Astro blushed. “Sorry. Look, here it is.”
He held up the right side of the slab to reveal a worn book clasped together with an iron buckle. Astro reached for it, but Jessicana quickly pulled his hand back, glared at him, and moved out of the way so sunlight could shine inside the hole.
A number of tripwires were strung, and Astro could now see hidden weapons stuck inside the hole. He gulped. If he had brushed even one of them, a knife would’ve sunk into his hand. “Thanks, Jessicana,” he said, gasping.
Jessicana nodded. “Horsh may have turned out to be a good guy, but he sure learned how to make traps like a Darvonian.”
“No kidding,” Astro said. “I almost got skewered.”
Roseabelle smiled grimly. “This reminds me of the maze we had to go through last year. Remember that?” she asked them.
Astro laughed softly. “Yeah, I do. I’m the one who saved Roseabelle from falling down an endless abyss. Guess I wasn’t so careful this time.”
Jessicana patted him on the back. “It’s all right.”
Roseabelle gestured to the journal. “So how do we get it?”
Jessicana held out a hand to Astro. “Silk gloves and Dragocone Ray, please.”
Astro handed the items to her, and Jessicana slid the gloves on, then handled the Ray. She took a deep breath, held the Ray away from her as if it were poison, and dipped the edge of it into the hole. There was a loud crack, and Jessicana withdrew the weapon. A pile of blackened burnt knives lay at the edge of the hole. As Astro reached for them, Jessicana warned, “Don’t. They may be cursed.” Both of her friends looked at her questioningly, but Jessicana didn’t notice.
“Roseabelle, can you use telekinesis to get the journal out?” Jessicana asked.
Roseabelle nodded. “Sure.” She faced the hole, all of the tripwires sprung and broken, and concentrated hard on the journal. It slowly lifted, shuddering as it came from its four-hundred-year-old resting place.
The book finally came to a rest in Roseabelle’s hands. “We have it!” she cried. She opened it, scouring through the pages. “Here it is,” she exclaimed, pointing.
Jessicana leaned over to read:
The Stones of Horsh, named after me, are hidden underneath Whipla Falls. I can only hope that they do not fall into the wrong hands.
Astro shook his head, reading the message silently as well. “I can’t believe it,” he stated in a hushed voice. “We’ve got it.”
CHAPTER 9
Shadow Horses
ROSEABELLE HEARD A swoosh THROUGH THE AIR. Within seconds an arrowhead impaled the book, a cord attached to it. She realized what was happening too late. “No!” she yelled and lunged for the journal.
But it was Jessicana who beat her to it. A multi-colored bird swept down from above, bit the cord with her beak, and pushed it toward Roseabelle, who quickly caught it in her hands. Roseabelle turned around to see Heltonine, Sheklyth’s sister, crouching in a tree and holding a bow and a quiver of arrows.
The Darvonian reached for her fingers to whistle for help, but Roseabelle quickly snatched up the arrow and flung it at their adversary. As Heltonine reached to bat it away, Astro was already on his feet, blasting lightning bolts at her. The Darvonian shrieked in pain, tumbled out of the tree, and fell to the ground. Roseabelle hopped onto the Persopian and shouted, “Hurry! Get on!”
Jessicana, who had shape-shifted back into a girl, and Astro stumbled onto their animals and lifted into the air. Roseabelle turned her head to see a mob of Darvonians appear on the peak, and she felt a rush of worry. They had been watching and listening the entire time. Had they learned the location of the Stones? They hadn’t said it out loud. She exhaled in relief until she saw a small brown rectangle lying on the stone.
Her heart skipped a beat. They had left the journal.
Arrows and javelins streaked after them, and Roseabelle yelled, “The battle isn’t over yet!” She saw Astro slump over his Persopian, looking exhausted. A javelin almost embedded itself in Roseabelle’s hand, but she managed to lean away as it flew toward her.
Soon they flew out of range, and Roseabelle clutched the Persopian’s mane, feeling like a failure. They had left the journal. But at least they knew where to go.
But the Darvonians would know too.
Roseabelle motioned for her friends to gather closer. “I left the journal,” she told them glumly. She braced herself, waiting for her friends to get mad at her.
“It’s all right,” Jessicana stated soothingly.
