Chapter 11

 

 

Ben and Mia quickly returned to the hill. It had started to rain since Ben had been back, the night sky clouded and dim. They took shelter under a tree, Mia astonished and a little shaken from the experience of passing through the portal.

 

‘I truly is magic,’ she said in awe. ‘The people who made it must have been very powerful.’

 

‘Let me show you something else about it,’ Ben said as a thought came to him. ‘You have a nasty black eye and scratches on her face and arms.’

 

Mia grinned.

 

‘Well, I put up quite a fight before they managed to drag me out of the cave,’ she replied.

 

‘The Silvyn can make them feel better,’ he said and held it up.

 

‘Does… does it hurt?’ she asked nervously.

 

‘Not a bit,’ Ben said reassuringly.

 

‘Okay…’

 

Ben held the Silvyn by her head and willed it to heal her black eye and the deeper scratches on her skin. It gave a single silvered pulse and Mia’s eyes went wide.

 

‘It felt cold!’ she said. ‘Like water flowing under my skin.’

 

‘How do you feel?’ Ben grinned, seeing even the darkness that her eye was virtually healed and he guessed the scratches gone as well.

 

‘I feel much better,’ she replied, touching around the spot. ‘So it can heal injuries too!’

 

Ben nodded.

 

‘Pretty amazing, eh! Now, what do about Dale?’

 

Mia was silent a few moments, her expression thoughtful.

 

‘I have an idea,’ she finally said. ‘But first I need to call for Sprite. I only hope he’s still in the area and not flown home.’

 

In the darkness she cupped her hands before her mouth. Then she let out a long, undulating cry that carried away into the night. She let out another one and then sat down on the ground.

 

‘There,’ she said. ‘He should hear that. Their hearing is very acute and they learn to know our calls.’

 

‘How do we find out if Dale’s been taken?’ Ben asked as he sat down.

 

‘We’ll look for Whisper,’ she replied. ‘I can only hope he got away, even if Dale was kidnapped.’

 

‘And your idea for rescuing him?’

 

‘Well, since your Silvyn can open the locks of the  prison, that might be a big help,’ she replied. ‘My Uncle Thom would know what to do with such a magic tool. I think we should return to Relmak and see him.’

 

Ben was a little uncomfortable with that suggestion. They had just escaped the slavers and he didn’t relish the idea of risking so again.

 

‘Don’t you think we might be kidnapped again?’ he asked.

 

Mia shook her head.

 

‘The slavers leave the townsfolk alone mostly,’ she replied. ‘They look for people outside it, lone travellers, even small groups. We should be safe once we’re in Relmak itself.’

 

Ben still didn’t like the sound of this, but figured Mia would know best. They dozed a little then, letting the night pass them by. But they were woken by the strident cry of a Roc as dawn lit the horizon. They were on their feet instantly and looked toward the mountains where the cry had come. They quickly spotted the shape of a Roc flying down from the peaks.

 

‘It’s Sprite!’ Mia said in delight.

 

The big bird shortly landed and Mia went over to him and stroked his lowered head. He started to purr in his deep throated way, obviously glad to see her. She then took the satchel off his back.

 

‘Let’s eat something,’ she said. ‘Those slavers didn’t feed us at all.’

 

Ben was famished and ate everything that was on offer, some nutty bread, dried fruits and nuts. There was also a bottle of cool berry juice to wash everything down with. They day brightened and soon the sun had risen above the mountains. Mia then packed up the satchel and tied it back onto Sprite. She then took the bird’s great head in her hands.

 

‘Find Whisper, Sprite!’ she asked him. ‘Where is Whisper.’

 

The bird uttered a low shriek and they clambered on board. He launched himself into the air and Ben wondered how long they would have to look. But they had barely flown a mile when he approached the ground again. And by some trees he could see the body of Roc.

 

They landed and they saw that he had been pierced by several spears. Mia knelt beside him and stroked his lifeless head.

 

‘Whisper!’ she said in despair at the loss.

 

Ben stood by silently, feeling pretty rotten at the murder of the once proud bird. After some moments Mia got to her feet and wiping a few tears, looked at Ben.

 

‘He’s been taken then,’ she said bleakly.

 

‘But we can rescue him, Mia,’ Ben said. ‘You said your uncle would be able to help.’

 

‘Yes, and I know I got you to promise you would help,’ she replied. ‘But I won’t hold you to it, Ben. I would feel awful if I put you in danger again. You have to think of your gran and I wouldn’t blame you if you left.’

 

But Ben shook his head.

 

‘There’s nothing I can do for her just yet,’ he replied. ‘But if I help you, will you then think of helping me?’

 

Mia smiled.

 

‘I will… whatever it takes.’

 

‘Then let’s go see your uncle,’ Ben grinned.

 

* * *

 

They recovered some gear from Whispers body, a warm coat that Ben could wear and a little more food. They mounted Sprite again and took to the air. But they didn’t fly far again before Mia landed the bird by a small stream. He they washed some of the grime and sweat from their bodies, lying in the stream for a while and letting the water soak though their clothing.

