Emily Rodda - Dragon's Nest

Frowning, he sheathed his knife and picked up a large rock. He threw the rock onto the first few planks of the bridge. The bridge groaned, but held firm.

Barda lifted another rock. This time he threw it further, so that it landed towards the bridge’s centre.

At once, several rotten timbers gave way, the bridge jolted and sagged, and the rock plummeted down, smashing into pieces on the ground far below.

There were muffled groans as everyone present imagined what would have happened if Lief, Barda and Jasmine had led the way across the bridge. Nothing was said as Barda re-mounted his horse.

The party plodded on, this time with the companions in the lead. Rolf and the guards turned often, looking back at the ruined bridge until it was out of sight. But Lief, Barda and Jasmine did not look back at all. They were talking together in low voices.

If any were curious about their conversation, that curiosity remained unsatisfied. Barda had let the lead rein on Rolf’s horse out as far as it would go, creating a gap between the three and all their followers, so no-one could hear what they said.

Gradually the Gap became narrower, and in time, as the sign had promised, the travellers reached another bridge.

Here the path ended, and not far ahead the Gap was swallowed up by a forbidding mass of trees. All guessed that this was End Wood, the last of the three Forests of Silence.

On the other side of the bridge a narrow road wound away into the distance. The bridge itself looked sturdy and almost new. A carved stone stood proudly beside it.

‘Now, listen carefully,’ said Barda, raising his voice so everyone could hear. ‘Twice, signs on our path have been altered. We believe these were deliberate attempts to injure us. We have decided, therefore, that our party should separate, for the safety of all.’

Rolf made a small sound of protest, then clapped his hand over his mouth. The guards stared.

‘Under Brid’s command, you are to go to the outskirts of Ringle,’ Barda went on. ‘There, without troubling the citizens, you will make camp for the night. Then you will move on to Broome. Is that understood?’

Brid cleared his throat. ‘What of you, sir?’ he asked. ‘You, and the lady Jasmine, and the king?’

‘We will also go to Broome,’ Barda said evenly. ‘But we will go on foot, and by another way.’

Every man’s eyes turned to the forest ahead. Every face filled with dread. Rolf clutched his heart and began to wail.

‘But what of me?’ he howled. ‘What of me?’

‘You will go with the guards,’ said Lief quickly, hearing Jasmine draw breath for a sharp retort. ‘You will be perfectly safe, Rolf, I promise. Is that not so, Brid?’

Brid nodded, his scarred face wooden.

‘Then let us waste no more time.’ Barda clapped Brid on the shoulder. ‘Keep safe,’ he said.

‘And you, sir,’ muttered Brid. A nerve high on his cheek twitched, but he pressed his lips together and said no more. He turned to his men, and began to give orders.

In moments, the guards were moving across the bridge. Brid, leading Rolf’s horse, was at their head. Honey, Bella and Swift, on lead ropes, trailed at the rear.

Lief sighed with relief as the whole party reached the other side in safety. He saw the men turn and wave in farewell, and raised his own arm in response.

‘I hope we are doing the right thing,’ Barda muttered. ‘Brid clearly thinks we are mad.’

Jasmine snorted. ‘Brid thinks anything out of the ordinary is mad,’ she said. ‘He is so dull!’

‘Brid survived ten years as a slave in the Shadowlands,’ Barda said quietly. ‘No doubt this made him thoughtful.’

Jasmine bit her lip. ‘I did not mean to insult him,’ she said. ‘But you should not let his disapproval shake you, Barda. This is our best chance of losing our enemy, and reaching Broome without endless delays.’

She sighed. ‘It is a pity we had to let the horses go, but we had no choice. Horses cannot sleep in trees as we can.’

Filli chattered agreement, delighted to be rid of the large creatures who had jolted him about so painfully.

Barda groaned. The idea of sleeping in the fork of a tree did not appeal to him at all.

Lief said nothing. He was startled to find that, despite everything, he was feeling extremely happy.

Am I as mad as Brid thinks? he wondered. There is nothing to be happy about!

But he was happy. Yes, he was worried by what had passed. Yes, he knew that danger lay ahead. But as for the present—why, he felt like singing as he stood with Jasmine and Barda, watching the guards move away.

Watching the guards move away …

And that, he thought suddenly, must be the answer.

The guards were always very respectful to him. They regarded him with awe. But this did not please him. Instead, it made him feel like a fraud. It made him terribly aware of just how young he was, in comparison with them. And it made him feel that he had to act like a king, at all times, so as not to shock or disappoint them.

Now, however, with only Jasmine and Barda for company, he could be himself. He was free.

He felt as if his blood was fizzing in his veins. As if the air was sweeter, and the colours in the world brighter, than they had been before.

‘Come on!’ he shouted. And began running towards the Forest.

12 - End Wood

After several hours of walking, Lief’s bubbling happiness had settled to a feeling of quiet contentment. The twisted, weed-choked trees of the Forest fringe had been left behind. End Wood was now a beautiful place, filled with birdsong. Golden pools of sunlight dappled the soft earth, and ferns clustered at the roots of the mighty trees.

All the companions knew, however, that the evil reputation of the Forests of Silence was well deserved. They knew, too, that within the greatest beauty terror could be lying in wait. So they walked in silence, one behind the other, alert for signs of danger.

Just before sunset, Jasmine chose a tree for them, and they climbed up to high branches where they could eat and sleep in some safety.

It was not a restful night. They dozed fitfully in turns as unseen creatures slid and prowled below them.

In the darkest hours, when the moon had set, a faint, chilling chorus of howls and screams began. It lasted only a few minutes, but after it had died away, the companions slept no more.

They welcomed the dawn gratefully, but forced themselves to wait until sunlight fell on the forest floor before venturing down from their hiding place and moving on.

As before, Jasmine led them, threading her way almost silently through the trees, brushing the smooth bark of each one lightly with the tips of her fingers as she passed. Kree fluttered ahead of her, a black shadow against a background of green and gold.

After a time, Jasmine began to move faster. Lief and Barda, their muscles stiff and aching after their night in the tree, found themselves struggling to keep her in view.

‘Jasmine, slow down!’ Lief called in a low voice. But Jasmine only turned with a frown, her finger to her lips, beckoned impatiently, and set off again, even faster than before.

At last Lief became aware that a new sound had begun to mingle with the bird song. It was the sound of trickling water—a stream, somewhere near.

It made him realise how thirsty he was, but he did not dare to stop and drink from his water flask. Jasmine was almost running now, and all he could do was follow.

The gurgling, rippling sound grew louder, and at last Jasmine stopped.