I watched the Greenfur; they were so far from what at some time long ago, possibly eons ago, their ancestors had been. For these gentle forest dwellers, the idea of space travel, crystal storage documents and healing pods was beyond anything that certainly the young could even dream of in their wildest dreams. But here we were.
After much argument all but Geronimo and one other left to take word back to the village that all were safe. Then we started to look for the hidden boat that was mentioned.
“Miss Aisha, over here. I think I have found something.”
Over on the far side of the water, was a cliff face that stretched for some way back towards the sloping ceiling. What they had found was an octagonal anomaly, which is what we had been told would be needed to place the medallion into. It could have been like looking for a needle in a haystack if I had not listened to both the crystal messages, as this information had been left in Pops' message.
I slipped the medallion into place and the cliff face shimmered and disappeared. In its place now was a space that had been hidden from view. This zone was bathed in a kaleidoscope of pastel rainbow light which shimmered and continuously changed. Then I heard a voice deep in my heart-mind.
“In uncovering the forgotten history, you have completed the final part of the riddle but the first part remains. Heed the warnings, and continue, yet now you are armed with more understanding. Yet, do not let it cloud your judgement for the adversary, while not part of what you have found, is part of the whole. In truth, the true power within will now be your only guide, and your heart should be the barometer to reach the objective. Take one who has roots within the castle with you, for his destiny is now tied to your journey.”
The voice, I knew was that of the keepers of the obsidian circle. So they were indeed watching at all times. I suppose I should have been glad to take someone with me, then I remembered I had wished to have help. I was going to have to be more careful what I wished for.
The boat, well, it was nothing conventional, it was a double pod. As I approached it the lid slid silently up and inside were two reclining seats. Geronimo looked at it. He was standing silently next to me, and as I looked around I noticed they were all there.
“That is not a boat. Is it?”
Geronimo was looking at the pod very suspiciously.
“It seats two, but you can I presume operate this thing alone.”
It wasn’t a question, more of a statement in the hope that I would confirm I could. Pops and Digger had gone off to the side slightly and were talking with their heads together. I walked over and had a closer look at the pod. Yes, I could operate it myself, but, then I also knew I should, from what I had been told, ask Digger to go with me.