Read The Serpent of Eridor Online

Authors: Alison Gardiner

The Serpent of Eridor (10 page)

BOOK: The Serpent of Eridor
6.85Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads
CHAPTER 14

Alex leapt on to a coloured stone. With a jerk it began to rise, faster than the others had done.

‘Know where we're going?' asked Skoodle.

‘Up.'

Keeko jumped from the floor into his arms as Ikara lassoed his leg with a coil of her tail to haul herself on board. Tariq jumped on to the slab next door, his face showing no emotion.

Alex crouched down, hoping that the roof would open earlier than for the other animals. His eyes were fixed on what seemed to be a very solid ceiling, when it evaporated, leaving a dark hole. The slab below them began to glow. They zoomed upwards in a turquoise tile of light. After a few seconds the paving stone halted in a laboratory stuffed with benches of scientific instruments, gas burners, glass beakers and jars of chemicals.

The mouse was streaking down the centre, pursued by the sleek tabby body of Clawds. Both bolted through an open door at the far end.

Zorrin's voice came again in Alex's ear. ‘Clawds is closing in. The storeroom has only one door. Guard it. I'll transparticulate there and deal with the mouse.'

‘Understood.'

As Alex arrived in the next room he heard Clawds's deep growl coming from the other side of a pile of boxes. He ran round it to find Clawds with the mouse clamped in his jaws. Black blood oozed out of his mouth. Clawds dropped him, keeping one front paw on the rodent's tail. Then, opening his mouth wide, he engulfed him. Zorrin and Myth reparticulated beside them as the tip of the mouse's tail disappeared into the cat.

Clawds's eyes glazed. His body stiffened. In seconds the cat had frozen into a solid block of wood, perfect in every detail, even in his startled expression. Shocked, Alex stared at the lifeless form.

‘He's dead,' cried Keeko.

‘No. Only lignified,' said Zorrin. ‘I've changed him into wood. If I hadn't transmorphed him the evil concentrated in that small rodent body would have killed Clawds.'

‘But doesn't being turned into wood count as being dead?' asked Skoodle. ‘Seems a bit on the terminal side.'

‘No,' said Zorrin. ‘This spell is reversible. The evil trapped inside Clawds is lignified with him and can't escape. He's safe, at least for the moment.'

He picked up the small wooden figure, turning it in his hands, studying the warm sculpture. ‘We'll take him to Flick and see if she can reverse this without killing him. The tree will be the quickest way down.'

A window stretched from ceiling to floor at the far side of the room. Beyond it a huge oak spread its branches towards the glass. Zorrin opened the leaded casement and climbed on to the low sill. With a quick ‘Follow me,' he scrambled on to the nearest branch. Myth jumped on behind him. Placing his feet on the bark in front of him, Zorrin yanked downwards on a small leafy twig.

A hole appeared in the trunk, light blazing from it. The branch tilted slowly, sliding Zorrin and Myth into the gap. As they whisked out of sight the hole closed and the branch levelled out.

‘Me first,' said Keeko, swinging herself on to the branch and yanking on the twig. She disappeared out of sight, shrieking and hollering.

Alex climbed on to the branch, then pulled on the twig. The branch tilted him forward as the yawning hole appeared. As they slid forward into the centre of the tree, candles fixed to the walls burst into flame, lighting up the inside of a polished tube. They flew down as if on a water slide, whizzed through a hatch at the end and slid to a halt on the flagstone kitchen floor next to Keeko. An undignified heap of snake followed a few seconds later.

‘Move,' yelled Alex, wrenching Ikara off the landing strip, knowing that in a millisecond three hundred kilos of flying bear would crush her.

‘Clawds took a huge risk and swallowed the intruder,' Zorrin was telling Flick as Tariq crashed into the kitchen. ‘He would have died in seconds if I hadn't transmorphed him.'

Flick took the statue into her hands. ‘What an amazingly brave thing to do.'

‘Can you save him if I change him back now?'

‘No. It would kill him.'

‘Makusha might know a way to reduce or divert the negative power flow. Then waking him up might not kill him. We'll go first thing tomorrow. Flick, will you stay and guard Ravenscraig? I'll leave Myth with you.'

