The Serpent of Eridor (14 page)

Once the others had vanished into the swirl of white Alex felt suddenly deflated. All the adrenaline of fighting had evaporated, wiped out by inactivity. A valve seemed to have opened in his head, draining all positive emotion. Was he being weak? Should he have insisted on going? But if Zorrin was their leader, shouldn't he listen to him?

Hands sunk deep in pockets, he kicked a stone along the tunnel, stubbing his toe. ‘We've got to do something. We'll go crazy otherwise.'

Skoodle curled up on his air cushion. ‘Nothing to do.'

‘OK. Crazy it is.' Alex sat on the cold stone floor, back against the tunnel wall, waiting.

Eventually they heard Zorrin via the orgreeb. ‘We've reached the main cave, thank the stars. What's that, Ikara? No, I agree, it's not exactly dry – but at least it's out of the storm.'

They heard Zorrin clearing his throat, then his voice rang back clearly in their orgreebs. ‘I am Zorrin. Speak to me please, Makusha.'

Silently they waited but there was no response.

‘Come on, Makusha,' hissed Skoodle. ‘Answer the wizard, like a nice mountain.'

‘Makusha, I beseech you. Give me a sign that you hear,' called Zorrin.

‘Why doesn't he answer?' Alex asked, pacing up and down the tunnel. ‘There's nowhere else to go to find out what we need. He's got to speak.'

‘Makusha – can you hear me?' called Zorrin.

Keeko sat with her back to the wall, playing with her tail. ‘Not having fun.'

‘This mountain has made idiots of us,' said Skoodle. ‘It's either only a lump of stone or, if it's alive, it's sulking. Or do mountains sleep?'

‘
Makusha,' shouted Zorrin, Tariq and Ikara calling with him.

‘This is a disaster. No answer means we're dead meat. Witch fodder.' Alex banged his fist into his hand, body rigid with frustration. ‘Makusha, listen to Zorrin,' he yelled.

The floor of the tunnel began to tremble until the whole mountain seemed to be moving. Boulders crashed to the floor, missing them by inches. A long chasm opened in the roof immediately above their heads, pouring out a heavy shower of stones which battered their heads and shoulders.

‘What's happening?' shouted Keeko.

‘Rock rage,' Alex yelled back, shoving Skoodle into his pocket. ‘Makusha must be furious. We've got to get out or we'll be crushed.'

He rammed Skoodle into his pocket and grabbed Keeko, pulling her to his chest. Pounded by a hail of pebbles he clambered over rubble, dodging the bigger rocks. Keeko gripped him tightly round his torso as Skoodle muttered to Uncle Toomba.

Into the earthquake boomed a deep low voice, seemingly coming from all directions at once. ‘I am used to being addressed with respect, not irritation.'

‘I'm sorry, sir,' shouted Alex, halting. ‘But Zorrin had called you and you didn't answer.'

‘Zorrin is with you?'

‘Yes,' shouted Keeko, nodding frantically, not knowing if the mountain could see her.

The boulders stopped falling. Clouds of grey dust rose from the piles of freshly-hewn rock littering the cave. Alex pulled his shirt over his mouth to avoid inhaling the thick air. Coughing, Keeko grabbed a fold of material and held it over her nose – her eyes above it wide.

Before Alex had had a chance to stop coughing long enough to speak again, Zorrin's voice echoed back. ‘Makusha, I call you.'

‘I can hear you now,' the mountain growled back. ‘But you're so very faint. Zorrin, welcome.'

‘Thank you. We have brought gifts for you: a staff of light and fire, Queen Rak-hi-eda's wedding pearl and some cabivitrim.'

‘I need no such gifts. It's kind of you, but please keep them. Why did you come here?'

‘We need information, knowing your memory is without parallel. But before you tell us anything – could you be heard outside these caves? Our enemies might be close.'

The great rumbling voice came again. ‘It's not possible for evil ones to penetrate here. Should they try to enter, the Xo force would attack them like a tornado. Flung back out into the storm, limbs shattered, they would die like dogs in the blood-freezing snow. The only danger is from one who might change sides in the future. If there is no potential turncoat among you, I can speak plainly.' The shuddering echoes of the deep voice died away.

