"I can see from your wrinkled forehead that you have a plan?" Todd followed Klem down the rough-hewed steps towards Lord Potts room.

Klem turned back and grinned. "I have made a decision, that's all. This dragon magic is too important for just me to own. The responsibility is a heavy one and I am going to use it to barter for the help of the Coombers. Do you think we should trust them?"

"I like them. They have been hospitable towards us, they saved us from them gulls. Well, they would have. They didn't know we were indestructible."

"Yes, it is just sinking in how powerful this magic is. I need to respect the dragons gift." He left it there. Todd would find out soon enough. He just needed to ensure the Coombers could help in their quest.

The world had changed. Being undestroyable came with the realisation it would be difficult to test the limits of the crystal. He didn't think he had the nerve for it.

The corridors here were narrow. They only went up and down and to get to a room you had to pass through others. It was rather daunting knowing that the whole system was underwater and adjacent to a fearsome vortex. After passing through two, large, sparsely decorated rooms they came to a door. It was the only ornate thing in the place. Made of pearl with an ivory handle carved in the shape of a sea-horse. It was ajar and voices could be heard within.

It was no throne room. It was more like a workshop. All sorts of interesting, unidentifiable things were scattered on the floor and across a sizeable workbench. The three men around the bench were dressed in overalls stained with fish innards and smelling of dead sea-creatures. Where the rest of the place smelled salty. Here the stench of aquatic disintegration was overpowering.

"Ah yes, our visitors. Welcome. You will get used to the smell. In the meantime stick these on your noses." Lord Potts handed them both what looked like a wishbone with two rubber bungs on the ends. Putting them on Klem noticed that they were covered in a menthol. So rather than taking the smell away they just changed it into a slightly less unpleasant stench. Lord Potts had nothing lordly about him. If anything his overall was dirtier than the others. He gestured towards the workbench and introduced his son Par and his chief adviser, Sam. Both briefly looked up and gave a quick smile before resuming their prodding of a jellylike substance.

"Here is the heart of Mar Coomb. We trawl the vortex and the sea around the straits. Catching many different products of the ocean as well as flotsam and jetsom. Most of the things we find can be used, either as food or oils or we make all we need from the bones of monsters of the deep. Some species which have never been named or seen alive. I can tell you that I would not like to swim with some of the devils we have dredged up here. The vortex you saw outside has been harnessed for power. We have invented many things from the motion of the vortex including heat for cooking and light for our dwellings. Not many visitors have seen this workshop and we would like to keep things under our hats if you know what I mean. Not because we don't want to share our knowledge but we fear attack by jealous people who wish to profit from our findings here. I think we can trust you two. All we ask is for you to be honest with us. I hear you search for Viridiana, or most unusually her egg! Please explain. You can call me Potts, everyone else does. The Lord bit is just for outsiders."

Todd was looking a bit peaky so Klem took a step forward. "I am Klem and this is my friend Todd. We thank you for your hospitality. You can trust us, we vow never to give any of your secrets away, although Ettas recipe for mackerel would be a gift in itself." He paused. He trusted this man. These were good people. He wanted to make a good impression and hoped he wasn't overdoing it. "We have been sent to find Viridianas egg as beneath it we believe there will be a crystal that will help in our fight against the Mangorians. We believe this crystal to be magic. We believe it will give us the ability to become invisible and therefore undermine their wicked invasion of Fenland." Klem gulped the last words. It seemed crazy to put it like that, but it was the truth. He hoped Potts was the man he trusted he was.

Potts gave a questioning look to the others, who had stopped to listen to Klems story. They returned surprised but believing nods to him and he replied.

"Magic! I am not sure that I believe in magic. We deal in many strange substances here and none of them are remotely magic." He hummed and cogitated for a bit. "It would, however, explain dragon magic. They are not of this world and it has been said they can move from world to world by some. Do you have any proof of this magic?"

He shuffled his feet. "Yes, I can prove that magic exists but." He hoped to be interrupted.

"Ah, I see. Do not worry young man. I understand. We have the knowledge you need and you have something that we could use. It is a good negotiating position. Well, we may have helped you anyway but your honesty has suited you well. I like you. All you need do is ask and if we can help we will."

The three Coombers were now sat on the workbench listening carefully to Klem.

"We need help to get from here to 'The Missing Mountain' and anything you can tell us of 'The Sisterhood Of The Dragon'. That may help us to find our way on the mountain to Viridiana.

"We can do that although we have no dealings with those mad women. We would help you anyway but we are now interested in your magic. What can you tell us about it?"

With a few nervous steps, Klem felt for the crystal around his neck and showed it to them. "This is a dragon crystal from Dragonsmount. It makes the wearer invincible to harm."

"That is preposterous," Par spoke for the first time. "Are you going to believe this papa?"

Potts shrugged at his son. "Could we test it? Klem."

"Yes. That is exactly what I was hoping for. It would be good to know how strong it works, and if it would still work if I divided it into four or even eight pieces! It is such a great responsibility that I would like to share it out amongst my allies. One-piece would be for The Coombers of course."

Potts gave a friendly nod. "Ah, that would be very useful in our pursuit of leviathans of the deep. We have lost some good men on the seas around here to savage, sharp-toothed beasts. We thank you for your offer and we will do all we can to test the magic for you. As you can see our time is often spent investigating the properties of the unknown."

