Romulus sighed heavily. Moving from where they had arrived was the furthest thing from his mind. At least for that night anyway. “To walk any further, either forward or the way we came would only bring more danger upon us.” He looked at Macy’s right hand. “The torch isn’t going to last much longer, and there isn’t enough light from the moon for us to see where we are going. The best thing we can do is rest here and get a good night’s sleep. We’ll have to wait until morning to find our way out.”
“Won’t it be even more dangerous?” asked Olivia. She was concerned about the Goblin Soldiers of Kraken’s army who could, at that very moment, be patrolling close by.
Romulus disagreed. “It would be sheer madness to try and find our way out of the Nebier Forest in the dark. We must do the lesser of two evils and stay here for tonight.”
Macy switched the torch off and twisted the casing open to get at the batteries. “That’s as maybe … but in the morning we’re going to be a lot easier to spot.”
She held a battery in either hand, the torch casing between her knees, and the end cap in her mouth. In the hope of getting a few more hours use out of them she rubbed the two batteries to trick them back to life.
“We’ve got no choice but to rest here.” Romulus was adamant. “As I’ve said, it’s too dark to carry on walking. The Goblin Soldiers who guard the forest have specialist night vision lenses, which detect body heat. To put it into simple terms, they see just as good in the dark as during the day.”
Jack gulped down hard. “Great! That’s all we need. Have you got any more good news for us, or is that it for the moment?” Suitably unhappy with the way things were going he slumped back against the tree trunk behind him.
Romulus didn’t rise to Jack’s sarcastic comment. “I’m only telling you how it is. We should stay here for the night, keeping low to the ground and as close to any cover we can find. Hopefully we might just get away with it. Then, in the morning—” he rubbed the end of his snout and his tired eyes, “—well, we will have to take it as it comes and wait until then to decide what the safest route is going to be.”
“I’m not sleeping out here,” Macy scrunched her nose up at the incomprehensible thought. She turned the torch on, now with a new lease of life, and glared begrudgingly at the ground. “It’s so filthy and dry. It’ll get everywhere and make it impossible to sleep.”
“Not a problem,” Romulus sounded upbeat. He walked briskly forward and stopped by a large tree a short distance out in front and moved around the side of it. “Yep, as I suspected ... it’s an old disused sentry post. A group of Goblin Soldiers would have occupied it at one time.”
“A sentry post?” cried Jack “How do you know it’s disused? It might still be in use and loads of Goblin Soldiers could be on their way here!!”
“I don’t think so,” replied Romulus confidently stepping over the threshold of the open doorway. “Come on, don’t be frightened. Come and have a look for yourself.”
Although not completely happy, everyone followed Romulus’s lead. Jack went first, Olivia and Macy moved close behind, and Hangaku brought up the rear.
Jack turned and whispered at Macy. “If there’s anyone in there, I’m off.”
“Don’t worry, you won’t be the only one,” said Macy.
Romulus hadn’t heard the brief whispered discussion between Jack and Macy and swung his arm in a semicircle.
“Look at the place—” they huddled together inside a space no larger than an average household bathroom, “—it’s a dead give-away...”
Jack jumped in before Romulus could continue any further. “I wish you wouldn’t use the word, dead! It’s not something I want to think about too much.”
Romulus smiled coyly and looked up at Jack towering above. “How about … it’s a sure thing, is that better?”
“It’ll do for me,” Jack nodded as he walked further inside the circular room.
With no other interruptions forthcoming Romulus continued. “The reason I know for sure this sentry post is no longer in use is because of the state of it. Just look around you, there’s dirty pots and pans filled to overflowing, with all kinds of rubbish, and over there, look...” He pointed at a small wooden table at the far side, hemmed in by four rickety stools.
“I see what you mean—” agreed Olivia, “—it’s filthy.”
