The Adventures of Crimson and the Guardian

by Karen Cossey

  “You are welcome, Faelchir. Jasperfield will be pleased to deal with Idla himself if you care to escort her.”

  Faelchir nodded his agreement.

  “Let’s get Crimson out of that pit, shall we?” the lady said.

  I watched as the elves chopped off a wide branch from a neighboring tree and hung it over the edge of the pit. Crimson stepped nimbly on top of it, quickly reaching level ground. She gave her thanks to her rescuers, then suggested we’d better keep moving.

  The old lady spoke to Faelchir next. “I suggest when you return from Jasperfield’s that you bury the mungas in this pit Idla had them dig.”

  She picked up Idla’s sword and examined it. “I think I’ll keep this. I’ll have this back, too,” she said, picking up my dagger from the ground. I guessed she was pretending it was hers to keep Idla from knowing someone else had thrown it.

  She put my dagger away in her cloak and spoke to Faelchir again. “I will stay with Crimson and Kolby and escort them out. Tell Jasperfield that it would be better if Idla did not return to the Snake for a very long time, if at all.”

  Faelchir turned and spoke with Crimson, but I couldn’t hear what he said. He then turned and led a very subdued Idla away flanked by the members of his team.

  Crimson called me down as soon as they were out of sight. I threw off the hood, jumped down from the tree, ran to Crimson and put my arms around her neck.

  “Thank goodness you’re safe!” I exclaimed.

  Crimson smiled. “I was more worried about you than myself.”

  I looked down at the dead mungas and shuddered.

  Kolby pulled out my arrows, wiped them clean, and passed them to me.

  “You must have learnt something from the dwarf archery master.”

  “Ah, so that is where he learned to aim his arrows so well,” the old lady said, passing me my dagger then stared at me, studying my face. I stared back, hoping she couldn’t read panic in my eyes.

  “I am the Guardian of the Elven Forest,” she said after a long pause. “You can call me Tanglegreen. Well, we better be going.”

  She turned and was about to step away.

  “Wait,” I said. “How could you see me in the tree when I was invisible?”

  She turned back to look at me. “I see. You have been so busy learning archery and knife throwing, you’ve missed out on lessons about your cloak. Don’t tell me Crimson likes to surprise you with its abilities just as you need them.”

  She gave Crimson a disapproving glare.

  Crimson just smiled and bowed. “I have been waiting for the best teacher to instruct him.”

  “Is he ready to know these things?” Tanglegreen asked.

  “Most things,” Crimson said, and I knew I would not find out all the powers of the cloak. But I didn’t mind. I was excited to learn anything I could.

  We talked as we walked, and the stories Tanglegreen told were magical. Each story involved the cloak and I learned so many new things my head was spinning when we reached a clearing.

  “We will camp here for the night,” Kolby said.

  “It’s a good spot,” Tanglegreen said. “But you and the lad must sleep in the trees. I suggest that one over there.”

  She pointed at a large spreading tree with many solid-looking branches.

  After a quick meal of dried bread and water I went straight to sleep, my cloak wrapped around me in the way Tanglegreen had said to make it as comfortable as any bed. I chose the most uncomfortable looking branch to test it on, and that was what saved me.

  Chapter 9. Bobahos

  “Sniff all the good-size branches. The child must be asleep on one of them.”

  I thought I was dreaming, but I realised I was wide awake when I felt my branch jerk. Someone standing on the branch below was holding onto the skinny branch where I was perched.

  Luckily, I was snug in my cloak, with it totally wrapped around my head. I knew I was invisible, but now, thanks to Tanglegreen, I knew it was hiding my scent too, as long as both my body and face were totally covered.

  I peeked through a tiny gap and saw a tall, skinny, ugly man clinging to my branch. He was directing a miniature monster on the branch above me. It was about the size of a cat, with long hooked dagger-like teeth, horns, reddish-brown fur, a pointed snout and no ears to be seen in the long hair that grew thick as a dwarf’s beard.

