The World Outside The Shell

Chapter 6

Lady Ri was reading the map when I was dropped on the flat surface of a large boulder to match her eye level. She paced back and forth.

I said, “The Chaos-Stone is on the kitchen table in the cottage. I was reminded of how much I missed having the soft glow to read by in the evening.”

Lady Ri said, “Fine. I got what I wanted, the map of our world, keep the staff. The map was created by a famous ancestor of mine, the previous mage who saved the world from a great flood. I searched for the map inside hundreds of turtles and was getting tired of turtle soup.”

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

Lady Ri said, “Sure, but eating the same thing everyday for a year is a bit much. Turtle, I think you would be surprised to learn, the others did not have a magical hiding place inside the shell.”

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

Lady Ri said, “I was disappointed to learn the Chaos-Stone has no power to stop the flood. I need help.”

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 will of the human world.”

I shrugged with little interest in her elevated opinion of her role. I turned my thoughts to the Chaos-Stone, 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, “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 my companions will be mourned. Romm is tracking the shell collector.”

Venn appeared, clearly running from something, and panic on his face. He said, “The companions are lost. I barely escaped with my life.”

I looked at the map, held in the steady hands of Lady Ri who appeared calm in the face of danger. I said, “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 this…”

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 watched 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. Venn should not have been trusted.”

Concentrikey © 2025