the stairs she turned towards the kitchen and slipped out into the fresh air. She saw Seamus’s smiling face waiting for her in the dark woods. Josh wore his petrified expression when he thought a grownup was upset with him. Barlo lapped up water from the bucket used to disable Luperca’s car.

  Seamus leaned against an oak tree. “Why so glum looking, Cailean?”

  “Dad trusts me and look what I’m doing behind his back.” She chewed her bottom lip. “Even Gramps would be disappointed in me.”

  “In us too,” Josh said and walked in the opposite direction from the cave.

  Seamus scooted after him. “Where are you going?”

  “To your father’s traps. That way we told Mr. Wadly the truth.”

  Seamus spun him around. “He won’t find out if you don’t blab to him. Did you forget we have three days to find the deed?”

  “Okay, but on the condition we go to the snares on the way back.”

  “Sure thing,” Seamus said. “That is if we remember.”

  At the cave, Josh hesitated. “Have either of you considered we could end up stranded forever in the strange city.”

  “Give me a break,” Seamus said, “Cailean came back. Now let’s do this.” He entered the cave, flashlight on, and by the pool directed the light to the ceiling. “Nothing’s happen-” His mouth closed as the blue light glowed, faint at first, then bright enough to make their skin glow blue as well.

  Josh huddled closer to his friends. “W-where’s Barlo? He’ll protect us.”

  Cailean placed each figurine of the bracelet in a hole in the flat rock. “Tell me, Seamus, how do you explain the perfect fit?” The water bubbled, swirling around and around, sending off steam. “I told you it was real. It won’t take long now.”

  Josh staggered. “I’m dizzy. The walls are spinning into a blur.” He fell over onto his hands and knees.

  Seamus wobbled on his feet.

  “Don’t worry,” Cailean said. “This is supposed to happen.” Her words were time delayed in her ears. She lifted off the ground and hovered over the pool.

  “Please make this stop,” Josh cried out as he and Seamus levitated side by side. “My legs feel like they weigh a ton.” They descended towards the water which swirled downwards. “We’ll drown,” Josh choked out.

  His eyes were so wide
Cailean thought they might pop out of their sockets. “Josh., I promise you’ll be able to breath.” The water lapped at their skin like probing fingers and seeped through their clothing, numbing, hauling them down into darkness. The blue light dispersed into separate beams, crackling with red sparks and passed through them as easy as a bird through air. Cailean saw Josh’s lids flutter before she gave in to weariness and closed her eyes.

  Like she’d passed through a time warp, Cailean looked up at a black sky streaked with crimson red. In an instant the sky became blue, dotted with white clouds. The warped pine trees spread out behind her. Across the river, the town nestled into the hillside. The sunlight reflected off the many diamond-shaped windows of the golden stone building and showered down over the entire hillside.

  Seamus sat up. “This has to be some kind of trick.”

  Josh rolled onto his side. “This is incredible. The hillside city is exactly like my drawing. There’s the red brick houses with the white segmented lines from top to bottom arranged in horseshoe formation.” He pointed to each thing as he spoke. “The gigantic yellow-green flowers.” He sniffed. “Oh, oh, they look and smell like pears. And I captured how the sun causes the four glass steps leading to each house to shimmer with orange and purple light.”

  Cailean smiled. “I’ll find the deed here.”

  Josh hopped around like an excited kangaroo. “The red and black flowers along the sides of the road are exotic.”

  Seamus headed for the bridge. “Tone it down. This isn’t a nature tour.” A burping sound in the water distracted him. Two whiskered black fish leaped into the air. “Whoa, they are ugly. As soon as the fish touched down, two red took their places. Burps and more burps. The display continued on and on down the river, black followed by red, and when the spectacle finished, there wasn’t a fish to be seen.

  Josh looked down into the river bed coated with red and black pebbles. “Maybe they’re hiding in those big leafy yellow plants.”

  They made their way through the cobble stone streets, Josh rotating his head from side to side trying to take in everything at once.

  “You’re going to trip and fall if you keep that up,” Cailean warned.

  “No, I...” Josh fell forward, the toe of his sneaker hooked in between two cobble stones. Seamus caught him before he smashed into the pavement.

  Water fanned out like a peacock’s plumage from the fountains. The soft spray tickled Cailean’s nose. “They weren’t on before,” she said. “And the fish didn’t jump.”

  Seamus looked into a window. “Who lives here and where are they?” His head jerked back. “It’s like a mirror. All I see is myself.”

  “I told you,” Cailean said. “All the windows are the same.”

  Josh stared at the five towers of the golden building. “They rise up like giant amazon trees and seem to grow taller the closer we get.”

  As they walked along the path leading to the building, the door opened and a small creature came out. It looked to be about three and a half feet tall with slanted eyes and brows. The little creature wore a short-sleeved top with matching pants made from white feathers. He held out a long slim hand which narrowed into three large fingers and bowed. “Welcome to Casfor.” Pointed ears poked out through thick brown hair. He had skin the colour of warm honey and wide lips emphasized the round narrow nose.

  Cailean’s breath caught in her throat. “It was you in the cave with the wolves.” Small scars were visible from his wrists to the elbows. “Why did they attack you?”

  The creature’s bottom lip quivered. “Our mirpha awaits you.”

  “You knew we were coming!”

  “Yes. My name is Wim. Come inside and find the truth you seek.”

  Josh hesitated. “We should go home.”

  Wim looked at Cailean. “The search for the deed has led you here.”

