Narcissa screamed with pure malice as she saw the balance beginning to turn against her. ‘Ten thousand gold pieces to the first person to catch her! Gut her! Slice her! Slash her! Don’t let her get away!’
But it was no use. Narcissa’s guards were rapidly losing the battle. Holding their shields over their heads, they turned tail and ran for the exit.
‘You whimpering cowards!’ shrieked Lady Narcissa. ‘Here, I’ll show you how a real woman does things!’
Reaching for a dropped sword, she brandished it wildly. Raising the blade above her head, she brought it down with all her might, aiming straight for Jensen’s unprotected back.
The birds were too fast, too agile and simply too determined. Fluttering in and out, they cut and tore at Nibbler’s scales with their sharp talons and needle-like beaks. Long gashes and bloody tears appeared along his majestic wings and across his broad, muscular chest. Roaring in anger and confused pain, Nibbler lashed out around him. Too close to unleash his fiery breath, he had to do his best to beat back the flock of crows with tooth, claw and whipping tail.
But this was a fight he was going to lose. He couldn’t overcome the sheer agility and ferocious close-ranged attack of the numerous birds … unless he changed his tactics.
With a titanic effort, Nibbler broke free from the fluttering pack of venomous birds. Stretching his long neck forward, he strained his mighty muscles and put everything he could into creating some space between him and his opponent. Flying low over pathways and ducking beneath bridges, weaving between rapid explosions of fireworks, Nibbler twisted and turned and with each passing second managed to create a tiny bit of distance between himself and the cawing crows.
With a ferocious shout, the young dragon skimmed past the Jade Tower, dived through a narrow gap between two busy boulevards and, looping around the Torn Bridge, suddenly reversed his position so that he was flying directly towards the large pack of birds.
With a big grin spread across his face, Nibbler opened his mouth wide and exhaled a huge, spouting gust of flame.
The birds squeaked in terror. Battling to stop their headlong rush, they attempted to flutter sideways. About half the flock made it to safety, but the other half were engulfed in the roaring, flickering flames. Crispy lumps of feathered carbon dropped from the sky and shattered into piles of ash when they hit the towers and bridges below. The remaining crows fled shrieking into the night.
Nibbler smirked triumphantly. Beating his mighty wings in victory, he made his way back to the Ivory Tower.
63
The Long Scream
‘No!’ screamed Charlie.
Lunging forward, she sprinted across the rooftop. Leaping with her arms outstretched, she rugby-tackled Lady Narcissa as hard as she could. Narcissa bounced off Charlie, staggered backwards and teetered for a brief second on the edge of the roof before slowly toppling over. Screaming with fear and a terrible determined malice, she reached out, grabbed Jensen by the arm and pulled him down with her.
‘No,’ whispered Charlie, as she stared in shock at the vacant patch of rooftop. ‘No!’
Kelko knocked aside the last of his opponents, then rushed to the edge of the roof to join Charlie. Together they stared in horror as Jensen and Narcissa rapidly fell from sight.
‘OK, OK. Gotta save him,’ rambled Charlie, a look of dread spread across her face. ‘Gotta concentrate … I’ve got to concentrate.’
Raising her glowing hands, she focused at a spot a couple of metres in front of her. Frowning with an intense, driven look, she made a slight opening gesture with her hands. Warm light rippled outward, the air quivered and then pulled back to form a circular Portal, from within which a wild, high-pitched, almost girl-like screaming echoed out. It rapidly grew in volume until the scream sounded like it was being made by a distressed elephant. Whooshing into view, a very white-faced Jensen zoomed through the Portal … only to continue falling back down the side of the Ivory Tower with a horrible cry.
‘Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!’ he screamed.
Several seconds later he reappeared back through the Portal and once again continued to fall. Of Lady Narcissa there was no sign.
‘Er,’ said Kelko with an astonished look, as he stared at his friend, who rushed by screaming and falling for the third time. ‘Well, that’s, er … very good. I’m glad ya’ve saved him, blossom. But if ya don’t mind me asking, why haven’t you opened the Portal on to the roof? I mean, does he really have to continue falling like that?’
‘I didn’t know what else to do. He was falling too fast by the time I opened the Portal.’
‘So?’
‘Well, if I opened the Portal on the roof he … Well, let’s just say that he probably would have splattered.’
