“What’s that noise?” she asked uneasily.
Astro and Roseabelle shared a look. “Are you okay? I don’t hear anything,” Roseabelle stated.
“Did you hit your head?” Astro joked.
“No seriously, the water’s vibrating.”
Roseabelle hated to admit it, but now she felt it too. “Guys,” she asked. “What’s going—”
A huge bellow came from the water, and a monstrous shape erupted from the icy depths. A wave the size of a tsunami swept the raft to the sky. They all screamed.
The raft smacked against the water, and then Roseabelle realized what was happening.
It was a sea monster—as tall as five stockfish (a type of fish as big as a blue whale). It had sickly green scales with a yellowish tint, two crests on its bumpy head, sharp claws, a mouth full of teeth—just one tooth was the length of Roseabelle from her shoes to her hair—and a terrible tail. The tail was long and covered with spikes and at the very end was a nasty point hiding beneath layers of giant needles.
From her short research, Roseabelle recognized it immediately. “Scythterrian,” she whispered. The three friends were paralyzed with fear. The monster began to strike again. It lifted its tail, and then, quick as a flash, it came at them. Roseabelle saw it in slow motion.
Jessicana screamed for the second time and pointed to her backpack. Somehow Roseabelle understood. She zipped it open and found a silk bag. She tore it open. Inside was the Dragocone Ray. Next to that lay a pair of silk gloves. Roseabelle knew what Jessicana wanted her to do.
She pulled on the gloves and grabbed the ray. The tail was hurtling toward her at the speed of lightning. She raised the ray and—thwack—the monster went flying. It catapulted into the air and then plummeted back down again. “Look out!” Astro called.
They dove underwater just in time. It was chaos. The impact made thousands of tons of water fly everywhere. The Scythterrian might’ve hit the bottom of the ocean because a giant whirlpool began, and everything was being sucked into it, including the raft, which was right next to them.
They struggled with the raft, but when it started to drag them underwater, they let it go. Roseabelle suddenly had an idea. “Get on,” she instructed.
She handed the gloves and the ray to Jessicana and jumped into the water. Roseabelle soon transformed into a magnificent dolphin. She pulled the craft, but the whirlpool was still hanging on to it. She needed help. Desperate help. She looked down and saw the Scythterrian.
Its deep, meaty mouth was hanging open, ready to catch his prey. Well, all right then, she thought. If I can’t get out, I’ll have to go in.
She transformed back to human and let the whirlpool pull them in. The three friends held their breath as the raft pulled them under the surface of the water. The Scythterrian looked triumphant. The raft dragged down and down, faster and faster. The craft got so close to the monster’s mouth that Roseabelle could practically reach out and touch one of the sharp teeth. Astro closed his eyes. A string of bubbles escaped from Jessicana’s mouth that could have been a whimper.
Roseabelle grabbed the ray from Jessicana and swung it, hitting the Scythterrian’s tooth. This time the blow was weaker, but the sea monster was pushed back all the same.
Wow, Roseabelle thought. He must be strong. Two blows with a ray are usually deadly.
This time the Scythterrian couldn’t recover. It lay motionless on the ocean floor. Roseabelle dragged the raft and her friends to the surface before taking another gulp of air and diving deep. Roseabelle crept up and climbed up the monster’s scaly chest. Its eyes were closed. Doubtful, she leaned over. Its claws snatched at Roseabelle, but she swam up just in time. Gasping for breath, she reached her watercraft and accepted Jessicana’s outstretched, pale hand.
Astro started to say, “Is it gone?” but the answer came instantly.
The monster rose above the surface of the water, a red glint in its eye. But his tail was spotted with burns, and when it opened its mouth, Roseabelle saw that two of his teeth were missing.
After what had happened, Roseabelle had expected that the monster would be smart enough to back off. Apparently she was wrong. The monster leapt at her so quickly that Roseabelle wasn’t prepared.
From behind, Astro pushed her, causing her to free fall into the water. The monster clawed the air where she had been floating and bellowed with rage.
She managed to swim underneath its belly, veering to the side. When Roseabelle got to the side, she carefully hoisted herself up and somehow climbed onto its back. She took her ray and plunged it into the sea monster’s scales.
