Chapter Seven: The Seabed Palace
The winds were high, as the four laid foot on the edge of the shoreline, the soft sand occasionally putting one of them off balance only hindered their progress.
"Hey, everyone! Look at the rocks up ahead," Zihera shouted, over the sound of the rolling waters. "It looks like that could be where the entrance is."
"I really doubt it, Zihera," Galaan snickered. "The gravel is too loose here. The only place that it would be sold enough would be at the base of the cliffs..."
"Well, let's try down there then," Zihera answered.
"Are you insane?" Galaan snapped. "Those cliffs are at least fifty feet down. One slip and we'd die."
"You think a cliff will stop the power of magic?" Salena laughed. "Everyone come over here, and close your eyes."
As Kiresk, Zihera and Galaan went over to where Salena was standing, they felt their bodies tingle, then a sharp pain fell through them, as if they were being torn to pieces. When they looked around again, they were at the bottom of the cliffs. As Zihera and Galaan suspected, the cave entrance was only a short few steps away.
"There it is," Kiresk commented. "Shall we get started?"
They entered the mouth of the cave. As they stepped away from the entrance, darkness enveloped them.
"I can't see a thing in here," Salena cried. "Where is everyone?"
"Here, Salena," Zihera called out. "Put your hand on my shoulder, and I will lead you through the rest of the cavern."
"Hey," Kiresk exclaimed. "We should have hit water by now. We must be at least twenty feet below sea level, and considering we were at the beaches at the entrance, we should be swimming down by now."
"I heard a story from my mother about the palace, when I was only a child," Zihera explained.
"When the last of our purest peoples died, the magic they used to keep the palace from sinking faded, and the sand took it, leaving an air pocket under the water, where no one stirs but the guardians of the palace. By now all the guards should be dead, though. But if that were true, then the air pocket may have disappeared as well."
After walking for two more hours, they reached the cave's exit. It was light again, and cold air filled their lungs.
"What a barren place," Galaan commented. "Like an underwater desert."
"Is he always like this?" Zihera asked, pointing to Galaan.
"He would not be Galaan if he did not," Kiresk replied.
"From my experience, I would have to agree with Kiresk," Salena added. "But I heard him laugh once."
"I'll take your word for it, Salena," Zihera replied. "That's all you can do when you hear about miracles."
"Stop this foolishness at once!" Galaan demanded.
"See? We told you," Kiresk announced triumphantly. "He actually had emotions at one point."
Galaan unclipped the buckle for his knife.
"I'll ask as nicely as I can," Galaan warned. "Shut up."
"Fair enough," Salena yelped.
The four made their way to the center of the air pocket, with the waves above them as their guide. As they approached the center point, they came upon what looked like a well.
"We came all this way to look at a hole?" Galaan laughed sarcastically.
"Stop what you're doing!" an ominous sounding voice yelled. "My name is Nairou, and I must protect this place from all outsiders."
"As a former commander of the Belcourt military, I must respect your post, but we have a much more urgent purpose here than your orders hold to, " Kiresk explained. "We were told to go here by the priests and priestesses of Belcourt. If you must guard this place with your life, then it is a pity, because I will have to put your effort in vain."
"Wait!" Nairou urged. "Before you draw your sword, I must relate to you a story. A few nights ago, before going to sleep, I heard a voice, and it told me to wait for three people who travel with the Silver Phoenix Woman. And so I see that the girl in the black silk robes is her. I would like to go down to the palace with you. I would rather die than do otherwise."
"Then we welcome you openly to come with us," Kiresk decided.
"Finally, someone who doesn't act like a child," Galaan sneered. "I could actually learn to get used to having you around, Nairou."
"You actually called him by his name?" Kiresk remarked, in awe.
Nairou did not speak, but rather motioned for them to follow him to what Galaan had referred to as 'some well'.
Down, deeper into the shadows that consumed them, none of them stopping, none of them talking. As they approached the bottom, they heard water crash fiercely down from the surface. They stepped out of the long stairwell into a room dimly lit by only two torches.
"Behind that waterfall must be where the legendary Seabed Palace rests," Zihera explained.
"Legends speak of this as being the place where Shara, the water spirit, was born. When she was born, she was supposed to be a very able artist, and painted a portrait of Terra, one of the first three gods. The legend also states that only the most powerful magi, such as one with the power of the Silver Phoenix, may break the waterfall to enter the palace."
Salena stepped to the waterfall and stared at it, rambling something under her breath. Then, the water immediately began to separate from the middle, revealing a large wooden door. Kiresk pushed on it, and it slowly swung open. Inside there was a beautiful red carpet that lead to an altar on a small set of stairs. There were many candles lit on the altar, and above it, the painting which Zihera had described. Beneath his feet, Kiresk saw a marbleized floor, and pillars of ice stood like guardians emerged from the floor.
"Quickly, come inside!" Kiresk exulted. "It's absolutely... beautiful."
The other four entered. Salena almost burst out laughing, and even Galaan smiled at the entrancing visage. Nairou however, stood silent and showed no emotion.
"Zihera, is that the painting of Terra?" Salena inquired. "Could that be the painting you were talking about earlier?"
"The very one," Zihera told her. "Though I never imagined she would be so beautiful. If I was able to read the books correctly, there's a 'great treasure' on the top floor. Maybe that's the crown."
"The crown is very important, so that must be where it is," Nairou stated. "According to the priestesses of Shara, it can reveal truths and thoughts you haven't touched before, and can tell you your destiny. Now, let's go to the upper floor."
Salena and Galaan both lead the way, while Kiresk, Zihera and Nairou followed closely behind. At the top of the stairs was a baclony overlooking the main hall where they came in, and on the opposite side, there was another large, solid wooden door. Salena pushed hard on the door, and stepped inside. A cold glow filled the room and then vanished.
"Everyone come inside!" Salena exclaimed with joy. "You won't believe it!"
"That's the crown! We finally found it!" Kiresk exclaimed. "Galaan! In here."
"That isn't even the best part," Nairou laughed coldly. "Here it comes..."