Beyond the Cherry Tree (9 page)

Chapter 13

Flying Terror

J
osh held on tight as the bridge swayed from side to side. He dared not look down for it was a long,
terrifying
distance to the rocky floor below.

‘Easy, Baulge,’ calmed Bortwig. ‘Better to get across slowly than not at all.’

Suddenly, Baulge let out an unmerciful cry. The bridge shook violently as the ogre thrashed about frantically,
pointing
up at the skies.

‘We’re going to fall, Bortwig!’ screamed Josh. ‘What’s wrong with him?’

‘Baulge!’ shouted Bortwig, but the ogre was inconsolable.

Bortwig grabbed hold of Baulge’s leg, but Baulge
panicked
and ran, dragging Bortwig across the bridge. Josh tried to run too, but the bridge was swaying too hard and he was barely able to hold on.

Bortwig let go of Baulge’s leg just as they reached the end of the bridge. The ogre danced around with Mad Argil still on his left shoulder. He was in a state of terror.

Bortwig looked back to Josh as the bridge’s swaying came to rest.

‘Are you alright, Master Bloom?’

Josh quickly got to his feet. His legs and arms were
shaking
.

He waved to Bortwig, and then slowly began to walk along the bridge again. Bortwig turned to Baulge. The ogre held his head low with shame. He had calmed down a little, but still looked terrified as he pointed to the skies.

Bortwig looked up.

‘I can’t see anything,’ he called, ‘but sea ogres are known for their ability to see things that are really far away …’

Josh could see Bortwig look up to the sky and strain his eyes to see.

‘Heckrin!’ gasped the elf.

Turning quickly, he shouted toward Josh, who still had a third of the bridge to cross, ‘Run, Master Bloom. Run for your life!’

He pointed to the skies. Josh looked up ahead. He too could see something, but it only looked like a dot in the distance.

‘Heckrin!’ cried Josh, and he began to bolt.

But as Josh approached the far cliffs of Heckrin’s Pass, it became apparent that it was not one, but three sets of wings that were flying towards them. It was the witches’ cats!

Baulge dropped Mad Argil to the ground, untied his rock club, and took it in hand.

Strangely, the ogre was not as scared now.

‘What are they, Bortwig?’ gasped Josh, almost out of breath.

‘Nasty goblins on the backs of the witches’ cats,’ answered Bortwig, helping Mad Argil to his feet.

‘Witches’ cats!’ yelped Mad Argil. ‘Goblins! Where? I will bash in their heads and throw them over the cliff.’

‘Not this again,’ huffed Bortwig. ‘Quickly! Head for those trees. They might not have spotted us yet.’

The elf, ogre, dunger and boy darted toward the small cluster of whitethorns as the witches’ cats grew larger in the sky.

Baulge bravely stepped out from the trees and swung his rock club fast and furiously above his head as the witches’ cats swooped down to attack.

Bortwig grabbed hold of Mad Argil, who wanted to help the ogre.

‘Quiet, you mad fool!’ groaned Bortwig.

Baulge was struggling to keep the cats away. Three were too many. Two of the cats surrounded Baulge while the third flew around the trees and landed on their far side.

The black cat’s wings folded and its fangs glistened in the sun’s rays. The biggest goblin took a dagger in one hand and jumped off the cat’s back. Then he reached into his clothes and took out a whip. He slowly threaded through the trees.

‘Baulge!’ shouted Bortwig.

Baulge turned his head and as he did, a black cat swiped its massive paw across his head, tearing part of his left ear away. Baulge cried out in rage, then leapt into the air and grabbed the cat’s tail as it was ascending. The injured ogre pulled on the cat’s tail and dragged it down. The goblin fell off and cracked his head open on a rock.

‘He’s coming in,’ cried Josh as the big goblin drew near the trees.

‘Let me go,’ protested Mad Argil. ‘I will kill him!’

‘Shut up, you fool,’ said Bortwig. He threw Mad Argil back on the ground behind Josh.

