Quest for the Arcane Crown

by Yajat Sharma

  James said, “I have an idea. We will sail our ship near the Sails of Time and fire our cannons and ballistae.”

  Everyone agreed.

  The Scavenger readied the ballistae and directed their boat to the open sea, near the pirate ship. He aimed one ballista and fired a shot.

  A cannonball hurled towards the Sails of Time, but just when it was inches away from hitting the ship, it vaporized into thin air.

  The Scavenger groaned in frustration. “I forgot! The Sails of Time is a celestial ship; spells and incantations must be protecting it!”

  It was too late now. The pirates had spotted them. They rushed across the deck, yelling in eagerness. They started loading the cannons on the deck with cannonballs.

  “We need to get out of here,” the Scavenger yelled, bolting towards the control room. In the control room, he pressed hard on a button labelled ‘Speed’.

  Their boat now shot full steam ahead on the high seas, rocking violently. The children grabbed the rails. Suddenly a cannonball exploded in the water, just beside the ship, where Archer stood. A large mass of water splashed over him, making him dripping wet.

  “What do we do now?” Matt asked as another cannonball barely missed them.

  “We have to make sure they follow us,” the Scavenger yelled. “When I call out, all of you jump off the ship. Let the pirates blast our ship and think we are dead. We need to swim and sneak into the Sails of Time.”

  “Do you think this will work, seeing how the last plan went?” James asked his friends.

  “No!” came the expected reply.

  “His ideas are insane,” James muttered.

  “I don’t think we have a choice,” Archer replied.

  “Fire ballistae,” the Scavenger roared. “We have to distract them.”

  Archer fired a cannon. A cannonball shot out and went poof before touching the pirate ship.

  Suddenly a pirate cannonball jolted their boat.

  “JUMP!” the Scavenger shouted, and they jumped into the sea. Several cannonballs hit their boat as it disintegrated in the sea.

  They swam towards the Sails of Time and stayed beside it for a while, ducking their heads in the water, hidden from view.

  The Scavenger gestured to a rope ladder dangling from the paling. They noiselessly climbed the ladder. The Scavenger was the first to reach the top.

  He leapt over the railing and was surprised to find only a handful of pirates on the deck.

  He silently rushed towards them, pulling out his sword, catching them off guard.

  One of them turned when he heard the footsteps. James struck him from behind.

  Everyone had reached the deck by now. They were contemplating their next move when a horn blew so loud that it nearly pierced their eardrums.

  Someone was surely aware of their unsolicited presence and had just alerted the others.

  “Now what?” Daniel asked, frantically, when they heard the footsteps and hooting of armoured men from down below quickly racing up.

  “Hide yourself, fast!” the Scavenger ordered. They dispersed in different directions.

  Archer leapt towards the open door. He could hear the sound of footsteps getting louder.

  Looking around, he saw a trapdoor on the floor. He opened it to find a lot of wine bottles stored inside. Wedging himself in the tight space, he closed the door, held his breath and strained to listen to the angry voices of the pirates.

  Archer was having difficulty breathing in the confined space. His mind was racing to find a way out, when he heard a shout.

  Taking a peek through a half an inch crack, he saw Daniel and James, tied in ropes and surrounded by the pirates.

  “Now,” the pirate leader grunted, “tell us where your friends are.”

  James and Daniel remained quiet.

  “As you wish,” the pirate snarled. “We will find them ourselves.”

  A rustling sound drew Archer’s attention, and he saw the pirates pushing the Scavenger and Matt towards the other captives. They were bound with ropes too.

  Archer figured they couldn’t use their Elemental Powers, since the hexed ropes curbed them from doing so. He directed his attention to the conversation.

  “Is that all?” the pirate leader asked.

  “I think so,” one of the pirates replied. “The Death Lord told us that there were four prophesied ones, and there are four of them.”

  The pirate leader nodded. “Hmm… I wonder what to do with them…?”

  “Throw them, overboard and call the sharks!” one pirate suggested.

