by Victor Kloss
“How much further?” Ben asked.
Natalie pulled a small book from her jeans. “Not more than five minutes. We need to take the second right.”
The streets were like grids with regular perpendicular intersections. They came to their first such junction and Ben stared down the street they crossed.
A unit of soldiers was being led by a purple-cloaked dark elf.
Any chance of remaining inconspicuous was ruined by Charlie, who gave such a start – only a swift hand from Ben prevented him from stumbling.
“What on earth are they?” Charlie said.
It was obvious he was referring to the soldiers. They looked like huge, walking rats dressed in rags, which partially concealed their fur. They held spears in their claw-like hands and walked hunched forward. Their long noses were constantly twitching as they sniffed the air.
Ben dropped his gaze, hoping they hadn’t noticed him.
“Ratlings,” Natalie whispered. “They used to have their own little empire before Suktar conquered them. Disgusting things; you can smell them from here.”
“That’s them? I thought it was a sewage problem.”
“Just keep walking. I told you they have patrols around. It’s nothing to worry about.”
“Nothing to worry about?” Charlie said in a faint voice. “There are a dozen mutated rat-men behind us. I hate rats.”
“Stop panicking,” Natalie said. “They’re not following us.”
Charlie was trying very hard not to look back. “Why rats? What’s wrong with rabbits or cats? Catlings – I could handle those.”
The ratlings, led by the dark elf, would be approaching the junction any moment now. Ben glanced back.
“Damn. They turned towards us.”
“We’re in trouble,” Charlie moaned.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” Natalie insisted. “They just happen to be marching down this street.”
Nevertheless, Ben was relieved when he reached the next intersection and the three of them took a right. The road was narrower here and Ben noticed few people were about.
“Third road on the left and we’re there,” Natalie said.
Ben was glancing back every ten seconds. Less than a minute passed when his eyes widened. “They’ve turned down this road.”
Unable to take the tension, Charlie looked for himself. “Is it me or are they closer than before?”
“They’re closer,” Ben said.
The ratlings were less than fifty yards behind. They weren’t actively chasing, but their steady march seemed to have picked up.
“Let’s walk faster.”
Were they being followed? Had the dark elf leading the ratlings somehow recognised him?
“If we split up, head to the train station and get back home,” Ben said.
“Home?”
“I saw trains running to Croydon and London. It’s the safest place for now.”
“We are not splitting up,” Natalie said.
“Not intentionally, but after what happened at the station in Taecia we need a back-up plan.”
He wouldn’t be returning home if they split up, but Ben kept that quiet.
“We don’t need a back-up plan, we are almost here,” Natalie said. “The taxi station is just round this corner.”
Ben wondered what the taxi station would look like. He was prepared for cars, horses or even something more exotic.
He got dark elves and ratlings. Lots of them.
— Chapter Twenty-Four —
Taxi Chase
The ratlings formed a blockade along the road. In front of them were three dark elves, but it was the one in the middle who made Ben’s stomach churn. His glowing purple eyes and sunken face were unmistakable.
The taxi station, a stone’s throw away, was agonisingly out of reach.
“Perfect timing. I was beginning to get impatient,” Elessar said.
Ben was speechless and not just from fear. How could he possibly be here?
“You didn’t really think the Institute was the only one watching you?” Elessar asked. There was no smile, no humour in his demeanour, and Ben could sense satisfaction reeking from the elf.
“How did you get here so fast?” Ben asked, finding his voice. He didn’t expect Elessar to answer, but he needed to buy time to get his sluggish mind into gear.
“We have quicker methods of travelling than the Dragonway. I was notified as soon as you boarded the train. You are looking for wood elves, I assume?”
Ben didn’t answer, but clearly Charlie’s or Natalie’s expression gave the game away.
“I expected you to travel here as soon as you discovered the spell they have on you. I am glad you managed to escape the Institute’s clutches. They cannot meddle with us here.”
