Topic is: The Island of Helisto is situated midst a cluster of islands close to the equator, its nearest neighbour is the island of Tabor to the North-East (Ror), and the nearest mainland town is Bazi, 400 pasang to the east across the Thassa. Helisto Group ... https://www.buzzen.com/id/40/group.html
A Return to Frog Island, Day Two.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ woke up after sleeping like a rock out of exhaustion. Who knew that slogging through jungle greenery, being terrorized by urts and leech plants and discovering a mysterious key in a bottle would wear a body out? Though Haigan and amari were brimming with energy, I could not remember how we'd returned to the ship. But I was glad we spent the night there than in the hostile wilds of Frog Island! After waking up, I went up to the deck to find Haigan to discuss what we would do with the key, and maybe see if He was up for exploring the cave. Heck, I figured if AuRorah could go in and out with no problems, why couldn't I...er, We?
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : HAAAAAAIIGAAAAAAN!
Haigan I sat atop a shipping crate peeling a ripe topsit and sharing sections of it with My girl as I watched the Sea and made small talk of love and tender things with her while waiting for the Physician to issue the days orders. She was paying the tab so She was calling the shots as far as I was concerned. One island was much the same as another to Me, some larger, some smaller, some hotter, some colder and all of them surrounded by the Sea. I wasn't getting excited about this one either, to Me it was just another chartered trip for pay.
amari☰H☰fg having prepared breakfast for the small crew and the Free aboard, i had cleaned up the galley with hazine's help and packed up food and water botas for the day then joined my Master upon the deck. smiling to Him and taking a sectioned wedge of the tospit into my mouth, i enjoyed the bit as i listened and spoke quietly with Him
Haigan I flinched. That woman had a pair of ear-splitting lungs in Her. I turned My head slowly and cast dark eyes in Her direction as I tucked a piece of the fruit into My mouth. I watched Her for a long moment as I chewed then swallowed and growled "I'm right here Lady not over on the island. Whadda Ya wanna be so loud for?"
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : Whoa! Er...howdy! Ready to give this another try? I'm sure that key goes to something more hidden than an obvious chest in the middle of AuRorah's home. My Father had secret rooms built into the Chateau. Secure spaces for secret researching without the PK's peeking over Her shoulder.
amari☰H☰fg hearing Mistress' call, i turned and smiled in welcome to Her as She approached, remaining silent so that i did not interrupt, listening as She spoke to my Master and adjusting the strap i wore once again over my shoulder, along with the ever-present pouch at my waist filled with a few necessities that i thought might come in handy
Haigan : We'll go as soon as Yer ready. Have Ya prepared Yer pack for the day?
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ had the good grace to look apologetically sheepish, but just for a moment. I was eager to get going. Had a key burning a hole in My supply pouch, and I gripped the poking reed that I'd got from the Farmer last evening.
Haigan : Might want to take along a few things Lady. A journal, a charcoal stick, a rence cloth for wiping the sweat outta Yer eyes?
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : Yah...I have a small tube of grease, a crowbar, um...dagger, boots...rope...and an extra sack, and fire-making sticks. A journal and charcoal stick? That'd come in handy too, for jotting down the trail and any significant discoveries...be right back!
Haigan I nodded and offered the Lady the last three sections of the peel topsit as I slid from the shipping crate to My feet and lifted My girl down from it to hers. With a wave of My hand toward the starboard rail I spoke firmly "over and down ya go wench, into the longboat to receive the Good Doctor here." I walked to the capstan and checked the tension of the anchor rode by turning the capstan to ensure the anchor was still firmly set in the stony sandy soil some twenty feet below.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ about-faced and fairly jogged back down to the cabin to glean those items... Sweat? I don't sweat! I uh...I...dew!...racing back in time to see the Free Man and His love slave preparing to leave, I scampered along after them and then sat on the swing bench like a good FW to be lowered down to the longboat.
