by Duane Alston
“I don't get a thing out of these stones around my neck, perhaps it'll happen at a certain time of day. I don't know. Let's finish and get downstairs. I'm hungry,” Jalaby said.
“You sound like Tom more and more. Thousands of Fog Warriors on the way and you think of food. Alright two more rooms and this level is done,” Sarah said.
“OK, I'm with you two. Help me with this door, it's stuck.” Talisbon said.
It was Jalaby that came to his aid and after the lock and hinges would not give way, they began to kick the door. That method proved the best and through splintered wood, they entered. They had high hopes but it was just as empty as all the other rooms, and then Jalaby jumped. The stones around his neck had finally begun to be felt. Unlike all the previous experiences, Jalaby felt a tremendous urge in his mind to move upward and he was starting to visualize a room when the stones abruptly quit sending their strange communication, leaving him feeling exhausted.
“Whoa, that was quite the experience,” said Jalaby looking dazed.
“What happened?” Cried Sarah looking concerned.
“The stones, and what I do know is that it's not in this room or on this floor, it's upwards on another level, so we can stop for the moment and get lunch. It's a relief really because I was beginning to wonder if the third stone was here at all.” Jalaby said firmly and sounding quite upbeat.
“Wait! Jalaby how can you stop after all we've been through just when it's so close?” Asked Sarah sounding frustrated.
“Well, there is nothing I'd like more than to hunt around this spooky hotel with you in the dark but just then I was almost able to visualize the location of the third stone. The trouble is, I think my tiredness and lack of energy is making it hard to keep a lock on visualizing the location, so it will actually be faster with some rest,” Jalaby said.
“OK, sounds like a plan. Let's eat then,” she said brightly and they all headed downstairs.
After their meal, Jalaby was able to take a quick nap and a little while later Jalaby awoke with a start or rather he didn't, because he wasn't sure he was really awake. It began when he thought about how Brand was doing. That triggered the stones and the next thing he knew he was on a small hill looking down and seeing Brand walking at the foot of Neteos Mountain. There was also a lone Zeffert with him.
“Is it all going well?” Jalaby shouted.
Startled, they looked up and Brand immediately broke into a smile.
“How'd you catch-up, I mean....” Brand started but Jalaby broke in.
“This is just the Stone's projection and I can't hold it long. Is everything OK? I felt there was some danger earlier.” Jalaby asked.
“There was. Some Fog Warriors tracked me but my Zeffert friend here had two of his other buddies lead them astray. The good news I should have told you before is that the Olandie have a signaling location high on the mountain so I will be able to let Constanto know shortly and he will be able to move very quickly in your direction.” Brand said sounding quite pleased.
“Fine, Fine. I'll keep in touch the best I can and when I get that third stone I think we will be more than ready for the Fog Warriors. I feel the connection slipping away, good luck and bye for now.” Jalaby finished but did not get a reply as the image faded.
Jalaby then woke up for real to see Talisbon, who was on watch, eyeing him curiously.
“Anything wrong Master Langmaster?” Asked Talisbon with what Jalaby felt was a touch of coldness in tone to add to the smirk on Talisbon's face.
“No, quite the contrary. Brand is close to where he needs to be in order to get help, which I think we will need very soon.” Jalaby stated amiably, ignoring Talisbon's mood. “We should be able to find the third stone today because after that quick nap, I can actually feel the direction to it, but I won't tune it in until we are all ready to move,” and with that, Jalaby ignored Talisbon's affirmative grunt and went to where Sarah was napping. He especially enjoyed waking up Sarah by blowing on her hair. Her soft expression, as she looked up, gave him a strong desire to do more but reality broke into his thoughts and he just smiled and asked if she was ready to go.
“I feel it, today's the day, by the way, I was able to see Brand, thanks to the stones and he is closer to getting some help. I couldn't communicate as long as I wanted to but it was enough.” Jalaby finished by pulling Sarah to her feet and within minutes they were once again poised at the bottom of the staircase.