“There’s cutlery and plates still on the table and the rotten remains of dinner, covered with cobwebs,” added Romulus. “No, this isn’t a sentry post still in use, no way. It doesn’t matter what I think of Kraken, or the Goblin Soldiers loyal to him … they simply wouldn’t live in complete squalor like this, not when they didn’t have to.” He had the agreement of everyone; it was blatantly obvious no one had been in the sentry post for some considerable time. With fears allayed about the possibility of Goblin Soldiers from Kraken’s army coming back, at least not anytime soon, there was just the small matter of sleeping arrangements and finding some form of bedding to keep them warm during the night’s temperature drop. Again, Romulus had it sorted. He seemed to know where everything was in the sentry post, as if he’d been there before. It struck Macy as being strange and a little peculiar. But her thoughts were soon put to rest as Romulus tried to explain his revealing knowledge of the set-up of the sentry post. “I’ve seen several designs for these types of places … many from captured papers and drawings taken from Kraken’s army, before they overthrew my father.”
Romulus asked Macy to open a door in front of her. “There better not be an unpleasant surprise behind it,” said Macy firmly.
“It depends on what you mean by an unpleasant surprise,” replied Romulus.
He moved past Macy and into the cupboard which contained several shelves of fresh, clean, sweet smelling grey blankets.
Macy followed. “I don’t get it ... it smells beautiful in here.”
Romulus nodded. “It’s a brilliant invention, and … keeps anything from food, clothing and these blankets placed inside, as fresh and clean as the day they were put there. I don’t have a clue how it works, but some of my father’s loyal subjects figured it out. And now there are cupboards like this one in homes all over the Land of Tormencer.”
Jack peered inside the cupboard. “It’s like a fridge and an airing cupboard built into one.”
Romulus wore a look of bewilderment. “I’m not sure what you mean?”
Jack put him straight. “A fridge keeps food cool, and an airing cupboard keeps clothes fresh.”
“Ah… I see… Well… I’ve not heard of these things, but if you know how this cupboard works, you are much wiser than I thought.”
Jack wasn’t sure how to take what Romulus had said … was he being complimentary or not?
Macy had seen the puzzled expression on Jack’s face. “Don’t bother over thinking it. Romulus hasn’t got a clue what a fridge or airing cupboard is.”
Jack stepped back and peeled away from the cupboard ... leaving Macy and Romulus to grab several armfuls of blankets and distribute them out. Thoughts once again turned to sleeping arrangements. And, bearing in mind there wasn’t a lot of room to manoeuvre within the sentry post, finding enough space for a comfortable night’s sleep was going to be hard to come by.
Eventually, some form of satisfaction did prevail. Romulus and his sister had no problem as their size afforded them the enviable choice of sleeping inside the cupboard with a cushion of blankets beneath them, as well as above.
Macy, Olivia and Jack on the other hand were all tucked up on the floor, by the table and chairs, underneath three thick blankets.
It wasn’t the most pleasant of places to try and sleep …. the cold uneven floor was a nightmare on the limbs. But they had to make the best of the situation they had found themselves in, and … realistically it’s all they could do.
— CHAPTER TWELVE —
They Came from Above
Morning dawned in a blaze of turmoil and utter confusion, as all hell broke out within the Nebier Forest.
He franticly tugged at the blankets, under which lay Macy, Olivia and Jack still dream bound.
“Get off!” The voice sounded like Macy’s, but with the blankets pulled over all of them it was hard to tell.
“Come on!” shouted Romulus hysterically. “We’ve got to get out of here, NOW!”
The blankets drifted down under the sheer brute force and persistence of Romulus’s onslaught. “What’s going on?” groaned Olivia. She rubbed her neck vigorously to loosen it up … an unfortunate result of lying in the same position for too long during the night.
“Can’t we have a few more minutes to get ourselves together?” moaned Macy, who proceeded to sprawl her arms either side of her and straight across Jack’s face. But right after she had spoken her head vaulted off the ground as a powerful sneeze burst down her nostrils.
“Hey, get off … you filthy animal!” cried Jack crassly as he removed Macy’s arm.
“Sorry, but it’s not my fault. When you’ve got to sneeze, you’ve got to sneeze.”
Hangaku, who’d moments earlier walked outside with her brother, burst through the doorway in a blind panic. “They’re coming!”
