by Joffre White
Frog lowered his head; his eyes stared at the flat, stone floor. In that last sentence, all that he had been through in Castellion – his underlying conviction that everything to do with the Slipstream was really just a series of dreams, his adventurous attitude that had shielded him from the reality of danger and death – was swept away. He now realised that he could wake up as the boy Chris in his own world and the threat could still be real. The evil could still exist and come to consume him and everyone that he loved and knew. As his mind struggled with these thoughts, however, the effects of the Slipstream worked into his psyche once again, adding maturity to his young years, taking him past what remained of his teens and giving him a ripe, adult mind. He still looked the same personable teenager, but as he raised his head there was a calculating, steely gaze in his eyes.
‘Tell me what needs to be done, in this world or the next,’ he said.
9
The Camera Doesn't Lie
As the sand storm and the Dreden had descended on them, Ameer had pulled Billy down into the shelter of the spider's large shape. He had also given Billy a small glass vial.
‘This is it,’ he said. ‘Drink it quickly and remember everything that I have told you. Moreover, know this, Billy; we will not desert you. I swear on Aridian's people, my people, that we will not forsake you.’
Billy stared at the vial. ‘Oh, what the hell! I wanted an adventure,’ he said and brought it to his lips. He swallowed the dark blue liquid and felt it slide down his throat like warm treacle. ‘Mmmm! It tastes like chocolate,’ he said, but before he could even lick his lips, his eyes rolled back and he fell into unconsciousness.
Ameer gently, but quickly, dragged Billy's comatose body out into the swirling sand storm and towards the Dreden voices that he could hear. He turned Billy over and pulled the turban cloth up to protect his sleeping face. As he did so, he could already see the Magic at work.
‘May the protection of the Guardians be with you, brave Billy,’ he said. Then he turned and disappeared back into the gloom to join his men in fighting off the attack.
The combination of voices and the throbbing in his head eventually brought Billy to his senses. He shifted slightly as people do when they first awake and immediately he realised that his hands and feet were tethered. He turned again and coarse leather cut into his wrists. He exhaled a gasp as the sharp pain brought him fully awake. His eyes wide open now, he took in the interior of a small cave.
‘Awake at last. That must have been quite a bump you got falling from that spider,’ supposed a man who was rising from a group of other men seated around a small fire. ‘Still, it made our job easier, but it's a shame that it robbed me of the chance to kill more Aridian scum.’ His hand clasped around Billy's jaw and he brought his face close enough for Billy to smell the man's stale and rancid breath. His skin was dark and leathery. His eyes were as black as coal and he wore long, lank hair to match. Billy boldly tried to pull himself away from the man's stare.
‘She said that you'd be a feisty one,’ he laughed as he viciously tightened his grip and the metallic taste of blood ran along Billy's tongue, as it was caught between his teeth. He made no sound, but he could not stop the tears welling up in his eyes. Refusing to cry, he kicked out in defiance, his heel catching the man on the shin, and the sharp pain made him curse and release his grip.
‘Why, I'll slice off those troublesome feet of yours and then we'll see how you kick,’ he said, drawing his long curved sword, which Billy could see had a wickedly serrated blade, designed to cause maximum damage on its victims.
‘Stay that sword!’ shouted another voice. ‘She will not be pleased with damaged goods and we will all suffer her anger for your spite.’
A taller man appeared and pushed the first roughly to one side.
‘If you want to practise your swordplay go and pick a fight with the Aridians instead of with a helpless trussed up boy,’ he challenged. ‘Or maybe you would like to take your chances against me.’
‘You will not be a captain for long,’ retorted the other. ‘You're too soft for the new world that she has promised us. We must fight with vengeance and show no mercy to our enemies.’
The second man drew his sword and straddled across Billy, almost protectively.
‘We all fight for what we believe is rightfully ours, but you enjoy the suffering too much; you relish the agony and pain you inflict on others too easily. I still fight with honour and for my kinsmen. She does not own me. I do this for my right, not for hers.’
