Legend of the Three Moons (16 page)

`No you aren't,' called a musical voice. `Throw me your rope, Princess.'

`It's Prince Torenshone,' cried Celeste. She threw the merman their rope.

Nothing happened for a moment. The boat continued to slide landwards, then suddenly the rope tightened and their boat turned away from the island.

The children cheered when they saw hundreds of Merpeople swimming amongst the pumice and dead birds. With their long hair floating amongst the debris, and their bejewelled tails flashing through the ash-covered waves, the Merpeople towed the boat out to sea. Eventually, when all that could be seen of Whale Island was a black cloud, Prince Torenshone returned to the boat and handed the rope to Celeste.

`Thank you,' Celeste called after him as, with a flick of his tail and a flash of its new orange tail-jewel, Prince Torenshone and his Merpeople disappeared beneath the waves.

Morning arrived as they set a course south with the coastline on their left. Everyone was finally starting to relax when a faint but strange sound put them on alert again. Chad searched and found a singed and barely-alive rainbow parrot lying beneath the tiller bench. He wrapped it carefully in his sock to keep it warm, then he and Swift curled up in the bottom of the boat to talk about what name to give it.

Gathered around the tiller, Lem, Celeste and Lyla discussed what had happened on Whale Island.

`Do you think the villagers got away in time?' asked Lyla, fingering Chii's whale tooth necklace.

Celeste answered her quickly. `Prince Torenshone told me that whenever the Raiders threaten the Whale Islanders, they hid in the Merpeople's caves. I think Chii will be fine.'

Two days later the children dropped anchor in Pebble Cove and waded ashore with an excited pup and a very wet snow leopard.

Their return trek to Wartstoe Village took time as the children hid when other travellers came along. They rested in the shadows while Snow hunted for groundhogs for his and Nutty's dinner. Reaching the outskirts of the village, they slept in the burnt-out barn again.

This time Snow was on guard while Nutty went exploring. The pup returned with a woeful story. Wartstoe Inn was full of six-fingered Belemites and Mussel Cove fishermen but no farmers, as the Raiders had taken them to be soldiers.

That night, after they'd circled the silent village and reached the crossroads of Belem Road and Marsh Pond Lane, they saw four bodies swinging from the hanging tree. Their green-skinned faces, gaping eye holes and broken-toothed mouths were so frightening that the children raced into the mist-filled lane without thinking of what they would do if they collided with Edith's spirit dogs.

`Shouldn't we hide Snow in case she doesn't want him,' Swift panted, as they reached the cemetery wall. `Because if she doesn't, I do.'

`No, you don't,' argued Lem. `It would be cruel to force Snow to keep going when he's so old.'

`But I love him.'

Lyla put her arm around Swift's shoulders. `What if he got sick? Wouldn't he be better here with Edith?'

`Probably,' pouted Swift. `But I still love him and he loves me.'

Lem shrugged. `How do you kn-'

`Lem!' Lyla glared at her brother.

Suddenly the silence of the night was shattered by people shouting and Edith's dogs barking. Snarling and roaring, Snow jumped in front of the children while Nutty rushed ahead to see what was happening. When he returned he told Lem that there was a gang of very old and very young villagers with torches, sticks and pitchforks trying to break down the cemetery gate.

`They're shouting about how Edith is a witch and that it's because of her they are starving. They say she should be burned. The leaders are Petrie Wartstoe and his son, Isaac.'

`They probably think Edith has treasure hidden in her cottage,' cried Lem, already running towards the cemetery. `We have to save her from a lynch mob.'

Lyla ran beside him. `How? Our weapons were taken by the Whale Islanders.'

`How many people are there?' panted Chad, catching up.

`Nutty says about twenty.'

On reaching the cemetery the five, led by Nutty and followed by Snow, crept along its wall until they could see the gate. In front of it, dancing and yelling, were a crowd of village youths, old men and women and a few drunken travellers, all being riled up by Petrie and Isaac Wartstoe.

On the cemetery-side of the gates, Edith's one-eared, tailless dogs were going crazy trying to get out at them.

`So,' whispered Swift, his hand around Snow's neck. `Anyone got a plan?'

Lem nodded. `Snow says he should go first because the villagers might never have seen a snow leopard before. He can frighten them.'

