‘The dragon returns,’ said an elf.
George put a hand above his eyes and stared into the sky. ‘It looks like they were able to enter the forest.’
They did, said House.
‘Shouldn’t you be watching them?’ said Paige.
I am watching them, well, sort of as I can’t see much.
‘You can do both?’
Joseph glanced sideways at her. ‘He can hear you when you are on a different world.’
‘Oh yeah, I forgot that.’
‘So how far have Alex and Carrie got?’ said Claire.
Nowhere near halfway yet, said House. They did have a run-in with some men who ran away not long after Alex got angry with them.
Paige rubbed her eyes. ‘Could you elaborate on that a little more?’
Of course, said House and told them what he could.
Amy watched Krakar land. ‘Where’s the stallion?’
He insisted on going into the forest with Luella and the wolves.
‘He insisted?’ said James.
Yes, you did know he was Siphon’s horse too.
Amy smiled. ‘I knew there was something special about Bronte.’
‘I didn’t even know it had a name,’ said James.
‘Every horse has a name,’ said Lucy.
Joseph glanced over at them. ‘Bronte was an immortal horse in Greek legend if I remember right.’
‘Another link to Siphon,’ said Henrik, ‘and we never knew.’
‘He’s already here if you ask me,’ said George.
Daralis raised an eyebrow. ‘You really believe my nephew is some ancient god.’
‘No one ever knew if Siphon was a god, but only someone with immense power.’
‘Well he has that,’ said Adair.
Krakar approached them. ‘Do you know how they fair?’
Paige glanced up at the dragon. ‘They managed to get past some men who tried to stop them.’
‘That is good news.’
Adair scratched his chin. ‘How did Luella manage to get in?’
‘She saved the mother tree that had been under attack from the red dragons.’
‘They’re no match for you.’
‘No, but they have been growing in numbers and there are many of them now.’
Adair pursed his lips. ‘Are they a threat?’
‘Yes, they would like to rule this world at whatever cost.’
‘I have an idea, let us go and talk to the others,’ said Adair, as he walked over to the other wizards. They chatted for ten minutes before Adair, Torgon, Thalion, Birkaz, Korzak, and Bryn all climbed on the dragons back and it flew off.
‘Where are they going?’ Paige asked.
Marakus shook his head as he approached them. ‘To see some old friends.’
‘And you didn’t want to go?’ Claire asked.
‘There is nothing in any of the worlds that would make me want to go up there.’
James looked up and shuddered. ‘A man with sense.’
~~~~
Alex and Carrie stopped for their second night, and he went in search of firewood on the forest floor. There were plenty of dry branches which had fallen, and he made a fire. Alex piled up more on the side so it would last through the night.
Carrie sat in front of it. ‘How long do you reckon it will take us to get there?’
Alex shrugged. ‘I’ve no idea, as I can’t get any bearings in here.’
At the rate you are going, it should be another three days, said House, but there are other things which might slow you down.
Carrie rubbed her nose. ‘Do you know what they are?’
No, I just sense things moving around, and it feels like it is raining further along.
Alex put a pan on the fire. ‘Is it coming this way?’
No, it is as if it only rains there.
‘Sounds great.’
‘We got water proofs from the order,’ said Carrie, ‘and it might mean we can find somewhere to wash.’
‘Are you saying I smell?’
Carrie wrinkled her nose. ‘You are getting a little ripe.’
Alex smiled. ‘How are Mother and the wolves doing?’
They entered the forest earlier, said House, but should miss the creatures and the rain as they are a lot further north than you.
‘That’s something at least.’
CHAPTER TWENTY
The Battle for the Golden Egg
After breakfast, they set off again through the forest. Alex had taken second watch early as he couldn’t sleep because of the heat inside, and felt like he was burning up. They walked without any problems for the next few hours until they saw the rain.
‘That’s not natural,’ said Carrie, as she removed the waterproofs from the backpack.
‘You talk about natural after what we’ve seen,’ said Alex, as he pulled on the bottoms which had boots fitted inside making them water tight. ‘This is an enchanted forest after all.’
‘I know, but I don’t expect the rain to stay in one place.’
Alex put on the jacket. ‘Come and let us walk into the unnatural.’
‘I did that when you held the party for the wedding at the mansion.’
‘Would you have moved in if you knew I talked to House and the wolves at the time?’
‘I would have, the rest would have thought you were mad,’ said Carrie, and took his hand.
‘Most of them still think I’m mad,’ said Alex, as they walked through the rain. Their visibility became poor for a few minutes. The rain almost appeared to stop, but it hadn’t they were just shielded from it.
Carrie smiled. ‘How’s that?’
‘When did you learn to do an umbrella?’
‘When I asked Kristina and Millie to show me, I didn’t just practice with the bow you know.’
Alex shook his head. ‘You had me put these waterproofs on, when you knew you would keep us dry.’
‘From above yes, but look at the ground and what’s moving in the mud.’
‘Clever, but what about that?’ said Alex, as they approached what looked like a swamp.
