Replenished Cup Chapter Three

Chapter Three: Lost1

Grabbing Annaliss by the upper arm Shellee asked quietly, “do the humans of this world come from my world? Because Master Harmon looked like a human but his arms were too long. ”2

Annaliss shook her head making her sky blue hair swish around her round face. “No, not all, only a few. But it’s been along time and none has gone through the door you went through. Most have been here longer than I have.”3

“How’s that even possible?” She asked. 4

“Time doesn’t work here the same way it does in your world. Humans can live for a long time here.”5

“I’m still confused. You said something about this last time but we were in my world and that night was very long. Longer then normal.”6

“After I came back I asked again about time. Instructor Clockwise said that time is slower for us. Here it is normal but slow for you humans so when we travel to your world we slow down your time. Most humans are asleep at night so no one notices. So it stands to reason that you would live longer here.”7

“Well that makes sense, I guess.”8

“Come on. I want to talk to Roe.”9

Shellee followed Annaliss around the back of the baker’s stall to find a small mouse standing on his hind legs, cleaning up a long flat pan. A few pots were stacked next to the basin of soapy water. Next to the soapy water stood a smaller tub of clear warm water. He had dark brown fur the color of old mud with piercing black eyes, small and severe. A lock of blond colored fur hung long covering part of his right eye. He wore a light blue doublet with gold buttons running up the middle and no pants. Also missing were shoes, which would have covered his long furry paws. He stopped washing the pan long enough to give them a hard glare, when they turned the corner. Shellee decided that the beings of this land knew nothing of shoes.10

“Who are you and what are you doing back here?” He snapped flinging soapy water towards the girls with soaked paws.11

“Are you Roe?” Shellee stepped in front of Annaliss as though sheltering her.12

“Answer my question first.” He barked drawing himself up taller making him almost two feet tall.13

Shellee looked as he tried to make himself look taller and smothered the spark of annoyance towards him, “I am Shellee Aimee Woods and this is Annaliss Goodfey Fairylynn.” She decided that formality was called for. “Now are you Roe?”14

He nodded sharply, “what do you want?”15

“Yesterday you were seen near the Council Chamber,” countered Shellee.16

“Yeah, so what?” He glared.17

“So what were you doing there?” Shellee asked. She was not backing down from him, no matter how hasty his tone got.18

“Talking,” he said sullenly.19

“Talking to whom?”20

He turned back to the dishes, “none of your business.” He sneered.21

“The Controlling Council has made it my, I mean, our business. Now please answer the question,” pleaded Shellee.22

Roe took a soapy paw out of the water and wiped the long lock of fur out of his eyes with the back of his paw. “I was there,” he nodded, “but I was there with Scooter.”23

“Scooter’s another talking mouse, right?” Cut in Annaliss stepping out from behind Shellee.24

Roe squinted at Annaliss while he nodded his furred head.25

“And what were you talking about?” She asked.26

One word, “business.”27

“What kind of business Mr. Roe?” Asked Shellee softly.28

Roe shrugged his brown furred shoulders and continued to wash the pan with even steady strokes. Shellee’s patience had worn thin with this being and she could see they weren’t going to get anything else out of Roe the talking mouse. But she thought she would try one more question. “Mr. Roe, what do you know about the disappearance of the Replenish Cup?”29

His paws stilled in the bubbly water as he turned his wide black eyes towards the two girls in astonishment. “What did you say?” His voice had gotten higher.30

“The cup is missing.” Shellee pronounced each word slowly, “what do you know about it?”31

Roe stood looking up at them, soapy paws on his hips, then slowly answered, “nothing.”32

“Come on Roe, tell us what you know.”33

“Until this moment I didn’t even know it was missing.”34

Shellee stood staring at Roe’s wide eyes and slack jaw deciding if she believed him or not. To her eyes he didn’t act suspicous. “Alright,” she nodded, “We believe you. But don’t leave Elden City anytime soon.” Giggling she turned to Annaliss, “I’ve always wanted to say that too.”35

