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4. The Hidden Door
Normal POV
Ruby was lead the way as she and Leyva explored the hull of the ship. It was dark, and smelled strongly of mold. They walked down a rickety staircase, that squeaked and shiftedon each step. At the bottom, they looked past the crates into the rooms full of food and cloth. Some looked to be priceless beyond imagining. Both thought that some of it would be sold when they came to India, or something.
'What's that?' asked Leyva. She heard a squeak of something coming down stairs.
It was Lena. Who was also exploring.
'Quick, run!' whispered Ruby loudly.
'Just a sec! I need to create a diversion.' She looked at a crate high above her head. Suddenly, as if pushed by an invisible hand, it slid forward, and crashed on the floor, sending oranges rolling everywhere. Both Ruby and Leyva scurried behind a stack of crates in an effort to hide from Lena, thinking nothing of how the oranges had moved. Behind the crates was a door. It didn't seem to be used much, but it was there nonetheless. Leyva reached her hand out to the doorknob.
'What're you doing?'
'I'm petting a cow. �I'm opening a door! What does it look like?'
'There isn't a door there, Leyva. It's just a wall.'
Leyva turned the knob and the door swung open as Ruby gasped and Lena had finished picking up the oranges. She had put the crate to the side, and was looking around again.
'It doesn't matter if you can see it or not. Go in, or we'll be caught!' Ruby hesitantly did as she was instructed, followed by Leyva.
They found themselves in a round room littered with silver, white gold, sapphires and diamonds. In the middle, on a table, there was a dagger in a black leather sheath that had silver swirls and a silver point. The hilt was clear, dark blue, with solid green worked in a little. Leyva drew the dagger. Its glowing and intense shining was only equal to the full moon at its brightest. The belt, which lay on the floor, was of the same black leather of the sheath, and had the same blue stones between the buckle holes. Whose is this? I wonder if it's ever used, or was used. It's too fancy for normal wear, they must have worn it before a king, or something.
The dagger had a nice little place along with other places for sheaths to go. Some looked big enough for swords, and others for small knives. Leyva took off her normal belt, and tried the other one on. It fit perfectly. I'm keeping this. No one ever comes down here, it seems. So, why not? I'll have to hide it at the bottom of my sea trunk, or something. I can't let anyone see it!<
Leyva's eyes flickered over to the next doorway and the cloak hanging on a peg next to it. It was mostly blue, matching the hilt of the dagger. She walked up to it, and noticed that it changed colors in different perspectives. It seemed red and brown now. Leyva slowly lifted it off the peg and weighed it in her hands. It was as light as a feather, seemed fairly tough, and was obviously made for someone taller. She tried it on, and looked at the bronze mirror, not seeing herself. She saw a warrior, a seasoned fighter, and someone afraid of nothing. It was probably just the way her eyes reflected the light.
Ruby still stood by the door, trying to take it all in, and not succeeding. 'Do you want anything?' Leyva asked her bewildered friend. She slowly walked to the edge of the room, cautiously lifting a purple cloak like Leyva's, with a matching amethist brooch. Leyva cast her eyes around for a blue pin to go with her cloak. It was a flame, almost too blue to look at. The desk the it was sitting on was plain mahogany with a simple drawer and a tarnished knob to pull. Leyva, curious, drew out the drawer and found a bunch of parchments all rolled up. She pulled one out, and opened it. It was strange, with strange words.
The Lizzard, our savior, will lead us to the end.
She will fend off our enemies, will vanquish our foes.
In the end she will wreck us. El'Ruka will destroy her people.
The Sorcerer from the Sea may still love his daughter,
He wants her on his side. He will kill to make it true.
Now, that's odd. I wonder who the Lizzard is, or El'Ruka. Or the Sorcerer from the Sea. Wait! Didn't I go into a trance right before coming here or something, and say one of these names? This is�interesting�
Leyva tucked the prophecy into her belt, for that is what it seemed to be, and walked to the other side of the round room, to the door. 'Let's go.' Leyva and Ruby walked through the door, and came upon another set of stairs. These had strange runes etched into the walls. The steps were worn down, with so many people having walked up and down them in the past age. Leyva and Ruby slowly climbed them, making muffled sounds, and their hands trailed up the sides, leaving dust marks where their fingers touched the wall. At the top of the stairs was a trapdoor. It squeaked open as Leyva stuck her head through. It was their room.
Leyva and Ruby took off the things they had gotten from the circular room, and stuck them at the top of the stairs. They closed the door and put the rug over the top. Ruby walked out of the room, followed by Leyva, both thinking about what had just happened.