Haigan I moved next to the loading line and began to take up the slack as I asked "Ready Doc?" I was soon lifting Her, ready or not, from the deck and swung Her outward as Her feet cleared the rail then began to lower Her down toward My girl standing by in the longboat below.
amari☰H☰fg "yes, my Master," i replied, stepping to the railing and climbing over the rail and onto the net, lowering cautiously step by step into the longboat that awaited. i braced my feet and stood ready to assist Mistress as She was lowered upon the bench to boat as well. I spoke softly..."there now, Mistress, almost there..." as Her feet came in contact with the longboat, holding out my arms should She need to brace Herself
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ Today, I kept My eyes open, not as scared as I was the other day. I fairly vibrated excitement and everything today seemed a thrill. I heeded amari's careful words though, as I touched feet to the bottom of the boat and settled on a bench... I thought to Myself, "That wasn't so bad at all! I need to loosen up some!" Seeing the vast expanse of blue green waters was humbling and awe-inspiring at the same time, and for a brief moment, I could almost understand why it had appealed to the Farmer once…
Haigan giving enough slack in the line for the Lady to dismount I waited for amari to help Her be seated. Seeing Her securely in place I then hauled the platform up again, swung it out of the way and climbed over the railing, down the net and into the waiting longboat. I seated Myself then took up the oars, fitting one into its lock on the gunnel then cast off the mooring line and pushed off from the side of the Ohana with the second oar, grunting and speaking firmly “amari, I don't expect to have to tie you again today.”
amari☰H☰fg smiled heartily as She settled, happy to see She seemed more excited than trepidations this day. i shifted slightly to seat myself, as well, just as my Master joined us in the cutter. “i will be good and cautious today, my Master, i promise!”
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ turned to watch the round ship receding as the long boat pulled smoothly away under Haigan's skillful rowing prowess. “amari, you have a poking stick too?”
amari☰H☰fg i had attached a sword sheath to the strap over my shoulder that held perfectly the long stick He had fashioned for me. hearing Mistress' question, i lifted my hand and patted the end of the rod just over my shoulder…”yes i do, Mistress! ready and waiting!”
Haigan fitting the second oar into its lock I then stretched, positioned My feet firmly against the braces and took the well worn oars in hand. Tightening My grip I leaned forward to catch water with the blades then pulled, flexing My legs as I tightened My arms, My chest expanding with the effort as My back stretched into the sweep.
amari☰H☰fg watched my Master as He pulled and stretched, manipulating the oars to move the boat across the surface of the water toward the shore, enjoying the play of His muscles once again as a mischievous smile appeared
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ feeling suddenly daring, I attempted to dip My hand in the water. Such a small action, but for Me, a first. It just seemed like the right thing to do. There was something different about the Thassa that the lakes and rivers fell short on. Besides being huge, I thought...this water was warmer than the frozen bodies of water back home. I wondered if anyone would notice if I removed a veil once we landed. Boy was it warm!
Haigan I feathered the oars and swept them back again to the catch position as I relaxed My muscles and recoiled to the starting position once again. By a series of feathers and catches in this methodical sweeping of the oars I soon brought us within wading distance of the shore. Shelving the oars and taking the mooring line in hand I vaulted from the longboat rask deep into the rolling surf and slinging the line above My left shoulder hauled the cutter and its occupants to shore behind Me. Emerging from the surf, saltwater ran in streaming rivulets from My legs to rejoin Great Thassa. I turned and offered the Physician My hands to help steady Her exit from the confines of the wooden cutter. I glanced at My girl with stern dark eyes which dared her to move.
amari☰H☰fg the slight rocking motion was somehow reassuring and i inhaled deeply of the fresh, salty air as my Master pulled the boat closer to the shore through the shallow tide. i waited patiently as He assisted Mistress from the longboat, heeding the silent message in His dark gaze.
Haigan : Don't be rushing ahead Madie. Wait until we can be there with You.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ grasped His hand and forearm and exited the longboat with a sort of graceful leap, splashing a bit when My boots hit the wave at the shoreline.
Haigan releasing Her hands I cautioned Her sternly again "Lots of things in that beautiful green jungle BITE."
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : Aye, I hear Ya. I'll wait right yere
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ waiting for Him and amari, I turned and studied the dense growth of the Island. Didn't we hack a path through it just last night? I squinted, trying to find where We'd gone in, but it was like the flora had swallowed any trace of our path. Curious…
Haigan I turned and took My girl but the hands helping her to her feet then swept an arm around her waist and hauled her effortlessly from the cutter. Returning her booted feet to the sand I spoke firmly as I began to haul the longboat away from the shore and further up the beach "get that stick out and pay attention to where you step. Come along you two."
