by M. J. Evans
“Tibbals,” Carling whispered. “If Mount Heilodius is supposed to be the site of the ruler of Crystonia, has the Heilodius herd taken control of the capital and the throne?”
“Oh, no,” the filly answered. “The Heilodius herd has built a city at the base of the mountain in an attempt to block anyone from ascending the mountain’s slopes and taking possession of the throne.”
“Enough talking,” one of the guards snarled as he poked Tibbals in the haunches. “Keep moving.”
Carling turned and glared at him. “You don’t have to treat her like that.”
“Keep up and I won’t,” was the curt response.
—
The prisoners and their guards reached the shore of an expansive lake just as the sun was setting. Mount Heilodius, which was directly across the lake, was reflected in the still, slate-gray waters. A large fish broke through the surface of the lake to catch a low-flying moth and immediately disappeared.
“We’ll stop here for the night,” Clank barked. The Centaurs of both herds breathed a sigh of relief. They were all exhausted. Carling and Higson sat, slumped over on the Minsheen Centaur’s backs, waiting to be untied so they could dismount. They were hungry and thirsty and the water in the lake was inviting.
Unfortunately, the Heilodius Centaurs were not concerned with the welfare of their captives. Those holding the ropes that held Tibbals, Tandum, and their riders tied them to two trees set just far enough back from the shoreline that they could not reach the water. The Heilodius Centaurs trotted into the lake, where they bent over and scooped handfuls of water into their mouths. Carling watched, her mouth and throat dry, her body yearning for water and nourishment. Initially she was patient, sure that her captors would, at the very least, let her dismount and go to the water.
Once the Centaurs had drunk their fill, however, they built a campfire and settled down around it. Several opened their packs and passed around rolls, cheese, and dried meats. Carling watched with angst. She had not eaten in two days, and her body was weak from hunger. Her stomach growled in protest.
Tibbals stood stiffly, watching and waiting as well. When no one made the effort to even let them drink, Tibbals spoke up. “Excuse me, excuse me,” she said in an attempt to get someone’s attention. When no one acknowledged hearing her, she shouted. “We are still tied up over here and can’t get to the water. Would someone please untie us?”
Clank was sitting a ways off with two of his companions, the ones who had been in the cabin with him. He turned to look over at his captives and raised his eyebrows. “Do you have some sort of problem?” he asked.
Tibbals lifted her chin. “Yes. I’m very tired, very thirsty, and very hungry.” Her pouting lips curled petulantly.
“Do you think that is my problem? When you had us tied up in the corner of the cabin, you didn’t feed us anything.”
Carling felt her patience rush out of her like the wind across the prairie. “We shared the very little we had and gave you plenty of water,” she said, trying to keep her voice under control.
“Well, we don’t have enough to share with you, so you’ll just have to get used to being hungry. We aren’t your servants, after all,” Clank responded before turning back to the fire.
When the Centaur with the burnt-off tail looked over at Carling, she thought she saw sympathy in his eyes…but decided she’d been wrong when he, too, turned back to the fire.
Resigned to their hunger and thirst, Tibbals and Tandum folded their long legs and lay down beneath the trees to which they were tied. Carling and Higson did their best to wiggle around the ropes and maneuver off their friends’ backs so they could rest.
The Heilodius Centaurs soon fell asleep. Carling watched the tiny sparks float up into the air like little fireflies, wishing she and her friends were close enough to benefit from any warmth the fire might offer. Just as she was about to close her eyes and try to sleep, she noticed one of the Centaurs lift his head and look over at her. It was the Centaur with the burnt tail. She cocked her head, curious, as he unfolded his legs and stood. Slowly and cautiously, he picked his way around the sleeping bodies of the other guards, carefully placing his hooves on the ground so as not to make any noise. At one of the packs, he bent down and shuffled through its contents until he pulled out a bowl. Turning toward Carling, he placed his finger to his lips, warning her to be quiet. Then he walked over to the lake and scooped up some water.
