Ben unwound the rope hidden beneath his tunic. On the first throw, the loop caught round the spider-gargoyle. Ben pulled the noose tight and Roamer climbed. As he hooked his legs round the gargoyle, and hoisted himself onto the flat roof, Ben followed, drawing the rope up after him.
Quickly, they ducked out of sight behind the parapet. The roof stretched before them, rising in a series of wide ridges. From the top came a distant glow. ‘Skylight,’ whispered Roamer. ‘Come on.’
They scuttled across the roof on all fours. As they climbed over the ridges, they could see the twinkling lights of the harbour and the dark sea beyond. Somewhere out there, the Avenger was waiting.
Roamer inched forward until he could peer down through the glass of the skylight. One glance was enough. ‘Take a look, Ben.’
Ben poked his snout over the edge. ‘Oh, Lord of Light,’ he murmured.
Far below, lay the empress’s throne-room. From silken rings high on one wall, the slender golden strands of Ravanola’s great web stretched diagonally almost to the middle of the room. In front of it, a mosaic path encircled the pit where the coils of the Salamex viper, the god-on-earth, gleamed in the lamplight. Against the opposite wall, a huge snake reared its head. It was made of painted stone, but was so lifelike that in the lamplight its scales seemed to move. Within its gaping jaws, dull and lifeless, lay the Ruby of Carminel.
The ‘Green Toad’ was a small tavern halfway between the harbour and the palace. It was crowded with stoats and sea-rats, all managing to pour ale down their throats in spite of their masks. At a table by the open window sat Rio and Cheesemite.
‘How much longer, Rio?’
The big carpenter shrugged. ‘Who knows? Any time now, the capitano, he come a-runnin’ down the street with da ruby an’ our princess, an’ maybe there’s some shootin’. Don’t be scared, Cheesemite. Rio take care of you – ’
‘Join us in a drink, friends!’ Two foaming mugs of ale appeared on the table. The mice glanced up in alarm. Two stoats wearing snake-masks loomed above them and a loud, cheery voice said: ‘Judging by your tails, you two must be sea-rats! What ship?’
Cheesemite gulped; but Rio answered confidently: ‘The Scorpion! And we’ll take a wet with pleasure!’ Cheesemite was astonished; Rio’s accent had vanished and he sounded exactly like one of the enemy.
‘Scratchfur’s the name,’ said the stoat. ‘And this is my mate, Piebald. We’re Ermine Guard, Dirty Tricks squad, just back from a raid on Aramon.’
Rio gave a blood-curdling cackle of laughter. ‘You got plenty of plunder, friend, I’ll be bound!’
Scratchfur spat in disgust through the open window. ‘Not a penny! We was on a secret mission with old Testy himself, see – just a quick in and out job. Still, we got their wonder- ruby, and a prisoner. A sneaking little tamarin! Struggled like anything, gave me a kick in the guts, but after Piebald put the boot in she soon shut up.’
Cheesemite was trembling with rage. But Rio roared with laughter. ‘What happened next, friends?’
‘We got away, no trouble,’ said Piebald. ‘Roamer come after us, of course, and we could have blown his ship out of the water, only that poxy wizard went and spoilt it all by raising a storm.’
‘Shame!’ cried Rio. ‘You’d have sunk that sea-mouse easy!’
‘We would, friend,’ said Piebald quietly. ‘And may yet get the chance. Old Gweir mucked up, you see. A schooner put into port this morning from the Golden Isles. They’d been cruising round, seeing what they could pick up, and what do you think they saw? The Avenger itself, being worked on by them poxy tamarins while the sea-mice was basking in the sunshine! Old Testy kicked that wizard downstairs when he heard about it and now you can’t hardly move outside without bumping into an Ermine Guard.’
Scratchfur drained his beer and yelled for more. As the mugs arrived, the stoat pulled up a stool and thrust his face so close to Cheesemite’s that the little mouse could smell the beery breath. ‘Old Testy reckons as how Roamer’s in the city right now! He’ll try to get the ruby back and rescue that stinking tamarin.’
‘He’ll have to hurry,’ said Piebald, his eyes glittering behind his mask. ‘The empress reckons on sacrificing her to the Snake-god at midnight tonight.’
