Liquid Diamond (9 page)

“
Okay,” agreed Natalia.

They slipped back into Domnyar’s hut, went back to their beds and slept until morning.

Two hours later, Natalia, Catalyst and Domnyar were up eating breakfast.

Silently, Natalia and Catalyst sat there, exhausted from the night before.

“
That was the best sleep I have had in ages. How about the two of you?” Sleep okay? asked Domnyar yawning.

“
Not really,” replied Natalia and explained what Catalyst had gotten them into and how it was all because of some rope dart thing that Catalyst just had to have.

“
You poor children. It sounds as though someone is out to get you,” replied Domnyar with sympathy.

“
That’s what I say. Do you know where we could find that old trader?” asked Catalyst. He pulled the rope dart from the back of his pants hoping they would see why he wanted it so much.

“
Now why wouldn’t you just tell us about that thing, Catalyst?” asked Natalia.

“
Because you would have known I needed to go fishing last night and I just thought it was best if I went alone and without an argument,” replied Catalyst.

“
Even after I caught you?” asked Natalia.

“
Hmm, to answer your question, Catalyst, no, I don’t,” said Domnyar. “For a Basajaunak to pack up and leave his home like that – it’s almost unheard of. Sure, we travel from time to time but from what you’ve told me he’s just moved on, so there’s no telling where he has gone. But if it makes you two feel any better, I can point you in the direction of Miss Turr,” said Domnyar.

“
Okay, where do we find her?” asked Natalia, wanting to move on and put some space between them and the Elf.

Domnyar just pointed straight out of his door. Natalia and Catalyst turned and saw a five hundred pound, six foot eight inch tall woman, covered from head to toe in hair. Miss Turr had fangs and was walking straight to Domnyar’s hut.

“
Great, just when I thought we were getting out of here,” thought Natalia.

Waving to Miss Turr as she walked towards his hut, Domnyar turned and set a place for her at the table.

Just as hairy and just as tall as Domnyar, it was hard for Natalia to see the attraction. Taking her first really thoughtful look at the Basajaunak, Natalia couldn’t help but notice just how much they looked like the elusive Bigfoot or at least the pictures of him shown on TV, but the Basajaunak stood straighter than Bigfoot and was not shy.

Pulling back from her hug, Miss Turr left Domnyar with a kiss on the cheek and his face fur turned a light shade of yellow from the warm fuzzy feeling of desire – either that or embarrassment.

“
That’s the downside of fur, children. It can change colour with your mood,” said Domnyar.

“
Some of us would say that’s the upside,” said Miss Turr with a smile on her face, satisfied that Domnyar was feeling just uncomfortable enough. “So it’s my understanding that you children have been looking for me,” said Miss Turr.

“
Yes, we have,” replied Catalyst.

“
But how did you know?” asked Natalia, cutting Catalyst off for the sake of being able to speak with another woman.

“
An old trader passed by my camp last night and mentioned it. When he told me that two children were staying with my old friend Domnyar, I found the perfect opportunity to come back,” replied Miss Turr as though she needed a reason to visit Domnyar.

“
If the two of you are so in love then why not just get married?” asked Natalia, blurting it out, tired of all the flirting. With that the room went silent. Miss Turr looked around as though she was waiting for a…question or two...maybe.

“
Miss Turr, I’m sorry,” said Natalia going on to explain what had brought them there and what had happened the night before.

“
But can you tell us where to find this trader?” asked Catalyst cutting Natalia off for a change.

“
Sorry, I can’t. He kept walking into the night and I came here,” replied Miss Turr.

“
So would anyone care to introduce themselves?” asked Miss Turr.

“
I’m Natalia and this is Catalyst,” said Natalia, grabbing Miss Turr by the hand.

“
Let’s see this key that’s so important that two children had to find me because of it,” said Miss Turr as she held Natalia’s hand so she didn’t feel alone any more.

“
Well, we were wondering whether you could tell us if it was you that had made this key. If you didn’t, then you might know the work and at least point us in the right direction,” said Natalia, taking it from the fitsall.

Taking the piece of crusty metal from Natalia and a bottle from her pack, Miss Turr dropped the piece into the liquid and almost instantly the crust fell from the metal to reveal what was some of her best work ever.

“
Is that trillium oil you have there, Miss Turr?” asked Natalia.

“
No, this stuff is some cleaner I made. It works on everything from metal to wood,” replied Miss Turr as she picked up what was left of the key.

“
No doubt about it. It’s my work,” said Miss Turr looking, at the emblems carved on all four sides of the squared knob and the fifth one carved on its top.

“
However, the key that this was once on is no good now. It needed to be soaked in trillium oil for at least one day almost as soon as it was made to stop the missing pieces of the metal from trying to grow back in. So whatever I cut this for, it won’t fit now. See, children, for every layer of crust that grows over this metal it adds another layer of metal underneath it. See right there,” said Miss Turr, showing them what she meant.

“
Sooner or later it’ll be back to its original shape. There are some people around here that swear this metal lives and that putting it in trillium oil drowns it,” continued Miss Turr.

“
But it’s not alive though, is it?” said Domnyar.

“
No, of course not. If anything’s alive it would be the crust. After all, that’s how the metal is replaced,” replied Miss Turr.

“
Can you tell us who you made it for? They’ll know where the crystals are and all we’ll have to do is follow them,” said Catalyst.

“
I’ve never seen their faces,” replied Miss Turr with a shrug.

“
You’ve never seen their faces and yet you made them a key anyway?” asked Natalia.