“No one expected the Darvonians to come busting down our doors,” Astro added, which made Roseabelle smile. “So where is Whipla Falls?” he asked, trying to change the subject.
“I’ve heard of it!” Jessicana piped up.
“Of course you have,” Astro grumbled.
Jessicana rolled her eyes and continued, “It’s on the outskirts of Eastern Benotripia. It’s a beautiful waterfall. I’ve never been there, but I’ve always wanted to.”
“How long will it take us to get there?” Roseabelle questioned.
Jessicana bit her lip. “In the air? I’m guessing it’ll be a two-day trip.”
Astro sighed. “Oh, boy.”
Roseabelle’s eyebrows creased. “Wait a second. The Darvonians didn’t leave till this morning. How did they get to the mountains so fast?”
Astro and Jessicana shared a look. “Roseabelle, the Darvonians obviously brought the Garaganta to Benotripia because there are no monsters on the island. Who knows what else they’ve brought? Maybe they have an amazingly fast mount or something,” Jessicana explained.
Roseabelle’s voice was hollow. “Which means that they can probably get to the Falls before we can.”
There was silence, save the wind and the snorting of the Persopians. Jessicana broke the silence with a falsely cheerful tone. “It’ll be all right. How about this? I fly beneath the Persopians so I can scout and find out how the Darvonians are traveling so fast. I’ll sleep during the day and scout at night.”
Roseabelle asked uncertainly, “Are you sure you can change your sleeping pattern like that? What if you get caught?”
Jessicana smiled genuinely. “Believe me. I won’t get caught.”
* * * * *
ASTRO WAS IN MORE AGONY NOW THAN EVER. EVER SINCE he had blasted Heltonine, an incredible surge of pain had filled him. He’d done his best to hide it, but he feared that his condition would only get worse. Now, as he lay on the Persopian’s saddle, he wondered what his condition was.
Astro felt terrible not telling his friends about his lightning, but what could he do? Of course, Jessicana might have some smart-aleck answer—you never knew with her—but they had a more important mission to complete. He sighed and slipped into a deep sleep.
ASTRO DREAMED THAT HE WAS RIDING ON A SHADOWY HORSE, its red eyes glowing and its body almost wisps of smoke. Where was he? Part of him didn’t really want to know. He knew this was only a dream, but, all the same, he felt extremely apprehensive.
When Astro chanced a glance behind him, he gulped. There were other shadowy horses all with riders with black cloaks. Darvonians.
Astro looked around at the scenery and saw everything else becoming a blur. Was this how the Darvonians were going so fast? Horses made of shadow? That didn’t even make any sense. Astro heard a deep voice coming from within him: “Keep riding! Faster!”
The dream then evaporated in a cloud of silver mist.
ASTRO WOKE UP ON THE BACK OF THE PERSOPIAN. JESSICANA’S ride was tied to Roseabelle’s, and Astro figured she had flown off to scout for them. Roseabelle was slumped on the back of her mount, fast asleep. Astro laid his head against his animal’s but couldn’t fall asleep again.
“Awk, Astro!” a voice squawked loudly, which made him almost jump out of his skin. Soon Jessicana was seated on the tail end of his Persopian transformed back into her human form. “Hey,” she greeted him.
Astro raised an eyebrow at her. “What are you doing up here? I thought you were
supposed to be down there scouting.”
“Yeah, well, Roseabelle’s asleep, and I want to talk to someone,” Jessicana blurted out. Astro looked at her strangely. His friend was definitely acting strange. Jessicana opened her pack and rummaged through it, then pulled out a loaf of bread. “You want some?” she asked but with a look that said, “Say no. Say no. Say no.”
Astro shook his head. “No, thanks. I’m good.”
Jessicana rolled her eyes and reached over behind Astro. “Oh, so you’ll only eat food from your pack? Fine. I’ll get some from it.” She leaned forward, grasped the pack, and whispered hurriedly in Astro’s ear: “Darvonians are just ahead of us. They’re listening in. I saw a group up ahead too. They’re riding these transparent horses that make them go extremely fast.”
She pulled away, fished out a loaf of bread from his pack, and tossed it lightly to him. “Eat up,” she commented, smiling. “I’m going to get some shut-eye.”