Cheesemite nearly fell off his stool. But Rio shouted with laughter and clapped the two stoats on the back. ‘You fellas on leave now?’ he asked casually, raising his mug and slurping noisily.
‘No chance!’ groaned Scratchfur. ‘Dawn tomorrow, we sail in the Night Crow up to Viperium. Old Testy wants to inspect the fleet – make sure it’s ready to sail for Carminel. If everything’s shipshape, we sail in a week.’
Rio raised his mug. ‘Here’s to victory!’
The stoats cheered, clapped him on the back and drained their mugs in one go. ‘Let’s go to the ‘Pink Dragon’ and have a couple there, then we’ll go to the ‘Slug and Raven’. You comin’, friends? No? Then we’ll say g’night!’
As the stoats lurched unsteadily away, Rio murmured: ‘We gotta find the capitano. He gotta know what these devils gonna do with our princess.’
‘And about the invasion fleet,’ said Cheesemite. ‘We’d better get up to the palace, see if we can find – ’
There was a sudden commotion by the door, and Captain Blacktail of the Ermine Guard, accompanied by his sergeant, pushed through the crowd and swaggered to the bar. ‘By order of Lord Malatesta!’ he shouted. ‘We have reason to believe that foreign spies are in the city. All here will remove their masks!’
Malatesta’s guards inspired fear, even in this low tavern where many tough sea-rats were gathered. As the customers began pulling off their masks, and the Ermines drew closer to the window, the sea-mice realised that they were only seconds away from capture.
‘Out the window, Cheesemite! Now!’
Cheesemite leaped for the sill. But even as he stood, poised for the jump, Captain Blacktail saw him and drew his pistol. A shot rang out. Cheesemite yelped in agony as a bullet struck his leg and he fell into the cobbled street. Rio vaulted through the window, drew his pistol and fired into the crowded tavern. Scooping up his wounded friend, Rio flung him over his shoulder, and hurried down the main street before ducking into a side turning. But Captain Blacktail had rounded up some volunteers, they were spilling out of the tavern and the pursuit was closing in. Rio ran down the dark lane and round another corner.
Fleeing through a maze of narrow, twisting alleys, they came at last to a place where derelict houses leaned drunkenly together. Kicking open a door, Rio blundered through darkness to the furthest corner. He listened intently. No sound reached him. He and Cheesemite were safe for the moment. But his friend was unconscious, his leg was bleeding and Rio knew that the Ermines would not give up until they had run the two sea-mice to earth.
13. Snakes
‘Nearly midnight,’ said Roamer. ‘You’ll have a fine view of the lights from up here, Ben!’
‘Oi be comin’ with you, zur!’
‘Not this time. Your job’s to lower the rope, with me on the end of it. Unfortunately, the snake-pit lies directly below, so you’ll have to swing me away from it. Then I can jump onto that mosaic path.’
‘But suppose the doors be guarded by spiders? We can’t see from up here.’
‘That’s a chance I’ll have to take. But I think the room’s deserted. All the spiders are guarding the outer doors – I hope! As soon as I’m down, haul up the rope. If I’m not back in an hour, return to the ship by the agreed route. Don’t wait for me. That’s an order!’
Grumbling to himself about his captain’s reckless folly, Ben slowly paid out the rope. As Roamer descended, he saw to his relief that the doorways were indeed unguarded. The throne-room was deserted, save for the viper, who was watching the mouse’s approach, its tiny forked tongue flickering in the lamplight. When Roamer was level with the pit’s edge, Ben began to swing the rope like a pendulum. The viper watched curiously as Roamer swayed across the pit.
Suddenly, th
e mouse sprang. He landed neatly on the pathway and the rope danced away from him as Ben hauled it up. Unable to see where the mouse had gone, the viper lost interest and went back to sleep.
Roamer crossed the room and stared up at the huge carved snake. It looked much taller from ground level, almost as tall as the Avenger’s mizzen-mast. From the coils at the base, the body reared up to where emerald eyes glittered in the lamplight. Between the gaping jaws the ruby was glowing softly.
The statue was leaning slightly forwards. Roamer went behind it and saw that although the climb would be steep, it could be done. He climbed swiftly, the ridges that marked the snake’s scaly skin giving him plenty of footholds. Ignoring the dizzy height and the hard stone floor below, he arrived at last at the point where the statue’s head lunged forward. He was wondering how he was going to reach the ruby, when a rustle of movement from outside the throne-room sent his heart into his mouth.
