Know The Earth, Know Thyself - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

On newly unsteady feet, Ingrid followed Camellia and Esmeralda up the stairs and dead center of the carved tree motif.

“You might wanna hang onto me,” Camellia said. “And try not to look down.”

Ingrid nodded silently, winding her arms around Camellia’s and swallowing roughly. Camellia inhaled deeply, raised her free arm and swept it in as wide a circle as she could manage above her head, causing its track to materialize and emanate multicolored slivers of light falling on the carving below. The tree glowed a bright green, and before long, Ingrid felt herself being lifted into the air along with her guides.

What the fuuuuuuuck, Ingrid exclaimed inwardly, watching as the three of them flew upwards past spiraling complete with wooden balconies, without lifting a leg. This was the most stimulation for mind had had in a while, and she wasn’t at all sure what to do about it.

Finally, as it seemed they were going to smack the heads on the ceiling, they came to a stop at the last floor, and a green translucent walkway appeared before them, right in front of a round, ornate wooden door that seemed to change colors before Ingrid’s eyes.

Esmeralda led the way this time, opening the door to a cozy, deceptively simple room that looked like it’d been carved out of the log, and a single, circular window that didn’t quite dominate the back wall looked out over the pines of the surrounding forest. The only furniture therein was a chaise longue, a loveseat with a side table, a hammock, an oil diffuser, and a metal cart with several tea making implements on its shelves.

The dwarf stepped inside first, with Camellia and Ingrid following close behind, then closed the door and swept her hand horizontally over its surface, causing it to turn a soft pink.

“Now we can talk.”

“Um...can I...?” Ingrid began, gesturing towards the fainting chair.

“Oh, yes, wherever you like!” Camellia offered, approaching the tea cart.

“Oh, thank God!” Immediately the younger woman threw herself onto it, some part of her mind ashamed that she hadn’t taken her shoes off, but the rest of her not caring all that much; so many things had happened in the past 24 hours, and she was just now realizing how exhausted she was.

She gratefully accepted a cup pf clear orange tea from Camellia—lavender, to calm her nerves—and relaxed against the back of her chair, letting the thick saucer and teacup rest on her outstretched thighs, staring up at the whorled ceiling.

Esmaralda sat down on the couch opposite Ingrid and waited for Camellia to join her with her own cup—oolong—before beginning:

“I’m sure you’ve a lot of questions, lass...”

Ingrid chuckled listlessly. “Was it that obvious?”

Camellia laughed, not unkindly. “Don’t worry, dear; we have just as many answers.”