by Simon Rose
Carcasses were scattered around. One scaran was still alive. Its wings were damaged, but it was still thrashing around, screeching and lashing out with its claws at the warriors. The force field was gone. Kilaya lay still, face down on the ground on the opposite side of the clearing. Jessica was nowhere to be seen. The wounded scaran stumbled then sprang at Eric, pinning him against a tree. It spat and snarled at him. The creature’s red eyes burned with rage, and its deadly jaws were only inches from Eric’s face.
Suddenly the scaran collapsed at Eric’s feet. Soldor had impaled it with his sword.
“Are you okay, Eric?” Soldor asked.
“Yes, I think so,” said Eric, shaking. “But where’s Jessica? What happened?”
Soldor pointed to the other side of the pond. Alcamarus and Jessica were helping Kilaya up.
“That was close,” he said. “If this one had got away, Galderon would know where we are.”
Zaliya led Eric and Jessica back to the camp as the last daylight faded away. She lit the campfire and they all warmed themselves around it.
“Close call back there,” Eric said. “Good thing Soldor got that scaran. I didn’t even see it until it was too late. I was really lucky.”
“You two try and get some rest,” said Zaliya. “We have an early start in the morning.”
Zaliya went back to the pond, and Eric and Jessica settled in beside the fire.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Eric asked Jessica. “You still look a bit nervous.”
“I’m all right,” she replied. But then added, “Well, not really. I keep thinking about the village. We’re a long way from Middle Wogglehole, Eric. I can’t help wondering if we’ll ever go back to Earth.”
“I hope we do,” Eric said. “That was really scary with the scaran, and there could be worse to come.”
“I honestly don’t know how much more of this I can take.”
“No one said this was going to be easy. It’s up to us. We have to save Septimus. Let’s get to sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning.”
But Eric couldn’t sleep. He watched the dancing flames and thought about the tiny fire figure back at Ivy Cottage. It seemed so long ago now.
“Wake up, Eric,” Zaliya said. “It’s time. We need to go to the cliffs.”
Eric sat up and rubbed his eyes. It was still dark but there was a faint light on the horizon. Zaliya nudged Jessica, who was on the opposite side of the fire.
Zaliya led Eric and Jessica up to the top of the cliff. Kilaya was waiting there with Alcamarus, Soldor and the rest of the warriors. Dawn broke over the western horizon, and the coast of Tekara slowly came into view. At Alcamarus’ feet lay the wings of the dead scarans.
“With no scarans patrolling,” Zaliya pointed out, “we’ll be able to fly across the straits.”
“Fly?” said Eric.
“Yes, fly,” Alcamarus replied. “The olokarens are everywhere down there. It’s safer in the air than in the sea.”
Zaliya held up a pair of scaran wings. “We’ve cut slits into the wings so that you can slip your arms inside them,” she told him. “We’ll tie some branches to them to keep them outstretched.”
“Zaliya will take you up high and drop you,” said Kilaya. “You’ll glide over to the beach on the other side.”
“But Zaliya, what about your wing?” Eric said.
“I’m much better now, Eric. I’ll take Soldor and the warriors up first so they can secure the beach. They’ll go one at a time, but I can lift both of you at once. Kilaya, Alcamarus and I will be the last ones to leave.”
Once Soldor and the rest of the warriors had slipped into the scaran wings, Zaliya began carrying them aloft. She struggled to lift Soldor, but managed to fly far enough above the strait before letting him go. Soldor glided out of sight, and, after hovering for a few moments, Zaliya returned. “He was heavier than I expected. But he made it safely to the beach.”
She took the warriors up one by one, and they glided out of sight toward Tekara.
“Remember your weapons,” said Alcamarus. He handed Eric his sword and Jessica her bow and arrows. “Be ready to use them. You never know.”
Eric sheathed his sword, and Jessica slung her quiver over her shoulder. She pulled on her scaran wings, looking apprehensive. Alcamarus handed Eric his wings and he slipped them on. The leathery wings were thin and surprisingly light, but felt cold and clammy against his skin. Eric shuddered as he slid his arms into them. His stomach churned, and he took a few deep breaths.
