Eventually, Ben was thrust behind one of the many stalls that littered the market place. Mak and Trep slithered to the ground, their breaths short and rasping.
‘That,’ mumbled Noj, between gasps for air, ‘was not the most intelligent thing you’ve ever done.’
‘They were hurting those children,’ replied Ben. ‘We couldn’t just ignore that!’
‘It’ll be us that gets hurt,’ complained Mak, ‘if the guards catch us.’
Ben was saved from further criticism as Alisha suddenly appeared around the edge of the stall.
‘Thank you,’ she called over her shoulder.
Instantly, Noj ran to the end of the stall and looked around. ‘Thank, who?’ he asked.
‘That old guy,’ explained Alisha. ‘You know, the one who was selling those card things earlier. He saw me and showed me where you were, that’s all.’
‘If he knows where we are,’ said Ben, his face clearly showing his worry. ‘Then it won’t be long before everyone will know where we are hiding.’
Noj took hold of Alisha’s shoulders. ‘Where have you been?’ he asked urgently.
Alisha smiled. ‘Looking at Ben’s handiwork,’ she replied smiling. ‘You wouldn’t believe the change in the rivers.’ Her face lit up as she explained what she had seen. ‘Once the waters had calmed down, the rivers turned from that murky brown sludge to a clear, crystal-like river that sparkled and chimed as it raced under the bridge.’
‘That’s bound to have annoyed the Jaresh,’ groaned Trep. ‘They’ll be looking for the culprits and won’t rest until they have someone to blame, anyone!’
Urging the group to leave their hiding place, it soon became apparent that Trep’s words were more than accurate. In the market place people were scurrying in all directions as Jaresh guards dealt harshly with anyone who wasn’t quick enough to move out of their way. Several bodies lay where they had fallen, whether immobile through injury or playing dead until it was safe to move wasn’t clear.
Pushing the group between another two stalls, Noj suddenly stopped and held the rest of the group back. ‘Quiet!’ he hissed. ‘Trilligs!’
Circling a group of stalls were the two beasts Ben had seen earlier. Resembling oversized dogs, the beasts had bodies covered in a mixture of fur and leathery scales. Three jagged tails moved independently seemingly able to threaten people without the fiery eyes of the beast looking in their direction. Standing on claw-like paws, the beasts scoured the crowd for entertainment. With barks that sounded almost metallic the beasts spread their skeletal wings to their full extent.
‘It gets better,’ said Trep rolling his eyes.
Noj shook his head. ‘We’d better move as far away as possible, before those creatures get any closer.’
‘Too late for that, I reckon,’ said Mak hurriedly. ‘I think they’re on to us.’
The two beasts were now striding purposefully, pulling their guards along whether they wanted to follow or not. Every few steps the beasts would sniff the air, drop their heads and continue in the direction of Ben and the others.
‘Quickly then,’ called Noj as he raced from behind the stall.
Once again, he led the small group between stalls and buildings until he stopped at an archway.
‘In here,’ he yelled as the rest of the group followed him through the arch and into a dingy courtyard. Two steps into the courtyard the group stopped. In front of them sat a group of men they’d met a few days earlier.
‘Hey up,’ said the larger of the seated figures. ‘If it ain’t our nice friends from the festival.’ He nudged the figure bedside him. ‘What d’you reckon, Kev, are they pleased to see us?’
The seated figures twitched with laughter.
‘Cutters!’ spat Trep. ‘It really does get better!’
Chapter 37
‘Well, well,’ said the large Cutter known as First-Voice. ‘I’ll go to the foot of our stairs.’
‘You can’t then,’ grinned Kev. ‘You knocked ‘em down.’
The Cutters twitched with laughter once more. First-Voice wiped a hand across his nose. ‘It’s just a saying like,’ he said repeating his hand to nose action. ‘Sort of an expression of surprise.’
Kev frowned. ‘Oh,’ he said hesitantly. ‘OK, I knew that already.’
‘Yeah,’ chortled another Cutter whose thin face and sparse, wiry hair gave him an odd, almost animal-like appearance. ‘Sure you did.’
‘Shut your face, Weasel,’ growled Kev. ‘You ain’t no, Mister Brains either.’