The moment passed in tension as Billy waited for the clash of swords, but it did not come and he was glad to see the weapons finally sheathed by both parties and the first man reluctantly move away. As the murmur of conversation resumed, the tall man knelt before Billy and studied his features for a moment before he produced a small leather bottle.
‘Here, drink this. It is only warm cave water, but I'll warrant that you'll not refuse to swallow it.’ He placed it on Billy's lips and the young boy drank gratefully and deeply.
‘No need for such cruelty,’ said the man as he inspected and loosened the bindings on Billy's wrists and legs.
‘Thank you,’ said Billy gratefully.
‘Don't thank me for showing kindness,’ he replied. ‘The vile witch has an unpleasant use for you, I'm sure of that. She made it very plain how valuable you were to her plans. I'm just making sure that I carry out my orders without giving her reason to inflict her rage on myself. But believe this, if you cause trouble or try to escape I'll turn your keeping over to him.’ He nodded back towards the first man. ‘As long as you're kept alive he'll not worry about what condition he delivers you in.’
‘Thanks for the advice,’ said Billy. ‘What's your name?’
‘Baron,’ the man replied.
‘Where are you taking me?’
‘To her, in her fortress, two days’ ride from here.’
‘I take it that you're talking about Belzeera,’ said Billy.
‘The very same.’ ‘What has she told you about me?’ asked Billy.
‘You ask a lot of questions for one who has no options.’
‘Like most evil witches she tells lies. I'd just like to make sure that you know the truth about me,’ said Billy.
‘All I know is that you are responsible for her brother's false imprisonment and you are the bargaining point that will give her the Rune Stone that will free him. In return for helping, she will give us the power to reclaim and rule Aridian. Then she will be on her way, back to where she came from.’
‘That's a pretty impressive lie,’ said Billy. ‘Anyway, how do you know that you've got the right boy?’
‘She has shown us your image. Every man in our hunting party had it burned into his mind by one of her unpleasant spells. Besides, this leaves me in no doubt that you are the one called Frog,’ he said as he lifted Billy's bound hands and indicated to the shortened little finger on his left hand.
Billy stared at it in horror.
‘What's the matter?’ asked Baron. ‘It looks like a fairly old wound. What troubles you?’
‘It … It … It …’ stammered Billy as panic rose in his chest. ‘It still brings back bad memories,’ he finished, hoping that the explanation was good enough.
‘Huh! When you lose an arm, like my brother Dre, that's when you need to complain.’ He stood up. ‘I think that we've talked enough. Keep the water bottle, but use it wisely. Once we're on our way, we won't be stopping for a refill.’ Abruptly, he turned and left Billy to clutch at the bottle and stare at his finger. By a morbid curiosity, he was intrigued with the stump and examined it in more detail. Then, he pulled back the sleeve of his robe and examined his arm. No scar! He'd had an accident on his skateboard the previous year, which had resulted in six stitches in his arm, but now there was no sign of the injury. His mind was racing with frustration; he desperately wanted to see himself, to see his reflection in anything so that he could confirm the full extent of the transformation. He looked aroun
d him. There was nothing and then he remembered; when he had changed from his combats, he had checked his pockets and retrieved his mobile phone. He had rolled it into the waistband of his robes. He felt for a bump in the material; yes, it was still there. He could use the camera facility to take a picture of himself.
He hooked his thumbs into the waistband, but it was no good; whichever way he turned, he could not retrieve the phone. He brought his knees up and tried to jiggle the illusive phone out, but he was interrupted by a sharp voice.
‘What are you up to?’
Billy froze as Baron rose from the group and came towards him.
‘I warned you; if you try to escape I'll have no sympathy for you.’
‘I'm not trying to escape,’ said Billy hastily. ‘I need to go to the toilet.’
Baron looked at him suspiciously. ‘If you're wasting my time –’
‘Honestly,’ implored Billy. ‘I need to go. Now!’