Elessar looked calm and relaxed. He assumed the chase was over, Ben realised.
“What is Elizabeth’s legacy?”
The question came out as a squeak from Charlie. Ben wasn’t sure if he was trying to help stall Elessar or if he was just curious. Either way, Elessar smiled at the question, giving them a few more valuable seconds.
“Ah yes, her legacy. Queen Elizabeth’s desperate attempt to leave something that could overthrow my king. A pity for you it lies in the hands of two people too cowardly to use it.”
Charlie was so engrossed in the revelation that he appeared completely oblivious to his peril. “Is that why you are after Ben’s parents? Because they have this 'legacy’ thing?”
“They won’t have it much longer, once I have found them. And Ben is going to help me do just that.”
“I don’t know where they are,” Ben said, hiding his dismay with a display of defiance.
“Oh, I know that. But I have a feeling your parents know where you are. You will be the bait that brings them to us.”
“They won’t fall for that.”
“I think they will. Especially if they know their poor son is to be executed forty-eight hours from now at dusk.”
Ben felt a rush of fear run down his spine, but he kept his cool. His mind was working quickly. He had to get out of here. The taxi station was just ahead, but it would take a miracle to get past Elessar, two dark elves and twenty ratlings. Their only chance of escape was back the way they had come, but the patrol behind them would arrive any moment now.
He needed a distraction – a big distraction.
Ben reached for his pouch, but even as he did so Elessar turned to the well-built elf next to him.
“Take them to the Floating Prison.”
The dark elf extended both hands, palms outward. They started to pulse with a purple glow.
“Run!” Ben shouted.
Charlie reacted first, Natalie a fraction later. Neither were quick enough. Three purple beams lanced out. Ben flung his arms in front of Charlie and Natalie in desperation.
A crescent shield materialised, encasing all three of them. The purple beams ricocheted off it and split into dozens of small streaks of light, which rebounded back at the enemy.
The ratlings squealed, many of them falling to the ground. The dark elves, who were at the front, took the brunt of the impact. One went down, but the other two, including Elessar, shielded themselves with a flick of the hand.
In that brief moment of chaos, Ben saw the shock and surprise on Elessar’s face. He was distracted. The remaining ratlings were looking around in a stupor. Without the dark elves to command them they looked lost. Ben heard the patrol arrive behind them, but they too were stunned by the scene.
Ben drew the last remaining pellet from his pouch and threw it on the ground in front of him. Blue fog burst from the pellet and within moments he was coughing and choking, barely able to see his hand in front of his face.
“Come on!” Ben said.
Without waiting to see if Charlie and Natalie had heard him, Ben leapt forward blindly, skipping over and treading on fallen ratlings. A claw tried to grab his jacket, but he yanked free. In a flash he was through the fog and the barricade a
nd running full throttle to the taxi station.
With his heart pumping, legs pounding and adrenaline flowing, Ben wasn’t able to appreciate the station. There was a line of small carriages, each pulled by a variety of winged animals. Many of the taxi drivers were standing by the road, watching their escape in astonishment. Ben could have sworn one or two of them were even urging them on. He risked a glance over his shoulder. Natalie and Charlie were close behind, but hard on their heels were at least a dozen ratlings, snarling and sniffing in pursuit.
The taxi at the front was a two-wheeled cart pulled by a winged horse on which the driver sat. Ben threw himself into the cart, quickly followed by two bumps as Charlie and Natalie followed suit.
“National Forest, please, south entrance,” Natalie said, somehow sounding calm despite her exhaustion and panic.
“Right you are, ma’am,” the driver said in an accent that sounded strangely familiar.
He tugged on the reins and kicked his heels. The horse responded by lurching forward and extending its wings, but the ratlings were in full flow and closing the gap at an alarming rate.