Klem reluctantly unclasped the jewel from his neck and strode forward. Holding it in both hands it shone radiantly, reflecting the glow of the vortex powered lights.

Lord Potts handed the crystal to Sam who with Par limped to the workbench and placed it under a lens made from a jellyfish.

Klem shivered at the loss. He felt a rush of abandonment and regret. All went, Black.

*

The smell of fish had gone. The rough-hewn bunk had covers that felt soft and warm. The lights were low and calming.

Todd entered carrying a plate of...something green and leafy. A worried face bearing sustenance.

"I have here a plate of Coomber magic. It is one of the most fantastic things I have ever eaten. It is also meant to heal many ills. Its called 'umbers'. Which sounds a lot better than seaweed covered in algae. How are you feeling?"

"My crystal, where is it?" Klem felt the agitation in his own voice. His sense of loss was still strong. "I never thought that giving it away would feel like this."

"Hey! It's okay. It is in good hands. You have done the right thing." Todd sat next to the bunk, helped him sit up and put the food on his lap. "You will get it back. It is being well looked after. Calm yourself and eat this. A drink of coral brandy is on its way."

On queue, the door opened and a girl walked in carrying a small, steaming cup. She was very beautiful. Her hair was braided gold. Her face was almond-shaped and her big green eyes were wide and smiling.

Klem couldn't help but stare. He tried not to and quickly straightened himself up. Nervously checking that he was presentable and suitably covered.

"Th...Thank you." he stuttered as she handed him the drink. She gave the slightest of curtseys and nodded warmly to Todd on her way back out again.

"I thought that would perk you up." Todd was grinning adoringly in her wake. "That was Mari. She has been keeping me company while you were asleep. How are you feeling?"

"Okay, I guess. You certainly know how to cheer me up, Todd. I almost forgot about the crystal." They both chuckled.

Klem finished his umber and drank his brandy. He slowly came back to himself. The nagging feeling of loss remained. "It has a hold on me, Todd. I don't like the feeling. I need it back."

"Never thought it would have this effect on you. It is a bit concerning but Lord Potts is a good man and he is doing as you asked him to do. He has spoken to me in great depth about the properties of the crystal and you can have it back soon. You have been asleep for nearly a day. Luckily you didn't bash your head when you collapsed. They have been using Dorky for some of their work on the crystal. They have been able to separate the jewel into eight segments. Each segment has the power to protect at a good range. Dorky can see this range and has spoke that it covers the wearer and a good few spans beyond. They are not sure how it works but the effects are total. It protects against cutting, bashing, and even poisoning. One more amazing thing is that you can go underwater and 'not breathe' for as long as you like. This will be useful for the coombers. They have one more test to do and they are re-setting the jewels into the amulet of the dragon. They just need you to check the setting. They have some astonishing things here I want to show you. Are you up to it now?"

"Can I have some more seaweed please?" That should do it.

*

Todd had settled in well while Klem had been in his bunk. Mari was an angel and it looked as if she had a soft spot for Todd. Klem was happy for his friend but it did make him think of Tia... and what of Grace...and his family. He needed to find them. All this adventure seemed to be leading him further and further away. He felt guilty at being caught up in the excitement.

Mar Coombe was an extraordinary place. It was full of wonderful people, amazing inventions, great food and some terrible smells.

Lord Potts had bid them farewell without ceremony but with all the best wishes. And some sage advice they would need on their journey. The most fascinating advice had been that the crystal had been tested in the coombers hospital wing. It held back ageing. It prompted regrowth of missing limbs and reversed any sicknesses. Its effects, Klem realised were that its power was total. It was indeed a remarkable gift.

Five of the crystal segments had been remounted into the amulet. Two of the segments had been given to the coombers and one segment had been mounted on its talisman for Todd to wear.

Leaving Mari had been difficult for Todd. Klem had had to wait for ages while they hugged and kissed each other goodbye. If they made it to the end of this adventure Klem was sure Todd would return here one day.

Dorky had put on some weight too. Klem made a note of asking him what he had been eating to get so big.

He would find the time but for now, the three of them were squeezing into a turtle shell. The shell had been cleaned out. Its previous owner had been a giant turtle that once swam the sea around Mar-coombe. The shell was perched precariously on a ledge high on the land side of the vortex. When the tide came in there were many coombers ready to push the shell into the foaming water as it rushed out of the vortex into the coastal river leading West.

Looking through the transparent neck of the turtle shell, Dorky mind spoke to the others,

I can see a green, glowing light over the horizon. It must be the magic we seek. We are heading in the right direction.

The view here was breathtaking and the drop-down filled the three with some fear. They could see the river leading inland through tundra and then into the jungle. In the far distance a range of mountains. Of which their destination was over the stunning horizon.

The moment was an exiting one. Todd was quiet and kept feeling his new amulet with a sense of awe, wonder and thanks. Klem was pleased he had shared his gift and now the friends could carry on on equal terms without the ghost of jealousy threatening to come between them. Dorky had gone to the back of the shell and curled up. A little bit scared and not wanting to see what was going to happen next.

When the arm, leg and tail holes were sealed with a jelly-wax the adventurers could just see the crowd of coombers through the makeshift windows and could wave them off.

The rumble of the vortex grew louder. Beneath the ledge, the gushing water rose to its height. The coombers pushed the giant shell towards the foam and the burbling water grabbed the shell and turned it into a weird bobbing boat.