A Mystery Deep Below Part 3
“Mother! I heard him!” My eyes were wide, and I jumped up and down, simply unable to contain my joy.
“What have I told you, child? While you are learning, you will address me as Lar-Naneth.” She came through the curtain holding two cups of Luin tea. “And I heard as well. Do you think he would leave it to you for telling me what his choice was?” Lar shook her head. She handed me one of the cups. Its sweet smell made my stomach growl. “Did you not eat with the younglings?”
“No, Lar. I did not wish to be later than I already was.”
“That just will not do. Come, sit with me, and we shall fix that error.” Lar ushered me into her small kitchen. Everything we had was made from fallen spines. We would never pull or cut them from Torchal’s body. It was absolutely forbidden to cause him any kind of pain. Such an act was the worst of crimes and never needed any kind of trial.
I sat at the much smaller table while Lar fussed over her stove. In respect, I did not speak. That was done during the meal. So, as soon as she placed my plate of fish and algae down, I asked what was on my mind. “So now that I have clearly heard him, what comes next?”
Lar slowly cut her fish, taking her time to saver the flavor. After what seemed like forever, she looked up at me. “We take him what he asked for, silly girl.”
If my eyes were wide before when I finally heard Torchal’s voice in my mind, now they were huge. “We are going further forward? What about our air we breathe while between his spines?”
She shook her head at me, looking down. “Just when I think you are growing wiser, you ask such a question as that. Do you not know how the cleaners move above our air to groom Torchal?”
Lowering my gaze as well, I answered. “Yes, Lar. They harvest the air, making solid spheres to place over their heads. This keeps them with enough air to last through each grooming.”
A cool hand grasped mine. Lar squeezed every so slightly. “Yes, my child. That is how we will travel forward.”
When I raised my eyes to meet hers, they were full of pride. We finished our meal in silence before packing for the journey. This would be quite the experience. Lar did not live far from Torchal’s mind, but it was far enough to cause me to wonder if one sphere would take us the whole way. I would pack two just in case. I looked over at Lar and saw her doing the same. I may live with the younglings most of the time, but the majority of my belongings were still here with my mother.
When our packing was complete, we slung our packs on and headed out her front curtain. Looking up at Torchal’s spines, how they swept backward, we started forward. Lar’s pack was much larger than mine, but she was stronger than most Firen. Even as thin and small as she was, she could take on our strongest males. She was everything I wanted to be.
Cresting Torchal’s neck towards his head, the spines ended mere feet before us. Lar called a stop and pulled out her first sphere. I took her lead and retrieved mine as well. They were solid from one side to the next, top to bottom, but they slid right over our heads without seeming to create an opening. It was a trade I knew nothing of.
The way forward was much darker than any spot within his spines. I could see open water ahead. My heart lurched. If Lar was not here, then I doubt I could make this trip. Seeming to know my fear, Lar reached over and took my hand. I smiled at her in response. Together, we both stepped out of the spines.
