by Oisin McGann
Lorkrin and Taya were the last to fall asleep. They lay gazing up at the cliff face, exhausted but eager now to return to the Myunan Territories, both wanting to look up at the face of Absaleth again. Eventually, they too drifted off into a deep, healing sleep.
They all slept late into the following morning. Draegar was the first to wake. He salvaged what was left of their supplies from the cave and the rest woke to the welcome smells of breakfast being fried up. There was a chorus of groans and grunts as all their injuries made themselves felt, but seeing what a sorry sight they were gave them all something to laugh at.
‘It’s a long walk home,’ Emos said, as they tucked into their food. ‘And I think a visit to old Shindles wouldn’t go amiss. We’re a right state, altogether.’
‘Look at that,’ Noogan gestured with his head, his mouth full of bacon. ‘I’ve never seen the like.’
On the hillside below them, what looked like freshly ploughed land stretched out, littered with the remains of rocks, trees and grass.
‘Wonder what’s happened back at the mining camp?’ Paternasse mused. ‘If it’s anything like this, I think I might be heading back home to the wife and kids.’
‘I think there’s going to be lot of grief coming out of this,’ Emos said, solemnly.
‘At least the view’s changed,’ Lorkrin commented. ‘I was getting sick and tired of trees.’
‘It’s the ugliest landscape I’ve ever seen,’ Nayalla said. ‘But I love the sight of it. Anything’s better than being stuck down in that cave.’
‘We owe our lives to you all,’ Mirkrin said, looking at their rescuers, and smiling proudly at his children. ‘And I think you two are going to get spoiled rotten when we get home.’
‘Does this mean we can have our tools back?’ Taya asked.
‘Absolutely,’ Nayalla grinned.
‘And will you teach us how to sculpt feathers?’ Lorkrin put in.
‘I think we might be able to do something about that.’
‘And a dog. Can we get a dog?’ Taya added, excitedly.
‘Don’t push your luck, young lady.’
As their children put their heads together to plan how to make the most of this new opportunity, Mirkrin and Nayalla touched hands and smiled in happiness and relief. Draegar looked out over the devastated land, wondering how long it would take to heal and what maps would have to change. Cullum spared a glance for his dead comrade’s grave. The miners were lost in thoughts about the friends who hadn’t made it and their own victories over death. Emos stood up, stretching his stiff legs, his eyes fixed on the dark entrance to the cave.
‘Will you tell us more about Orgarth some time, Uncle Emos?’ Taya asked, seeing the distant expression on his face.
‘I’ll tell you all I know about the legends,’ he replied, giving her a subdued smile. ‘But you two probably know the real Orgarth better than anyone now – you’ve become part of his history. Some day somebody will tell stories about you.’
‘Damned straight,’ Draegar exclaimed. ‘That’d be worth a good tankard of mead in anyone’s storyhouse! Pass the last of that sausage, if nobody’s having it.’
They finished their breakfast and relaxed for the rest of that day, eating and drinking and talking. If felt good to be safe, with full stomachs and true friends and to know that they had played a part – if only for a short time – in a great mountain’s history.
About the Author
Born in Dublin, Oisín McGann spent his childhood there and in Drogheda, County Louth. He studied at Ballyfermot Art College and the Dún Laoghaire School of Art and Design, and then worked in advertising, design and film animation. He now lives in Drogheda and works as a freelance illustrator and artist. He is the author of The Gods and Their Machines and The Harvest Tide Project (Volume I in The Archisan Tales).
Copyright
This eBook edition first published 2012 by The O’Brien Press Ltd,
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First published 2005
eBook ISBN: 978–1–84717–482–6
Copyright for text and illustrations © Oisín McGann
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© The O’Brien Press Ltd
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British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
McGann, Oisin
Under fragile stone. - (the Archisan tales ; v. 2)
1.Fantasy fiction 2.Young adult fiction
I.Title
823.9’2[J]
The O’Brien Press receives assistance from
Editing, typesetting and design: The O’Brien Press Ltd
VOL. 1 THE ARCHISAN TALES
THE HARVEST TIDE PROJECT
OISÍN MCGANN
Taya and Lorkrin are Myunans – shape-changers who can sculpt their flesh like modelling clay. They accidentally release Shessil Groach, a timid botanist working in captivity on the top-secret Harvest Tide Project. A massive manhunt is launched by the sinister Noranian Empire, which will stop at nothing to protect its Project. With the help of a scent-seller, a barbarian map-maker and their Uncle Emos, the teenagers and Groach keep one step ahead of the Noranians, while they try to find a way to sabotage the Harvest Tide Project and avert the disaster it will unleash …
Paperback €7.95/STG£5.99
