Crystal Doors #1 (11 page)

Gwen’s mouth opened, closed, opened again. “That’s not what I think it is — is it?”

Sharif enjoyed her obvious surprise. “Yes. Did I guess correctly that you would not choose to share the group facilities
outside
the building?”

“Good call, Sharif. Right, Doc?” Vic couldn’t wait to see how Gwen would cope with life in such a rustic environment. He didn’t mind at all.

“Perhaps you will be comforted to know that only novice quarters are so… basic,” Sharif said.

Gwen looked in chagrin from her new bed to the side walls, to the pit toilet, and back to Vic. But he grinned at her. “You know what Mom always used to say. ‘Life is what we make it… “

“‘… and life makes us what we are,’” Gwen finished with a sigh. “Thank you, Sharif.”

“Yup, thanks,” Vic said. “I sure wish I’d brought my toothbrush, though.” The young man from Irrakesh showed them
how to use the frayed end of an aromatic twig to scrub their teeth. The wood tasted of cinnamon and ginger, and Vic’s mouth felt refreshed and clean when he was finished.

As he was settling down for the night, having drawn the curtains across the ceiling and door of his cubicle, Vic heard a commotion in the communal area. He climbed off his bed, pulled aside his door curtain, and was delighted to see a lost-looking Tiaret at the center of the dormitory. “Sheesh, I thought they took you to the Hall of Healers to spend a few days recuperating!”

The dark-skinned girl still wore her spotted pelts, but they were clean and dry now. Bandages covered wounds on her arms, legs, and cheek. Though she tried to be strong, she had obviously not recovered yet from the dehydration and exposure from her ordeal.

“I do not require further assistance from the healers,” she said. “Master Kundu wanted me to study at the Citadel. I will not disappoint him. I intend to begin immediately.”

“Wow — and I was impressed when you were just kicking shark butt. You’re welcome to join us,” Vic said. “There’s plenty of empty rooms.” Gwen and Sharif had poked their heads out of their cubicles now.

Tiaret started toward them, leaning on the heavy teaching staff. “There is little time to rest if the merlons intend to attack. Tomorrow I meet with the Pentumvirate in an emergency session.” She took another step, then hesitated, swaying dizzily. “I must—”

“Whoa.” Vic caught Tiaret before she could collapse. “Okay, I think you might be overdoing it just a bit.”

“Don’t push yourself, Tiaret,” Gwen said. “Nobody will think less of you if you give yourself some time to recover.”

Sharif gestured to a vacant chamber, and the two cousins helped Tiaret onto the empty bed. The injured girl grudgingly lay back. “This is most embarrassing.”

“But not surprising. Think of everything you’ve been through,” Vic said.

Sharif brought Tiaret a cup of water. “My people have a saying: Self-pride is the enemy of wisdom.”

“Perhaps you are right. I should sleep. It would serve no good purpose if I were to collapse in the midst of battle.”

Vic laid the teaching staff next to the bed’s stone riser. “It’s right here if you need it. I’m counting on you to keep us safe if any monsters attack in the night.”

“I will protect you, Viccus.”

When the crystals dimmed and all the students settled down to sleep, Vic heaved a long sigh and lay back, exhausted. They were in a strange, new environment, and so many unbelievable things had happened to them that he hoped Gwen would not lie awake and restless all night.

“I sure hope nobody snores,” Vic muttered. Before he knew it, he fell asleep.

GWEN KNEW SHE NEEDED to rest and clear her mind so that she could begin solving their problems in a logical and organized fashion. Finding a way home, communicating with Uncle Cap… after that, maybe she could relax and enjoy all the remarkable sights of Elantya.

At dawn, when the novs got out of bed and went through their morning routines, she and Vic fumbled through the unfamiliar activities. Vic hovered close to the girl from Afirik, making sure she was recovered. Tiaret seemed much stronger, however, and Vic seemed disappointed that she didn’t need his help. Tiaret was already talking about improving the island’s defenses. Gwen felt sorry for any merlons the dark-skinned girl might encounter from now on.

