Frog and the Sandspiders of Aridian (4 page)

The crystal formations are protected and carefully maintained by the Aridian people, who regularly harvest them and transport them below ground to provide light and heat. Without the rocks, we would have to live a life governed by flame and firelight. Eventually smoke would choke and pollute our subterranean atmosphere and poison our water sources, leaving us to either perish in cold darkness or face the furnace of Aridian's surface.

‘Our diet consists of a variety of root vegetables and fruit that grow on vines in the large underground
gardens; these are fed by the mineral-rich water and are constantly bathed in the light from rock crystals. Apart from smaller catches like Serpens, our fresh meat supply comes mainly from the herds of large lizard-like animals called Saurs that are resident to Aridian. They are the largest predator of this world, feeding mainly on the smaller reptiles, other snakes, insects and spiders. We keep some stock underground and when that gets low we send out hunting parties to replenish it. Our clothes and material comes from spider silk, which is produced at Pelmore, one of our underground communities.' She paused to take a drink.

‘In the history of the Dimension that is Aridian, this world once had water on its surface along with an abundant green landscape. Its people lived in peace and prosperity. Then, the distant sun, which gave us warmth and light, suddenly underwent a meta-morphosis, splitting itself into two twin orbs. Their heat intensified over a period of time and scorched and parched Aridian's surface, dried up the rivers and lakes and burnt away the atmosphere. Thousands of the population died before the alternative safe havens below the surface were developed and inhabited.

‘Not all Aridians felt that this was the right existence and some saw no future living in the deep underground labyrinths. Very soon, a fraction was formed and they decided to try to build their new lives on the world above ground, craving the harsh, unnatural sunlight. They broke away from the underground community and sought shelter in the surface caves and crags of the scattered rock formations. These people became known as the Dreden. Over many decades, they
adapted to the environment of Aridian's surface, but there was a price to pay.

‘Generations of living in the desert climate and adapting to a harsh diet changed them into a resentful and aggressive people who became enemies with their former kinfolk. Their skin grew tanned and leathery, as they developed a high tolerance to the extreme temperatures and an ability to endure long periods without the need to drink. However, there always comes a time when water is critical for survival and this is when they attack us both above and below ground to raid our water sources and food stores.

‘There has never been what could be called a war between us, just a continuing series of hostilities. When they are not fighting us, they argue and fight with each other. They live in scattered groups across Aridian's surface; it is only when a group of them becomes truly desperate that they attack us. Many times, we have tried to reason with them but they have had no overall leader, no one who would take responsibility to join them together so that we can encourage them to live in peace and harmony with us again.'

A deep shudder suddenly passed through the floor bringing dust clouds from the walls and ceiling. She stopped for a moment, listening, and then she was on her feet.

‘The Rune Stone! She tries for the Rune Stone again,' Cassaria shouted as she ran towards the wall and pressed the stone carving. Ameer was also on his feet and he was heading for the doorway after Cassaria.

‘Come on, Billy,' said Frog. ‘We don't want to miss anything.'

As they re-entered the great cavern, Cassaria was standing before the altar, her arms raised up in front of the now-pulsing orb. The bangles on her wrists were glowing white-hot and she was chanting in a strange language. The ground shook again and then a low drone resonated around the cavern, gradually rising in pitch until it was shrill and unbearable.

Frog and Billy covered their ears as it vibrated around their heads and then penetrated their minds, numbing their thoughts. They sunk to their knees in pain and through half-closed eyes Frog saw that even Ameer was helpless, crouched against the far wall, his arms wrapped over his head.

A shrill, harsh voice resonated from the Rune Stone.

‘The Stone shall come to me. I shall rise up and conquer the Dimensions. The Hourglass will be mine and then time shall be my slave. My brother's powers have been passed to me through the Slipstream and the Stone's energy feeds my strength. Resistance is useless. Give up the Stone. Now!'

