The Burning Rose (Chapter Three)

After leaving from Kol village, the Eternians followed Trekkor's party towards their remote encampment. The Lion Carrier had to be led towards the encampment a roundabout way as Trekkor's transport was a flying one able to avoid many natural obstructions along the way for which the land transport could not. Trekkors own transport carrier landed beside a carbon copy of itself way in a small valley encircled by mountains. The Lion Carrier crawled into the valley by way of a narrow corridor for which was the only way into the valley other than climbing or flying into it. As the Lyon Carrier pulled into the encampment it was seen from everyone watching on board that Trekkors team of dwarves were in good cheer upon touching ground.

"It was wise of you to share some of your Andreenid wine with them. Otherwise, we may not have come this far.", Plodok told Malcome as they peered down from there carrier at the playful dwarves outside in the valley beside their landed aircraft.

Malcome candidly replied," Good food and Andreenid wine can go a long way. As well as the bar tab for two rounds of ale for those dwarf minors."

Suddenly there was some kind of phenomena taking place in the valley as Trekkor along with his dwarf minors were all looking up at something in the sky. In order to get a better look at what they were looking at Malcome, and his team left the Lion Carrier.

Up high a balloon was flying over the valley as the dwarves yelled and waved at it welcoming whoever was inside it to touch down.

The large blue balloon's shadow encircled its onlookers as it dropped from the sky. Then a man could be heard from the balloons basket speaking into a loudspeaker, "Make way my intrepid travelers for the most intrepid traveler of them all! Make way for Blovas the wind-swept swindler, trader, merchant extraordinaire!"

The man inside the air-balloon was as full of himself as the hot air he was releasing in order to drop his balloon down.

Finally, Blovas released enough hot air to land his balloon in the valley. Once dropped Blovas discarded some sandbags tied to the basket of his balloon to be used as anchors in order to keep his craft from flying off.

Blovas came forth in a gray smock with a pouch strapped around his shoulder with matching gray slacks and black boots. Blovas was not fat though he did have a noticeable belly though otherwise the man seemed fit. As well Blovas decided to trade in his loudspeaker for a lavender case with unknown contents inside it.

Blovas then presented his case to Trekkor who was most pleased," All the way from Operon I bring to you your now labeled samples."

Trekkor hastily reaches for the case while praising Blovas!

"I was advised to tell you that while the samples are protected from the elements both inside the box as well as out by thin filaments, they should be kept in temperate temperatures for safe keeping.", Blovas relayed.

Blovas warning gave Trekkor pause in opening the container. Instead, he looked over at a small oval purple tent in where to perhaps view the sensitive contents within his container.

Blovas viewed his audience before him then took a deep breath filling his belly before he noticed the Eternians approaching from the Lion Carrier.

"Ho-Ho!", blows Blovas upon seeing the Eternians.

"Oh, this is Malcome...along with his party from many different regions across Eternia.", Trekkor told Blovas cautiously opting to leave out a few details.

Trekkor deciding to change the subject asked Blovas," Where are you off to next?"

"Oh...here ...and there...you know...", almost oblivious to the question Blovas seemed far more interested in the newcomers in Trekkors corner of the Mystic Mountains.

"That's him the one who I thought might help us find the Warlock.", Styx told Malcome upon seeing Blovas.

"Blovas at your service my lady!", Styx taking notice smiles at finally having found whom she had recommended.

"Is your shop still in Krol?", Styx asked its proprietor.

"Oh, my modest little shop, Clouds Keep still stands in a far-off slope in Krol. Though isn't it just wonderful how both mysterious as well as mystical these mountains are by bringing you to me this way? How can I help you?", Blovas inquired both in asking Styx as he looked at Malcome who he sensed was the leader he really should be getting to know better.

"Perhaps you ought to help them first.", Malcome said before pulling Styx away as several of the Dwarves came at Blovas!

"N....I mean Ho-Ho! How can I help you all? Though please one at a time!", Blovas said as the dwarves encircled him.

Blovas watched as Trekkor led the Eternians into his tent.

Inside of the tent Trekkor led Malcome along with Styx to a table in a small corner amongst some containers.