‘Huh?’
‘Well, it’s physics, isn’t it? I mean, he’s dropping really, really fast, right?’
‘Well, by that expression of fear on his face, I’d have said so.’
‘Well, if he’s travelling that fast when I open the Portal and he hits the roof …’
‘Aah!’ said Kelko, and made an ‘O’ with his lips as he worked out the logic. ‘I sees wot ya mean.’
Together the two of them watched Jensen continue his headlong flight, to repeat it over and over every four seconds. Sic Boy, fed up with growling at the unconscious guardsmen lying haphazardly across the rooftop, padded over to join Kelko and Charlie. He watched the hollering and yelping Treman with some interest. Surprisingly enough, Jensen hadn’t grown bored with screaming.
‘So, uh, wot are we going ta do?’ asked Kelko.
Charlie shrugged. ‘I think we’re just going to have to wait for Nibbler to get back. He’s the only one that can snatch him from the skies and bring him back safely.’
‘And wot are we going ta do until then?’
‘Erm, I’m not too sure. I guess we could just sit back for the time being and enjoy the view.’
All five of them walked wearily down the staircase in the Ivory Tower. Jensen still had a wild look in his eyes and was having more than a little trouble combing his dishevelled windswept hair back into a neat topknot. Every once in a while he would stop to pat the ground reassuringly, just to make sure it was really there. Kelko was hobbling a little due to a slight gash on his leg but was otherwise getting along fine by using Sic Boy for support. Nibbler, with his big, brash grin, wouldn’t shut up about his wild airborne struggle with Mr Crow and his amazing rescue flight to save Jensen.
Charlie, however, remained unusually quiet. She had a lot on her mind. Lady Narcissa, one of her greatest foes, was dead and Charlie wasn’t sure how she felt about it. She had no doubt that Narcissa was an evil woman with a terrible, greedy hunger for power, but did she deserve to die? And the fact that she had died at Charlie’s hands raised some sticky questions. Questions that she wasn’t sure her conscience could handle. Did Narcissa’s death – even though it was accidental and done in the heat of the moment to save her friend – make her a killer? Could a thirteen-year-old girl, she wondered, really be a murderer? Charlie sighed and thrust the questions to the back of her mind. She realized sadly that if the situation ever arose again she would repeat her actions in exactly the same way. Loyalty to her friend had taken over and, for Charlie, that always came first. She’d had to save him … no matter what.
‘So you got rid of him, then?’ Kelko asked the young dragon swaggering along by his side.
‘Mr Crow?’ said Nibbler. ‘Well, I’m not too sure, you know. I mean, I got about half of the birds, but the others flew away when I started breathing fire. So … er, you know what? I have absolutely no idea what that will do to him! I mean, what happens to a man made from birds when half of them are killed?’
‘Now that’s interesting,’ mused Kelko, stroking at his chin thoughtfully. ‘Do ya think that he’ll be able ta change back inta a Human? And if he can, then would there only be half of him? Like, er … would, say, his legs be missing from the waist down, or … wow. That’s
really too weird ta think about.’
‘Yeah, well half man or half crow, you should have seen our fight! It was amazing! Stupendous! We had to weave in and out of all the firework displays. Why, I bet that half of Sylvaris must have seen it all –’
‘Nibbler,’ said Charlie, interrupting the young dragon’s wild boasts. ‘Please tell me you got a message back from that Stoman bishop.’
‘Oh, sure, Charlie. It’s right here,’ said Nibbler.
Reaching up with his forepaws, he pulled loose a cylindrical container that had been tied to his back. (It was a bit battered, dented and scratched from his adventures.) Unscrewing the top, he shook loose two pieces of parchment and passed them to Charlie.
‘“Yes”? That’s all he said on the first letter, “yes”!’ exclaimed Charlie in disbelief. ‘What on earth is “yes” supposed to mean?’
‘It means that he agrees to see you and that he will examine your pendant,’ Nibbler explained patiently. How was it that Charlie always failed to grasp the obvious?
‘Oh,’ said Charlie, who thought it was a little odd to waste a whole piece of parchment for just one word. Maybe this Edge Darkmount character was slightly eccentric. Frowning, she unrolled the second letter. ‘It’s a map! It … er, let’s see now. It shows the University of Dust and there’s a big red cross right in the middle of one of the courtyards. Now, what’s all that about? There’s no other writing or instructions.’
