Blood Stone (11) (The Underground Kingdom)

by Steve Elliott

  “Always the charmer, eh, Edwinex?” Rosewing murmured.

  “Just stating facts,” Edwinex proclaimed, ushering us into the house. “My son is around somewhere. Forscewnix !” she yelled. “Visitors!” Nix appeared and gave us all a huge smile.

  “Just look at what the cat dragged in,” he announced. Then, staring pointedly at Thorn with a malicious grin, he added, “And just look at what the cat spat out again! I would have thought it had better manners. It usually buries that sort of thing in the garden.”

  Niama’s face was a picture – a combination of horror, disgust and enthralment. The first Thorn/Nix encounter usually traumatised newcomers. They became desensitised and less scandalised over time.

  “Look who’s talking, O King of Ugliness,” Thorn responded. “I wasn’t aware that compost heaps could talk. I’m astonished that your mother hasn’t put you into a garbage can with all the other rubbish by now. Oh, wait, even garbage cans have their standards. I guess it’s the City Dump for you, then. Of course, your mother will have to bribe the Dump to take you, but it’d be worth it to get you out of the house once and for all.”

  “Not bad for someone who gives nightmare monsters nightmares,” Nix responded with a dismissive sniff. “Shame about the droopy bottom though.”

  “Droopy?” Thorn shrieked, outraged.

  “Not only droopy,” Nix continued, twisting the knife and venturing beyond the borders of sanity, “but rather ……. um, overdeveloped, as well.”

  I held my breath. Beside me, I heard Trix gasp. Nix teetered on a fraying tightrope, suspended over a bottomless chasm filled with sharpened stakes, with that last remark. He’d always flirted with danger with his personal remarks, and I’d always believed that one day they’d turn around and bite him somewhere painful. I wondered if this was the day. You just don’t say those sorts of things to Thorn, even in fun. Anybody else who did would be instantly invited to participate in a duel. It baffled me how Nix could get away with saying what he did to Thorn. It spoke volumes of the eccentricity of their relationship.

  Thorn’s face turned red as she juggled an appropriate response. Nix smirked to himself, supremely confident. I wasn’t so sure. Although subdued in recent years, Thorn’s temper cruised close to the surface and continually threatened to erupt. If it ever did, I felt sure we’d all be swept away in its volcanic flow. There’d be no survivors and the surrounding countryside would be totally devastated.

  With bated breath, we waited for Thorn’s reply, the circle around her widening as we unconsciously shuffled backwards, seeking safety from the explosion all of us were positive would follow, but what transpired turned out to be something none of us had expected. It was totally unprecedented and I couldn’t believe what I witnessed. Thorn merely smiled and tenderly patted Nix on the cheek.

  “You’re right,” she agreed. “Thanks for pointing it out.”

  “What?!” Nix exclaimed, taken aback as much as the rest of us. “What do you mean by saying something like that?”

  “I mean that I value your insight,” Thorn replied, her face and voice serious in the extreme.

  “But you can’t do that!” Nix protested. “You can’t go all accepting and peaceful! You’ll ruin the whole thing!”

  “Sorry about that,” Thorn replied. “But that’s how I feel.”

  “But ….. but …..” Nix spluttered. “You can’t …… How could you ……? What am I supposed to do now? You can’t just leave things like this!” And then his face lit up in cunning understanding. “Oh, now I get it!” he crowed, triumphantly. “Very clever! You’re planning something! You want me to let my guard down and then surprise me with something truly horrible. Admit it! You can’t fool me! You’re up to something nasty, aren’t you? What have you got in that sneaky mind of yours? Tell me!”

  “I can’t imagine what you mean,” Thorn shrugged, smiling benignly.

  “It’s going to be something truly horrendous, isn’t it?” Nix claimed, suspiciously. “I just know it. You’re planning it right now, aren’t you? Well, whatever it is, it won’t matter. You’ll never be able to match me.”

  “I wouldn’t even try,” Thorn amiably agreed.

