The Dragon's Game

by James Erith

Isabella reached up, her fingers grappling with the stone perimeter. She took a deep breath and, swinging her legs to and fro, wrestled first one, then the other leg over. Her body followed until she was lying, on her side on top of the plinth, the tablet just out of reach.

  ‘Throw it down.’ Archie shouted up to her.

  But Isabella froze.

  ‘Go on,’ he screamed. ‘Do it!’

  But she remained motionless.

  Archie tried to see what was going on. He waded into the stream. ‘What’s going on, Bells. Throw it down, now.’

  But staring at Isabella was a king cobra, its tongue flickering in and out of its mouth, its head tall and erect, baring fangs, hood extended, its body coiled behind it. The snake slithered forward from behind the tablet, its eyes boring into Isabella’s, ready to strike.

  So, you will be the first.

  Isabella gasped as the noise reverberated in her head. What could she do? Fall off the pedestal? She’d break her back, and besides, a king cobra would be faster than that. She stayed as still as she could.

  The reptile inched forward.

  Isabella felt a drop of sweat fall to the flat stone beneath her. She shut her eyes trying to blot out the snake and snub out the sounds.

  Soon she could hear hissing, feel the flickering tongue flitting in and out of its mouth, so close it almost tickled her.

  She readied herself to roll and fall. Better to hurt herself than die of the cobra’s lethal venom.

  She prised open her eyes to see the snake’s green marble-like eyes meet hers, cold laughter, hatred and death flashed through her. Then it reared.

  Isabella knew a strike was coming. As slowly as she could, millimetre by millimetre, she began to slip back to roll off the edge when a blur of brown feathers and a rush of beating wings shot out of nowhere directly at them. The eagle they had first met in the entrance chamber swooped, its talons outstretched, snatching the head of the snake in one unbroken movement before soaring high into the air.

  The spell broke.

  Isabella gasped, her heart thumping, her sweating brow resting on the stone. Out of the corner of her eye, the tablet lay on the flat surface only a couple of strides away, hers for the taking.

  She pulled herself up and made towards it.

  ‘Look out!’ she heard Archie shout.

  She looked up to see an immense flying dragon diving towards her. Could she get it?

  A moment later fire spewed over the plinth, the blast blowing her over the edge. She crashed into the water below.

  Archie ran round.

  The dragon swooped, circled, cocked its head and flew straight towards them.

  ‘Dive,’ he screamed, as he plunged into the stream, flames engulfing the water above him, steam hissing off the surface.

  As the dragon circled away high into the cavern rooftop and onto the plinth, Archie and Isabella pulled themselves clear of the water and, without looking back, sprinted to the relative safety of the entrance.

  34 THE FORGOTTEN RIDDLE

  They hid in a small alcove, the remaining animals surrounding them, with a view of the chamber towards the plinth.

  Daisy shook her head. ‘We’re doing this all wrong,’ she said. ‘Look, apart from your unbelievably bold, but reckless attempt to get the tablet, Bells, we haven’t actually done anything yet. We haven’t had to lift a finger. And that’s the point. These animals — all those creatures who got us here — sacrificing their lives for us — did so for a reason. They have sheltered us to make sure we’re fresh for this bit. Everything that happens from now on is up to us and, if my hunch about our powers is right the longer we’re still in this, the stronger we get. They’ve done their job, paying the ultimate price, now it’s our turn to kick some serious butt.’

  Isabella groaned. She hadn’t stopped shaking since their return. ‘You’re getting extremely good at these speeches,’ she said. ‘Daisy, we haven’t got a chance—’

  ‘Of course we have. It’s not as hard as you think,’ she cut in. ‘There has to be a way. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been invented in the first place. Besides, the further we go, the greater our chance of survival. It’s been the same all along. But the beast thing up there doesn’t know that. He thinks we’re a bunch of school kids—’

  ‘Actually, we are,’ Archie said, drolly.

  Daisy wasn’t giving up. ’NO, I mean it,’ she implored. ‘That thing up there thinks we’re useless, frail bambinos and I’ll bet it wants to play games with us, teach us a lesson. It’s been hanging around like forever, so why get this over in one quick burst?’

  ‘What do you suggest?’ Isabella said. ‘A game of chess? A quick kick-about?’