‘It’s where you’re supposed to open the Portal,’ muttered Nibbler. ‘The bishop said it was the only place left in Alavis that was safe and private enough to use.’
‘OK. Well, I guess that makes sense. You’re sure he guarantees that it’s safe?’
‘Sure. He said that it would be perfectly safe for at least another four days.’
‘Four days?’ asked Charlie with a disbelieving look.
‘That’s what he said.’
‘But Lady Dridif thought that Alavis and Alacorn were due to fall to the Stoman armies tomorrow!’ insisted Charlie. ‘Are you absolutely sure that’s what he said?’
‘Yes, I’m absolutely, positively sure I’m sure!’ huffed Nibbler, and gave Charlie a quick glower for not taking his word at face value. ‘And he said the only reason we’ve got four days’ grace was because the Stoman army was having a whole world of trouble getting their heavy siege engines and battering rams across the river.’
‘Wot’s he like?’ asked Kelko, overcome with curiosity.
‘Edge Darkmount?’
‘Nah, the little drunk lady that lives down Brewers Lane.’
‘Who’s she?’
‘Gah! I was being sarcastic. Of course I meant Edge Darkmount! Are ya sure ya didn’t get hit on the noggin during that fight of yers?’
‘Do you want to hear about the Stoman bishop or do you want to trade insults?’ asked Nibbler.
‘I want ta hear about the Stoman bishop.’
‘So are you going to let me talk or are you going to carry on pushing your luck?’
‘I’m sorry. Please tell me about Edge Darkmount.’
‘OK. Well, he’s big, really big, even by Stoman standards, and he likes to wear black, lots of it. His boots are big and black, his trousers are really black and his robe is really, really big and –’
‘And let me guess … black, right?’ sniggered Kelko.
‘Are you going to let me finish?’
‘Sorry.’ Kelko shrugged, hiding his cheeky grin behind a hand.
‘Well, he likes black and when he talks he booms.’
‘Booms?’
‘Yeah, he sounds like rumbling thunder. Y’know, really big and loud?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘And he glowers a lot even when he’s not talking, and when he’s not glowering he’s frowning all the time. And he only ever, ever seems to be in two sorts of temper.’
‘Wot sorts of tempers are those?’
‘Grumpy and moody.’
‘That’s it?’ asked Kelko in disbelief. ‘Surely no one can be like that all the time?’
‘Well, he does do grumpier and then, of course, there’s always bad-tempered,’ chuckled the young dragon. ‘But don’t forget I was only there for a couple of hours, so I couldn’t tell you if he’s like that all the time.’
‘Hhmpf,’ harrumphed Kelko, obviously not impressed by anyone who could be grumpy all of the time.
They carried on downward in companionable silence, a silence that was broken as Charlie realized she owed someone a big debt of gratitude.
‘Nibbler?’
‘Yes, Charlie?’
‘Thank you.’
‘Uh, what for?’
‘For flying there and back, for getting the message to Edge Darkmount and, well … thanks for everything. You’re amazing.’ She reached over, wrapped her hands around his long neck and gave him a big hug.
Nibbler grinned, his blue eyes blazing. ‘You’re my girl, Charlie. I’ll always be there for you.’
‘Family,’ said Charlie.
‘Family,’ echoed Nibbler with another grin.
The two shared another hug then hastened after Kelko and Jensen.
64
A Break Well Earned
Reaching the bottom of the staircase, they walked along the hallway, beneath the fearsome portcullis and out on to the drawbridge. Fireworks still whizzed and boomed overhead and in the distance Charlie could make out Sylvarisians partying wildly across the bridges and boulevards. She could hear joyful laughter and drunken, good-natured shouts. Obviously the Three Winds Festival was still in full swing.
‘Wot time is it?’ asked Jensen as he finally broke free from his terror-induced trance. Extended free-fall and repetitive screaming due to vertigo hadn’t agreed with him, but now that his feet were firmly back on familiar territory the jaunty, wise-cracking Treman was beginning to revert to his old self.
‘It must be about, wot, eleven? Say half past eleven,’ said Kelko as he stared thoughtfully at the angle of the moon and the stars.