Her demeanor was calm, but as she transformed and flew back to her Persopian, Astro knew from her gaze that they were in trouble.
* * * * *
JESSICANA WAS NERVOUS. LAST NIGHT, WHEN SHE HAD flown in below, she had witnessed the most horrific and majestic creature she had ever laid eyes on. A shadow horse. They weren’t solid, but somehow the Darvonians were able to ride them. They moved quicker than any animal should be able to. Jessicana had seen a group of Darvonians moving so fast that by now they must be at least halfway to the waterfall.
Darvonians had been perched in high trees, holding large stone cone-shaped devices that Jessicana somehow knew they were using to eavesdrop on Jessicana, Roseabelle, and Astro’s conversations. It was true she had managed to warn Astro, but now she had to figure out a way to alert Roseabelle.
Her auburn-haired friend was now in front of them, leading the way toward the Falls. There was still hope. The Darvonians hadn’t reached the Falls yet. In actuality the three friends were making pretty good progress. They had to be at least halfway there.
“Roseabelle, stop!” Astro suddenly yelled, and all of the three friends came to a stop in midair.
“Astro, what . . .” Jessicana started but then trailed off.
They were entering a dark forest. Discreetly hidden beneath a tall tree was a thick iron pole with a pointed edge at the top. Jessicana could make out tiny holes in the metal that looked like arrow slits. Jessicana’s blood froze. She was almost positive that they didn’t have giant Sephlotine spikes in Benotripia. Were they hallucinating?
Somehow, she knew that they weren’t.
Jessicana transformed into a parrot and slowly approached the spike. “Be careful, Jessicana,” Roseabelle whispered from atop her Persopian. Jessicana gently brushed the tip of her wing against the spike and then flew up quickly, just in time to avoid a sharp piece of metal that extracted and shot straight at the spot where Jessicana had been.
Jessicana reached her Persopian and changed back into a girl. “That was crazy,” she gasped. “If you even touch a spike, you get impaled. It’s extremely up-to-date technology. The Darvonians must have planted it.”
“Are there more?” Astro asked.
Jessicana sighed, transformed into her bird form, and flew over the forest, scanning the area for more black spikes. An iron arrow suddenly hurtled toward her, and she barely dodged the missile. Jessicana could see more ammo flying at her. Her heart sank, and she flew back to the Persopian, turning back into a human.
“So?” Roseabelle prompted.
“There’s several more,” Jessicana affirmed grimly. “And worse too. The spikes shoot out arrows above them.”
* * * * *
ROSEABELLE WASN’T EXACTLY PLEASED WITH THE NEWS. She gritted her teeth and sighed. “Is there a way around the forest?” she asked.
Astro nodded. “Right over there.” He pointed to a pebblelined path to the right of the forest.
Jessicana rolled her eyes. “Why didn’t you say so? Let’s take that direction, then.” Roseabelle put a hand to her forehead. Why did she feel as though that wasn’t a good idea?
“Wait!” she cried. “We need to go through there.”
“Why?” Astro asked.
“I think it’s a shortcut,” Roseabelle stated. “The Darvonians know we’ll never make it unless we take the shortcut so they planted these spikes so we’d choose the other way. It makes perfect sense.”
Jessicana bit her lip. “I guess you’re right.”
“The only way to go is forward,” Astro agreed.
CHAPTER 10
Sephlotine Spikes
ROSEABELLE HAD SENT JESSICANA’S ANIMAL THE LONG way so it wouldn’t get hurt. Jessicana would venture on as a parrot. The other two Persopians would be mounts for Roseabelle and Astro. On the ground, the spikes were so tightly compressed together, there was no way they would make it out alive.
“You ready?” Astro asked nervously.
“No,” Roseabelle answered. “Let’s go!”
Their animals darted forward. Roseabelle looked over her left side. If the arrows were triggered, they would strike the underbelly of the Persopian, so both Astro and she had strapped their shields to the bellies of their animals.
The Persopian shuddered, and Roseabelle instantly knew that a few arrows had thudded into the shield. “C’mon, boy,” she spoke soothingly. “We can do this.” The two friends soared over the landscape. Soon they noticed the spikes were pointed lopsided so that they could come in from either side of them. “Oh no,” Roseabelle muttered as an arrow approached her from the right and missed her arm by centimeters.
