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Part 8: The Ice Fields Adventure
352 Robert Oster Deep Sea
“My dear friend, Professor Eenness, has gone missing,” Heilari said. “You must find her.” She opened a door. “Her office.” Essri studied the room, afraid to say that he couldn’t find a person he’d never seen before. “Eenness studies objects and species with natural magical abilities and properties. Much of our understanding of how magic works is because of her…” While she spoke, they entered the Professor’s lab, filled with strange objects, all neatly arranged. Heilari held out a message paper book that Quin accepted. “Her last report was from the ice fields.” Essri gasped. “I’m a thnek. I’ll freethe.”
353 Montblanc Irish Green
Heilari propped her fists on her hips. “Am I a first-year student? Warming enchantments only go so far, so you’ll need warmer clothing…” “I gotcha covered, little buddy,” Makhabesh whispered. “Don’t worry,” Quin added. Vika remained oddly silent. In Professor Eenness’s home, Essri felt like a thief, slithering around her belongings. Heilari provided a painted portrait and described her friend. “One more thing, and the reason I know she lives—a heartstone.” She held out a pulsing red stone. Essri touched it and tried to sense where the Professor was, but got nothing.
354 Cross Blue/Black
“It’th not working.” “You’re probably too far. Scrying isn’t working either. But surely as you get closer…” At the look on Heilari’s face, Essri stayed silent. She’s right, Vika said. We need to be much closer. “Well, we have to try,” Essri finally said. He almost winced at Heilari’s sigh of relief. For a day and a half, they learned of Professor Eenness, met her colleagues, received enchantments and supplies, and finally portaled to Icegate, the town nearest the ice fields. Vika said, My powers won’t be as strong with the ice separating me from Earth.
355 Robert Oster Grün-Schwarz
At the Icegate Inn, they discovered Professor Eenness’s two assistants. They told the same tale: a sudden blizzard came out of nowhere and separated them. After the blizzard, each saw the lights of Icegate in the distance and returned, a day apart. Professor Eenness had not yet returned. The next morning, after a hot breakfast, Essri touched the heartstone and concentrated. He inhaled sharply. “There!” He pointed, though they were still inside. Then, “No! She’s gone again. It’s like seeing a shadow in fog.” “It’s alright, little buddy. We just need to be closer.” “Let’s go,” Quin said.
356 Sailor Miruai
For a day, they trekked across uneven, frozen terrain. Dry snow blew across their path and settled in depressions. Vika felt as if they were marching to their doom. Already she found it hard to sense life and feared she’d lose all connection with the Earth once they stepped onto the ice. You’re being foolish, she told herself. The ice is part of the Earth, just as the oceans are. Quin stopped when they reached the edge of the ice fields. Makhabesh said, “We’re gonna need a lot of fireballs.” We should camp here, Vika said.
357 Noodler's El Lawrence
NOTE TO THE READER: In order to give Essri extra warmth, and facilitate access, Quin is wearing his pack on his chest, under a coat designed to accommodate that.
When Vika said they’d reached the ice, Essri commanded, “Cloak,” and waited as his custom cloak settled onto his back with a magical grip. Then he slithered out of the little room they’d made for him in Quin’s pack, and then up out of the pack. “Whoa!” he said, squinting at the bright white ice. The various warming enchantments kept him from feeling the full cold, but he still shivered. While Quin set up camp, Essri returned to his comfy room with its light globe, book stand, and warm bed. Reading Eenness and Heilari’s exchanges distracted him from the loneliness.
358 Rohrer & Klingner Verdura
After Quin had packed up the camp the next morning, Makhabesh said, “Guess I’ll go scout.” As he launched, Vika heard a whisper from the Earth, Stay together. Vika sensed Makhabesh circling for height. Come back! she cried. As Makhabesh landed on Quin’s shoulder, she said, We must stay together. Essri popped his head out from under the flap of Quin’s pack. “What’th wrong?” “If I don’t scout, we could walk right into danger.” I don’t know why, but the Earth is saying we must stay together. After a long pause, Quin said, “I guess we stay together.”
...to be continued, every Tuesday.