Tangled

Unshift 269

Unshift 269

269 Lisa: The Farmhouse

LISA

The entire world shakes and shudders, and I wake with a jolt. "Earthquake!"

"We landed, you idiot." Elverly scowls at me. "Next time, don't use me as a pillow."

"Don't take her vitriol seriously, Lisa. She's the one who covered you with a blanket." The Grand Sage nods toward me, and I glance down, surprised to see a flannel fabric about as large as a baby's blanket. She yanks it off me with a huff, folding it and tucking it under her arm, where it disappears.

I blink.

"Where did it go?"

*Dimensional storage, The Grand Sage tells me, pushing different buttons. The vibration of the room ceases. "Stay here. I'm going to check on matters, and the cloaking device isn't enough to cover everyone outside"

A hatch above us creaks open, letting in a sliver of light that makes me squint. I hold my breath, not daring to move as the Grand Sage maneuvers his way between Elverly and me. His robes brush against my arm, and I catch a whiff of something herbal-sage, maybe?

Funny. Sage for sages.

my

As he climbs, I can't help but stare at the rungs he's using. Were those there before? I wrack brain, trying to remember if I'd noticed them during our journey, but come up blank. It's possible they were there all along, hidden in the shadows of this cramped space.

But it's more probable that they popped out of the wall when he was pressing one of those many buttons.

The Grand Sage's feet disappear through the hatch, and I strain my ears, trying to catch any sound from above. The silence remains unbroken, broken only by my own shallow breathing and the faint rustle of Elverly's clothes as she shifts in her seat.

"Do

but Elverly cuts me off with

quiet.

long has it been since the Grand Sage left?

soft thud from above snaps

sudden influx of light. The

says, but his words are

rising from her seat and climbing the rungs with

269 Lisa The Farmhouse

near

rungs definitely weren't there before. I'm sure of it now. They seem to melt seamlessly into. the wall, as if they've always been a part of it. Another bit of

surroundings. We're in what looks like an old barn, dusty sunlight filtering through cracks in the wooden walls. The air smells of hay and something earthy I

hell did we magically

want to ask, but I already know the explanation will be over my

in the middle of the floor, looking for all the world like an oversized metal egg with a flat top. If I hadn't just climbed out of it, I'd never believe it could fit three people inside, plus all the things that are

ask, unable to contain my curiosity any

a faint frown. "We did not go far. About two hours' drive from

of the Westwood

Glancing around, I ask, "Are you sure

It certainly seems quiet.

anything happens, come here and press the

seems terrible. I can't imagine leaving

name. Use a pseudonym, if you must. His nose wrinkles.

we exit the barn. My eyes dart around, taking in the vast expanse of farmland stretching out before us. Horses and cows graze peacefully in nearby

palpable, and I can't help but share her sentiment. This place

no one would expect

motions for us to follow