| |
It was only when Salter screamed, that everyone turned.
Shocked and surprised, the Lady, and everyone else saw balled magic blasting straight up at the monster's grotesque body, ripping it to pieces. The other creatures, their eyes wide with fear, began to back away, but it was too late. For Salter, who seemed to be in a trance, caught them as he arced the powerful hum of magic at them, killing them all instantly. Then suddenly, with a soft cry he fell to his knees. As he did, Feverfew opened her glowing eyes and sat up. Smiling she looked around.
“It’s a good job I gave Salter some magic,” she said to the surprised, delighted, Lady who had scrambled to her feet.
Seconds later all three were standing hugging each other as Feverfew explained. “I don’t know why, but as we flew here I sensed somehow it was a trap. I took precautions to save Salter. I gave him some more magic.” She smiled. “In the end he saved us.”
“Did I really?” asked the small boy, grinning.
The Lady nodded. She remembered the flash of magic that had come from Feverfew into Salter, and all at once she remembered their quest.
“It’s time we were on our way,” she said quietly.
They reached Palaber three minutes later. Shortly they were in the air again.
****
It took them over two hours and forty minutes to come within sight of the Silver City. As they flew nearer, they saw to their horror, the beasts that had been waiting at Elk River were gathered in their thousands around the city.
Everyone could see that the Silver City was covered in a dome of red magic.
The Lady knew there was no chance that Palaber could fly them over the city's walls into it. They would have to find another way in.
“Lady,” gasped Feverfew, pointing.
“Yes,” said the Lady, when she saw four of the biggest beasts rise into the air and immediately fly towards them.
Palaber hissed a warning. Immediately he flew higher, just as the first of the shrieking beasts attacked. But magic from the Lady was already bombarding it. The beast was so big, resembling a bulky four-legged World War two plane, with a tail of razor sharp barbs, was almost on them, before it gave a shudder, died and plummeted to the ground far below. By then the other three beasts had almost reached them. One died instantly as the Lady's magic blasted its chest apart, but one of the other two managed to catch Palaber on the head with the end of its tail. With blood pumping from a deep wound behind one of his ears, and breathing hard with pain, the great dragon, trying to stay in the air, dropped nearer to the ground.
“Take us down!” screamed the Lady, with a glance at Feverfew. Her magic wasn’t acting. It’s up to me, she thought. Gritting her teeth, she raised her right hand to join the other and allowed ball magic to blast at the two beasts.
Salter, pushing tightly against Feverfew, cried out with horror as one of the beasts almost reached them. Its glaring, bright eyes seemed to dim as the Lady’s magic blasted into it.
Dying it fell below.
By then, as the other beast died, the injured dragon was bumping to a hard stop on the pebble-strewn ground.
Take a quick glance skywards, the Lady saw that no other beasts were attacking. Satisfied they were safe, she turned to Palaber. Blood was spurting like a fountain from behind one of his ears. In an instant she was by his side, pressing her hand, already glowing with the magic, on the deep gash.
The great dragon sighed softly, as he felt the soothing magic searching to heal the deepest part of his injury. When the Lady stepped away from him he sighed with pleasure. The pain was gone. The wound was already beginning to heal.
“Lady, what are we going to do now?” asked Feverfew. “If we try to fly near the city the beasts will attack us.” She looked at Palaber. “Palaber will be killed. We will be killed. There are too many of the beasts.”
“Yes,” whispered the Lady, looking in the direction of the city. “Palaber will be killed.” She smiled at the dragon. “Palaber, you will stay here. We three are going on.”
“But, Lady,” began Salter, who was terrified at the idea of going any nearer to the beasts.
“We’ll look after you, Salter,” assured Feverfew, though she too was frightened. How were they going to get into the city with so many beasts guarding it? They couldn’t kill them all. There were just too many. She looked at the Lady, who was thoughtful. “Lady have you a plan?”
The Lady turned. “No. But we have to get into the Silver City. There is no use standing here talking about it.” She smiled at the pale-faced girl. “Come on. Something will turn up. Perhaps now your magic will show its great power.”
I don’t think so, thought Feverfew, as she listened to the Lady thanking Palaber for his help.
“Palaber you will find more of your kind, as I told you, deep in the Valley of the Rawls. You know where it is?”
“I know where it is. It's really not that far from here. But I flew there a while back. I saw no sign of any of my race.”
“You were not looking for them, were you?”
“That is true,” said Palaber.
“Well, when you fly through the valley, you will see a cavern, much like your own, only it is hidden by thick mist. Others of your race live there.” She smiled. “Palaber, your name will be written in the annals of the ancients when... ” She turned to Feverfew, “we succeed in finding the Tarsis Amulet. Thank you again for all your help.”
“It is I who should thank you, Lady, and you,” said Palaber, looking at Feverfew.
