The Trouble with Time, Part 2.12 - Sand

There's a garden right outside the inner wall, a few blocks form the Southern Gate. It's not a big garden, but it is old, and in the middle of the garden stands an even older weeping cherry tree. On Earth cherries rarely live to a hundred years, but Kevin knows this one has stood here for at least a millenium. Its branches are naked in the winter cold, but it is still impressive to behold.

Kevin stands in front of it and runs his hand along its rough bark. His middle finger catches the edge of a healed over cut and he traces the symbol once carved into the tree. He loses himself in the memories.

He's jealous of Alice. Being able to go above and beyond for the person she loves. He could never do that.

"What's that?" says Alice behind him and he jumps, spins around.

"This is just--!" he starts but then stops when he realizes she's looking up into the tree and not at him. He follows her gaze and his eyes land on a small red ribbon, tied neatly around the end of a lower branch. It flutters in the wind just barely out of reach. "Oh."

"Did you find something?" calls out Sam from where they're trying -- and failing -- to descreetly rifle through some bushes. Alice points up at the ribbon.

"That seems... familiar," she says, squinting.

"Well, one of the spell ingredients was a red hair turned into a ribbon," he says and then lets out a huff of a laugh. It feels like so long ago, but it's barely been a few weeks. He shakes his head and jumps up, grabbing a hold of the branch. It bends and he shuffles along it, bringing the end of it closer and closer to where they can reach it. Finally he's holding onto the branch with one hand and the ribbon dangles right between their faces.

Kevin tugs at it. Nothing happens.

"It's been tied with magic," he says. "Only the person specified during casting can remove it. Probably to ensure no one messes with it."

Alice is staring at the ribbon. She blinks. Again. And reaches her hand up. She pulls on one end and the knot flows open in her fingers. She stares at it a moment longer and then grins.

Kevin lets go of the branch and it shoots up with a loud whump. He grins back.

"I knew it," she says. "I knew there was something more to the note!"

"Does this mean there's something hidden in the tree?" Sam asks, looking up at the mighty frame of it.

"Probably," says Kevin. "We should--"

Alice is already climbing. Sam and Kevin exchange looks and then settle down to watch her. She's very good at climbing, he notes. After a few minutes she stops and points at the base of a large branch.

"There's a hole here," she says. She peers in. There's still a bit of daylight left, but it's getting dark. "I think there's something inside."

"Stick your hand in it!" Kevin calls. Sam gives him a sideways glance but she does it anyway. There's a few seconds of grunting and then her expression brightens.

She pulls out a small wooden box. She looks around for a moment, pauses and then yells: "Catch!"

Kevin catches the box as she drops it. He turns it in his hands as she starts to climb down.

It's fairly basic, a simple box with a lid and a lock. It's carved from cherry wood and there's an engraving of a conch shell on the top. He shakes is lightly, but there's no sound from the inside. Probably charmed to keep the contents safe. He can feel his hopes getting up.

He hands it back to Alice as soon as she touches ground. He and Sam gather around her as she, with slightly trembling hands, pulls the key out and fits it into the small keyhole at the fornt. There's a soft click as she turns it. She slowly opens the lid...

The box is full of black sand.

The moment breaks and they all let out a collective sigh.

"Yeah, it would have been too easy," Kevin says, pushing a hand through his hair. On top of the sand rests a note, which Alice picks up. She hands the box back to him as she folds the paper open and reads aloud.

"I'm there in the Dark
You simply need to find me.
A difference quite stark
When following on blindly."

He sticks his finger into the sand and circles it around as he thinks. The sand is unmistakable, but what does the riddle mean? In the dark... the black sand? Or the night? But if they'd been here earlier in the year, the night might not have been as dark... And if it's already dark, how can the difference to being blind be stark? A difference of darkness to something else... but what? He can't quite wrap his head around it. Maybe if they get to the beach it'll be clearer.

"We should head back to the Mirror," he says out loud. "This sand is from the Inky Beaches, which are famous for their jet black sand, but it's too far north for us to walk. Alsebah has doors like mine at the shop and one of them should take us there."

The other two nod, and they start to make their way back through the city, all quietly contemplating the riddle.

Kevin is worried. There is a gnawing uncertainty clawing it's way from the pit of his stomach. Why are they bouncing from one clue to the next? How many clues are there? Will they have time to find them all in less than a week? What will await them at the end?

And most importantly, why does it seem like all the clues are taking them to places from his past?

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Kind of a short one again today, but as I said, I should have more time next week! This is getting exciting, hehe! Writing poetry riddles is hard!!

Next topic is "Vast" ok bye!

Pie out.