Old Battles

Woman:  Almudena
Snail: Creative Commons

Caribbean vacations are so relaxing. Tina's spent ten days in peace and quiet. With only four days left, she decided she'd better get back into mental and physical shape to face the office again (involuntary mental shudder). What could be better than a swim in the ocean, fighting the elements, to regain her top form? If she swam her daily two kilometres against the current, that should do it!  

Caribbean weather is strange though. With the Bermuda triangle to the north and hurricane alley to the south, just about anything can happen. And does...

Tina found herself at the mercy of a storm that blew up out of nowhere. Unpredicted by any weather office, the storm deposited Tina on an unfamiliar beach and then blew itself out as fast as it started. As she caught her breath, Tina discovered an ancient wooden box, eroded by time, sand and water. Kneeling beside the box, she discovered that the lock, if the box ever had one, is long gone - perhaps knocked off, perhaps rusted away.

'What fun!' thought Tina. 'A pirate's treasure'. Of course such is unlikely but a girl can dream, right? The box' hinges opened smoothly - not a squeak from them. Before Tina's mind could register this odd fact, light from the day outside revealed three items: a strange blue-green crystal on a gold chain, a scroll with a gold ribbon and a real wax seal, and a lovely necklace of shells. "Ooh, how beautiful!" exclaimed Tina taking the shell
necklace.

After looking it over to make sure there's no way to find the previous owner, Tina slipped the necklace over her neck and felt someone push her into the sand.

"Hey!" she shouted angrily turning her head to see who the uncouth barbarian is. There was no one, of course. Then she caught sight of her legs - or lack of them. They've fused into a large blob. In the middle of the blob, a small shell was rapidly growing. By the time its growth was finished, it was big enough for Tina to hide in. She shook her head and, in her peripheral vision, noticed four great spikes growing from her head. In terror, she screamed and discovered that snails can't run very fast.

When the hideous transformation had slowed, Tina decided she'd better look at everything in the box. Maybe there's a cure or something. After the first necklace, there was no way she'd ever consider wearing the jewel. That left only the scroll. Carefully, she removed the gold ribbon and unrolled it.

Ah M'Gharah,

You keep your bargains, 'tis true. Alas in strange and wondrous ways. Thou has made a promise to be at my side in battle err I thrice sounded your horn. And so you were. Thrice I blew mightily and, lo, there you were on yon hill.

I canna believe it took ye that long to assess the situation. The usurper, G'larfana, laid siege to my castle hearth. I sortied to drive him back. My great army pushed him back and then, miracle of miracles, nigh on defeated him. At the last, your forces joined the fray but the usurper was done for long before you joined.

But I willna ha' it said clan Regara does not honour it's bargains. Here are the two items, you so desired:

The shell necklace of the Selkie - may your daughter be protected by these shells until she is wed at least as well as your forces protected mine in battle.
The power stone of the Sea fairies - may this stone be as steadfast as your forces who stood, still as a stone, 'till the battle was won.

May your womenfolk wear them in pride for your great aid in the combat against G'larfana.
H'lart, chief of clan Regara.