by Linda McNabb
‘I’ve been trying to catch up with you for ages. You’ll be leaving a trail any hunter could follow blindfolded!’ Kheron muttered as he looped his arm through Rhonan’s and drew him out of the alley. ‘We’ll cross to the other side of the city. A lot of people saw what you look like so just having a shadow may not be enough to hide you.’
‘We have to get the others free,’ Rhonan said as they walked through the quickly darkening streets.
‘We’ll have to wait until they’re moved again in the morning,’ Kheron replied with a shake of his head. ‘They’ll be heavily guarded and the hunters will be expecting us to try and free them.’
‘So we create another diversion in the morning when they come out of the Tavern?’ Rhonan asked and his cousin nodded. ‘But this time – no rats!’
Kheron grinned. ‘Well you have to admit it did cause a diversion.’
They had come to the back streets of the city where farriers and stables were more frequent than houses or shops. Kheron pulled Rhonan around the side of one of the large workshops where a dozen old carriages sat waiting for repair.
‘We’ll sleep here the night,’ Kheron said, hauling himself up into one of the more luxurious wagons which had padded seats inside for passengers.
Rhonan didn’t argue. He wanted to go and fight to free his family but he knew it would be foolish to try. He reluctantly lay down on one of the padded seats and took the bread that Kheron offered him.
‘I brought a bit of food. I bet they haven’t even fed you.’ Kheron ate some bread as well and they both settled in for a long, restless night. Rhonan lay trying to think what sort of diversion would work best and when morning finally came he still had no answer.
Rhonan was relieved to find that Kheron could remember the way back to the tavern as he had been running blindly the previous day. They walked quickly through the deserted early morning streets, keeping an eye out for anyone tailing them.
‘I caught a stagecoach here yesterday,’ Kheron told Rhonan. ‘We overtook your wagon a couple of hours before you arrived here.’
‘How did you know it would come here?’ Rhonan asked.
‘The castle is only a short distance from here and I knew they would not miss the opportunity to boast about their catch one more time before going to the castle,’ Kheron replied.
‘I can’t think of a useful diversion,’ Rhonan said, looking worried.
‘How about bats? Armies of ants? A huge dragon?’ Kheron suggested. ‘Maybe snakes?’
‘I think they’ll be expecting something,’ Rhonan replied. ‘Maybe we should just loosen the wheels before they leave and follow them until the wagon breaks down?’
Before they came to a decision they came to a wide cobbled street that Rhonan remembered and they slowed down. They could see the tavern from here and a small crowd was milling about outside. The two boys kicked a stone up the street, trying to look like city kids out on the way to market.
The tavern keeper came out the door of his tavern carrying a broom. He shook it at the gathered crowd.
‘Move along! You won’t see any Shadows here today. You’re upsetting my customers.’
‘Where are the Shadows?’ A man called, avoiding the broom but not moving off.
‘They left before daybreak,’ the tavern keeper replied sharply. ‘Now off with you all!’
With that the man threw the broom at them and went back into his tavern, slamming the door behind him.
Rhonan and Kheron kept on walking with their heads down as they passed the crowd that was starting to break up and wander off. Rhonan glanced up and saw that the wagon was still parked around the side of the inn.
‘I think they’re still in there,’ Kheron said, also having seen the wagon. ‘He’s just trying to keep the crowds away.’
Before Rhonan could reply a shout went up from behind them.
‘Isn’t that one of them Shadows?’
Rhonan knew he shouldn’t have turned around. It was a reflex action and he regretted it instantly. A man was pointing directly at him and the rest of the crowd broke into excited chatter.
‘Time to get out of here I think,’ Rhonan muttered as he turned his back on the crowd.
‘How fast can you run?’ Kheron asked, giving the stone one last kick and looking at Rhonan with a raised eyebrow. Without another word both boys broke into a run. The crowd were slower to react and it was a few seconds before they gave chase.
Rhonan had no idea where to run to so he followed his cousin through the streets. They ran through the market place where merchants was still setting up stalls for the day and past a park where a dozen trees stood next to a small lake. Rhonan’s throat was beginning to burn when he saw the city walls loom ahead of them.