It howled and flew up. It flipped back and forth, and Roseabelle fell off.
She started to plummet down. It was happening so fast. Roseabelle blacked out when she hit the water.
CHAPTER 8
Darvonia
BREATHE, ROSEABELLE, BREATHE. I HOPE SHE’S ALL right.”
“Stop fussing, Jessicana. She’s waking up.”
Roseabelle’s eyes fluttered open. Jessicana was in front of her, holding a maroon bottle and a glass spoon filled with a fine peach powder. “You’re awake,” Jessicana cried. She shoved the contents of the spoon into Roseabelle’s mouth. It tasted like orange with a touch of sourness and a sprinkle of saltiness.
When Roseabelle had swallowed, she asked Jessicana frantically, “What happened? Is the monster dead?”
Jessicana nodded. “For good,” she said. “You took quite a plunge. Astro swam out there and pulled you back to the raft. I flew and checked to see if the sea creature was dead. I transformed back and landed on his stomach. Nothing happened. I told Astro, and we set sail again.” Jessicana paused to feed more powder to Roseabelle. “The wind picked up, and we put up the sail. Soon we saw a small dot in the distance. We caught up, and well, we think it’s Darvonia! I know you will go crazy over this, but you’ve been out for six days.”
Roseabelle nearly spit out the medicine. Six days! They had been at sea for more than a week. Roseabelle sat up. Astro was digging in his pack. “We haven’t been eating a lot,” he explained. “I think this is a good time.”
Roseabelle looked around. Sure enough, a dot was in the distance. But now it was less of a dot. It was growing bigger every minute. Astro handed her a handful of honey-covered nuts, which were considered a type of delicacy in Benotripia. Roseabelle downed them quickly.
Jessicana pulled out a handful of hadhadiles, machegh’s (black gold coins and a type of currency), and kierteks (white gold coins and the most valuable currency in Benotripia).
“What’s that for?” Roseabelle asked. Jessicana shrugged. “Darvonians use precious metals for melting them down and them reforming them into their own currency,” Jessicana said. “You never know when you might need a coin.”
She put them away and asked if Roseabelle could take the first watch because the sun was setting. Roseabelle nodded. She took a piece of wraptook (a flat bread) from her backpack and began to chew.
Roseabelle was extremely tired, but she had learned her lesson not to fall asleep thanks to Astro. She watched as Darvonia came closer and closer and closer. After eating another loaf of wraptook, she tapped Jessicana and Astro on the shoulder as they began to pull up on the shore.
Roseabelle and Jessicana pulled on the oars. The beach looked deserted, but they still made sure that they were safely hidden from prying eyes. As soon as they reached the shore, Roseabelle gagged. Darvonia was terrible! The land was dirty, dark, and scorched. Tree stumps lay in every direction and trash was everywhere. The land was quite mountainous, so when they dragged the raft on the island, Astro ran off to find a place where they could sleep, while Roseabelle and Jessicana crept off to a boulder for a temporary hiding place.
Astro came back. “There’s a cave nearby,” he panted. “Come on.”
The three friends discreetly hiked up the rocky terrain. Astro led them to a small crevice in the rock, which led to a cave. “Perfect,” Roseabelle whispered.
She set
the raft down along with their other belongings. “Someone will need to guard this at all times. We can switch,” Roseabelle stated.
Astro and Jessicana nodded. “Also,” Jessicana piped up, “we need to be ready for a hasty exit. Let’s not unpack entirely.”
The others agreed, and then they began to set up camp. Jessicana laid two blankets down, and Astro set out the hand warmers. “I’m going to check out Darvonia,” Roseabelle said.
Astro shuddered. “Be careful,” he said.
“I will,” Roseabelle replied.
She crept out of the cave and set off.
ONCE ROSEABELLE WAS BACK ON THE SHORE, SHE STARTED off into Darvonia. It was a long walk. She didn’t see any Darvonians. Then she heard some commotion.
Roseabelle crept along stealthily. She looked ahead. There was a high metal gate that joined a stone wall. The wall wrapped around a large area. Roseabelle figured it must be a village. She looked at the gates. They were firmly padlocked. She looked at the wall. It was several feet high.