  It must be a bobaho. Tanglegreen had told me of them, but I had laughed. So they were real. Tanglegreen had said they were expert sniffers and very nimble. They could track any creature even in the most difficult to reach places. They used their front two legs like arms, and had strong back legs for jumping from place to place. Once they found their victim, they latched onto them with their hooked teeth and nothing could remove them.

  The ugly man’s hands were getting closer to me as he shuffled along the branch. He smelled disgusting—he obviously hadn’t bathed in weeks. Soon I would have to move, but I knew the bobaho would hear me if I did. I might have time to reach for my knife as I ran away, but the bobaho moved so fast, it was likely I’d miss if I threw it. If I held myself still and used my knife to stab it, the man would overpower me—his fumes were already unsteadying me. Any longer and they’d likely knock me out cold.

  The man’s hands were only inches away when he was attacked by a coughing fit. Fantastic—he was so loud I could move unheard, although now I had phlegm-filled air to contend with as well. Foul! I stood carefully—now was the time to test the balancing power of the cloak again. As I slipped my arms through the two loops inside, I felt a tingle in my body and an amazing sense of ease swept over me. I stepped over the man’s hand and walked along the branch, back to the trunk.

  He recovered from his coughing just as I touched the trunk.

  “The tracks on the ground say he’s in this tree. I’m certain of it. Keep looking,” he said to the bobaho. “We’ll find him while those others aren’t around. Won’t Idla be furious when I get the Snake’s reward instead of her!”

  I searched the area, my eyes darting all around—where were Crimson and Tanglegreen? I thought Kolby had gone to sleep in the tree as well, but I couldn’t see him anywhere. Had they all abandoned me?

  Now I was moving, I knew the bobaho would soon pick up my scent. I was in trouble with no way out.

  The man let out an unexpected yelp of pain, then stood frozen for a second before tumbling to the ground. He had an arrow through his chest. Kolby must be nearby!

  Spurred into action, I took out my dagger and threw it at the bobaho, trying to knock it out with the handle to the head. Bad decision—my dagger did hit the bobaho, but only enough to make it mad. It came scuttling along the branches towards me, its teeth dancing at the thought of my flesh.

  I heard a shout, “Take off your hood!”

  I obeyed and in an instant arrows were whizzing across from another tree and they all hit their mark. The bobaho fell to the ground, with four arrows sticking out of it.

  I looked over and spotted Kolby in a nearby tree. He was difficult to make out in his green cloak, all hidden amongst the leaves. A sense of relief smacked into my body in full force—I would have crashed to the ground if it hadn’t been for the cloak’s balancing power catching me as I stumbled. I recovered my breath and ran across the branches until I was beside Kolby and grabbed his arm.

  “Thank you for saving me!”

  “Next time take your hood off sooner so I know where you are. When I shot that man, I had to take a gamble that you weren’t in the way!”

  I could tell he was worried about me. He reddened slightly. “It’s not how I like to shoot.”

  I smiled. “Where do you think the others are?”

  “They went to have a talk about things in private. They woke me and put me on guard before they left. They’ll be interested to see what we have here. We better stay in this tree until they come back.”

  We sat on the branch.

  “How does it feel to run along the branches like that and not fall
off?” Kolby asked.

  I knew it was a skill he had acquired from years of practice, so I felt somewhat a cheat, but I couldn’t help boasting. “It’s the most marvelous feeling I’ve ever had.”

  He snorted.

  “Of course, I couldn’t possibly be as good as you,” I said.

  “With that cloak, you can do many things better than any expert. But remember, it’s the cloak that does it. If you want a skill for yourself, you need to start from the beginning and learn it like the rest of us. Imagine if you had great balance yourself, how much more the cloak would add to what you have.”

  “I’d be able to fly!” I shouted.

  Kolby laughed and said, “Maybe. We’ll start with something simpler though, when we get the chance, shall we?”

  I looked excited, until he spoke again. “I don’t think there will be much time for training of any sort in the next little while, judging by the Snake’s activities in the last day or so. Watch yourself, child.”

