‘I do not recall you telling me that your powers would return on Hypnos’s death,’ replied Zorrin. ‘I doubt if I would have released you if I’d known.’
The two wizards faced each other, handsome young faces oddly similar, eyes locked as if trying to read each other’s mind.
‘I don’t recall you asking me the question,’ replied Saranak. ‘In fact, from the way I feel, I believe that his powers have been transferred to me as well. Two wizards in one. When I’m no longer your ally I’ll be a mighty enemy. Tomorrow will be an interesting day for you.’
A new voice filled the cavern, familiar, terrifying, echoing from a ledge high above them. ‘Hypnos exploded. Saranak rescued and empowered. You have done well.’
Zorrin’s head whipped around. ‘Karlan. But you were trapped. How did you escape?’
A figure stepped out of the shadows to stand beside Karlan, head high.
‘Flick,’ breathed Zorrin, body rigid. ‘Why?’
‘Difficult to believe her change in loyalty, is it? Tough.’ Karlan glanced across to the slender figure beside him. ‘People will do anything for love – won’t they, dear?’
‘Of course,’ said Flick gazing at him with open adoration.
‘Yet Flick understands that in battle sacrifices may need to be made.’ He pointed at her heart. ‘If any of you try to resist, she dies. It seems that I hold all the power: my ally Saranak released and restored to double his full power, Hypnos destroyed, the love of your sister, the loyalty of Tevo’s troop… ’
As he spoke, there came crunching of feet on rocks. Out of the shadows enrobing the high ridges stepped Rectoria, Tevo, Rycant and all the warriors who had so recently invaded the castle. The final figure stepped forward, elegant and slender in a full-length flowing navy dress. Waist-length black hair fell in a sleek cascade around her beautiful face. Her cold ebony eyes swept over the group on the floor.
Karlan took her hand and lead her to the edge of the ledge. ‘I believe you have all met Virida, although not perhaps in this form.’
Keeko gasped and clung tighter to Tariq. Skoodle vanished back into Alex’s pocket, small body trembling against Alex’s chest. Taking Virida’s and Flick’s hands, Karlan stepped off the ledge on to an air slide. They drifted down to the cave floor, landing in front of Zorrin.
Zorrin ran his hand through his mood streak, which was spitting red sparks. He addressed Flick. ‘You released all of them?’
‘I did,’ she replied, head high.
Alex stared at her, unable to believe what he was hearing.
‘I’ll kill her,’ muttered Ikara. ‘Just give me half a chance.’
Addressing Karlan, Zorrin said, ‘I assume all of this was a set-up designed for me to get this far, then for you to sweep in and take the sapphire.’
‘Correct. I’d not risk my life against that monster. Many have died trying to get past him. Your powers and wit are superior to most, so I felt that somehow you might succeed, although the release of Saranak was, of course, an unexpected bonus. I didn’t know he was still alive.’
Saranak raised an eyebrow. ‘I trust that if you had realised you would have spent time searching for me.’
‘Undoubtedly,’ Karlan replied, his eyes steady on Saranak’s own.
‘And the kidnap at the Redwood? How did that help you in this plan?’ asked Zorrin, struggling to piece together the whole story.
‘It didn’t. At that point imprisonment was intended purely to disempower you, until I could work out how to kill you. It was only when I heard Alex trying to enlist your help to seek the sapphire that I realised that a delicious new twist had entered. I would tag along, let you destroy Hypnos, and then take the stone for myself. If you were to die in the attempt that would suit my purpose almost as well.’
‘You’re making that up,’ said Alex angrily. ‘It’s a pile of lies. You couldn’t have heard us talking. You weren’t even there.’
Karlan looked down at him. ‘As it happens, I was. Do you recall a dazed field mouse in the upper room shortly after you released Zorrin at the Single Redwood? It was me. I had decided that transformation would be a better option than a direct attack. Although naturally I had recovered well from our tussle, I wasn’t fully up to strength. I was intelligent enough to know that Zorrin, being angry and forewarned, would be a powerful enemy. Once I knew your plan, I turned myself into a crocodile. You hospitably flew me to Ravenscraig.’
‘You also threatened to kill me on the boat,’ said Alex.
‘Correct. Though you tediously escaped without giving me any information.’