‘Why can't Flick come?' asked Skoodle. ‘More wizard power.'

‘There could be a rescue attempt,' said Flick. ‘Then we'd lose Clawds. That mouse interloper must be an immensely powerful magic force.'

‘How do you know?' asked Tariq.

‘Because he broke through our defences. The fortress boundaries are impenetrable to all but anyone specifically invited or elemental wizards,' said Zorrin.

‘If he's so powerful, why didn't the mouse kill Clawds as soon as he gave chase?' asked Alex.

‘Because Clawds acted so quickly. He never gave the wizard a moment to stop and gather enough energy to transmorph. With even a couple of seconds' pause Clawds would have caught him.'

‘He was on the lift to the attic for several seconds,' said Skoodle. ‘Could've changed then.'

‘I'm guessing that it would have taken all of a mouse's physical strength and mental concentration to hang on to a stone travelling at that speed with the wind streaming past,' said Zorrin. ‘It's lucky for us that Clawds recognised the mouse for what he was. Yet I can't think how an enemy, powerful wizard or not, foiled our defences.'

Tariq scratched his head. ‘Perhaps he came in on the back of one of the crocodiles.'

‘No. Still wouldn't count as being invited,' said Flick.

‘What if it became one of the crocodiles?' asked Ikara. ‘This evil is able to transmorph so maybe it could even change into a croc. As our transport, you invited them in.'

‘Clever thought. I'll check the stables.' Zorrin pulled back his sleeve. On his wrist a crystal sparkled with a myriad of different colours. He looked deeply into it.

‘There are only two crocodiles in the stables now. Flick, that's a loophole we must close. Could you work on it as soon as possible?'

‘Of course. I'll do it tomorrow while you're away, but now we all need to get to bed. You'll have a very long day tomorrow.'

Alex's bedroom was on the third floor, its windows overlooking an amazing array of huge fuchsias among heavy jungle vines. Dark emerald velvet curtains hung at the windows and cloaked the corners of the four-poster bed. Alex gently pulled a snoring Skoodle out of his pocket and placed him on a clean towel.

‘Don't pee on it,' he told the sleeping hamster. ‘Manners.'

Pyjamas had been laid out on Alex's bed. He climbed into them and found that they fitted him exactly. With a sleepy smile in the direction of where he thought Flick's room might be, he got into bed and fell into in a dreamless sleep in minutes.

The next morning Alex and Skoodle found Myth sitting outside their room. As they emerged, Myth started padding along the corridor towards a broad oak stairway.

‘Panthernav,' said Skoodle. ‘This place has everything.'

From the kitchen drifted a fantastic blanket of aroma woven from croissants, hot chocolate and freshly-baked bread. As they walked in Flick was placing an immense platter of fruit on the kitchen table.

‘Ice,' said Keeko, trotting over and taking a banana.

‘That word,' groaned Zorrin, looking up from his book. ‘Soon you'll all be using it.'

A wicked grin crossed Flick's face. ‘Possibly. If we all did, it would be ice.'

She ducked, avoiding the melon slice hurled by Zorrin.

Alex grinned at Flick. ‘Agreed.' He picked up a glass of orange juice. ‘Gosh, this is warm. Pass the—'

‘Frozen water,' yelled Skoodle. ‘Careful. Say it and he may turn you into a skunk.'

‘Or something more useful, like a cauldron brush,' muttered Zorrin.

As they ate he filled them in on the details of the upcoming trek. It didn't sound pleasant.

‘How are we going to get to the mountain?' asked Tariq.

‘Come with me. I'll show you.' Zorrin rose, black hair cascading down his back, high cheekbones emphasised by the morning sunlight. The white mood streak at the front of his hair had pale green edges. He led them to his study.

‘This is the Modo: our transporter,' said Zorrin, as they walked in.

‘Where?' asked Skoodle climbing on to Alex's shoulder.

