Chapter 13

 

 

With the death of Lord Agmin, the rest of the citadel surrendered quickly. Amazingly there had been no loss life apart from Lord Agmin, Thom’s forces quickly overpowering any resistance. The guards and slavers remained locked in the barracks and there they would remain there till it was decided what to do with them.

 

By the time Ben, Mia and Dale left the citadel, a new day had arrived outside, the sky clear and the air fresh from the storm during night. As they made their way down the citadel road toward the town, they passed dozens of people hurrying up to it, all eager to see for themselves that Agmin was no more.

 

But in the town hundreds of people were gathered in the streets, ringing bells and beating drums in celebration. They arrived back at the inn to be welcomed by an overjoyed Glenda, tearfully happy to see all three of them returned safe and sound. She asked about Thom and Dale told her that he too was safe, busy at the moment organising the citadel and its prisoners.

 

Glenda ordered them all to have baths, wrinkling her nose at Dale especially who had brought back the odious smell of the prison with him. Once they were clean again and wearing fresh clothes they had breakfast in the kitchen.

 

Here they filled each other in on their individual adventures. Dale told them what had happened to him when the slavers had surprised them on the hill.

 

‘There was second group we hadn’t spotted,’ he said. ‘They rose out of the trees as I scattered the first group and before I knew it, poor Whisper had been speared several times. He managed to get me to the ground and I tried to get away on foot, but the slavers landed and soon had me.’

 

He touched his now bandaged head and grinned.

 

‘Put up a good fight though.’

 

‘I thought something was wrong when you didn’t arrive at the cave after us,’ Mia said. ‘But then we were captured and brought to the citadel. If it hadn’t been for Ben and his Silvyn, we all would have been slaves for good.’

 

Dale nodded.

 

‘We are in your debt, Ben,’ Dale said. ‘And Mia tells me you have your own troubles. I would be honoured to help you in any way I can.’

 

‘And I,’ Mia chimed in.

 

Ben grinned.

 

‘Thanks and I have an idea of how you can help, but I need to speak with Thom first. He seems to be able to organise things pretty well and might have some suggestions.’

 

After they had eaten, Glenda closed up the inn and they all headed to a large park in the middle of the town. A massive crowd had gathered in it to celebrate Lord Agmin’s overthrow and Ben thought the whole town was here.

 

An impromptu festival was underway, with musicians, acrobats and mime artists roaming through the crowd. Several stores had been set up selling treats to the crowd and Glenda bought everyone some sweet pastries and drinks to enjoy.

 

It was late afternoon by the time they returned to the inn and found Thom returned from the citadel, tired but very happy with the day’s events. He invited Ben, Mia and Dale into the inn’s lounge, empty of its guests who were no doubt still at the festival.

 

‘Well, what a day it has been!’ he said in a deep, contented sigh. ‘And we have you to thank for it, Ben.’

 

‘Ah… that’s all right,’ Ben replied. ‘I think anyone would have done the same.’

 

‘Even so, I think it’s time we heard about your own troubles,’ Thom said. ‘Mia says your grandmother is in danger. Why don’t you tell us all about it.’

 

‘I was hoping you would ask,’ Ben said and once again described the amazing events that had brought him to Tarken.

 

At the end Thom’s face was grim.

 

‘This Alex Runcin sounds like an evil man, much like Lord Agmin, to have killed your friend and taken your grandmother. Have you any idea where he might have taken her in your world?’

 

This was what Ben had been waiting for, a chance to share his quite wild an idea with them. If it was to work, he would need their co-operation.

 

‘He would take her into the city, which is much bigger than Relmak and has many very tall buildings, some hundreds of feet high. Alex Runcin owns one of these buildings and has a penthouse on top of it. That’s where I think he would have my gran,’ he said and then took a breath before suggesting the core of his plan. ‘We can’t just march in the front door because he would have security staff. But we could gain access to the penthouse from the roof… if we used Roc’s to fly there.’

 

Everyone gasped at that.

 

‘By the wishing well!’ Thom exclaimed. ‘That’s a devious plan indeed. We could indeed surprise him, get in there to rescue your grandmother and leave the same way.’

 

‘Well, this does all depend on whether the Silvyn can open a portal big enough to take Rocs through,’ Ben said, a note of caution in his voice. ‘If I can, I could then open another one to bring us back to Tarken from the building. But I know it’s a huge request of you…’

 

‘Say no more, Ben,’ Thom said quickly. ‘It’s the least we can do for you after what you’ve done for us.’

 

Ben grinned, very happy to have his plan approved.

 

‘Thanks,’ he said, and meant it.

 

‘What is it like when you go through… this portal?’ Dale asked hesitantly.

 

‘It felt a little weird when I went through it,’ Mia replied. ‘But it’s quite safe and it’s amazing when you step out at  the other end.’

