Haigan looking to My girl and waving the torch slowly around us to spread its light I exclaimed "LOOK at all this food! Sorps everywhere! Clams and Crabs! Shellfish! Get a sack! Get a BIG sack! It's a smorgasbord! A FEAST!"
amari☰H☰fg as my mind processed the information He shared, i began to comprehend and shook my head in amazement as my smile widened, hearing His excitement. hurrying up the steps and back into the main chamber, i passed Mistress along the way and grinned happily, hurrying to my pack, i reached in and dug out a large burlap sack which had been rolled up and tucked into the bottom of the pack. bundling the rough sack into my arms, i retraced my steps, moving cautiously down the stairwell.
Haigan I moved quickly to push many shrimp and several large lobsters and crabs away from the crevices with which they entered either into the Sea or the Cave with the changing of the tides. I was not one to readily pass up a fine meal such as fresh seafood, I happily detained as many scurrying creatures as I could, holding them at bay until my slave arrived with a sack or several. "BUTTER! TOSPIT! WINE!" I shouted with glee as the notion of a shoreline feast took possession of my mind.
amari☰H☰fg grinned and laughed aloud at His exuberance, which matched my own by now...thoughts of an old-fashioned seafood boil filling my head as i immediately began gathering up the sea creatures and adding them one by one into the burlap sack, avoiding their pinchers as best i could
Haigan Delirious with the anticipation of fresh seafood and ale by a roaring fire along the shore I began to sing, stringing words together in a coarse rhyme "Shiver Me timbers! Shiver Me sides! Me hungers as strong as the winds and tides!" I sang merrily as I danced and skipped here and there to block some delicious creatures egress from the cave preventing its escape back into the Sea. "Ooooh NO, Yooo Ho! Heaved into a boiling pot you'll go!"
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ the thought of fresh seafood brought an appreciative bit of salivation, and I swallowed hard. Descending the stairs to the lower floor, I too began to sort of sweep crustaceans towards amari's sack with the sheathed dagger.
amari☰H☰fg mounds of oysters were gathered by the handful and added to the bounty, better than gold in my view as i sought to round up the crabs that, in turn, were seeking to escape back into the waters of Thassa. Giggled while watching and listening to my Master, understanding that part of Him that was still prevalent, it linked Him to His first love, Thassa, and always would.
Haigan With the pommel of the gladius I struck several of the large oysters, loosening their firm grip upon the stones low along the sloped edges of the walls. These I kicked toward my girl who worked quickly to gather up many skittering creatures. With the side of the blades' tip, I flipped shellfish and crabs back toward her while she worked like a whirlwind in her grabbing and gathering of the creatures, tossing them into the large sack.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ now that I was on the lower level, I saw that it had an arched entryway that opened into a more traditionally shaped room, deep in the bowels of the island. Stone slabs had been carved, and set on some of these were large pens, rusted now, which had been bolted to the slabs...and inside the pens were the unfortunate remains of whatever animals had been housed there. Though many of the cages were actually empty and I hoped that had been the doing of the guards, who had set what subjects they could free to seek homes in the vegetation of the small jungle of Frog Island.
amari☰H☰fg the sack was weighty now with live crustaceans, most wiggling about trying to escape the burlap, all of whom were soon to be enjoyed in an unparalleled feast..just as soon as i could get that big cauldron from the galley of the Ohana.
Haigan moving to her side I gathered the top edge of the burgeoning sack of shellfish and closed it, then tied it securely and moved it aside. "Send a slave to the Ohana with word to bring the cauldron to the deck and cast the nets!! Tonight we FEAST! Have a thrall come and tote this sack out, have it staked in the surf to preserve them."
amari☰H☰fg nodded enthusiastically and replied.."yes, my Master!"..rushing up the stairwell to carry out His instructions
Haigan I took a moment longer to look around the cavern more carefully now noting the rusted cages, a few of which contained nothing more now than bones. Crabs were efficient creatures, they wasted nothing at all, in time they could reduce even the largest of heavy tharlarion to bare bones and would thrive in doing so.
amari☰H☰fg entering the main chamber once again, i motioned first to a muscled thrall, a young man with a shock of red hair, speaking plainly of my Master's wish. "make your way down the stairs and gather the burlap sack of sea creatures. take it to the shore and stake it well in the surf, assure that it is secure! your life depends upon it!"
Haigan I looked to the Physician then to the previously inaccessible stairway. "You brought those keys You found, just in case?"
amari☰H☰fg i saw the young thralls eyes widen as he nodded vigorously in understanding. i narrowed my eyes at him, then turned away with a somewhat haughty flourish, just before a mischievous grin appeared on my lips, then continued onward toward the entrance to the cave.