‘This room,' said Zorrin. ‘The controls are in my desk. When I launch us those silver plates will open up.' He pointed to the clear ceiling, beyond which were thin metal triangles, meeting at their tips. ‘The whole room will then take off, like an enormous glass ball.'

‘Awesome,' said Alex, trying to imagine the room in flight.

‘But what about all the stuff in here? Surely some is too valuable to leave the fortress,' said Tariq.

‘You're right. Those things are magically anchored to Ravenscraig so, as we leave, they'll stay.'

‘Such as?' asked Keeko.

‘The Sword of Alwyn on the wall behind you. It has ended many lives in the past. The goblins have woven strong magic into its shaft. It can even cut through metal: human bones are like twigs to it.'

‘Great piece of gory history,' said Alex. ‘How did you get hold of it?'

Zorrin shrugged. ‘It's a very long story. I'll tell you some day. Now, help me think. We need to take a gift to Makusha. But what do you give a mountain?'

‘Something magical?' suggested Alex.

‘Something valuable? A gem, for example,' said Tariq. ‘Stone for a stone?'

Keeko shook her head. ‘Too dull. Must be something quirky.'

‘I'm decisioned out,' said Zorrin. ‘We'll take all three. That rod leaning on the parrot's cage will do for the magical. Tapped once, it produces fire.' He reached through the solid top of the desk, withdrawing a glass bottle in which was suspended a huge milky pearl. ‘Queen Rak-hi-eda's wedding gift from her father. No magic but, being huge and perfect, it's extremely valuable. Let's see. Quirky.'

‘Time tears?' suggested Ikara, surveying the desk.

‘Too dangerous. Cabivitrim glue and the gold mesh glove – that will do. Please shove them in a pocket, Alex.' Zorrin put the other things into his trousers, collapsing the black and gold rod into a short stick.

He sat down at the desk. With a light touch to one corner and a few muttered words, a control panel sprang up in front of him. ‘Keeko, if you would push that blue lever beside you the doors will seal. I'll then launch us. Once in the air we'll be able to see the earth below through glass panels. From the ground we'll look like a solid silver ball, owing to a one-way mirror effect.'

Keeko leaned hard on the lever. ‘So we can see out and they can't see in?'

‘Correct. Launching now,' said Zorrin.

With a whoosh, they shot upwards.

‘I'm loving this.' Keeko trotted across to one of the windows to gaze down at the receding jungle. ‘Flying's brilliant.'

‘Bit further to the west,' Zorrin said to a map laid out on his desk. ‘Yes, about there. Show me a detailed section of the area.' As he spoke a small silver arrow travelled across the map towards Makusha. A small red dot moved in response to his words. ‘The crimson light is our Point of Intended Touchdown or PIT,' he told Alex, who had moved across to see what was happening. ‘The silver arrow represents the Modo in Flight or MIF.'

‘I suppose that's,' said Alex, pointing, ‘is the Point of Launching at Ravenscraig. POLAR.'

‘And this,' said Ikara, pointing with her tail at the Single Redwood, ‘Is Many Unpleasant Deeds Done Yesterday. MUDDY.'

‘How about,' said Tariq, indicating the river, ‘This being the Crocodiles and Keeko Experience? CAKE.'

‘And what about,' said Keeko, pointing at Makusha, ‘This being the—'

‘I don't think you're taking this seriously,' interrupted Zorrin.

‘No, but then we don't have to,' said Ikara, curling herself back on the floor. ‘We're not flying the joint.'

‘Do we get in-flight refreshments, Captain?' asked Alex.

‘Of course,' said Zorrin, waving his hands vaguely towards a cabinet on the far side of the room. ‘Over there.'

‘Ice,' said Ikara.

‘Now it's you with that word,' said Zorrin.

‘It seems to be catching,' grinned Alex.

‘Not by me it isn't,' muttered Zorrin, as he bent over the map once more.

CHAPTER 15

Deep in the tangled forest the swarthy goblin leader Tevo threw a broken-legged squirrel on to the fire. Ignoring its dying screams he sat on a rock, eating the animal's barbecued brother. The band of animals around him didn't flinch. They knew how little Tevo valued life; his total disregard for pain. His long brown beard soon filled with bits of flesh as he ate, yellow dog-like teeth tearing at the meat.