Alex was seething inwardly. He’d faced Karlan twice and won. Now, because of Flick’s treachery, he was back in Karlan’s power. He would know exactly how this had happened. ‘How did you know that I was even on the boat?’
A snort greeted this comment. ‘That was easy. I’d been waiting for you. At some point your parents’ research was bound to fall into your hands. It was predictable how you’d attempt to get to Eridor as there’s only one direct entrance from your world, also only one boat a week to Tikopia. I only had to wait for a few boats before you turned up. But if your parents had told me where the netbook was before I disposed of them none of this would have been necessary.’
‘Disposed of them,’ yelled Alex, stepping forward, fists clenched. ‘What did you do to my parents?’
‘What was needed,’ said Karlan. ‘As it is necessary to kill you now, Zorrin.’ He pointed a finger at Zorrin’s heart.
‘We agreed that he wasn’t to die,’ said Flick in strangely flat measured tones.
Karlan half turned to her. ‘Yet he must die. Surely you see that, my dear? He’ll do everything in his power to prevent us from getting the sapphire. We have come so far. We cannot fall at the final hurdle.’
‘But we agreed,’ said Flick, frowning.
‘The agreement is broken.’ Karlan turned to face Zorrin, ready to launch the death spell, finger unwavering.
Zorrin looked up at his sister. ‘I love you,’ he said. ‘Goodbye.’
CHAPTER 32
‘Touching,’ sneered Karlan. ‘Mort—’
Flick’s hand slammed down in a karate chop, breaking Karlan’s wrist. Face contorted in agony he grabbed his arm, knees buckling. Flames appeared at Flick’s feet. As the inferno licked up her body, her foot lashed up, kicking Karlan in the chest, sending him flying backwards. A second kick smashed Virida on to the ground, splitting her scalp, concussing her. The fireball travelled up Flick, leaving her untouched.
‘It’s the spell combusting,’ whooped Zorrin. ‘It wasn’t love. He’d hexed her.’
‘Kill them,’ yelled Tevo.
The cavern filled with noise. Hollering furiously, Tevo’s warriors abseiled down the walls. The angry pack charged at the small group in the middle.
‘Death or dishonour,’ screamed Rectoria.
Without a glance at Karlan’s agonised figure, Flick ran across to join Zorrin and the others. ‘I’m so sorry.’
Zorrin hugged her. ‘Already forgotten.’ He pointed at Karlan and Virida. ‘Inertia wizii.’ Pale ropes spun round their feet, binding their arms to their chests. ‘Guard them,’ Zorrin called to Saranak. Nodding agreement, Saranak pulled them to sitting, using their bodies as a living shield from the goblin pack. Tevo’s troops surged forwards, hunger for blood in their eyes. Zorrin’s group swung to face the oncoming marauders.
‘Aliano,’ shouted Zorrin.
The group was wrenched upwards, high above the angry pack. Snarling wolves and foxes screamed at them in fury.
‘The goblins will use crossbows or throw some axes. We’ll need these.’ Zorrin muttered a few words under his breath. A bow and some arrows materialised in front of each of them.
Tariq shot into the pack of wolves below. With a yelp, one of the wolves keeled over and lay still. The roar from the enraged pack doubled.
‘Tariq one, wolf pack nil,’ yelled Skoodle waving his tiny bow in the air.
‘Duck,’
shouted Alex.
As Zorrin’s body dropped, an axe whistled past inches from his left ear.
Taking aim, Keeko shot an arrow into Tevo’s shoulder. The goblin fell to his knees, clutching his body as blood seeped through his fingers, saturating his shirt.
‘Attack,’ he screamed as Flick grabbed another arrow. ‘It’s a flesh wound. Fight the filthy sons of tainted earth.’
‘Deflecto,’ called Karlan from where he lay, barely conscious.
Flick’s arrow took a right-angled bend from its flight path towards Arnak’s heart, landing on rocks nearby. Alex took aim at Rycant.
‘There’s no point,’ said Zorrin, grabbing his arm. ‘They’ll all miss now.’
‘Deflecto,’ Flick shouted.
Two crossbow shafts heading for Tariq veered away, ricocheting off the roof above him, clattering to the floor.
‘Kind of Karlan to remind me of that spell,’ said Flick.
‘What now?’ asked Keeko.
‘The feathers,’ replied Tariq, watching an axe fly past Alex.