Roseabelle put her hands on the wall. It was jagged and rocky and had many places where she could find holds for her hands and feet. She began to climb. It was difficult work. Roseabelle knew that if she fell, well, she didn’t want to think about it.
When she was at the top, she peered cautiously over the side. It was a village. At the front were two guards making sure no outsiders got in. It’s a clever strategy, Roseabelle thought. It appears on the outside as if someone could climb over the gates and just walk in. Sadly, that wasn’t the case.
Further off was a large campfire. Young girls were dancing around it using their hands to show expression. All of them had ghostly skin and dark hair. The black marks behind their ears signaled their own culture mark. Beyond the campfire were many huts constructed of mud and burnt wood. The houses kept going and going, then stopped at a large building. Two guards with solemn faces were standing in front of it, one armed with a long sword and shield and the other with a brutal Thepgile. She considered climbing to find out why they were guarding it when the girls stopped dancing and bowed.
“Archery,” a male voice called. The boys pulled out bows and quivers of arrows and aimed for the wall. Roseabelle ducked down and hoped that they hadn’t seen her. She carefully scaled down the wall and ran off. She couldn’t help thinking about the building. When she got to the rocks, she began to climb. Finally she reached the cave. Jessicana and Astro looked up, their faces shining.
“What did you find?” Astro asked. Roseabelle told them about the village and the events that had occurred. After some silence, Jessicana spoke.
“Do you think that’s where your mom is, Roseabelle?”
Roseabelle pondered it for a moment.
“Perhaps,” she decided.
“The sun is going down,” Astro said promptly. “I suggest we eat and then get some sleep. Since Roseabelle went on that expedition, she can give out the watch schedule for tonight.”
They all looked at Roseabelle. “Jessicana, you watch till about midnight. I will guard until four in the morning. Astro, you’ll watch till eight.” Roseabelle said.
They all nodded. Jessicana took a knife encrusted with pearls from her bag and went to the front entrance. Roseabelle lay down on her blanket. It was harshly cold, so she put on her hand warmer.
She could hear Astro snoring next to her. She desperately needed some sleep. It was all such a shock to her.
She recalled her mother’s message they had found. The last part was “Tell my daughter Roseabelle that her trainer Shelby is a” and then it had cut off. What was Shelby? Was she truly a Benotripian? But she couldn’t possibly be a Darvonian! She bore no resemblance to one. Her tired state soon lulled her to a deep sleep.
JESSICANA SHOOK HER AWAKE AT MIDNIGHT. ROSEABELLE SAT up. Jessicana whispered softly in ear that she couldn’t use the Dragocone Ray because it might attract attention.
“I have some weapons in my bag,” Jessicana whispered, “so take your pick.”
Roseabelle gave her blanket to Jessicana and then reached inside her friend’s bag. Next to the ray was a Trapita and two rusty Thepgiles. Roseabelle wasn’t the expert at Thepgiles, so she settled with the Trapita. Seizing it, she walked out and readied her weapon. The trees rustled, but no one came.
Four hours later, Roseabelle was about to get Astro when a dark shape streaked across the rocks. Roseabelle gasped and readied herself, drawing into the shadows. Not a peep. Sighing and assuring herself it was probably her imagination, she tapped Astro on the shoulder.
He woke up, and Roseabelle motioned for Astro to choose a weapon. She set down the arrows in Jessicana’s bag and then curled up on a blanket.
CHAPTER 9
Distraction
LET’S GET GOING,” ASTRO SAID IN HER EAR. ROSEABELLE shot up and bolted from the cave floor. She changed into a green long-sleeved shirt and a pair of green and brown pants with leather boots.
After everyone was ready to go, Roseabelle led them down to the village. It was quiet when they got there. Astro boosted Roseabelle up to the wall.
The campfire was gone, but the cloaked guards were still at the gates and in front of the building. “We have to get in there,” Roseabelle reasoned, “but how?”
“Wait here,” Astro whispered. “Give me a boost, Jessicana.”
When Astro was up, he winked and scampered away. Jessicana and Roseabelle shared a look and rolled their eyes.
On the far side of the wall, Astro took a deep breath and then whistled. He ducked.
