310) The Salvation of Eden, Chapter 74 — Graxia’s bedroom

It was indeed worthy of a Master’s bedroom, decorations lavish, sheets and pillows of fine silk, art stately and impressive, furniture of superb craftsmanship out of cherry wood and mahogany, huge mirror twice the height of a human, set in a solid gold frame, curtains a rich, dark purple silk with red highlights in an intricate, beautiful pattern reminiscent of flames.

They entered one slow step at a time, weapons drawn.

Nobody was there.

A sturdy night table stood beside the bed, opposite a small desk which was covered in papers, mostly details of monetary transactions, with numbers written beside inscrutable entries.

Devona rifled through the drawers of a tall dresser at the back of the room, letting out a low, appreciative whistle. “Graxia! You ARE stylish!”

Kohra opened the bottom drawer, and gasped. A black, hooded traveling cloak, with a pair of black gloves. Her heart skipped a beat. “Everyone! Look. At. THIS!!” Hands shaking, she lifted up the cloak for everyone to see. “The Hooded Man must be Graxia’s husband!!!”

Lenny burst out laughing. “Husband!? Oh Kohra…. Husband!!” She wiped tears out of her eyes.

Kohra didn’t understand what Lenny found so funny. But right now, she didn’t care. This was exciting! “No, seriously, look! I found his cloak!”

Lenny looked at her like she was a fish in a tree. “You can’t possibly tell me you haven’t realized yet that Hoodie and Graxia are the same person.”

“What?” Kohra’s mouth actually gaped. “They ARE??!!”

Devona snorted, giving Lenny a “knowing” look, and turned away, as if she knew it all along and was trying to spare Kohra’s feelings. Reilly and Dominic looked uncomfortable and awkward, like they didn’t want to admit they didn’t know either. Gorb and Grok weren’t paying attention to them at all, having realized that the bedroom was shaped like an “L” and walking around the corner to check out the other section. And Melkorn, bless his heart, gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder, then leaned in close and whispered, “Who’s Hoodie?”

“Come ‘errre!!” Gorb called. He was pointing into an alcove set off the far section of the “L”. It was painted a dark purple, highlighted by red streaks and swirls. It looked vaguely reminiscent of the Flows in the night sky, Kohra realized, and stylistically similar to the swirly paintings she had been looking at earlier. Three paintings hung on the end wall of the alcove — severe, noble-looking Whiteling royalty, dressed in full military regalia.

A tall, narrow, black stone towered in the centre, reaching almost all the way to the ceiling. Tiny pinpricks of light sparkled over its entire bulk, reminding Kohra of the beauty of freshly fallen snow at night, reflecting in countless little sparkles, the pink light of the Sky Flows. It reminded her of Ms. B’s stories about fairies.

“Hey look!” Melkorn pointed as if he was the first to notice. “Pretty rock!”

Lenny stepped into the alcove, bending down to put her face close to the stone.

“Be careful!” Devona warned.

Lenny whispered, “I'm just looking.” She pointed at the floor. “Writing.”

They all crowded into the alcove, peering at the calligraphic lettering that was etched into the otherwise smooth stone surface. It was a long message, winding around and around the black rock in incomprehensible symbols. Nobody even knew what language it was.

Devona gave a start, practically jumping off the floor with excitement. “The diary! I’m sure I’ve seen these in the diary!” Rummaging around her pack, she retrieved the book she had stolen from the old man’s room.

“Yes! It’s right here!” She pointed to a page in the diary. One half was, indeed, a meticulous replication of the symbols in the alcove. To her absolute glee, the other half was the translation.

“To my Heir,

If you are reading this, then I am now dead, and you are in the Zhaalmohhrian home, hoping for your Inheritance.

If you wish to become Grand Wizard of the Zhaals, you must prove yourself worthy.

You must enter the Portal of Graaallsshcchhch and pass through the Door of Reckoning to claim your Inheritance, that you may use its power and guidance to further the Unfathomable Will of our eternal Mother, Aboleth.

You, my child, stand on shoulders of greatness, stretching unbroken through all the Ages, back to the First Breath.

Study the teachings of your Elders, that you may understand.

Speak my name, Honoured One, that you may enter, and claim what is rightfully yours.”

“What does all THAT mean?” Reilly was the first to ask.

Devona shook her head.“I’m not sure. There’s a secret word, like a password, to get to the Inheritance? I guess it’s his name? Grallshhchhshhh? Or something like that?”.

“Wasn't some sort of magic doorway supposed to open when you said ‘Graaalschhhh?’” asked Lenny.

Devona nodded. “I thought so too.”

“Mebbe yerrr misprrronouncin' it!” Gorb suggested. “'Appens t'me all de time.”

Devona tried a different pronunciation. “GraaalSSHHLLCH!”

“Grooeelschhh?” Grok tried.

“No, more like Grrreeoolschhh,” Gorb suggested.

“Graawwwlstch?” Reilly drawled.

“Graallstchtch?” Kohra made an attempt.

This went on for some time. Finally, they had tried every ingenious way they could possibly think of to say it.

“To Hells with this!” Lenny finally yelled, standing in front of the rock like she wanted to punch it. “And to Hells with YOU, Graaallsshcchhch!”

The rock shimmered, and a moment later, where the rock had been, opened a rectangular doorway. On the other side glittered an underground chamber of glowing crystals.