“I'm getting a strong indication that up is where we need to go. I felt it earlier when we were on the second floor. So let's start with the third floor and see what that brings.” Jalaby then led them up the large staircase to the second floor. From there, he knew from before that to gain access to the upper levels they would need to use the stairs at either end of the floor hallway. Jalaby headed down the hall and went up the stairs to the third floor. He stopped. Jalaby sensed that they needed to continue upward.
“I don't know how many floors this hotel has but it's further up.” Jalaby said.
“OK, onward and upward,” said Sarah and headed upstairs.
It was the same story on every floor they arrived at, but on the sixth floor the stairs ended, but Jalaby said it was still upwards. “OK, let's explore this floor thoroughly. There may be a room that has another set of stairs. Let's also try the other stairwell at the opposite side of this floor.” Jalaby motioned for everyone to follow.
Chapter 31
They entered the sixth floor hallway through a door off the stairs, but to their surprise, this floor was different. There were a couple of rooms to the right and left but the hallway abruptly ended at a set of huge double doors.
“Ah ha, this must be the best suite in the hotel and if I were to guess, the largest. Let's see if we can get these doors open,” said Jalaby.
Talisbon tried the doors first and was rewarded by a loud creak as the doors swung inward on their hinges.
“Great!” Jalaby said excitedly and peered in with the others. It was very similar to the other rooms in that there were no furnishings but Jalaby noted that it was much more luxurious than the other rooms. At least the remaining wood trim seemed quite expensive and of course it was a much bigger room.
“OK, I say up, so let's look for any sign of another way higher.”
The suite was three rooms, a large living room, a bedroom and a smaller bathroom. They discovered a closet in the bedroom and a small coat closet next to the entrance door.
Jalaby could feel where the third stone was and moved to almost the center of the room.
“Here it is, directly above where I'm standing. I'd say no more than fifteen feet above the ceiling.” Jalaby said while pointing up from where he stood.
“Well that's great. Did anyone happen to notice that the roof appears to be stone? If this hotel was built inside a cave, then I think this may be the rock ceiling of the cave.” Sarah pointed out.
Jalaby was so preoccupied with searching that it took a moment for her observation to register. They stood looking at the spot above Jalaby for a moment and then Jalaby spoke.
“OK, she's right but I sense a void above us. Perhaps there is a cavern above this cave. Check all the room and closets for an access door that might lead up.” Jalaby said and began to examine the ceiling foot by foot. It wasn't long before Sarah found it. In the bedroom closet ceiling there was a barely visible door.
“Found something here,” Sarah shouted and Jalaby and Talisbon responded by quickly moving through the bedroom and crowding up to the entrance of the closet door.
“Find something to stand on. I can't reach it,” Sarah said excitedly.
They began a frantic search for something to use as a makeshift ladder. It was Talisbon who found or rather borrowed part of the balcony railing from the second floor. They wedged it in the closet to act as a ladder to reach what they all thought was a door. It was a door and since Sarah discovered it they gave her the honor of seeing what lay behind it first. She opened it.
“Some honor
you guys. There is nothing but a rock wall shaft that leads up. The good news is that it has a built-in ladder. The bad news is that it looks pretty rickety but since I'm the lightest, I'll have a go.” Sarah said starting to grab the first rung.
“Wait!” Jalaby said.
“Wait for what? I suppose you are going to tell me it is too dangerous,” said Sarah sounding frustrated.
“No, that's not what I'm saying at all. I just want you to take a rope with you so you can lower it back down. If we are too heavy for the ladder when we go up, we can use the rope. That is, if there is room up there.” Jalaby said matter-of-factly.
Sarah's laugh broke the momentary awkward silence.
“Sarah, I think it's too dangerous, let me get up there,” Talisbon said seriously.
“Not a chance, hand up that rope you have hanging from your belt and hurry, I want to see what's up there at the top. Looks about ten more feet to the top of the shaft.”