Swift's arm tightened around Snow.

`Right,' agreed Lyla. `Everyone else - capes over our heads and arms out pretending to be giant bats like the guardians of M'dgassy Palace did to us.'

`And if that doesn't work we will have to release Edith's dogs,' added Celeste. `I wonder why she hasn't done it already?'

`Quick! They've broken the lock,' shouted Lem, racing towards the villagers with his cape over his head. In front of him galloped a snarling Snow, his mouth open to show what was left of his sharp, meat-tearing teeth. Nutty ran alongside pretending he was just as big.

With Petrie and Isaac Wartstoe in front, forcing the barking dogs back with their flaming torches, the jeering, shouting crowd had reached the first row of lopsided gravestones by the time Snow reached them. Behind him, and yelling as loud as they could, Celeste, Lyla, Chad and Swift tried hard to look like giant bats.

An elderly woman waving a broom saw Snow first, and screamed `Ghost!' She turned and burrowed into the pitchfork-carrying crowd. But, on seeing the terrifying enormous white cat, followed by a host of huge bats, the villagers scattered amongst the gravestones.

When Snow reached the cowering Isaac Wartstoe, he reared onto his hind legs and roared. Isaac's mean little eyes bulged, his long jaw dropped and he bolted out of the cemetery. His skinny-legged father took off after him, caught and passed his son and, without looking back, sprinted off down Marsh Pond Lane.

With Nutty and Edith's dogs backing him up, a snarling Snow herded the frightened villagers and travellers out of the cemetery. Relieved to be alive and with all their limbs intact, they took to their heels and disappeared into the surrounding countryside.

Lem raced to the wrought iron gate and snapped shut the bolt.

`They could come over the wall,' said Celeste, eyeing the not-high-enough wall.

`Not with Snow on guard,' said Swift proudly.

They ran thtough the cemetry to Edith's cottage, where a faint light shone through her curtains. Lyla knocked on the front door.

`Go away, or I will set my dogs on you!'

`It's us, Spear, Splash, Wolf, Tree and Arrow,' replied Celeste. `Didn't you see the villagers trying to get into the cemetery? Didn't you hear them shouting that they wanted to burn you as a witch?'

`Of course I heard them. But how do I know you aren't them?'

`Because no one else knows our names and because we have some of the packets of seeds that you gave us,' said Lyla.

The door opened a crack. `How do I know you aren't Belemite shape-thieves? There be a lot of them wandering the byways of late.'

`Because we aren't,' said Swift pushing to the front. `And because we've bought some fish for your dogs and a wonderful present for you.'

`Not for nothing, I warrant,' grumbled the old woman, opening the door wide enough for each of them to squeeze through one at a time.

She held up her lantern and examined them. `What a sight you be,' she chuckled nastily. `No fancy leggings and boots this time. No spears, bows and arrows or swords, just stained clothes, down-at-heel boots and chewed hair. And what be that nasty looking creature with you?'

`It's the snow leopard that just saved you from being burned alive,' explained Swift. `He's brave and fierce and he's a present for you.'

Edith frowned so hard that her wrinkled face resembled a bad tempered walnut. `I told you the last time you were here not to bring me any unwanted presents. He'll just be another mouth to feed and the dogs won't like him.'

`He saved your life,' said Lyla, louder than she meant to.

`Oh aye, he did that,' agreed the old woman, fussing about trying to find them all somewhere to sit. `Well sit, sit. Everything's a mess. I was trying to gather a few things to take with me before I escaped over the back wall.'

`Couldn't your magic stop the attackers?' asked Swift, sitting on top of a chest.

`I'm an oracle, not a sorcerer or wizard, Master Arrow,' she snapped.

Once they were seated Edith told them how Petrie Wartstoe had been threatening her, demanding coin or jewels. `As if I'd have any of those,' she grumbled.

`Then a one-legged soldier turned up searching for his wife and daughter. He frightened Petrie Wartstoe off more than once. I couldn't help him, as his family had been stolen by Raiders and taken to Ulaan, so I gave him a three-legged dog for company.

`Now, as all seems quiet out there, I will get you some stew and then, while I continue packing, you can tell me where you've been.'

They were on their second bowls of stew by the time they'd finished telling her about Tartik and Whale Islands.