‘Right,’ he said untying Billy's feet and pulling him up. ‘Over here.’ And he led Billy to a corner of the cave.
‘I can't do it here. Not in front of everyone.’
‘There's no room for shyness. Just turn your back. No one can see,’ said Baron impatiently.
‘You don't understand. I need to – you know – sit down,’ pleaded Billy.
Baron breathed out through clenched teeth. ‘Right, I will let you have your privacy, but one false move and I'll cut off your legs myself and to hell with the consequences.’
He escorted Billy out into the night, to a small alcove just outside the cave entrance, where he undid the binding on Billy's wrists and handed him a small bundle of dry leaf-like material.
‘That's all I have. You'd better make the most of it. If it's not enough then you'll have to tear some material from your robes. I will be the other side of this rock and if you so much as stick your nose out without permission then I'll cut that off as well.’
As soon as he was out of sight, Billy unravelled his robes and retrieved the phone. He crouched down as low as he could and shielded the screen as he switched it on. The display lit up with its colourful menu and he checked its status. The battery level was good and everything looked normal except for two things: the time was stuck on 17.45 and there were no reception bars.
‘Typical! Where's a network when you need them?’ he muttered.
He scrolled through the menu and set the camera function, turning the lens to himself. He took two pictures and saved them in rapid succession.
‘Hurry up,’ shouted Baron. ‘I'm not waiting for much longer.’
‘You'll have to give me a couple of minutes,’ Billy shouted back. ‘Unless you want to wipe my bottom for me!’
That should delay him he thought as he scrolled to his picture file and clicked to retrieve the last image. He had to use all of his effort to contain a loud gasp, for there on the screen was the face of Frog staring back at him. He realised quickly how easy it was to use his friend's new name, but to know that he now looked exactly like him was very freaky. He looked at the image and prodded his own face curiously, lost in fascination.
‘Enough!’ shouted Baron impatiently. ‘Come out now or I'll drag you out.’
‘Just finishing,’ replied Billy as he switched off the phone and tucked it into one of his socks. The lump didn't look very obvious in the pale light and as long as he wasn't searched he didn't think that it would be noticed.
As soon as Billy emerged, Baron led him back into the cave and rebound his hands.
‘I won't tie your legs as it will be easier to move you around,’ he said. ‘But a word of warning – if you try to run you'll quickly realise that there is nowhere to hide. We are in the middle of open desert and there is no other shelter for miles. So save your energy and you will avoid any punishment. Now get some rest; we leave at dawn.’
Despite his best efforts to keep awake, Billy fell into a restless sleep until the sounds of conversation and movement awoke him. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes as Baron approached.
‘Take a drink,’ he said.
Billy did as he was told.
‘You will ride with me. Three things to remember: keep your face well covered, hold on to your water bottle and only do what I tell you. Now, follow me.’
He led Billy out into the now-reddening horizon, which announced the arrival of the two burning suns. The other men had disappeared around the large rocky outcrop and Billy was encouraged with a shove to follow them.
As he turned the corner he nearly froze with shock at the sight of four ferocious, giant, black scorpions that stood together; their enormous claws and the wicked stings on their tails filled him with dread. One looked straight at him, its nightmare head clearly displaying two front eyes and six smaller ones: three on either side, giving it panoramic vision.
Billy was in two minds as to whether he should run. He didn't care where; he just wanted to get as far away as possible from the terrible creatures. As if in anticipation, however, Baron grabbed him and pulled him towards one of the giant insects. Billy tried to resist with all his might and in the end, it took four of the men to manhandle him up onto the scorpion, but not before one of them had given him a painful punch in the ribs, which momentarily took his breath away. By the time he had recovered, he was placed firmly in a rough saddle with Baron seated behind him.
‘Unfortunately some of my clansmen do not possess the same patience as I.’ Baron's voice sounded almost apologetic to Billy. ‘I take it that you don't like our pets?’ he said.