‘Stay here, both of you.’

Bortwig approached the goblin.

‘Go now, while you still live!’ ordered the tree elf.

The goblin grunted, then was distracted by a screech from nearby.

Baulge had smashed the black cat against the ground and ripped one of its wings clean from its body, but the brave ogre could not help the elf as the second cat swooped down to attack him.

The goblin and the elf met eye to eye at the edge of the trees. They circled each other. The goblin swiped the air with his dagger, and then cracked the ground with his whip. The elf made no move beyond silently moving his lips.

Josh looked on in fear. Even though he could not see Baulge through the trees, he knew the ogre was in great combat. He could hear thrashing and screeching and
grunting
.

Suddenly, the goblin lunged at Bortwig, its dagger
pointing
toward the elf’s chest. Then, it happened. The tree beside Bortwig grabbed hold of the goblin and wrapped its thorny branches around the goblin, squeezing and squeezing until it screeched its last agonising cry.

Bortwig had spoken to the trees, and the trees had listened.

A thought ran through Josh’s head, something Bortwig had said to him before,
Mysterious and magical things, trees are, but not talkative!

Josh smiled. Bortwig had done great.

Baulge swiped at the air, but the black cat and the goblin climbed high out of reach. They hovered way above the ogre, planning their next attack.

Bortwig was heading back into the trees when, suddenly there was a yelp. It came from Mad Argil. He had snuck out through the back of the trees and crept around to the cat that stood on the far side, alone.

The cat walked toward the dead goblin with Mad Argil hanging from its jaws. Josh and Bortwig ran to the opening in the trees, expecting to see Mad Argil’s limp body.

‘Not fair,’ complained Mad Argil. ‘Not fair at all.’

He was unharmed. The witch’s cat had a hold on his robe.

‘Stand back, Master Bloom,’ instructed the elf.

Baulge ran over and stood his ground beside Bortwig as the other cat still hovered high. The cat on the ground opened its jaws and let Mad Argil go. Mad Argil complained again and brushed himself off.

Bortwig’s eyes enlarged. Mad Argil turned quickly to see the cat’s razor-sharp claws raised above his head. It would swipe the dunger’s head clean off.

Just as the cat was about to launch its blow, great bravery washed over Josh and he stepped forward to confront the giant cat.

‘No, Master Bloom!’

Baulge let a worrying groan.

Josh took his wand from his pocket and pointed it at the cat.

‘Leave now or die!’ Josh commanded.

‘You’re dead, boy!’ tittered Mad Argil to Josh.

Baulge stepped forward and swung his rock club over his head, bellowing a deep fearsome cry at the cat. But the witches’ cat did not back down. It widened its gaping mouth
once more and leaned back on its hind legs and began to flap its wings. It was ready to strike.

‘Kill it, Baulge!’ yelled Bortwig.

Baulge flung his rock club, but the cat lifted into the sky. Baulge had missed.

The witches’ cat dived toward Josh.

Suddenly Josh’s wand glowed brighter than Josh had ever seen and a blade of fire penetrated the giant cat’s chest,
sending
the creature over the cliff edge.

The last cat screeched, leapt high in the sky and, on the goblin’s order, turned and flew away. They were fearful of the great magic that Josh possessed.

Baulge lifted Josh in the air as if to commend the boy’s bravery, but Bortwig was in no mood for celebration.

‘You could have been killed, Master Bloom.’

Josh was still shaking. Shocked, but overwhelmed that he had defeated the evil witches’ cat.

‘You can put me down now, Baulge!’ he smiled.

Josh walked over to Bortwig and knelt down in front of the elf – face to face.

‘It’s lucky I’ve got this,’ said Josh, showing the wand to Bortwig.

‘Indeed it is, Master Bloom,’ sighed Bortwig.

‘I need answers, Bortwig’ said Josh. ‘Why is everything in Habilon trying to kill me?’

