Cara gently touched the Gate Key. Her fingers tingled. She took the ornate key from the floor.
“It has no weight. It’s…it’s the shape of my hand. I wear it as a glove,” the queen marveled.
“Can you remove it?” Knarra asked.
“Easily!” Cara said.
When she removed the glove, it reformed to the shape of a long bone.
Nigel said, “I would like to kick some butt at Black Dragon’s Horn.”
Cara answered, “In time, Nigel. Now, time is against us. We must proceed to the point where Eomore has indicated that our quarry lies.”
They made a brief stop at the cave Knarra called New Sagain. The priestess placed several prismatic dragon scales within the cave as Taekora had requested. New Sagain had been a refreshing, nostalgic, and sad repose. The walk to the base of Jade Mountain required only a few hours.
At Jade Mountain, Eomore recognized a section of the greenish gray stone wall.
Nigel reported after checking the area, “No offense old boy but this is just a stone wall.”
“This is the illusory stone,” Eomore declared.
Erinnia checked the stone also. She shook her head negatively. Boomer the dwarf also took a turn at checking the stone.
Eyerthrein cast Dispel Magick. Nothing happened. Roscoe peered through his small prism.
“Queen Cara, would you please take the Gate Key and touch the wall of the mountain where King Eomore has indicated the entrance lies.” Roscoe said.
Cara held the Gate Key and the relic transformed to a tight fitting glove once again. Cara touched the wall. Brilliant lights flashed thirteen times.
A Magick Mouth roared, “Finally to be challenged! Welcome to the Thirteen Tribulations of Tigarn!”
The outline of a man-sized door appeared about ten feet to the right of where Cara touched the rock wall. The queen removed the Gate Key and returned the artifact to the safe keeping of her Bag of Holding. The door’s location was now defined.
Enchanted poisoned sumac plants held fast before the entry. The plants eerily moved poison-tipped thorns toward any hand that approached the entry.
“Be careful. We know of no antidote to the paralyzing poisons of the sumac plant,” Knarra advised.
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