 

‘Well, if we do this we must try and avoid being seen by others in your world, Ben,’ Thom said. ‘The sight of the Rocs might cause quite a disturbance. Is there somewhere we can bring them so they won’t be seen whilst we get into the air?

 

Ben nodded.

 

‘I think I know of a place,’ he replied.

 

‘Then let’s sleep tonight and tomorrow we will set the plan in motion,’ Thom said.

 

* * *

 

It was nearly midnight the following night that they were ready to go. Accompanying Ben was Mia, Dale and Thom, all well rested and fresh to face the night. They were gathered at a landing platform in the town where Sprite and two more Rocs were gathered. Ben was to ride with Thom and show him the way to the city.

 

Ben had already tested the Silvyn to see whether it would open a portal big enough for the birds.  Amazingly it hadn’t hesitated, opening a large one to the hill where he had first met Mia. They had taken Sprite through it and then back again to make sure it worked.

 

The three Tarken's were armed with long daggers and Thom and Dale carried the small crossbows. Ben had discovered that the darts it fired were tipped with a poison that could render someone unconscious in moments.

 

So they were set to go, but there was a final thing they needed to do. They had to make sure that no-one was waiting in Ben’s house. That was the only place they could return to until Ben opened a different portal. Thom and Dale were to go through first to make sure it was safe, their crossbows ready for any trouble. If anyone was there, they would deal with them.

 

‘Whenever your ready, Ben,’ Thom said as they stood in the night’s darkness.

 

Ben nodded and holding up the Silvyn, visualized his bedroom and willing a portal to open to it. The Silvyn instantly obeyed and a portal opened up. Thom and Dale eyed it a little apprehensively.

 

‘It’s quite safe, uncle,’ Mia said reassuringly.

 

He nodded and with Dale behind him, they both stepped through. Then Ben followed, feeling the same chilliness as he went and was suddenly back in his bedroom.

 

Dale was there, but Thom had vanished, no doubt to search the house Ben thought. But he was back quite quickly.

 

‘There’s no-one here,’ he said, much to Ben’s relief.

 

He took them all out into the lounge room where the telephone was, as there was something he wanted to check. The television was still turned on and as Thom and Dale stared at it astonishment, Ben dialled a number on the phone to check its messages.

 

The first several were from people he and his gran knew. But the fourth was from Alex Runcin, Ben knowing somehow that he would have left a message for him.

 

‘Hello, Ben,’ said the man’s voice. ‘As you are no doubt aware, your grandmother is my guest. Her safety depends on you, so I would advise you to call me on…’

 

He gave a number and then the call ended.

 

‘This is a machine that can give messages from people,’ he explained to the amazed Thom and Dale, still gazing at the television. ‘It confirms that Alex Runcin has my gran.’

 

‘At least we know she is all right,’ Thom said.

 

‘You live in an astonishing world, Ben!’ Dale said in amazement. ‘What do you call this… machine?’

 

‘It’s called a television,’ Ben replied with a grin at his wondering expression. ‘Nearly everyone has one.’

 

‘Where do you want to bring the Roc’s through, Ben?’ Thom asked.

 

‘Follow me,’ Ben replied.

 

He took them out of the house and up the street in the dark to Mr Wallace’s property. The sky above was clouded, but as yet there was no rain. As they went down the driveway Ben was hoping that the ruins of the house had been cleared away as it would make a perfect spot to bring the Rocs through to. And he wasn’t to be disappointed. The remains had gone and now there was a large cleared space screened by the surrounding trees.

 

‘This is just what we need,’ Thom said, pleased with Ben’s choice.

 

Ben then opened a portal back to where Mia and the Rocs were waiting. Once there he opened a larger portal. It took a bit of coaxing, but they eventually got all the birds through it till they were all in the yard. Thom then gathered them in close to outline their plan of action.

 

‘When we arrive at the building, Dale, Ben and I will land and go in search of Ben’s gran,’ he said. ‘Mia will remain in the air as I want someone watching the Rocs from above.’

 

‘How far is the city away, Ben?’ Dale asked. ‘Is the building easily spotted?’

 

‘Not far, maybe a twenty minutes, half an hour on the Rocs,’ he replied. ‘I’ll be able to find it easily as it has the Runcin name in big letters on it.’

 

‘Very well, then let’s going,’ Thom urged.

 

They all mounted the waiting Rocs, Ben climbing up behind Thom. Then with huge leaps, the massive birds took to the air. They rose quickly into the night sky, rising up to just below the cloud cover. With Thom in the lead, Ben pointed ahead toward a cluster of bright lights in the distance.

 

‘That’s where we need to go, Thom,’ he said.

 

Thom nodded and all three birds joined in formation and headed towards the city.