Spears hurtled towards them and Ben ducked as they whizzed by. One ratling gave an almighty leap and managed to cling onto the cart. Ben rammed his elbow hard into its claw and the ratling let go with a cry of pain. Even as he fell, two more took his place. Ben, Charlie and Natalie started hammering at the claws frantically, but there were too many. On Ben’s left a ratling had gained purchase and was crawling its way up. The smell from its snarling mouth almost knocked Ben out.
“We need to take off!” Ben shouted.
The driver urged the horse on and its wings started flapping.
A claw grabbed Ben’s chest and he fell forward. Charlie grabbed him, but the ratling was strong and Charlie was slowly losing the tug of war.
A flash of blue hit the ratling and it fell off the cart with a howl.
Natalie had managed to stand up and was firing her Spellshooter like someone possessed. Her hair was flung back and there was a wild, frenzied look in her green eyes.
The ratlings fell back. The carriage angled up and with a jerk it left the ground.
A ball of purple fire came at them from nowhere. Ben heard the flame ripping through the air moments before it cannoned into the back of the cart.
The cart rocked and Ben and Charlie held on for dear life. Natalie cried in alarm, arms flailing as she sought to keep her balance. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Ben reached forward but missed Natalie’s outstretched hand by inches. She fell backwards and, with a look of pure horror, disappeared off the side.
She hit the ground a short distance below and the ratlings swarmed over her.
“Turn around!” Ben shouted, spinning to the driver.
“Can’t do that, mate,” was the gruff response.
Ben watched in anguish as Elessar swept the ratlings aside and hauled Natalie to her feet. She was struggling madly, but at least she was alive. The cart was gaining altitude quickly and the scene below became smaller with every second.
Ben collapsed back on the seat, breathing raggedly.
“They’re coming after us,” Charlie said, peering over the edge of the cart.
The ratlings had commandeered a couple of taxis and taken to the skies in pursuit. Ben only saw one dark elf on board; Elessar and the other elf remained behind with Natalie. Ben watched them desperately until they were just specks below.
His concern for Natalie was put on hold the moment he saw the chasing taxis. The ratlings were closing in.
“Excuse me,” he called to the driver. “Can we go faster?”
“Don’t worry, mate,” the driver said, peering behind at the chasing taxis. “Those stinkin’ ratlings won't catch us. More than my job’s worth if they do.”
Ben stared at the driver in astonishment. He wasn’t a half-elf at all – he was a Londoner. He wore jeans and a puffy jacket adorned with the England football team crest.
Their cart accelerated away from the taxis.
Ben relaxed a little. The wind buffeted his face, but his jacket countered the cold so well he almost felt toasty. The buildings below looked like models and the people nothing more than Lego men. It wasn’t long before the town gave way to a rolling carpet of green hills.
Charlie took out his handkerchief and wiped his brow. He was breathing raggedly and his face was flushed.
“Oh god, this is a disaster,” he said. “I don’t know who’s in greater trouble – Natalie in the hands of Elessar or us, heading towards some god-forsaken forest without the faintest clue what we’re doing.”
“I would say her,” Ben said.
“What do we do now?” Charlie continued, appearing not to have heard Ben. “We can’t leave Natalie, but we have no idea how to rescue her. We still need to find the wood elves, but without her what chance do we have?”
“You’re blabbering, Charlie.”
“With good reason! If this cart disappeared and we started plummeting to our deaths, we’d be in less trouble than we are now.”
“I think you’re over-stating things a bit.”
Charlie wiped his brow again and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. Do you have a plan? I’d take anything right now.”
“First, you need to calm down,” Ben said. It had been a while since Charlie had been this upset. “Let’s talk about Natalie first. Elessar has already told us where she's going – the Floating Prison.”
“But where’s that?”
“No idea, but I’m hoping the wood elves will know.”
Charlie nodded and finally composed himself. “Elessar wanted to use you as bait for your parents. Attempting to rescue Natalie will play right into his hands.”
