‘Land!’ he breathed.
‘Yes,’ Barda muttered. ‘And this time it may well be Auron. In this gloom we might easily have rounded a cavern wall without seeing it. We had better be prepared.’
At the same moment, in Del, Sharn was roused by the sound of Jinks moaning. She had no idea of how much time had passed since she began to doze, but she knew very well that the moans were intended to attract her attention.
She looked down at Jinks.
‘Are you in pain?’ she enquired, a little impatiently. ‘Perhaps you need another dose of my herbal cure? I know the taste is not pleasant, but—’
‘Oh no, my lady!’ Jinks cried hastily ‘The pain has quite gone, thanks to you. But I am still as weak as a baby, and my memories torment me!’
Sharn looked concerned. Jinks fluttered his eyelashes and sighed.
‘Please do not feel you have to stay with me,’ he whispered pathetically. ‘I need only a good, long sleep. This evening I could perhaps force down a little ale, if you would bring it to me. A glass or two might settle my nerves.’
‘I will leave you then,’ said Sharn, rising to her feet. ‘Sleep well.’
Sharn was no fool. She was certain that Jinks was pretending to be far more unwell than he was, so as to be assured of a soft bed, plentiful food and tender nursing. He had a few cuts and bruises, and his feet were blistered. That was all.
But it suited her that the acrobat should stay where he was for now. It was vital that the news he had brought to the palace did not spread and reach the Shadow Lord’s ears.
The other people who had been in the kitchen when Jinks arrived would be no problem. Lindal was with Doom. Josef and Ranesh had been sworn to secrecy, then taken back to the library. They would not be permitted to venture downstairs again until Doom’s return.
And Amarantz? Amarantz, completely deaf, had not heard a word Jinks had said.
I admit I am grateful for that, Sharn thought. Amarantz is a good cook and a willing worker as well as a good friend. I would be sorry to have to hide her away upstairs.
She put her hand to the knob of the bed chamber door. But as she did so the knob turned, the door opened, and Marilen hurried into the room.
‘I heard your voice, Sharn,’ Marilen began. ‘I have been looking for you everywhere! I must—’
‘Marilen—why are you here?’ cried Sharn, trying to shield the girl from the bed. ‘Please, I beg you, go back to your room. I know you must be hungry, but I will bring your tray to you as soon as I am able.’
Marilen stood her ground. ‘Doom brought me my meal before he left,’ she said shortly. ‘I must speak with you, Sharn. It is very urgent. I—’
She broke off as she caught sight of Jinks, who had struggled to a sitting position so as to see her more clearly. ‘Doom told me that a man called Jinks is claiming that Lief is dead,’ she said abruptly. ‘Is this he? Is this Jinks?’
‘Indeed, my lady, to my great grief,’ whimpered Jinks. With a tiny groan he fell back on his pillows, his hand to his brow. His eyes, alive with curiosity, gleamed as he watched Marilen between his fingers.
‘You are a liar!’ the girl snapped. ‘Why are you playing this trick?’ She was holding herself very straight. Her voice was filled with contempt. Her beautiful face was stern.
She has grown up very rapidly in the past weeks, thought Sharn, with something of a shock. How is it that I have not noticed? Oh, why did Doom have to tell her? I did not know he had seen her before he left.
‘Has this man been left alone at any time since he arrived in the palace, Sharn?’ Marilen demanded. ‘Even for a moment?’
Sharn shook her head. ‘Please leave us, Marilen,’ she said in a low voice. ‘I must go downstairs now, but I will come to you as soon as I can.’
Marilen hesitated, then nodded. ‘Please hurry. I will be in the library,’ she said. With another contemptuous glance at Jinks, she turned and stalked from the room.
‘Poor young lady,’ murmured Jinks. ‘My news has affected her deeply, it seems.’
‘All who fear the Shadow Lord must be deeply affected, Jinks,’ said Sharn, struggling to keep her voice even. She left the room, the door closing with a soft click behind her.
The moment he was alone, Jinks threw back the covers and scrambled from the bed. He padded to the door on his bandaged feet and twisted the knob.
The door was locked. He was a prisoner.
Jinks frowned. Here was something unexpected. Sharn, for all her soft words, did not trust him.
This did not suit his plans at all.
‘You think you have me where you want me, my lady,’ he muttered aloud. ‘But you will find that Jinks is not so easily outwitted.’
Quickly he began to search the room.
7 - Truth and Lies
Far away, in the secret sea, Jasmine leaned forward, peering at the land ahead. She murmured to Kree, who spread his wings and soared into the air. The companions watched as the bird sped low towards the dark, mysterious mass.
Suddenly, something shot upwards from the water. Kree seemed to stop dead in mid-air. And the next moment the boat was rocking violently as Jasmine leaped to her feet, shrieking. For Kree was plummeting, wings fluttering helplessly, into the sea.
‘Jasmine!’ roared Barda. ‘You will have us over!’
Lights flared in the darkness ahead. There was the sound of shouting, and splashing.
Jasmine threw herself down, seized her paddle and plunged it into the water. ‘Lief, help me!’ she cried. ‘Make haste! Kree will drown!’
‘No!’ Barda roared. ‘Turn the boat! Get us away!’
But Lief paid no heed to either of them. He had dropped his paddle and was reaching for his sword. Dozens of long, pale forms were streaking through the water towards them, like enormous spears veiled with foam.
‘Beware!’ he shouted. And had no time to say more. For in seconds the attackers were upon them, surging from the water amid fountains of spray.
Lief gripped his sword, knowing that to use it would be fatal. The boat was surrounded by a ring of huge, sharp-fanged silver eels. Their wicked mouths gaped wide, streaming with water. And hunched on the neck of each one was a wild-eyed, dog-faced being clothed in grey animal skins. The beings’ hands, tattooed from wrist to fingertip, held long, thin spears of sharpened bone, poised to strike.
A dripping black bundle was thrown carelessly into the boat. It was Kree. The bird struggled pitifully at Jasmine’s feet, one wing trailing. With a cry, Jasmine bent to him. The spear arms drew back.
Lief never knew where the words came from. Pure instinct brought them to his lips. ‘We are the people of Doran the Dragonlover. Do not harm us, tribe of Auron,’ he gasped.
The eels stared glassily, without understanding. But the strange beings on their backs stirred. Lief was conscious of pale, slitted eyes measuring him.
‘Doran sent you to us from above?’ one of the Aurons asked at last.
Her voice was like a song, like water rippling over stones. But there was warning in it.
Do not lie.
Lief swallowed, aware that at any moment a spear could plunge into his heart. ‘Doran is long dead, as you must know,’ he said carefully. ‘His words, written in an old book, led us to you.’
‘What do you seek?’ asked another of the Aurons. And again the voice was full of melody, with an undercurrent of threat.
Tell the truth.
‘Many of Doran’s people are prisoners of the Shadow Lord,’ said Lief. ‘To save them, we need the Pirran Pipe.’
There was a soft, sighing sound like a wind skimming over water. The spears were lowered a little.
‘The Pipe is in three parts,’ said the first Auron to have spoken.