Annaliss just rolled her eyes as she fluttered her wings and started around the stall to the front. Leaving Shellee to thank Roe and follow her.36

***37

“Annaliss!” Called Shellee shrilly as she ran after her little friend. Dust flew infront of her freckled face, sticking to the sweat that dripped from her temples. She came out in front of the baker’s stall and caught a glimpse of a blue glow floating further down the lane. The rough wood of the support pole dug into Shellee’s palm as she searched the diverse crowd. She pushed past a flock of bird-like creature clucking at a stall that held feathered clips, making her sneeze. “Annaliss!” She called again desperately as she lost sight of Annaliss and the pale glow that surround her friend. Turning around she looked this way and that searching for a flicker of blue or the flutter of spider web wings. The crush of the crowd pushed against her pressing her shoulders together until it felt as if they would melt together. Desperately she weaved through the press until Shellee found herself running down a deserted lane. The lane was lined by the same soft dwellings and lustrous trees that she and Annaliss had followed into town, the only difference was at the end of this one were two trolls. 38

Two hideous and disgusting creatures out of the worst childhood nightmare she had ever envisioned.
They were tall, tall as an eight-foot fence, with broad shoulders, typical sloped forehead with dark bushy eyebrows almost covering their deep-set eyes. Big-ballooned noses and crooked yellow teeth drew her eyes away from their sunken cheeks. Exactly as Shellee thought they would look.39

When Shellee ran into the lane the taller of the two had the smallest troll’s arm pinned behind him causing his nose to scrunch up in pain and he was slapping the smallest on the top of the head.40

“Stop it Taye!” Slurped the smallest troll.41

“Make me Waye!” Teased the tallest. Spit was running down his square chin.42

It was about then that Taye noticed Shellee watching them. Stunned Shellee turned to look for some place to hide, like behind a can of garbage or a doorway, when
Taye stopped hitting Waye on the head and stared hard at her. The smell of rotten refuse was strong as she stood there trembling with fear. She looked back the way she had come hoping to catch the eye of a wandering creature. The crowd was still thick with beings preoccupied with their errands and no one was paying any attention to a lost human girl.43

Taye dropped Waye’s arm and started lumbering towards Shellee’s slight form. Waye stood looking dumbfounded at Taye then huffing and rubbing his injured shoulder he followed close behind him.44

“Hey Waye,” slurped Taye over his massive green shoulder. A hideous grin showed yellowed teeth as he spoke, “lookee what we have here.” All the sudden Taye and Waye lunged at Shellee taking hold of her arms. Helplessly she kicked and struggled against their strong grips.45

“Hey!” She called starting to get angry. “Let go of me!” She tried to pull her arms out of the calloused hands, only to feel them tighten their hold.46

“Shut up!” Said Taye. Then over her head, “let’s play.”47

Waye nodded then let her go. As soon as she felt Waye loosen his grip she leaped towards the crowded street, but Taye still held her firm. He pushed her and she landed in Waye’s chest, who in turn pushed her back to Taye. Back and forth she went, first to one troll then the other. Their obnoxious laugh following her as she went. They played this game for a time while Shellee’s stomach started to get sick. Her arms hurt from being grabbed and her neck felt stiff from being whipped.48

“Hey! What’re ya think ya doing?” Called a deep gravely voice somewhere behind her. 49

Waye held her as they all turned towards the voice. It came from either two dwarves that stood at the end of the lane. Both looked exactly the same with dark bushy coarse hair. Their beards were the same thickness and hung down past their waist and were tucked into black leather belts. They wore clean white linen shirts and leather pants; patched at the knees, one on the left and one on the right knee. They were the same height as Shellee with sparkling blue eyes and rosy red cheeks like Santa.50

The one with the patch on his left knee strode forward and asked again, “what’re ya think ya doing?” His brother followed after him.51

“None of your business,” drooled Waye squeezing Shellee’s arm tighter.52

Tucking his thumbs into his belt the dwarf who had already spoke said, “I’m making it me business. So now let’un that little gal go before me brother gets to
hurtin’ ya.”53