“I know, but we don’t have much of a choice,” Ben said.
Charlie didn’t argue and there was a grim determination on his chubby face. They had only known Natalie for a couple of days but suddenly it seemed a lot longer.
“At least we know why Elessar is after your parents. Elizabeth’s legacy is something your parents have. Apparently it has the power to stop Suktar, which is why the dark elves want it.”
“So it turns out the dark elves aren’t after my parents at all. They’re after something they have.”
“Exactly,” Charlie said, slapping his thigh.
Ben found it hard to share Charlie’s elation; he was thinking about the rest of Elessar’s revelation.
“Whatever this thing is, Elessar said my parents were too cowardly to use it. Does that mean they have the power to stop King Suktar, but won’t use it?”
“No,” Charlie said. “What is odd is how your parents came to have such an item.”
“Maybe they stole it.”
The words were spoken softly. The thought gave Ben the chills, but it was starting to make sense. What if his parents had a criminal record because they stole this thing from the Institute?
“No.” Charlie was shaking his head, his voice firm. “We can’t jump to conclusions.”
But Ben couldn’t stop thinking about his parents. All this time he had never doubted their reason for disappearing, but now he felt a glimmer of uncertainty. He took a deep breath and managed to put aside his doubts; thankfully, there were plenty of other things to occupy his thoughts.
“Something still doesn’t fit,” Ben said. “Why did that dark elf kid mention Elizabeth’s legacy when I deflected his spell?”
“Good point,” Charlie said. He tapped his chin thoughtfully, but had no suitable reply.
The great forest slowly began to dominate their view; even from a distance the trees were an impressive and intimidating sight, tall and proud. They spanned the horizon as far as the eye could see.
With the revelation of Elizabeth’s legacy, Ben had almost forgotten about their pursuers, but it all came rushing back the moment he heard the whooshing sound from behind. A purple flare sailed towards them, falling short of their cart. Ben saw three taxis in pursuit, each filled with a handful of ratlings
and the single dark elf firing the spells.
“They are measuring the distance,” Charlie said, with a mixture of anxiety and fascination. He stared into the space where the flare had fallen. “That one was twenty yards short.”
“Can we go any faster?” Ben asked.
“We’re flat out, mate,” the driver said. “Unfortunately, we only have one pegasus pulling, your pursuers have two.”
The flares continued to fire at the cart every few minutes, with Charlie shouting out distances.
“Fifteen yards.”
It was like being in a 3D movie. The purple bolt started off as a speck in the distance and slowly grew larger as it approached, before falling away.
“Ten yards.”
Ben was beginning to feel the heat from the flares.
“Five yards.” Charlie’s voice had gone up an octave. Ben could almost reach out and touch the purple sparks.
The driver cracked his whip. “We’re almost at the forest.”
A bolt zipped by the left wheel.
A sickening thought hit Ben. “Even if we make it to the forest unscathed, we will soon have lots of those annoying ratlings plus a few dark elves on our tail. Are you ready for more running?”
“No,” Charlie said immediately. “Not even if my life depended on it.”
“Which it does.”
“Still no.”
To Ben’s surprise, the driver spoke up. “You won’t need to worry about them once you hit the forest.”
“What do you mean?” Charlie asked.
They reached the forest as he spoke. What Ben could see between the branches looked dark and uninviting.
“Watch,” the driver said.
The pursuers fired again, but they had clearly slowed down and the bolt got nowhere near them. Suddenly they turned and veered away.
“They are afraid of the forest,” the driver said, flashing a toothy grin at them.
Charlie raised an eyebrow. “If they are scared, shouldn’t we be scared too?”
“Frankly – yes.”
They started descending and, just as it seemed they would land on the tree tops, they entered a large circular clearing. It looked like an abandoned picnic site. The grass was overgrown and there were several upended wooden tables and benches scattered haphazardly. Ben spotted a large sign and a semblance of a path leading into the forest.