“
They were wearing cloaks and they had their hoods pulled over their heads. Since I was dealing with five of them, each one with their own design, and a sixth one just stood around watching everything and everyone. Look, I may be a Basajaunak but clearly these people were warriors and I was more concerned with doing as they asked! It wasn’t my business who they were or what they wanted the key made for. But I do know this
–
the one that handed me the metal was from Svartalfheim,” replied Miss Turr.

“
How could you tell that? I thought you said they were wearing cloaks and hoods?” asked Domnyar.

“
The one that handed me the metal had a Svartalfheim symbol burned into his wrist, but not like one I’ve ever seen before. Still there was no mistaking it, and what’s more, each one of them had the same type of symbol with only one real difference – the markings in each triangle seemed to represent a different Kingdom just like the carvings they had me put on this. The one on top seemed to be the one that tied them all together,” replied Miss Turr.

“
The ones that you made this key for used it to open the portal to Earth. That’s how Natalia ended up here and already she’s been kidnapped by the Basajaunak and we’ve been hunted and set up at least once already. All this is because the fear of Humanity is starting to spread,” said Catalyst.

“
Well I’m not afraid of Natalia and up to now I had no idea what the key was for. All Natalia told me was that you were looking for the crystals and the maker of the key. Had I known what they wanted the key for, even at the cost of my own life, I wouldn’t have made it for them,” said Miss Turr.

“
Can you believe that the King sent two children on this kind of quest?” asked Domnyar of Miss Turr.

“
Sounds more like vengeance – vengeance just for being Human,” replied Miss Turr.

“
Be that as it may, I can’t go home until we’ve got the crystals back,” said Natalia.

“
Look, given last night and all that went on, I can see why you would want to speak with that old trader. But wouldn’t you get more answers from the Elf, seeing he’s the one that had the old trader send you out there for him?” asked Miss Turr.

“
Just how are we supposed to do that without ending up as a meal for him?” asked Natalia in disbelief that Miss Turr would even suggest such a thing.

“
Domnyar and I will help you,” replied Miss Turr, easing Natalia’s frustration at her suggestion.

“
We will? I mean of course we will,” said Domnyar, realizing it meant spending more time with Miss Turr and showing off his bravery.

With his fitsall in one hand and his rope dart in the other, Catalyst stood ready to leave at once, looking forward to seeing that vile wretched Elf on more even terms.

“
Everyone ready?” asked Miss Turr in a tone of voice that suggested an order rather than a question.

“
I’m ready,” replied Domnyar, picking up his macuahuitl.

“
Ah! What’s that thing?” asked Catalyst, drooling almost as much as the rotten old Elf.

“
It’s my club,” replied Domnyar, showing off the four blades that stuck out the whole length of the club.

“
Looks more like a butcher’s block turned inside out,” said Natalia.

“
Hm, I guess you’re right about that,” said Domnyar, looking at his club in a new light.

Taking Miss Turr by the hand, Domnyar led the way. Natalia and Catalyst followed and Natalia felt the slightest unintentional brush of Catalyst’s hand against hers. She took one step to her right and again Catalyst ended up being completely misunderstood.

“
Domnyar, if the Elf sees us with these two, he’s just going to hide, you know that,” pointed out Miss Turr.

“
Yep, that’s why they’re going to be bait,” replied Domnyar.

“
Bait…bait...you want us to be bait?” demanded Natalia at the insanity of it all.

“
Yes, bait. You two just walk up ahead a little bit, taking your time. Make some noise and throw that rope dart of yours around a little bit. Don’t make too much noise
–
we only want him to know you’re out here, not that he’s being set up. When the Elf comes for you, Miss Turr and I will jump out of the woods and grab him. How’s that?” asked Domnyar.

“
Okay, but I sure hope you know what you’re doing,” replied Natalia. In the blink of an eye, Miss Turr and Domnyar disappeared into the woods.

With his rope dart in hand, whistling as it spun round and round, Natalia sang, “I’m digging a hole, that’s the way you treat me, I’m digging a hole, now tie me up and beat me, babababa bababa!” She was making fun of the Elf and felt good about it.

“
We’ve made enough noise now I think, Natalia,” said Catalyst as he laughed at her song.

“
Besides, this thing will be just as much bait as you and I,” continued Catalyst as he wrapped the rope dart around his shoulder. Rolling her eyes, Natalia had no choice but to agree.

“
I just hope that Domnyar and Miss Turr are watching us,” said Natalia, looking around the wood for them and seeing nothing.

#

Miss Turr was on one side of the path and found herself jumped by three Blemmyes. With a fight on her hands that would take more than a few minutes, Miss Turr gave it everything she had, teeth and all.

Domnyar was facing the same odds. His foe fell from the trees, landing on him and knocking him off his feet, stunning him just long enough for the Blemmyes to give him a really good going over before he could get back to his feet.

#

“
Not to worry, Natalia, with their speed, they could be a mile away from us and still get here on time,” said Catalyst reassuringly. “Besides, that dirty old Elf isn’t fast or smart enough to catch us. We’ll see him coming,” continued Catalyst hearing footsteps behind them.

“
How’s this for being fast and smart enough, you little brat!” growled the Elf as he grabbed them both by the shoulder and shoved Natalia to her knees while throwing Catalyst against a tree, knocking him out.

Scooping Natalia up into his arms with her mouth covered, the Elf fled into the woods as Catalyst opened his eyes, struggling to catch his wits.

“
Domnyar! Miss Turr!” yelled Catalyst. There was no reply from either, so Catalyst rose to his feet and with his rope dart, left as well. Catalyst chased after Natalia and the Elf, heading straight for the Elf’s lair.