Evadeen Brickwood - The Speaking Stone of Caradoc

A massive lighthouse slid by to their right. Round rooftops above the seawall shone like copper pearls in the setting sun. The domes were coated in precious orichalcum and belonged to the temple of the sun god Raïs, the patron god of Kamûk.

“And look at all those ships flying their flags,” Trevor said.

They joined Kheton and Lelani at the railing, determined not to miss a thing. On a hill to the left, a series of white, egg-shaped buildings overlooked the bay.

“That must be the observatory with the new raygun.”

“Yes, looks like it.”

“Alun says the cosmic deflector raygun is powerful enough to vaporize meteors and asteroids.”

“Can’t wait to see it for myself.”

They hadn’t visited the observatories in Alesia, but they had heard about them. The roof pearls were soon the size of large coppery onions and the town was bathed in a darkening orange glow as the ‘Navis Arion’ sailed through the harbour entrance.

“That’s magic,” Chryséis said in awe.

“Trev, did you take a picture? Hurry up the sun is sinking fast.”

“Not yet.”

“Hurry up!”

Ahead of them, two junks with sails like red fish fins and flying brightly-coloured flags were following the navigator’s boat to the docks. They landed shortly before nightfall. Close to the temple of the sun with the familiar sitting statue of a large bronze sculpture. Here, the crew would give thanks to the sun god Raïs as was Alesian custom.

“Make ready to go on land, athenai,” Kheton said. He called them athenai – friends.

“We’ll be ready. Just getting our things,” Chryséis said.

They walked to the back as the dark water reflected artificial lights lit up one by one along the shore. Large vimaans transported merchandise from all over the Known World along the illuminated streets. The scents of vanilla and sandalwood mixed with the less pleasant harbour odors. The sailors lined up, looking forward to merriment at the amphitheater tonight.

“After the harp concert, they show ‘Sons of Turennis’, about the theft of magical objects and retribution,” one of the sailors said.

“Great play, Saw it in Algiras. Quite a spectacle.”

The passengers disembarked and dock workers began to clear the cargo onto the landing.

“Well, I never…,” Katherine stared down at a group of maidens on the broad steps leading into the water.

A welcoming committee from the citadel of Kamûk serenaded the visitors while a young apprentice maiden put flowers in their hair.

“From snow-capped mountains to the deep blue sea, D’ântilla Island welcomes thee. We hope you will enjoy your stay before you must be on your way. Welcome, welcome to Kamûk, welcome, welcome to Kamûk…”

Good manners demanded that they listen politely. So the time travellers stood awkwardly on the landing with everybody else, until the maidens had finished their song.

Kheton, being the visiting diplomat, held a short speech, officially thanking the maidens for their musical effort and hospitality. Then a vimaan with the emblem of Kamûk’s citadel carried them through cobblestone streets and up the citadel hill, before descending in the court yard next to an ornamental fountain.

They were treated to a lavish dinner in the great hall. Crab patties, the local specialty, were heaped on golden platters with fried octopus heads and other delicacies of the sea.

Later, the young travellers watched the harbour skyline from their balcony. Kheton and Lelani had gone to watch the play at the amphitheater as official guests of the Lady of the citadel.

“I’m so glad they have bathrooms here.”

Chryséis had successfully washed the bird muck out and was wearing pajamas she had found on her bed. Her jade-coloured Alesian silk suit was hanging over chairs to dry.

“Yeah, but why do they always put us into the same room?” Trevor sighed.

The maidens had assumed that all three of them were siblings. Nothing new, then.

“I’ll take this bed.” Trevor drew back the blanket on a bed by the window. “I’m beat.”

“So am I,” Katherine murmured. She was already half-asleep in the soft covers.

Distant clapping and cajoling drifted up from the amphitheater. Despite the peaceful mood, Trevor couldn’t shake a feeling of unease. Something about D’ântilla felt very different. But what?

He had another dream that night. Of giants in dark cloaks. Of fairies, who cleverly fought the giants with magic tricks and of a large featherless seabird that devoured a black spider to the faint and distant tune of ‘…Welcome, welcome to Kamûk, welcome, welcome to Kamûk…’

Their room was in a shambles. A citadel guard searched under the table, bumped into Chryséis and she moved out of the way.

“How much longer is this going to take?” she groaned and rolled her eyes. “What on earth do they want from us?”

The man apologised politely and began to rummage around on top of the carved cupboard. After the warm welcome yesterday, this was the last thing they had expected. Their morning outing had been rather pleasant, but when they returned a short while ago, guards were already searching their quarters.

Kheton was still in a conference with other dignitaries and could not be reached.

“A Speaking Stone went missing in Alesia and was taken to Kamûk.” Lelani reported back after speaking to the captain of the guards. “The guards are searching for it. It is a grave offense to have such an object in one’s possession.” She was wringing her hands in despair. Lelani obviously knew what a speaking stone was. The time travellers did not.

“What has that got to do with us?” Katherine demanded to know from Trevor.

“Maybe they’re searching everybody, who came from Alesia.”

“Let’s find out.”

“Why do you search in our room, guardsman?” Trevor asked one of the men in halting Alesian, while the man rifled through the contents of a wooden chest. “Do you believe that a…speaking…stone is in our room?”

He watched annoyed as his drawing pad went flying onto the floor.

“So sorry, but the Lady gave orders.” It was all the guard was willing to say.

“Careful with t h a t!” Chryséis took the palmtop computer from another guard and opened it so that he could see that there were no stones inside. “I knew something like this would happen. I knew it!” she said crossly.

“Relax, we haven’t done anything wrong.”

Katherine stood by the open balcony doors, wishing she could just make all this go away.

“Why don’t they just talk to the stone? If it can really talk, it will answer, right?”

“You mean like phoning your cell phone when you’re looking for it?”

“As if. Who’s ever heard of stones that can talk?”

Another guard crawled around them on all fours. “Kindly move to the other side.” He lifted the rose-coloured curtain hem, probing along the wall.

“Dear friends,… guards. A ‘Speaking Stone’! They are mere children…” Lelani finally gave up and sat numbly down on Katherine’s bed.

At daybreak, she had looked forward to their tour around Kamûk, starting with the harbour district. Kheton had stayed behind to conduct official business.

Warehouse after warehouse lined the roofed-in docks and roads. After stopping at a cooking house, their guide had taken them to the observatory in the Iapetus Hills east of Kamûk. They flew past tropical plantations and farm stalls.

The observatory had been a jaw-dropper. Not just because of the huge shark statue outside the entrance, but because of the sheer size of the five egg-shaped buildings. They had joined a group of tourists and listened rapt to what the astronomer had to say. He looked quite nerdy and introduced himself as Parnú of Lycia.