Carrie frowned. ‘That’s just wrong . . . we’re in the middle of a forest.’
‘It happens I guess.’
‘A swamp in the middle of the forest?’
‘I’m no expert, but I believe there are many on our world, and I’m not washing in it.’
‘Do you think we could wade through it?’
I would not try to do that, as it is very deep, said House. There are also bigger things hiding in there.
‘Then we float,’ said Alex.
They both did as they passed over the swamp, many snake-like creatures jumped out at them, but Alex’s spear soon sent them back. It took them ten minutes to cross.
‘Hopefully this is the dark part of the forest,’ said Carrie, as they walked out of the rain.
Alex shook his head. ‘I doubt it . . . that was just a bog.’
Carrie stopped and removed her waterproofs. ‘You’re supposed to encourage me by saying yes.’
‘I didn’t want to disappoint you when we run into something else.’
~~~~
‘This is not much of a path,’ said Luella as they made their way through the forest.
It is the safest way through, said House, as the main path would lead you into the dark part of the forest.
‘I don’t mind, but we do have a large horse with us.’
Then climb on his back and let him lead.
Luella stared ahead, at trees and bushes in the way. ‘Can you see much?’
No, I just see shapes, and I can sense things.
‘Well, I have to duck under many branches and hold some out of the way for Bronte.’
I am sorry, but it will clear soon.
‘When will we meet up with Alex and Carrie?’
Not for two days.
Luella lifted a branch in the air. ‘Are we that far away from them?’
Yes, but you would not have wanted to go thr
ough there, as it was very wet with a swamp full of serpents I believe.
It was not long before the undergrowth thinned out, and they were walking under the tall trees with much more room. They only encountered normal forest animals for the rest of the day, before they stopped for the night with Rho taking first watch.
~~~~
The third day Alex and Carrie walked for about five hours when the forest grew darker, and they had to use their night-sight. The tree branches were lower here, and no sunlight came through the roof of the forest.
‘This is creepy,’ said Carrie, as she pulled out her sword.
‘It’s kind of depressing,’ said Alex. ‘House can you sense anything?’
Yes, but nothing too big, those are further ahead, said the spirit.
‘How big are they?’ Carrie asked.
Hard to tell, but I would say about the size of a horse.
‘I can’t wait for that,’ said Carrie, as they heard a buzzing sound.
Alex put up a force field, as hundreds of flying insects attacked them. They were about a foot long and crashed into the shield.
Carrie’s eyes grew large. ‘Are those dragonflies?’
‘Yeah, giant ones.’
Carrie pursed her lips. ‘They look hungry.’
‘I can see why nothing big is here,’ said Alex, as more of them hit the shield.
‘Persistent too,’ said Carrie, and watched them eating those that had hit the shield too hard.
‘I can’t see a thing ahead, there are too many of them.’
Carrie gripped his arm. ‘Try that glowing thing you do.’
Alex did, and brightly. The giant dragonflies flew off. ‘You can be quite clever at times.’
‘And you’re very spooky when you do that.’
Nothing else bothered them as they walked through the dark part of the forest. It took them a few more hours before they came out of the other side. It wasn’t much lighter as night was setting in.
The larger creatures are close, said House.
Alex nodded. ‘I thought something was watching us.’
‘Let’s build a fire,’ said Carrie.
‘Not scared are you?’
‘No, but I’m hungry and you’re a very good cook.’
‘Anyone can cook elf food, and it would still taste good,’ said Alex, as he went to search for some wood. He had a glimpse of one of the creatures as it disappeared into a thicket.
‘Did you see one?’ Carrie asked when he returned.
Alex started to build the fire. ‘Part of one.’
‘What was it like?’
‘Hard to tell, but it looked big.’
‘We have beaten big before.’
The creatures never came any closer that night, nor did they the following morning as they set off once more. The path started to grow narrower the further they went and the climate became hotter.
Carrie wiped her face with a cloth. ‘This is worse than the swamp.’
Alex nodded. ‘At least it’s keeping them things away.’
‘Wouldn’t they have attacked by now if they were a threat?’
‘Maybe they don’t like to fight in tight places.’
‘So we keep away from any clearings.’
‘I don’t know how without going off the path.’
The path didn’t get any wider until it turned dark, and they saw a clearing ahead with one of the creatures in the middle. It stood bigger than a horse, with long shaggy fur, and spines down its back like a porcupine. Alex guessed they were a weapon. The creature’s head was that of a bird with a vicious looking beak.
Carrie leant on a tree. ‘Why’s it just sitting there?’
Alex shrugged. ‘Probably waiting for us.’
There are more of them hidden, said House.
‘It’s a rubbish trap.’
Carrie looked into the clearing. ‘Maybe it’s not a trap, but just trying to stop us crossing.’
‘Why would it do that?’
‘I don’t know, but maybe it’s not very good at fighting in the dark.’
‘Clever . . . you’re beginning to scare me.’
‘You shouldn’t go putting me in charge of an army then.’
‘Well, if you’re right, we best try crossing in the dark.’