Carling licked her lips with her dry, swollen tongue, holding her breath in eager anticipation. But when the Centaur arrived and extended his arm to pass her the water, she shook her head. “Tibbals,” she whispered as she gently shook her friend’s arm. Tibbals raised her head, her golden locks falling over her face. “Tibbals, water.”
Tibbals brushed aside her hair and looked eagerly around. Seeing the bowl being proffered to her, she squealed with delight. “Shhhhh,” hushed Carling and the Centaur together.
Tibbals took the bowl and brought it to her lips. She drank until it was empty, then sighed with relief as the refreshing water flowed through her.
One by one, each of the captives drank the water the Centaur brought to them. This simple act of kindness would never be forgotten by the four, even as Carling’s kind act that saved his own life would never be forgotten by the Centaur.
Chapter 25
Rescue the Enemy
The water tricked Carling’s stomach into thinking she had eaten, relieving the pain in her belly long enough for her to relax, close her eyes, and sleep.
Just before dawn, the time when all is silent and nothing moves, when the world seems to be waiting for the sunlight to bring everything back to life, Carling woke with a start. She looked around her and noticed that she appeared to be the only one awake. She wondered what had brought her out of her deep sleep.
As the high screech of a raptor echoed through the trees, Carling realized what had awakened her. She knew instinctively that the cry was from an eagle, and not just any eagle. It was from Baskus. A tinge of excitement entered her heart. She looked from one treetop to the next, her eyes squinting as she searched for him. A sudden movement caught her attention and she turned to one side. Seated on a sturdy pine branch far above Carling, Baskus was tilting his head and looking down at her with one of his dark, round eyes.
Carling lifted one delicate hand and waved at him, a smile filling her face as hope filled her heart. But the hope suddenly disappeared along with the smile as she watched the giant bird lift off and disappear in the early morning sky. She wanted to cry out to him to come back, but she feared waking the guards. Instead, she bit her lip and let the tears that were stinging her eyes roll down her cheeks.
By the time the Heilodius herd had fixed themselves some breakfast, the sun was well off the eastern horizon. Carling watched them eat and drink, her stomach churning, her parched throat aching. She looked over at Higson, sure he was feeling the same, and offered him an encouraging smile. He didn’t return it.
“Let’s get moving,” shouted Clank. “I want to get to Fort Heilodius by mid-afternoon.”
“Clank, shouldn’t we give the prisoners something to eat?” It was the Centaur with the burnt tail.
Clank glared at him for a few moments, appearing to consider his options. Finally he said, “Give them water but nothing else.”
Grateful for the water but still weak from hunger, Carling, Higson, Tibbals, and Tandum began their journey around the shore of Lake Mantle.
“I’ve heard of this lake,” said Tibbals as they trudged along. “I’ve never seen it before. I had no idea it was so enormous.”
“It captures the snow melt off Mount Heilodius,” Tandum said without looking up. “That’s where it gets its name: Mantle. The snow flows down like an emperor’s mantle. Today it looks calm and peaceful, but I have heard that it becomes a wild monster in a storm. Many a fisherman has lost his life trying to compete with her fury.”
Fascinated, Carling gazed over the sparkling water turned blue by the ref
lection of the sky. What would it be like to sail across her turquoise waters? she asked herself. On this day, it was impossible to imagine Lake Mantle being anything but welcoming.
The sun warmed the air, making it increasingly difficult to keep moving. Even the Heilodius Centaurs begged Clank for a rest…something he refused to grant. Carling stared at his back, sure that his wound from their battle in the cabin must still be hurting him. Yet strength combined with stubbornness kept him moving toward his destination.
With each of their long strides, the Minsheen Centaurs and their riders moved farther and farther from their home. Carling thought of this and felt her body tense. Knowing this must be uncomfortable for Tibbals, however, she tried to relax. But before long, she felt her body get tight again.
As they moved along, Carling kept gazing up at the sapphire sky, hoping to see Baskus. When he didn’t appear, she began to doubt the eagle she’d seen had been him at all. Hopelessness began to fill her heart.