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ swung about and marched in His loping footsteps...or tried to. Dang, He had a long stride! How did amari keep up?
amari☰H☰fg with a soft "ooffphhh" i felt myself lifted then placed upon the sand, upright and standing. i smiled gratefully to Him and replied..."thank You, my Master"...nodding in understanding as i lifted my right hand and withdrew the pole from its fashioned sheath, holding it firmly as i moved to follow along
Haigan I laid the oars upon the sand and overturned the cutter covering them to allow it to drain and dry in the sun. I made a mental note to remember to check the oakam seals and turned to face the pair of women. Moving ahead of them I spoke as I located the trail we had hewn our way through the day before. "Madie, in between amari and Myself. Get that stick out and use it. Keep your hands to yourselves and mind where you step." I drew the blade from its sheath at My hip and began to work My way inland, clearing a path for them with each swing of the blade as I moved slowly and cautiously forward into the dense thicket. “When we rest dampen a cloth with some of our water and tie them around your necks, that'll help cool you both is this heat and humidity.”
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ The jungle had been quiet yesterday, today, was a different day. I heard many birds calling from the canopy of the trees as well as twitters, whistles, cackles , crowing and chittering, no doubt from the jits which I heard were known to inhabit island jungles.
amari☰H☰fg positioned myself a few paces behind Mistress as He lead us into the dense vegetation once again, moving with caution as i watched both the ground cover and the canopy of trees and bushes above
Haigan : where are we going Doc, the house or the cave or elsewhere?
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : I wonder if AuRorah kept a diary of the things that live on this lil patch o dirt?
Haigan I paused and pointed to the left and the right with the green-tinted blade which dripped with the chlorophyll of many varieties of the plant life around us. “Never knew the woman or anything about her habits. Can't say what she might have done Doc.”
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : Let's try that chest first then the cave. I know what's at the house, for the most part.
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : Tal Madie! Made any exciting discoveries in Aurorah's old haunt?
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral : Tal Lady Madie
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : Tal Aiken, how be Youz? I'm back on the island after a great night's sleep. All that exploring is exhausting!
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto swiftly slices the head from a vine stealthily approaching the Admiral's ankle. “They sure like you Brother!”
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral : not those damn vines again
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ took the key on the leather strip from the pouch at My waist and showed it to the Scribe and Admiral.
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : Doubt there's a living thing on this island due to those blood suckers
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : This! Haigan found it in a bottle that was down in AuRorah's well. He thinks it may open the chest that You stumbled across yesterday, Talarius.
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : It's a key! ~says he recognising it at once~
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : I think that's too easy though. That AuRorah Phy was a keen Lady, I hear.
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral nods at the word key
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : Ahhh - that chest - felt too light to hold gold!
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral : so what’s in it?
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : If there was something She wanted to keep secure, I'm sure She'd do more than hide it in the well.
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : Not tried it to the lock yet?
Haigan I stood nearby, watching and listening to the island jungle as I guarded the Physician. I wasn't sure exactly what She was searching for but that was none of My business, our agreement had been for transportation and protection and that was as far as I concerned Myself with the affair. I canted My head slightly as I listened to the call of the unseen birds in the canopy around us.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : No...I wanted to, but woo....tired
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : Let's try it - am intrigued!
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto picks the chest up and places it on a rocky shelf
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral watches Talarius
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto looks over it for inscriptions. “Hummm ... 'DHL' what can that signify??”
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ in the light, it just looked like a simple leather bound chest of turwood.
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : Try the key!
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : I didn't hear anything shift in there. Okie dokey…
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : There's little weight to it
Haigan I listened to the conversation and turned dark eyes toward the Lady. She was financing this adventure so it was from Her that I took orders at the moment. I glanced toward the two men as they lifted and seated the chest upon the stone shelf then turned My attention back to the lush greenery in which we were immersed, listening and watching as I waited for Her next command.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ stepped up to the chest and leaned close, and inserted the key into the lock, pausing and breathing a short prayer for luck. Then attempted to turn it.
