Page 12 of Queen's Griffon

“A mountain that, when agitated, explodes and spews liquid rock, ash, and poisonous gas.”

“Rock isn’t liquid.”

“It is if it gets hot enough. That’s what started the evacuation. Mount Etna blew.” Simhi exploded her hands. “Mum says the ash and gases from it burned the lungs. Those who breathed too much of it never completely recovered. That poison supposedly ruined the land while the lava, which is the liquid rock, buried the city. When it met the ocean, it created a toxic steam barrier you can still see today.”

If that were true, then Avera would never be able to retrieve the rocks. Surely Simhi exaggerated or was mistaken. “But not everyone believes this mist is deadly?”

“The mist doesn’t kill any more if you breathe it but there’s new danger now. Some claim the volcano birthed monsters. And those monsters don’t like people and kill them if they dare come close.”

“Has anyone seen them?”

“I don’t know. No one’s ever made it back alive. Actually, that’s not true. One person did, but Vinmo hasn’t spoken a word since his return unless him screaming from the nightmares counts.”

“What else do people say?”

“There’s a few that claim those who died now haunt Verlora and suck the life from the living.”

“Ghosts?” Avera tried to not laugh.

“Yeah, I’m not sure about that one but a few sailors who’ve gone past for a peek claim they’ve heard moaning coming from the mist.”

“What do you think?”

“I think even if the volcano stopped spitting there ain’t nothing left. Nothing of worth, anyhow.”

“Doesn’t sound like any scenario has any hope,” a dejected Avera replied.

Simhi slewed a glance at Avera. “Don’t be so sure. There’s a prophecy, you know, one that seems to indicate Verlora will one day be saved.”

“What’s the prophecy claim?” Avera asked. Once upon a time she would have scoffed, but she’d seen too much now to make light of things that seemed farfetched.

“It’s not entirely clear. The person who done wrote it down did it like a poem. Let me see if I can remember it. It’s got a bit about curiosity gone too far, and then something about playingwith things best left alone. A verse about people not heeding the warnings of the past. Something, something… a land dies during the rebirth. Then there’s a bit about someone with a crown and her pet saving the day.”

Avera’s excitement dulled. “Sounds like an interesting ballad.”

“It was always too somber for me. I like livelier jigs meself. But there’s some who think it’s a prophecy and are waiting for the signs mentioned in it.”

“What signs?”

“Dunno. You’d have to ask someone who actually knows the words. We’re here.” Simhi stopped in front of a closed door and knocked. It took only a moment before someone wearing grimy clothing and spectacles on the tip of their nose answered. “Hey, Garth. The queen here was hoping you’d show her the engine. She likes machines.”

“Her Majesty?” the short man exclaimed. He bowed deeply, losing his glasses in the process.

Avera scooped the lenses and handed them back, saying, “Please, call me Avera. I’m hardly a queen anymore.”

“A royal title is for life,” Garth declared.

“Not according to the man who stripped me of mine,” Avera quipped. “I hear you are a master inventor?”

“Me?” Garth blinked from behind his lenses. “Goodness no, just a mechanic.”

Simhi nudged his arm. “Avera likes taking stuff apart, too.”

“You do?” Garth sounded surprised.

“I used to, although I sometimes ran into difficulty reassembling. I lacked the proper tools,” Avera admitted.

“Don’t you worry, I have everything we need,” Garth exclaimed, clapping his hands.

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