Olivia regained full awareness after her deep sleep. “Who’s coming?” She rolled onto her stomach, dragged herself to her knees, and finally hauled herself to her feet.
Her face was one of bewilderment and her eyebrows shot up.
Jack rushed towards the door. “I know that sound… I’ve heard it somewhere before. I know I have.” He was right in a way, and the sound he could hear finally clicked into place. “I remember now. It sounds the same as a Chinook helicopter. Once, when I went with my dad to visit some of his relatives in Scotland, he took me to see an air show.”
But, as he bolted out into the daylight, it wasn’t a helicopter that met his gaze.
At close quarters the orchestrator of the noise became clear. Romulus gasped in despair. “It’s a snatch squad from Kraken’s personnel flying bodyguard. Goblin Soldiers of the worst kind. Believe me, you don’t want to meet them.”
“Are you serious?” cried Jack, who had been joined by Macy, Olivia and Hangaku.
“They’re riding on the back of flying horses!” screamed Olivia in pure shock and amazement.
“Pegasus!” yelled Macy over the noise of beating wings.
“What?” shouted Olivia urgently.
“A flying horse is called a Pegasus.”
“Seriously! Are you splitting hairs with me on what they’re called?” Olivia was now panic stricken with fear.
Romulus joined in. “They are called Flight Stalkers.”
“Who cares!” ranted Olivia “I don’t like them or the things riding on the back of them.”
In total there were twelve Flight Stalkers and accompanying Goblin Soldiers, eleven white and one jet black. Each of the winged mythical beasts had the elegant muscular body, legs and head of a horse, and the majestic wings of an eagle. They were beautiful creatures of the highest order … and perfectly formed in every way.
In stark contrast the Goblin Soldiers riding them had the look of a bunch of cutthroats. Most of them were dressed in a shade of traffic light green suede jackets and trousers. And instead of bandannas, as worn by the Goblin Soldiers in the crypt, they had black, open-face bullet shape crash helmets, fastened with golden buckles. They were also fully tooled up, with swords around their waists and axes strapped to the chest of each Flight Stalker.
“This is bad.” Romulus looked gaunt as the wave of Goblin Soldiers and Flight Stalkers hovered in a triangle formation overhead. “Take a look at the lead Goblin Soldier?” He pointed skyward, in the direction of the rider on the black Flight Stalker at the front of the triangle. He was dressed in black full-length clothing, closely resembling a monk’s robe and a hood was pulled over his head. “That’s Gordrick, Kraken’s most trusted security advisor. He controls the army and everything to do with the security of Kraken’s territory... He is a nasty piece of work if ever there was one.”
“How can you tell it’s him?” asked Macy, frantically scanning the sky. “You can’t even see his face from here.”
“There’s no need. Believe me … it’s Gordrick. Of that I am certain.”
It seemed an age before all the Flight Stalkers and Goblin Soldiers finally descended to the ground. The accompanying earth sucking wind that resulted from their downdraft caused everyone below to shield their eyes as all manner of dust and debris flew through the air.
Romulus looked gaunt and jaded. “I knew it... The filthy Tenka we saw last night must have given our position away to Kraken. And I bet he received nothing more than the replenishment of his meagre food stocks... Life to the Tenka is cheap.”
By now the Goblin Soldiers, except for Gordrick, had dismounted and were bearing down on Romulus and the others.
“Are they as vicious as the Goblin Soldiers we saw in the crypt?” asked Macy.
“Look at the markings on their headgear,” replied Romulus. “The red symbol painted on either side stands for their regiment. They’re from the nastiest, vilest bunch of rogues you could ever wish to meet... The First Battalion Kraken Hussars.”
Jack didn’t know where to put himself; he was a complete bag of nerves. “Thanks for that, but it doesn’t really help. I was hoping you were going to say they were friendly.”
Romulus understood what Jack meant but was just telling him how it was. “I think it best you know who we’re dealing with.”
Gordrick dismounted and stood under a fully extended wing of his prized black Flight Stalker.
“Blimey! It’s the grim reaper,” said Jack as Gordrick walked past the Goblin Soldiers in front and made a beeline towards him.
