24. To The Beach

That night they enjoyed a succulent turkey, beautiful toasted vegetables, a rich beer and a terrific 'brigadeiro'. Then, tired and relaxed, they went to bed.

A little later, Isabella woke up and took a walk. She usually wakes up once a night. What is unusual is meeting Caoilainn leaning over the fence. Isabella said:
- "Hey, Caoilainn I figured you would be awake." - Caoilainn turned to her, took a breath and said:
- "Yes I'm worried." - Isabella looked down before looking up and saying:
- "Let me guess, it's about that Duke isn't it?" - Caoilainn consented - "Let me ask you: that Duke is what I think it is, right?"
- "Yes..."
- "And you preferred not to say it due to Mazanlold right? - Caoilainn sighed before answering:
- "Right again..."
- "Alright, I understand you" - she paused - "and that's why I didn't say anything at that time" - Caoilainn looked at Isabella's eyes:
- "Yeah, I don't wanna trigger him."
- "Yes I know. I don't know what to do now, but let us be prepared." - she made an inspiring pose - "Sooner or later we will have to face it" - Caoilainn looked at the horizon:
- "Yes and I worry about that."
- "Don't worry. I will always stay by your side. And those two, I believe they will too. We can trust them" - Isabella touched Caoilainn's shoulder. Caoilainn turned and hugged her. She said:
- "Yes, I do thank you, Isa" - Isabella gave Caoilainn time before saying:
- "No worries. Now, Let us sleep. We need a lot of rest to go on." - Caoilainn consented. Despite the interruption, they had also a good night of sleep. On the morning, the four reunited to resume their journey.

As typical, Caoilainn opened the papers on the table. There was a paper with a drawn alchemic circle and another paper with a riddle from Jacques:

On the waves find balance
On the sands find a rock
In Delfinifled get a glance
Lights that follow the clock

Caoilainn said:
- "Well! It seems we are going to the beach!" - Isabella replied:
- "You have no idea what everything besides 'Delfinifled' mean right?"
- "You caught me!" - Caoilainn made the cutest face. Richard said:
- "Well, we will probably have to go deeper into that after we reach the place." - he touched his chin - "and what about the circle?"
- "Well" - Caoilainn had no more energy - "it is interesting but incomplete. And I have no idea how to complete it."
- "Maybe everything will be connected later..." - said Richard. Mazanlold took the word:
- "Well, we may as well depart now. Delfinifled is not far and we can easily stay the night there at the inn." - Isabella said:
- "If you have nothing against it, we now go" - and so they departed.

The four walked for a few hours, passing next to Morirom, to reach the coastal town of Delfinifled. At the end of the road they were greeted with small areas of green, cozy houses and constructions, and the salty refreshing wind. Looking further, they could see the sunlit waves, and the quasi-green water of the Kitik sea. Another view to behold, indeed. Isabella said:
- "I haven't got any idea here, this riddle is quite cryptic." - as she seemed lost in thought, Caoilainn said:
- "Well, I have an idea, follow me, but not too closely" - in a flash Caoilainn was wearing commoner clothes, very unusual for her. She went ahead and the others complied. Soon, she found someone, approached and said:
- "Hey mister!" - the man stopped and said:
- "Hello, young lady."
- "Can you give me a hand?"
- "Yes, sure" - he put this bag on the ground - "what's it?"
- "You see" - Caoilainn looked a bit down and held her arms together - "I'm not from here, I'm just passing by and I love the sea, but you see... I would like to enjoy myself a little bit, what is there to see here?" - the man thought a minute before he answered with a smile:
- "Well, we have of course our long beach, right ahead of you. " - he pointed a little to the right - "that big building is the most famous inn and restaurant here, known by it's delicious crab meals!" - he then pointed to the other side - "there is a beautiful palm trail and at the end of it is a secluded beach and the famous Turtle Rock by the sea."
- "Thanks a lot for your help!" - she smiled.
- "No worries miss, take care" - the man waved, got his bag and left. Then, Caoilainn rejoined the others. In a flash, she was wearing what she did before, a flowery dress, small shoes and a blonde half ponytail. She smiled and said:
- "So, main places here: the beach, the inn, the palm trial and Turtle Rock" - Richard said:
- "Well, what draws my attention is Turtle Rock, which appears mostly unique." - he touched his chin - "the inn doesn't seem to have a clock and there are waves near the rock." - Isabella said:
- "I agree and" - she turned to Caoilainn - "that one was really good. You see, I had forgotten about Turtle Rock. Regardless, I'd never have the idea to pretend I'm a tourist and just ask around."
- "Hehe! That's your bestie for you!" - Mazanlold said:
- "Well, that was a good one indeed" - Caoilainn smiled, puzzled by his reaction - "now, shall we?"
- "Of course" - said Isabella. Then, they crossed the town and reached the palm trail.