  “Oh, yes!” their leader grinned. “It will be fun to watch!”

  “Let’s not waste time,” another spoke. “Let’s toss these two over!”

  Their leader snapped his fingers. Two pirates picked up Daniel and began dragging him overboard.

  Archer had to think of something… anything… quickly, before his friends became shark food!

  Food… water… wine…

  Suddenly Archer had an idea. An insane idea. He remembered James telling him that alcohol was combustible.

  He had to take the risk. Their lives were at stake.

  Picking up a bottle from the cellar, he readied himself.

  Throwing open the trapdoor, he shrouded himself with fire, trying to look menacing.

  Raising the bottle, he shouted, “LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS AND SURRENDER… OR DEATH IT IS!”

  He hurled the bottle coated with fire on the deck. It burst open and the wine inside caught fire. The pirates yelled and scattered in different directions.

  Archer grinned.

  In all the commotion, Archer managed to free Matt, who quickly untied the others.

  In no time, Archer had set the place ablaze, leaving the pirates running for their lives.

  The others summoned their powers too, and then it was utter chaos on the ship… scorched bodies, distorted corpses, the clanking of blades and ear-piercing cries of pain. The Scavenger fought with the pirate leader, their swords clashing thunderously.

  The pirates started jumping overboard to save themselves. It was not difficult for the Scavenger to knock off the pirate leader.

  The Sails of Time was now full of unconscious bodies and fuming smoke, with parts of the ship aflame. The Scavenger ordered the children to throw the bodies into the sea, only leaving behind their leader, whom they held captive.

  “Why don’t we throw the leader in the sea as well?” Daniel asked the Scavenger.

  “We can extract valuable information from him,” the Scavenger explained. “Watch and learn.”

  James sprayed cold water on the pirate’s face, which jerked him awake.

  “You again!” the pirate leader snarled.

  The Scavenger grinned. “Yes. I am sure you are happy to see me. Now, straight to business. We need news.”

  “What news?”

  “Everything about the armies of the Death Lord.”

  The pirate shook his head, refusing to speak.

  “All right. We will just torture you then. Need to pass the time,” the Scavenger jibed.

  He cast a meaningful look at James. James understood and summoned freezing water, pitching a splash at the pirate. The pirate yelled and shivered but remained tight-lipped as ever.

  James splattered more chilled water, which hurt like thousands of needles pricking the pirate’s skin. A few tormenting splashes broke him down.

  “Please… please… no more!” the pirate leader begged. “I will tell you!”

  “Good. Now tell me, what all kingdoms have surrendered to the Death Lord?”

  “The Orange Unicorns and the Black Sorcerers.”

  “And?”

  “The Cracken Haurs.”

  “I want all the names!”

  “The Ace Warriors.”

  “Oh God… not them! And?”

  “That’s all.”

  The Scavenger raised his eyebrows.

  “I swear, that’s all.”

  “What are his next targets?”r />
  “The City of Roads.”

  “And why?”

  “To control the routes used in the transportation of goods.”

  “You sure you have not forgotten any names?”

  “The Hooves, the Moles, the Lions and the Snakes. That’s all.”

  “Where does he get the supplies for his large army?”

  “He has the farmers of the north, south, west and east under his control. They provide the supplies.”

  “And his centres? I need locations.”

  “What centres?”

  “Don’t play the fool with me! You know very well which centres I am talking about! Let me jog your memory by telling you the name of one... the Dark Factory. Now!”

  The pirate spoke, “Three in the west. One at the Borneals and the Well of Tranquil and the third in the Land of the Serpents. Only one in the east – at the Meaneads. Four in the south – at the Moor of Pain, Moor of Sadness, Moor of Anger and the Desert of Greed. Six in the north – at the Lemon Forest, Troll Trail, Cave of Courage, Ogre Mountain, Serpent Cave and, as you mentioned, the biggest one – the Dark Factory.”

  “Is he building more centres?”

