The House of Yeel - By Michael McCloskey Page 0,57
back to the house and look for my spyglass. You’re welcome to join me if you wish, assuming you’ve been using the cerebral nutrient replenisher and don’t wish to sleep.”
“I think I will.” She smiled at Yeel.
They walked through the roveportal back to the house. Jymoor looked around the water room.
“It can be creepy here. It’s so large. The armor comforts me, though. Aren’t you ever afraid here?” Jymoor nestled a bit closer to Yeel.
“I guess I’m used to it. I have, after all, been living here a very long time. And I’ve never had any trouble in the house, at least not major trouble. An occasional wild animal is the worst thing the house has let in.”
“But how do you know some Meridalae didn’t just walk up to the front and go in, just as I did? Maybe they’re in here now.”
“The house won’t let most in. It can detect many dangers.”
“So I got in because…I was only a harmless scout.”
“That’s one way to look at it.”
“So…what’s the logical location of the spyglass?”
“Hmm…the glass is for distance sight. The lower level east-west corridor is the longest straight corridor. With a spyglass, I could clearly see down it. On the other hand, the observation lounge at the top level looks out over the Far Coast…”
“…and one might make use of the spyglass from there,” Jymoor finished. “Let’s try this observation room. I’ve never seen it. How did you manage to remember it?”
“Oh, I just assume a wonderful house like this, with such an opulent water room, must have a nice observation spot at the top.”
Jymoor laughed.
They wandered, taking every stair they found until finally, Yeel led the way into a round room at the top of Yeel’s house. The room had three long divans and a few bits of furniture, but no windows.
“There are no windows?” Jymoor asked. Yeel grabbed one of the rods and lifted it. As one, metal panels on the walls rose up. A light breeze came into the room. Jymoor peered out.
“I got my directions mixed up. I guess the coast is over there,” she said, shifting her position. “I can’t see much tonight except the stars, though. It’s very romantic.”
“Then use the night glass,” Yeel said, handing her a deep blue looking glass.
Jymoor hefted the new spyglass to her eye and gazed out toward the coast. She made an appreciative sound.
“Amazing! The view is pretty clear. It would be even better if the mist in the south cleared a bit.”
“There it is,” Yeel said. He grasped another spyglass in a long tentacle.
“Look at all these rings!” Jymoor said. Yeel looked over. Jymoor had opened a small chest beside the divan. It was filled with dozens of bright rings of gold and silver.
“Oh yes. That is only one of my stashes I feel sure.”
“Are any of them…special?”
“They all are. Why else keep them?”
“In what way?”
“I have no recollection. Oh. Except for that one. And that one. And that one…”
“Anything that could help us with the siege? Yeel, what if the solution to our problems is an artifact here in your house, but you don’t remember it?”
“Well, yes, it’s possible…I mean, life comes with no shortage of problems. You’re really luckier than you know, having such a sharp memory. Anyway, these rings likely won’t help us in the big picture.”
Jymoor couldn’t keep her eyes off the ring. Yeel surveyed the contents again.
“If you want one, I know the double ruby pattern there. That one. It’s called a second chance ring. Your first wound incurred on any given day is rapidly healed. But your second wound is much worse. The trick is, to take the ring off after the first wound. Ideally, you then give the ring to your enemy. Also, it’s been known as a torturer’s ring.”
“Ugh. Interesting, but unpleasant,” Jymoor said. “Besides, I would be wearing it under my gauntlets. So I wouldn’t be able to take it off easily in combat, which is where I’d likely be getting wounded.”
“Good point.”
“How about this one?”
“Oh. I don’t remember exactly, though the top twist of silver means it is related to sexual rites of another species than your own—”
“Yuck. This one?”
“I don’t know.”
“This one?”
“I don’t know most of them.”
“Do you know this one?” Jymoor held up a gem-encrusted double ring, apparently meant for two fingers side by side.
“Yes. It’s a detector.”
“What does it detect?”
“I have no idea.”
Jymoor sighed. “Maybe there isn’t anything here powerful enough anyway.”
“The more powerful the item, the more likely I am to remember it.