* * *
Meanwhile Earron and Coita were quite disturbed by Kyhawn’s disappearance. They’d searched the entire camp, and according to Alil, Shellean and Dylc were missing as well.
“Let’s go to the beach once more.” Earron leaned against the kitchen cabin door frame, his stomach lurching.
Coita dipped a cup into the water trough, guzzled it down, then hung the cup on a peg. “This is the last time,” he said as he headed for the door. “Could be he and Shellean went off by themselves.”
“He doesn’t even like her, let alone trust her,” Earron said as he glanced at the two Zacs playing their string instrument, then waved to Treb and Bekim who were keeping an eye out near the fire-pits.
“We’ll be sure to tell Kyhawn you’ve been looking for him,” Treb assured them. As he tipped his wide-brimmed hat at them, they hurried to the beach.
But Kyhawn wasn’t there. Coita’s narrow face looked weary. “My foot aches.”
“Quiet! Two Zacs are coming from those trees over there.” Earron placed his hand on top of Coita’s head and pushed him down on the hillside. “We better lay low.”
“The fog’s coming in. This tree and these weeds will keep us from being seen.” Coita shrugged. “But what’s the big deal? That might be Kyhawn and Shellean, or even Dylc over there.”
Then one Zac dropped her hood. Seconds later, the other did as well as they approached the bonfire. Earron’s eyes widened with suspicion. “That male Zac was with Professor La’mamm and Kyhawn.”
“The other Zac—she’s one of those fancy, rich passengers.” Coita frowned.
Earron glanced over his shoulder at the white sand beach directly behind them. Then they both stared at the fishing boat which was out in front of them to their left. As it rocked gently in the water, they looked at one another, somewhat undecided.
Coita got up, but as he was about to get their attention, Earron tugged on his trousers. “No, Coita. I don’t trust La’mamm. Kyhawn should have been back by now.” Earron picked a sand bug off his leg and ate it. “Besides, we should wait and see what they’re doing.” Earron thought for a moment as he stared at them. He looked at Coita. “You know if you think about it, the only thing La’mamm cares about is getting that chest.”
Coita glanced at him, “Yeah, and remember .…”
“Shhh … listen,” Earron said as they sat close to one another. They could clearly overhear sounds of a conversation, but they couldn’t understand what was being said.
“What do you think they’re up to?” Coita wondered.
“I think they’re up to no good.” Earron turned to Coita. “We need to find out what happened to Kyhawn, but we’re not getting anywhere.” He glanced at the fishing boat. “It doesn’t make sense. Kyhawn would never tell us he’d meet us but then not show. Something’s wrong. Something’s most definitely wrong.”
Coita elbowed his way up the hillside a bit further and whispered, “I bet you two glass jars they’re trying to get Kyhawn to tell them where that chest is hidden.”
“Sometimes you can be pretty smart, Coita.” Earron elbowed his way up alongside him and whispered, “Could you run to camp one last time? If you can’t find them, find Alil. Tell her La’mamm might have forced Kyhawn to take him to where they buried that chest.”
Coita rubbed his sore foot. “What about Dylc and Shellean—where are they?”
“They’re most likely off together. Who cares?” He lowered his head. “It’s been over two hours.” He looked at Coita compassionately. “Oh wait—your foot. Please, Coita—here, let me give your foot a rub. That usually works.”
After a few minutes of rubbing, Earron looked at him. “You stay here.”
“But—”
Earron patted his leg, “Give your foot a rest, and keep a sharp eye out. I’ll return soon— with help if necessary.” He slid down the hillside, glancing at the pile of sand where the sandcastle once stood. For a split moment he felt wealthy. If only Kyhawns theory would prove true along with a loot of our own behind a cave door? The moment soon slipped away as he took off to camp.
No sooner had Earron vanished into the thick of the trees then Lord Mytoolwan and his lady friend headed toward the fishing boat. Once more Coita heard their voices, but again couldn’t understand a word. Soon after they went back to the bonfire and disappeared behind the wood shelter.
Startled by a splash in the water, Coita turned. I wish my foot didn’t ache so badly. I don’t like being here alone. He looked back at the bonfire. Where did they go off to?
Startled by another splash, Coita glanced to his left in time to see a dragonfly flying low over the water, then disappearing into the night sky. He moved in a bit. What if that Emit character did live through the shipwreck? La’mamm is probably the captain of these religious pirates. He heard what sounded like branches busting and then a sudden thump. His heart raced as he peered into the trees. Did they see me? Did they see Earron? I let him walk through those dark trees alone. He doesn’t like being in the darkness. Or are they after me? He got to his knees ready to make his escape.
The moment passed. When he glanced back up at the bonfire again, Lord Mytoolwan and his female companion were there. He took a deep breath. A moment later it began to rain. First it rains, then it stops, and then it rains again. As he slung his hood over his head, he heard another noise from behind, but no one was there. He trembled. Could there be someone else after me? Maybe it’s just Earron and Kyhawn. Or—could be one of those big dragonflies …?
As Coita debated his own thoughts, Earron disrupted everyone in camp asking if they’ve seen Kyhawn. However, no one had seen him. After waking some of the Zacs on guard duty in the process, he hurried to the medic cabin again, this time to tell Alil what he thought had happened. He shoved the blanket in the doorway aside. “Alil, we haven’t been able to find Kyhawn anywhere. La’mamm is missing too,” he announced, sounding exhausted. “We need your help, and we need it now. That La’mamm professor forced Kyhawn to go with him—I know he did. We haven’t been able to find Shellean and Dylc either.”