Malcome told Plodok as well as Zoomer to guard against Blovas entering the tent until they were finished viewing the containers contents.

Plodok obeyed Malcome despite really wanting to see what was inside of the lavender container. Malcome assured Plodok that he would get to examine the contents once they were in private again.

Then as Malcome gathered beside Styx at the table in the far corner of the tent, Trekkor began to unlatch the lavender container.

Once open everyone could see four green moss samples inside filament files with labeling underneath them.

Only one of the moss samples was different from the others as its label marked it as being much older than the rest.

"Yes, they are placed from newest to oldest with carbon dating underneath to denote the actual age of the moss.", Trekkor stated.

"I also have these to match against the samples.", Trekkor said as he took out a folder where he then emptied out its contents.

Upon looking at what where pictures taken of the moss, indicating each one's location from where they were found as well as the date. Malcome said,"Plodok really needs to see these."

Trekkor took one photo from the table to then place it next to the oldest labeled sample.

On the photo it said that the moss was found inside of the mine shaft of the cave, its date then the sample noted that its carbon date was of the Preternian age. Though the moss sample looked as fresh as if it was discovered today outside of the cave. The species of moss was also not found in this region especially unpreserved in such a habitat as a cavernous of a mine shaft.

"The connection has been discovered! The Moss Man is a time traveler! He has left a part of himself in my mine!", Trekkor announced

"Show me where it was in the mineshaft that you found this sample.", Malcome hastily asked Trekkor as he also heard Blovas' voice outside of the tent pleading to be let inside. It comforted Malcome that neither Plodok nor Zoomer were having any of it.

Trekkor left the sample while instead taking the picture saying, "I was going to tell you about the samples, yet Blovas came back with them earlier than expected. It worked out this way, though of course let me lead you to the precise area inside of the mineshaft where I discovered this moss print."

"Make a hole!", Malcome said as he exited the tent.

Deciding to increase his worth Blovas disregarded Malcomes rudeness towards him only to then ask him instead, "Don't you want to know where I obtained those samples and from whom"

"I heard you from your blowhorn, Blovas you stated that you had just returned from Operon.", Malcome imparted thinking that he was done.

"That's right...I returned back from Operon from a special visit with not only the Opal Palaces youngest but its leading scientist.", Blovas stated proudly.

"So again, why are you visiting Trekkors mining operation?", Blovas snidely asked

"I will leave it up to Trekkor himself to tell you after he shows me something in the mine.", Malcome replied

"Oh, Blovas this is not a good time please come back. This is a private matter with my business partner Malcome.", Trekkor said

"I don't like his strong-arm tactics. I am also concerned for your wellbeing my friend.", Blovas tried to convincingly tell Trekkor.

"There are some things that you do not need to know about. This is a private matter between me and Malcome.", Trekkor put forth

"In other words, blow off.", Malcome said as he stood over him.

"I will have you know that I am no common ruffian!", Blovas told Malcome as he puffed out his chest which did little except shake his belly as he continued trying to ignore it," However I am a Helioan from Skyward the shrouded city! As such I am born and bred a warrior of the skies!"

After announcing his lineage, Blovas took a long broad wooden pipe with white markings in the shape of a dragon on it from inside his pouch strapped around his shoulder.

Malcome jested, "What do you intend to do with that, blow me away?"

"No, stop it the both of you! There is too much at stake to be fighting like this!", Styx said as she burst in between them to stop their quarrel.

Plodok then snuck up behind Malcome in order to whisper in his ear," Your instincts are correct about Blovas I know of him from his reputation in Pacwad. Though I think he could have valuable information concerning the Warlocks whereabouts."

"Say no more, friend.", Malcome said before gently moving Styx aside in order to extend his bandaged hand of friendship out to Blovas.

Blovas with his mouth agape asked," What's this you offer a truce after offending me so?"

"Why yes of course.", Malcome said with a broad smile.

"Well, I now see that your hand is bandaged. No matter your reasoning in backing down. You have chosen wisely not to fight me. I can respect your forethought.", Blovas said before clasping onto Malcomes hand

Then Blovas squeezed his hand firmly around Malcomes bandaged hand to give him a taste of his might. This in turn caused Malcome to tighten his own grip which caused Blovas to wince in pain as he spoke saying," In...err...ahh...Skyward I am... known as...Wi!"