“He’s not in the same league as the grim reaper!” cried Macy. “But close enough ... I’ll give you that.”
Gordrick stopped just short of Jack and bent down to address Romulus face-to-face. And from within the black void of the hood covering his head, two blood-red venomous eyes scorched a terrifying stare on Romulus’s tiny figure.
A deep booming voice ripped through the air for all to hear. “Ah, Romulus. How nice to see you again. You’re looking well — if not a little smaller than normal.” A crackle of derisory laughter released itself from beneath Gordrick’s hood. “And I see you’ve found some new friends as well.” He rubbed his thinly skinned, bone white clammy hands together, stood up straight, and looked in Macy, Olivia and Jake’s direction. His voice grew louder and even deeper. “Strange looking creatures, aren’t they? I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like them before.”
“Who are you calling strange?” Olivia said nonchalantly. “You should try looking in the mirror occasionally.”
Macy silenced her with the aid of a sharp dig in the ribs … before anything further could come out of her mouth. “Shut it will you, big gob.” She then gave Olivia a second dig for good measure.
The outburst from Olivia didn’t go unnoticed by Gordrick. “Spirited little urchins aren’t they.” He turned his attention towards Jack and stretched out a hand and curled a finger to beckon him over. “You … boy... Come here.”
Jack stayed rooted to the spot, and a shout came from Macy stood close by.
“Run for it, Jack! Get out of here.”
Although it had been Jack’s name shouted out, everyone seemed to be working in harmony and they all turned and scattered.
“After them,” commanded Gordrick. “The soldier who brings me either Romulus or the boy will receive a Silver Shield as his reward.”
Silver Shields were highly prized by all Goblin Soldiers and were won with acts of loyalty and courage. They replaced the old outdated option of medals.
Silver Shields were considered a much more visually stimulating sight and were the size of a dustbin lid. They were not just awards without a use either; Silver Shields had a very practi
cal function, just as an ordinary shield, and could be used in battle as protection from attack. If a Goblin Soldier won a Silver Shield other member of his regiment would afford him total respect.
Gordrick’s voice lowered and his hood slipped back to expose a pair of hideous grey lips. “Bring them to me, dead or alive... I care not which — it’s all the same to me.”
Apart from being hunted by a group of bloodthirsty marauding Goblin Soldiers, the words spoken by Gordrick sent a cold shiver spiralling down the spine of Jack. It was everyone for themselves; there was no time to look out for anyone else, but number one.
Jack ran as fast as he could through the Nebier Forest. He hadn’t a clue where he was going ... but he had no choice. He had heard Gordrick’s orders and knew fine well the Goblin Soldiers chasing him were very capable of carrying them out to the letter.
Knocking branches out of his way with his arms out front to make a clear run for himself, he seemed to be getting the upper hand. It appeared the voices of the pursuing Goblin Soldiers had begun to fade — but he dare not stop in case his ears were playing tricks on him. But fortune was smiling on him, as a freak outcome from being hit, chest high, by a thick branch probably saved his life.
It could all have gone disastrously wrong if he had been winded, or much worse, knocked unconscious by the obstruction in his path. But as luck would have it he found himself bundled down a small embankment … ending up underneath two fallen trees.
The trees acted as a sort of lifesaving camouflage, and when the Goblin Soldiers finally arrived on the scene they didn’t even stop. Instead, they carried on by, convinced that Jack was still running a short distance ahead of them.
Jack laid low and waited patiently for the opportune moment to leave his stumbled upon hideout. He knew he couldn’t stay where he was for long, as the Goblin Soldiers could return at any time. So, he decided to silently count to fifty, before feeling comfortable enough to risk popping his head out into the open.
It had all gone quiet — from the mayhem of moments earlier, to complete silence; it was quite a shock to his system. But it didn’t last for long, as the easily identifiable voice of Olivia could be heard yelling for help, not too far away. Uncertain what to do, Jack’s conscience finally got the better of him. He had to try and help her, and … with little regard for his own safety, he stealthily crawled out from his hiding place.
Macy Vickers and the Book of Spells Page 10
