* * *
Kyhawn stood tied and gagged while Jayden continued to press the dagger against his back. Yamm crouched and swiftly gathered the contents of the box. As he did so, Malnur slipped a note under Washburrn’s pillow. Seconds later they were on their way to the temple ruins.
“Aren’t we supposed to be taking Alil captive?” Yamm sounded somewhat confused. “I don’t think Emit’s going to like us changing his plans.”
“He’s always changing his plans.” Jayden shoved Kyhawn forward. “This one was much easier to capture.” He chuckled inwardly as they started to climb the steep rocky mountainside.
When they had reached a large narrow flat stone where only small bushes grew, they stopped to study the map of the island. Admiring the stones, they were certain the map was sure to lead them to a wealth of colored stones. They untied Kyhawn and demanded he show them where the rest of the loot was hidden. To satisfy their lust, he pointed to the cave.
Malnur held a lantern and the map close. “Is this where you Zacs buried our artifacts?” He tapped on the map. “We know the chest has been opened because of that dagger-key.”
“Yeah,” Yamm jumped in. “We think you’ve buried our jewels far away from that chest to try and trick us.” He gave Kyhawn another shove. “Where are they—did you hide them in this cave?”
Jayden kept one hand firmly on Kyhawn’s arm. “Can’t you two see, his mouth is too full to answer you,” he chuckled, as he jerked Kyhawn’s gag away from his mouth.
“No one has opened that chest,” Kyhawn said angrily. “The dagger-key is magic. And it’s much more powerful than any of you ever dreamed of being.” As their conversation dragged on, they felt they were getting nowhere with Kyhawn any more than he had already told them. “Emit will get the truth out of him,” Jayden retied and the young detective’s hands while Yamm stuffed his mouth with the scarf, and they pressed on.
In the meantime Washburrn had gone to his sleeping space to find his lantern missing. Where did Kyhawn run off to? He decided to go look for him in the kitchen cabin, but he wasn’t there. Next he went back to the medic cabin. When he didn’t find him there, he started for his sleeping space again. On his way he stopped at the fire-pits. “Earron, have you seen Kyhawn,” he took out his timepiece, “in the last thirty minutes?”
“No sir, we haven’t.”
“I haven’t either.” Bekim was sitting among them. The others all shook their head as well.
“Why? Is something wrong?” Earron had noted the concerned tone in Washburrn’s voice.
“Hopefully not, but he was supposed to meet with me at my sleeping space. Could you three young Zacs give me a hand in finding him?”
“Sure.” Earron gestured at Coita and Bekim to follow him and Washburrn.
“Over there—perhaps he’s over there.” Washburrn pointed. “Bekim, do you think you and your dad could ask around for him? Search the outskirts of camp if needed.”
As Bekim and Treb gathered some others to help, Washburrn, Earron, and Coita went to Washburrn’s sleeping space. “I didn’t want Bekim or anyone else to know where Kyhawn hid that box,” Washburrn said. “He was going to show me something inside, something about a secret. He mentioned something about a hollow tree. You three hid it?”
“We know where the box is hidden.” The look Coita gave Earron indicated he was somewhat puzzled about Washburrn’s intentions.
“Washburrn, did he tell you about our cabacs and the coded map?” Earron asked.
“No,” Washburrn said. “But for now let’s focus on finding Kyhawn.” He paused. “My lamp’s missing, but these candles will do.”
While Earron and Coita searched all three hollow trees, Washburrn discovered footprints and began to suspect foul play. “Stay where you are!” Washburrn crouched, slipping on his glasses to have a closer view for clues. “Appears there’s been a scuffle here.”
“The box is gone.” Earron crossed his arms as Coita stood with his hands on his hips.
“Stay put,” Washburrn told them. “It appears as though two … or three Zacs have recently gone this way. I can’t tell how many exactly—could have been four. Wait—what’s this?” He held up a beautiful green stone.
“That’s one of our stones.” Coita looked alarmed.
“Yeah—what’s it doing lying on the ground?” Earron questioned. “It must be those Grongels.” He was stunned by his own words.
Washburrn nodded slowly. “I’m afraid it looks that way, but we shouldn’t jump to any conclusions.”
“Jump to conclusions!” Earron stood up straighter. “What do you mean? He’s not in camp. Our box is missing. And you found one of our stones.” He crossed his arms in anger. “Where else could he be? You said he was supposed to meet you here.”
“Hold on there—first we get some better lights and some help.” A terrible feeling began to haunt Washburrn.
Bekim came around the corner with Treb and others following behind. “We couldn’t find him, sir. What are we doing now?” Treb asked.
“Keeping searching,” Washburrn insisted as he continued to study the footprints.
After searching for Kyhawn all throughout camp and to the beach and back, they’d begun to lose faith in finding him.
Soon after a small group had gathered around Washburrn’s sleeping space. It was then Washburrn found a note signed by Emit saying he wanted to trade the chest for Alil and a few lifeboats, and that she wouldn’t be harmed as long as he showed himself within twenty-four hours. As well, he was to come to the temple ruin alone if he wanted to see Alil alive. But Alil stood only a few feet from Washburrn. They were indeed baffled as it was Kyhawn missing, not Alil. They could only conclude that Emit had taken him instead of her.
Before the conversation had ended, the captain demanded that Zeal, Tobben, and others go with Washburrn, but not until the following morning when there was plenty of light. “So once you and Kyhawn are on your way to where you buried that chest, everyone else will be hiding. At the given moment, they’ll surprise them.” The captain stamped the ground with his cane. “We’ll put an end to this. No matter whom they are.” He stared at Washburrn, then turned toward Earron. “Help me up.”
After everyone had gone, Washburrn sat on his bed, back to the wall, all alone. He wasn’t sure what hurt worst: knowing Gelhona, his longtime friend, might be dead or even worse, she might have betrayed him and the crew, or thinking about Kyhawn being tortured. The note did say Kyhawn wouldn’t be harmed, well Alil … He ran his fingers through his thinning hair, then pulled his book out from under his pillow. “My book,” he muttered, gazing at it, he flipped through the pages as if he wished he was back in the land of Rhaw. He slammed it close, put it aside, and thought. Should I wait until tomorrow?
While Earron and Coita secretly watched him from the nearby foliage, Washburrn unburied his private supply of mogg juice.
In the dark fog of the night, a candle burned next to Washburrn as he pondered his thoughts. Should I wait until morning? His soul tore at him. Finally he rose, slung his cabac over his shoulders, hesitated, then slipped off the cabac, sat back down on his bed, and relit the candle.
“He might be staying after all.” Coita felt somewhat relieved.
Earron stared. “He’s not going to let Kyhawn stay up there all night with those killers. When he leaves, we’ll be close behind. Besides, he’ll need our help.” Earron tapped his weapons to show he was well armed.
“How will we be able to tell what he’s doing in all this fog?”
“Shhh… he’s getting up. He’s grabbing his cabac again.” Earron got to his knees and whispered, “He was merely having trouble making up his mind.”
“I wish he would.”
The Dagger-Key and The Lost Treasures of Kebadon Page 39