Without further protest, which surprised Jalaby, Talisbon handed Sarah the rope and she began making her way up with the aid of everyone's lantern projecting upward to give her light.
“Hey, I'm up. Pass up a lantern so I can see,” Sarah said slightly breathless.
Jalaby quickly scrambled up the rail ladder and with Sarah reaching down and him reaching up, she got the lantern.
“Wow!” Sarah said with excitement.
“What is it?” Jalaby's and Talisbon's voices joined together.
“It's bigger than I imagined. There is plenty of room, come on up.” Sarah said with no drop in excitement.
They soon all made it up the shaft. Even Talisbon, although he took the longest and they all discovered what had made Sarah so excited. There was a huge dome area as large as the whole first floor of the hotel. The ceiling was very high, perhaps fifty feet but Jalaby knew what excited Sarah. It was the walls. They were pure white and despite the pale yellow light of their lanterns, the light that was reflected back was a very bright white, which made the uneven walls seem to sparkle.
“Wow is right Sarah,” Jalaby said as he reached her and gently put a hand on her shoulder, at which they smiled at each other momentarily.
“The stone Jalaby, the stone!” Sarah said and stared at him expectantly.
“Right, yes I feel a direction and the good news is that it is not indicating that the direction is up anymore. It's this way,” and Jalaby began to move in the direction his stones were indicating. In a short distance they hit a rock wall.
“Not again,” moaned Jalaby. “Can't we get a break?”
Talisbon had not interacted in their conversations for quite a while so Jalaby was surprised when he spoke. “How close do you think it is Jalaby. Perhaps there's a pocket in the wall big enough to hold the stone. It need not be very big.”
“It feels like it is only a foot away. Talisbon, you may be right so start looking at the wall right here.” Jalaby said and began to feel the wall as he held the lantern for light.
It didn't take long before Sarah shouted. “I've found something.” Unlike the others, Sarah started at the bottom of the wall and she now crouched as she touched something about a foot above the floor.
“What is it? What have you got?” Jalaby asked urgently.
“It's a small lever of sorts, inside a small crevice. I'm going to pull it and you guys see if anything happens.” Sarah spoke calmly.
Jalaby heard a click and near the area where he sensed the stone, a rock door slid open revealing a small pocket carved in the rock wall which contained a small ornate box. Even without picking it up, Jalaby could see that there were quite a lot of intricate shapes and patterns on the side facing him and also on the lid.
“Well I bet this must be what we've been looking for,” said Sarah lightly and continued. “It's all yours Jalaby, open it up.”
Jalaby hesitated before responding. “Well, this is what began this journey. I hope it brings us what we need.” Reluctant or not, Jalaby knew he had a job to do and reached in to pull out the box. After dusting it off with his hand, he fumbled with the front latching mechanism which finally gave way with an audible click. Everyone moved in for a closer look as Jalaby opened the lid. It was there alright. A beautiful blue stone mounted on bronze. It was larger than the orange combination of stones Jalaby had around his neck. He imagined it would have to be larger if the first two stones were supposed to fit inside the third but it wasn't that much bigger and there was no indentation or pocket for the first two stones to fit into. Jalaby took the stone out of the box and examined it.
“Guesses anyone? I'm pushing and pulling on every surface of the stone but nothing is happening. I do feel that this is the right one,” Jalaby said as he continued to examine the stone.
The stone was blue and was embedded in a square shaped piece of bronze which had tarnished to a very dark color.
“Talisbon, do you have any ideas on how this stone works?” Jalaby asked.
“No!” Talisbon said somewhat forcefully. So much so that Jalaby and Sarah turned and momentarily stared at him.
“Looks like someone got up grumpy this morning,” said Sarah obviously trying to lighten the mood.
Jalaby disregarded the others and looked again at the stone, which seemed to glow slightly or was it his imagination.
“Well for what it's worth, we have the stone. Let's get it downstairs and see if we can figure it out.” Jalaby said somewhat reluctantly as if the room they were in might give him the clue to how the stones would all fit together.