“Astro, watch out!” she yelled. An arrow was coming at him from the left while he was staring down at the right. Her friend moved just in time, but Roseabelle wasn’t so lucky.
An arrow had zoomed toward her without her notice, and a searing pain filled Roseabelle’s arm as she realized she had been struck. She grimaced. The end of the forest of spikes was almost up. She could do this. Roseabelle wrenched the arrow out of her arm and fixed her gaze on the end of the forest.
She could see Jessicana up ahead, morphing back into a girl and dropping to the ground. To her left, Astro was staring at her in horror. Roseabelle tried to shout, “I’m all right!” but the words died in her throat. Blood was oozing from her wound, and she fought to stay conscious.
The last arrow came sailing toward her, and she ducked just in time, but the world spun, and Roseabelle dropped to the ground like a stone.
CHAPTER 11
Broxlorthian
ASTRO STARED AT THE UNCONSCIOUS FORM OF Roseabelle as Jessicana slowly wrapped bandages around her arm. Luckily the injury wasn’t deep, and their friend would be okay, although it was a lot worse than Jessicana’s incident. Her hand was in great shape now.
The auburn-haired girl’s eyes fluttered open. “Hey, Roseabelle,” Astro greeted her. “We need to stop taking turns fainting.”
A smile lit up her face. “I think I agree.” Her two friends pulled her up, and Roseabelle winced when she saw her injury. “Ouch. That doesn’t look great.”
“You’ll be all right,” Jessicana assured her. “We have to move. I’ll share a Persopian with you so I can tend more to your wound. Astro will be on the other, and we’ll leave the other here.”
Roseabelle hobbled to her Persopian, and Jessicana climbed on next to her, strapping down their backpacks to their saddles. “You ready?” Jessicana asked.
Roseabelle could only groan in response. Astro watched as his two friends lifted into the sky. He steered his own mount skyward but hung back a little as Jessicana treated her friend properly. Astro’s lightning was getting worse. He could feel it inside him, boiling, wanting to burst and come out of its shell.
He knew that the stormy horses had something to do with his lightning. In his dream, they had almost looked like storm clouds, crackling and rumbling with thunder, yet smooth and swift at the same time. He promised himself as soon as they got to Whipla Falls, he would tell the girls what had been going
on. Because whatever it was, it was getting worse.
He took out his backpack and twirled his broadsword in the air. Most likely the Darvonians were already at the Falls with their steeds that could run like the wind. But there was still time to stop them. In the book of fairy tales, it said only someone worthy could obtain the Stones. The Darvonians were assuredly not worthy.
Astro wondered what kind of power the Stones held. Could they command water and fire? Were they used to raise mountains and valleys? What did they look like? He tried to imagine if he had to use the Stones what he would use them for.
“Bring Magford back,” Astro whispered. But that was impossible. The Stones probably couldn’t save Roseabelle’s father. It was a nice thought, though.
As Astro surveyed the sunny skies of Benotripia, he wondered if they should get help from villagers, then almost instantly decided against it. Some of them may have been trained with the sword and the bow, but most around this area weren’t. The Falls were somewhat of a scenic place to live. Aged Benotripians were the main occupants, and they would do more harm than help.
“Astro!” Jessicana exclaimed in awe. “We’re here.” Astro cocked his head to one side.
“Are you sure?” he responded.
“Yes!” Jessicana shouted over the sound of rushing water. They emerged into a plentiful clearing. Crystal-blue water descended from the mouth of a cave, tumbling over a collection of wet boulders and down a sharp cliff, then into a clear sparkling pool.
“It’s beautiful,” Astro said, and he hopped off his Persopian, drew his sword, and looked around. “Come down!” he shouted. “There aren’t any Darvonians.”
“You sure?” Jessicana’s muffled voice came from above.
“Pretty sure,” was Astro’s response. The two girls dropped from above next to him. Roseabelle was holding her Dragocone Ray, Jessicana her throwing knives. Astro looked around apprehensively. No flashes of black or thunderclouds or psycho Darvonians leaping out at them. “I think the coast is clear—JESSICANA, WATCH OUT!”
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