  Chapter 10. The Snake’s Eyes

  Tanglegreen and Crimson were not long in returning. They looked grim when they saw the bodies and heard our story.

  “Sounds like one of Idla’s retainers,” Crimson said.

  I wanted to ask more but Crimson went on in an urgent tone. “We must be on our way. Let’s put the bodies up the tree, so no wild animal gets them. His friends will find him when they come looking for him.”

  Soon we were moving through the forest again and by midday we were coming near its edge. Tanglegreen walked with me and asked me about my life. I enjoyed telling her the stories of the things my father, sister and I had done. It all seemed so long ago. It made me miss my sister even more.

  “You’ll be able to see her again soon, I think,” Tanglegreen said.

  “Why? Is she nearby?” I asked.

  “No, no.” She looked flustered, then continued. “All I meant was that it’s just another hour until you’ll be at the border of the Elven forest, and soon after that you’ll meet up with Sir Eric. When you finished with him, perhaps Crimson can you take you back to visit your sister. I must talk with Crimson now.”

  She left my side to move up next to Crimson, leaving me feeling lonely for my sister and wondering if there was something she wasn’t telling me.

  We soon reached the edge of the Elven Forest. Tanglegreen seemed sad to say goodbye, and she held me tight in a farewell hug.

  “Be careful, and remember all I told you about the cloak.”

  I was going to miss her. She seemed so motherly to me—or perhaps grandmotherly. But I couldn’t imagine a grandmother hiding up a tree. I smiled at that thought as we stepped out of the forest into the sunlight.

  “Well, where are we off to next?” I asked Crimson.

  “To Hunsters Bay. It should take us three days. If we have no more problems, we’ll get there just in time to meet Sir Eric.”

  “Will I see my sister then?” I asked.

  “Perhaps, perhaps,” she replied in a distracted way, looking off into the distance and smelling the air.

  I looked out to the horizon. There was a small dark fleck in the sky, perhaps rain clouds gathering.

  “Do you see what I see?” Crimson called to Kolby, who was some way ahead of us.

  “Yes, I do. Quick! Back into the forest!”

  He turned Vanquish and cantered back to us.

  Crimson headed back into the trees, stopping once she was safely under cover to watch the birds. It was a flock of black ravens, all spread apart, seemingly searching for something. They passed over the forest and continued on, missing us all together.

  “Snake’s eyes,” Crimson said. “We’ll have to travel at night, and hope there is no moon.”

  Kolby sighed and jumped off Vanquish.

  “Well, I guess we better get some rest,” he said.

  Chapter 11. The Dragon of Death

  We headed out again that same night. It was eerie, riding in the dark, watching as shadows crept mysteriously closer then slipped behind us as we passed. I kept my face hidden under my hood as I rode on Crimson’s back, nervously aware of how she kept pausing to smell the air. Three times we were forced to stop and find cover behind a tree or rocks. Each time the birds flew close, but never over top of us.

  They stopped flying at around midnight. We rode hard then, galloping as often as we could.

  A few times I nearly came off as Crimson jumped over some unseen fence or other object. It was difficult to relax; I needed to have my wits about me, as there was no moon—something for which I was thankful.

  Crimson found a small grove of trees next to a cliff shortly before dawn, and we settled down to rest in a small cave in the rocky wall to wait out the day. She was pleased with how much ground we had covered. She told me only one more night and we would be there.

  Twice we heard the cawing of the ravens. They sounded frustrated and angry. They flew overhead for the third time, late in the afternoon, and then trouble began.

  Crimson, Vanquish and Kolby were all sound asleep at the back of the cave. I was near the entrance, half-asleep with my hood on, invisible to anyone looking in. Some noise outside reached through my mind-doze and shook me awake.

  A band of strange-looking creatures was moving—no, hovering—towards the cave. I recognized them as talywren, small child-like changelings that were known to transform into cats or squirrels. I’d always wanted to meet one—I knew they were friendly to humans, but something made me keep quiet as they passed by me and moved into the cave.

