Il Falco dei Mari e la ricerca del perduto Re dei Fiori

[Guisgard]

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Il gruppo percorse il sentiero.
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Era buio e la vegetazione copriva selvaggiamente ogni cosa.
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Cq azionò le sue torce termiche e fu così che riuscirono a muoversi in quello strano scenario.
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Poi Clio mostrò Damasgrada ad Icarius e lui restò inquieto a fissare la spada.
Aveva compreso che forse l'idilliaco scenario descritto dal vecchio pescatore non era poi così roseo.
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Ma proprio in quel momento videro qualcosa davanti a loro.
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Era una casa di campagna.
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“Andiamo a vedere...” disse Icarius, guardando Clio, Altea, Hensiner e Cq.
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[Clio]

Quel ticchettio incessante sembrava ancora più intenso una volta giunti sull'isola.
Notai lo sguardo di Icarius e sospirai.
"Oh, ce la caveremo.." sorridendo, gaiamente.
Poi in lontananza scorgemmo una casa di campagna.
Annuii ad Icarius.
"Andiamo.. ma state all'erta.. non sappiamo cosa ci aspetta..." mormorai, scrutando quella vegetazione.

[Guisgard]

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Elv e Gwen raggiunsero la riva a nuoto.
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Trovarono poi riparo dietro a degli scogli e qui indossarono i loro abiti asciutti.
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La Luna era silenziosa ed indifferente e sulla spiaggia le sagome di piante grasse e di fiori del deserto, unite ai riflessi delle conchiglie tra la sabbia rendevano quello scenario enigmaticamente ammaliante.
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“Direi di raggiungere il centro abitato e trovare riparo per la notte.” Disse lui a lei.
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[Altea]

Clio mostrò ad Icarius la sua spada e lui si fece stranamente serio..già non era un viaggio di piacere. Quell' isola tanto affascinante pareva tanto misteriosa e forse pure pericolosa. Cq illuminava la strada e ci trovammo di fronte a una casa di campagna..seguii Icarius, la mano sulla impugnatura della pistola...sospirai, ma sapevo Icarius aveva forse pure Mia Amata.

[Lady Gwen]

Appena arrivati, ci cambiammo. Lo scenario era straordinario e qualcosa sembrava attirarmi, qualcosa che non riuscivo a spiegare.
"Va bene" annuii ad Elv.

[Guisgard]

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Il gruppo raggiunse l'abitazione.
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Sorgeva sul fianco verdeggiante di una grossa scogliera, che separava la baia dal sentiero.
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Era una casa colonica, circondata da un boschetto di mandorli selvatici, quasi ammassati attorno ad un basso steccato.
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Icarius, seguito dagli altri compagni, raggiunse il cancelletto dello steccato e si avvicinò alla porta.
“Venite...” disse.
“Non sarà un po' tardi per una visita?” Sarcastico Hensiner.
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“Maggior ragione per chiedere ospitalità.” Rispose il Taddeide.
E bussò.
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La porta si aprì e sulla soglia apparve un bambino.
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[Clio]

Raggiungemmo così la casa.
Ero perplessa, addirittura chiedere ospitalità? Mi sembrava un po' troppo audace.
Ma non dissi nulla, perché probabilmente non avevamo molta alternativa.
Così, giungemmo alla casa e Icarius bussò.
Sulla soglia apparve un bambino.
Io mi limitai a sorridergli, non avevo idea di come Icarius avesse intenzione di giustificare la nostra presenza lì, così restai in silenzio.

[Altea]

Da quel che capii Icarius voleva chiedere ospitalità in quella casa, busso' e un bimbo aprì la porta. Guardai Icarius e gli dissi sottovoce sorridendo.."Ti fidi? Non li conosciamo..quasi quasi per rendere l' aria più briosa potrei fingermi la tua fedele mogliettina." Lanciandogli una sfida.

[Guisgard]

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Elv e Gwen lasciarono la spiaggia e si ritrovarono nella folta vegetazione dell'isola.
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Muoversi nel buio non era semplice e decisero così di seguire una dissestata stradina che declinava verso un boschetto.
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Ad un tratto videro qualcosa davanti a loro.
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Era un'antica edicoletta, forse vestigia dell'antico passato dell'isola, sulla quale era scolpita una meridiana.
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“Qui” disse Elv, fissando la meridiana “hanno l'ossessione del tempo...”
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I due si accorsero allora di alcune parole incise sull'edicoletta, che così recitavano:

“Tutto scorre nell'oblio del Tempo, giudice e custode della dimenticanza dei sentimenti umani.”

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[Guisgard]

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“Credi” disse Icarius ad Altea “che l'ospitalità cambi a seconda se a chiederla sia una coppia o un gruppo di scapoli e scapole?” Sarcastico. “E poi verrei scoperto subito, visto il ruolo di marito non mi si addice.” Facendole l'occhiolino. “Ehi, piccolo...” voltandosi poi verso il bambino “... puoi chiamare la mamma o il papà e dire che ci sono un gruppo di turisti appena sbarcati sull'isola?”
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Il bambino li fissò restando in silenzio.
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“Ti va?” Sorridendogli Icarius.
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Ma quello restò muto.
“Che non sappia parlare” fece Hansiner “o che non comprenda la nostra lingua?”
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Ma ad un tratto apparve una donna alle sue spalle.
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“Salute, signora...” a lei Icarius “... chiedevamo a vostro figlio di voi o di vostro marito... siamo turisti e ci occorreva un posto per passare la notte... a meno che non sappia indicarci una vicina locanda...”
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“Non vi sono locande qui.” Mormorò la donna.
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“Neanche osterie per mangiare qualcosa?” Ancora Icarius.
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“Non c'è niente qui.” Guardandoli la donna.
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“Un bel guaio...” sbuffando il Taddeide “... un sorso di vino ci avrebbe giovato...”
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“Non c'è vino qui.” Disse la donna.
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“Andiamo bene...” ironico Hansiner.
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“Andrebbe bene anche una tazza di tè...” Icarius “... dite che ne troveremo da qualche parte... magari anche qui da voi?”
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“Non ho tè.” Scuotendo il capo la donna.
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“Ecco...” piano Hansiner.
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“Ma posso prepararlo per voi.” Annuì la donna. “Se volete.”
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“Oh, ci farebbe un gran favore, signora.” Ridendo appena Icarius.
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