11. Winding On The Mind

Back at Steeleets, the four adventurers entered Mazanlold's house to examine their new findings. They sat around the table, and Caoilainn put the yellow crystal on it. They let her do her own thing. She picked it up, looked at it from many angles, observed the light, smelled it and even tasted it. She seemed lost in thought and suddenly her eyes shone and she got up:
- "Do you have any idea of what we have here?" - they just shook their heads - "that is sulfur, one of the three main of basic substances of alchemy, one part of the Tria Prima" - she smiled - "but there is a catch, this is no ordinary sulfur. This is pure sulfur, something thought impossible." - she touched her chin - "alchemists always thought impossible to isolate any of the three substances, and here it is before us, a perfect crystal of pure sulfur, the size of a human palm." - Richard said:
- "Did you really just taste sulfur? What if it was something dangerous?" - Caoilainn answered gesticulating:
- "Don't worry, mages have resistance and healing potions." - Isabella spoke:
- "So, what does it mean for us?"
- "I am still not sure" - replied Caoilainn - "but I expect we might find other crystals and we might need to do some transmutations to attain Anima Mundi. And indeed, the legend cites a mage" - she laughed - "talented like me!"
- "I think that is enough about the crystal for now, let's keep it safe" - said Isabella - "now let's take a look at the bottle" - she opened the bottle, and spread the piece of paper on the table. On the note, it was simply written:

Amidst the swirling of the flowers
Ride the wild winds
Seek the keep's hidden bowers
Burn the black binds

- "Another riddle hum?" - said Caoilainn - "that guy Jacques surely loves those" - she lied on the table.
- "But that one is pretty simple, isn't it?" - said Isabella - "at least, the swirling of flowers is probably the village of Hannah." - she paused - "it is the only close place known by its flowers and if it were not that, he would have been more specific."
- "Well, that point is important. To be so loose, it must mean it is something we can infer" - said Richard. Caoilainn stood up:
- "You are amazing! I'm convinced, let's go" - Mazanlold replied:
- "Yes, but let us take a day of rest. The fight was tiring and we need to keep our shape" - Caoilainn had her energy drained, but agreed. Isabella said:
- "So, tomorrow at the break of dawn we make our leave." - and so they did.

The trip to Hannah on foot was not too long from Steeleets, and the views were the same nice fields with woods Richard was already used to. Caoilainn wore a deep blue long dress with white frills and gloves. The rest of them dressed as they always did, of course.

As the four were getting closer to their destination, Richard's blood froze with what his eyes saw. He grabbed his spear, went into his fighting stance and shouted:
- "Guys, watch out!" - the others stopped and turned to him. Much to his dismay, their faces were puzzled, not afraid or battle-ready. - "Shouldn't we hide?" - he was faced with silence for a long minute before Isabella said:
- "Hide from" - she leaned her head - "what exactly?"
- "From the giants!" - she and Caoilainn still looked puzzled. Mazanlold was unsure, but already ready for fighting nonetheless.
- "Giants?" - Isabella asked - "where exactly?"
- "Can't you see the giants?!"
- "No I can't!"
- "THERE!" - and he pointed at the hills on the horizon. Mazanlold got very angry, put away his weapon and turned around. Caoilainn tried very hard not to, but burst into laughing. Isabella even shook a little, trying to control her reaction. As she saw Richard getting desperate she said:
- "You mean" - and she pointed at the horizon - "the giants are there?"
- "YES!" - he was desperate - "That's where! You must be crazy, they are colossal!" - Isabella put her hand on face and ran it through her hair.
- "You do see" - she pointed again - "that those are windmills, right?" - she paused - "is that an elaborate joke?" - Richard said:
- "NO! They are giants! We are at risk!"
- "No, they are windmills. They have the kind of conical structure, the brick walls and the pads slowly spinning with the wind." - she brought her hands together - "please take a look again" - she pointed at them.
- "NO!" - again he shouted but then he suddenly relaxed. His eyes were incredulous and he released his spear. He breathed. He breathed again. Then he said - "Yes, you are correct, those two are windmills" - he put his hand behind his head - "good catch!"
- "Are you alright?" - said Isabella, it was she who now was incredulous. Caoilainn had no laughs left and didn't know where to look at. Mazanlold was already quite far away.
- "I am!" - Richard said, smiling. Isabella touched his forehead with the back of her hand and continued:
- "If you are not well, we can stop" - he blushed and replied:
- "No I'm fine" - he sighed - "we can continue" - and so they did. Richard spent a few minutes with his cheeks burning red, walking silently. Caoilainn and Isabella exchanged looks, asking themselves how that windmill confusion was possible. Caoilainn whispered:
- "He blushed due to your touch tehehe~" - Isabella answered:
- "I kinda hope he blushed due to that surreal mistake."
- "Don't underestimate your power against men!" - Caoilainn knew how to soften the mood.
- "Hm" - Isabella laughed a bit - "I just hope this Richard is not too crazy. At least not as crazy as you!"
- "You can't tease me more than I tease you!" - they giggled and continued walking.

After the windmill incident it didn't take long before they arrived at Hannah village.