Roamer flattened himself against the statue’s broad, flat head. Peering cautiously down, he saw spiders of the empress’s bodyguard scuttle into the throne-room and take up their positions around the walls. Roamer held his breath. Was the great Black Widow herself coming? Since the midnight lights would shortly begin, she should be outside to watch them.
Ravanola swept in and climbed to the centre of her golden web. Luckily for Roamer, the empress, though high above her bodyguards, was still much lower than the statue’s head.
‘Bring the tamarin!’ Roamer’s spine tingled. Hearing footsteps directly beneath him, he inched forward. Princess Tamina was standing before the pit. Her paws were not tied. There was no need. She was guarded by two spiders whose smallest bite would kill her.
‘You have one minute to live,’ purred Ravanola softly and her great web trembled at her power. ‘As soon as the midnight lights begin, you will be thrown into the pit where the god-on-earth will slay you. You should feel honoured, my dear. You will be a sacrifice to the Snake-god for the success of my invasion of Carminel.’
Ravanola laughed. The web quivered. In the pit, the viper stirred and reared its head.
In the fortress of the Ermine Guard, close to the harbour, Malatesta was listening to Captain Blacktail’s report.
‘They must have been sea-mice, sir. They shot my sergeant, but I’m sure I winged one of them. We tried to catch them, but they got away.’
‘You blundering fool!’ Malatesta’s face was a mask of fury. ‘The city must be crawling with these sea-vermin and you couldn’t even capture two of them! Call out the Guard! Get to the palace! Tell any Ermines you see in the streets to follow you! I’ll come with you. I don’t trust those spiders to catch Roamer. Hurry!’
Captain Blacktail ran from the room, yelling for the Guard. Within minutes, he and Malatesta were leading a strong force of Ermines up the hill, ploughing through the crowded streets, flinging aside stoats and rats. ‘Make way, you scum!’ screamed Malatesta, hurling rats and stoats out of his way until at last the palace lights loomed above them. ‘Come on!’ yelled Captain Blacktail. ‘We’re nearly there!’
Roamer was staring in horror. The spiders, their hairy legs hooked round Tamina’s arms, had brought her to the very edge of the pit. The viper, his forked tongue flickering, was watching her. Any second now, the midnight lights would begin. Roamer could not imagine what to do. Suddenly, a movement above him made him glance up. He caught his breath. The rope was slowly descending.
Ben was doing the only thing possible. But he could not risk the spiders seeing the rope, so he was paying it out with agonising slowness. Roamer watched as the rope’s end drew closer. He and Ben had worked together on many daring expeditions and Roamer guessed what the old sea-mouse was going to do.
As the rope came level with the statue’s head, it began to swing. Across the pit, and back towards Roamer. Not quite close enough. Roamer pulled off his mask, stuffed it into his pocket and drew himself into a crouching position. The rope was swinging towards him again and it was now or never because a roar of thunder echoed through the throne-room, dazzling lights flickered across the walls, and Ravanola cried: ‘Now!’
Roamer leapt for the rope, caught it and clung on as Ben let it fall – but Roamer was ready for the sudden drop and he clung on with one paw, drawing his pistol with the other.
Ravanola screamed a warning. The two spiders swung round but Roamer was plummeting towards them, pistol blazing. One spider fell screaming into the pit, the other sprang aside. Roamer had a split-second glimpse of Tamina’s startled eyes as the rope flew above her. She leapt, and clung on.
As the rope soared to the top of its arc, Roamer thrust the pistol into his belt and started climbing. Tamina was safe for the moment. But he could not leave without the ruby. As the rope swung back towards the statue, Roamer took a flying leap and grabbed the stone jaws. Hanging on with one paw, he reached with the other into the statue’s mouth. The ruby was glowing as if in welcome. Roamer plucked it out and thrust it in his pocket as the rope came swinging back.
‘Stop them!’ Ravanola was beside herself with rage. A spider ran forward and as the rope’s end flew across the floor, he reached up with two of his legs, caught the rope and began scrambling up.
