She hadn’t looked for it in years, but assumed it was still on that same shelf. As best she could remember, it had been surrounded by piles—mountains—of books, journals, diaries, binders and the various detritus of their many adventures. On the shelves above and below the plastic case surrounding the odd key were other artifacts from the early years of their marriage, when they had traveled all over the world excavating various archeological sites. She knew the key must have been important enough to encase it the way her mother did, but she knew little else about it. However, she vividly recalled that when she was younger, around seven years old, she had picked up the case to study the huge key inside, puzzled by the curious markings upon it. Her mother had come into the office, seen what Danielle was holding, looked very alarmed and yelled, “Not again! Put it back at once!” Her mother had rushed over to her, hoisted her into her arms, squeezed her tight and told her to never pick it up again. And Danielle hadn’t.
With the vision of that case still in her mind’s eye, she focused again on Ercen. “Yes. Yes, I have seen such a key. I mean, yes, we have a key like that in our house. At least, we did. It was in my parents’ office.”
Although she was very distracted by her situation—at first feeling she was in great danger from these gargoyles, then believing that Kimar and Ercen meant her no harm, then understanding that she was in great danger, after all, but from a different gargoyle—Danielle was suddenly struck by a question, like a clap of thunder. Plucking up her courage again, she asked, “So, if you are able to locate this Key of Kahrnahrgx, won’t he also be able to?” Once she’s said it out loud, she shivered at the idea.
“Yes,” Ercen replied.
“No,” countered Kimar.
“Huh?” Danielle blurted, confused. “Which is it?”
Ercen looked at Kimar, but said nothing.
“Both,” Kimar said, flatly. “Although he created the Key, it was wrought with such terrible power his ability to sense it across time was severely blunted. So, the answer to your question about his ability to locate the Key is, as I said, ‘No.’ However, we did not trace the Key here, either. While our ability is not blunted as is his, Osberg—with the Key—parted into such a far, distant past none of our kind could trace him nor the Key. But we were able to eventually discoveryou. Our impressions of where we could find you were only strong enough to get us into the area in which you live, not directly to you. Thus, we had to wait until our impressions strengthened. Of course, we had no idea you would come to the very house where we hid. Yet, you did. We do not believe this was a chance meeting. So, the answer Ercen gave you is also true. We believe it is only a matter of time before Kahrnahrgx locates you.”
Danielle shivered more than before.
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