He untied his lucky scarf from around his neck and soaked it in the water bucket. “Kyhawn took off with La’mamm and these other Zacs over two hours ago. We haven’t seen him since.” He squeezed the water from his lucky scarf, got a drink of water, and sat on an empty bed to rest.
“I know. Coita’s told me,” she said, her arms full of towels and her hair a mess.
As Earron went on to explain about the Zacs at the bonfire, he retied his lucky scarf loosely around his neck.
“Males …” she complained. “Why can’t they pick up after themselves?” She glared at Malnur and gave him a stack of dirty towels, thinking to herself, Shellean, where is she? And to think she accused Malnur of leaving camp without telling anyone. And Kyhawn—he probably talked Shellean into going to that cave. Finally she dropped what she was doing and turned to Earron.
Earron tensed up and leaned forward. “You haven’t heard a word I said.”
“Sorry, I’m all ears. What else did you want to tell me?”
“We left Kyhawn talking with La’mamm over two hours ago. He told Coita and me he’d only be a moment. Didn’t Coita tell you about La’mamm and those with him?”
“No, not very much. Just something about making sandcastles.” She flung her arms in the air. “He mentioned that weird key …. I don’t know.” She turned to Malnur. “Don’t forget to give the Captain his medicine. And please change Nevets’s bandages when he wakes up.” She rekindled the fire. “Feels dampish in here,” she murmured. “No wonder they’re all sick.” She grabbed her cloak, “I’ll be outside if you need me.”
As they started out the door, the captain muttered, “La’mamm, is he here?” He raised his head. “I want a word with him. He hasn’t come to visit me yet. La’mamm, is that you? And what’s all the whispering about? I may not be able to see too well, but I haven’t lost my hearing.”
Alil motioned for Malnur to explain, then finally joined Earron outside. He looked at her with pleading eyes. “I wouldn’t blame Kyhawn for Shellean being missing. I don’t know where she is, but La’mamm has taken Kyhawn off in the trees with some of these other Zacs.”
Alil peered around the corner at the fire-pits where Tuenale, Werdna and a few others were sitting. “Do you need our help?” Tuenale asked, followed by Werdna.
“We might,” she replied.
“If you see Kyhawn,” Earron insisted, “keep him here until I return.”
Alil tugged at Earron’s arm, thinking about the safety of the chest, she had quickly became impatient “Well, I never … show me where you saw them last, and by all means let’s try not to upset everyone.”
“I think we should go to the beach and help Coita.” Earron started to walk away, motioning for her to follow. “He’s keeping an eye on the Mothcuh.”
But instead Alil went into the medic cabin and returned with a lantern. “Show me the way they went, this La’mamm and Kyhawn.” She lit the lantern and followed Earron across camp near Washburrn’s sleeping space. She stared at what appeared to be a pile of blankets. “I sure do wish Washburrn were here.” But then suddenly she pulled a blanket aside. “Dylc?”
Earron crouched next to her. “Is he—?”
She pulled the gag from his mouth. “He’s breathing. But the back of his head is wounded.” She tucked a blanket behind his head. “Now we know why we couldn’t find him.”
Dylc opened his eyes, “La’mamm. La’mamm and Coilpec have taken the crystals.” He pressed his hands to his head and moaned.
“The crystals—” Earron stood erect with his arms crossed. “Then we need to get there at once—what are we waiting for?”
“Now just calm down,” Alil insisted. She looked at Dylc, “Can you stand on your own?”
“I think so…?”
Alil and Earron helped him to his feet, quickly explaining what was happening. When Alil felt he grasped the situation, she looked at Earron. “Lead the way.”
Dylc still seemed somewhat dazed. “I need to send Zacs to the beach to save Kyhawn … that fishing boat … from La’mamm?”
“Yes, and by all means hurry—lives are at stake!”
Dylc hurried around the corner to where Werdna and a few others stood alerted from the commotion. And within a few minutes they were fast on their way to the beach.
Meanwhile Earron was leading Alil in the direction La’mamm and his comrades took Kyhawn. “One more thing, when Coita and I followed them out here, they were talking in a foreign language.”
Alil thought, What is all of this? Whoever these Zacs are, surely Kyhawn didn’t take them to that chest. She paused. “Are you certain this is the way they went?”
Earron crossed his arms. “Yes, ma’am, I’m certain.”
“You did right by coming to me.” She placed her hand on his shoulders. “Now I want you to listen, and do as I say. Go back to camp and stay put until all of this is over.”
“But—”
“Please do as I ask,” she said as she disappeared into the trees. Now all she had to do was remember where Washburrn had buried the chest. He shared this secret with her for the second time just before he’d gone to the ruins, but she didn’t think she’d ever need to recover it from her memory. Which way is it? I wish I had a map to go by. I wish Washburrn was here. All he’s been doing is going away and leaving me in charge. And the Captain, he hasn’t been much good either since the shipwreck. Male Zacs, where are they when you need them most.…
She pondered for a moment longer as she entered the graveyard. Was it to the right of the two trees crossing over each other, or the left? Wait—it wasn’t to the right or the left. It should be straight ahead until I get to the stones with the trees growing from them. She held the lantern out in front. Freshly cut limbs. Good sign someone’s been this way.
Confident she was going in the correct direction, she walked a way farther, and sure enough, there before her were the trees growing from the stones, just like Washburrn had described them. Where to next? Wait a minute, Washburrn and that chest—he had already buried it before he helped Gelhona and the others find their way to the rocks where he came ashore. It has to be in this direction. White flower trees. I need to watch for white flower trees. She shook her head. “What a mess.” After making up her mind which way to go, she went in the direction Washburrn took when he first came ashore, continuing to rely on her instincts and a little common sense.
The Dagger-Key and The Lost Treasures of Kebadon Page 24