 

Then they were airborne again and heading south. For the next three days they flew, keeping to the mountains to hide from any more slavers that might be around. The weather stayed cool, with occasional showers and a chill wind that blew over them as they flew. Ben was quite glad for the warm coat he had been given.

 

They spent two nights in deep mountain valleys, hiding in small stands of trees that offered some shelter. Sprite flew off during the night, Mia saying to hunt and eat. But he was always back the next morning, ready for another day in the air.

 

On the morning of the third day they left the mountains behind and flew over gently rolling hill country. The weather had improved with mainly blue skies and a warm, welcome sun shining. As noon approached the ocean drew into view and they followed the coastline to the south-east.

 

Relmak appeared around mid afternoon and the countryside had changed to chequered fields of crops and orchards. Mia brought Sprite down to land by an apple orchard. When they dismounted, she slapped him back into the air again.

 

‘He’ll stay in the area till we need him again,’ she said.

 

‘Do we go down into the town whilst it’s still light?’ Ben asked, still nervous about any slavers.

 

Mia shook her head.

 

‘No, we’ll wait till dark,’ she replied. ‘Even though we should be safe, the least number of people that see us the better.’

 

Ben still had misgivings about going into the town. He was troubled by something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

 

They waited until the sun dipped below the horizon and then walked through the orchard. They came across a wide road of beaten earth, rutted with the tracks of carts.

 

‘Where’s your uncle’s inn?’ Ben asked as they walked along it toward the outskirts of the town.

 

‘On the far side of town below the citadel’s hill,’ Mia replied.

 

They entered Relmak, its streets dotted here and there with glowing oil lanterns atop tall poles. They didn’t shed much light and they came across only a few people emerging from the shadows. They gave Ben and Mia furtive looks, almost as if they shouldn’t be there.

 

‘I don’t understand it,’ Mia said. ‘Even at night Relmak is always a little busy with people coming and going.’

 

It was then that Ben realized what had been troubling him.

 

‘I think we’re forgetting that we only escaped from a few days ago,’ he said. ‘They might be still looking for us.’

 

Mia’s eyes went wide.

 

‘I hadn’t thought of that,’ she said worriedly. ‘It almost looks like there’s a curfew over the town.’

 

She quickened her pace.

 

‘Come on, the sooner we reach the inn the better.’

 

They continued down several streets till they arrived at a warehouse district. Tall and closed buildings loomed on their left and several wharfs jutted out into the dark sea on their right. Ahead Ben could see the hill rising into the night, the citadel on top with a few windows glinting with light.

 

‘Not far now,’ Mia said in relief.

 

And then they were suddenly challenged from behind.

 

‘You there! Stop!’ said a voice.

 

They whirled about to find two red uniformed guards coming up the street. Without pause, Mia grabbed Ben’s hand and dragged him into a narrow alley.

 

‘Hey! Stop!’ shouted the same voice.

 

Ben and Mia kept going, charging down the alley. Broken boxes and litter lay over the ground and they had to jump and leap over it. It slowed them down and all the time they could hear the tramp of running boots coming after them. They ducked into a further alley, startling a mangy looking cat that hissed at them as they ran. Then into another, its way so dark Ben could hardly see what was ahead of him.

 

Then Mia slid to a sudden halt, Ben almost careening into the back of her. He immediately saw they had come to a dead-end, a high brick wall marking the end of the alley. And in the darkness behind they could hear the approaching guards.

 

‘We’re trapped!’ Mia said in dismay, turning to face Ben.

 

Then she gave a gasp, just as a hard, callused hand closed around Ben’s mouth. He struggled but was held firm as another figure grabbed Mia as well. Then they were hauled through a door that had suddenly opened beside them.

 

It shut behind them and they were engulfed in darkness. Ben was frozen in fear, not knowing who their assailants were. Then a man’s voice spoke sharply.

 

‘Not a sound if you want to escape those guards!’

 

Ben went very still and the hand over his mouth was taken away. Somewhere beyond the door he heard footsteps approaching and voices.

 

‘I’m sure they went this way!’ one said.

 

‘Well, there’s no-one here,’ said another. ‘Try that door!’

 

Ben heard someone try the door they had come through, but it had been locked.

 

‘It’s locked! They couldn’t have come this way. We’ve lost them!’

 

‘Then keep searching!’

 

Ben heard footsteps move away and then light bloomed in the air, dazzling after the darkness. Ben blinked his eyes to adjust them and found himself in a large stable. There was straw on the floor and two horses had their heads poking beyond their stalls, ears pricked at the commotion. Two men stood around he and Mia.

 

‘Now then, what kind of street urchins have we found tonight?’ one man asked.

 

‘I’m not an urchin!’ Mia snapped, whirling around to face them.

 

‘Mia!’ growled the man who had grabbed Ben. ‘What are you doing here?’

 

‘Uncle Thom!’ Mia exclaimed and wrapped her arms about the surprised man in relief.

 

* * *

 

A short time later Ben and Mia were seated at a large kitchen table enjoying a big mug of hot chocolate. They were also half way through huge slices of apple pie with cream they had been given as well. A large woman with a flushed, friendly face who had been introduced as Mia’s Aunt Glenda, hovered over them both.

