Tale of the Treasure Trove, part 1

Audio version from Wizard Wednesday Reading

"It's got to be here."

"It's not here."

"But all this work! The journey... It MUST be here!" The penguin stamped his fin in frustration. Slamming the lid of the empty chest. "Teeth & tails, Foxes fury, no no NO!" The penguin raged throwing his short spear and stamping around the small cave, beside himself.

"Calm down, you're making a fool of yourself." Arkol spoke softly, kneeling down to inspect the chest himself. His hands slowly traced the lid of the old wooden chest. Years of being left untouched in the cave had left the buckles & clasped rusted & worn. The wood looked ancient, yet still in fine shape... Magic was here.

"Someone was here, before us..."

"Brown Wizards Brew, of course they were! But what are we going to do about it?! We need that key! We've travelled to far to leave here empty handed! We've GOT to save her!" The penguins tantrum continued.

The orc continued to investigate the chest, looking now at the lock. "Whomever was here didn't crack the chest with force, and they didn't have the key..."

"No impossible! No one can get in without the key! This key! MY KEY, the Key of Steel, is ONLY key!" The penguin took the key and chain from around his neck around his neck and shook it violently in Arkol's face. "I'm the only ONLY one who can get in, the second key belongs to me!"

"ENOUGH!" Barked the Orc, smacking they penguin across his face with his massive hand.

The penguin was knocked backwards and the Key of Steel flew from his fin, across the cold cave floor, landing in the centre of the cave, maybe 10 yards away.

Silence feel over the cave as Rusty picked himself up off the ground, sobered from his anger by the cold stone. The cave had always been cool, however it suddenly seemed to get very cold. An eerie, damp frost crept in suddenly. Rusty could see his breath. Arkol was on alert, picking up his huge malachite halberd.

Then, out of the quiet, a gentle, distant hum could be heard, quiet at first, then louder. Musical in nature. As though caught in a magical trance, Arkol & Rusty watched as another Penguin, skated out of the fog, humming loudly to itself. Fins gliding on the frosted cave floor, as though it was an ice rink. Then penguins song and dance kept Arkol & Rusty stunned. Transfixed by the bizarre scene unfolding in front of them, they were unable to blink. The penguins dance took it round in circles, culminating in a spin, a jump and then a low bow.

The penguin paused for a moment, holding the bow, then, while stooped low, flicked the Key of Steel up into the air, to catch it again in a dramatic way. Rusty jumped, snapping from his daze. "MY KEY!" he squealed, as the other penguin grabbed a silk rope that had dropped from the dark cave ceiling and was pulled up into the darkness.

Both Rusty & Arkol charged towards the penguin as he was pulled up. They saw just a glimmer of the penguin and his unknown, silent accomplice as they disappeared into some unknown cavernous passage way in the ceiling of the cave. "Thanks boys! Race you to the Chest of Brass!" Teased the flightless bird.

Fury consumed Rusty. "NOOOO they've got both keys now! And how? How can we catch them if they've got the key?" Rusty wailed.

"Shut up, they can't get far. Think feather brain. We are on an island. To escape, they must play the sea. And who wins at sea?" Arkol asked with a smirk.

"We do! We win at sea!" Rusty recited, determination returned to his face. "Quick: to the ship!"

With that they took off, running back through the cave entrance, back to the ship, as fast as fins & feet would carry them.

Entered by: 0x6809…e343