Some stretches of the trail they were following meandered lazily along the lake’s shoreline. In other places, it climbed along the side of steep cliffs. At these places, the group was forced to move in single file as the trail was terribly narrow. It was so narrow, in fact, that Carling scrapped her leg along the upward side of the cliff.
“Ouch,” she mumbled through gritted teeth.
“I’m so sorry,” Tibbals apologized.
“Don’t worry. Just keep us on the trail,” said Carling, looking to the other side, where a steep descent ended in the lake far below. “I’d rather get a few scrapes than fall down there.”
No sooner had she said that than a shout and a scream were heard coming from behind them. Tibbals stopped and both she and Carling turned their heads just in time to see one of the Heilodius Centaurs scrambling desperately in an attempt to keep from falling down the cliff. His efforts were futile and he started falling, bouncing and crashing down the side of the rocky ledge. With a splash, he landed in the water of the lake, sending a ring of ripples out in all directions. Everyone stood with mouths agape and eyes open in shock. For a moment, no one moved.
As soon as Carling was able to register what had just happened, she called out, “We need to help him! Get these ropes off Tibbals and me and we will save him!”
“Oh, no, you don’t,” shouted Clank.
“But he’s drowning!” answered Tibbals.
“I don’t much care about him. I’m not releasing you.”
“Clank,” pleaded Carling. “Tibbals and I promise to come back. Please untie us and we will use the ropes to rescue your friend.”
“Who said he was my friend?” sneered Clank, showing his true character.
“Dalt is my friend,” the Centaur with the burnt tail answered softly. Without saying anything else, the Centaur pivoted his four feet carefully around on the narrow trail and moved over to Carling and Tibbals.
As he was untying the ropes, Clank started yelling. “Bale, if you release them, I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your life behind bars with them.”
Carling looked deeply into Bale’s eyes. “We will come back. I give you my word. Thank you for helping us save your friend.”
The Centaur nodded. “Good luck, and thank you.”
As soon as the ropes were loosened, Carling wound them into several long loops. “Let’s go, Tibbals.”
“Hold on, Carling,” the filly said as she turned toward the edge of the cliff.
Suddenly realizing what his sister was about to do, Tandum shouted in alarm, “Don’t do it, Tibbals!”
Too late. With a strong push from her hindquarters, Tibbals leaped off the narrow ridge that formed the path, flew through the air, and landed with a loud splash in the lake.
As soon as Tibbals and Carling hit the water, they went far under. Carling was shocked at how cold the lake was. She left the filly’s back and swam to the surface. As soon as her face broke through, she looked around while gasping for breath. She saw the cliff and the point where the Centaur had gone under a short distance away. Wasting no time, she started swimming toward the spot where she believed the Centaur to be. Tibbals also came up and started swimming in the same direction.
It took only a few minutes for them to reach their targeted spot. The Centaur that had fallen was nowhere to be seen.
“I’m going under to see if I can find him,” huffed Carling, unaccustomed to swimming, even in warm water.
“I’m going with you.”
Each of them sucked in as much air as they could and dove under the water.
The water was clear and the rocks that covered the edge of the lake nearest the cliff were quite visible. Just to their left, both girls saw the body of the Centaur. Together, they came up for another breath of air.
“Let’s tie the rope around his front legs and chest and try to get him to the surface,” shouted Carling between sucking in deep breaths.
Tibbals nodded and they both swam down again. While Carling wrapped the rope under the Centaur’s front legs, Tibbals worked to secured the other end around his chest. The Centaur felt like an anchor, holding Carling in place underwater. She kicked her legs hard, but he didn’t budge. Grasping the rope, she pulled with all her might, grateful when Tibbals joined in and the Centaur’s body began to move slightly. Looking up, Carling could see the blue sky overhead, but the surface of the water seemed so far away. I don’t know if I can do this, she said to herself as she released the last of the air she’d been holding in her lungs. Carling could feel her lungs burning as they pleaded for more air and she began to feel a bit light-headed. She kept pulling, even as her flagging strength began to flow out of her and float away. When she heard the loud reverberation of something splashing into the lake, she worried that Clank had ordered his ranks to try to kill her and Tibbals by dropping boulders onto them.