‘All my companions are loyal,' replied Zorrin. ‘Each has a reason to hate the evil forces. Tariq, Ikara and Keeko fought loyally for our side during the Battle of Gelforth. Alex and Skoodle helped them rescue me from Karlan.'

‘Then I can speak freely. What do you need to know?'

‘Why would Virida be prepared to kill to get the Sapphire of Akan? Where can we find it?'

Alex, Keeko and Skoodle paused just inside the mouth of the tunnel, close enough to feel the icy blast of the wind.

‘We'll hang on here,' murmured Alex. ‘But be ready – I may yet jettison us out into the storm if the earthquake restarts.'

‘The sapphire holds the power to command nature: the wind listens to its owner, as do the seasons. Its true resting place is here, deep in my heart. About a hundred years ago, a wizard stole the sapphire.'

‘How did he get in?' asked Zorrin. ‘What about the mighty Xo force?'

‘Tarver's mind had been pure when he entered my walls, so he escaped the Xo. He had intended to use the sapphire to bring a halt to the devastating hurricanes sweeping Eridor at that time – destroying homes, farms, creating a famine. But the sapphire's power of corruption is so great that it warped him within hours, the power eating his soul. Few may handle the stone and live: Tarver died within weeks of stealing it.'

Fascinated, Alex forgot the bitter cold of the wind in his face and the pain from his torn hands. ‘But why would possession of power make you die?'

‘From the greed that comes with it: the loss of all true core values such as loyalty, honesty and trust. In the power struggle that invariably follows, faithful friends turn against each other, becoming the bitterest of enemies. Brothers turn against sisters, children against their parents. Inevitably, murder follows. The stone has passed down through the years on a river of blood. Very few have lived more than two or three years in possession of the sapphire: some only hours. All have kept it a deep secret.'

‘Why all the secrecy?' asked Skoodle. ‘Why not boast about it, not hide it? I'd tell the world if I found the sapphire.'

‘Then you'd be attacked by powerful alchemists, evil wizards and great warriors. Secrecy is security. Over the years almost all those who have seen it have died, so that now most believe it to be only a legend; a tale told by white-haired old men over an evening fire.'

‘Amazing story,' Keeko said, yawning.

‘Yet a prophecy says that one day the stone will be returned to its true cradle. Then the deep magic will keep the stone undisturbed forever. Nature will then be free to return to her natural cycles. The wind would once again blow in response to the cloudy heavens, not to keep me incarcerated and alone. Didn't you think it odd that there's a snowstorm so close to the jungle?'

‘I suppose it is,' said Zorrin. ‘But it's been like this for so long that I didn't question it.'

‘This blizzard has lasted for over a hundred years. The keepers of the sapphire ensure that it stays this way so that reaching me would be almost impossible, thereby stopping anyone getting my help in finding the stone or even confirming its existence. No mortal could have made it to my head without a powerful wizard.'

Tariq's voice cut in. ‘We've made a pact with Virida to hand the stone over to her. If we don't, she'll kill us.'

The rumbling grew louder again. Enormous tremors rocked the stone walls.

‘Then you must die. If the witch obtains the stone massive bloodshed will follow,' growled Makusha. ‘You must find the sapphire then bring it to me. Preventing such major destruction will far outweigh the loss of your few lives.'

‘Great,' said Skoodle. ‘Injury, pain, freezing and near death – and now we're going to die anyway. Today isn't turning out well.'

‘I accept that I must die,' said Tariq, voice calm. ‘I'll do all I can to regain the sapphire – but for the forces of good, not for Virida. The others may dissolve our pact now if they choose. They needn't fight to regain the sapphire knowing they'll die. I can undertake this quest alone.'

‘The pact stands. I fight with you whatever the cost,' stated Ikara.

‘And me,' said Keeko.

‘Slight problem here,' murmured Skoodle. ‘When we made the pact, staying alive was a possible option. Bit of a no-win situation now.'

‘I'm not going to give the sapphire to Virida. My parents fought against her,' said Alex. ‘The group can count on my loyalty and, presumably, my death.'

Skoodle sighed. ‘Then me too. Otherwise it's a waste of an episode of near freezing. Uncle Toomba, prepare for a reunion.'

Makusha began speaking again. ‘The stone is with the serpent Hypnos, who lives in the Caves of Desdea. One wizard alone has ever managed to map these caves and return alive: Brinstaller. The only possible way to get to Hypnos is to find the single remaining copy of his ancient map.'