  “Now I’m starting to worry a little,” Nix conceded. “It’s some sort of practical joke, huh? Something that will make me look like an idiot. I’m right, aren’t I? It’s some unbelievably complicated trap to make me a laughing stock. Well, bring it on! Do you think I care? There’s nothing you can do that I can’t take. Do your worst! I’m ready.”

  “Really, Nix,” Thorn murmured, “take it easy. I honestly don’t know what you’re going on about. I have no intentions of doing anything to you.”

  “Aha!” Nix exclaimed, exultantly. “That proves it! You are planning something diabolical. Well, I’m telling you that it’s not going to work, see. I’ll be watching and waiting for whatever it is. The day hasn’t dawned when you can get the better of me.”

  “You’re right, of course,” Thorn pronounced softly. “You always were the best.”

  “Ooooh, you’re the very devil,” Nix stated, uncertainly. “How can anyone looking so pretty be so evil? I don’t know what you have in mind, you dastardly succubus, but I want everyone to know that I’ll face my doom with fortitude and unblinking courage.”

  “Will you listen to him?” Thorn appealed to us. “I’m offering the hand of peace, and he goes all to pieces. How paranoid can one person be?”

  “I’m not paranoid,” Nix affirmed. “I know you’re out to get me. I just don’t know how yet, that’s all. But I will!”

  Chapter 4

  After that brief interlude of insanity, we settled down and explained our plans. Nix, darting mistrustful glances at Thorn, agreed to accompany us. We set out on our expedition, with Trix pointing out various tracks and landscape features to Rosewing. I found it informative as well. Trix knew so much about her environment that I became humbled by my own ignorance and pitiful lack of understanding. She’d crouch down and point out some insignificant disturbance on the rocky ground that I wouldn’t have previously even noticed, and deduce the most amazing things from it. It was as if she had access to a Time Machine or something, and could see into the past. She informed us as to what animal had made the tracks, how long ago it had done this and in which direction it headed. It was astounding! The bushmen of Africa and the aborigines of Australia were recognised as trackers without peer, but Trix would have to be classed among their ranks as well. She was the tracking Yoda of elves. I suppose when your very existence depends on what you can see and interpret, then you either learn very quickly and thoroughly, or you starve to death.

  We had a quick meal break with Nix still looking askance at Thorn. “I just know she’s planning some horrible revenge,” he muttered to me. “But I’m too clever for her. I’ll be on guard twenty four hours a day.”

  “Has it ever occurred to you that she may not be out for revenge?” I suggested. “That she’s simply mentally torturing you, and genuinely wants peace after all?”

  “Hah! That’s what she wants me to think!” he asserted, grimly. “Then, as soon as I relax, POW! She’ll spring her trap.”

  “I think you’re starting to obsess about this,” I observed. “Do you really believe that Thorn would spend the majority of her time plotting retribution? Are you saying that she’s the sort of person who would secretly conspire to settle a score? That she wouldn’t rest until she’d avenged an insult? Hmm, actually, you may be on to something there.”

  “See!” he exclaimed. “Even you think she’s out to get me! Oh, she’s clever all right, but no match for me. I can beat her at this game. She won’t win.”

  “I’m beginning to think she already has,” I murmured, looking at his tense face and haunted eyes. “Give it up, Nix. You can’t keep going like this. Give in and accept your punishment.”

  “I can last as long as she can,” he boasted, his right eyelid beginning to twitch with tension. “She won’t get the better of me. I’m t
oo smart for her.”

  “If you say so,” I agreed dubiously, watching his cheek muscles commence to spasm in tandem with his eyelid. “If you say so.”

  We continued our ramble through the tunnels and open areas with Trix’s insightful and amazing inferences of local wildlife. She seemed to know everything, and I could only stand in awe of her knowledge. The barest scuff marks never failed to attract her attention, and I found myself peering around my environment with a much keener eye.

  Not long after, we stumbled across something bizarre. We entered a largish open area and, in the centre of it stood a house, or rather, what used to be a house. It was strange to find it in the middle of nowhere, but not everyone wanted to live in the settlement. Anyway, as I said, the house wasn’t a hundred percent. In fact, it had been well and truly destroyed. Obviously, no one lived there because only a wall or two remained. What struck me as odd, however, was the manner of its destruction. As we came closer, we saw that the tumbled walls had not only been knocked down, but partially melted.

