City in the Clouds (3 page)

The kids wished the Lumpy king good luck.

Suddenly the street beneath them rumbled. The stones vibrated under their feet.

“We’re flying!” Neal said. “Ro is going up!”

They peered between the buildings to see the foothills slip away below them. The air grew colder. Clouds drifted over the rooftops. Ro was in the air once again.

“Let’s roll!” Julie cried. “Before it’s too late!”

The band of friends crept into the first hallway they could find. It was dark and cool.

“Okay” said Eric. “Where should we go?”

Keeah pointed into the darkness. “My father says, when in doubt, head for the center.”

“Looks kind of spooky in there,” Julie said.

“I like the dark,”‘ said Neal. “I can actually see better. I hear voices, too. Not Ninns, though. I think this is the way.”

They followed Neal deeper into the palace.

Julie turned to Keeah. “Why does Ro become invisible?”

“To protect the Tower of Memory,” the princess answered. “Everything that happens in Droon is written in the Tower. The Guardians are keepers of the Tower and of the whole history of our world. My father and I hoped they might tell us what happened to my mother.”

“Do you think they can help debug me?” Neal asked.

Keeah nodded. “That’s my plan.”

“Cool,” said Neal. “Then that’s my plan, too!”

Together, the four friends scurried up a set of steps to another level. They could still feel the city rising higher and higher into the air.

Strange noises echoed behind them.

Eric wondered if the Ninns were on their trail. Did Sparr already know they were there? And if he found them, what would he do?
Splat?

“The Guardians rule over the people of Ro,” Keeah added. “They’re the last of a band of knights who have lived since the earliest days of Droon.”

Suddenly Neal stopped short and everyone bunched up behind him.

“What’s the matter,” Eric asked.

“The hall ends here,” his friend said.

“Well, that’s dumb,” said Julie. “Why would they have a hall that leads nowhere?-”

Keeah chuckled. ‘The hall may end, but the way continues.” In the dim light, she pointed to a strange mark on the wall above them.

“What is it?” Julie asked.

“It’s an ancient language.” Keeah said, peering close. “I don’t know all the words, but I know this one. It means . . . the Guardians!”

Keeah pushed at the wall.

Vrrrt!
It slid aside easily.

The children slipped through the opening.

They found themselves in a tall room with a curved ceiling.

“I should tell you one more thing about the Guardians,” Keeah said. “They are —”

“Oh, my gosh!” Julie gasped.

“Whoa!” Eric grunted.

“I think we found where they keep the dinosaurs!” Neal whispered.

Five
The Guardians of Droon

In the center of the room were two seven-foot-tall lizards with large heads. They stood upright, swishing their heavy tails across the tiled floor.

Their short upper arms ended in six-inch- long clawed fingers. Their teeth were

even longer.

But the strangest part was that they were dressed in shiny green robes.

“Let’s… um… sneak back out,” Eric said.

“Before they see us…” Julie added.

But Keeah walked slowly up to the creatures.

“Ah!” said one of the dinosaurs. “Princess Keeah and her friends from the Upper World!”

“Welcome to the city of Ro,” the other said.

Eric blinked. “Are you . . . dinosaurs?”

“Theropods, actually,” one said. “I’m Bodo.”

“And I’m Vasa,” said the other. “We’re the Guardians!”

Bodo pulled a pair of spectacles from his robe and slipped them on. He stepped over to Neal. “You must be Neal, the boy with the problem.”

Neal blinked. “How did you know my name?”

The creature smiled. “I was reading in the Tower this morning. I knew you were coming,”

“Then you know that Sparr is here, too?” Keeah said. “And his Ninns are everywhere.”

Vasa hissed between his teeth. “Sparr has come for the diamonds. He wants to harness their power for his own evil ends.”

“Then we must hurry,” Bodo said.

Vasa put a claw to his chin and walked around Neal. “Hmm. Yes, I see. We must find out exactly what happened the instant you became a bug. You must read what Quill has written about it in the Tower of Memory.”

“Who is Quill?” Eric asked.

“Our magic feather,” Vasa said. “All of Droon’s history — all that has ever happened — Quill writes in the ancient language. He writes everything on the stones of the Tower.”

“And sometimes,” Bodo said with a chuckle, “Quill writes so fast, he gets ahead of himself.”

Keeah frowned. “What do you mean?”

It was Vasa’s turn to laugh. “He means that Quill writes what hasn’t happened yet!”

“You mean . . . the future?” Eric asked.

“Oh, yes,” Bodo replied. “But what we need now is from the past.” He scribbled on a small square of paper and handed it to Neal.

On the paper was a strange drawing.

“What’s this?” Neal asked.

“Your name, in the ancient language,” Bodo replied. “And here are the rest of your names.”

The children took the papers from Bodo. He also gave them small writing tools that looked like pencils.

Vasa stepped over to Keeah. “But you, Princess, you are here for something else?”

She nodded. “My father and I were coming to see what you could tell us about where my mother is. We know she is alive… somewhere.”

Vasa nodded slowly. “Queen Relna was — is — a great ruler, as is your father, King Zello.”

Keeah breathed deeply and continued. “She fought Lord Sparr at the forbidden city of Plud. She was never seen again.”

“Princess, you must look for this symbol.”

“Your mother’s name. Relna. Also this one.”

“Who is that?” Julie asked.

“Lord Sparr,” Eric said, though he wasn’t sure why. “Am I right?”

Bodo and Vasa shared a look at each other, then nodded. “Indeed, you are correct, Eric.”

Clang! Boom! Blam!

Bodo raised his claw. “Sparr has entered the palace! Go to the Tower quickly. Take these symbols. Read the characters next to them and bring back what you have found out. All your questions will be answered.”

“But what about you?-” Keeah asked.

“Sparr will not harm us today,” Vasa said.

Clomp! Clomp!

^^Ninns!^^ Neal hissed. ‘We’re too late!’^

“A simple spell will help you escape capture,” Vasa said. He took a book from a nearby shelf and held it open. “Keeah, say these words.”

Bodo nodded to Keeah. “Only a true wizard, even a young one, can perform spells. Hurry!”

Keeah began to read. “Bello… gum…”

Clomp!
Ninn footsteps echoed just outside.

‘Tello… mum…”

“What’s going to happen?” Julie asked.

“Rello . . . hum!”

Fwoot— boomtf— pahhh!
The room filled with thick blue smoke just as the doors blasted open.

Light from a dozen blazing torches filled the small room. Ninn warriors entered and grabbed Bodo and Vasa roughly. Then the doorway filled with a dark shape. Lord Sparr entered.

Eric expected the sorcerer to start screaming.