Malicious goblin eyes watched the Modo rise, its shape etched out in the steely grey sky. Then a heavy black cloud swept across the heavens, hiding it entirely.

‘Good riddance,' spat out Tevo. ‘That will be the do-gooder wizard out of the way.' Tevo's voice rose into an imitation of a woman's voice, totally out of keeping with his stocky build and strong face. ‘Let's go and rescue the persecuted, Zorrin. Or shall we grow herbs together?'

The pack of animals surrounding him laughed loudly.

‘Why does he hate that wizard pair so badly?' Grut, a small badger, asked his cousin Smuddy Binks.

‘They captured the Sword of Alwyn. I believe that Tevo's real reason for breaking into Ravenscraig isn't the jewels: it's the sword.'

Tevo's wife Rectoria watched him from the other side of the camp, frowning. She sniffed hard – collecting as much snot into her throat as she could – swished it around her mouth and, with a hard contraction of her abs, spat. A glob of spit-covered nasal gunk sailed through the air, glistening dark green in the sunlight. The foul-smelling quivering mass landed three metres away.

Rycant the black Rottweiler trotted over to look at the repulsive snot-ball more closely. He looked back at Rectoria, estimating the distance of the gob's flight by eye.

‘It's a winner,' he stated loudly, adding in an undertone to his brother, Hebor, ‘She must be about to snap.'

Rectoria strode across to Rycant. ‘I heard that. I am. I'd divorce him if I could,' she muttered back.

‘Then do it.'

‘Can't. Goblin law. He's a life sentence.'

Tevo glanced across at the snot-glob, then pulled a map from his pocket and unfolded it on to the ground. He gazed upwards to the cloud formations scudding across the sky.

‘Blasted ferret gizzards,' Rectoria hissed. ‘Greatest gob for months, far better than many of his, and he doesn't say a word. He doesn't give a stoat's left ear for any of us, including me. The only two emotions he's got are anger and hate. Even loyalty doesn't feature, useful though it might be to him.'

‘I know,' replied Rycant in a low growl. ‘In battle I've seen him pass within a pace of his injured comrades, not lifting a sword arm to help. Once you're too badly wounded to fight he has no more use for you. Is there anything at all he cares about?'

‘Money. Power. The Sword of Alwyn. But mainly desire to reclaim the goblin rights, taken from the great goblin master. That will keep him fighting until the last breath is slashed out of his body.'

Tevo rooted in the soil with a stick, examining conditions underfoot. He arose, a cruel gleam in his black bulgy eyes. ‘It is right. Tonight we enter Ravenscraig.'

‘That's good,' muttered Hebor. ‘I'm fed up with waiting.'

‘The defences at the hideout will be weak,' continued Tevo.

‘Will no one be guarding Ravenscraig?' asked Rectoria, her voice harsh and strident.

‘Don't be such a complete fool, female,' answered Tevo, looking at her with a sour expression. ‘The servants and animals will remain. They wouldn't leave the castle entirely undefended.'

The urge to snap back was strong, but the memory of the beating Tevo had given her the last time she had angered him kept her silent.

Smuddy Binks, a large badger with a battle-scarred snout, was standing away from the group. He called over, ‘How many servants?'

‘The number is unimportant,' Tevo replied.

Rectoria raised her eyebrows. Turning her back on him she mouthed to Rycant, ‘He doesn't know.'

‘How are we to get into Ravenscraig?' asked Arnak, a fox whose battle skills and courage had made him a subsection leader, feared and respected in equal measure. ‘Are we to storm the front door?'

Tevo snorted. ‘No one can get in by force. It's guarded by deep magic. The only way in is either to be an elemental wizard, or be invited in by one.'

‘As we are neither this has been a lousy waste of time,' muttered Smuddy Binks to Grut.

‘Stupid badger,' said Hebor, trotting over to kick Smuddy Binks. ‘I've worked it out. Tevo's captured an elemental wizard. He's going to torture him and make him lead us into the castle.'

