Frog and the Sandspiders of Aridian (12 page)

‘You don't know,' said Ameer. ‘You also have no idea if this boy,' he indicated to Frog, ‘who has faced Lord Maelstrom before, will want to do so again. If he does, you don't know whether he will survive, because when all is said and done, if he fails, we all fail. Aridian will fall and so shall every Dimension.'

The Elders turned in hushed discussion as the others stood, waiting. Frog felt Nadiah's hand gently clasp his and he gave a cautious glance sideways at her, but her gaze was fixed forwards at the group of Elders and so he gave her hand a soft squeeze in return and allowed a pleasant feeling to run through his mind.

After a short while, the sound of conversation stopped and the same Elder stepped forwards again.

‘We have always trusted the judgement of the Guardians and we respect the right of Prince Ameer to lead his people. If, as you say, this young boy is prepared to face mortal danger and that those we once mistrusted wish to fight for our survival, then we are truly humbled. As one, we pledge unity and loyalty to Prince Ameer.'

Each and every Elder knelt and bowed their head towards Ameer, but Frog noticed two hesitant figures at the back of the group. The men exchanged a look of acknowledgement and then silently slipped away. Frog had seen that look before and he sensed betrayal.

17

Betrayal

Out in the desert Baron moved stealthily forwards. He needed to get word of Billy's desperate situation to Ameer. He knew that the boy was in grave danger and regretted leaving him in the hands of Belzeera, but he felt that he had done so with no choice. If he had attempted to fight her then both he and Billy would be dead by now, he was sure of that and so, he had made the decision to escape while he could.

He had left the scorpion as soon as he felt that he was a safe distance from Belzeera's stronghold. The creature had hissed at him angrily as he leapt from it and trudged up and over a large ridge of sand. He thought for a moment that it would follow him, even try to kill him, but in the end, he was left to make his journey alone.

That had been what he felt was hours ago. He was sure that he had been heading in the right direction, only a few others equalled his knowledge of the landscape and he knew that he was close to an Aridian crystal farm. What concerned him was whether he could make them believe that he and a select group of Dreden were secretly working with Ameer to forge a united Aridian people.

He reached the edge of a dune and below, there was the Aridian camp nestled in the shelter of a rock formation. To one side, three large Sandspiders crouched as still as statues, the first light of dawn picking out the dark brown hairs on their bodies. Standing close by was a sentry; she was dressed in the robes of the Sisterhood and Baron knew that there would be at least a dozen or so others inside of the tented canopy.

He decided that he had no choice. Honesty was the best policy and he just hoped that they would listen to him. Slowly, he made his way down the sand dune towards her. He was about 20 metres away when she suddenly turned and looked at him. He obeyed his instinct to stop and raise his hands in surrender, but to his surprise, she lifted her arms, making the fists that he knew would generate her extraordinary powers.

He stood helpless as he saw the energy ripple out towards him and with it a force that, more often than not, could stop a man's heart. He could not believe that a member of the Sisterhood would now kill a defenceless Dreden, with no word of warning, no caution.

Two things happened at once. The shock wave hit him off balance along with the searing pain of something sharp embedding itself in his back. The impact spun him around and he looked up to the top of the dune and saw the figure of Zebran, who dropped a crossbow at his feet and clutched his chest when the full effect of the force hit him. Baron witnessed the final moments of the man's wicked and cruel life before
his own senses clouded over and he collapsed face down into the sand as the girl rushed to his aid.

Below ground, the Council of Elders had ended and most of them had made their way back to their communities to ready the people for the part that they would have to play in the coming defence of their world.

Frog, The One, Nadiah, Cassaria, Ameer, Fray, Pasha, Jenna and Katar, along with two of the Sister-hood and two of the Elders, all stood in conversation.

‘We must ready all of the Sandspiders and their riders,' said Ameer. ‘I would suggest that they assemble at Pelmore where we will also need to assess which of the younger spiders and their riders are ready for battle. Katar, will you organise what is needed?'

‘Certainly, my Lord Prince. I will also need to consult with Arac-Khan and to make certain of her safety.'