‘What about the guards?’ Rhonan said between heavy breaths.
‘They only guard it at night,’ Kheron assured him and sure enough they ran straight out the huge double gates and onto the main road.
Most of the crowd had dropped away but a half dozen determined people were still giving chase and they were closing in fast.
‘I can’t run much further,’ Rhonan said, feeling his legs weaken with each step.
All of a sudden those giving chase stopped. All at the same time. They stood and stared up in the sky for a few seconds then turned and ran back towards the city walls.
‘What’s going on?’ Rhonan asked as he slowed down, then stopped and put his hands on his knees as he sucked in deep breaths.
‘Look!’ Kheron exclaimed. He pointed up to where a golden dragon was flying low across the tops of the trees – heading their way.
‘Is it Tryx?’ Rhonan asked, squinting up into the early morning sun.
‘No, it’s too big,’ Kheron replied. ‘I think it’s Klel and Toby.’
Rhonan squinted harder and then nodded his agreement before waving wildly at the dragon and young boy. The dragon shifted course slightly and glided down towards them.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
CASTLE DURRAN
‘Toby? What are you doing here?’ Rhonan said as the young blond-haired boy slipped from the back of the golden dragon.
‘I came to look for Tryx,’ Toby replied, looking at the men running back through the city gates.
‘It’s amazing that you happened to be right here just now,’ Kheron said, looking relieved to see them both.
‘It’s not a coincidence. I was searching for a neckband. I can hear a sort of song that draws me to them,’ Toby replied. ‘I thought it would be Tryx. I assume you must have a neckband with you.’
Rhonan slipped off his backpack and opened it to show the brightly glowing band. ‘It was Ryena’s.’
Toby nodded and then looked back at the city gates. ‘It looks like I came just in time to help you. Why were they chasing you?’
‘Remember we told you we were different to most of the humans here?’ Kheron said, pointing at his elf stone.
Toby nodded. ‘That’s right. Something about shadows.’
‘We have a price on our heads because of it,’ Rhonan continued. ‘We cannot live anywhere without looking over our shoulders.’
Toby frowned. Clearly he hadn’t realised before how seriously their difference affected their daily lives.
You not done them harm? Klel stated, looking for confirmation and Rhonan nodded.
‘It doesn’t make any difference. They fear us because they do not understand our magic.’ Kheron was looking back at the city walls. ‘And they have taken both our parents and Dyahn prisoner.’
‘Dyahn?’ Toby looked upset at the news. ‘You all did so much to help Tryx and this is how others treat you.’
‘They are all being taken to the castle soon. Probably to be put in a dungeon. Locked away to protect those who fear us,’ Rhonan said, feeling angry just thinking about it.
‘We must stop them,’ Toby said firmly. ‘They cannot do this.’
Where Tryx? She can help, Klel asked, looking around as if expecting to see the smaller gold
en dragon nearby.
‘Ah, Tryx…’ Kheron looked lost for words.
‘Didn’t she come back to Shaldoh with you?’ Toby asked with a worried expression.
‘She opened the gateway for us and then when were in trouble she came through to save us,’ Rhonan replied. ‘The blue dragons chased her and hurt her badly. Without her help we would all have been killed.’
‘Is she okay?’ Toby asked in a tense tone.
‘We left her at my village. The healer there is very skilled,’ Kheron replied. ‘That was a couple of days ago.’
‘What colour was she?’ Toby asked cryptically.
‘Colour?’ Rhonan queried. ‘Well, she was sort of a muddy brown.’
‘There isn’t much time then,’ Toby said, looking very worried now.
‘Take us there,’ Klel insisted, and lowered one leg to allow them to mount.
‘But we need to go and free our parents and Dyahn,’ Rhonan said, knowing it sounded selfish but not wanting to see them thrown in a dungeon.
Klel fly fast. Back very quickly’ Klel assured them. Rescue parents and sister soon.
‘We must check on Tryx first,’ Toby said. ‘I can help her.’