The guard looked at where Astro had been and frowned. “Who’s there?” he growled. He stalked over to the wall. Astro flattened himself against it. The cloaksman shrugged and walked away. Not the brightest of guards, Roseabelle thought.
Then Astro whistled again.
“Who goes there?” the cloaksman roared. He stalked over again, his face contorted with confusion.
Astro snatched a spare robe from the ground and pulled a hammer from his backpack, which was on his back. He banged the top with the hammer, hoping to attract attention. The cloaksman marched closer.
Astro banged it a second time. The Darvonian was nearly to Astro.
Astro banged it a third time, also accidently releasing a lightning bolt that hit the wall. The top part crumbled. The guard shouted with fury, and Astro pulled the robe on so he could pass for a Darvonian, then fled.
The cloaksman jumped over the now-crumbling structure and chased after him. When the other cloaksman realized what had happened, he also followed after Astro.
“That was brave,” Roseabelle said.
“Should we drop down?” Jessicana asked.
Roseabelle nodded. “The other cloaksmen are too far away to see us. Let’s make a move before they come back.”
Jessicana changed into a parrot and flew down. Roseabelle smiled. Jessicana had it too easy. She took hold of a log protruding upward and clung to it. The weight caused it to come down with a thud. The cloaksman closest to the building watched his perimeter.
Jessicana quickly turned back to her human form and pulled Roseabelle down behind the log. The cloaksman stared past them. Jessicana breathed a sigh of relief. They stood up and crept around the houses. Roseabelle peeked inside one of the mud-formed windows.
A Darvonian mother was sitting in a burnt wooden chair, carving a wooden sword sheath while three little boys were playing around her feet with a waxy ball. One of the boys stood up, and Jessicana tugged on Roseabelle to continue.
They walked through the village, all the way hoping that no one would spot them. More than a few feet away, the Darvonians were staring straight ahead. The girls were hidden at the side of the building. Roseabelle carefully studied the door. It didn’t look locked, but Roseabelle decided she was going to find out what was in the building, locked or not.
She put a hand in front of Jessicana to signal for her to stay put and watched the Darvonians carefully. Roseabelle raced to the back of the building. Once again it was jagged and
crooked, so Roseabelle climbed it with ease.
She scaled the mud walls and hoped that the cloaksmen would be clueless enough to fall for her trap.
* * * * *
ASTRO WAS SCARED. THERE WAS NO HIDING IT. THE Darvonians were gaining on him, and if they got their hands on him, they would surely realize that he was a Benotripian, not just a troublesome Darvonian kid.
He was getting tired now and didn’t know where to go. Running to the cave would lead the guards to it, so he crossed out that idea. Circling around wouldn’t be much help. All the weapons were at the cave, so he couldn’t fight back.
Astro charged up some rocky land. A cloaksman went after him. He staggered up and up. He then saw a tiny opening in the rock up ahead.
He sprinted using all his energy and turned the corner. He bent down and slid inside. It gave him enough room to squeeze in. Astro heard the heavy footfalls catching up and held his breath. Then they passed him. He breathed a sigh of relief.
* * * * *
ROSEABELLE WAS ON THE ROOF. SHE CREPT CAREFULLY across. When she was at the edge, she dipped down. The guards were about three feet away from the door. Roseabelle leaned over the side and motioned for Jessicana to come up.
She heard a flap of feathers and then a squeal and a flurry of steps. A few minutes later, Jessicana was at her side.
“Don’t tell me you flew.” Roseabelle said. Jessicana sheepishly nodded. “Come on,” Roseabelle hissed.
She pointed at the guards, then pantomimed herself climbing down the wall behind the guards and opening the door, then running. Roseabelle motioned that the guards would notice and run after her.
Jessicana looked at her like she was crazy. “Then what?” she mouthed.
Roseabelle motioned that Jessicana could sneak in and hide. The cloaksmen would be busy chasing Roseabelle. She motioned for Jessicana to stay put inside the building. Roseabelle would then get out and then come back in. Jessicana was staring at her like she had lost her mind. Roseabelle sighed and mouthed, “Get ready.”
Benotripia- The Complete Trilogy Page 4