Mad Argil jumped to his feet and combed his fingers through his filthy beard, picking out insects that had crawled up from the grass.

‘If I wanted to kill you, you’d be dead now. I once killed a cyclops by just staring into its eye. Bet you didn’t know that – ha, ha!’

Bortwig looked at Mad Argil with contempt, ‘Idiot!’ then he returned his eyes to Josh.

‘Is it because I’m looking for the general? Is that it, Bortwig? Do they think I have some connection to him, like I’m related to him or something?’

That question made Josh think of home and Henry and Nell and the conversation they had on his birthday about his real parents. Josh was confused now. He sat down beside Bortwig.

Bortwig shook his head. ‘We must focus on the path ahead, Master Bloom,’ comforted Bortwig. ‘And meeting the wizard.’

‘But what about the general?’ worried Josh. ‘I’m supposed to be searching for him, remember – my destiny. I know that’s what I’m supposed to be doing.’

Suddenly their conversation was interrupted by yet another yelp from Mad Argil. When they looked to see what was wrong, the dunger could not be seen, yet still they could hear his annoying cries. Baulge was looking over the
cliff when he turned quickly and bellowed out tremendous laughter toward Josh and Bortwig.

A blaze of fire shot up into the sky straight up over Baulge’s head, followed by another. As the thick smoke cleared, an enormous white dragon appeared. It flapped its wings as it ascended from the cliff’s edge, then it landed beside the trees and folded its wings.

A man climbed down from the dragon’s back. He had Mad Argil in a neck hold, but Josh could see from his smile and Baulge’s delight that he was only playing with the dunger. Mad Argil had been standing with his back to the cliff when he was swiped over the edge.

The man was tall with long dark hair, and he was dressed in full armour. A sword sparkled by his side and bore the sign of a golden arc. He let go of Mad Argil. The dunger marched off into the trees, with disgruntled embarrassment.

‘Who’s this?’ Josh whispered to Bortwig.

Bortwig stepped out of the trees.

‘Danthenum!’ smiled Bortwig. ‘Always makes such a
dramatic
entrance.’

Mad Argil returned. ‘You’re very lucky, you caught me by surprise or else I …’

‘Another word from your mouth, dunger, and you will be begging for the tip of my sword to finish you off,’ laughed Danthenum.

Then he knelt down and shook the hand of the elf.

Bortwig turned to Josh.

‘This, Master Bloom, is Danthenum, knight of the Kingdom of Habilon.’

As Danthenum shook Josh’s hand, the white dragon bellowed a loud roar.

‘And this,’ laughed Bortwig, ‘is Smolderin, the white dragon.’

Josh’s heart almost skipped a beat when he saw the look on Danthenum’s face as Bortwig explained to the knight that he was taking the boy to the wizard Wilzorf.
Danthenum
turned sharply and looked toward Josh.

‘Didn’t you tell him?’ the knight asked the elf.

‘Believe, don’t believe,’ huffed Bortwig. ‘We will travel with or without your help.’

Josh walked closer to them. ‘Tell me what, Bortwig?’

Bortwig folded his arms and looked sternly at
Danthenum
.

Josh turned his eyes away from the elf and repeated the question to the knight.

Danthenum didn’t pause or delay.

‘The wizard is long dead,’ announced the knight.

Josh’s face was filled with horror. He looked at Bortwig.

‘Bortwig!’

‘Don’t listen to a word Danthenum speaks, Master Bloom.
The wizard is alive and soon he will be sending for you. Much to discuss, plans to make.’

Danthenum laughed. ‘Save his ears from your madness, elf. You know as well as I do that Wilzorf fell at Krudon’s evil hand.’

Bortwig looked at Josh and shook his head.

‘Very well, then,’ said Danthenum. ‘I will take you. If you really think the wizard is alive, I will take you.’