‘Whatever you deem is necessary,' said Ameer. ‘But you must ensure that an army is assembled and ready for battle.' He turned to the Sisterhood.

‘Ladies, I know that you have already been tested and have suffered casualties, but we are in need of the Sisterhood in this encounter, whether it be a last line of defence in our cities and communities or facing the evil on the battlefront.'

The tallest of the women spoke.

‘We will be wherever we are needed. Our less experienced students can stay with the communities to fight should the time come, whilst those who have achieved the full powers of Sisterhood will take their place in direct combat.'

‘Elders, gather your people,' instructed Cassaria.
‘Put those who are vulnerable under the protection of the Sisterhood and send every Aridian who is able to fight to join the ranks of Prince Ameer.'

‘And what is our part in this?' asked The One indicating to himself, Frog and Nadiah.

‘Your place will be next to me at the time of confrontation with Lord Maelstrom,' said Cassaria. ‘What he thinks to be his ultimate strength is, in fact, where his weakness lies. Frog is that weakness; without him, we cannot overcome Lord Maelstrom; without him, Lord Maelstrom cannot achieve his ultimate and final power.

‘However, the Slipstream works in mysterious ways. The arrival of The One was not foreseen and the Guardians fear that his presence has added another opportunity to Lord Maelstrom – the blood of the son comes from the father.'

‘You mean that a drop of my blood will release the power of the Rune Stone as much as Frog's?' asked The One.

‘We are not sure how potent that action would be,' continued Cassaria. ‘Or if it would have any effect at all. That is another reason why you and Frog must now remain together at all times. If you are separated then Lord Maelstrom will have two targets, two possible ways to achieve his needs.'

‘Was everyone who was here supposed to be trustworthy?' asked Frog.

‘Why do you ask?' questioned Ameer.

‘Because I think that there are at least two people amongst you who are already sending information to him. I saw them standing at the back earlier on and
they disappeared very quickly without talking to anyone else.'

‘What did they look like?' asked one of the Elders.

‘I don't think that they would pass as twins, but they did look very much alike.'

‘I know who you talk of,' confirmed one of the Elders. ‘They are two brothers who have become more withdrawn from the Elder Council of late, keeping their views to themselves. There have been concerns about their motives.'

Ameer turned to Jenna. ‘Will you seek out the truth for us?'

‘With respect to the Elders,' said Jenna, ‘we will seek out the truth from all of the Elder Council. If there is betrayal amongst them then we need to be prepared,' she turned to Pasha and Fray. ‘Let us seek out the lies and betrayal that could endanger us all.'

A haze surrounded their forms and with a gentle effect, they transformed into the enchanting Firefox. After briefly nuzzling each other, all three scampered across the chamber and out of the far exit.

‘It is time for us to take our different paths,' said Cassaria. ‘No doubt, if good fortune is with us, then we shall all meet again on the battlefield and put an end to the plague that infests Aridian.'

As Ameer and Katar, the Sisterhood and the Elders left through shadowed archways, Cassaria turned to the others.

‘Nadiah will be your guide. She alone amongst you knows the paths and ways of Aridian, above and below its surface. You are to first go to Pelmore and await my calling.'

‘But what about Billy?' asked Frog. ‘What's happening to him?'

‘Billy has someone to watch over him. If all goes well and he plays his part as planned, you will see him soon.'

‘And what if it doesn't go well?'

‘Do not seal your friend's fate. He is here for a reason. He is not here by accident. There is the design of ancient Magic at work here, the same design that brought us The One and the same Magic that first pulled you into the Slipstream to travel the Dimensions. Focus on what you can do, not what you cannot. Now, you must leave. No more words.'

As Cassaria watched, Nadiah led Frog and The One out of the same archway through which they had entered the chamber and she took them along a narrow winding passageway until it opened out onto another rock platform and a wooden lift cage.

‘Do we really have to?' said Frog remembering his precarious journey down to Sanctuary.

‘I told you that they're quite safe,' said Nadiah. ‘It is a short journey upward. Then we will take a watercourse down through the galleries to Pelmore. We need to go up, to go down.'