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto looks on
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral : is it the right key for the lock?
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ It didn't budge, so I tried counterclockwise. It was no use.
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : Let me try!!
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : Well, whoa!
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ was "set" aside by the Scribe as He stepped up to the chest. “Go easy on that, Talarius. It's an old key.”
Haigan with what I had come to think of as "the walloping stick" I swung the four foot long staff of smooth tubular island wood from right to left in My left hand, batting a small urt away from near the Lady's feet as She stepped aside to allow the Scribe to try the key.
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto turns the chest so the lock is uppermost and peers into the mechanism.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : Ack! Thank You Haigan! I almost stepped on that!
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ shuddered
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral sees Haigan swatting the urt away
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : I still think there's something to the cave, Y'all.
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto takes a quill cleaning tool from somewhere with his robes and probes the lock with the thin metal implement
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : If She spent a lot of time in it, mebbe She left other clues there?
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto blows into the lock releasing a cloud of fine metal particles - otherwise known as 'rust'
Haigan I nodded and spoke mildly "anytime Boss" then turned My attention to the vegetation around Her, I knew the Lady Au'Rorah had died from an ost bite somewhere on this island so I was taking no chances with our Physician. Watching silently as the local Scribe began to probe the chest's lock with a small tool, I pulled the women back and aside then stepped in front to shield them in case it was boobytrapped with a lock-knife or poisoned pins. It was the only reasonable thing to do, the girl was irreplaceable, the Lady had not paid Me yet, and the Scribe didn’t owe Me anything. Logically he was the only one that could be risked, so naturally he was on his own.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : lol, Talarius, I told Ye it was old
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral : a rusty lock is all We need
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto coughs a bit in the toxic cloud
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral : haven’t We got anything resembling oil?
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto taps the chest's lock a few times on the stone shelf
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : The only way that chest will be opened is with a crow-bar, I'm betting. Mebbe there's one on board Your boat, there Sail...er...Haigan?
Haigan glanced back toward My girl who stood nearby watching and listening then spoke softly in a hushed tone to her "touch nothing and stay alert, watch where you put your feet and you whack anything that wriggles.”
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : Let's try that one more time!
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral : locks are only for honest people
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto sets the chest upright and tries the key again - careful not to exert more pressure than the slim rusty key can take
amari☰H☰fg holding the thick wooden pole He had given me firmly in hand, i nodded in understanding to my Master, looking down at the ground beneath my booted feet, replying in a hushed tone..."yes, my Master"
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto is rewarded with a click as the key turns
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral moves in closer
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ blinked, well whadaya know about that?
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : Persistence has its rewards - the lid should lift now ~motions Madie to try it~
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral : well lift the lid
amari☰H☰fg smiled to Mistress with a respectful cant of my head, listening as the Free discuss the chest
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ stepped forward, anticipating a great discovery. After all, AuRorah had locked it and taken such pains to hide the key…
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto watches keenly
Haigan I watched and listened, waiting for the next order from the Lady while I carefully checked the area around Her. I glanced toward My girl and motioned her closer to My side. I moved a bit further out and began to look for a stone whereupon the Lady could seat Herself to rest for a moment. Using the walloping stick I poked and prodded among the greenery around a suitably sized stone, then drawing the blade from where it hung at My hip I hew down the vines clinging to the stone, walking on them as I circled it.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ with both gloved hands, I pushed the lid open slowly. It protested on old hinges but gave way.
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral : is it gold?
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : Old scrolls??
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : I looked inside, and saw a few scrolls, sealed with green wax and the Phy's insignia
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto peers over her shoulder
Haigan "Robes and veils more likely" I grumbled under My breath as I prepared the stone for seating and walked the greenery down into a mat around its base.
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral : what use are old scrolls unless they mention alchemy?
amari☰H☰fg seeing His motion, i stepped closer to my Master, following along as He moved away from the others. the high leather boots protected my feet from whatever might be crawling along the overgrown forest's bed and i used my stick to poke here and there as i stepped cautiously
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto laughs hearing the Admiral's comment
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ I lifted one out, and broke the seal on it, apologizing to the Lady under My breath. It was about a page long, and looked like an equipment list...for...distilling the...digestive enzymes of the leech plant?