Just as Carling was about to give up, she became aware of someone else beside her. Higson grasped the rope and motioned for her to go to the surface. She let go and swam as quickly as she could until her head popped out of the water. Gasping and choking, she began treading water while she tried to feed air to her starving lungs. Almost immediately, Higson, Tibbals, and Tandum surfaced and began pulling the ropes until the injured Centaur rose to the top of the lake. Carling pointed to the sandy beach that had been formed by a swirling eddy just ahead. By unspoken consent, the four rescuers began pulling the Centaur through the water toward the tiny beach.
It took all four of them to pull the dying creature out of the water. Carling looked down at him and felt dread fill her. It seemed they were too late to save him, that all of this had been for naught. But Tandum began pressing on his chest anyway. Carling collapsed against the rock face of the cliff in exhaustion and watched Tandum, the veins on her head pulsing as her heart battled to pump oxygen through her depleted veins.
When Tandum tired, Higson took over. High above, the Heilodius Centaurs watched, some amazed and awed by the bravery and selflessness of their prisoners. Others, like Clank, were convinced the Minsheen Centaurs and Duende were the most foolish creatures he had ever seen.
Just after Higson fell back on his heels in exhaustion and Tandum resumed pressing on the Centaur’s chest, the injured soldier began coughing. Tandum leaned back as the Centaur vomited up his morning meal and began moaning.
“Tandum and Higson, you did it!” Tibbals cried out.
Tandum and Higson, too tired to respond, watched Dalt as he struggled to breathe on his own.
“Hey,” shouted Tibbals, addressing the Heilodius Centaurs above them. “We need some bandages. Toss down my pack.”
One of the Centaurs disappeared and then reappeared with her pack, which he lowered on a rope. Tibbals grabbed it even before it reached the ground. Carling struggled to her feet and helped Tibbals tear one of her tunics into strips of fabric and bind them around the Centaur’s many wounds. Between gritted teeth Tibbals said, “This was one of my favorite blouses. I hope he appreciates this.”
Looking lik
e a mummified monster, Dalt tried to respond to their kind treatment. “How can I ever thank you for saving my life?”
“How about letting us go?” said Tibbals, not really expecting that would happen.
“I-I-I don’t know if I can do that. B-b-but I will do my best to see that you are treated k-k-kindly…at least I’ll try,” he said, stumbling over each word as he tried to catch his breath and remain conscious.
As the Duende and Centaurs struggled to get the injured guard up the cliff and back to the trail, an enormous eagle swooped low over the lake, grabbed a fish with its talons, and flew off again. Had Carling noted the eagle’s identity, a glimmer of hope might have replaced the dread and discouragement she felt as she and her friends returned to their captors.
Chapter 26
Fort Heilodius
When they managed, with tremendous effort, to get the injured guard up to the trail, Clank approached them. The Centaur stood in front of them, his jaw clenched, his hands in fists pressed against his waist. He stomped his front hooves and swished his tail. He was noticeably infuriated by the delay and the disobedience of some of his company.
Carling ignored it.
“Tie up the prisoners,” he shouted. The guards were quick to obey and Carling and Higson were tied, once again, onto Tibbals and Tandum with thick ropes. More ropes encircled the Minsheen Centaurs.
“Let’s get moving! We’ve wasted far too much time already,” bellowed Clank as he moved to the front of the line. Before striking off, he turned his head and shoulders back and glared at the wounded Centaur. “Dalt, keep up if you can and try to stay on the trail from now on.” Clank began marching rhythmically toward Fort Heilodius as the rest of the little army fell into step. The injured Centaur was left behind to do his best to limp home.
Carling could tell Clank really didn’t care what happened to the Centaur named Dalt. She kept looking back over her shoulder as the line of Centaurs got farther and farther away from the injured guard. Her heart ached, but she was helpless to do anything more to help him.