Rhonan and Kheron reluctantly climbed up on Klel’s back. They knew that Tryx deserved to be well again but they also wanted to free their family.
‘What do we hold on to?’ Kheron asked, looking slightly unsure of their imminent flight.
Klel will not drop you, Klel said with what was close to a laugh. With that the golden dragon leapt into the air with a graceful motion and called back to them. Which way?
‘Northwest, beyond the big lake,’ Rhonan told him.
The ground flew past beneath them at a rate that made it unwise to look down. Rhonan tried once and became dizzy instantly. As they came to a more populated area the golden dragon flew much higher so that even houses below seemed tiny.
‘I see the lake,’ Toby said, leaning across the dragon’s neck to peer down at the ground. ‘And several towns on the other side.’
‘A little further west than the towns,’ Kheron replied. He was looking rather green and clearly not enjoying the ride at all. Rhonan felt okay as long as he didn’t look down and he was amazed at how quickly they had reached The Crossing.
‘I can hear the song of the other neckband. Tryx is definitely still there,’ Toby said as Klel veered to the left.
Klel spiralled down until Shaldoh was directly beneath them. ‘That’s it,’ Rhonan called out to Toby. ‘Land in the main square where that black stone is.’
See Tryx, Klel said.
Rhonan began to feel dizzy as he looked down at the village but something was not right with what he was seeing. He scanned the streets and surrounding lands. Sure, it was still early morning, but where was everyone?
Klel landed lightly in the middle of the village square and they all slid to the ground quickly. The three boys and the dragon hurried over to where Tryx lay against the stone wall. She was curled up with her nose tucked under her tail and appeared to be sleeping.
‘She is a good colour,’ Toby said, looking surprised to see the little dragon was a nice shiny golden colour.
Tryx stirred and stretched sleepily before opening her eyes and seeing the new arrivals. She leapt to her feet and looked delighted to see them.
‘Was going to search for you today,’ the little golden dragon said. Then she noticed Klel and Toby and looked a little embarrassed. ‘Was going to come home soon.’
Tryx came over and walked around Klel, looking all over the larger dragon. ‘Bad dragons not harm you?’
‘We came through at dawn yesterday, when they couldn’t see well,’ Toby replied. ‘We were also invisible, but I’m not sure if they would still see us.’
‘You can go invisible? Could you show us how?’ Kheron asked, looking very interested. Clearly he saw it as another option for avoiding hunters.
‘When we have a little more time,’ Toby promised.
Tryx go home soon, Tryx said with a sigh.
‘Rhonan and Kheron told us you were ill,’ Toby said, checking the little dragon over carefully.
Elves heal well. Special herbs that tasted awful and creams that smelled bad. Tryx screwed up her nose at the memory.
‘Where is everyone?’ Rhonan asked, looking around. Now that they were sure that Tryx was okay he wondered why nobody had come out to see what was going on.
Gone, Tryx said simply. Went to sleep at high sun yesterday when almost better. Slept long and deep. When woke up everyone gone.
‘Where to?’ Kheron asked. He was looking around at the abandoned village with a sad expression.
Much arguing. Much shouting. Tryx shrugged to show that was all she knew.
‘But they had an elf stone that would have protected them for hundreds of years,’ Rhonan said, looking at the carvings on the large elf stone that they had brought back from the mountains. ‘Why would they all leave?’
Kheron did not answer. Instead he walked over to the nearest house and peered in the window. ‘It looks like they left in a hurry. They’ve left everything behind.’
Rhonan wondered if hunters had found the village but he could not bring himself to suggest the possibility. How could hunters have taken away an entire village of people?
‘We should be heading to Castle Durran,’ Kheron said in a voice that showed he was worried about the people of Shaldoh. ‘Then we can find out what happened here.’
Tryx can carry two! Tryx offered immediately.
‘I must return to the mountains. Several other dragons came through with me to search for Tryx. We are to meet there just after sunrise today. I must let them know I have found Tryx and that she is okay. They said they would close the gateway for good this morning – even if we didn’t find Tryx.’ Toby looked worried that he had to leave. ‘I’ll catch up with you as soon as I have told them to hold the gateway a little longer.’
