Crystal Doors #1 by Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta Page B

“But Elantya is much more concerned with the new merlon crisis, as I had anticipated.”
    Rubicas nodded somberly. “Tiaret was there to answer questions, and several fishermen came forward. Admiral Bradsinoreus of the patrol galleys produced records to show how many ships have gone missing in the past year. The pattern is obvious: The merlons are already waging war against us.” The bearded sage spread his hands in an apologetic gesture. “This could threaten all of us, and so the virs’ priority is clear. I am sorry they cannot help you, at least not now. Our Protective Vir Helassa was quite adamant.”
    Gwen hung her head. “Sure. We understand.”
    Drawing his eyebrows together, Orpheon added, “Helassa’s exact words were, ‘We have greater considerations than the demands of two uninvited children. They will have to wait until the crisis is resolved.’ Some virs were skeptical of your story and even suggested that you might be spies for the undersea realm. In fact, Vir Pecunyas suggested it was very convenient and suspicious that you arrived just when another ship was attacked.”
    “Sheesh, you’ve got to be kidding!” Vic said with a snort.
    “Vir Pecunyas was definitely in the minority.” Rubicas looked embarrassed. “However, many do not like the idea of our poking around in new worlds and trying to open sealed crystal doors. Helassa herself asked if we had learned nothing from the Great Closure.”
    Gwen was about to ask what he meant, but as the sage glanced around the room, he suddenly noticed that all the clutter had been picked up. His face lit with delight. “Hmm, excellent! Orpheon and I need to get to work right away. The Pentumvirate ordered us to prepare extreme measures against the merlons.” He picked up several scrolls and sniffed them, as if to see whether the flames had damaged the sparkling ink. “Oh, yes, and they said you are welcome to remain in Elantya under my protection for as long as you need.”
    “And as long as you dwell among us in peace,” Orpheon added. “In the meantime, Sage Rubicas and I cannot waste time or resources helping you find your way back home.”
    Rubicas tried to sound reassuring. “Someday when we are once again at peace with the merlons, we will have the leisure to assist you.”
    Gwen’s heart sank as she recognized that any chance of getting back to Uncle Cap and Earth would be a long time coming.

15
     
    SO THEY WERE ON their own. It wasn’t what he’d expected, but at least Vic knew this was going to be interesting. He loved to jump into problems and puzzles, using anything he could find to piece together a workable solution. But first he needed more information. He cleared his throat to get the old sage’s attention. “So what’s the story with this merlon misunderstanding, conflict, war… whatever you want to call it? Tell us more about the merlons.”
    Rubicas started climbing a set of copper rungs set into the wall frame between his tall aquariums. He carried a small bowl of dried insects to feed the fish. “It is a long story, spanning many centuries. It began —”
    The scimitar of Orpheon’s voice sliced the air. “All merlons hate land-dwellers, and wish that Elantya would sink backbeneath the waves. That is all you need to know.” He reorganized the spell scrolls.
    Vic could barely keep himself from laughing. “I was, uh, hoping for a little more detail than that.”
    Orpheon looked in frustration at the sage. “If you plan to engage in lengthy storytelling, Master Rubicas, perhaps I should search the storehouses for lesser aja crystals? We need to replace the star aja that was damaged when these two came through the crystal door.”
    “Hmm, a fine idea, Orpheon.”
    Without further encouragement, the assistant strode out of the laboratory room in a huff. The sage lifted an access hatch on top and began dropping bug bits into the bubbling aquarium water, humming to himself. Inside, four frisky aquits swam to and fro,