‘Where is it likely to be?' asked Zorrin.

‘At Ravenscraig, sent there many years ago for safe keeping. Our ally was killed on the mission but he had taken steps to ensure that the map ended up in your possession, whatever his fate. Being so heavily disguised, you would not have recognised the map for what it was.'

‘We'll return at once. One more question before we go. An evil force possesses my cat. Can you tell me how to overcome the force within him without killing Clawds?'

‘The smooth white rocks on this chamber floor will cut off an evil power flow or divert it. They may save your cat. Call on one of the jagged black ones if you need my help. I'll do what I can. Take some of each.'

‘A rock to call for a rock. Seems reasonable,' muttered Skoodle, as Alex started gathering rocks and stuffing them into his pockets.

‘Also, the small blue flowers that grow in the meadow beyond the snow will heal any injury while life is still present, if used by one who has the healing force. Flick is such: one of you may be another.'

‘I hope it's me,' whispered Keeko.

‘As you leave, an eagle – Fernando – will land close by. Take from his wings two feathers, no more. They will aid you.'

‘What will the eagle feathers do?' asked Tariq, passing rocks to Zorrin for storage.

‘The magic is variable, but help will appear in some form. Some advice: in future call me from where the monkey stands – in my hearing area; not here.'

‘Any more info about finding the map or the sapphire?' asked the silky voice of Ikara. ‘Presumably each is well hidden. Wild guess… probably right.'

‘I can't help with either. You must rely on your own wit and powers for this quest.'

‘Thank you, O Great One,' said Zorrin. ‘We must leave at once.'

‘It's you who are the powerful one,' the deep voice replied. ‘I have mass and memory. You are great in magic, deed and courage. I salute you.'

‘Until we meet again, goodbye,' said Zorrin. He looked around the cavern, a flickering torch above his head. ‘Everything's just fallen into place. The great white columns at the front; the slimy floor beneath; the flat red rock stretching backwards, disappearing back like a slide. We're in the mouth of the mountain. The others must be in the ear. I must modify my map.'

The journey back down was deeply punishing. On the way up they'd had a purpose carrying them through the snow and driving hail. Now, although they had achieved what they had set out to do, the mood was funereal: all hope shattered. The death sentence could never be lifted.

After a long weary tramp they dropped low enough to reach the treeline. A few straggling evergreens appeared; scrawny branches bowed under the battering of the wind.

‘These trees look dead,' Skoodle said to Alex. ‘Like we'll be fairly soon.'

‘Not helpful.'

‘Just planning my short future. How do you think she'll kill us?'

‘Thunderbolt? Poison? Chucked to a pet shark?'

After a while the temperature began to rise – the visibility clearing, the snowdrifts melting into thick sludge. Sheltered by the thicker trees, the group was no longer battered by the wind.

‘Look. The blue flowers.' Keeko jumped off Tariq's back and ran towards the clumps of flowers, which glowed with an inner light.

‘Everybody pick some. Alex and I will store them with the stones,' said Zorrin, reaching for a largish group.

High above them a golden-bronze eagle hovered on an updraught, sky riding, gradually circling lower. The broad wings held him suspended on the thermals until he finally landed on a grey granite rock, cruel hunter's talons outspread.

Skoodle squealed as Zorrin walked towards the immense bird with its long curved beak.

‘Greetings, Fernando,' Zorrin said. ‘Makusha told us to request two feathers.'

The eagle nodded. Zorrin took a step closer, keeping eye contact with the magnificent creature. ‘Are you able to tell us the secret of your feathers?'

‘They have many secrets,' said Fernando, his voice deep and melodic. ‘All of which you'll have to discover for yourselves, for in no one's hands are they the same. My advice is this: whenever you're in dire need, call on the feathers. Their powers will aid you somehow.'

With care Zorrin reached forward and plucked two feathers, choosing ones which were slightly longer than the rest, standing out from the eagle's wing.

‘You have chosen well. There are troubled times ahead. Yet we will meet again before peace returns.'

‘Is that hope or an ability to predict the future?' asked Tariq.

The eagle gazed at the bear, a half smile on his face. ‘If anyone believed that I could read the future, my freedom would be in extreme danger. When we do meet again it will be an amazing coincidence.'