The noise reached a shattering high pitch and pieces of the cavern's ceiling crashed down around them as the floor shook again. Cassaria was now suspended in mid-air, level with the floating blue orb. At once, she became enveloped in a white radiance, her arms outstretched and reaching into the orb. Frog could see that a gigantic battle of wills was being fought as Cassaria's figure wavered and rippled as if she had been turned into a thin veil of material. Another shudder and a statue toppled over and crashed forwards, the figure exploding into chunks of stone as it hit the floor.

Frog felt Billy's arm nudge him as another large chunk of rock smashed into the ground close by. He could see that Billy was trying to say something but his words were drowned out by the deafening noise.

‘What is it?' Frog shouted back, not even hearing his own voice.

Billy mouthed another word and nodded his head towards Frog's belt. Frog looked down to see that his leather pouch was glowing with the same burning white light that surrounded Cassaria. His hand went inside and his fingers found the glass whistle. He brought it out of the pouch and it shimmered and sparkled brightly. As he stared at its brightness, Lady Dawnstar's voice cut through the deafening chaos and her image appeared in his mind.

‘Another world and it has another use, my dear Frog. Blow it. Blow it with all your might.'

Frog brought the whistle to his lips. He took in as much breath as he could and pushed the air from his lungs so hard that it hurt. No sound came from the whistle but as he exhaled, it flew from his fingers and landed on the stone floor in front of him. It began to spin, turning faster and faster until it became a blur, then, without warning, it exploded, shattering into fragments of diamond white light, which melted into the walls of the chamber. Everything stopped: the sound, the vibrations and the destruction. Frog could now hear the beating of his heart and the pounding of blood in his ears. Dust settled around them and he saw the form of Cassaria in a heap on the floor, as the Rune Stone once again floated gently and peacefully in its blue orb above the altar.

4

The Gathering Fury

Belzeera shrieked with frustration and anger as splinters of light flew out of the glowing water that filled a stone dish in front of her. The shock knocked her twisted wand from her hand and it clattered across the floor.

‘What Magic is this? The Guardian resists, but I sense the presence of another force.'

She kicked out at the white bones that lay strewn around on the floor of the cave then stretched out her hand and the wand floated back to her grasp. Her eyes turned black and her voice changed from a woman's shrill cry to a deeper, menacing tone. Lord Maelstrom's voice spoke though her and echoed around the cave.

‘The Rune Child is here; the one they call Frog has come to Aridian. Very well, sister, our victory shall be all the sweeter when we spill his blood on the Rune Stone and the Slipstream becomes ours to control. All shall feel my wrath; I will inflict such pain on them that their screams shall be heard across all of the Dimensions. Make preparations, my sister; we shall cause such desolation on Aridian that it will forever stand as a testament to our power. Not one living thing
shall escape. Its destiny is to be our servant and to become an instrument of our dark and terrible army. The Rune Stone and the Hourglass shall be ours and with their power I shall be reborn.'

Belzeera's eyes folded back into her head and she collapsed in a faint. A wicked and cruel grin remained on her face.

On the sand dunes below, a Dreden hunting party had seen the flash of light coming from the cave and slowly and silently made their way up the rocky slope. They were dressed in camouflage material that even Billy would have admired; it was made from reptile skin, which seemed to change colour, almost chameleon-like, as light and shadow passed across it. They stood at the entrance to the cave and prepared to attack, their jagged swords and spears at the ready.

The first of them slipped as soundless as a shadow into the cave and the three other shapes followed in rapid succession. Their eyes, already acclimatised to the dark, quickly picked out the cloaked figure that lay on the floor.

‘Get up,' ordered one of the men, but there was no movement.

‘Get up or I will run you through with my spear,' he shouted.

Still there was no movement. He cautiously moved forwards and jabbed the blade of the spear towards the figure, but a hand shot out from the robe and grabbed the spear's staff. Green static was sent crackling along its length until it reached the hand of its owner who froze in shock. The three other men raised their weapons and moved in to strike at the huddled shape,
which suddenly rose up with a terrible screech and brought out a wand. The air crackled around the cave as jagged veins of electric green leapt from one man to another, rendering them motionless and powerless.

