The Quest for the Heart Orb by Laura Jo Phillips Page B

palace.  Suddenly, I have my doubts.”
    “What do you mean?” Karma asked.
    “The fact that it’s the location of the Heart Orb makes me think that the palace was built around the tower in order to hide it, and the cooling effect is just a benefit that someone noticed after the fact, which became a good excuse for the tower’s existence,” Zakiel said. 
    “Wait, I seem to remember that the stele at the entrance to the island indicated that Arth Mar, the Builder, built Ka-Teru.  Now you’re saying King Gariel built it?”
    “Arth Mar did build Ka-Teru,” Zakiel said, proud of Karma for remembering something he doubted most of his own people would know.  “Early battles with demons all but destroyed the original palace.  After the pyramid was sent away, King Gariel rebuilt the palace, and much of Ka-Teru as well.”
    “I see,” Karma said.  “You look worried.”
    “I am,” Zakiel said.  “If the Heart Orb is in the tower, I don’t see how it can be retrieved.  The tower is as tall as the palace and we’ve no idea how deeply into the ground it goes.  Since we don’t know how the water is pumped into it, we can’t stop it, or empty it.  I’d suggest using the power of Vatra, but only an Orb Maiden may claim an orb.  I’ve no doubt that tampering with that tower in any way, as Vatra or not, would be an enormous mistake.”
    “I don’t think retrieval is going to be a problem,” Karma said.  “Ren is Mareon.”
    Zakiel stared at Karma for a moment, then chuckled.  “I didn’t know that the Mareon still existed.  Once again luck shines upon us.”
    “I’m not so sure it’s luck,” Karma said.  “Not completely, anyway.  There are too many coincidences for my taste.  Such as Tiari’s eyes being unique in their ability to see the path in the cavern, and only Kapia’s blood being capable of opening the Cradle of the Moon Orb.  Now we learn the Heart Orb is in a tower filled with a hundred feet or more of water, and Ren just happens to be able to shift into a Mareon with gills, scales and a tail.  It’s too much to be mere luck.  And I’m not going to touch my own arrival on Rathira with the Ti-Ankh.”
    “I see what you mean,” Zakiel said.  “But how could anyone have known so much of what would happen a thousand years in advance?”
    “Maybe Vatra Gariel was able to see the future,” Karma suggested.  “Or maybe one of the shaman who aided in the creation of the orbs and the pyramid had the ability.  Who knows?”  Karma sighed.  “It doesn’t really matter.  All that matters right now is that we know where the final orb is, and how it can be retrieved.”
    “Agreed,” Zakiel said.  “Did they get an indication of how much time we have?”
    “Only the feeling that we should begin moving again.  We all agreed tomorrow was best.”
    “Are you sure you’re up to that?” Zakiel asked, torn between the desire to return home as quickly as possible, and the need to protect Karma and their unborn children.
    “If I get tired, I’ll let you know,” Karma said.  “Tiari says she’s almost fully healed as well, and besides, she’ll be riding, not walking.”
    “Very well,” Zakiel said, then called for Timon.  A moment later Timon appeared as though from nowhere.  “Please summon Sir Tomas, Sir Garundel, and Sir Bredon.”
    “Yes, Highness,” Timon said with a bow.  He turned and left as quickly as he’d come.
    Zakiel got up and went into their sleeping chamber, returning a moment later with his charts which he proceeded to lay out in front of them.  “It looks like our best route is to go over the mountains to the northeast to where the river cuts through them.  From there it’s a short journey to the desert.”
    “Looks like we’ve come full circle,” Karma said, studying the map intently.  “An odd, lopsided and uneven circle, but a circle nonetheless.”
    “It won’t be easy in the mountains this time of year.  It’ll be cold and