‘No. The eagles won’t help us here. It’s too dark and enclosed for them,’ said Zorrin.
‘We’re in a mountain. Call on Makusha,’ said Ikara looking down at the angry hoard below the air cushion. ‘Use a stone.’
Zorrin pulled a black stone from his pocket and held it on his open palm. ‘Makusha, we need you.’
Ikara felt it first, her snake’s senses so much more acute than any goblin or human. Her inner ear sensors detected the changes in air pressure as the first of the tremors vibrated through the cavern, building rapidly. Within milliseconds they could all feel it.
The vibrations in the rock sent spasms through Tevo’s impaled shoulder. ‘What’s happening?’ he asked, struggling to rise.
Rectoria pushed him back down. ‘Stay still, otherwise the arrow may shift and kill you. A corpse cannot be a leader.’
A small earthquake was surging through the mountain. Enormous fissures slashed across the walls of the cave as the ground groaned and shifted. A vast split appeared in the cavern ceiling, zigzagging down the wall, extending crazily across the floor to the very heart of the lake. Boulders cascaded from the raw edge of the fault as it gashed its way through the body of the mountain.
The animals crouched, terrified. Unsure whether to fight or run, they stared at the goblins for guidance. Tevo lay still, white-faced, jaw muscles clenched, clutching his wound. Unable to think, he offered no lead.
‘We’ll get crushed,’ cried out Keeko.
‘Hunch over to protect the smaller ones,’ called Zorrin, as deadly jagged rocks cascaded from the ceiling.
‘No. Get us down. We need to run for it,’ yelled Alex.
Zorrin swung towards him, glaring a warning. Though not understanding, Alex formed a scrum with Tariq, Flick and Zorrin.
‘I’ll pretend to try and make a spell,’ whispered Zorrin, his voice normal through their orgreebs. ‘Once I announce I’ve failed then bolt, but go no further than the dark shadows.’
Zorrin raised his head and cast his arms about wildly, shouting bizarre words. His waving and gesticulation became increasingly frantic. Alex and the others watched him, sweating. From the floor of the cavern Rectoria stared – the animals by her side trembling, hair on end.
‘It’s not working,’ screamed Zorrin. ‘Get out. Save yourselves. Meet in the forest.’
The air cushion dropped to the floor. As soon as their feet touched down, they sprinted for the walls.
‘Retreat instantly. Meet at base camp,’ barked out Rectoria.
Without hesitation the animals bolted for the tunnels. Only Rycant stayed by her side.
‘Well?’ asked Rectoria, glaring at the dog.
‘How are we to move Tevo?’ growled Rycant. ‘If he stays here, he may die.’
‘If we move him, he will definitely die. I will remain with him. If the fates have it that Tevo or I are saved, we shall meet you again in the forest. If not, you must take over and lead our band to victory. Now go.’
Rycant barked once, then galloped away through the hail of boulders, treacherously hoping that both goblins would perish. The thundering rhythm of his paws seemed to say, ‘New leader, new leader.’
‘So you do love me,’ said a weak but triumphant voice from the floor. ‘Despite the present mortal danger, you still stay by my side. Such is the stupid heart of a female.’
‘You misjudge me. I remain here to make sure that you do die. The arrow missed your heart and lungs. You bleed now from an artery whose flow could be stopped quite easily. Your breathing grows tight because of blood in your chest, not because of any piercing of the lung.’ Rectoria’s tone was unemotional as she squatted beside him, ignoring the rocks falling around them.
‘Why do you let me die?’ asked Tevo, struggling to rise. ‘The band needs me to lead them.’
‘Rubbish. They need a leader, certainly, but not you. I’ll head the band superbly.’
Tevo groaned. ‘Tell me where to press. Give me some chance that I might crawl out of here like a dog, yet alive.’
The crack in the roof forked and extended above them. A huge boulder landed inches from Tevo’s head, throwing up a cloud of thick dust.
Coughing racked Tevo. ‘If you stick to this course, we’ll both die. Help me, and we both may yet be saved.’
‘Perhaps I should do something for you.’ Rectoria reached across Tevo’s chest. ‘I’ll shift the arrow.’
Beads of sweat stood out on Tevo’s white face. As she grabbed the shaft, his body stiffened, but he remained silent.