Waving at Palaber, as he rose quickly into the air, the small company headed towards the trees. Before going into the trees they turned and waved again. Shortly they were making their way through the forest.
****
They were within a quarter of a mile from the edge of the forest when they began to hear the squeals, roars and screeches of the beasts. They stopped another hundred yards later. Gathering Feverfew and Salter closer, the Lady, looking steadily at Feverfew, said, “Feverfew, we need your magic now more than ever. To get to the Silver City we have to go through the beasts. There are thousands of them, as you have seen. We need your magic,” she repeated.
“But Lady... I... I don’t know how to call my magic. I would if I could. You surely know that,” exclaimed Feverfew, sniffing, as a tear found its way to one of her eyes.
“You'll just have try harder,” said the Lady softly. “Look, Salter and I will go a little further on. We’ll leave you to think about your magic. Try your best to call it. There is no way we can reach the city without it. My own magic is not powerful enough. If it was, I would not endanger you so.” She smiled. “We’ll leave you then.” Turning to Salter she said, “Come Salter. We’ll wait by yonder clearing.”
Feverfew watched, as the Lady led the boy prince to a small clearing just beyond two of the tallest trees in the forest. What was am I going to do? She thought. How can I call my magic? The magic only seems to come when it decides to, not when I want it.
****
Meanwhile, in the clearing, the Lady was talking to Salter.
“Salter you are very brave. When we reach the Silver City you mustn’t be afraid. Feverfew and I will protect you.”
“Lady,” said Salter quietly. “Why am I here? I have no magic. Orleo, or the General would have served you better. I... I am... useless. I have no magic. I couldn’t help you or Feverfew if you were in danger. I have no magic,” he repeated.
****
Meanwhile, Feverfew was trying hard to concentrate. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and tried to think about her power. She groaned with the effort. It has to come. It has to... it just has to, she thought.
At the same time, four beasts of immense size, resembling black gorillas with enormous heads and saliva-covered teeth, had suddenly leapt from the trees and into the clearing. Before the Lady could call her magic, one of the beasts had cuffed her around the head. With a shocked moan, she fell dazed to the ground. Now all four gorilla beasts surrounded Salter.
His scream of terror alerted Feverfew. As it did, the humming sound echoed all around her. It grew louder and louder, so loud, it halted the gorilla beast’s attack. Almost at once Feverfew was racing towards the clearing. As she ran, she felt her magic burst ahead of her, straight into the clearing, seeking out the beasts. With shocked growls they couldn’t move, rooted to the spot, as the elf girl's powerful magic surrounded them, tearing into their bodies, destroying them from the inside. In seconds they lay crumpled on the ground. By then, Feverfew was bending over the Lady.
A lump was growing on the Lady's brow as Feverfew and Salter helped her to her feet.
“Are... are you all right, Lady,” asked Feverfew.
“I am now,” whispered the Lady smiling. She reached her glowing hand to her brow. Immediately the lump began to disappear. “You were able to call your power?” she asked.
“It... It just came on its own. When I heard Salter cry out my magic just appeared.”
It was then the Lady realized why Salter had been chosen to go with them. He was the key to Feverfew’s magic. He is the key, she thought. Whenever Salter was in danger, Feverfew’s magic showed itself. She remembered the magic flashing from Feverfew, when they were flying into the trap.
“Come,” she said quietly. “We have a bit to walk before we reach the edge of the forest.”
Wondering about her magic, and why it had reacted as it did, Feverfew followed the Lady and Salter. She smiled, when she saw the Prince was holding the Lady's hand.
****
They reached the edge of the forest a short while later. Hidden within the trees, they stared through them at the beasts that surrounded the Silver City. Monsters, as tall as towers, as long as tunnels and as fearsome as dinosaurs, roared and fought with each other, as the Lady turned to Feverfew.
“Feverfew, your magic apparently acts when Salter is in danger. I am sure of this. I am going to ask him to walk out of the trees on his own to face the beasts.”
“Nooo,” croaked the small boy, his face as pale as the stripped bark of a sapling.
“Salter, you trust me don’t you?” said the Lady.
“Y... yes,” stammered Salter. “But Lady, I’ll be killed if the beasts see me.”
“No. They won't be able to withstand Feverfew’s magic. Her powerful magic will save you. It will protect us all.” She pointed. “Look, Salter, we have to get into the Silver City. We have to find the amulet. We have to. If we don’t, then everyone in the land will die... your mother will die.”
“My... My mother,” whispered Salter, glancing at Feverfew.
“All of us.”
Salter looked through the trees. In the distance he could see the glowing walls of the Silver City. But now his eyes dropped to the beasts. There are so many of them, he thought. We’ll all be killed.
“Salter, walk forward in front of us,” whispered the Lady. “Allow the beasts to see you.”
“Lady... I... ” began Salter. He was trembling with fear.
But all of a sudden the small boy was bravely pushing through the trees and onto a wide path that led to the Silver City.