With the rolled carpet tucked under his arm like a treasure map and the glowing sphere of Piri hanging at his chest,
Sharif joined them. He smiled at Tiaret. “I trust you need no further rescuing this morning?”

“I am quite safe at present,” she said.

Vic volunteered to go with Tiaret to meet with the Pentumvirate, but Gwen reminded him that they were supposed to go see Sage Rubicas again. “We’ve got our own mystery, Taz. Let’s figure out how we got transported through that crystal door. Lyssandra is probably already at the tower waiting for us.”

Vic frowned, as if the decision was difficult. Obviously, he wouldn’t have minded spending time with either Tiaret or Lyssandra.

Sharif broke in, “I will escort Tiaret to the Pentumvirate.”

“That is not necessary. I have a very good sense of direction.” The lean girl grasped her teaching staff and headed off toward the government buildings. Sharif hurried after Tiaret anyway, pretending to show her the way.

While the students went to lessons in the Citadel buildings, Gwen and Vic made their way to the sage’s laboratory watchtower, which stood on one of the highest points in the city. Lyssandra met them outside. Vic beamed when he saw her.

“Sage Rubicas and Orpheon are preparing to meet with the Pentumvirate,” the telepathic girl said.

The twin cousins explained their hope that Rubicas would ask the Pentumvirate to assist them.

“Do you think they’ll agree to help us?” Gwen asked.

“The Master Sage will certainly present your unusual case to the five virs.” Lyssandra frowned. “But I must caution you that they may be more concerned about the merlon threat.”

“Sure, who needs to worry about two misplaced teenagers?” Gwen said.

While the three teens talked, the bearded sage and his assistant bustled out. Overhearing their conversation, Rubicas waved a finger at Gwen. “Hmm, now do not worry. I will ask the virs to help you. Do not underestimate the significance of your arrival. Mysterious strangers should not be able to come from a world whose crystal door was sealed in the Great Closure. The magical and scientific issues are most intriguing.”

“We will see what the Pentumvirate has to say,” Orpheon added, pushing past them.

“Wait here for us. You can… hmm, find something to occupy yourselves.”

“And do not cause further damage,” Orpheon warned; then the two men hurried down the steep street.

Entering the main chamber, the three looked at the disordered laboratory room. The sage’s chambers were still in need of repair from the smoke damage, flash explosions, and crystal meltdowns. “Wow, did we do all this?” Vic asked.

Gwen said, “We should help clean up the mess. It was our fault… sort of.”

“What if Rubicas has this junk organized in a special way?” Vic asked. “The, uh, randomizer technique of organization.”

“Just like your room, Dr. Distracto.”

“Hey, I know where everything is.”

Gwen picked up one of the blackened shards of crystal. A faint whiff of exotic smoke still hung in the air. “I want to help. I feel like we should be doing something.”

Lyssandra sorted through the singed scrolls strewn on the
floor and across the table. “I am certain Sage Rubicas would not mind.”

Together, Gwen, Vic, and Lyssandra reassembled and polished the magical equipment, cleaned the windows and shelves, and scrubbed scorch marks from the marble walls and floors.

“So… what kind of troubles have you had with the merlons before?” Gwen asked. It seemed like something they needed to know.

Lyssandra looked at her. “Month by month, their acts of aggression grow more bold. Our fishermen’s nets have been slashed, anchor lines cut, and docks undermined. In the last year we have had to bring in large shipments of lumber to rebuild three docks.”

“What have they got against you?” Vic asked. “This place is practically a Utopia.”

“Save for Elantya, the rest of this world is ocean. The merlons resent our presence and would gladly leave the crystal doors unguarded and available to any conquering tyrant who can find a Key. Although for many generations the merlons tolerated and ignored us, they have recently resorted to overt violence, such as the attack on Captain Argo’s ship.”

“So what ticked them off?” Vic asked. “Did somebody dump toxic waste into the sea?”

“We do not know. We have had very little contact with the merlons. But something must have changed to incite them to this bloodshed.”