  Daisy’s bright, red-lit eyes bore into her sister. ‘None of the above,’ she said, coolly.

  ‘Let’s try and be a bit smarter. Firstly, we’ve entirely forgotten one hugely important thing. I’m sure we’ve got to send something.’

  The others pulled faces.

  ‘Dur. The riddles. The poems. Remember.’

  Archie and Isabella blushed.

  ‘Archie,’ Daisy continued, enjoying herself. ‘Can you remember how it goes?’

  Archie stuck a finger in the air and scrunched his eyes.

  * * *

  ‘THE THIRD ONE you search for is under your nose.

  It’s clear, pure and cold.

  In order to draw it out…

  You’ll need to send a rose.’

  * * *

  DAISY TUTTED, and mimicked Isabella. ‘God, we’ve been so stupid,’ she said. ‘We’ve come all this way, killed hundreds of animals and yet we haven’t even bothered to follow some simple instructions.’ She smiled at her siblings in a snobbishly superior kind of way, before exploding: ‘Where the hell are we going to find a rose? Look around; there isn’t a hint of life in this horrible place apart from that monster over there. What were we thinking!’

  Isabella butted in. ‘I’ll sprint back and pick one from the garden.’

  ‘You can’t do that!’ Daisy snapped. ‘You can’t slip off while we sit here trying to entertain a very violent beast. In any case, it’s autumn. If you hadn’t noticed, it’s rained — a lot. There aren’t any leaves, let alone flowers on any plant this side of Tokyo. There are no roses.’

  ‘You got a better idea?’ Isabella responded.

  ‘Listen,’ Archie began. ‘The poem is a riddle, just like Blabisterberry jelly,’ he turned towards the old man as an idea struck him. ‘Old Man Wood - what can you do with that magical branchwandy thing? Can you grow a rose?’

  ‘I don’t know. The branchwand connects with inner energy. I suppose I could if I concentrate.’

  ‘Well, TRY!’ they chorused.

  With a look of intense concentration on his gnarled old face, Old Man Wood whipped the twig up, circled it in the air and pointed it at the ground.

  ‘Branchwand,’ he ordered. ‘A rose!’

  They looked on in hopeful silence.

  ‘Why doesn’t it work?’ Isabella whispered.

  ‘I don’t know. I told you I hadn‘t used it in years. It probably doesn’t like me, or it’s cross with me or something.’

  ‘Cross with you?’ Isabella wondered out loud. ‘How come—‘

  ‘Maybe you’re just doing it wrong,’ Daisy added. ‘Wrong words or something … don’t you have to say something in Latin or magic language?’

  Old Man Wood started again. ‘Branch of Knowledge, grow me a rose, please.’

  Isabella spluttered. ‘That’s a bit desperate?’

  Old Man Wood glared at her. ‘Manners, Bells. Energy generally responds to good manners.’

  ‘This is absolutely ridiculous,’ Isabella stormed. ‘We need to do something, or that thing over there is going to slide over and tear us into little bits. And we’re not even half way … oooh! Look!’ Isabella pointed at the floor.

  A tiny bundle of leaves started growing out of the ground. But when it was little more than a small bush, the plant withered and
died.

  ‘Rats,’ Archie said, stroking his foremost hair spike and staring in the direction of the plinth.

  ‘How about a rose stem, you know, like the ones Dad gives Mum on Valentine’s,’ Isabella said looking at his blank face. ‘Rose cuttings that you arrange in vases?’

  Old Man Wood held his breath and shut his eyes. Then, as before, he whipped up the twig:

  ‘Branchwand, please form a rose stem, with a full flower.’

  The shining twig glowed and instantly produced a startling red rose.

  ‘That’s it!’ Isabella squealed, ‘you’ve done it!’

  ‘I told you it was all about manners,’ Old Man Wood said, triumphantly.

  But before their eyes, the beautiful flower faded and the petals separated and floated to the floor.

  ‘Why is it doing that?’

  Old Man Wood shook his head. ‘Don’t know. Some other power most probably.’

  ‘I’ve got an idea. Bit random, but I’m sure I’ll work,’ Isabella cried. ‘Anyone got a pen?’

  They searched their pockets.

  ‘Old Man Wood, make a pen! Magic me a pencil, charcoal, chalk - something to write with. Please! You can do that?’

