The Quest of the Hudion

Chapter 6 - Out of the Sea, Into the Earth

Trodlof leaped to the door, exiting after Forest.  I sat dumbstruck, staring into the dancing flames.  Swallow them?  The tide?  I imagined the island slipping underwater just as the rescue boats appeared on the horizon.  In my paranoid mind, my friends were sucked under by the ever hungry ebb of the tide.

I shivered, and wrapped my silky robe tighter around me.  I slowly stood up, and crossed to the King's sumptuous bed.  His sheets seemed to be woven of gold, and his pillows looked like clouds.  I yawned and lay down, kicking my pink slippers off.  The mattress felt like a bed of air, and it almost seemed to radiate the same heat as the fireplace.  I smiled, and snuggled farther under the thick, luxurious comforter.  After a moment, my smile faded slightly.   I shifted, trying to make myself comfortable, but a strange lump 

under the mattress made my back ache terribly.  Slipping my hand slowly under the mattress, I felt something cold and hard at my fingertips.  I fumbled for a few moments, but finally gripped the ornate piece of metal.  I brought my hand out, and stared down at what I had found.

At first, I did not recognize it as anything but finely sculpted metal.  However, as I peered closer, I finally made out an iron key.  I fingered it gently between my thumb and forefinger, relishing the feeling of cool metal against my skin.  Slipping the key into my pocket, I lay down once more and turned to the wall.  Just as the warmth of the fire began to lull me to sleep, I noticed an odd crack in the wall.  Through my half-open eyes, I could see it was thin and even, perfectly chiseled into the stone wall.  Strangely, it disappeared behind a hanging coat of arms tapestry.  I playfully twirled the tassels on the coat of arms, and saw that the crack formed a square in the wall.  Filled to the brim with curiosity, I sat up again, and pulled back the tapestry.

With the coat of arms out of my way, I could clearly make out a tiny porthole, firmly shut with a huge block of heavy stone.  I stood on the bed, and carefully took the coat of arms off the wall.  I lay it gingerly on the bed beside me, and wiggled my fingers between the wall and the block of stone.  It didn't even budge.  I frowned, and tried again, squeezing my fingers deeper into the crack.  This time, it slipped and wiggled slightly.  I looked around the room, my excited eyes searching for something to pry the rock out with.  I noticed a fire poker by the roaring fireplace, and pounced on it.  Seizing it, I carried it carefully back to the wall.  I silently wedged it in the crack, and wiggled.  The stone finally came loose, barely missing my toes as it fell to the mattress beside me.

I gasped as I saw a dark red light coming from the depths of the hole.  I removed the stone, and peered inside, my body filled with curiosity.  A cold breeze came rushing up from the abyss, ruffling my tousled hair.  I shivered, the icy wind filtering through my thin nightgown and robe.  Running noiselessly to the king's dresser, I opened the squeaky wardrobe doors.  I winced at the loud sound, and looked inside for a more suitable outfit.  I selected a shimmery golden dress, and silently slipped it on, wondering why such a beautiful dress would be in the King’s Wardrobe.  It seemed to magically lace itself up in the back, gently hugging my torso.

My head was racing as I approached the mysterious porthole.  What lay beyond the stoney walls of this old castle?  What would I find in that strange red light and chilling wind?  On second thought, I rushed to the door, and peeked outside.  No one was roaming the hallway, and not a single door was even cracked.  I popped back inside, and breathlessly closed and locked the giant bedroom door.  As I crept to the hole once more, I felt the now stronger wind swirling all about me.  I placed the icy key in my pocket, and faced the mystifying abyss.  Again filled with relentless curiosity, I stuck my head inside the gaping hole.  Nothing happened, so I gingerly let my arms follow suit.  Still nothing happened. 

Deciding that there was no acute danger, I wiggled the rest of my body into the small space.  I groped along the slimy walls, and choked on the stench, but I began to crawl down the long causeway.  Several times I felt something crawl along my back, sending tremors through my already chilled body.  Many spiderwebs blocked my way, forcing me to sweep them to the side, infuriating their weavers.  My hair hung in my face, and became matted with the slime and webs.