Roamer was hanging with one paw from the statue. To jump for the rope was impossible. But Tamina, who had scrambled higher, now wrapped her long tail round the rope and launched herself into mid-air, reaching out her paws. As the rope flew towards the statue, Roamer stretched out his paw, grasped Tamina’s and as the rope swung away again, he fired the second barrel of his pistol and the spider who had been climbing towards him screamed and fell.
‘Haul away!’ yelled Roamer. Out on the rooftop, Ben obeyed. The sky was erupting in starbursts, streaking comets dazzled him, but he ignored the wonderful display, steadily hauling, paw over paw, his eyes fixed on Roamer and the princess. But at the last moment, as the rope began to rise away from her, the furious Ravanola scuttled down from her web, grabbed for the rope and climbed.
Tamina was almost at the top. Roamer was close behind her. But the empress was climbing faster than he was and Roamer could read murder in her eyes.
As Tamina heaved herself onto the rooftop, she gave Ben a swift hug, then helped herself to his pistol. But she could not get a clear shot at Ravanola. To her dismay, she saw that Roamer was still some way from the top and the Black Widow was hard on his heels.
In the palace gardens, the music and dancing stopped abruptly as Malatesta’s elite troops charged in. Screams rent the air, chairs went flying, flower-beds were trampled as the Guard tried to force their way through. ‘Out of the way, fools!’ screamed Malatesta. ‘The empress is in danger!’
But when he reached the main entrance, the spider on guard would not let him in. ‘No one passes this door without permission from the empress.’
Malatesta glared at him. ‘You blithering nincompoop! Don’t you understand anything? Get out of my way or the empress will have your head!’
‘No.’
‘Then I’ll kill you myself!’ Malatesta’s sword glittered in the starlight. One murderous thrust, and the spider fell dead. ‘Come on!’ cried Blacktail and led the Guards in a headlong dash into the palace.
His paws were aching with the effort of climbing, but at last Roamer reached the top. But no sooner had Tamina heaved him clear than a long, black leg appeared. Ben froze in terror. The rope was still tied round his waist and Ravanola was almost on the roof.
‘Quick!’ said Tamina. ‘The ruby!’
Roamer fumbled in his pocket. Ravanola scrambled through the skylight. Ignoring Ben, she sped towards Tamina.
‘You little wretch!’ she hissed. ‘You won’t escape Ravanola!’
Roamer threw the ruby. Tamina caught it and held it high. A searing burst of blood-red light leapt from its heart. Ravavola screamed as the light burned her eyes. She staggered back, scrabbling blindly for the rope on the edge of the skylight. But Ben had stepped clear and the rope’s end was safely in his paws. With a terrible scream, Ra
vanola fell, straight into the viper’s pit. The snake hissed angrily and raised his head to strike as Malatesta’s Ermines rushed into the room.
14. The Race to the Sea
Malatesta’s Guards gathered silently round the snake-pit. The spiders gazed in horror at Ravanola’s crumpled body. The snake, satisfied after his kill, had coiled up and gone to sleep.
‘Sir!’ cried Blacktail. ‘The ruby’s gone!’
‘What?’ Malatesta glared in disbelief at the statue’s empty jaws; then he turned his fury on the spiders. ‘You blundering fools! Eight legs each and enough poison to slaughter an army and you let that accursed pirate get away! I’ve a good mind to feed you all to the viper!’
Thunderstruck by the death of their empress, the spiders endured his anger in silence.
‘Look, sir!’ Blacktail’s sharp eyes had spotted the open skylight. ‘That’s how they got in.’
‘And how they got out! Blacktail, take the troops and scour the city. Start at the top of the hill and work down to the harbour. Cover the side streets as well. Find them!’
As Blacktail and the guards hurried off, Malatesta turned to the spiders. He had humiliated them enough. Now, he wanted to win their loyalty. ‘On second thoughts, I will spare your miserable lives. Perhaps you are not entirely to blame. Ravanola must have offended the Snake-god, or he would never have allowed the god-on-earth to kill her. She was childless, the last of her line. From now on, you will obey me. I am Emperor of Salamex!’
In a daze, the spiders bent their front legs and bowed. ‘Get that web down,’ ordered Malatesta. ‘I shan’t want it. Cut it up, if you like. Use it for your own webs. I’m going after those sea-mice. When I’ve caught them, and their precious princess, I’ll bring them here and you can have the pleasure of killing them. Slowly.’
The Ruby of Carminel Page 6