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : Wouldn't that be a prize Akab - base metals into gold!
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral : now Your talking
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : I wasn't expecting that!
Haigan with a look to My girl I made a sweeping motion with My hand toward the stone I had cleared of vines then moved off a few paces to allow her to work
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : No wonder She settled here.
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral : probably a cure for bunions
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : What is it that's writ?
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : It could be a blood thinner that She was working on.
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : how many scrolls are there??
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : I don't know what that would have to do with neutralizing ost venom, but it's interesting....
Aiken~Helisto~Admiral : don’t look enough for a decent fire
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ counted the scrolls
Talarius~FC~Aneesha~Helisto : Heresy Akab!
amari☰H☰fg moving to the stone, i bent slightly, brushing my hand across the surface, ridding the rock as well as i could of the debris, dirt and vegetation that seemed to have grown right into the hardened surface
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : There's probably ten there. The chest could have held a lot more! But lookee here, what's this?
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ attached to the front bottom of the chest was an envelope, with AG in elegant print on the front
amari☰H☰fg much of the dirt removed, i took a folded cloth from the pouch tied at my waist and wiped it along the surface as well, then smiled in satisfaction as the flat stone was now suitable, or as much as it could be, for Mistress
amari☰H☰fg the stone now readied should She wish to rest, i stepped to my Master once again, staying close and wielding the pole in my right hand
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ pried the envelope from the bottom of the chest with My dagger, and retreated to the stone that amari had dusted for Me. I turned it over in My hands. It had some weight to it, so there was more than paper inside, I could tell.
amari☰H☰fg watched as Mistress sat upon the make-shift bench and examined the envelope She held, then returned my attention to the surroundings, watching for any creepy crawling creatures with a sharp glance
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ I used the sharp edge of My dagger to carefully cut a slit along the side of the envelope, and bowed it open. Reaching with thumb and forefinger of left hand, I eased the contents out. The paper was rougher and larger and there was drawing on it. A map! And a small ring with two more keys on them, but they weren't rusted because they'd been wrapped in a bit of oil cloth. “I knew that AuRorah was an onion !”
Haigan "You done here Doc, how about that cave? Best if we make a move, only a few hours of daylight left." I nodded and turned to My right, swinging the blade to continue the clearing of a path ahead of the pair of women, moving deeper into the jungle and closer, step by step, toward the cave and whatever might be within it.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ Studying the map quickly before tucking it away I hoped there was perhaps a side cavern where She might store supplies for experimenting...or maybe a whole laboratory hidden in the rocky depths, guarded by varts and PKs knew what else…
amari☰H☰fg kept a constant look out and listened to the sounds around us as we made our way through the thick, lush flora, wondering what our destination was, thinking maybe it was one of those "will know it when i find it" things
Haigan moving at last to the mouth of the cave I cleared hanging vines from it's entrance and turned to watch around them as the women approached. I cleaned the green slime from the blade of My sword with a pair of swipes of its sides along the knee of My britches then stuck it tip first into the sand by My right foot. I knew the ooze of plants could form a sticky residue and would not sheath the blade again before cleaning and oiling it.
Haigan : gather round, amari wet us each a neck cloth then dig the lamp from your pack. Madie did You pack a lamp, or will You need one?
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling all it touched with the green tinted screen. Occasionally, a breeze found it's way to us, cooling with a tang of salt. I looked at the cave opening, some fifteen feet across and about 6 or 7ft in height.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : I did pack a lamp, thankees. just in case
amari☰H☰fg stopping as They did, i heard His instruction and answered, "yes, my Master!" reaching into my pack, i removed three rep cloths, along with the lamp packed within and one of the botas of water. setting the lantern aside for the moment, i unsealed the bota and poured the somewhat cool water onto each of the cloths, just enough to wet them, handing one to each of Them and tying the third around my own neck just below my collar
Haigan unslinging My pack from My shoulder I unlaced it and withdrew the metal and glass lamp. Torches could have been made and used but their light wavered as the flame danced and sputtered in currents of air. I greatly preferred the steady unified light of an enclosed flame, shielded by the glass globes of the lamp. Using a fire-maker I depressed the switch and held it to the lamp's wick igniting it then closed the hinged frame of the gate around it. Likewise I lighted each lamp for the women.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ I unslung My bag and hunted through it to find the small tharlarion oil lamp and the flint and firesticks. Unconsciously, I wiped at a trickle of perspiration from along My jaw with My shoulder. Accepting the wet cloth from the kajira, I tied it against the back of My neck and felt some relief
amari☰H☰fg resealing the bota, i placed it back in the pack, shouldering it once again before taking one of the lighted lamps in hand
Haigan taking the dampened cloth offered to Me I smiled softly and nodded "thank you love." I lifted the cloth to wipe My face, then My neck, wrung it out firmly then passed it around My throat and knotted it loosely to cool the skin and the blood vessels beneath. “Let’s move, same formation, same attention to hands and feet, touch nothing and step nowhere you haven't visually checked or stick whacked first.”
