174 She Sends Her Little Messenger (2/2)

”H-hold on!” The stonemason waved his arms hoping to stave off Ayva's displeasure. ”Ah said Ah don't know what be underneath, but Ah reckon if'n there be a passageway, then there be somewhere the hallway be leadin' to. There's bound ta be a room or something at tha end of et!”

Ayva's scowl lightened as she turned back to the stonemason. ”Yer sure?”

”Positive! No lord would only make a passageway without even a room at tha end! No stonemason'd join in making such an obviously flawed design. We take safety seriously.” The stonemason asserted.

”The only question be, which end be the entrance, and which be the end where the room be?”

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Robin then got an idea. She brought out a bobbin of tent repair string and a couple of brass horns. She didn't know what they were supposed to actually be used for, but necessity is the origin of invention.

She invoked fire and magma shaping spells. The two horns were quickly fashioned into two daffodil-shaped metal cups. There were tiny holes in the bottom of these cups. Robin threaded the tent threads through, and double knotted it to make sure the thread stayed attached.

If someone from earth saw them, they'd look like the speaker piece to an old fashioned wall phone. Now all that was left was to safely get it up to ground level. Robin looked up.

Then she had an idea. She tapped her belt. Bobble, who had stuck with her like glue ever since being attacked, popped up onto her shoulder.

”Bobble, Can I ask you to deliver the other end of this up through that hole to ground level?” Robin asked, showing it the metal daffodil. ”I'd be grateful if you could make sure the string doesn't snap either.”

Bobble thought about it for a moment before bobbing out a yes. It reached out its tendrils, engulfing the metal bauble before shooting out a transparent thread up towards the hole in the ceiling. It then shot upwards. It disappeared up the hole, the thread trailing behind it.

”I hope I have enough thread.” Robin mumbled, glancing at the dwindling pile that she had unravelled from the bobbin.

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”You're dwarves! You're acknowledged to be the fastest stoneworkers in the land. Why can't you just dig him out?” Christian asked.

”Et's not that simple. Before we even start digging, we need ta be assured o' where everything is. Otherwise, if'n we should accidentally block off an air vent, that Robin o' yours might suffocate.” The stonemason shook his head.

”We could also end up accidentally opening tha sewers or even worse. We could open a steam vent and release poisoned gas. Not only will et endanger us dwarves, but yer friend wilnae be able ta escape et neither. Tha's why we need ta be extra careful.” He explained carefully.

”Where is that cousin of yours?” Ayva asked impatiently.

”Second cousin.” The stonemason corrected. ”An' he should be here in tha next five minutes as tha special blueprints as always placed in a secure place as needs time ta unlock.”

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While Christian and Ayva were busy badgering the head stonemason, Quinn was walking around the perimeter of the collapsed area. After a while, he heard a strange sound like metal striking onto something.

Glancing about, he soon noticed movement outside the perimeter. It was in the area opposite Ayva and Christian. A clear tendril was extending out of a metal grate, as if trying to get through, yet held back by something.

”Ho?” Quinn felt his interest was struck as he walked up to it. The slime had a strangely shaped metal object nestled within it. This object was connected to a string that vanished down into the darkness behind it.

The slime could easily get through the grate if it only let go of the metal daffodil. But it refused to let go of the bauble. Quinn recognized the shape of the item.

”You are one of Robin's charges, aren't you? Bobble, was it? Move away. I shall remove this obstacle for you.” Quinn smiled as the slime removed itself from the grate. Then his arm turned transparent as it stretched and engulfed the offending grate.

It vanished as if it had never been.

”It is okay now. You can come out.” Quinn moved aside as Bobble hopped out of the hole, still holding the brass cup.

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Robin looked up at the other end of the makeshift telephone dangling two feet above her head. ”Turns out it was a little short, huh.” She sighed.