Hume hiked past lower town to the caves. He suspected he was being followed. Trusting naught, he double around, retraced his steps. He came to the caves midmorning but didn’t want to go straight in. He climbed a distant chinaberry tree and scouted the area. In a bit there was a rustling at the entrance of the cave. He watched without showing himself. Cardova exited the cave in a huddled low to the ground lugging something of weight. Hume waited in silence. Cardova stopped, looked around.
Hume observed a while longer. Cardova made no other strange moves. Hume decided to perchance a greeting. He picked up a few stones and began to whistle a tune. He threw the stones at passing birds as if in fun, surprising himself when he struck one. Feathers floated to the ground as the bird recovered. At this, Cardova shouted, “Is that the best you can do?”
“Well, what are you up to way out here?”
“I could inquire the same of you. But figured you would arrive before sunset.”
“Why do you say such?”
“The orbs. I saw you with Evie. I watched when you learned they attracted one another. I came to the caves to determine the significance of the markings.”
“Whatever are you talking about, orbs, markings?”
“Hume, don’t take me for a fool. Renaissance draws each of us. We must be on our guard.”
“I don’t follow. Do you mean there is some destiny for which we have arrived together at Renaissance?”
“Exactly! ”
“I met you on the way as we did Evie. Now you mention the orbs as though you have knowledge of them. Explain.”
“I don’t believe you continue to act so. To much has been revealed to keep the secret.”
“Ah, now, you mention secrets, do you. What secrets do you have? Your words and bundle pique my curiosity. What is that?”
“It’s the key to the markings in the cave. I was poking around markings on the boulders. I searched them to no avail. A distraction. I moved the smaller of the boulders revealing a hatch. I pulled the slatted cover away, took my torch and went down. The log was there. Look at this.”
“Hume came close to have a look. Coardova unwrapped the end of a log. Hume knelt. Cardova then struck Hume at the back of the head with a club. Hume collapsed. Cardova took the orbs from around Hume’s neck, then drug him to the cave and dumped him into the hatch. He replaced the cover and the boulders. “Sleep long, Traveler.” Cardova pulled a small pouch from a leather tie on his his belt. He retrieved the third orb. “What a beauty.” He knew he had to keep the three apart until the time was right.
Evie saw him come back to the Inn carrying a load. “Hello, I haven’t seen much of you since we arrived. What do you have there?”
“The key, dear Evie, the key.”
“The key to what?”
“They key to unravel the fold.”
“You say the oddest things, Cardova.” Evie moved away. She didn’t want him to know she knew of what he spoke. “Have you seen Hume?”
“With you this morning. Why, isn’t he around?”
“No, I haven’t seen him the rest of the day. I need to talk to him.”
“Think that over, Evie. Are you sure it’s not me with whom you wish to speak?”
“There you go again, saying the oddest things again.”
Hume hiked past lower town to the caves. He suspected he was being followed. Trusting naught, he double around, retraced his steps. He came to the caves midmorning but didn’t want to go straight in. He climbed a distant chinaberry tree and scouted the area. In a bit there was a rustling at the entrance of the cave. He watched without showing himself. Cardova exited the cave in a huddled low to the ground lugging something of weight. Hume waited in silence. Cardova stopped, looked around.
Hume observed a while longer. Cardova made no other strange moves. Hume decided to perchance a greeting. He picked up a few stones and began to whistle a tune. He threw the stones at passing birds as if in fun, surprising himself when he struck one. Feathers floated to the ground as the bird recovered. At this, Cardova shouted, “Is that the best you can do?”
“Well, what are you up to way out here?”
“I could inquire the same of you. But figured you would arrive before sunset.”
“Why do you say such?”
“The orbs. I saw you with Evie. I watched when you learned they attracted one another. I came to the caves to determine the significance of the markings.”
“Whatever are you talking about, orbs, markings?”
“Hume, don’t take me for a fool. Renaissance draws each of us. We must be on our guard.”
“I don’t follow. Do you mean there is some destiny for which we have arrived together at Renaissance?”
“Exactly! ”
“I met you on the way as we did Evie. Now you mention the orbs as though you have knowledge of them. Explain.”
“I don’t believe you continue to act so. To much has been revealed to keep the secret.”
“Ah, now, you mention secrets, do you. What secrets do you have? Your words and bundle pique my curiosity. What is that?”
“It’s the key to the markings in the cave. I was poking around markings on the boulders. I searched them to no avail. A distraction. I moved the smaller of the boulders revealing a hatch. I pulled the slatted cover away, took my torch and went down. The log was there. Look at this.”
“Hume came close to have a look. Coardova unwrapped the end of a log. Hume knelt. Cardova then struck Hume at the back of the head with a club. Hume collapsed. Cardova took the orbs from around Hume’s neck, then drug him to the cave and dumped him into the hatch. He replaced the cover and the boulders. “Sleep long, Traveler.” Cardova pulled a small pouch from a leather tie on his his belt. He retrieved the third orb. “What a beauty.” He knew he had to keep the three apart until the time was right.
Evie saw him come back to the Inn carrying a load. “Hello, I haven’t seen much of you since we arrived. What do you have there?”
“The key, dear Evie, the key.”
“The key to what?”
“They key to unravel the fold.”
“You say the oddest things, Cardova.” Evie moved away. She didn’t want him to know she knew of what he spoke. “Have you seen Hume?”
“With you this morning. Why, isn’t he around?”
“No, I haven’t seen him the rest of the day. I need to talk to him.”
“Think that over, Evie. Are you sure it’s not me with whom you wish to speak?”
“There you go again, saying the oddest things again.”
576 words for Prompt Three:
- Betrayal is in the air.
- Relationships unravel or strengthen.
Read Full Post »
Talespinner at Work 