The Elderine Stone (12 page)

As they walked along the small cobbled alley which lay in-between two rows of houses, they noticed that every so often another alley would join onto the one which they were walking along.

After a while Jason stopped.

“Maybe we should try one of these side alleys’ this one doesn’t seem to be going anywhere at all”

“
You’re right. We’ll take this one.” Emily said, and moved towards an alleyway pointing over to a dark passage, which really didn’t look too inviting at all. Why Emily hadn’t picked a brighter, wider one was beyond anyone’s guess.

After following the alley for a while they ended up face to face with a stone wall. There were no doors to buildings, or windows, just plain, old stone. Confused, a bit annoyed and frustrated they decided to walk back again and try a different alleyway, but the same thing happened again, with the alley ending with a stone wall.

They tried this a more few alleyways but more often than enough they ended up heading down one, and finding that it was a dead end too. Having to walk back up it again was beginning to cause a tiring effect on the friends.

By the fifth dead end, they decided that maybe it was time to take a rest and head back to the main street. It was like being in a maze, and although Jason thought about making jokes about trails of breadcrumbs, the look of irritation on Emily’s face made him bite his tongue. Eventually, they found their way back to the fork at the end of the main street. They could see the blue dome. It really wasn’t that far away. It was just a matter of getting past the row of shops and houses that lay in front of it. But no matter what they tried, what road or alley they took, they always seemed to reach a dead end.

“
Oh this is absolutely useless” Emily said as she sat her exhausted body down on the side of the road, “We are
never
going to get to the Library at this rate, someone or something is obviously trying to stop us”

“Maybe you could go talk to that guard again, and see if he could tell us how exactly we could get to the Great library” Jason said as he sat down beside her trying to sound as optimistic as possible.

“
Jason that’s not funny. Do try and be serious for once” She settled into what Jason thought of as a ‘classic huff position’, with her arms crossed over her knees, and her chin resting on them, morosely.

“
I am being serious. You should go and talk to the guard again. He must know how to get to the library – he just took it for granted that we knew the city’s shortcuts and everything. Maybe if you explain to him that it’s our first visit? Besides, it beats sitting here doing nothing.”

Emily raised her chin to look at him, and nodded slightly.

“
You’re right. I’ll go ask him”

She walked slowly over toward the guard who was still standing smartly to attention. “Excuse me.” she said, waiting through the helmet-fixing ritual until she had the guard’s attention, “we tried to get to the Library, but every road or alley we took led away from it. Can you please tell us which way we should go?”

The guard chuckled “of course, like I said just head directly towards the dome, don’t change direction, just go straight ahead from where we are standing”

“
But there is a row of shops there’ Emily said, trying to keep the annoyance from her voice. The guard wasn’t listening to her at all.

The guard smiled a mysterious smile.

“Just look closely at those shops” he said quietly “one of them is bound to help you out”

Then he straightened up, fixed the helmet, and stood to attention again.

Emily looked at him for a moment, and turned to walk back to her friends.

“Well? Did you find anything out?” Jason asked as soon as she returned.

“
Not much. He just said that we should head straight towards the dome and not change direction.”

“But the row of shops...” Jason interrupted.

“
I know. I did say about that, but the guard just said there was bound to be one that could help us, and that was it, that’s all he would say.”

Jason looked at Sherbit, who just shrugged his shoulders. There was a rumbling noise.

“What was that?” Emily asked.

“My stomach!” Jason said, with a laugh.

“Trust you to be thinking about food, especially at a time like this!” she exclaimed.

There was a second rumble, and Emily’s face went red.

“Looks like I’m not the only one…!” Jason laughed again.

“
Let’s go get something to eat, before we starve away to nothing. We can’t be making things too easy for the Dark Lady and her watchers.”

They gathered their belongings and walked down the road.

It wasn’t long before the three
friends were looking for a place to buy a bite to eat. Sherbit of course who had the smallest stomach out of the three, but who also had the biggest appetite, was now starving, and the rumblings were a constant reminder. Being the most eager to grab something to eat, and at point were anything would have sated his hunger he noticed a small bakery. It was neatly tucked between two houses. A few customers stood outside gazing through one large window, their mouths almost watering at the sight of the freshly baked goods. The small shop looked like the perfect place to have something to eat.

Jason and Emily soon caught the aromatic smells of the baked goods. Jason had never smelt anything like it. The aroma must have been ten times better than the smell of baked foods back home. Crusty breads and jam filled tarts, freshly griddled pancakes, plain and fruity scones, along with the smell of various buns and pastries swallowed up the surrounding air.

There was no argument between the three friends about where they were going to eat. Sherbit ran over to the window. He was just tall enough to see over the ledge but still too short that he couldn’t see all of the goods that had been laid out by the baker. He looked at the goods that he could see, laid out perfectly across the counter, his mouth watered and his eyes dilated as they tried to capture all the breads, buns and cakes in one gaze. His mouth watered, and he made little smacking noises as he tried to stop himself drooling.

“Well are you just going to stand there and stare at them or are you going to come and eat some” Emily said as she headed towards the door.

“I would” Jason replied, “but I don’t have any money, and even if I did I don’t think any shop keeper would accept any kind of money I would have”

“
Oh don’t be silly Jason I have enough here to buy all three of us something” Emily tapped a pocket in the side of her cloak, some coins jingled musically. “Shall we go in then, or stand here a little longer?”