  The branchwand flashed. Isabella gasped as a thick, gnarly pencil tinkled on the stone floor.

  ‘Paper, as well — a notebook or something.’

  Sheets of thick, creamy paper thudded at their feet.

  Isabella picked it up and thrust in her sister's direction. ‘Daisy you’re good at art,’ she said. ‘Draw a rose.’

  ‘You’re kidding.’

  ‘Do I look like I’m kidding?’

  Daisy sighed. ‘I’m rubbish at art. The thing is, I always get Annie to do all my drawings—’

  'You cheat?'

  The beast let them know it was there. GAGOG GAGOG – BARK.

  Daisy fumbled the pencil and picked it up while stealing a glance at the plinth. ‘Yeah, or I trace around Mrs Purvis’ drawings. She’s never bothered.’

  Isabella frowned. ‘Just try, please?’

  Daisy’s hand was shaking so much that the final result was nothing like a flower head.

  ‘That’s something a three-year-old would be proud of,’ Archie said, grinning.

  ‘Well, if you think you can do better,’ Daisy said, thrusting the paper at him, ‘you do it.’

  Archie took the pen and started scribbling.

  After a short while, he turned his sheet round to the others.

  ‘OMG, that’s even worse than Daisy’s,’ Isabella scoffed. She grabbed the pen and paper.

  All three of them became engrossed as she very rapidly scribbled yet another disastrous flower that looked more like a dandelion than a rose.

  Isabella studied it. ‘Hopeless—’

  Another yelp from the plinth.

  ‘If we can’t do this, we’ve had it,’ Daisy said.

  ‘Wait! Stop! You say you traced stuff,’ Archie exclaimed as an idea shot into his head. ‘I’ve got it!’ He rummaged in his pockets finally finding what he was looking for in his back pocket. Then, with a broad smile, he pulled out the postcard with the glorious red rose on a white background. “A Rose of the Mesopotamian valleys”, it read.

  ‘Wow! Excellent,’ Daisy beamed. ‘Where did you get that?’

  ‘The Italian painting of Mum’s, when we were searching the house—’

  ‘Sketch around it ... hurry,’ Old Man Wood said. ‘The beast’s beginning to wonder what’s going on.’

  As Daisy scribbled around the flower, the others bent over, engrossed. Soon, her pencil rounded the last petal, and she pulled away, admiring her work.

  ‘Not bad,’ Isabella said, inspecting it. ‘It definitely passes, probably a B-. Any ideas how we might send Daisy’s scribble?’

  Silence

  ‘Anyone care to volunteer an answer? Old Man Wood, Archie?’ Isabella said,

  Old Man Wood scratched his chin.

  Daisy piped up. ‘Use your branchy-thingummy-jig — ask your twig to wing it.’

  ‘No,’ Archie said. ‘I’ve got a better idea. Daisy, draw as many as you can, quickly. Isabella, do you remember how to make paper planes?’

  She nodded.

  ‘Good,’ he said. ‘We’ll turn each picture of a rose into a plane.’

  The beast barked and, as they looked towards it, it had reverted to a dragon once more.

  ‘Hurry. It’s looking like it’s going to fly over,’ Archie said. ‘Come on, before it breathes fire over us and burns the lot.’

  35 SUE’S CHOICE

  Sue stumbled once, then again and fell flat on her face.

  Tears tumbled down her cheeks. She sat down on a fallen tree trunk and wept. Gus hadn’t deserved to be beaten to death. Her frame shook. How could this have happened after everything they’d been through together?

  She’d never forgive Kemp. Never. Even if he was trying to help.

  And Daisy? Hell, she thought, Daisy had been consumed by guilt over her choices. Choices that she'd had to make in the heat of the moment. But why? Why had she rolled the stone?

  She wiped her eyes and filled her lungs with deep breaths. She wouldn’t give in quite so quickly to that oaf Kemp, knowing that the de Lowes were in the labyrinth.

  At the back of her mind lay a nagging doubt. What if Kemp was right? What if they failed? It only took one of them to die, and they’d already had such narrow escapes. And what about this Cain spirit-thing? Kemp didn’t think the ghost was evil. And Kemp had told her that Gus had gone with it, to save her. Typical Gus, she thought. Selfless to the very end. Would Gus have wanted her to give in?