“I'm with you,” said Sarah. “This place has lost its charm and hoping I don't sound like my brother, I'm hungry.”
Back in the main lobby where they set up camp, Jalaby sat at a makeshift table and pondered the problem. He was alone but could hear Sarah and Talisbon in the next room noisily making the evening meal. The set of two stones he had been wearing and the third stone lay before him on the table. Whereas the first stone was inserted into the Du-stone, the third stone, which was the Tairstone, as the legend calls it, seems to be already in a square pendant. There can't be two mountings for the stones? Perhaps I need to remove one or both of the stones from their bronze mounts of the pendants, Jalaby thought. He had tried countless times to put the stones together, touching every surface that was exposed but to no avail. There must be something he was missing. He remembered that when Talisbon was describing the completed set of stones, Talisbon had referred to an eight point star but none of the stones or the pendants that held them resembled a star whatsoever. Maybe I got this all wrong and instead of the stones merging like they did for the first two stones, maybe it's the pendants that hold the stones that I need to concentrate on. With that, Jalaby began to look at the pendants themselves more closely. He was thinking that both pendant's bronze mounts appear identical and square. That's when realization hit him! If you put two perfect squares together forty five degrees apart, they form a rudimentary eight point star!
Jalaby grabbed up both stone bearing pendants and examined them closely. He then placed them back to back and aligned them. They were square and of the exact same size. Jalaby then rotated them slightly until they formed the eight point star. Jalaby felt heat and saw a brief white light before the two pendants fused together as one! On one side was the two stone combination and on the other side was the third stone. All stones were now the same red color just as Talisbon had foretold a few days ago. Jalaby looked up to see Sarah and Talisbon staring at him with their mouths open in surprise.
“It worked!” Jalaby shouted and he saw Sarah's expression change from surprise to joy. Talisbon's countenance gave little away but Jalaby was too excited to give much thought to it.
Sarah and Jalaby looked at each other and Jalaby knew what she was thinking. It was time to put it on. He hesitated only slightly, remembering his Uncle and the words written from his parents. This was why they had come. He put it on. At first nothing happened and then his senses seemed to increase to the point of overloading his brain. He tried to focus a
nd images came flooding.
“There's trouble. Henry's almost here!” Jalaby said with agitation.
Just then Henry burst through the hotel doorway.
“It's Tom and Connel! Fog Warriors took them! They let me go only to give you a message. It is from one of the Minders. He said you know him and his name is Noble Sonrad. He wants whatever stones you have in exchange for your friends,” Henry said in a rush, leaving little air left in his lungs to continue speaking. It took a moment for him to recover but no one moved or spoke, waiting for more. “He asked you to bring the stones to the Fortress Aldon. It's an old Fog Warrior fortress that was abandoned many years ago and is just south of here. He said you have three days to make the exchange else your friends will be taken to King Crieton as spies. This usually means death.” Henry finished and sat down with evident exhaustion.
“Jalaby! We've got to do Something!” Sarah's voice broke with emotion and the pained look on her face made Jalaby quickly put an arm around her.
“Of course, we'll leave immediately. We have only a few hours before night but we'll travel as far as we can. Henry, how far is that fortress?” Jalaby asked.
“It's only two days ride. I think that Minder gave you more time because I told them you didn't have the third stone yet,” said Henry wearily.
“Alright that helps. While we travel Talisbon, I need to know everything you can think of in regard to wielding what power these stones have.” Jalaby said looking at Talisbon and for some reason expected an argument.
“Of course. We can discuss all I know on the way. I will do everything I can to help those boys.” Talisbon's sincerity made Jalaby feel guilty about his recent negative thoughts towards him.
“You found it! You found the last stone?” Henry shouted excitedly.
“Yes we did. Now I just need to figure out how to use them to save our friends. You have helped tremendously Henry. You can return home.” Jalaby immediately saw the disappointment on Henry's face. “What lies ahead for us is dangerous and we may not return. I'm sure your parents would not want you involved.” Jalaby said earnestly.