‘Shut up the pair of you,’ barked First-Voice. He pointed to some scattered wooden crates that lay around the courtyard. ‘Pull up a seat, youngsters. Make yourselves comfy, but not too comfy,’ he added with a grim smile. ‘You’ve got to meet the gaffer.’
‘I thought you were the boss,’ said Ben sitting on a crate furthest away from First-Voice. The motley collection of Cutters dissolved into a gale of laughter at Ben’s question. First-Voice, with laughter still gripping his mouth used his hand to wipe away tears this time and then clapped his hands together. ‘You’re a caution and no mistake.’
‘If we surprised you by coming into the courtyard,’ he said frowning. ‘How do you know we have to meet this Gaffer bloke?’
‘How do you know it’s a male?’ asked a small Cutter whose features were virtually invisible covered as they were by an oversized woollen hat with earflaps.
‘Ah,’ said First-Voice. ‘That’s a good point, Petal.’ He turned to Ben. ‘All for equal rights is our Petal, ain’t that right?’
‘Most definitely,’ replied Petal as she pushed the hat from her face to reveal a pair of large blue eyes framed by voluminous blonde hair.
‘Just look,’ grinned First-Voice. ‘Ain’t she the pretty one?’
Petal blushed and pulled the hat firmly back over her hair. ‘Get away with you,’ she giggled. ‘Flattery will get you nowhere.’
First-Voice nodded. Turning to Ben and the others he sniffed and nodded towards the rest of the Cutters. ‘Forgot me manners,’ he said with a chuckle. ‘You’ve already met our Kev.’ Kev nodded his greeting. ‘And now,’ continued First-Voice. ‘You’ve met Petal, so let me introduce you to Weasel.’ The thin, animal-like Cutter nodded at Ben. ‘And here we have Stevo, Chip, Peewee and Dazza,’ said First-Voice with a sweeping gesture of his hand at the last four Cutters. ‘
The final four Cutters barely moved a facial muscle as they glowered at Ben and the others. Dazza was the first to speak.
‘A right pain you lot have been.’ He scratched at the stubble on his chin. ‘Led us a merry dance you lot have and I’ll be glad to see the back of you.’
‘And he’s the sentimental one,’ joked First-Voice. He looked at the group carefully and then nodded at Ben. ‘Who’s the girlfriend?’
Before Ben could stutter a word, Alisha stood up and glared at First-Voice.
‘What gives you the right to question me or any of them?’ she said angrily indicating the others. ‘Just who do you think you are?’
First-Voice grinned. ‘Ain’t she the hot-headed one then?’ He nodded to Alisha. ‘You’re quite correct,’ he said overly polite. ‘Questioning you isn’t my job.’ He stood up and growled at the rest of the Cutters. ‘On your feet and let’s get these nice folk to the Gaffer, let him do the questioning.’
Ben and the others were unceremoniously jerked from their seated position and herded together surrounded by the Cutters. With a curt nod from First-Voice, the Cutters led the captive group out of the courtyard and back towards the market place.
The procession caused a murmur of suspicion and anger from the crowds milling around the stalls in the market place. Now that the Trilligs had been withdrawn to a safe distance from the shoppers and traders, a certain sense of normality had returned and everyone was ready to go about business once again.
The captives shuffled along in the direction dictated by occasional nudges and pushes from the Cutters. Eventually the Cutters forced the group to sto
p outside of a tall, rectangular building. This building looked no different to the others surrounding the market place apart from a pair of huge wooden doors adorned with ornate ironwork. To the left of the building stood the gnarled old oak tree that they’d seen earlier. Noj nudged Ben’s elbow.
‘Keep your mouth shut, don’t utter a word and whatever you do don’t look at the tree or anybody directly. Understand?’
Ben nodded. He didn’t want to say anything and certainly didn’t want to draw attention to himself. Shuffling to the rear captive group he stood by Alisha.
‘I think it might be worth taking the advice just given to me,’ he said in a whisper. ‘Keep your head down and don’t say a word.’
Alisha’s look of annoyance was instantly forgotten as the huge wooden doors clattered open against the stonework. Emerging from the doorway was a figure that stood imposingly against the backdrop of the building. Initially recognisable as one of the Jaresh, the figure was taller and broader than any of his kind. The scales that covered his body glittered, matched only by the bejewelled jerkin and waistband glistening in the sunlight.