Klel fly fast. Not be gone long, Klel assured them all.
Rhonan nodded numbly. This was not Toby’s problem anyway. They had no right to expect him to stay and help.
‘The castle is up past the city where you picked us up,’ Kheron told the blond-haired boy.
‘Are you sure you can carry two?’ Toby asked Tryx. ‘Perhaps Klel should take them. They might hold the gateway a little longer even if I don’t return.’
‘You go. We’ll be fine,’ Rhonan assured Toby.
The atmosphere was tense as Rhonan and Kheron carefully climbed onto Tryx’s back. The little dragon didn’t even seem to notice them as she leapt easily into the air. Toby looked satisfied that Tryx was strong enough and he leapt onto Klel’s back and they shot off into the sky with a speed that impressed Rhonan and Kheron.
Tryx flew off in the opposite direction, towards Durran, and although it took longer than Klel had done, it wasn’t long before the walled city came into sight. They flew right up to it and passed over the city walls.
‘They will have left the city by now,’ Kheron said, leaning right over to one side to look down at the ground. They were right over Durran and Tryx glided in low, taking them right past the tavern where the hunters had stayed. She skimmed right over the heads of the terrified citizens who were running for cover.
‘The wagon has gone,’ Rhonan confirmed as they passed the stables.
‘So we follow the road to the castle,’ Kheron suggested and Tryx swung up and veered away from the city.
Rhonan was surprised at how easy it was to stay on the little golden dragon’s back. He didn’t feel in any danger of falling. The road leading to the castle looked like a ribbon from this height and to his surprise there were many wagons and carts travelling along it.
Tryx spiralled down until the travellers were clearly visible. Their arrival caused quite an uproar as several carts ran off the road and people went running for the cover of a small forest that ran alongside the road.
‘We can’t hope to sneak up on them if we barge in like this,’ Rh
onan said.
‘True, we don’t want to attack the hunters. It would make us as bad as them,’ Kheron agreed.
‘Tryx, fly low over the forest,’ Rhonan suggested. ‘We’ll come at the castle from the back. If our family are in any of the wagons ahead we’ll wait for them at the castle and cause a diversion to let them escape.’
Where wagons going? Tryx asked as she veered off and skimmed low over the tops of the trees.
‘To the Spring Festival. The king holds one every year in the courtyard outside his castle. I think today will be the first day of the festival,’ Kheron replied.
Castle Durran came into view a few minutes later. It sat upon a flat-topped hill that looked out over the entire countryside. Tryx flew up to it, keeping close to the trees to try to hide her approach. She landed a short distance from it and they walked through the trees for the last few hundred paces.
‘Tryx wait in forest,’ Tryx said as they reached the edge of the trees. Rhonan took off his backpack and put it next to a tree. He needed to travel as lightly as possible in case they were chased and the neckband in the backpack was rather heavy.
The castle up ahead looked huge and impressive in white brick and round sand-coloured towers that rose to golden spires. A narrow bridge spanned a moat and festival folk were streaming across it. Rhonan and Kheron stepped out into the crowd unnoticed and crossed the bridge to the cobbled courtyard in front of the castle.
Dozens of tents and stalls were set up and the festival had just begun. Rhonan and Kheron blended in easily with the crowds milling around the stalls. Rhonan had wanted so much to come to the festival but now that he was here he wanted to be anywhere else.
‘Look, there’s the wagon,’ Rhonan said, tapping Kheron on the shoulder. He pointed down to the front of the castle where a wagon stood - the cloth missing. It was only a few dozen steps from the festival tents.
‘I guess we’re going into the castle,’ Kheron said quietly, starting to work his way through the crowd towards the castle.
‘Are we just going to walk in the front door?’ Rhonan asked as they cleared the stalls. Up ahead was a wide cobbled path that led to the impressive marble entrance of the castle. He looked around for a better way and then tapped his cousin on the shoulder. ‘See those people unloading that wagon over there?’