  The others awoke but it was too late. The leading talywren, taking fright at seeing them there, spoke out a spell and froze them, like statues crafted by a master sculptor. My mouth clamped shut on a frightened gasp but it ricocheted in my head, making it pound. I was relieved to see my friends were still breathing, and my whole body relaxed, the ache in my head disappearing.

  The lead talywren moved over to Crimson and inspected her closely. He started speaking in a strange language, so I touched the clasp of my cloak, knowing if I did so I would be able to understand what he was saying.

  “These must be the travelers the eagles told us the ravens were looking for. We can’t hand them over . . .” I breathed a sigh of relief at that “. . . yet we shouldn’t allow them to travel on until we know more about them.”

  “The war council is in a week, StoneIce,” said another talywren. “We should wait and get the advice of all the talywren leaders.”

  A week! We would miss our meeting!

  I groaned.

  With that, the whole band of talywrens was looking in my direction, alarmed!

  “What was that?” StoneIce asked.

  “Be ready,” the other talywren said. “It must be child the eagles spoke of. He is invisible!”

  They started towards me, hands outstretched, ready to cast a spell.

  I rolled across the floor away from them, and stood up, my hood falling off as I did.

  “Don’t freeze me!” I yelled. “I mean you no harm.”

  They stopped short, and StoneIce came closer to me.

  “Can it be?” he said, looking at my cloak. “You are wearing the cloak of a Guardian. Where did you get it?”

  “Crimson gave it to me,” I said pointing in her direction, hoping their wands would follow my finger, away from me. No. They kept them aimed towards me.

  “So, this is the secretive and elusive Crimson?”

  “Yes, and we need to keep moving or we will miss our meeting. It’s important,” I said. “Please let us go.”

  “Well, our land is facing strange times, and there is much trickery afoot. How do I know you are not lying?”

  “I am not lying. That is Crimson, and we must be on our way,” I said as boldly as I could, ever aware of his outstretched hand. He looked at me for a long moment then went and spoke with the other talywren in quiet undertones, so I could not hear.

  “You must prove you are worthy to wear the cloak of a Guardian. Then I will know you are not lying,” he s
aid to me after he’d finished talking with the others.

  “How will I prove that?” I asked.

  “By retrieving the Pendant of Peace.”

  He looked like he assumed I knew what he meant.

  My headache was needling my brain again. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  “Well, you should know if that is Crimson and you are a Guardian.”

  “A Guardian?” I asked. “Crimson hasn’t told me about that. I’ve only known her a short time and you said yourself she is secret and elusive. What is a Guardian?”

  StoneIce wavered, reflecting on what I’d said.

  “Well, time will tell,” he said, “and if you are a Guardian, you will be able to do as I ask. Then Crimson can tell you herself. Come with me.”

  I followed him outside and he led me to the edge of the grove of trees.

  “A long time ago, the leader of the Guardians gifted us the Pendant of Peace to hold in safekeeping. There was no fighting in the land back then but now however, the Snake masses his army for attack. The Dragon of Death, one of Snake’s allies, stole the Pendant some weeks ago. He comes out every evening from his cave, clutching it in his claws and taunting us. While he has it, there is no peace to be found and the people of the land are too afraid to rally against the Snake. If you are a true Guardian you can kill the dragon and return the Pendant to us.”

  Only concern for Crimson and Kolby kept me from laughing out loud. This was too much like the beginning of my adventures. I wanted to say I wasn’t the Guardian, just a young peasant, but something inside me didn’t quite believe it anymore. Perhaps I was supposed to wear the cloak. Pushing these uncomfortable thoughts aside, I remembered Crimson and her efforts to get to Sir Eric in time. I realised I wanted to meet this Sir Eric, and if dealing with this dragon could do it, I would have to at least try. Surely I could manage with all Tanglegreen had told me and all Kolby had taught me.

  I followed StoneIce. We walked in silence for half an hour or more, and dusk was approaching. At the top of a hill StoneIce stopped.

  “There it is,” he said, pointing straight ahead.