Between The Crystals

Ch 58 Keywa Village

I was the first one by the crystal in the morning and poked my head into Grant's office. "Want me to check any locations?"

He gave me a measuring look. "I was wondering if you got enough porting in last night."

I made a face. "Unfortunately not, and the way Roxanne and Merryl were talking, I probably won't beat them to the water cart for a while. I think five others were rolling dice to see who got to take the small water cart."

Closing his notebook, he stood up. "It was only a matter of time until the thought crossed someone's mind that pushing themselves strengthens their abilities. All they have to do is look at you, and how often you took those heavy loads."

"What if they get to my point, where they're making dozens of ports and can barely sleep?"

As he came over, he quietly said, "I'm hoping that's a long time in coming. In a week or so, once they see it's true, they'll also be more likely to believe you if you warn them about the downsides."

"Hmmm... That might work. And by then, I should know if not pushing myself to my limits slows down whatever this is."

"It won't hurt if they can port one or two extra people. Or make a few more ports. It's when their welfare is jeopardized that I'll start to worry."

"First one to manage seventy ports in a day gets an hour-long lecture?" I asked impishly.

He smirked. "Careful what you volunteer for. You and I both know the odds are against you."

"Drat."

With a chuckle, we exited his office while discussing which spots would be best. He already wanted me to take one of Ariel's hunters to Orange Flower to claim it.

~

As the haze cleared from our sight, one of my hunters scratched their head. "I don't recall this place."

The thin black spruce trees grew out of thick clumps of moss, and their scraggly branches were covered in lichen and moss. The air was damp and cool.

"Welcome to Black Spruce Forest." I shrugged. "Like Grant said, there should be a lost crystal to the north by a creek, and one to the east where the forest turns into meadow. There should be a lot of squirrels and mushrooms around."

A hunter kicked a clump of trampled moss. "I doubt the people staying by the crystal will find much nearby. No wonder Grant wanted us to focus on finding those crystals."

Eight dispersed into the trees as two checked the nearby area. I was pleased to note that the restlessness I'd felt this morning had abated to undetectable levels after the eighteen ports it took to find five empty crystals for the other porters.

After resting long enough to pretend I was being careful, I went back to the village and told Grant how slim the pickings were.

Grant flipped through his notes. "Can you take the ten who usually remain close to the crystal over to Merryl? She's at Fern Hills. That will let her hunters wander a bit farther without worrying about leaving her alone. Your other twenty can try finding those crystals in the Black Spruce Forest."

I blinked. "You don't want anyone to guard the crystal?"

He gave me an ironic look. "What's to guard? Moss? Let other groups go there. The hunters are smart enough to avoid the crystal if another group is present. Otherwise they might realize the hunters were searching for new crystals."

I brightened at his logic. "That works for me." Turning to my older group, I asked, "Feel like surprising Merryl and keeping a tiny tot out of mischief?"