This is disgusting.
“Keep your arms spread out wide,” Zaliya said. “The air currents will carry you all the way over.”
“You need to get off the beach as soon as you land,” added Kilaya. “Take off your wings right away or they’ll slow you down.”
“Ready?” said Zaliya
Eric swallowed hard. Zaliya grabbed them around the waist, unfurled her wings and flew up high. A lush green forest spread out along the coastline on the opposite side of the strait.
Zaliya let go of Eric first, and he fought to steady himself in the wind. Flying high above the waves was exhilarating. It was like nothing Eric had ever experienced, and a feeling of elation swept over him.
Eric stumbled when he hit the sand. Then he slipped out of the wings and let them fall to the ground. Jessica was right behind him, but landed knee-deep in the water. She took off her wings and let them float away.
Scanning the beach, Eric couldn’t see any signs of Soldor and the warriors. They must be hiding in the trees, he thought.
He turned to Jessica. Two tentacles rose from the water behind her.
“Jessica!” Eric shouted. “Olokarens! Run!”
Jessica screamed as a tentacle wrapped around her chest and pulled her into the water. Eric drew his sword and raced into the waves. He slashed repeatedly at the olokaren’s twisting tentacles, and severed two of them. The olokaren shrieked and raised two other tentacles. It kept its grip on Jessica and pulled her into the surf. Dodging the snapping tentacles, Eric swung his sword and cut off one of the creature’s eyestalks. Then he thrust his sword into its head. The olokaren screeched in pain and slumped into the water.
Soldor and the warriors came rushing out from the forest. Jessica jumped up and loaded her bow.
“Leave it!” Eric yelled as the wounded olokaren retreated into the waves.
“Eric! Jessica!” Soldor called out. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah,” said Eric. “Jessica? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, I think,” Jessica replied. Blood trickled from a bite mark on her forehead.
Soldor looked out over the waves and into the woods beside the beach, his sword drawn. Alcamarus and Kilaya glided onto the sand, closely followed by Zaliya.
“We saw it all from the sky,” said Alcamarus as he took off his wings, “but there was nothing we could do.”
“There will be more of them,” said Soldor urgently. “The sun’s almost up.”
They hurried from the beach so that Alcamarus could tend to Jessica’s wounds in the safety of the forest. Standing at the edge of the trees, Eric took a long look at the straits. He shuddered at the thought of all the other dangers they were likely to face in Galderon’s realm.
A branch cracked, and Eric froze. Something moved. A terrorbird? he thought. He gripped his sword. Or a scaran? A terexian? But a familiar figure staggered onto the beach.
“Tobias!”
Chapter Fifteen
Into the Citadel
Eric raced over to Tobias, who’d fallen to his knees on the sand. He had a deep bloody gash on his arm that ran all the way down from his shoulder.
“Eric,” Tobias gasped. “You are alive! Is Jessica all right?”
“She’s fine,” Eric replied, “but what about you? What happened to your arm?”
“A
malkonor slashed me,” said Tobias. He was holding the matted hair on his arm. “The bleeding has slowed, but I need medical attention.”
“Alcamarus is just over there,” Eric said. “He’ll be able to help you.”
“Jessica’s wounds were minor,” Alcamarus said as he cleaned the gash on Tobias’ arm. “Tobias, what happened to you?”
“It was back in the Forest of Orbann, when we were attacked by Galderon’s army,” Tobias began. “I ended up in a fight with a malkonor who gave me this wound. When he blasted me with fire, I was sure that I was dead. Instead I woke up at the Citadel.”
“That’s where Septimus is!” said Eric.
“Did you see him?” asked Jessica. “Is he all right?”
“He is alive,” said Tobias, “but barely.”
“How did you escape?” asked Eric.