  “What in the world?” Nix asked as we examined the ruins. “What could melt stone?”

  “Something pretty hot, I imagine,” Niama concluded, rubbing his chin. “But I don’t know what.”

  “Weird,” Trix commented, stroking the smooth stone thoughtfully. “I’m never seen anything like this before.”

  “Whatever it was,” Thorn announced, looking around at the landscape, “I hope it’s gone. Could it be an animal of some sort, do you think?”

  “The only animal I know who breathes fire is a dragon,” I commented, “and they don’t exist. Not in the human world, anyway. Could it be from a normal fire?”

  “It’d have to be an enormous fire,” Nix said, “but there’s no obvious sign of one.”

  “That’s right,” Trix agreed. “There’d be ashes and soot on the stones, but there isn’t. It’s a mystery right enough.”

  “Are we going to investigate?” Rosewing asked, eagerly. “Let’s have a look around. Perhaps we can find something.”

  “Oh, no you don’t,” I contradicted. “I think this could be dangerous, and your mother would skin me alive if I let anything happened to you. We’ll go back and report to the Council of Elders and see what they have to say. After that …… well, we’ll see.”

  “I’m never allowed to have any fun,” Rosewing grumbled to herself. “It’s not fair!”

  “You have your whole life ahead of you to have adventures,” Thorn consoled. “If we rush in blindly now, this adventure could be your first and last one.”

  “I suppose,” Rosewing sighed. “But it’s still not fair.”

  “Get used to it, sweetie,” Thorn replied with a sympathetic smile. “Life is chock full of unfair.”

  Chapter 5

  We hiked back to the settlement and described our observations to the Council.

  “Melted?” they chorused in astonishment. “Are you sure?”

  “Positive,” Thorn assured them.

  “What could do such a thing?” one of them asked.

  Thorn shrugged. “We have no idea,” she replied. “Maybe some kind of a machine perhaps?”

  “Let’s hope not,” she was told. “Anyone having access to such an item would be dangerous indeed. This is disturbing news. Was it an ancient building?” the elder asked, hopefully. “Maybe it happened aeons ago and doesn’t affect us anymore.”

  “I’m afraid that the building appeared to be a recent construction,” Thorn announced, dashing the Elder’s optimism.

  “And the inhabitants?” another elder asked.

  “We found no trace of them,” replied Thorn, “although some of their belongings were still intact. They either fled the scene or were captured.”

  “And you didn’t investigate?” she was asked.

  “We thought it best to report back,” Thorn said. “After all, something capable of melting stone buildings shouldn’t be taken lightly. If there is something out there, our first obligation was to warn the settlement.”

  “Yes, of course,” the Elders agreed. “Very sensible, but now we have the problem of what to do.” They looked at us enquiringly. “Over the years, we have relied on your little group to investigate these types of anomalies. You seem to have a genius for it. Could we solicit your help once more to solve this dilemma? The thought of such a weapon, if that’s what it is, being unaccounted for, makes us extremely uneasy.”

  Everyone looked at me, fuelling my embarrassment. I wished they’d stop doing that. I’d never asked to be in charge. It had somehow materialised by itself, but the leadership hat had always sat very uneasily on my head. My secret dread had always been that one day I’d tell someone to do something that would cause one of my friends to be injured or, God forbid, even killed. I’d never to be able to live with myself if I caused that to happen.

  “Very well,” I sighed resignedly, “we’ll do what we can. I agree that this is a very disturbing revelation. I can’t imagine that any of the races we know would use this stone melting thing against us, but I’d certainly sleep more easily if I knew exactly what it was and who had it. We’ll set out right away.”

  “You can acquisition any supplies you desire,” the Elders assured us. “Hopefully, our worries will be groundless.”

  “I’ll drink to that,” Nix asserted.

  “Typical!” Thorn snorted.

  “Keep your distance, you revenge-seeking Jezebel,” Nix told her, ostentatiously drawing away from her. “I know you’re planning something diabolical! You’re like a spider, plotting in your web, just watching and waiting for some poor innocent victim to come your way. Well, it won’t be me! I’m too clever for you. You won’t catch me so easily!”