Tevo produced a hideous grin. ‘That wouldn't work. Deeper magic would recognise that there was no free will on the part of the wizard. You've also forgotten the stupid loyalty that all elemental wizards have for Zorrin. Any would rather die than betray him.'

Arnak shook his heavy russet head, bemused. ‘There must be something you're not telling us, as we're not elemental wizards and I seriously doubt they've invited us in.'

‘I have a visorb,' Tevo said. ‘The defence magic will recognise it as being that of an elemental wizard.'

‘But that's not possible,' barked out Arnak.

‘For me anything is possible.'

‘But how?' asked Grut. ‘You cannot take a visorb from a living wizard, nor from a dead one: it dies with him or her.'

‘So how is this apparently possible?' asked Smuddy Binks.

Tevo leaned back against a tree, arms folded, surveying them with a half smile.

After a minute Rectoria realised that Tevo wanted her to describe his cleverness and the brilliance of his plan.
Fool
, she thought. Deeply irritated, she asked him, ‘Shall I tell the story?'

‘If you really want to,' he replied. ‘You can have centre stage and your bit of reflected glory.'

Forcing her voice to sound full of admiration, she began. ‘Some of you may have heard of Olip, an evil wizard who betrayed the elemental wizard Jago. As a consequence Jago's wife Hera lost her life. Jago swore that she would be avenged: Olip would die.

‘Jago told everyone what he planned to do. He wanted Olip to lie awake at night tortured by fear and spend every waking moment in mental agony. As soon as the news of Jago's sworn intent reached Olip the coward went into hiding.'

Choosing her words carefully and trying to sound more enthusiastic than she felt, Rectoria continued, ‘The first part of Tevo's brilliant plan was to become Jago's bodyguard. As Jago's servant he could spy for Olip. The plan worked perfectly. Tevo became a trusted part of Jago's household. Then Olip came back out of hiding and threatened to kill Jago's son, Luke.'

‘Why?' asked Arnak. ‘A wizard boy of fifteen is no threat. He doesn't even have his own visorb until he's sixteen, so his magic would have been puny – nothing compared to Olip's.'

Tevo took a couple of paces towards Arnak, who backed away. ‘That wasn't the real plan. Olip knew that Jago would hide Luke. While they were travelling to a hideout they'd be vulnerable. The concept was working exactly as we'd anticipated.'

‘We'
my big hairy toes
, thought Rectoria.
It was my idea
. Tevo looked across to her. Suppressing a sigh, Rectoria continued. ‘Tevo told Olip the route along which they would escape. At a remote spot, high above the falls of Spirox, Olip waited in the stormy night for the two travellers. The horses had to slow down to walk on part of the slippery narrow path. At the sound of their approaching hooves Olip sprang out and hit Jago with a maxalgia curse.'

‘Agonising death,' whispered Grut, paw across his mouth.

Smuddy Binks lay rigid, thinking of Jago lying in agony knowing that he'd failed to save his son's life. Mentally he could see the horrified white-faced boy staring down at his father in despair, Olip and Tevo watching and gloating.

‘So Olip escaped his death sentence,' said Arnak.

‘Not exactly,' said Tevo, frowning. ‘Jago killed him.'

‘But how?' asked Smuddy Binks. ‘It's not possible that a wizard in the grip of maxalgia, limbs broken, could work any form of magic that would kill a powerful wizard like Olip.'

‘The boy,' spat out Tevo. ‘Jago whispered a few words to him. The boy lifted his dying father's broken arm, ignoring his scream as he did so. Through gritted teeth Jago spat out
“Mortus”
as Luke pointed his spell finger at Olip's heart. Jago gave Olip a better death than he himself suffered a few minutes later.'

BOOK: The Serpent of Eridor
6.85Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

The Ultimate Secret by David Thomas Moore
Wheel Wizards by Matt Christopher
Road To Love by Brewer, Courtney
When Lightning Strikes by Brooke St. James
Faasp Hospital by Thadd Evans
Dead Bang by Robert Bailey
El Rey Estelar by Jack Vance
Moscardino by Enrico Pea