Chapter 10: “Hunt for the Goblet.”
The village of Glyphmark was a thick collection of wooden buildings, apparently arranged at random. The streets were chaotic and confusing, but it seemed that the locals had a little trouble in navigation. There were hundreds of them, bustling back and forth, purchasing strange items and concoctions from many stalls and shops. Daring Do, Swift Wing and Storm Talon made their way through the streets.
The chatter of the crowd was indecipherable, and Daring strained her ears trying to listen for word of the Shaman’s Temple, only to hear conversations about the prices of bananas, the weather and a rather rapid conversation in a language, Daring had never heard before.
They passed a stall where a Zebra was selling sandwiches. “Come here, come here, to see a sale: A juicy sandwich, made with kale!” He exclaimed.
Another was selling hand crafted carpenter tools. “If simple tools are what you seek, come here and talk with Monazique!” The zebra held out a basket of tools to Storm.
Storm feigned a smile as he gently pushed the tools away. “No, no thank you! By Tartarus, this is so disorganized.
“Yeah, isn’t it great?” Said Daring, herself hadn’t ever once tried to organize her incredibly cluttered classroom or her even more cluttered home office. To her it was easier to find something laying on the floor, than if it was thrown in a drawer somewhere. This place was just fine with her.
A zebra in a fancy shawl smiled and waved to them. “We welcome you to Glyphmark-town. Please feel at home and roam around.” He said politely.
“Does everyone have to rhyme all the time?” asked Swift Wing.
The zebra smiled sheepishly. “Well no, actually. But it’s more interesting that way.” He admitted with a chuckle.
“Oh.”
Daring walked up to the Zebra. “I’m looking for the Temple of the Shaman’s Chalice. Do you know where it is?” She asked.
The zebra turned and gestured a hoof. “Look to the east, my pony friend! Your quest will soon be at an end!
After a few minutes’ walk, they came to the edge of the city. They looked out as the wide expanse of the Zebrican desert stretched out in front of them meeting the horizon and melting into the afternoon sun.
Daring put a hoof to her forehead and squinted. She could scarcely make out the outline of a large stone temple, not far from where they were standing. She breathed sigh of relief. Thank Celestia, It’s not far. Good. I’m not prepared to walk a mile in the desert, and I’m pretty sure Storm and Swift aren’t either She thought.
The hot sand scorched their hooves as they walked, every step sinking more and more into the sand as they drew closer to the temple, and further from Glyphmark. After about an hour’s walk, they finally came upon a great stone temple. They had already agreed that it would be best if Daring went in alone, while Storm and Swift Wing stayed outside and kept lookout.
Except Swift Wing had changed her mind without telling anyone. She tried to follow, but Daring stopped her.
"Whoa! Where do you think your going?"
"Into the temple?"
"I thought we agreed that you and Storm would stay out here!"
"Yeah, well I...changed my mind." Swift Wing said, feigning an excuse.
"And when were you going tell me?"
She looked down at the ground. "When we were half way through the temple."
Daring sighed. She knew better than anyone, how great the lure of treasure was. But she had no idea how well guarded the goblet was. She couldn't risk her life and Swift Wing's. She knew it was best she went alone.
"Look, I know how exciting this must seem, but there's no telling how dangerous things will get in there. Ancient temples, Death traps, Escaping death at the last second. Those are my thing! I know how to get through these things, mostly unscathed. It's best you stay out here."
"But!-"
"Plus, I need someone to keep an eye on things back at the vengeance. We can't let storm do all the work now can we?"
They laughed as Storm shook his head. Swift looked a little disappointed. But she knew Daring was right. As much as she wanted to tag along, she'd rather not end up skewered on the end of a stick or having fallen into an alligator pit.
She smiled at Daring. "You'll tell me everything that happens, right?"
"You know I will."
"Well then, Daring Do,I suggest you get a move on. After all, your dads waiting on you."
"I Wouldn't want to keep him waiting."
They hugged each other, before Daring finally turned her attention back to the temple.
Daring Do peered into the entrance of the ancient temple. The light from the sun provided enough so she could see just past the entrance. But the rest of the way was pitch darkness. A feeling of unease crept up in her stomach. She ignored it. Now it was time to focus. Daring waved goodbye to Storm and Swift and made her way through the ancient lobby towards the greater part of the temple. The sun beamed down on the room from a large hole in the ceiling. Daring could make out crude wall carvings of zebras in tribal garb, worshiping a great gleaming goblet in the sky.
“Well, at least I know were in the right place.” Daring said looking over the carvings.
“Let’s see. Is this going to be one of those functional temples, or one of those deathtrap temples?” Daring wondered aloud. Daring received her answer when her hoof caught a tripwire, sending a shruiken speeding past her head.
“Deathtrap, definitely deathtrap.” Daring said now completely alert with her eyes wide.
“Is everything alright?” Storm Talon called in from the entrance.
"Your not dead, right?"
“Heh, Fine! Everything’s just…fine.”
She stood frozen for a second. Cautious. Daring continued onward. “Okay, tripwires trigger flying shurikens, what else we have here?” Daring said taking mental note of her environment.
A pit opened in front of her and flames poured out from below.
“Fire pit.” Daring noted casually. This was certainly not the first tomb Daring had explored,and she knew how they worked pretty well at this point.
She ran down the list as she made her way to the main temple room.
A huge saw blade came through the hallway behind Daring.
“Giant Blade:”
Next, Several poison tipped darts shot out from the walls as Daring ducked underneath them.
“Deadly darts.”
Daring looked as the door at the other end of the hallway began to slowly close. She smiled at her expertise.
“Slowly closing door at the end of the hallway.”
Daring raced for the exit, only to find spikes pop from the ground wherever she stepped.
She ran even faster ,dodging spikes and darts, until finally she slid under the door just before it closed.
Daring gave herself a moment to catch her breath. “Right… Next time, I’ll try not to step on one of those floor panels.” Daring said confidently.
She turned from the door and took a step…onto another floor panel.
“Aww.” Daring said sadly, as all manner of traps activated around her.