  She slammed her hand down on the bark of the fallen tree. ‘What is the world coming to?’ she said out loud.

  A rich, croaky voice answered her back. ‘You may well ask.’

  Sue’s body prickled. She stood up and twisted one way and then the other, but in each direction she found only the fog.

  ‘Who’s there?’ she said. ‘Who is it?’

  ‘You cannot see me,’ the voice said. ‘But fear ye not, young lady.’

  Sue thought quickly. ‘Are you … are you the thing with Kemp?’

  The voice appeared to sigh. ‘The boy and I have become acquainted,’ it replied, ‘though we are apart at the moment. He is wondering where you went.’

  Inside, Sue seethed. She couldn’t hold it back. ‘You’re the monster who is responsible. You made them fight each other, and now Gus is dead.’

  ‘But you’re all going to die,’ the voice calmly replied. ‘Don’t you understand, my dear girl. I am a spirit, connected to the past, the present and the future. Right now, I alone can save you. No one else will survive.’

  ‘But you don’t know that!’ she screamed. ‘What if the de Lowes make it - then we’re alright, then everything will go back to normal, and they’ve still got a chance.’ Her voice quietened. ‘But Gus won’t ever come back, will he?’

  ‘I’ve just been to see your dear little friends,’ the ghost said. ‘Check out how they’re getting on. And, I am afraid to report that they’re finding it a little punishing. Would you like me to fill you in?’

  The ghost went quiet. Terrible unease like a chill swept through her. What if it was bad news? She ran her hands through her hair. 'Go on.'

  ‘The Heirs of Eden entered the labyrinth with over three hundred animals of all shapes and sizes guarding them. Quite a sight, so I’m told. These brave beasts put up considerable resistance as they progressed to the middle chamber. But would you like to know how many survived?’

  He paused. Then after a suitable break, he continued. ‘No more than twenty – maybe a few more if you include the rats.’

  Sue wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.

  ‘The passages run with blood, girl. Right now, they are alone in the chamber against an ancient killing machine. It has been toying with them, but soon it will tire of such games and tear them asunder. You see, it is only a matter of time.’

  ‘Y
ou don’t know them,’ Sue yelled. ‘There’s more to them than meets the eye.’

  The ghost laughed. ‘Gorialla Yingarna has never been bested. Not by entire armies or by beasts or by ogres. He is too smart and too strong by half. When cornered, he disappears. One minute he is a fearless dragon, the next he is a tiny blimp on a rock, or a venomous snake or a beast that existed from before your time.

  'I’m not telling you to scare you, but to help you understand the truth. To help you make the right choice. Your friend Gus could see it—’

  ‘Leave Gus out of it.’

  ‘Oh, how the truth hurts. Even if the Heirs defeat Gorialla Yingarna, there is worse to come for your little friends. Rest assured, they will fail—’

  ‘Why are you so sure? What makes you think they can’t?’

  ‘Because, dear girl, they, like you, are but small children. And children cannot do this thing.’

  ‘What thing?’

  ‘I cannot tell you – it is for them to find out.’ The ghost paused, and his voice mellowed. ‘I don’t derive pleasure from all this, girl, I’m only telling you because there is another way for you to survive, an opportunity for you to thrive and prosper.’

  ‘Never,’ she cried. ‘Find someone else!’

  The ghost tutted. ‘There is a tiny problem; at any moment one of your friends might, how should I say it, “expire”. And when that happens, the destruction of your planet will come quickly. There will be no salvation for any living thing on Earth. Why do you think so many animals sacrificed their lives for your friends?’

  The ghost paused for a little while Sue worked it out for herself.

  ‘Your type of human will be eradicated and, in time, a new one will take your place. This is the way of life.’

  'Who are you?' she said. 'What do you want?'

  ‘I am from another place. From a planet far from here. A long time ago my body was taken away but my spirit, dear girl, will remain on forever.'

  'But if you're from another planet, how did you get here?'

  'Aha,' the ghost said. 'A good question. I happened upon a great slice of fortune, which meant I could travel to and fro from Earth. Now, my task was to find a human who might willingly share a body with me. A trickier mission than you might imagine. However, when I rescued the boy, we combined as one body, and the child was saved. The other one, the friend you mentioned, was within a moment of taking over from him.’