`My, my,' she mused while petting her favourite bull terrier. `Who'd believe Sebastian Ull would still be alive. Such a nice-looking young man and a good sand reader.' She shook her head and rapped Swift hard on his knee. `So Master Arrow what is the reason for this unwanted present? Come now. Speak up. You'll be wanting something in return, for sure.'

Before an indignant Swift could argue that Snow was not useless and that he didn't want anything, Chad told her, `It's about the third journey in
The Three Moons Song
. We don't know where to find the poisoned tree.'

`That's easy Master Tree, and I don't even have to read your hand to tell you. You travel along Belem Road till you reach Babylon Forest, then you take the short road that leads through the forest to the Maze.'

Swift edged closer. `If it is a forest, how will we know which is the poisoned tree?'

`Now you waste my time tree-talker,' she grumbled. `You and Tree can ask the trees. But be warned. Babylon Forest belongs to the High Enchanter, so his trees will most likely lie to you. And Babylon Maze will want to keep you, as it keeps most travellers who enter it.'

She glanced over at Snow and her tone turned mildly sarcastic. `I suppose I'd best see what I have to help you, as I'm being paid so handsomely with such a useless present.'

Edith searched her chests and returned with a wooden plate covered in criss-crossing lines. `Cacti wood,' she explained to them. `Tree and Arrow, place your right hands on the plate and count to twenty.'

After Chad and Swift had done as she ordered, she held the plate up and read the lines as if they were words. `This line says only two can leave Babylon Maze. Should more than two enter, one must remain inside. This line says that to touch the maze's gold means enslavement forever. And this one says fire.' She frowned at the plate. `This is a very difficult task. I must find something to help you.'

Lyla leant towards Celeste. `They can't go alone. I felt sick when I lost you. This time I will be more careful. We have to go with them.'

`Sekcap wasn't your fault. And remember only two can enter the maze,' argued Celeste.

`I don't care. I'm not letting them out of my sight.'

They were still arguing and Lyla was winning when Edith returned and handed Swift a rolled parchment tied with yellow ribbon. `Read it before entering Babylon Maze and don't forget to chew the lavender and repulsata seeds if you need to repulse someone.'

She turned to Chad and reminded him about the packet of Finders Keepers petals that she'd given him. `They will lead you through the maze but they die quickly so you must move fast.'

Finally she handed a rolled parchment, tied with a purple ribbon, to Lyla. `Do not read it until you start
your
journey, which you must do alone.'

`Now go to sleep. When you awake go into my new storeroom and choose weapons, clothes, boots and a ball of yellow string for the maze. Do not wake me and do not return. I will be leaving soon after you, it being no longer safe to reside here.'

Swift glanced worriedly at Snow.

`Your present will stay with me, Master Arrow, until you come to fetch him from Sebastian's home in Mussel Cove, which is where I will be. And all of you remember the Belemite shape thieves. They can steal your shape without you knowing it.'

Chad looked worried. `How do you get your shape back if it's stolen?'

`Put your hands on the thief's shoulders and shout "Return my shape, thief" then hang on until they do.'

Lyla edged closer. `Can I ask a question?'

The old woman's eyes closed wearily. `If it's about your journey you must seek out San Jaagiin the birdman of Belem. Tell him his sister sent you and make him tell you my full name in case his shape has been stolen. My full name is Edith du Lac du Mont, which means Edith of the lake of the mountain. Now sleep!'

Lyla woke first. She'd had a restless night worrying about Swift and Chad and she'd had a dream that upset her. Swift woke next, and rolled over to check on Snow. The leopard was sleeping with his paws wrapped around a bowl of stew given to him by Edith during the night. Lyla woke the others and they all crept into the storeroom.

Hanging from nails in the walls were dozens of rusty swords, spears, soldier's bags and clothing. They each chose a soldier's bag and sword and Chad added a curved-end bow and quiver, both engraved with strange runes that made no sense to him. Next they tried on coats and boots. None were small enough for Swift so he found a pair of socks to wear under his sandals and a belt to hitch up his farmer's jacket. Celeste, who'd developed a sniffle, wrapped a scarf around her head and another around her neck, and then pocketed a ball of yellow string.

Creeping past Snow's lolling head they tiptoed around the wide-awake dogs and out into the fog.