‘And that's supposed to make me feel better?' Frog replied.

‘What's all the fuss? It's just a lift, isn't it?' said The One.

‘Just tell me when we get there,' said Frog stepping in, grabbing a handrail and closing his eyes.

Nadiah pulled a lever and the cage slowly bumped its way up into the shaft. Small crystals set into the
rock at regular intervals gave them light as they ascended.

‘What's at Pelmore?' asked The One.

‘The Sandspider hatcheries. It is also the most fortified and deepest place on Aridian,' replied Nadiah.

She looked at Frog. ‘Are you scared?'

‘Well, this isn't exactly my idea of fun,' he replied.

‘No, I mean are you scared about fighting Lord Maelstrom? Because if you are, you don't seem to show it.'

‘I'm scared all right. Fighting him the last time was bad enough, but now he's going to be meaner than ever after what I did to him. I can't afford to show that I'm scared. I have to concentrate on doing what's needed, which, by the way, half the time I don't know what it is until it happens. Anyhow, as I see it, I've got an advantage this time.'

‘What's that?' asked The One.

‘I have my Da –' he stopped himself. ‘I have you with me.'

‘I don't know how that's going to help you,' said The One. ‘I haven't got a clue what I'm supposed to do. Besides, I'm more worried about something really bad happening to you.'

‘You mean like getting killed?'

‘Killed, hurt, injured,' said The One. ‘Does death travel across the Dimensions?'

‘Injuries certainly do,' said Frog holding up his hand with the shortened little finger on it. ‘I don't think just because you can't see it in our world that it doesn't exist. So, I guess if you die here then you go back dead.'

The lift bumped again, this time with enough force
to make them all grab the handrail. Then it came to a halt.

‘What's going on?' asked Frog.

‘I don't know,' replied Nadiah craning her neck to look up the lift shaft.

The lift cage gave another shudder and then it jerked upwards with a sudden increase in speed. The crystal lights blurred past them as the cage bounced against the shaft.

‘Something's wrong,' shouted Nadiah.

‘No kidding,' muttered Frog.

‘Whoever is operating the winch has lost control,' she said.

‘Either that,' said The One. ‘Or someone is in a hurry to meet us.'

‘Lay down on the floor,' said Nadiah.

Frog didn't need telling again and The One followed, but not before Frog had drawn his sword and passed his bullwhip to him.

‘Here, take this. It's not much, but with a good flick it can cause quite a bit of damage to exposed flesh.'

The One stared into Frog's eyes with a mixture of horror and wonder.

Frog looked back. ‘I've had to learn all sorts of things to survive in the Dimensions that I wouldn't even dream of doing back home. Just remember that, inside, I'm still the same person. Trust me.'

The One nodded and took the bullwhip.

Frog could see Nadiah's face strobing in the passing lights. He watched as she braced her body against the shuddering cage, her fists tight and glowing with energy.

‘When I say jump, then jump,' she shouted. ‘Be prepared to defend yourselves.' No sooner had the words left her mouth than the cage jerked out into open space. ‘Jump!'

All three of them tumbled out onto the hard, stone floor. Frog barrel-rolled to one side, narrowly avoiding The One as both of them gained their footing and stood up. Nadiah sprung between them, arms outstretched, her hands shimmering. The lift cage smashed into the ceiling behind them, disintegrating with a splintering crash.

As their eyes focussed in the steady light, they could see that there were at least twelve dark, robed shapes around them, crossbows at the ready.

‘Dreden,' shouted Nadiah as she released her power. The shock waves rippled out, knocking figures off their feet and back against the walls, but not before half a dozen arrows let fly. Two hit Nadiah's force and bounced away; the other four speared towards Frog and The One. Without any hesitation, Frog leapt at The One, using his own body as a shield. One of the arrows clanked off the blade of his sword, but the other three hit him square in his chest, their sharp force punching the air out of him. He hit the unforgiving floor and pain exploded across his body, too much for his senses to bear, and the inevitable shroud of blackness draped itself over him as his breath left his lungs.