Carrie got her bow ready. ‘It would be nice to reach the other side, and get a fire going.’
They ran halfway when the creature turned its back, and its spines rose up before shooting at them. Alex saw it and put up his shield. Carrie released her arrows, and they all hit the target. The creature fell still twitching and they ran.
There is another on the other side, said House, but too late as they ran into it.
Alex already had his spear out, and in the last second he thrust it upwards. It pierced the creatures head just under its beak. Four more approached, but only one looked like it was going to attack. Alex had his spear ready while Carrie now out of arrows held her sword. The bird creature never got any further as two wolves ran out of the trees bringing it down, it tried to get back up, but a large stallion stamped its hooves on its chest. The other three creatures slipped back out of sight.
‘Mother,’ said Alex, ‘my friends.’
‘Looks like we got here in time,’ said Luella.
‘We had it under control, unless of course you meant for supper.’
Luella embraced them both. ‘Yes, dear, as long as you’re cooking.’
Alex stroked the stallion’s neck. ‘She’s made me cook every night.’
Rho looked around the clearing. Shouldn’t we be worried about those other things?
Alex shook his head. ‘I’ve a feeling they’re waiting for us to go so they can have their own supper.’
Carrie pulled a face. ‘You mean they are going to eat their own kind?’
‘I don’t think there’s much food here,’ said Alex, as they walked out of the clearing, ‘and there’s no risk for them.’
Carrie glanced at Luella. ‘Did you have to pass a swamp, fight off men and giant bugs?’
Luella shook her head. ‘No, it’s been quite peaceful, apart from where the forest was thick.’
‘Don’t blame me,’ said Alex, ‘I didn’t put the dream in my head.’
Alex made supper after he built a fire. They swapped stories at what they had been up to since they split up. He took watch again only this time with Rho, who after Paige was his oldest friend. They talked for hours, along with House until they got relieved. Alex didn’t sleep very well as he was hot again.
The following day as they continued the forest thinned out, and they could see the mountain was close as it loomed above them. They all looked up and saw many dragons flying around, but they were so high they looked like birds.
‘Not much further now,’ said Alex. ‘It’ll be all over and we can return home.’
Luella raised both eyebrows. ‘It’s a nice thought, dear, but we have a job to do first.’
‘I know . . . I just wanna stay positive.’
They came across some small huts, they were all empty, but someone lived there.
Carrie looked through a window. ‘Do these belong to the guardians of the eggs?’
Alex shrugged. ‘Maybe, but they’re not very big.’
The devil is getting close, said House, you must hurry.
Alex picked his mother up and put her on Bronte, before they all started running. They reached the mountain only for their path to be blocked by an unhappy looking mob. They stared open-mouthed, there were hundreds of them, and the guardians of the golden eggs were gnomes.
‘You best turn around and go back,’ said a robed gnome.
Alex stared at him. ‘And you best get in that cave and protect the eggs.’
‘They are protected.’
‘There’s a blood devil coming through the mountains to take them, now let us pass.’
‘That’s just a ruse, so he can get to them,’ said another gnome.
‘I know the power of a gnome, but we’v
e travelled through this forest for days, fighting off men and monsters,’ said Alex. ‘Now move, before I move you.’
‘That I would like to see, you’re not getting the eggs.’
‘If I wanted the eggs I would just take them,’ said Alex, as the golden energy engulfed him, and they covered their eyes.
The gnomes backed away in shock. ‘My lord, you have the golden fire, we didn’t know.’
‘That doesn’t matter . . . we need to get to the eggs quickly.’
‘This way,’ said the robed gnome, and ran through a small opening in the mountain.
They ran down many steps before entering a large cavern. Alex saw the devil fighting against four gnomes. It slung them to the side as he reached for the nearest egg, which was the size of a gnome. Alex threw his spear, hitting it in the shoulder and sending it backwards. The devil roared as he pulled out the spear. Alex leapt at it, but whether it was miss timing or not calculating the devils reach, he got caught as the devil swung its arm at him, and he fell crashing to the floor. Carrie jumped in, but the devil was too fast and smashed her into the wall. Her body went limp as the devil dropped her to the floor.
‘NO,’ Alex shouted as he jumped to his feet. The wolves attacked the devil from behind, and it dropped to its knees. Alex jumped on to its back before putting his hands on either side of the devils head, and sent the golden energy through its body.
The devil screamed “Lorbronika” before it died.
Alex ran to Carrie, where a gnome and Luella were leaning over her.
‘She’s alive but barely,’ said the gnome.
‘She has many broken bones,’ said Luella, ‘and that will take time for me to mend.’
‘House!’ said Alex panicking.
I can do nothing, said House, unless you get her into the tunnel the devil came through.
‘You cannot move her,’ said the gnome, it would cause more damage.’
Alex concentrated, put a shield around Carrie, and she lifted off the ground. The gnomes stood back as she floated into the tunnel.
It will be easier for me if you can keep her afloat like that, said House.
The Final Destiny: Vesta Mansion Trilogy - Book Three - Fantasy Page 35
