I stared at my grandfather awestruck, praying that he just pulling my leg. Of course as was my luck, he wasn’t.
Panic struck me like a lightning bolt and my spine went rigid with fear and anger. “Do you realize what you just asked me to do?”
I questioned a drop of anguish hidden in my voice, knowing already that he know perfectly well what he had just asked but still holding on to that fragile sliver of hope that he didn’t mean it.
“Amiria,” he said softly
My heart skipped a beat.
He started again,”Amiria, I do know what I have asked of you and I implore you to see the reason in this task in which I have given you.” Slowly, he let out a devastated sigh.
*Shatter* my hope was gone and was now replaced with boiling frustration. Is that all he has to say? I wondered sarcastically. I implore you to see the reason! Oh please! It’s not like I’m three, I understand what will happen if I don’t go and I understand why it has to be me. I just don’t know why it has to be now!
I glared at his back, now facing me as he bent over. Reaching beneath his bed, he pulled out an old wooden box which had a layer of dust covering its top.
As angry as I was with my grandfather I knew that he knew what was best for us all. Curiosity swept over my anguished body and
I gave out a low sigh. I allowed the anger and fear to be swept from me. Trying to peer over his shoulder to see what he was pulling out of the now open chest before him was met with no success. Each time I almost got a good view, he would move his position and all I would be able to see was his shoulder or the wall. Finally I gave up trying to look at what he was doing.
When he turned to face me again there were two objects in his hand. One was an old journal with a worn leather cover. The other was a sheathed dagger, no bigger than the length from the tip of my middle finger to my wrist. He came towards me and handed them to me.
I stared, dumbfounded, at these two little objects now resting in my hands. Looking up at him I cocked my head to the left and squinted my eyes ever so slightly putting on my most puzzled expression.
“What are these?” I managed to squeak. My throat tight and my thoughts fuzzy.
“These, Amiria, used to belong to Chief Achak. He is the one who created the Aloe Mansion.”My Grandfather explained slowly. “Inside the book you are now holding are some of the answers on how to find the Cherry Code and how to conquer the obstacles that are set all over the mansion. If you lose this book….” He looked at me critically.
For a moment I thought he might be having doubts on his decision on sending me on this journey. Then he nodded at me, knowing that the last line was all he needed to say.
“Canowicate, what is the dagger for?” I asked pulling my attention away from the book. Staring uneasily at the six inch blade that I had unsheathed.
“Ahh, what of the dagger?” His eyes now gleamed with excitement. “The Dagger is made of a rare metal called lithitanium and it is the only thing that can be used to effectively slay the Oomerématou. The giant beast that lives in the Aloe mansion.”
“Let me get this straight, I have to slay the Oomerématou?” I could hardly breathe. Finding the Cherry Code was one thing, but now I had to slay something as well!?! My eyes grew wide and my mouth went dry.
#
That night, lying in my soft bed I gazed up at the ceiling contemplating that day’s events. I couldn’t sleep for a long time, my mind was running at a pace that made it hard for my senses to keep up. One moment I was nervous, the next excited, angry then blank. Eventually I was too emotionally worn out to stay awake and I drifted into a long fathomless slumber.
When I awoke it was the middle of the day. I could hear the sound of children running and playing in the fallen leaves. Outside my cabin there were voices debating, I stained to make out what they were saying.
“You really should leave her Canowicate! Let the poor girl sleep in, after the bomb you dropped on her yesterday it’s going to take a while to recover!”
“Emmie, thank you for your speculation, but I think I know what is best for my Granddaughter. She deals better with things when she has a full day to think about them!”
“At least let me bring her in some food you two! She will want to eat when she wakes up!”
“Yes, you are quite right Mary. She will be hungry” agreed my grandfather solemnly.
With the mere mention of food, my tummy let out a low rumble. Trying to ignore it and listen to the conversation still happening outside I closed my eyes and rested my head on my soft down pillow. After a few more minutes of Emmie spewing random nonsense there was a soft knock on my door which then slowly creaked open.
Light spilled into my room as my Grandfather walked in, Emmie close behind him followed by Mary who was carrying a large platter of food which she set down on my desk. I opened up my eyes and saw the warm smile of my grandfather, his eyes sparkling.
“Good Afternoon! How did you sleep?” he asked
With a small groan of exhaustion I smiled up at him. “I slept well, I really should start packing though.” I said rolling out of bed. The smell of fresh bread and creamy onion soup filled my cabin. I drew in a breath and enjoyed the fragrance.
Reaching first under my bed to pull out an old rucksack and I began to fill it with a few light outfits, the dagger, the journal and a compass. Mary handed me another small sack full of food such as bread, jam, nuts, apples and boiled eggs. I stuck the sack into my bag and ate the meal she had brought hurriedly.
After saying our farewells, I climbed into a small canoe fitted with a fishing pole and two oars and wondering to myself if I would ever make it back to my little village; I began my journey traveling downstream.
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