amari☰H☰fg nodded and replied.."yes, my Master"...shifting my stance to follow behind Mistress, the lamp held firmly in my left hand and the stick in my right
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ nodded, reassembling My sack and slinging it over My shoulder again, picking up the lamp and grasping the stick I was given. I trooped after the Man, easily clearing the entrance but feeling bad that He would have to duck to enter.
Haigan lifting the lantern if My left hand and taking the sword in My right I took a squat stance and peered ahead as I moved into the cave. I paused and glanced back toward the Lady then spoke "if You don't make it out again Doc, I'm going to swear we were FC'ed and this was YOUR choice for a honeymoon site."
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : That's a terrible idea! I'd have picked Venna !
amari☰H☰fg laughed softly, thankful for once for my petite height as i walked easily through the entrance of the cave, shivering a bit at the shadows made by the lamplight upon the walls that surrounded us
Haigan I chuckled softly and turned again toward My path moving further into the interior of the cave cautiously. "That part don't matter to Me, what does is that sprawling acreage right next door to My farm, going to waste in flowers and lawns...." My voice trailed off.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ That Man was just the limit...really, He was. How amari put up with Him... I grumbled softly. Five feet inside we were plunged into darkness, saved by the illumination provided by the oil lamps. Actually it wasn't so bad. The sand inside was also white, and reflected the lamplight, and there were specks of quartz in the stony walls that twinkled and it was much cooler inside than out in the sunlight. I waved My stick around near the floor and the ceiling, just in case.
Haigan entering into a large chamber of the cave I stood fully erect and awestruck as I lifted the lantern to arms length above My head while My astonished eyes surveyed the formation and noted several openings which branched off this way and that, some lower, others higher within the walls of the chamber where I stood. “We're gonna need more supplies…”
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ nodded...
amari☰H☰fg eyes wide, i surveyed the vast openness of the cave where we had stopped, moving the lamp from side to side and up and down in a slow motion to highlight each part within view from the stalactite formations dripping from the ceiling to the tiny sparks of light within the sand at our feet and along the walls that surrounded us
Haigan moving further in I turned slowly in a circle, My mind trying to process what My eyes saw in the revelations of the revolving light of the high lantern. I muttered softly as I marveled at the many chambers I beheld "Did uh, did you say you found a map and some keys Madie?"
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : Yes...was inside the chest, and Talarius and Aiken overlooked it.
Haigan : I have no idea what these openings are, where they go, what made them or what’s in them Madie. You two stay away from those openings until we know more about this. Come over here with Me.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ took the map out of the pouch at My waist belt, and unfolded it. I had added the chest key to the ring with the other two keys. As I suspected, it was a diagram of the series of tunnels that ran through this cave. There was even one path that connected Helisto to Frog Island so AuRorah didn't always have to sail around to the bay! It was easy to read, AuRorah's penmanship was Scribe worthy (lol) which I heard was unusual for Phys.
amari☰H☰fg moved quickly to my Master, heeling to His left, holding the lamp aloft and allowing the point of the stick in my right hand to rest in the sand at my feet
Haigan I pondered the next move. I was not, and they were not, going near any of those openings until I understood more about where we were and what else might be very close to where we were.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : See right here? (I pointed on the map, then pointed off slightly to the right) That will take us to Helisto, This path here...(pointing to the far left past a stalagmite) goes some twenty feet and opens to a round chamber.