  “Of course not,” Thorn conceded, putting a friendly hand on Nix’s arm. “I know better than to try anything on you. You’d see through me in an instant.”

  “And don’t you forget it,” Nix said, visibly cringing from her touch. “I’m on to you. You can’t do anything to me.”

  “Then why are you so scared?” Trix wanted to know, grinning gleefully.

  “I’m not scared!” Nix proclaimed, stepping even further away from Thorn. “I’m just being careful, that’s all. She’s so sneaky and underhanded. Who knows what she’ll do given the chance!”

  “Nix, Nix,” Thorn soothed, “you’re making yourself crazy. I won’t do anything to you.”

  “Hah! That’s all part of your plan!” Nix declared. “As if I believe anything you say. You just want me to lower my guard. Go on, admit it! Once I do that, then you’ll pounce like a ….. a …. err, Zen!”

  “I’ll pounce like a Zen?” Thorn enquired, a mocking smile on her lips.

  “Yes, well, that’s all I could think of,” Nix blustered testily. “But you know what I mean. I’m wise to you, foul temptress.”

  “Foul temptress?” Rosewing giggled. “Uncle Nix, are you feeling suicidal or something?”

  “No, just cautious,” he replied, eyeing Thorn intently. “Besides, I might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.”

  “What does that mean?” Trix wanted to know.

  “I’m not sure,” Nix admitted. “It’s one of Stephen’s. I heard him say it once. It just seemed appropriate, although I’m not quite sure how you’d go about hanging a lamb on the wall, let alone a sheep. I imagine they wouldn’t be too happy about that. A bit bulky I would have thought. And you’d have to feed them. A fairly silly saying, if you ask me.”

  Chapter 6

  After leaving the Council of Elders, we gathered supplies and set out. I wasn’t sure about having Niama along, but he looked the husky type and would probably be an asset in a fight. Trix assured me that he was quite comfortable in the outdoors and besides, she wanted him by her side and that was that, so I acceded to her wishes. Rosewing’s inclusion in the group became a subject of heated debate as well. I, backed up by Tracey, wanted her to stay at home to be out of harm’s way, but Rosewing argued her case with persuasive, if loud, arguments.
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  “Face it, Stephen,” Nix informed me, “Rosewing isn’t a baby anymore and, knowing her, she’d probably sneak out of the house and follow us anyway. She has your adventurous spirit.”

  “I don’t have an adventurous spirit,” I denied. “Why does everyone keep saying that? I’m totally in favor of a peaceful, if dull, life. All of this running around the countryside like a demented wombat is hard on the nerves, you know.”

  “For someone who likes dull,” he muttered, “you sure seem to throw yourself headlong into bucket loads of excitement.”

  “That’s not my fault,” I protested. “It’s you lot who attract all the trouble, not me. I’d be quite happy to simply stay at home and vegetate.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” he scowled. “Like I’d believe that for a second.”

  “Are we ever going to get started?” Rosewing questioned, irascibly. “I want to get going before Mother changes her mind and turns up to drag me back home.”

  “Very well,” I conceded, “but you’re here against my better judgement.” I shook a warning finger at her. “You do exactly what you’re told, okay? No wandering off by yourself, do you hear? And if there’s any trouble, run away! There’s no glory in being a dead hero. Promise?”

  “I promise,” she said solemnly. “Now can we go?”

  “I suppose,” I sighed, wondering if anything I’d said had penetrated at all. This younger generation! All posturing, shock clothes and reckless bravado. I’m astonished that any of them survived into adulthood.

  We set off, heading back to where we’d seen the ruined building. Hopefully, we’d pick up some sort of a trail there, although I had absolutely no idea of what to do afterwards. Something that melted stone? What on earth could it be? We’d already ruled out normal fire, so what did that leave? Maybe some sort of a flamethrower from the age of the ancient elves? Some relic of a bygone era? If so, what sort of fuel did it use? Such a weapon raised a frightening scenario. No one would be safe, and no walls would be thick enough.