Pentagonal Rooms by C Amon Trant

Author:C Amon Trant
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Messenger, Fantasy, survival, mystery, magical realsim
Publisher: C Amon Trant
Published: 2021-12-09T00:00:00+00:00

A restful quest, a pentagonal room,

atop the tower fair.

The sudden strides, to find a world,

atop of the highest stair.

Come on!

Ran his hand over the carving of the rune Eihwaz, the rune for testing.

How could he have more tests? He’d barely survived this one, assuming he survives the next few minutes.

He read the poem again.

A restful quest?

A world upstairs?

Stepped out of the passageway onto smooth, solid, open ground and took a deep breath of fresh air.

Where was he?

Insalaco and Samantha were out in the boat, frantically waving and pointing.

Three Spiders.

Galloping his way.

“Oh, sh...!” With a piece of crystal in each hand, he sprinted for the Barrier.

The galloping got louder.

Eyes fixed on the Barrier, he remembered to breathe.

At least fifty meters.

A thump, like a crossbow bolt striking a target, followed by something ripping up the turf.

Eyes forward.

Breathe in through his nose, out through his mouth.

Three guards crossed to his side of the Barrier. Each had a crossbow like Samantha’s.

The guards kneeled.

The noise behind was closer.

Another thump right behind.

The Spiders seemed to be far away.

Run faster.

Side cramping.

The three guards shouldered their weapons. Aiming at Toby.

“Fire,” shouted Sergeant Murdock.

Toby closed his eyes and ran perfectly straight.

Bolts hissed past, followed by three thumps.

Suddenly, the guards didn’t share Toby’s urgency. Two were shaking hands.

He dove across the Barrier.

Three Spiders lay at awkward angles. The closest one still had some movement in the legs, but it wasn’t going anywhere.

Toby leaned against the nearest tree and tried to breathe. He looked down at the two crystal pieces in his hand. He broke it, whatever it was, and there was no excuse.

Teacher hobbled over, wearing his ‘What did you do’ face.

Couldn’t look his mentor in the eye.

Teacher held out his hand.

Couldn’t talk yet. Reluctantly gave Teacher the irregularly shaped crystal pieces.

More voices. The guards, Insalaco, and Samantha came into the forest.

“That was amazing,” said Insalaco. He was talking to Samantha.

Something in Toby’s brain came alive. He looked at Samantha and said, “You shot those Spiders from the boat?”

She nodded as if she just tied her shoes.

“I’ve seen some great shots in my time,” said Insalaco, “but that was amazing. The Spiders were running away at an angle, and she took out the first one just before it got you. The second Spider was only a few meters away when she took it down.” Insalaco looked at his men, “And gentlemen, excellent work.”

“Thank you, Sergeant,” said the young man who led the crossbow squad.

Teacher nudged Toby.

“Oh, um,” -he cleared his throat- “Keeper, thank you very much.”

She almost looked embarrassed, but the look vanished in a second.

“Um,” Toby said. He remembered this old movie, where the commander addressed the men. He looked at Insalaco. “Is there something I can do to recognize their valor?”

“A unit citation seems in order.”

The men stood taller.

“Agreed, and I will recommend you three for special commendation.”

Toby inwardly winced as the words tumbled off his tongue. He tried to sound so adult.

Toby looked at the Sergeant and prayed the men weren’t mad.

They came to attention and snapped a salute.

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