"What was the name you were called?", Malcome said as he casually let lose his iron grip upon Blovas hand.

"Windblow...", a deflated Blovas weakly said as Styx came over to check his hand.

After checking Blovas hand Styx gave the okay that his hand was not injured just in pain.

Malcome then gave Blovas a hard pat on the back (that made Blovas wince again) to tell him, "I accept you as an ally now that I have tested your metal. What say you?"

"That is the Helioan way...though I have to tend to my hand if you do not mind.", Blovas contended

"Of course, go ahead my friend just do not go far. I would like to talk to you after Trekkor shows me the inside of his mineshaft.", Malcome mentions casually

"I will try to contain myself...", Blovas states weakly

Then Styx comes over to Blovas in order to offer him some of the ointment she gave to sooth Malcomes hand saying," I bought this from you a long time ago. The cream is from the Crystal Green Forest. It will soothe as well as heal your hand."

"Please do...", Blovas sighed in relief as his hand was soothed by the green ointment as well the tender hands of Styx.

At the mines entrance there was a long wooden barricade that was placed sideways by some minors so that Trekkor could lead his guests into the mineshaft. The length of the corridor was well lighted by lamps along the way by way of a small power station at the entrance of the cave. There was a small track being built that the Eternians followed along the way as they went deeper into the passage. They took stock of the massive wooden beams bracing against the mountains inside.

"We should be at the spot shortly, it was where we had halted our progress.", Trekkor announced.

No sooner had Trekkor spoken than a wooden platform built around the tracks up to the point where both came to an end. There was a cart with debris in it ready to haul off just sitting in this dead end.

"This must have been a massive cave in.", Zoomer said as he darted his head up and around to take it all in.

"Actually, it was a massive pitfall which trapped a dozen of my minors down a crevice far below. They would have perished if not for him.", Trekkor said as he corrected Zoomer

"You see, this plank that we are standing on was a crevice which swallowed many of my minors. They were trapped as well as running out of oxygen.", Trekkor went on to explain," About here where I stand now grew a vine out if the tiniest of spaces between the rubble. Then as the vine grew larger, then other vines surgically braced themselves against more rocks falling in to prevent the minors from getting out. It took many hours until the vines made a tunnel for the minors to climb themselves out of, but it was done."

"What about the lack of oxygen, how did the minors not asphyxiate?", Plodok asked

There was flower blooms attached to the vines which pumped in oxygen to them from him.", Trekkor deposited

"Do you think that he's listening?", Styx asked

"I think that he is aware.", Trekkor implied.

Malcome then asked, "What about all of the vines, what happened to them?"

"They shriveled up to become compost. The only thing that I was able to obtain was that one moss print which originally had a shape like a circle on the floor. I was told this by the lead minor on that expedition. In fact, that minor helped me after the clean-up was done to obtain that one moss sample.", Trekkor replied

"Do you have reliable sonar equipment to help gauge the area before digging?", Plodok asked concernedly

"I would say that our sonar equipment is reliable.", Trekkor acknowledged

"I am tempted to lend you my Ribit, that machine you see on top of Malcom's Carrier. Its sonics are superb and it can scale walls for complex digs.". Plodok offered

Though before Trekkor could say anything in reply back to Plodok it was Malcome who broke in to ask, "What do you think that you will find on the other side of this mountain?"

"A void that has been isolated in time like a pocket. For you see there are cloaking mists on the other side for which has caused it to be unexplored. The mists may be hiding this space in time. Though I believe that the Moss Man was warning us of danger that fateful day of the collapse.", Trekkor explained

"I am satisfied with all that you have told us here today. I think that my party should make haste towards Igniton as they are expecting us. Is there anything more that you wish to tell us before we leave?", Malcome asked

"No that is all. I just wanted to share my harrowing story with all of you.", Trekkor told Malcome before turning to Plodok to give his answer about the offer that he made to him," You can keep your Ribit for now though if I have need of it, I will let you know."

"Fair enough.", Plodok told Trekkor before they were led out if the mine.