In his right hand the creature held a ceremonial spear with intricate carvings running along the shaft. Turning its large head to the captive group, a low, rumbling growl echoed around the buildings.
‘May I, Thrumble, leader of the Jaresh, be the first to welcome you to the fair city of Janring. Unfortunately, on your arrival you may not have noticed the little sign that reads: ‘Janring welcomes obedient servants.’ Thrumble gave a smile that would have frozen an ocean. ‘I must say,’ he continued. ‘Whilst I admire your courage, I consider your lack of wisdom to be foolhardy.’ Thrumble raised his spear and brought it down hard on the stone step. ‘Fortunately, for you, I am pleased to inform you that the sensible action of one of your number, has saved you from a very serious ending.’
Ben quickly scanned the crowd that stood a safe distance from the captive group. Amongst the various traders and multitude of shoppers, four Jaresh guards stood perfectly still. At a signal from Thrumble they stood to one side, scattering onlookers as they did so. With two guards standing either side of him, a tall figure stood solemnly. His long, dark cloak hung from a slender frame. Beneath a dark silky hat with earflaps a pair of penetrating dark eyes looked at the captive group.
‘You!’ squealed Alisha. ‘You traitorous, evil, conniving excuse for animal dung.’ She hurled herself towards the figure. ‘I’ll kill you!’
Chapter 38
‘Cedric!’ cried Noj.
Cedric’s reply was inaudible as Alisha’s hands grasped his throat. The nearest Jaresh guard swiftly grabbed Alisha around the waist and tore her away from Cedric’s neck. The resultant scream of pain from Cedric and cry of anguish from Alisha resonated around the market place. Leaning heavily against one of the other guards, Cedric tentatively touched the rapidly forming red weal circling his neck.
‘You brat,’ he croaked. ‘It’s a pity you didn’t enjoy the hospitality of the Sirens to the full.’
‘I outstayed my welcome,’ snarled Alisha, who was held firmly in the grasp of the guard.
‘Pity,’ gasped Cedric.
At a nod from Thrumble, the guard threw Alisha to the ground. Ben ran over to her and knelt down.
‘Are you OK?’ he asked touching her shoulder. Alisha shrugged his hand away and staggered to her feet. With a look of sheer hatred she pointed a finger at Cedric.
‘My father will hear of your treachery,’ she said coldly.
Cedric tried to laugh but only managed a feeble gargle. He shook his head at Alisha.
‘Don’t make me laugh,’ he said huskily. ‘Not only does it hurt from your unwarranted attack it is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in a long time.
‘I don’t understand,’ said Ben weakly.
‘I wouldn’t expect you to,’ retorted Cedric. He stroked his throat. ‘How could you understand? How could any of you understand? This,’ he swept his arm around to indicate Thrumble, the Jaresh guards and the buildings. ‘This is far more than any of you could ever imagine. Do you really believe that a bunch of third-rate, no-hopers would be allowed to endanger everything that I’ve worked so hard for?’
Noj stepped forward.
‘What have you worked so hard for?’ he asked.
‘The future,’ replied Cedric. He pointed at Noj and the crowd surrounding the group. ‘You all live in the past with your pathetic reliance on tradition and superstition.’
‘You cannot ignore history,’ snapped Noj. ‘It isn’t possible to dismiss what went before.’
‘History?’ sneered Cedric. He pointed at Thrumble and himself. ‘We are making history. Together we are building a future, a new hope that is based upon power and strong leadership.’
‘What about my father?’ cried Alisha. ‘He has worked tirelessly to bring the Dilpends together as a people with a past and a future.’
‘Lord Tolc?’ replied Cedric. ‘He’s an imbecile.’
Noj, Trep and Mak looked searchingly at Ben. ‘You knew who her father was all this time and never said a word,’ accused Trep.
Ben nodded his head and then turned to face Cedric. A look of disgust contorted his features. ‘And what right have you to dictate the future?’ he asked vehemently.
‘Who are you to question my motives?’ Cedric smoothed his cloak. ‘You’re nothing but an interloper, a fly in the ointment.’
Ben felt stunned by the accusation. Even though he knew he didn’t belong, and all he really wanted to do was go home, being coldly labelled by someone else hurt. He looked directly at Cedric.