Haigan : GUARDS! Bring that lily-livered Scribe in here and bar his departure!
Haigan I moved to the unexplored stairwell and placed my left foot upon the first wet stone step then looked to the Lady and spoke "Up we go now, we've five ahn to be out again, times a wastin'."
amari☰H☰fg i motioned to a group of thralls who were busy gathering firewood. i spoke softly but firmly, pointing to two of them and instructing..."you and you take the firewood, go aboard the Ohana and bring the largest cauldron in the galley on deck. tell the crew my Master commands them to cast the nets. tell hazine, the galley slave, to gather togther large bowls, a large ladle, crocks of bosk butter, wine and my spice pouch from the galley. bring all that on deck along with the cauldron. harta!"
Haigan I whistled sharply for my girl and spoke firmly "come along, stay close and keep your hands to yourself love."
amari☰H☰fg having given the thralls their instructions, i shifted to return to the cave just as i heard the familiar whistle carried on the warm breeze. following His firm command, i moved to heel to His left, staying close
Haigan seeing the Lady was deep within Her own thoughts I entered the stairwell and began My ascent as I gave the orders "Theron, Marcus, stay with the Lady and escort Her along at Her leisure. amari, come with Me." I took several steps into the stairwell before it turned and there I paused for My girl. Venturing further up, rounding another turn in the stairs I came to a wide landing where stood within it a large door of dark wood banded with iron. Trying the door I found it locked and moved on, knowing the Physician had found a pair of keys I gave the door no further concern for the time being and continued to ascend the stairs with my girl close at my heels, in search of the origin of the fresh air which flowed along the passage. More turns in the stairwell as we rose within it revealed a second landing, this one smaller but with an imposing doorway standing at its center none the less. This door, like the first, was well made, reinforced by iron and locked as well. I thought perhaps here were the answers to the question of the two keys from the chest. I followed the stones onward through their ascension until at last they ended within a modest chamber where one looked out upon the Sea in the distance. A veil of greenery hung thickly around this window upon the world, obscuring its edges in the dappled light of leafy shadows that played and danced with the wind.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ waits on the lowest level, near the second staircase, gazing up waiting to hear if it's safe to follow, or send You some back-up.
Haigan Crossing the open-air chamber where amari and I stood, I approached the opening cautiously with sword in hand as My eyes adjusted again to the flood of light from outside. Treading carefully I soon discovered that a wide ledge range to the left and right along the exterior of the chamber and this was crowded with a populace of a few trees, many shrubs and numerous vines which bore among them the many varieties of jungle fruits found on these islands. This fact alone created a large smile upon My face. I sent amari down the stairs again to signal the others while I carefully explored the tropical bounty of the wide shelf where this natural garden had spread itself out under the eye of Tor-Tu-Gor. Approaching the precipice I looked down from its edge to behold gleaming Thassa awaiting within a secluded cove which, from My vantage point, I could see teemed with shoals of fish. I could have lived in exactly such a place as this. Taking a moment to breathe the fresh air and enjoy the scent of the Sea while listening to the noisesome inhabitants of the tropical jungle with the warmth of the sun upon My skin I forgot all cares for a brief moment and simply lived within the blessings of nature. Shaking the serenity from My mind I turned back to the darkened recesses of the cavern and re-entered to assess My surroundings. Echoing faintly from the stairwell I heard the excitement in the voice of My girl as she shouted to the others below that all was well.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ seeing amari appear on the stairs, I let loose a pent up breath, followed by a curious spreading of My hands and hunch of the shoulders as if to demand, "What's He doing?" When I saw her gesture for Us to come along, I almost raced up the steps but was restrained by a modicum of decorum. Rushing ahead could get a FW into all sorts o trouble! I kept close behind the two guards assigned to protect Me while Haigan had gone upstairs to check the area. Peeking around their broad shoulders unabashedly.