Haigan : what about these others? Off the top of My head, for the moment, without knowing more, the safest place for us is where we began, at the entrance of this cave, out of the sun and out of sight, until we've had a think on this and gathered a few more supplies.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ squinted, trying to see if those round things were supposed ta be barrels or just...holes…”Well...the big one in the middle has these hallowed out sections that could be storage rooms. It dead ends after it looks like thirty feet? And the other one...um...I think it slants down to a different level, see the steps, and I'm not sure what is there. It looks like a large room. Could be storage or work area, who knows?”
Haigan : Ok, what Your desire then? Do we explore them one by one?
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : I'm not gonna split up!
Haigan : We need to have a rest, some food and water and think on this a moment. We have no way of knowing what else is in one of these chambers, possibly watching us.
Haigan with the sword in hand I pointed out a few odd bones of various sizes scattered here and there around our feet. "Something ate something in here. Maybe some people had a meal or maybe some people were a meal. Better safe than sorry." I glanced to My girl. “you, stay close.”
amari☰H☰fg gasped softly and shuddered as i saw what He had pointed to, stepping closer “yes, my Master!”
Haigan : I'd just as soon not be cornered in a dead end hole in the wall.
amari☰H☰fg nodssss
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ stared at the bones of various sizes, and curiously, wasn't afraid. I would question this later, but I wanted to look down at least one tunnel. I clutched the map and tried to figure out which tunnel would lead to the lab, for I felt surely this was where She worked. In secret, guarded by varts and Her personal guardsmen. I looked at Haigan for advice.
Haigan : at the very least we need to get a fire going in here for two reasons, first to see the direction it dances to understand how the air moves or IF it moves in here and second because anything that lives in the darkness is going to avoid the light.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : That's a good idea. Um...there's no wood or kindling in here though, so We'll have to go out and gather some
Haigan : Exactly. We'll go back to the entrance where you two can eat and rest a moment while You study that map and I gather some firewood and poles.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ that sounded like a great plan, and My stomach seconded the motion. I glanced at the blond kajira and hoped there was larma and pit fruit in her pack …
Haigan pointing with the sword to the tunnel we had followed in to reach the massive chamber I spoke firmly "amari you lead Her out, I'll follow and see that nothing else does too."
amari☰H☰fg nodded in understanding as i prepared to return to the entrance, mentally reviewing the contents of the pack i bore, stepping ahead of Mistress with the lamp held upward to light my steps, the stick firmly in hand and at the ready
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ folded the map into quarters since they never went back to the original to begin with, and stuffed it as carefully as I could into the pouch again so I could have a hand to hold the lamp and a hand to hold the reed stick.
amari☰H☰fg exiting the cave, i moved to the flat stone bench i had cleared earlier and removed a tightly folded cloth from the pouch at my waist, spreading it upon the rock much i had the previous day. hauling the pack from my back, i dug in and retrieved a pouch of fresh fruits, laying each piece out, along with small individual loaves of black bread and several wedges of cheese. lastly, i added dried parsit to the assembled meal and placed the bota of water alongside the cloth
Haigan entering the tunnel behind the Lady, backing out slowly as I watched behind us now I spoke softly to the Lady "Bear in mind, time is a factor, we're either out each evening in time to be back on the ship by dark, or we're camping inside one of those chambers. The jungle at night is likely more dangerous than a cavern system at night."
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : The lower level turns out to be where the lab was, but remember there was an eruption and a quake on Helisto? It affects Frog Island as well. Whoa, amari packed a feast!
amari☰H☰fg smiled as i heard Her exclamation as They approached. “just a little something, Mistress.”
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ waggled My reed stick in the sand before I took a seat on the natural bench and picked up a piece of fruit to nibble on.
Haigan I retreated from the cave, placing the lantern on the ground some fifteen feet inward from the entrance for the light to hold at bay anything which might still be inside and wanting to follow us out. I spoke to them softly as I passed by "you two eat, think , hydrate and study that map, I'll be back soon, do not leave this spot unless you're being chased."
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ : Yesh, Cap'n! (saluted...with the wrong hand cuz the right one was holding an apricot)
amari☰H☰fg grins as i hear Her retort and replies..."yes, my Master"
