The Secret Of The Unicorn Queen -The Dark Gods (9 page)

    "All right, my little friends," muttered Sheila angrily, crouching down and rummaging in her backpack, "we'll see how you like this!" 

    She pulled out her tape deck. Without stopping to look, Sheila dropped the first tape she could find into it, turning the volume up full blast. Bon Jovi blared out into the still night, and the chittering stopped dead. The warriors all hurried to cover their ears. Even the unicorns seemed to wince. 

    "Well," yelled Sheila above the noise, "if that doesn't scare them away, I don't know what will!" 

    "They don't look scared!" shouted Darian. "What do you suppose they're doing?" 

    "Dancing!" cried Dian. "They seem to like your music, Sheila!" 

    So they did. As the warriors stared in disbelief, the little creatures danced and cavorted and giggled with joy. One of them came scuttling bravely forward, reaching up to take Sheila's hand in its own (its tiny, hard, warm palm felt just like the paw of a raccoon she had once handled at a game farm), and pulled her into the merry ring of imps. 

    "I think they're asking you to dance!" said Pelu, laughing. 

    Feeling silly, Sheila tried a few steps. The imps chittered in glee, clapping their hands. 

    "Well, okay. If this will keep you out of our belongings…” 

    As the warriors kept time, clapping and stamping their feet, and as the unicorns stared in amazement, Sheila and the imps danced away, whirling and laughing, till the end of the tape. 

    "All right, fellows. That's it for tonight. Okay?" And, without another sound, the imps melted away into the darkness. 

    But the next morning they were back in full force, their scaly faces split by smiles. 

    "Looks as if they've decided you're their good friend, Sheila," said Pelu with a grin. 

    Sheila shrugged. "I guess they'll go away when they get bored." But they didn't. All that day, as the warriors rode on, the imps scrambled happily along behind them. 

    Well, thought Sheila, now we know why the unicorns didn't react to them. They're harmless. Kind of cute, too, in an ugly sort of way. 

    Oh, yes, the imps were harmless enough. But who knew who—or what-the unicorn warriors would meet next? 

    As each day of hard riding and each night of uneasy watching brought them ever closer to the time of the dark of the moon, the unicorn warriors grew silent and tense. Even Sheila's friendly little imps, who were still frolicking along behind them, failed to make anybody laugh. 

    Sheila knew why. Everyone was sharing the same grim thoughts: 

    What if Nanine is leading us astray? 

    What if we don't get to Erech-ban in time? 

    What if Illyria dies? 

    At least the monotonous landscape was changing. The twisted red rocks loomed up ever taller around them, till the unicorns were making their cautious way through true mountains. 

    "Nanine," began Myno uneasily. "Are you sure . 

    "Yes, yes, we're almost there, I promise. As a matter of fact, my friends, we'd better start slowing down a bit." 

    "Why?" 

    "Well, we don't really want to arrive at Erech-ban in broad daylight, do we? Not if we wish to check out the situation first. I'm not exactly sure how strongly the city is fortified." "Lead on, Nanine," Pelu said resignedly. "But we don't have much time to spare. Tonight is the last night before the dark of the moon."

    "As I promised," said Nanine, sweeping out her arm in a dramatic gesture, “Erech-ban." 

    The warriors were standing on a rocky cliff, looking down into the beginning of a narrow gorge that widened into a vast, circular valley. In that valley, its walls and houses cut out of the red sandstone cliffs under which it sheltered, stood a breathtaking city. 

    The rosy-red coloring was made even rosier by the light of the setting sun which cast dramatic shadows over the ornamental stonework, imitation columns, balconies, porches, and ornate doorways that graced each and every building. But these common houses paled in comparison to the enormous structure that loomed above them. 

    That has got to be Kumuru's royal palace, Sheila decided. It was an eerie structure, built right into the side of the tallest of the encircling mountains. Every inch of its vast facade was ornamented with all manner of carvings: columns cut to look like stalks of gigantic flowers, friezes of geometric designs, and strange statues of people, animals, and creatures Sheila couldn't even name. 

    "What a creepy place to live!" she exclaimed. 

    "What a lovely place for an ambush," muttered Myno, casting an unhappy gaze over the narrow, winding gorge. "But there doesn't seem to be any other way in." 

    "No," said Nanine softly. "I'm afraid there isn't." 

    "What about climbing around and down one of the mountains?" Darian suggested. 

    "That won't work. You can't see it from here, but there's a solid, unclimbable wall of rock at the city's back." 

    "Oh, great!" Darian exploded, his eyes flashing with frustration. "Are you saying we came all this way for nothing? We've got to get Illyria out of there!" 

    "I only promised to get you here in time!" Nanine protested. "I never said I had all the answers!" 

    "Yes, but-" 

    "What about-" 

    As the others began arguing back and forth, searching for a solution, Sheila moved away from them, thoughtfully studying the opening of the gorge. 

