AN: "Patience Iago, patience." - Spot this quote and i give you a million bucks. The chapter after this is already finished but it still has to be typed. Hopefully i'll have it up by the weekend, otherwise definitively on Sunday or Monday. Keep well as always!
Chapter 21: Summonings.
"So, he doesn't know that we can see him now?" Queen Skyla asked hesitantly as she stared at the crystal in front of them. "He won't suspect…"
The Tinker smiled with a twinge of pride and shook his head. "No, these are some of my older own designs. I doubt very much whether he'll suspect a thing." He frowned and leaned closer. "Look at that." He muttered. "By my calculations he has used almost all of the missing Tor in this design, it's a very powerful barrier."
Skyla frowned and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "That is not what I want to hear." She said miserably.
The Tinker gave her a reassuring look. "At least I bought us some time." He said softly. "We might've come up with something by the time Snarl returns."
Skyla nodded and turned around as two people entered the room, each carrying stacks of scrolls under their arms.
"The Librarian had a field day looking for this." The Lady Faolin said as she spread the scrolls in front of her. "He didn't even know that we had those designs."
Like Skyla, she was a tall woman with a strong face and more graying hair than blond. Her green eyes sparkled, despite the circumstances she was having the time of her life.
Skyla nodded to herself as she joined the Councilwoman and the Captain of the Guards.
"My husband had seen to it and actually kept it updated before…" She trailed off. "It hasn't been updated in a while but I know that the basic layout will be the same."
"We have a problem." The Tinker said suddenly as he sat away from the crystal. "He destroyed the crystals."
Skyla gave a start. "Why?" She queried.
The old man shook his head. "Why not." He replied. "Obviously he doesn't want us to see the inside."
Skyla snorted and looked at the blueprint of the Netherworld's lay out. "That's just too bad." She said. "So, what do you think Master Tinker, Master Guardsman?"
The old man peered at the design. He traced the path Whirl and Twirl and taken to the middle chamber where the Skydancers were held.
The Captain had already seen what he wanted to. "If you plan a rescue it's going to be very difficult to go in unnoticed." He said, studying the map. "There is no hiding places and no other escape routes if we get detected."
The councilwoman leaned closer to study the map as well.
"What are these?" She queried suddenly, tracing her hand over a dark dotted line. Queen Skyla peered at the margin.
"Ventilation shafts." She replied.
The Tinker glanced up. "How wide?"
Councilwoman Faolin picked up one of the other scrolls and read through it. "About 3 furlongs but 3 furlongs." She replied. "Not big enough for a grown man unfortunately."
The Tinker had disregarded the last statement as he traced his hand down the lines.
"This one leads straight to the main chamber where we want to be." He said to himself. "The first drop is hard but if we use a rope..." He glanced at Skyla. "I can devise something that will counteract the power of the crystals." He told her. "If we can then get someone or something in there to sabotage the crystals and the generator…"
"The Skydancers will be freed and hopefully be able to make their own way out." She finished for him. "It might work."
Councilwoman Faolin shook her head immediately. "But, no one can go there." She said, using the voice of reason. "No one here is small enough to attempt such a feat. The person will have to be a child or at least the size of one. None of the gaurds…" She let her sentence fade as she saw the considering look in her Queen's eyes.
Skyla had leaned forward and were looking at the design. "This shaft, where in consideration to the cage does it open?" She asked the Tinker.
The man rubbed his beard. "I can't say for sure, but very close. See, there are some thick cables on either side supporting the generator." He rerun the images Twirl had shown him through his mind. "Yes, I remember now. The ventilation shaft opens up straight above it. The person can use the cable to get to the generator. He would have to be agile though, if my design goes as I plan it, every one of the crystals will have to be covered." The Tinker frowned. "It won't work, to reach to bottom ones the person will have to go through the barrier."
Councilwoman shook her head sadly. "We can't ask that from anyone." She said dejectedly. "The sacrifice…"
Queen Skyla had stood back and were staring off into space, her face clouded with thought.
She met the Tinker's gaze and smiled slightly.
"I might have someone." She said. "Start working on your design Master Tinker. I'll be back."
She stared at the swirling clouds in front of her. Queen Skyla closed her eyes and for a few seconds allowed the wind to caress her face and hair. Then, she opened her eyes and raised her hand.
"By the Power within me, as Queen of the Wingdom…" She whispered softly. "I summon Joanie-Ellen to defend my kindom…"