‘So, what have we here?' jibed Belzeera as she folded back her hood to reveal herself. ‘Four foolish Dreden if I am not mistaken.'

The men stared helplessly back at her in the flickering light.

‘Speak up!' she commanded. ‘Before I incinerate you where you stand.'

‘Yes, we are Dreden,' said a tall, lean man. ‘My name is Zebran and when I am free I will make you pay for this.'

‘Brave words from one whose life could end with a mere wave of my wand,' said Belzeera. ‘Are your friends as brave as
you
claim to be?'

‘Let us loose and you will soon taste our anger,' said another of them as they all struggled to free themselves.

Belzeera sent out another shockwave of green static towards them and they all grimaced in pain and ceased their struggling.

‘Who are you and what do you want with us?' asked Zebran through clenched teeth.

Plans quickly formed in Belzeera's mind. These four Dreden would be the first instruments that she would use to spread her evil Magic across Aridian.

‘I am Belzeera and I possess Magic and powers that you have never seen before. I can give you back Aridian. I can show you how to reclaim what is rightly yours above and below ground, once and for all.'

‘Why would you do that for us?' asked Zebran suspiciously.

‘In return for your world, all I ask is to take back that which is mine: the Rune Stone and the Hourglass of Aridian.' Her eyes gleamed with fury.

‘If I remember rightly,' said Zebran. ‘The Rune Stone and the Hourglass are protected by the Guardian Cassaria and as legend has it, should not leave her protection for fear of their power destroying us all.'

Belzeera began to weave her spell, pulling a veil over the Dreden's minds and feeding on their inbuilt bitterness and mistrust.

‘She is an impostor! I am the true Guardian and I have returned from exile to reclaim the Rune Stone and the Hourglass in order to restore balance. Many years ago, dark forces placed Cassaria here and I was cast out. She commands Aridian for her own desire. That is why you have never been allowed to take your true place as rulers of Aridian. Let me free you and your people. There will be no more raiding for food and water, no more fighting with each other. I can unite you against your true enemy and give you victory. Aridian will be yours!' she stared at them in triumph, watching her poisonous Magic infect their minds. She then released her hold on them, knowing that she now controlled their actions and deeds.

‘What is it that you wish us to do?' asked Zebran as he and the others knelt before her.

‘Follow me,' she commanded sweeping past them and out into the cold desert air.

She led them down the slope and out to a small clump of rocks which sat amongst the sandy expanse.
She reached inside a gap in the rocks and after a few moments withdrew her hand. Hanging by their venomous tails, she held four small black scorpions.

‘Let me show you the power,' she said as she scattered the creatures before her onto the sand, raised her twisted wand and spoke in the wicked tongue of forbidden Magic. The green static reached out and spread across the tiny creatures, which glowed a pale fluorescent. Zebran and his group stepped back as the insects began to grow. The sound of their limbs and scaly bodies cracked as they stretched and enlarged until they were towering over the group, 3 metres or more in height. They snapped their vicious pincers as dark green venom dripped from the giant hooks on the ends of their tails.

‘They are yours to command. Beasts of war to do your bidding,' said Belzeera in triumph. ‘There will be many more at your disposal before the night is done. Now, climb onto their backs and ride; ride out to your scattered peoples and rally them to the cause.'

‘What if they will not come? What if they will not listen to us?' asked one of the men.

‘They will listen,' she said menacingly. ‘They will hear my bidding through your voices and none will dare to disobey. They will come here, to me. I will create a citadel from these rocks,' she said pointing behind her. ‘This is where your army will be forged and armed; this is where your destiny awaits. Vengeance and victory will be your reward.'

Cautiously at first, Zebran and his men mounted the giant scorpions, but once they were seated on their
backs, they became more confident as they sensed their power over the creatures.

‘North, south, east and west,' Belzeera commanded. ‘Do my bidding.'