‘I don’t know how I got here or why,’ he said emphatically. ‘But what I do know is that I haven’t betrayed anyone or sabotaged their mission.’
‘Mission?’ grinned Cedric. ‘You call listening to doddery old fools reminiscing about mystical beings and ancient wisdom who then send you on a wild goose chase supposedly looking for things that will change, a mission?’ Cedric wagged a finger at Ben. ‘Then more fool you.’
‘At least we have a purpose,’ Ben yelled as anger flecked his cheeks.
Cedric shook his head. ‘Mere playthings.’ He grinned. ‘You don’t think for a moment that we didn’t know where you were or that you did anything without our knowing about it?’
‘But…’ mumbled Ben.
Cedric waved a hand at Thrumble. ‘You’re an absolute fool. The Jaresh are our future, I am your future and without…’
Cedric suddenly snatched at his throat. His hands clawed at his mouth as a cloud of yellow smoke began to envelop his head. While all eyes were on Cedric, Ben swiftly glanced around the assembled crowd. There, just at the edge of the crowd stood Telu, her eyes fixed firmly on Cedric. Wiping what appeared to be traces of powder from her fingers, she hurriedly pushed a small leather pouch back under her cloak. Looking up, she saw Ben and promptly placed a finger to her mouth. Ben quickly turned his head to look at Cedric, who was sitting on the ground, his shoulders heaving as his deprived lungs fought for air. Thrumble knelt beside the gasping figure and roughly jerked Cedric’s head to face his own.
‘What’s going on?’ he demanded. ‘Say something you gangly dim-wit.’
Cedric simply stared in front of him, his mouth opening and closing like a fish, no sound escaped from between his lips. Thrumble angrily pushed Cedric’s head away.
‘Get him out of my sight,’ he ordered.
As Thrumble stood up, the chain-link fence surrounding the oak tree abruptly exploded with a deafening roar. The crowd, momentarily stunned, responded by running in every direction, yelling and crying as smoke formed a dense cloud around them.
Ben turned quickly to see Telu throw a small dark ball high into the sky. Miniscule explosions ripped through the air, followed by an acrid, burning smell. As the air fizzed a pattern of glowing letters began to form. Gradually the letters became more defined so that within seconds the words Fish-heads radiated across the sky. For a few seconds the air-borne graffiti sh
one and then, with a series of crackles the words disappeared in a shower of sparks.
Thrumble yelled at the Jaresh guards, his face thunderous.
‘What’s going on?’ Ben yelled nervously as the guards raced in every direction.
‘I don’t know’ cried Alisha, ‘look!’ she suddenly pointed at Mak who had begun to run towards the oak tree. ‘What’s he doing? He’ll get himself killed.’ A restraining hand stopped her from chasing after Mak.
‘It’s no good,’ shouted Trep above the uproar. ‘He’s known for a while what his mission was.’
Mak, who was still a few paces from the tree, appeared to be fumbling with something inside his cloak. With a cry of triumph he withdrew his hand and held it high in the air as he continued his run.
Ben was speechless. He felt totally bewildered and could not see what Mak was holding in his hand or why he was running towards the tree. Suddenly, the Jaresh guard next to Ben drew his bow and released a barbed arrow directly at Mak.
‘No!’ cried Ben as he turned and pushed the guard to the ground. At the same time the Trilligs emitted an ear-piercing howl and began racing towards the tree. Ben cupped his hands to his mouth.
‘Mak, the Trilligs.’ He turned to Noj. ‘Do something,’ he cried.
Whatever Noj might have considered doing was now pointless. The Jaresh arrow had found its target with deadly accuracy. Mak stood a couple of paces from the tree. His hand was still held aloft as the arrow made its statement to the watching crowd.
For a few seconds everyone appeared transfixed at the unfolding scene. It was as if time was standing still waiting for some defining event to occur before it moved forward once more.
Mak began to take a step forward but immediately fell to his knees. Sensing an easy meal, the Trilligs bound forward. With a groan of agony that could be heard by everyone, Mak struggled upright and took another step towards the tree. He was almost within touching distance when the first Trillig lurched at Mak intent on sinking its teeth deep into his leg. At the same moment, another Jaresh guard released an arrow that hit Mak with such force that it deprived the Trillig of a meal and hurled Mak at the trunk of the tree.
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