  “You have it?”

  “Please come with me. Time grows short.” Wim went back in through the door.

  Josh refused to move. “His voice reminds me of tin cans rattling at the end of a string. I say we discuss this.” Seamus pushed him over the door step into a long corridor.

  Wim stifled a giggle, escorted them to a white door and turned the diamond-shaped glass handle.

  Cailean stepped inside and didn’t know where to look first. Clear bubbles extended from the ceiling, expanding and shrinking as her eyes glided over them. Lanterns housing multi-coloured candles swung from each one. Three walls were pale yellow and sprinkled with gold dust. The fourth was made of glass which reflected her image, yet allowed a clear view of the city.

  Wim remained by the door. “Please sit. The mirpha will arrive soon.”

  The children went to a long wooden table in the centre of the room surrounded by twelve high-backed chairs with yellow cushioned seats and arm rests. A bookcase lined the wall facing the entrance. The top three shelves contained various green animal figurines which changed shape every few seconds. Cailean couldn’t help but smile when Seamus’s eyes opened wider each time one moved. The bottom two shelves held black hardcover books.

  The sun’s rays moved across the room and fell across the books. Josh lifted off his chair. “Look! The books are turning orange.”

  “That’s nothing,” Wim said like it was the most natural thing in the world. “The temperature causes them to change colour. At night, they become deep red.”

  “Welcome,” a voice as soft as velvet cooed.

  Everyone turned towards the door.

  “I am called Neola, the mirpha of my people.” She paused briefly. “Leader is the human term.” She glided to the table in billowing layers of a silk gown which glistened like fireflies on a moonless night. A halo made from hundreds of brilliant sparks of sunlight crowned her head. Several fine ivory curls bounced against her smooth forehead and highlighted the dark tone of her skin.

  “You look like a princess,” Cailean said.

  Neola bowed. “A kind compliment. I realize you’ve been thrust into a world beyond belief, even beyond imagination. We are what you humans call fairies.” She pronounced the word like it was foreign to her tongue. “Most humans consider us legend.” Her arms opened wide. “As you see we do exist.”

  Josh squirmed on his chair. “My dad says fairies kidnap children and replace them with evil look-alikes.”

  Neola exchanged a look with Wim. “Did you hear that?’ she said quietly.

  “Goodness me, I’m shocked and stunned.”

  Neola turned to the children. “Such silly nonsense. I don’t understand how those stories start.”

  Cailean rested her elbows on the cushioned arms of her chair. “Wim said we’d find the truth here. Do you know about the deed to my land?”

  “We understand the value of the forest to the animals, and to the humans who treasure its beauty. For centuries, my people have tried to protect nature.” The mirpha walked to the door and back, repeating the gesture several times. “To my regret there are many of your kind who wish to destroy the forest.”

  “Like Mr. Murphy,” Josh said.

  “Indeed.” Neola sat down, her gown flowing out. She clasped her hands together. They hovered above the table like paper floating on a gentle whiff of air.

  Cailean’s knee rapped the underside of the table. “Do you know what happened to the wolves? Their sudden disappearance is still a mystery.”

  Neola sighed, a soft musical sound like the flutter of a baby bird’s wings. “A great tragedy. To my utter regret, they were gone before we realized they were threatened.”

  Why then did two wolves attack Wim? Cailean thought. She decided not to ask. Not yet, anyway.

  The mirpha’s brown eyes glistened with emotion. “A combination of hunters and lack of food during a bitter winter brought about their end.”

  Wim sauntered over to the table and looked directly at Cailean. “How did you find the cave?”

  “My dog Barlo led me there. How did you know we were coming?”

  The mirpha answered. “Th
e deed was left in my safe keeping many years ago. We were told that one day a human child would come for it.”

  Cailean’s insides buzzed and she barley managed to sit still. “Please, can I have it?”

  “Wim,” Neola said. “Escort our guests to the gainntir.”

  He bowed. “My pleasure.”

  Josh’s stubborn expression took hold. “Before I go anywhere, I’d like to know what a gainntir is?”

  Neola wore a bright smile. “A place of safe keeping. You’ll like it there.”

  Throngs of fairies wearing grey feathered clothing flanked both sides of the streets. Most cast nervous glances. A handful looked dazed. All murmured in a strange language. “Few of us have ever seen a human,” Wim said. “Even fewer speak your language.”

  An onslaught of howls and whispers erupted inside Cailean’s head. Whispers she couldn’t make out. Whispers that made her uneasy.

  Wim took her hand in his and ran a finger across her palm. “Are you unwell?”

  “What?”

  “You’ve gone white?”

  Cailean made a soft throaty noise. “I get like that when I’m hungry,” she lied. Who was she trying to protect?

  Josh produced his supply of Bullseyes. “These will tide you over for a while.”

  Wim crossed the street, his steps short and quick, heading in the direction of the bridge. Fairies moved aside to make room, children clinging to their mothers and fathers, their slanted eyes looking the newcomers up and down. Wim stopped in front of a small dome shaped dwelling. “This is the gainntir.”

  The whispers in Cailean’s head screamed. She squeezed her eyes shut to block them and entered the building. The walls rose up and up. She leaned back as far as she could without falling over before she saw where they met a black domed ceiling streaked with crimson red. Portraits of old fairies with blue eyes and white beards lined the side walls. There were no windows and ceiling lanterns filled the room with light as bright as day. A sense of foreboding vibrated through Cailean.