‘Your bravery does you credit. This is will be worse than horrendous.’
Both hands wrapped round the wood, Rectoria leaned on the shaft with all her body weight. Tevo grasped his battle axe convulsively as white-hot agony scorched through his chest.
Rectoria let go. ‘That’s better. It should bleed more freely now. You’ll die more quickly.’
‘You malicious harridan,’ spat Tevo through clenched teeth. ‘I curse you. May your own death be painful and drawn-out. May your every plan turn to dust.’ He paused for a moment, then spoke slowly and deliberately, emphasising each word. ‘May you lose your most beloved possession.’
Rectoria gasped, horror-struck, blood pounding through her veins. ‘Not Tarran. You can’t curse him. He’s your son also.’
‘Even so. Yet I would have him join me in death. Losing him would cause you such… ’ But he had no more words. He lay still, sightless eyes on the crack elongating above them.
Rectoria stood up, shaking, as Rycant reappeared out of the dust.
‘Why are you here?’ she asked sharply.
‘Worried about you. Why are you shaking?
‘Tevo’s dead.’
‘And you mind?’
‘Not about him. He invoked a goblin’s curse. Tarran will die.’
‘So will we if we don’t leave. Get to the tunnels. Tell me more in the forest.’
Hunched over, back battered by rocks, Rectoria ran to the tunnels. Close to the floor, concealed in pools of darkness, several pairs of eyes watched her and Rycant sprint for safety.
CHAPTER 33
Running footsteps gradually faded. For several minutes the cave remained filled only with the noise of falling stones, gradually ceasing. Zorrin rose and padded to the centre of the cavern, followed by the others.
‘We’d better redip our heads,’ said Alex as they met at the edge of the lake. ‘Dry seems to equal no light.’
‘That’s going to be difficult,’ said Tariq. ‘The water level’s falling.’
Zorrin picked up Keeko by the legs and dunked the tip of her head in the lake. ‘The crack must have extended across the base of the lake. Luckily we’ll get light from the wet sides. Nonetheless, I’ll mark our tunnel.’ Pointing, Zorrin shouted, ‘Flamate Orbitus.’
A huge ball of fire appeared hanging in mid-air, hovering above the entrance to the tunnel. White and silver flames danced and flickered as it rained blue sh
afts of light.
‘Stunning,’ said Keeko.
Flick lit a palm fire. Lavender light shone through her fingers, casting shadows on the ground like fat lilac snakes. ‘We’d better get searching.’
The task looked hopeless. Although the tremors had subsided the colossal cavern remained filled with rubble, the air thick with dust.
‘If Hypnos wanted to hide the crystal in a place almost impossible to get to, don’t you think he would have hidden it in here?’’ asked Ikara, sliding the tip of her tail into the shimmering water.
‘Brilliant,’ said Zorrin, watching the lazy fall of the water level. ‘Where better to hide a blue crystal than in water? Even if someone had worked out that it was in the lake they would never have found it.’
The last of the water drained out, leaving a vast irregular crater lined by a thin coating of shimmering water, a jagged fissure carved across the base.
Zorrin squatted down to peer over the sides. ‘That may be why Makusha caused the lake to crack and empty. He may have guessed that the sapphire could be there. Keeko, you’ll need to go down first. The sides are too steep for anyone else. We’ll lower Ikara to you once you’ve reached the bottom.’
Keeko vaulted over the side. Agile hands soon found a route down the wall. She paused on a ledge.
‘I can take Ikara from here,’ she called back up.
‘This is not only a bad idea, it’s a seriously mad idea,’ said Ikara as Tariq picked her up by the tail.
‘Remember Virida’s curse,’ said Alex.
Ikara sighed. ‘On my way.’
Lying flat on his stomach, arms fully extended, Tariq dangled Ikara over the edge until she hung just above Keeko.
‘Drop,’ shouted Keeko.
A shimmer of green and gold plummeted downwards. Keeko caught Ikara’s head, but the weight of the falling snake flattened her. They landed in the sprawl of red-tipped brown fur and golden-green scales.
‘Thanks a whole heap,’ said Ikara, gingerly stretching her neck. ‘My head is safe, but I bruised my tail, and there’s a lot of it.’
‘My body is totally crushed. I’ll see if my tail’s still attached once I can find it.’
The Serpent of Eridor Page 21