‘Really?’ said Jensen. Perking up, he looked around with renewed interest. ‘That means there must be hours and hours left of the festival.’
‘I like the way ya think, me good friend!’ chuckled Kelko, giving Jensen a knowing look.
‘What?’ asked Nibbler. ‘What’s he thinking?’
‘Well, me fine young Winged One,’ said Kelko with a cheerful smile. ‘Wot Jensen is suggesting in his round-about way is that we go and have us a party! Paaaaaaarty!’
Kelko startled Charlie and Nibbler by breaking into an outrageous dance. Waving his hands in the air, he pulled the silliest of smiles and let his fat stomach jiggle from side to side to help keep the beat of his bouncing, rhythmic feet. Sic Boy ignored all the tomfoolery and turned his attention to scratching the sweet spot just behind his big ears.
‘Paaarrty!’ shouted Kelko, and waved to an enthusiastic group of Sylvarisians frolicking on a nearby bridge. With a good-natured roaring laugh, they all waved back. Kelko grinned and turned to the Hatchling.
‘So, wotcha say, me flying mischief-maker, wanna go party?’
‘Yeah! That’s a wild idea! Paaaaaaarty!’ hollered Nibbler, copying Kelko’s shout. ‘What do you say, Charlie? Oh, come on, let’s go out and party for a bit!’
Charlie thought about all that had befallen her since she had arrived in Bellania. All the hardship, the sorrow, the pain, the humiliation and not forgetting the tragic loss of her good friends Stotch and Azariah. It had been a long, painful and sometimes bloody uphill trek to get to where she now stood. But she had the bishop’s message, did she not? She could take the next step towards defeating Bane and any move in that direction would bring her that much closer to freeing her parents. Things were on the up and up, so surely she could afford to relax for a little bit? A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, the twinkle in her eyes began to glitter and then, before she could help it, her face creased into a cheeky, impish grin.
‘Yeah, why not? What was that say
ing, Kelko? How did it go again?’
‘Er, let’s see now … methinks it went something like dis: “Paaaaaaarty!”’
‘Whoop-whoop!’ shouted Charlie, and waved her hands in the air. ‘Paaaaaaarty!’
‘Paaaaaaarty!’ shouted Nibbler. Standing on his back two paws, he blew massive jets of flame into the night sky.
‘Paaaaaaarty!’ hollered Jensen, finally letting Kelko’s party spirit get the better of him.
With big grins on their faces, they all turned to see what Sic Boy would do.
The large, brutal-looking dog stared back at them as though they were all a bunch of fools. He firmly turned his back on the lot of them.
‘Spoilsport,’ snorted Kelko.
‘So where do we start?’ asked Charlie, a look of wonder in her eyes. ‘Where’s the best place to go to enjoy the Three Winds Festival?’
‘I know just the street ta start on!’ Kelko laughed with childish delight. Reaching down, he slapped his stomach with wild enthusiasm. ‘It has the best Calice-Goldenberry Cakes and they give a discount on Threebird and Lazzery Pies if ya buy five of ’em at once!’
‘Bless me Leaf, Kelko! I’ve known ya since we were both little boys. Do ya think ya could maybe make it through one day without thinking about yer stomach?’
‘Hey, when ya’ve got something dis big walking around with ya all day ya’ve got no choice but ta give it a lotta thought.’ Kelko grinned, grabbing great handfuls of his stomach.
Charlie smiled as her friends carried on with their good-natured joking. Shielding her eyes from a particularly bright display of fireworks, she gazed across to one of the nearby bridges. She could see jugglers walking on stilts, acrobats somersaulting through rings, fire-eaters spitting out great gusts of coloured flames, contortionists doing eye-watering tricks and strongmen bending lengths of steel into rude shapes. She could smell the delicious scents of lemon-roasted meat, vanilla, wild cherry, candyfloss and the strange aroma of aniseed intertwined with the bright smell of freshly cut grass. And rising above all the haphazard whoops, bangs and crackles of fireworks, she could hear the unusual dolphin-like whistle and hoot of the western winds joyfully rushing through the Whispering Heights. Summer had finally come and Charlie couldn’t wait to join all the partygoers and take part in the wild celebrations.
Keeper of the Realms: Crow's Revenge (Book 1) Page 31