The World Outside The Shell

Chapter 6

Lady Ri was reading the map.

I was dropped without concern for my well-being onto the flat weathered surface a large boulder.

Lady Ri paced back and forth.

“The StarStone was left in the cottage. I must thank you for leaving the staff with me. I was reminded of how much I missed having the soft glow to read by in the evening.”

Lady Ri said, “Fine, keep it. I got what I wanted and more, the secrets of the map were revealed using the light of the StarStone. I was one bad mood away from eating you turtle.”

Venn said, “I prepared the soup to your liking!”

Lady Ri said, “Sure, but eating the same food everyday for a year is a bit much. Venn, I think you would be surprised to learn this was the first turtle I met who could talk.”

I laughed and said, “I’m not surprised, I don’t get many visitors.”

Lady Ri said, “The StarStone has no power to stop the flood. I need your help turtle, sorry, Tamm the ancient guardian.”

I said, “Ah, but did you consider your family history?”

Lady Ri said, “Mine?”

I said, “Who are you Lady Ri?”

Lady Ri said, “The hero of the world.”

“Perhaps of the human world, but I doubt the majority of creatures in the world consider you a hero.” I shrugged with little interest in her elevated opinion of her role. I turned my thoughts to the StarStone, remembering the hidden and dangerous true power of the staff. I recalled similar stones falling over the marsh lands whenever the yar-winds returned in another life.

Lady Ri watched her companions listen to every word of the conversation. “The flood waters are rising, please trusted companions, leave us and patrol the area for a safe escape to higher ground. Venn, please go and help the others.”

I watched the companions run into the forest then said, “Did you arrange to be alone so we can speak in private?”

Lady Ri said, “No.”

I said, “Will you be visiting the cottage this evening?”

Lady Ri said, “No.”

I said, “The map sounds important. I studied the map and can help with the translations.”

Lady Ri said, “No.”

I said, “I’ll return to the marshlands if I’m no longer needed.”

Lady Ri said, “The truth is…I need you to stop the flood.”

I said, “How?”

Lady Ri said, “Not important.”

Venn returned to the camp, out of breath and pointing to the flooded marshlands.

Lady Ri said, “Speak!”

Venn said, ‘The companions are lost. I barely escaped with my life. Run!”

Lady Ri held the map with a steady hand, calm in the face of danger.

I studied the ancient writings and said, “The translation of the warning at the top of the map includes a picture of a turtle.”

Lady Ri rolled up the map, stood up to scan the horizon, and pushed the short bald man down the hill into the darkness.

I watched in silence.

Lady Ri said, “Another foolish man in the hero’s party! I was betrayed on this journey to save the world. Ugh, I will save the world on my own. The loss of my companions will be mourned.”

“Do you feel a sense of loss?”

“No.”

Venn appeared, clearly running from danger. “The hero’s companions are gone. I barely escaped with my life.”

The translation of the warning at the top of the map includes a picture of a turtle and the patterns on the shell look like these,” I whispered, stretching my long neck to point at the concentric circles.

Lady Ri started laughing, “So you are the key? A turtle.” She rolled up the map, stood up to scan the horizon, and pushed the short bald man down the hill into a thick stand of brush and thorn flowers.

I looked at the map, held in the steady hands of Lady Ri who appeared calm in the face of danger and waited in silence.

Lady Ri said, “The short foolish man betrayed our companions, leading them too close the rising waters. I will save the world on my own. The loss of of the twin daggers will be mourned, but Venn should not have been trusted.”

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