The Magic Shell

Chapter 2-1

2

Isle of the Giants: Seven Kingdoms

Present Day

“Are you sure you want to travel alone?” King Koorgan asked for the third time.

His Second-in-Command, Gant, looked up from where he was securing his bag and raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you have someone else to bother? What about Lady Ruth, isn’t she missing you? You’ve only been married a day. Shouldn’t you still be locked away in your bedroom enjoying marital bliss?” he dryly asked.

“I told him that you were a big boy and could handle this without his help,” Ruth commented from the doorway of Koorgan’s office.

Gant stood up straight and smiled. “Considering he is usually the one that gets lost and needs rescuing, I think that is an accurate observation,” he chuckled.

Koorgan glanced back and forth between Gant and Ruth with an exaggerated scowl. “You are both aware that I can hear you, right?” he dryly retorted.

“Of course,” Ruth teased, sliding her arm around Koorgan’s waist.

“I will do everything in my power to find your parents, Koorgan,” Gant promised.

Koorgan soberly nodded. “I know you will. The mirror did not show anything the last time we tried, but it might not hurt to try to retrieve it,” he suggested.

Gant grinned. “If given a chance, I’d do it just to teach Ashure that pirates aren’t the only ones who can steal,” he said.

Ruth shook her head. “Just be careful, Gant. Koorgan told me what happened to LaBluff,” she reminded them.

Koorgan’s expression turned grim. “Yes. He is so irritating that it’s easy to forget… but perhaps it would be better to give Ashure some space, my friend,” he cautioned.

“I promise to be careful,” Gant vowed.

“I should go with you,” Koorgan said.

“No, you should not. The kingdom needs you, and Ruth needs you. Plus, I am a better tracker than you are – and far more charming when it comes to retrieving information,” Gant retorted.

“Oh yeah? Marina is still tickled pink about your use of those golden collars,” Ruth mockingly reminded Gant.

Gant blanched at the not-so-subtle sarcasm. “I did what I had to do to return you to normal. I would do it again to protect you, my Queen, and Koorgan and the kingdom,” he stubbornly declared.

“And we both thank you for your help despite the method you used to achieve it,” she acknowledged.

Ruth stepped up to him and pressed her hand against his cheek, then lightly kissed his other cheek. Humor swept through him when he heard Koorgan growl in disapproval. He grinned at his King.

“You can kiss the other side if it makes you feel better,” Gant jested.

Koorgan chuckled and wrapped his arm around Ruth’s waist. “Get on with you. Let me know the moment you discover anything,” he requested.

“I will,” Gant responded, lifting his bag to his shoulder.

Gant bowed his head before striding for the door. The knowledge that King Samui and Queen Malay of the Giants were still out there filled him with hope. Now all he needed to do was find the hidden Isle of the Elementals and discover what was going on.

Whatever it is, surely it can’t be any more difficult than keeping Koorgan out of trouble, he thought with a chuckle.