Taye and Waye both laughed hard and again she was showered with slobber. Waye threw his block shaped head back so fast that he landed on his back with a great whoosh then continued to laugh. When Waye fell backwards Taye tried to grab Shellee but she slipped from beneath his grip and ran behind the dwarves.54

The dwarf with the patch on his right knee held a large club in his hands. His eyes were squinted and his lips were pressed together in grim determination. He walked forwards as the trolls stopped laughing and started backing up slowly. Waye crawled like a crab on all fours as Taye tried grabbing his sleeve again.55

“Now ya stand still for me brother Smudge. He’ll make it as painful as possible.” He said through a mischievous grin.56

Smudge’s face was serious as he stalked towards the retreating trolls. Up and down, up and down went the club smacking Smudge’s palm with a solid thump.57

Taye finally managed to grab Waye’s arm, hauled him up and they took off running down the empty lane, disappearing around the corner.58

“Thanks,” Shellee stammered.59

The dwarf that did all the talking turned back from watching the trolls. “No problem lass.” He stuck out his hand and said, “me names Grungy and this is me brother Smudge Stonebender, rescuers of lassie and lads and tormentor of trolls,” he laughed. “Now tell me what were ya doing with those two charmers?”60

“I-I got lost. I was following my friend and I lost sight of her and crowd was so thick.” She couldn’t stop shaking and she was rambling.61

“All right lassie, calm down, calm down. Who was ya friend?” Asked Grungy.62

Shellee took a deep breath to settle herself, “Annaliss Goodfey Fairylynn.”63

Smudge turned from polishing his club to say, “you know Annaliss?” His voice was softer and smoother than his brothers. “and what mischief has that little blue fairy been up to lately?”64

“Well I’m not sure this information is for everyone but besides pulling me from Earth, the Replenish Cup is missing.”65

Smudge dropped his club making a dull thud echo through the lane. At the same time Grungy let out an explosive breath making almost the same noise Waye the troll made when he hit the ground. Both Smudge and Grungy’s bearded mouths hung open.66

“What are you saying?” Asked Smudge breathless.67

“The Replenish Cup was stolen,” whispered Shellee. “The Controlling Council asked me and Annaliss to find it before the festival and now I’ve gone and got lost.”68

Grungy took Shellee’s hand in his large calloused one and patted it softly. “Now, now young un, we’ll help ya, don’t ya fret none.”69

“Come along, lets get you to Annaliss’ house. It’s getting late.” Smudge said soothingly.70

They lead her back into the crowded lane, which had thinned out some since the trolls had ran off. No longer did strange bodies push against her and she relaxed.71

As they twisted and turned between the creatures and humans they lead her out of the market center past small green-park like areas where groups sat or walked about. Some were playing strange stringed instruments while others had books. Many of them talked in small groups or just in pairs. All the time the two dwarves kept up a string of conversation, one choppy and the other smooth. Until at last they came to a small blue house.72

Annaliss was doing her half flutter half walk pacing in front of the blue door, biting her blue fingernails again. When she saw the three she ran to them, threw her arms around Shellee and cried, “there you are! I’ve been so worried about you! Where have you been?”73

As Annaliss was going on Shellee took a look at her cottage. It was like the others with its garden and fence but one difference was everything was blue. Everywhere Shellee looked was blue. The garden, the fence, the house, the door were all blue, even the leaves in the garden were blue.74

“I see you’ve met the Stonebender brothers. All of you come in.” Annaliss nattered on as she turned towards the cottage.75

“Yes, they were very helpful,” answered Shellee. “I ran into some trolls.”76

“So what happened?” She asked anxiously as she lead them through the door. Again everything was blue. The room they entered must have been the living area for it had a small fireplace with two sky blue chairs sitting on a rug of deep blue almost black. The stones of the fireplace were lighter shad of blue, more of a teal color. Off to one side of the room there was a table set with two sets of dishes, blue plates with small gold leaves engraved on the rims with matching cups and aquamarine silverware. 77