The three friends had most of the clutter cleaned up by the
time Rubicas and Orpheon returned from the Pentumvirate meeting, talking intensely about defensive options, new spell ideas, and potential weapons.

Gwen and Vic met them with hopeful eyes. Rubicas seemed startled, as if he had forgotten all about the two newcomers. “Ah, hmm, when I told them about your amazing arrival, the five virs were mystified to hear of a new crystal door to a world we had thought cut off from us by the Great Closure!”

Orpheon was stern. “But Elantya is much more concerned with the new merlon crisis, as I had anticipated.”

Rubicas nodded somberly. “Tiaret was there to answer questions, and several fishermen came forward. Admiral Bradsinoreus of the patrol galleys produced records to show how many ships have gone missing in the past year. The pattern is obvious: The merlons are already waging war against us.” The bearded sage spread his hands in an apologetic gesture. “This could threaten all of us, and so the virs’ priority is clear. I am sorry they cannot help you, at least not now. Our Protective Vir Helassa was quite adamant.”

Gwen hung her head. “Sure. We understand.”

Drawing his eyebrows together, Orpheon added, “Helassa’s exact words were, ‘We have greater considerations than the demands of two uninvited children. They will have to wait until the crisis is resolved.’ Some virs were skeptical of your story and even suggested that you might be spies for the undersea realm. In fact, Vir Pecunyas suggested it was very convenient and suspicious that you arrived just when another ship was attacked.”

“Sheesh, you’ve got to be kidding!” Vic said with a snort.

“Vir Pecunyas was definitely in the minority.” Rubicas looked embarrassed. “However, many do not like the idea of our poking around in new worlds and trying to open sealed crystal doors. Helassa herself asked if we had learned nothing from the Great Closure.”

Gwen was about to ask what he meant, but as the sage glanced around the room, he suddenly noticed that all the clutter had been picked up. His face lit with delight. “Hmm, excellent! Orpheon and I need to get to work right away. The Pentumvirate ordered us to prepare extreme measures against the merlons.” He picked up several scrolls and sniffed them, as if to see whether the flames had damaged the sparkling ink. “Oh, yes, and they said you are welcome to remain in Elantya under my protection for as long as you need.”

“And as long as you dwell among us in peace,” Orpheon added. “In the meantime, Sage Rubicas and I cannot waste time or resources helping you find your way back home.”

Rubicas tried to sound reassuring. “Someday when we are once again at peace with the merlons, we will have the leisure to assist you.”

Gwen’s heart sank as she recognized that any chance of getting back to Uncle Cap and Earth would be a long time coming.

SO THEY WERE ON their own. It wasn’t what he’d expected, but at least Vic knew this was going to be interesting. He loved to jump into problems and puzzles, using anything he could find to piece together a workable solution. But first he needed more information. He cleared his throat to get the old sage’s attention. “So what’s the story with this merlon misunderstanding, conflict, war… whatever you want to call it? Tell us more about the merlons.”

Rubicas started climbing a set of copper rungs set into the wall frame between his tall aquariums. He carried a small bowl of dried insects to feed the fish. “It is a long story, spanning many centuries. It began —”

The scimitar of Orpheon’s voice sliced the air. “All merlons hate land-dwellers, and wish that Elantya would sink back
beneath the waves. That is all you need to know.” He reorganized the spell scrolls.

Vic could barely keep himself from laughing. “I was, uh, hoping for a little more detail than that.”

Orpheon looked in frustration at the sage. “If you plan to engage in lengthy storytelling, Master Rubicas, perhaps I should search the storehouses for lesser aja crystals? We need to replace the star aja that was damaged when these two came through the crystal door.”

“Hmm, a fine idea, Orpheon.”

Without further encouragement, the assistant strode out of the laboratory room in a huff. The sage lifted an access hatch on top and began dropping bug bits into the bubbling aquarium water, humming to himself. Inside, four frisky aquits swam to and fro, chasing fish and making the glow eels shine even brighter. Rubicas mumbled, distracted. “I keep telling Orpheon this is his responsibility, but he ignores it. Frankly, I think he dislikes my aquits because they always swim away from him.”