  “One in the north, to replace the Dark Factory. He is building it at the Lair of Lies.”

  “Very good. And what about the people under his control? Are there any revolts?”

  “Many. The Trolls and Ogres have escaped his army. The Wolves, the Green Hunters, the Ace Warriors, the Blue Wizards, the Ancient Ninjas, the Slayer Ninjas and, the most powerful of all, the Blade Panthers.”

  The Scavenger breathed a sigh of relief. “Are there any revolts in the Death Lord’s side?”

  “Twelve Clans have revolted against the Death Lord. I don’t remember their names.”

  “Good. What about the seas? Which pirates support him?”

  “Us. The Red Pirates. There are several others, like the Sharks, the Hyenas, the Great Whales and, of course, the Blue Whales.”

  “Those who revolted?”

  “Only two – the Silent Pirates and the Solitaire Pirates.”

  “Alright. That will be all.”

  “Now release me! I have told you everything!”

  “Of course! Swim your way to freedom.” The Scavenger tossed him into the sea. The pirate leader screamed as he swam with all his might, trying to escape the sharks.

  “So where to next?” Archer asked.

  James said that they had solved the first two phrases – ‘Journey on the Sails of Time, try to find the Ship Divine.’ The next two were – ‘Get the piece from the maze, directions written in the haze.’

  Daniel wondered what that meant. After some thinking, James figured that maybe they needed to find some piece from some sort of maze.

  “That could be the Maze of Death. Not far. We must go there,” the Scavenger said.

  “But what about ‘directions written in the haze’?” James asked.

  “One thing at a time. Let’s move.” The Scavenger tried to steer the wheel, but it didn’t budge. After much effort, the wheel turned, and the ship moved forward.

  Archer had expected the sea to be brimming with deadly creatures, waiting to pounce, but it looked composed and endless but calm. He was busy admiring the enormity of the sea when his sight fell on something. He jumped with excitement as he realized that the fog ahead must be the haze.

  They all scrutinized the haze, looking for any signs, but there were none. Before they could gauge the fog, the vessel went right into it. It was a thick, dense mass of mist, engulfing the world around them. Soon, they could see nothing except for grey mist.

  Archer summoned fire in his hand and threw it on the torches lining the railing of the ship, illuminating the path. Now he could see a formation of letters that read:

  Travellers, are you ready,

  To enter the maze,

  Figure it out.

  You are right.

  And, as he finished reading, the ship magically emerged out of the haze, onto the other side.

  “What was that?” James said, perplexed. “That wasn’t a riddle. Nothing rhymed. It was just a bunch of words thrown around.”

  Archer opened his mouth to say something when he spotted a cave-like hole on his right. While pointing it out to the others, he also spotted a signboard upon which was written – ‘The Maze of Death’.

  The Scavenger steered the ship towards it and docked it near the land. “That’s the maze alright, but we are yet to figure the direction.”

  “Got it!” James clicked his fingers. “The last line said, ‘You are right’. Right means the direction ‘right’. I think we have to take all the right turns.”

  Everyone got the logic and the ship went into the maze.

  They went on for hours, making right turn after right turn. Getting tired of the maze that this place was, the Scavenger scowled whenever another door appeared.

  “I think we misinterpreted the riddle,” James said, losing confidence. “This isn’t going to work. We are just wandering.”

  “Well, genius, it was your idea,” the Scavenger said snidely.

  Just then Matt exclaimed, “Look, there’s something here.”

  There was something shiny kept on the ground and a scroll lying next to it.

  Archer took a step towards it when a gruff voice snarled, “In a hurry, are we? I am the Bloodhound – the guardian of the fifth piece of the Arcane Crown. You need to prove your worth to get it.”

  “And how do you suppose we do that?” the Scavenger asked.

  “Only one who passes the test of physical and mental power can get this piece.”

  “Fair enough,” the Scavenger said. “Let’s begin.”

  “Such confidence! Very well!”