So Shellee and the Stonebender brothers told the story of the trolls while Annaliss busied herself in the blue kitchen. Delicious smells drifted in as she stirred the concoction and pinched spices into it. “Oh wow! I can’t believe that happened. I’m just glad you two came along,” Annaliss said as she set down four bowls of radish stew, corn muffins and daisy tea. “Thos two trolls are a pain. I don’t see why the council lets them stay here anyways.”78

“I think it has something to do with Sir Soilsmasher not wanting to get close enough to them to tell them to get out.” Laughed Smudge between bites of stew.79

“Wouldn’t surprise me,” grumbled Annaliss.80

They continued to talk as the evening slowly drew a soft veil over the land.81

***82

Sunlight filtered in through the lacey curtains as Shellee dressed in the cloths she had on yesterday. “Man I’m gonna stink soon,” she thought to herself as she sniffed under one arm.83

She crossed the tiny room Annaliss had let her have and opened the door into the livingroom. There she found Annaliss hurrying around. “Oh good you’re awake. Eat quickly,” she indicated the corn muffins on the table. “We must be off. It’s already late.”84

Shellee scarfed down the leftovers and washed it down with cold daisy tea just as Annaliss was pulling out the door.85

“Hey watch it!” Squeaked a small voice from the ground.86

As the voice was crying out Annaliss tripped and fell over something pink. Annaliss landed on her bottom with her blue hair flying into her eyes. It made her look almost human. Shellee offered Annaliss a hand up and then turned back to the pink spot on the ground. When Shellee looked closer she saw the ‘pink’ was a small winged creature, an awful lot like a fairy. It had pink wings, more like spider webs than wings, pink hair and a pink suit with very pale skin.87

“You guys looking for me?” It squeaked through a yawn.88

Shellee bent down and offered the pink creature her palm. She had to struggle from closing her fingers around the tiny figure. Her delicate feet tickled her hand as she walked to the center. Shellee lifted her up to eye level and asked, “who are you?”89

“Sweetpea.” came the answer.90

“Well then yes we were looking for you.”91

“I’m very tired. I’ve been up all night lighting stars, but I heard you wanted to talk to me so after my shift I came straight over. I only sat down and closed my eyes for a second before Annaliss tripped over me. So what is it that you needed to know?”92

By this time Annaliss had brushed herself off, fixed her crooked wing and had come to stand beside Shellee. “You were seen at the chamber. What were you doing there?” She asked.93

“The truth?”94

They nodded together.95

“Well the truth is I was following Roe.”96

Shocked Shellee asked, “Roe, why Roe?”97

She sighed, “his wife, Shaywas, doesn’t trust Roe, so she asked me to watch him when I could. So I do.”98

“So you followed Roe? Did you hear what Roe and Scooter we’re talking about?”99

“No, I was close but only close enough to hear a couple of words. Mostly about business.”100

“So Roe was telling the truth,” whispered Shellee to Annaliss. “Alright Sweetpea we believe you, but we have to ask you to stay in Elden City.”101

“I’ve got a job to do every night. I’m not going anywhere.” She hopped off Shellee’s palm and flew away.102

The girls headed down the small blue stone walk and out into the lane. Unlike the day before, which was empty, today it was filled with creatures headed this way and that. Bright colors swirled around as pixies and fairies flew past them. Shellee watched as a flock of bird-like creatures gracefully flew overhead blotting out the sun for a moment.103

“Well I guess that leaves Scooter.” Annaliss stated plainly.104

“Do you think he took it?” Shellee asked quietly for just then five stocky dwarves raced by with their bushy beards streaming behind them.105

“Kinda seems like it.”106

“Yeah I think so too. Where to now?” 107

Annaliss stopped in the lane where she was almost run over by two elegant cat-like creatures with tawny coats and red spots.108

“Oh pardon us,” one purred as they stepped around them.109

Annaliss ignore them as she continued to think. Shellee managed to stammer a “no problem,” before they sauntered off.110

“Maybe we should try his house. We haven’t been there yet.” She said.111

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