 

Her uncle Thom was seated with them, his face clouded with concern. The stable they had been dragged into was part of his inn and Ben knew they had been very unfortunate. Thom had been in the stable when they had come dashing down it and with the help of a stable hand, had pulled them inside.

 

But he was grim at the news that Dale had been kidnapped.

 

‘The slavers are getting more bold all the time,’ he said. ‘This is not good news for folk living in the north.’

 

‘That’s what I thought,’ Mia said. ‘They’ve never been seen in that area before.’

 

‘We will have to send word to the northern villages to be wary,’ Thom said grimly. ‘But what we can do for Dale, I don’t know. I might be able to get him out when he’s transferred from the prison to the mines. But the citadel’s locked down tight at the moment. There was an escape from it a few days ago and they’ve put a curfew on the town.’

 

‘That was us,’ Mia said.

 

‘What!’ Thom and Glenda said together in shock.

 

‘We were captured as well and taken back to the citadel,’ Mia explained.

 

‘By the wishing well, how did you escape?’ Thom asked in astonishment. ‘The prison is well guarded.’

 

‘Ben got us out, uncle. He has a special tool that can open locks… any lock.’

 

Thom eyed Ben with renewed interest.

 

‘Just who are you, Ben?’ he asked. ‘Your clothes are quite unusual.’

 

‘I’m… a visitor from another world,’ Ben replied, figuring he might as well tell the truth.

 

‘Another world!’ Thom said in a somewhat disbelieving tone.

 

‘It’s true, uncle,’ Mia put in. ‘He arrived where I was camping… just appearing out of thin air through a strange gateway that his tool creates.’

 

Thom expression was still a little unbelieving, but Mia’s conviction was very convincing.

 

‘And you say this… tool, can open any lock?’ he asked.

 

Ben nodded.

 

‘So I have been told,’ he replied and took out the Silvyn. ‘This is called a Silvyn. It doesn’t actually come from my world, but was given to me by a man who had travelled to even more worlds.’

 

Thom eyed the Silvyn in Ben’s hand, his expression thoughtful.

 

‘Can you show me what locks it can open?’

 

Ben nodded.

 

‘Then come with me,’ Thom said.

 

He led Ben and Mia out of the kitchen and down a short hallway to some stairs leading down to a closed door. Thom produced a bunch of keys and unlocking the door, waved Ben inside.

 

‘This door can only be opened from the outside, like the cell doors in the citadel,’ he said. ‘I will lock it and you must unlock it from within.’

 

Ben stepped into the shadows of what looked like a small storeroom. The door closed behind him and he was enveloped in darkness. He heard the lock turn and then Thom’s voice.

 

‘Okay, Ben. Open it again.’

 

Ben held the Silvyn to the door and willed it to open the lock. Instantly the Silvyn gave a quick pulse of silver light and he heard the lock snap. He pulled the door open to find Thom standing there with his mouth open wide and Mia beaming broadly.

 

‘By the wishing well!’ Thom hissed in astonishment.

 

* * *

 

A suddenly very excited Thom had Ben unlock several doors in the inn, as well as a couple of large chest secured with padlocks. Each time the Silvyn did as it was asked, unlocking them all. They returned to the kitchen and found the stableman there.

 

‘I’m calling a guild meeting, Neke,’ Thom said to him. ‘I want as many members gathered together at the warehouse in the morning as you can get. Hop to it!’

 

A questioning look appeared on Neke’s face.

 

‘So quickly?’ he asked.

 

Thom nodded.

 

‘Tell them… it’s time!’ he said and Neke’s eyes opened very wide indeed. He was out of the kitchen in a flash.

 

Then Thom waved for Ben and Mia to sit at the table again.

 

‘Your… Silvyn, Ben could prove to be a greater gift than just rescuing Dale,’ he said mysteriously. ‘As Mia may have told you, Lord Agmin is not well loved here and the people would dearly love to see him gone. But the citadel is very secure and it would take a large force to get past its defences.

 

‘Yet, if a small force were able to get inside without being discovered there would have a very good chance of defeating him. We could lock the guards and slavers in their barracks before they knew what was happening. We could then capture Lord Agmin and his men would give up quickly without his gold.’

 

Ben was suddenly nervous and excited. It sounded that what Thom was planning was going to involve him in another adventure.

 

‘Now, there is cavern under the citadel hill,’ Thom went on. ‘A past Lord of ours who was a fair man, but also a bit of pirate, used to have ships dock there. But Lord Agmin has never used it and it has been bolted away and forgotten for years. But if your Silvyn can open it we could gain access to the citadel. We could not only free Dale, but maybe see the end of Agmin for good.’

 

Thom paused and eyed Ben carefully.

 

‘Now are you sure the Silvyn could do as we hope?’ he asked.

 

Ben swallowed nervously and nodded.

 

‘I’m sure it can,’ he replied.

 

Thom grinned and rubbed his hands together.

 

‘Then that is what we shall do.’