The World Outside The Shell

Chapter 8: The Door

Gromm was laughing at our conversation. He dropped the gensii blades and reached out to hold my shell. “I will not harm you turtle.”

I watched him check the strength of the shell with a confused look.

Gromm said, “Lady Ri, the shell is made from an unusual material. He is nothing like the creatures in our world. I think he walked through the door.”

Lady Ri said, “Perhaps the temple demanded the sacrifice of our lost companion in exchange for letting the turtle stay here in our world.”

Gromm said, “The balance of nature..the storms…”

Lady Ri said, “The turtle was too great a prize to return to his world, the power in this one is beyond imagination.”

I stepped away from the gensii blades and listened.

Gromm said, “Turtle. I want to see if you can fly.”

I said, “What!?!”

Gromm leaped with superhuman speed, lifted my shell and tossed me over the edge of the cliff.

I said things I cannot repeat.

The StarGlave appeared at my side and glowed with a bubble of light. I floated in the bubble over the rising waters of the marshlands, like a cloud on a summer day. I attempted to control the direction and returned to the edge of the cliff without incident, despite the strong winds and relentless storm.

Lady Ri said, “Please apologize.”

Gromm lowered his head and mumbled, “Sorry.”

Lady Ri said, “Turtle. I wish to hear news about the flooded marshlands.”

I said, ‘The companions who survived are on an island, but Venn was not with the Blue Blades.”

Lady Ri said, “Venn was not a good cook, to be honest. I request your help with the translations, the map is a puzzle I cannot solve alone.”

I was about to decline, but remembered my limited success when attempting to escape.  I said, “The map should be read at the table.”

Lady Ri smiled at the invitation to visit the cottage. “Gromm, find shelter. I must rest after the concerning events of the day.”

In an instant, we were alone, standing in the soaking rain, visible between flashes of lighting in the darkened sky. I watched her expression remain unchanged. Lady Ri took my shell and held me close. She said, “I cannot save the world alone.”

I used the remaining strength in my short legs to  jump onto the ground. I said, “If the door can still be reached at the temple, I will return to my world and restore the balance. Goodbye.” 

Lady Ri shouted a warning. “The sun pools rejected you, stay out of the temple!”

I floated in the direction of the template, planning to find the door, while hoping the storm would end in the world I visited for a short time.

The temple was above water, and I climbed from room to room searching for the door. I noticed a strange glow and the StarGlave appeared at the end of a long hallway. I stepped through the door and the air surrounding me turned into a blur. I found myself back in the cottage. 

Lady Ri was sitting at the table studying the map, and the StarGlave was held in the firm grip of one hand, the crystal humming with an ominous sound.

I said, “Are you staying for dinner? I keep a bundle of dried sweet grass in the pantry. I do wonder if Venn could speak with me so soon after meeting, why it took longer for your musical style of speech to be understood? I think you and Gromm speak a language more ancient then Venn, one similar to the words on the map.”

Lady Ri said, “Turtle, the landscape changed and nothing is familiar. I need your assistance with the map.”

© J. Bateman

Concentrikey © 2024