A Mystery Deep Below Part 4

I gasped at the sight before me. Now that we were unobstructed by Torchal’s spines, the wide-open water was breathtaking. Hughes of light blue and dark swirled together. Schools of bright silver fish flocked backward and forwards. One such school swam too close to Torchal. Lar grasped my shoulder to hold on, and we braced our feet. His head moved, jarring us almost to falling. I looked over the side and saw a massive jaw opening. The suction drew in countless fish. We were ready when he closed his mouth again. This time, we stood steady.



Lar looked over at me. “We do not need to travel too far forward. To go to the end of his mouth would be suicide.” Her voice did not come from her mouth, though. How could it with the sphere over our heads. Instead, I heard her in my mind. All I could do was nod. I didn’t even know we could communicate in the way of Torchal.



It was very cold out in the open. We walked for a very long time. Lar had us stop to eat, and I had no idea how that would even work until she brought out containers with long hollow tubes inserted in them. She handed one to me. I continue to watch her for instructions. Lar pushed the tube through her sphere, and it opened just enough for the tube to go through, then closed around it. With that done, Lar simply drank from it. The idea of nourishment being taken in such a way was startling. I followed along as she had done even though it seemed ridiculous. To my surprise, it was very satisfying.



We continued on for longer than I thought would be possible. Eventually, a slight dip showed itself before us. On either side of the pathway, the terrain rose up a little. Those rises moved, causing me to jump. Lar laughed in my mind. “Silly girl. Those are Torchal’s eyes. Do you not think he needs to scout his domain?”



My cheeks reddened. How was I supposed to know what to expect? This was the first time I traveled forward.



“We are here. Just a little way down between his eyes is a setting for the pearl. You must be the one to place it there.” Lar gently shoved me in that direction and then sat down. She extended one hand to receive my pack.



I gave it to her after removing the pearl. Holding it tightly in both hands, I moved down the pathway. It only took several steps to see what Lar was talking about. A coral setting sat affixed to Torchal’s hide. Nothing occupied the space right now, but a tugging in my chest caused me to hurry over and set the pearl inside. As soon as I did, the four prongs moved inwards to clasp around it. The pearl began to shine ever so slightly. In my mind, I heard a rhythmic purring of satisfaction. My heart swelled with joy.

I smiled within my sphere. Making my way back to Lar, I fell down when Torchal jerked suddenly. He jerked again and again. I had to hold onto one of his eye lids to keep from being shot out into the water. Lar came running towards me to help. I looked up into her fear filled eyes. “What is it, Lar? What is happening? Did I do something wrong?”



Lar sat down next to me. We held each other as we braced through his fit. “No. You did nothing wrong. There has been an unscheduled death. A violent one. One that even Torchal cannot see who is at fault. We must get back and find the crime. The murderer must be brought before Torchal.”