“Galderon is getting careless. He was so focused on getting Septimus to tell him how to make his sphere work to its full capacity, he did not watch me closely. I slipped out through one of the tunnels used by the scarans. Once I was out of the Citadel, I made my way to the coast. I have been hiding here, wondering how long it would be before Galderon found me.”
“Hard to believe the former Lord Protector of Tekara was so lucky,” said Soldor, narrowing his eyes.
Alcamarus put a hand on Soldor’s shoulder. “That’s enough of that,” he said. “Tobias is back now. He can help us plan our attack on the Citadel.”
“I would be honoured to serve you,” said Tobias.
“Maybe we could use the scaran tunnels to get inside,” Kilaya said.
“Yes, they are only used by the scarans, so they are not very well guarded,” said Tobias. “The time to enter is when the scarans are asleep. The tunnels will be empty then.”
“How far is the Citadel from here?” asked Eric.
“Not very far,” replied Tobias. “Just a little way through the Aktalian Forest. From there we just have to cross the Oksus River.”
“We could be there before nightfall,” Alcamarus said.
“The malkonors and the other creatures are all on the other side of the straits, looking for you,” said Tobias. “There are guards at the Citadel, but I know how to avoid them. We need to hurry. Galderon will notice that I am not there, if he has not already.”
“So,” said Alcamarus, “let’s move out quickly.”
The Brotherhood trekked through the forest for the rest of the day without encountering any of Galderon’s monsters. They crossed the Oksus River with little difficulty. It was early evening when they saw the Citadel at the top of the cliff. A vast whirlpool of dark clouds dominated the sky above the black towers and turrets. Lightning flashed everywhere.
The openings to the tunnels dotted the cliff face. Guards were posted along the walls of the Citadel, but Galderon’s creatures were nowhere to be seen.
“You were right,” said Soldor to Tobias, nodding. “There really aren’t many guards.”
“Galderon is overconfident,” said Tobias. “He has no idea we are here.”
“So how are we getting up to those tunnels?” Eric asked. “Is Zaliya flying us up there?”
“It’s too dangerous,” said Jessica. “The guards would see us.”
“Yes, we will have to climb,” Tobias replied. “But it is not practical for us all to use the tunnels.”
“Agreed,” said Alcamarus, nodding his head. “I’ll lead the way. Kilaya, you follow, but stay close to Eric and Jessica; Tobias, you can bring up the rear. Once we get inside, we’ll be able to surprise the guards and open the main gate for Soldor, Zaliya and the others.”
“As you wish,” Tobias said. “We leave at nightfall.”
Once it was dark enough, Alcamarus led Eric, Jessica, Kilaya and Tobias to the base of the cliff. After securing their weapons, they began climbing. Eric slipped more than once, and Jessica lost her footing just as they reached the opening, but Tobias held her. It was very dark inside the tunnel. Eric held out the sphere and it glowed. He went first, lighting their way. The tunnel was wide, but the ceiling was low, and they had to stoop from time to time to avoid hitting their heads. No one spoke.
Suddenly there was an ominous rumble followed by a loud crash, and the ceiling of the tunnel collapsed just behind Jessica and Eric, leaving them alone.
“Alcamarus!” yelled Jessica. “Are you okay?”
There was no response.
“They’re trapped!” Jessica exclaimed. “We have to help them!”
“There’s nothing we can do!”
“But—”
“Look,” Eric said. “I’m sure they’re going back out the other way.”
“But they could be hurt, or even dead,” said Jessica. “How do you know they’re even still alive?”
“I don’t,” Eric admitted, “but if they make it back to join Soldor and the others, we need to open the gates for them.”
Eric pulled Jessica through the tunnel and into a narrow corridor inside the Citadel.
“How will we find the way without Tobias?”
Eric held out the sphere. “We can use this.”
Jessica touched his hand. “No. Put it away. Galderon will find us if we use it for more than just a light. Even that might be risky.”
“Right.” Eric put the sphere back in his pocket and drew his sword. “Then let’s hope we can find the way to the gate, before anyone notices we’re here.”