The four scorpions raised their pincers into the air and let loose piercing screams that echoed out into the desert night. They then scuttled away with uncanny speed and disappeared into the landscape.

Belzeera smiled, her white teeth flashing in the moonlight.

‘Soon you will be free, dear brother and our powers will join as one. Aridian will fall and so shall the Dimensions as each Rune Stone is gathered. One by one, the Guardians will lose their ancient Magic. Their strength will fail and I will keep them captive in the Void so that they shall witness your return. Then they will be brought to tremble before you.'

She drew in a deep breath and set to work luring the living things of the desert into her service. She then cast the foundations of her fortress from the pale stone crags that jutted out of the sand as the menace of Lord Maelstrom stirred restlessly in his fragile prison.

The scorpion that carried Zebran out across the desert finally brought him to a Dreden settlement and he slowed the creature as he approached, aware that the perimeter guards would have already alerted others to his presence. Twenty or so figures rose up out of the sand around him, spreading out in a circle and keeping well back from the menacing beast, their weapons ready to attack.

‘Hold steady,' he shouted. ‘My name is Zebran and I
am of the southern Dreden. I ask for council with your leader.'

‘How would a Dreden acquire such a creature let alone master the ability to control it?' asked one of the figures.

‘That is for me to discuss with your leader. Now, either grant me council or I will truly demonstrate how much control I have over it,' he replied. To emphasise the matter, he tapped the back of the scorpion's head and it raised its pincers, snapping them loudly above the men's heads.

The group receded a little as an individual figure broke away to quickly disappear into a cave between the large crags of stone. An uneasy silence followed and after a short while, more armed people spilled out from the cave until as many as three hundred of them surrounded Zebran and his mount. He noticed that despite any fear of the scorpion, they would not hesitate to attack him or the creature if the command was given.

‘Zebran of the southern Dreden, I give you council,' shouted a voice. ‘Come down and speak face to face. You are given safe passage as long as your creature behaves itself.'

Zebran slid down from the scorpion and walked towards the man who now stood forward from the group. He was over 6-foot tall, his lean face framed by long strands of lank blond hair, and he was dressed in the lizard skin clothes of the Dreden. Dawn was coming and the light made the leathery skin on his arms and face look a deathly pale.

‘The heat will be with us soon and we will need to
take our rest. Whatever you have to say had better be quick and of value,' he said.

Zebran opened his mouth and the words of Belzeera poured from his tongue, influencing all who heard them, filling their minds with her promises of victory and the spoils of war. Eventually, there was not a man, woman or child who were not convinced to follow him and join the gathering fury that would form the great army whose sole intent would be to claim Aridian for themselves. Most were ready to destroy all who stood in their way, but there were also those who were wary and felt that the fight should be honourable and without needless bloodshed.

Over the coming weeks, as events unfolded on other parts of Aridian for Frog and Billy, Belzeera's messengers spread her words with a poisonous, hypnotic effect, gathering Dreden from all over Aridian's surface until they made their way to where she had used her vile Magic to create a black granite stronghold. Looking like a gigantic termite mound, rising up a thousand metres, its pinnacles reached up out of the sand and into a dark, menacing cloud.

She welcomed them all with wicked glee, putting them to work to construct weapons and war machines from the unnatural elements that she had conjured up. She had not only created an army of giant black scorpions for use as the Dreden's cavalry, but she had also used her wicked Magic to transform four harmless desert geckos into enormous, ugly, grey lizards. These were now her personal bodyguards and captains, and there were always at least two by her side, blood-red tongues constantly flicking in and out of their reptilian
mouths, their narrow eyes ever watching with suspicion. They were her watchers, her spies. In fact, she had sent two of them out across the land to burrow into the underground passages, to spy and bring back news of what plans the Aridians were making to defend themselves. Nothing would stand in her way to ensure that the Rune Stone and the Hourglass would fall into her hands and, in the process, she would release her brother from the Void and make the conquest of the Dimensions a reality.