    "Hey, everybody," she called after a while. "Come look at this and tell me what you see." 

    Myno shrugged. "Nothing special. Just two watchtowers, one on either side of the gorge." She looked up at the fortification and a great grin suddenly spread across her face. "Two small watchtowers," she corrected herself, "with room for only a few guards in each." 

    "Yes . . ." added Pelu slowly. "Guards who must be pretty bored with sitting there doing nothing. Guards who also must be pretty sleepy from staring into the glare of the sunset.'' 

    "Guards," concluded Nanine, "who, in short, must be totally off their guard!" 

    Quickly the warriors divided themselves into two teams. Sheila found herself with Nanine, Pelu, and Darian. Keeping to the shadows, they climbed silently up the side of the gorge to the right-hand watchtower, finding more than enough hand- and footholds in the weathered sandstone. Sheila warily peeked into one of the tower’s windows and bit back a laugh. 

    There were four guards inside the one small room. Three of them were busy playing what looked very much like the Samarnan version of dice. The fourth man was sound asleep and snoring. 

    He's in for a rude awakening, Sheila thought, as the warriors pounced on their prey. Before the guards even knew what hit them, they were all in dreamland. 

    "Better tie them up and gag them," warned Nanine, picking up a coil of rope. "We don't want them waking up too soon and yelling for help." 

    Warily, Sheila looked across to the other tower, then gave a little laugh of relief as she saw Myno's wave. "It's okay. The other guards are out of commission, too.” 

    The warriors scrambled back down to where they had left the unicorns, and mounted up. Cautiously, they began the ride through the gorge. Sheila fought down the urge to keep looking back over her shoulder. 

    There's nothing following us, really there isn't! she scolded herself. Except maybe an imp or two. And you know they're harmless! 

    But then she found herself staring nervously up at the steep cliffs on either side of them. If only the gorge weren't quite so narrow, or the cliffs quite so high. . . . The patch of sky she could see far overhead only made her feel more trapped than ever. 

    The unicorns. Think of the unicorns, instead. 

    How lightly they were stepping, their cloven hoofs not making a sound. Did they understand how important silence was right now? 

    I bet they do. I bet they know we're going to rescue Illyria, too, and—Uh-oh. 

    Ahead of them was the end of the gorge and the opening of the valley. Ahead of them were the high walls and gates of the city of Erech-ban. And ahead of them, parading back and forth in front of those walls, a whole regiment of guards. 

    "So much for sneaking in," whispered Nanine. "Now what?" 

    The little band of warriors hastily drew back into the shadowy gorge. "There's no hope for it," said Pelu softly. "We've got to follow our original plan. Some of us will have to use the unicorns to create a diversion." 

    "While the rest of us steal into the city," added Myno. "All right. Who's going to do what? I'm all for starting a nice, loud diversion. What do you say, Nanine?" 

    "Oh, I think we could work out something!" The ex-princess grinned at the ex-slave. "And Darian has a good voice for shouting. He should be able to come up with some frighteningly fierce war cries. Eh, Darian?" 

    He opened his mouth, closed it again, clearly knowing the most useful place for him was with the group creating the diversion, but looking miserable about it. Sheila knew he wanted to be the one to rescue his sister. And, just for a panicky, selfish moment, she wanted to tell him, Go ahead. She's your sister, you risk your neck for her! But instead, before Darian could speak, Sheila heard herself saying, "I . . . guess I'd better be the one to get into the palace. After all, Kumuru's magic doesn't seem to work on me.” 

    She half-hoped someone would come up with another plan, but Pelu only nodded and said, "That makes sense. I'm coming, too. I hate to bring this up, but we don't know if Illyria has been hurt. She may need a healer." 

    "I want to come with you. 

    "Dian? There's no need-" 

    "Oh, yes, there is! I betrayed Illyria. I lost Swiftfoot. If it hadn't been for me, none of us would be in this mess. I am coming with you." 

    Pelu sighed. "Sheila? You were the first to volunteer. It's up to you.” 

    Sheila struggled not to giggle nervously. Hey, look, she wanted to blurt, I'm just glad I don't have to go in there alone! But instead, she managed to say seriously, "If Dian wants to help, it's okay with me." 

    "Then it's all decided," Myno said. "Just one more thing . . . Well, we haven't got much time. If you don't meet us out here by tomorrow, the night of the dark of the moon, we'll know that you . . . failed. And we'll-" 

    "Do nothing," Pelu cut in gently. "Myno, if we aren't here by then, there'll be nothing you can do to help us. Your only obligation will be to get the unicorns and yourselves safely back to Campora." 

    "I don't like that." 

    Pelu grinned. "Hey, now, don't look so grim! We have no intention of failing!" And then her smile faded as she said, "Come, let us begin!" 

    Sheila turned to see Darian staring at her with such warmth in his eyes that she felt her cheeks start to redden. 

    "Darian?"