  A shimmering silhouette of a figure about six feet tall, dressed in a black cloak and a black hood, gleamed in the darkness.

  He started to sing:

  “I am stealthy than a dinosaur,

  And mightier than a Cracken Haur

  My teeth gleam like gold,

  Two big swords I hold.

  My temper is always high,

  I make powerful warriors cry.

  One bow and a quiver on my back,

  One axe with which I hack.”

  At once, two swords appeared in each of the guardian’s hands. A bow and a quiver appeared on his back and an axe was strapped to his back.

  Suddenly, the Scavenger started crying. Tears shot out from his eyes and continued pouring. In a short while, the ground was wet.

  “What is happening to you?” Matt asked, surprised.

  “I… don’t… know!” the Scavenger spluttered through his crying. After a while, he stopped and brushed the tears out of his eyes.

  “Now, who will fight me?” the guardian roared.

  “I will!” Pulling out his shining Lightning Sword, the Scavenger rumbled.

  The guardian hefted his swords. “Let the fight begin!”

  The Scavenger charged at the guardian. Swinging his sword in a mighty arc, he aimed straight at the Hound’s chest.

  The Hound lifted both of his swords to block the attack, but the impact pushed him backwards. He recovered quickly.

  Close combat ensued between the Hound and the Scavenger. The Hound, realizing that the Scavenger was quite powerful, backed away, disappearing into the shadows. Suddenly, arrows shot out and the Scavenger started blocking them.

  The Scavenger moved towards the arrows and was finally able to cut the bowstring of the Hound.

  Casting aside his ruined bow, the Hound pulled out his axe and threatened, “I have killed thousands with this. It will claim you next.”

  The Hound ran towards the Scavenger, swinging his axe. The Scavenger pulled out his Lightning Sword.

  The Hound started singing once again:

  “My claws have thorns like scissors,

  My speed is like great panthers

  My teeth can cut like saw,

  And my plans have no flaw!

  My enemy qu
akes with fear,

  My teeth are made to tear

  His flesh and bone,

  Pay heed to my tone!”

  At once, the Scavenger started shaking and shivering with fear. His face took on an expression of anger as he tried to stop it, but he couldn’t.

  The Hound attacked the Scavenger with his claws. The Scavenger ducked just in time.

  Concerned at the way the combat was progressing, James observed that whenever the Scavenger seemed to overpower the Hound, the Hound would sing a song, and whatever he sang turned into reality.

  James had to think of something, or the Scavenger would lose.

  Suddenly, the words of the Hound came in his mind… it was the test of the power of body and mind… both…

  And it suddenly struck him. It seemed so obvious that it made James laugh.

  “We are idiots,” he mumbled.

  “Stop laughing! Do something,” the Scavenger called out as the Hound’s axe almost impaled him.

  James started singing out loud:

  “The Hound has strength like a fly,

  He hasn’t even got height a little high,

  His teeth are made for nothing,

  His claws will fall while fighting.

  But still, he thinks that he is strong,

  We know he cannot even sing a song,

  So, pity on him for everything,

  This Hound can do... nothing!”

  Immediately, the Hound’s height shrank. His teeth shrank too. His claws fell out, and all his weapons vanished.

  The Scavenger slashed at him, but the guardian disappeared before he could make contact.

  “Very good,” came the Hound’s voice. “You are smart as well as powerful. You have passed the test. I am convinced. You are indeed the chosen ones of Lord Arcane. You are fit to take the fifth piece.”

  The Scavenger bowed towards the voice and lifted the fifth piece and the scroll. Just as the Scavenger tucked them away, the cave shook.

  “The cave is going to collapse!” Matt yelled.

  Daniel saw some letters inscribed on the wall. “LEFT!” he shrieked.

  They ran towards the passage on the left. The walls started crumbling behind them.

  No sooner had they burst out of the maze than the cave buckled and was reduced to debris.

  19

  The Sails of Time was awaiting them at the place where they had left it anchored. They climbed aboard.