* * *
“I still don’t understand why we’re doing this,” asked Lernea as they took the Elevator down. This time they were looking at the inside of the hollow oak; they were only then beginning to see the giant crystal core at its center. It looked like a massive block of strangely coloured ice, rising up, gorging its way as they travelled to the Heart of the Tree, where the meeting would be taking place.
“We’re doing this so I can snoop around while you’re babbling, get Bo and the crystal and just butt out.”
“That’s the part of the plan I can safely assume everyone is familiar with. I’d like to know what it is we’re supposed to be bargaining with,” asked Lernea and Tej offered the critical detail.
“An offer they can’t refuse; Hanul.”
“Who, me?” asked Theo, surprised but not the least bit alarmed.
“It stands to reason, that whatever it is they hope to gain by using that crystal and holding Bo, they’re missing a vital part. You, Hanul, are that missing part.”
“He is? I thought we were just going to sell those glum-faced rotten horrors a well-crafted piece of baloney,” Winceham said.
“We are,” said Tej and smiled.
“So he’s not really the missing vital part?” asked Lernea.
“Oh, Hanul is vital to their grand design. They just don’t know it yet.”
“I don’t understand Tejwel. Why would we be giving them such an advantage? What if things go wrong?” Lernea said and shook her head with a furrowed brow.
“See? He does that all the time,” said Theo with a feeling of vindication. Tej placed his paws on Theo’s shoulders. From afar, it looked like the huge bear was about to chew Theo’s head off, but this wasn’t the case. Light rose from below, hugging Tejwel’s thick fur like a warm, reassuring blanket. The sight lent more than credence in his words.
“Hanul, my friend. You must be ready when the time comes.”
“What will I have to do?” wondered Theo.
“Let go,” Tej said warmly.
“Of what?”
“Of everything that is holding you back.”
“I hate it when you do that,” Theo said and shook his head.
“I know,” replied Tej and nodded to himself.
“Then why do you do it?”
“Because I must. And so shall you. When the time comes.”
“You keep saying these things like I understand them already, but I only have the vaguest of ideas. Just like when I touched your behinds.”
Lernea and Winceham instinctively sought each other’s gaze; they looked like they were about to ask something, but thought better of it. Lernea scrubbed her face with her hands for a mere moment, and decided to pretend she hadn’t heard. She closed her eyes and let herself sink in a deep, almost unbreakable concentration. Winceham on the other hand, was looking at Tej, focusing at his behinds. Seeing nothing but fur, he stroked his beard, nodded to himself and thought no more of the matter. Tejwel answered Theo with a rumbling, yet caring and somber voice.
“I’ve seen the currents of time, Hanul. They’ll carry you to brand new shores.”
The bear smiled and looked again out through the Elevator’s giant glass pane. The whole elevator was the size of a large room in a hexagonal shape. Held tight between brass and steel rails, it connected the very top of Tallyflop’s giant oak to its very bottom and Tejwel’s sanctum. No-one but Tejwel and the Rat had the keys that allowed its use.
“What currents of time, exactly? Where?” asked Theo and with an anxious pair of eyes started to search all around him with real purpose.
“Well, I’d say these are more akin to eddies in time, but that would’ve made things more complicated.”
“As I understand it, you have a more thorough understanding of Theo than he does himself,” commented Winceham. Lernea did not care for any of that; she was breathing heavily, meditating, preparing. Even as she stood upright, she looked more and more like a statue. The light from the crystal cast a tall, defiant shadow of her form. Her face was abnormally serene.
“That might be more true than you think, Ham,” Tejwel agreed.
“Why do you do that thing with names?” asked Winceham and Tejwel promptly provided an answer of sorts.
“Names, are only names; your name is not what makes you different from the rest of us, Ham.”
“Well calling me Ham makes me hungry. Could you not do that right now? I still have a terrible headache.”
“Not to mention a bruised groin,” said Lernea suddenly cutting in. She was flexing her muscles; the cracking of air went along with her movements. A rather new sense of preparedness flashed accross her face; her eyes shone wildly. Winceham had seen that look before.
“Has anyone told you before that you bear a striking resemblance to your sister?” Winceham told her.
“My mother, actually. I bear a striking resemblance to our mother. Parcifal has our father’s looks.”
“Tejwel, I can’t seem to even catch a glimpse of those eddies in time. When exactly should I be looking?”
Tejwel looked at Theo with a sorrowful gaze and smiled warmly.
“Always, Hanul. Time never stops.”
“Well, that’s not very helpful.”
“Indeed, it’s not. But that’s only for the time being.”
“I don’t understand,” Theo said and shrugged.
“You will, Hanul. In time.”
“That’s exactly what I don’t understand,” said Theo with a hint of helplessness in his voice.
“I’m all for deep philosophical discussions, especially whenever a glass of fine brandy or the like is to be found near, but let’s walk through the plan one more time, shall we?”
“There’s not much of a plan now, Mr. Abbermouth. Just let me do the talking,” said Lernea and smiled in a conniving, ruthless fashion as she fastened her chainmail gloves.
“I hope by talking, you do refer to exchanging words.”
“Naturally,” said Lernea without flinching.
The Elevator then began to slow down. They were fast approaching a ring of concentric, circular and hexagonal corridors that seemed to float of their own accord. They were connected by strands of thick, multicoloured light, wide enough for a man to walk on. It was as if a clockwork machine had been spilled carelessly in the air, yet still it was possessed of a natural order. At the very center of the rings stood the large, bright crystal; it was imposing, impervious to the eye. Layers of opaque matter glistened through mirror-clean surfaces. Irregular shapes and reflections dodged light and shadow in an equally mystifying way.
At the very first ring that stood strangely still and motionless, one could easily spot four menacing, dark-skinned figures, wearing plain robes. A shiny gem stood out on each one’s forehead; it seemed to change its colour capriciously, like oil does on water.
“We’re here,” said Tejwel.
“That’s an impressive piece of glitter. I wonder how much it’s worth,” said Winceham, looking at the crystal as if he was mentally calculating how it could fit in his pocket.
“It defies calculation,” said Tej with a gritty voice.
“We could still sell it for less and make a profit,” grinned Winceham. His comment only made Lernea look at him disapprovingly.
“Even Ned could’ve done a better job of a joke. At least he has a sense of timing,” she said. Theo sported a baffled look; he just had to ask.
“This time bloke, Eddie? Did everyone know about him except me?”
Noone answered. Theo decided that counted as a definitive ‘yes’.