‘I don't even like them when they're a normal size; they give me the creeps,’ confirmed Billy.
‘You'd better get used to them; you're going to spend a lot of time in their company for the next two days,’ said Baron and pulled out a whip, cracking it over the scorpion's head.
The ride was bumpy and uneven as the creature scuttled across the sand with astonishing speed, holding its great claws out in front of it as though they were ready to slice into the very sky itself. The rush of air as they moved forwards gave welcome relief and somehow cooled the effect of the burning sun on Billy's robes. He thought back to the moment when he resisted the offer of the costume, but now, as all but his eyes peered out from his turbaned head and masked face, he appreciated Ameer's persistence.
There was no conversation and Billy was glad of the opportunity to gather his thoughts and reflect on what had happened to him since he had crept up on his friend in the garden back home. For all his bravado, he was wondering how this adventure would end and how he would return to his family who he dearly loved. He was even missing his young sister.
The shout of ‘Hawk!’ brought him out of his thoughts. One of the men was pointing to the silhouette of a bird hovering high above them and another man quickly produced a crossbow. With practised ease, he loaded an arrow and fired it at the target. Billy watched in horror as the arrow appeared to pass through the bird. Its shape buckled and it plummeted earthwards. There was a shout of triumph from the bowman and Billy recognised that the voice belonged to the man who had been so cruel to him earlier.
‘Why shoot a harmless bird?’ asked Billy.
‘Aridians use their hawks to spy on us. I'm surprised that this one found us so soon. We'll pick up the body and see what message it was carrying.’
Unexpectedly, however, as the bird neared the ground, its wings spread from its body and it curved out of its death dive with only a couple of metres to spare. It swooped across the sand and shot towards Billy. As it passed overhead in a blur, two feathers floated downwards. Baron reached out and caught one of them and then instinctively, before he could be stopped, Billy reached up with his bound hands and grabbed the second.
‘Keep your trophy,’ said Baron, holding his feather up to the sky before pushing it into the folds of his robe.
Billy craned his neck to see the hawk pump its wings and speed itself towards the horizon. He had a feeling that somehow the bird had played out exactly what it had been sent to do and that it wa
sn't an accident that he was in possession of the feather. He gently tucked it into his robes, sensing that it contained a message for him.
After the skirmish, Ameer had led his group back to the refuge of their base. He now knew that their plans had somehow been overheard as Cassaria had predicted, but he was both worried and puzzled as to how this could be. Was there a traitor among them? He found this difficult to believe, as all of the men that he had chosen in his group were well known to him. However, the Dreden had discovered the route of their journey and the result was the death of a comrade and three spiders injured. He would guard future actions and only release details to those that needed to know them at the last moment.
It had been two hours since the hawk had returned and its handler spent a few minutes stroking it reassuringly and checking that it was unharmed. He then confirmed to Ameer that it had delivered its messages.
Ameer gathered his group together and announced that as soon as new spiders were ready, the group would be leaving on another mission and that he was introducing the code of faith: no one would be informed of their destination or its purpose; they were to follow his orders without question and without council. If any of them wished to be reassigned then now was the time to step forwards. They had seen in the death of their comrade that new levels of danger had been reached and a cold and determined enemy had emerged. He could not guarantee their safe return. There was a long silence, but not one man stepped forward.
10
The Sisterhood
‘We need you to seek out a man called The One. The Guardians believe that he has more than a small part to play in the current events here on Aridian,’ said Cassaria to Frog.
‘You mean that he can help us against Belzeera and Lord Maelstrom?’
‘We are not sure of his final purpose,’ said Cassaria. ‘His presence has also been something of a mystery until now. It has been several years since rumours of his existence reached us. Some believed him to be an Aridian priest of the old order who grew tired of our underground society and chose to become a recluse, others deem him to have a more ominous purpose, but one thing is now clear: you must meet him.’