Sherbit didn’t hesitate nor did he need to be asked twice. No sooner had Emily jingled the coins in her pocket he was already stampeding toward the small shop door.

“I guess we should go in then” Jason said as he joined Emily following Sherbit into the bakery.

The bakery was cramped, but cosy. It was no larger than a standard sized living room. With a counter next to the door, fresh goods were laid out. There was a small curtained door that must have laid back into the preparation and baking area. Nonetheless the tiny shop still looked very inviting. The floors were covered in dark slabs of stone that looked worn, the walls were covered in a dark red wood and each wall, except the front, held a medium sized painting of either beautiful natural scenery or very rural looking buildings. One in particular had a picture of an old looking mill with a small shack beside it. Two very proud looking men with long brown cloaks stood outside. The bakery’s front wall had a large window and the front door letting in just enough light for the customers to have the privilege of seeing the items for sale. The area behind the counter, like the seating area of the bakery, was lit by dim but warming oil torches on the wall. The only area in the whole bakery that didn’t hold any light was a very shadowed place at the back right side of the shop. As no cake selling transactions would take place over in that corner, it didn’t seem so important. Along the wall closest to the door sat three tables, each with four stools tucked neatly underneath. Each table was adorned with a red and white chequered cloth. The third table, the one furthest from the door, also happened to be in the dark area; and would have made the perfect place for anyone wishing to eat their fresh treats in peace while remaining unseen.

A plump lady, with rosy checks and grey hair tied into a bun stood behind the counter smiling and greeting every customer that came to buy some of her breads and cakes. She beamed at Jason, Emily and Sherbit as they gazed with longing at the treasures spread before them.

“Hello dears” the lady gushed “Would you like to try some of these Strawberry tarts? They’re fresh”

Sherbit nearly jumped at the chance but thought otherwise when he remembered he had no money and that it was Emily who had gracefully said she would pay for all three of them. He certainly didn’t want to ruin his chance for a free snack now.

“Yes we would love too” Emily replied sounding very polite once again

Jason started to snigger, but quickly turned it into a cough as Emily gave him a sharp look.

“
Well, go and take a seat then dears, and I’ll bring you some over with a glass of something sweet, ok?” She wafted them away with a smile and turned towards a door that must have led into the kitchen. Jason led the way over to the table closest to the door. As he sat down, Sherbit bounced over and sat next to him, followed closely by Emily sitting down opposite Jason

It wasn’t long before the old lady returned, carrying a tray with three tall glasses of what looked like milk and a plate of strawberry tarts piled into a tall, sticky pyramid.

“
There you go dears! Now eat up, and enjoy.” She smiled again, and then added under her breath, “It looks like you haven’t eaten in days, poor things!”

“Don’t we owe you something for this?” Emily asked, reaching for her purse.

“
Oh,
no
dear! It’s a treat. Now eat up.” She smiled once again, and headed back to the counter.

“That was very nice of her!” Jason said, helping himself to one of the strawberry tarts.

“
Yes. Very.” Emily replied, apprehensively.

Neither Jason nor Sherbit seemed to notice her tone, as they happily munched on the free tarts.

“
These are really good. Emily you should try one” Jason said with his mouth full of tart. Some off which had managed to find its way out of Jason’s mouth and had started to roll down his chin.

“
They
look
lovely” Emily said, but deep down she was thinking about the old lady’s actions. Why had she been so nice and given them this food for free? Emily shook her head. “
I’m just being paranoid,”
she thought. “
She is just an old lady after all
.”

She took a deep breath, and a bite of a strawberry tart.

“
My goodness these
are
good!” Emily exclaimed, once she tasted the sweet strawberry jam.

“
I think Sherbit agrees with you there” Jason said as he looked over at Sherbit. Midway through his third tart, it was hard to see were the jam ended and the imp began.

Emily laughed then pulled herself together.

“
I should really start thinking about what exactly we will be looking for when we get to the library. I mean it is a lot we have to look up. With the Order of Elderine the stone and the Dark lady, we will have our hands full”

“
We should be ok, I hope, but I am a bit anxious as to what we will find. I am excited too though.” Jason said as he lifted his glass to take a drink.

“I’m excited too, we may find some things that will shock both of us, but at least we will know the truth and perhaps maybe the reason for you being here”

“Yeah, I hope so.”

Jason and Emily finish off their tarts whilst
Sherbit nipped under the table to lick himself clean. Catlike purring noises could be heard from where Sherbit was nestled under the table cleaning, he emerged a few moments later jam-free and faintly embarrassed. Jason and Emily, who had barely been able to contain their giggles, straightened their faces and picked up their cloaks.

“
We should say thanks to the old lady before we go for the tarts and drinks.” Emily said as she walked towards the counter.

The three friends said their thanks then left the bakery feeling refreshed and full from the very enjoyable tarts.

At the back of the bakery
engulfed in shadows, a figure stirred.

“
Did you
hear
that?” a voice whispered. The owner of the voice was shadowed but for anyone who had purpose or interest could have squinted or focused enough to discern that the source of the mysterious voice was coming from someone who had dark black hair with piercing dark eyes which melted out of the shadows, resolving themselves into a young, clean-looking boy. The mysterious boy was well-dressed for someone of his age. He would have stuck out among the crowds of commoners, townsfolk and busy shoppers that paraded around the streets of Haspar, which is perhaps why he chose to sit in the shadows. Here was a boy who did not want to be known, or recognised.