Haigan I noticed to My left a large coil of thick rope, the working line of which was held taught under tension. My eyes following this along its path through a ring and roller of iron up the wall and to the ceiling of the cavern marked how it followed sturdy timbers set with iron wheels from pulley to pulley and terminating in a large deep bellied iron hook that was wedged against the block and tackle of its mast-head. I laughed aloud and heartily so, whatever else this place may have been, at some point in its long-hidden history it had been a stronghold and a hideout. There before My eyes was the proof in the sturdily constructed shape of a large retractable gantry. Wedging the torch between two large stones then laying the gladius atop them I studied the brilliantly constructed crane that was clearly built with materials salvaged from a ship. A firm kick to the capstan's locking arm dislodged its wedge from the axle gear's teeth which allowed the capstan drum to rotate freely. I watched in awe as the while the drum beginning to pay out its rode the gantry's boom began to move forward. Deploying itself as the tension of the rope was lost, the boom extended and slide along its guides until reaching its ultimate length it spat the iron hook away from its block bearing head. The hook carried forward and down under its own weight as the capstan free-wheeled with its rode singing excitedly as it zipped along through the maws of several pulleys. With the distinct thudding sound of the stop-knot striking its cleat, the song of the rode ceased as it snapped whip-like then taught again under tension. The machine had reached the lower limit of its lift, coming to rest fully deployed and ready for use.
Haigan A further study of the chamber revealed the stout wooden crate basketed around by, and bound with, chains that met at a central ring. Far below from the Rope at the gantry's head hung a large hook of iron with a deep belly. I laughed and wheeled around bolting from the chamber with excitement and bounded recklessly down the stone stairs again with the sure-footed agility of a mountain verr at home upon the cliffs of Voltai. "MADIE! There's another exit!"
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ flattened against the stone wall of the stairwell to prevent falling off, I quickly lost that twinge of irritation at His erratic movements. I gasped in shared gladness. "That's fantastic news! You were right! That AuRorah was pretty clever, wasn't She?"
Haigan : Indeed!
Haigan I paused atop the lower landing to catch My breath and think as I stayed near the Physician while She tried the keys on the locked door. "Tide will be coming in soon Doc, but no need to rush or worry. We have a way out regardless of the tide, but I'll need to leave to move the ship."
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ The keys were triple pin tumbler types, of bright stainless steel with a simple loop handle at the back end. I took them from the pouch at My waist and strode over to the door which had caught My attention. The first key would not fit because the keyhole was a fraction smaller than the head of the key. I growled a trifle impatient and tried the second key...
Haigan I moved the torch I held toward the doors lock to provide the Physician with more light for trying the keys as I considered other things. The ahn, the tide, maneuvering the ship into place, the taste of fresh shellfish, bittersweet ale and the warmth of amari's breasts cradling My head as I slept under the stars on deck again. Shaking My head vigorously to expel My mind's wanderings I focused again on the task at hand, the safety of the Lady during the salvage operation.
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ which slid in with no difficulty at all. Though I would have expected some resistance at least when I attempted to turn the key, it rotated quite easily. I felt the movement of the tumblers as they were released from a locked position. A soft "click" alerted Me to the fact that the door was now unlocked. I looked at Haigan with a glint of anticipation, and gripping the handle I began to pull.
Haigan Knowing the Lady all too well, I risked a small insult to Her independence in favor of a larger concern for Her safety as I thrust the willow-leafed blade forward below Her hands at the door's lock, embedding it's tip in the ancient wooden frame to bar Her from rushing ahead into who knew what in the darkness of the chamber beyond. "You will kindly step back behind those two Guards, Dear Lady."
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ I blinked and stepped back two steps, about to lay into Him about waving pointy things at Me, but quickly realized, it wasn't at Me at all. Complying because it was a sensible thing to do, I did retreat but peered around Theron's left side with wide obsidian eyes. I couldn't see much cuz Haigan blocked My view directly! Dagnabit!
Haigan "Leap from a cliff if You wish AFTER You have paid Me, but not until then, hmmm?" I smiled warmly before narrowing My eyes into a stern glance, then hooking the partially opened door with a booted foot I swung the door wide with a thrust of My left leg then moved the torch toward the opening and directly into a flurry of thrumming wings and the shrieks of hundreds of startled, snarling varts! They flooded from within the chamber in a fury of wings, claws, and teeth!
amari☰H☰fg as my Master stood at the door, i began hearing a soft, distant rustling sound but couldn't place it, it was unlike anything i had heard before and i looked up and around in confusion, not knowing exactly where the noise came from. seeing Him push open the door widely, the sound became deafening and i screamed aloud as a rush of dark wings seemed to be attacking us.
Haigan "DOWN!" I shouted as a flood of varts poured out over us from within the room.
amari☰H☰fg hearing His warning, i immediately dropped to the cold, hard ground beneath my feet, i lay flat and covered my head with my hands, tucking my chin downward in an effort to protect my face and eyes. i heard the sharp, frightful shrieks above and felt a sudden rushing wave of air as the flock of varts descended and flew over us
ⱮąɗíÒ½ VҽყƖ~ƤɦƬ screamed in terror, decorum and dagger forgotten, flinging Myself to the floor as flat as I was able to be and holding My hands over My head.