Chapter 14

Flight with the White Dragon

J
osh watched Danthenum tie three loops in a rope and harness it to Smolderin. Bortwig and Mad Argil
quarrelled
as to whether Mad Argil should journey back to Feldorn Forest with Baulge or tag along to the wizard Wilzorf’s.

Smolderin rested his head in the grass, his big azure eyes fixed upon the skies above, watching to the north. Josh slowly crept over toward Smolderin’s head, but carefully kept his distance in case he startled the dragon. Smolderin’s eyes rolled and flickered, and his nostrils puffed out hot jets of steam into the air. Josh leapt with fright, falling back into the grass.

Danthenum laughed and then reached out a hand to help
the boy to his feet. Josh was shaken, but tried not to show it in front of Danthenum. He, too, would like to be strong and brave like the knight.

‘Don’t mind Smolderin,’ smiled Danthenum, patting Josh on the shoulder. ‘He must like you to even bother to play tricks on you.’

Josh managed a slight grin just to show that it didn’t really scare him. Bortwig came over to them, his hands on his head.

‘That critter will be the end of me,’ complained Bortwig.

‘Leave him to fate,’ laughed Danthenum. ‘You are not responsible for his well-being.’

‘Yes, yes, yes,’ huffed Bortwig. ‘But Norlif and Hink are allies and if Norlif knew that I’d left Argil, mad as he is, to his own demise, there would be bother upon me.’

It was decided. Only Baulge would travel back to Feldorn. He was badly injured, and would only burden the journey to Wilzorf.

Josh was worried about Baulge and whether he would make it back safely, but Bortwig explained to Josh that
sea-ogres
are very strong creatures.

‘Baulge will be just fine, Master Bloom,’ he smiled.

On Danthenum’s instruction, Josh slipped into the loop on Smolderin’s back behind the knight. He was followed by Bortwig, and finally, Mad Argil climbed on the end.

‘Are you sure you don’t want me to take you to the palace
to see the council?’ asked Danthenum.

Bortwig shook his head. ‘There is business with the wizard. We must go there first. The council can wait a little longer.’

On those words, Smolderin’s wings unfolded.

‘Fly to the west,’ ordered Danthenum to the dragon. ‘To the swamps.’

Josh held on tight to Danthenum’s rope as gusts of wind bashed about him. The white dragon released his claws from the ground and with one big push, he ripped high through the sky. The last view Josh had of Heckrin’s Pass was that of an ogre belting across the wooden bridge.

There was little to no conversation on the journey to the swamps.

Flying with a dragon was noisy business. Flapping wings and gusting wind muffled out most noises, yet Mad Argil still managed to annoy Bortwig with his outrageous outbursts of screaming and howling. The dunger was having the time of his life. The flight was an opportunity for Smolderin to impress his passengers with his aerial skills through the clear blue skies of Habilon.

At times it was like a roller coaster. All four passengers held on tight as Smolderin nose-dived toward the tips of the pine trees then shifted his giant body to one side and glided through the narrowest of gaps between branches. Every now and then he incinerated large objects that threatened collision.

Josh thought of what his school friends would think if they knew what he was doing at this moment in time.

Imagine!
he thought.
I’m actually flying on the back of a dragon. How bizarre is this?

Josh rubbed his hands along Smolderin’s scaly back. It felt like the dragon was wearing an armoured suit. Josh could feel the dragon’s heart beating like a roll of thunder, taking long breaks in between each pounding beat.

Still, as exhilarating and mind-blowing as flying with a dragon was, Josh’s mind was troubled by Danthenum’s words. Was the wizard alive, or had Bortwig led him this far for nothing?

He tried to clear his head of these doubts and enjoy the ride with the dragon. It truly was an amazing experience. More thoughts of home began to run through his head. How was this real? Up to a short time ago, life was normal and uneventful; now he was flying through the air on the back of a dragon.

As Josh admired the wonderful views of Habilon – the snow-capped mountain to the far north, crystal clear streams below surrounded by the greenest of forests – he felt for the first time in his life like he was alive, really alive.