The Enchantments: Book 2 - The Key of Gandar

Chapter 22: The Emperors Chalice

The temperature change from dinnertime to sunset was drastic. During the day you were hoping for any type of relief from the heat of the afternoon, then by evening where you were hoping for the sun's warmth again. It was a vicious cycle that was hard to get used to.

Charlene was looking out the window at the bright red sunset she noticed was dropping majestically in the west. Her heart swelled, as she had never seen anything so beautiful. But it was with a heavy heart she realized that there were more important events to follow. She turned away from the spectacle and walked over to the bed where the others were sitting enjoying the solitude of the early evening.

"So tell me people, where is the next piece of the Key of Gandar?" Simeneon came right out and asked as she sipped a warm cup of tea.

Mark answered her, "We've searched it to the Castle of the Cliffs, but-"

"-You guys, the piece is not the object we should be going after first!" Charlene interrupted.

"What are you talking about?" Simeneon inquired.

"The Castle of the Cliffs is protected by spells, there is no way anyone can get inside without circumventing the spells."

"-And how do we do that?" Fin asked.

"The only way is the Emperor's Chalice, a relic from the time of Malistof. According to what I've heard it must be placed in a certain location in the castle to undo the spells that protect it and give us a window in which to retrieve the piece." Charlene said nervously.

"Where do we put it?" Simeneon asked as she came up alongside Charlene.

"That I don't know... yet."

"Well then we're gonna have to find that out, but first things first." She looked around the room. "Does anybody have any ideas on how to get the Chalice from inside the Prospectors residence?"

"We can't go through the front doors. They'll be looking for us to come that way again. There has to be another way?" Mark asked the others.

Charlene had been listening carefully. She thought for a second then jumped up quickly and ran out of the room. Simeneon rushed out following her and instructing the others to wait where they were. She ran from the room watching as Charlene made her way down the stairs and out the front door.

'Where is she going!" Simeneon asked herself as she found it hard keeping Charlene in her sight. She banged open the doors just in the nick of time to catch her running into the post office/town hall. 'What could possibly be in there?'

Simeneon felt the coolness of the night air as she too ran down the dusty main street and into the offices. The door opened with a squeak then slammed shut behind her making her jump. The small entrance area was dusty and empty, as it usually was at this time of night.

"Charlene!" Simeneon whispered loudly. "Where are you?"

"Back here!" Came to a distant voice from the back of the old building.

Simeneon banged around trying to find the entrance to the room where Charlene was rooting around through volumes of books. She followed the rustling noise until she found Charlene in one of the back rooms furiously opening and closing books.

"Would you like to tell me why you rushed out the door so quickly?" Simeneon asked as she moved through the filthy room towards her.

"I had to while the whole idea was fresh in my mind."