They crept along a corridor. Torches lined the walls at regular intervals. Eventually they clambered up a spiral staircase into a circular room surrounded by stone pillars. A stone archway stood in the centre. Septimus was slumped against one of the pillars, secured by chains.
Eric and Jessica rushed over to him. Septimus was pale, and his eyes were half-closed. He had cuts on his forehead, bruises on his sunken cheeks, and his thick hair was matted with blood.
“Dad! It’s me, Eric. Are you okay?”
Septimus slowly raised his head. “Eric,” he murmured. “Jessica?”
“How touching,” said a deep voice behind them.
Eric and Jessica whirled around and saw a white-haired, bearded man wearing black armour, standing near the archway.
It was Galderon.
Chapter Sixteen
The Price of Power
Two of Galderon’s guards stepped out from behind the pillars. They drew their swords and stood their ground a few feet in front of Eric and Jessica.
“I was so enjoying torturing him,” said Galderon. His grim smile revealed his deadly vampire teeth. “He wouldn’t tell me the secret of the sphere’s power, despite all the pain he suffered.”
Galderon caressed the red sphere in his hand.
“I know the sphere you have is more powerful,” he continued, barely concealing a sneer. “I saw the telepath show you how to work it. And now you’ve brought me the sphere, so I have no further use for him. Give it to me.”
The guards took a step forward. Eric brandished his sword and Jessica took out her bow. But Galderon waved his hand, and the weapons were dragged from their grasps. Eric’s sword shattered as if it were glass, and Jessica’s bow was broken in two.
“Focus the lightning, Eric,” shouted Jessica.
Eric took out the sphere and it began to glow. It floated up from his hand and hung in the air beside his head. The electricity crackled between their fingers.
“Don’t be a fool, boy,” snarled Galderon. His sphere also began to glow. “Hand it over.”
Eric and Jessica quickly created shields just as Galderon shot lightning bolts at each of them. The lighting bounced off the shields, striking one guard in the chest and the other’s outstretched sword. They both fell to the floor.
Eric and Jessica took refuge behind a pillar, but Galderon blasted it to pieces. They cowered in the rubble.
“Stop wasting my
time,” said Galderon. “Give me the sphere.”
Eric slipped the sphere into his pocket and huddled next to Jessica behind a pile of stones. “Let’s split up,” he whispered. “Galderon won’t know which of us has the sphere. We should use the fire from the torches, too. Maybe we’ll catch him off guard.”
Jessica ran one way, darting from one pillar to the next as she evaded Galderon’s blasts. Eric dashed the other way, conjuring shields for protection as he ran. Jessica pulled fire from the torches and aimed at Galderon as she edged over to the stone archway, but he simply brushed her blaze aside with a wave of his hand.
“Fire together!” Eric yelled.
Jessica nodded, and they attacked Galderon with a barrage of flames from both sides. He staggered under their joint onslaught, but still blocked every attack. Eric and Jessica were no match for him.
Galderon intensified his attacks and Jessica’s shields weakened. Eric scrambled to help her, taking cover where he could, but before he reached her, Jessica’s shield faltered under a massive blast of lightning.
“Jessica!”
She lay still, slumped against the wall.
Galderon fired at Eric. He created a shield; but the attack was too powerful, and Eric was slammed against a pillar. Eric slid to the floor and couldn’t move his arms or legs. He watched helplessly as Galderon searched Jessica for the sphere. Galderon then approached Eric, reached down and pulled the blue sphere roughly from Eric’s pocket. A vicious smile spread across Galderon’s face as he slipped the red sphere into his pocket and held up the blue sphere in triumph.
Galderon walked back over to the archway, stood in front of the frame and opened his hand. The blue sphere floated upward, suspended in mid-air. The archway’s portal opened, revealing gateways to countless worlds.
“Finally,” he said. “Ultimate power!” Galderon held up his hand. “Stop,” he ordered. But thousands of images continued to flash across the archway.
“Stop!” Galderon roared again, and still nothing. He angrily snatched at the floating sphere, but a bolt of lightning shot out and narrowly missed his head.