‘Go to the top!’
The deep bellow came from behind her and Maisey screamed in fright and fell sideways at the sight of the bald, giant of a man that had come up on her from behind. The other guard turned and as if in slow motion she watched as they converged on her, their yelling drowning out the roar of terror in her own ears.
Her movements seemed laboriously slow as she tried to move away from their paths and with a speed that surprised even her, she lunged for the bald man’s leg and sinking her teeth in, bit down into the flesh. She fought the urge to pull back as her teeth seemed to sink into his putty-like flesh and only when his agonised scream tore through the cavern and he reeled away from her, did she release him and run flat out for the caves entrance.
‘I’ll bloody well make you pay for that don’t you worry!’
The bald man was literally hopping mad and the girl didn’t doubt that he would extract payment for his pain if he could.
Before the man could reach her, Maisey was back at the spot where she’d landed. Nervously, she leaned her back against the hillside and gasped for air, casting glances around her for any sign of pursuit and also in memory of the hand that had originally startled her. But all was quiet so she allowed herself the grace of not thinking about her predicament, while she caught her breath.
‘Over here.’
At once Maisey was alert.
‘Over here!’ The voice was more insistent and cautiously the girl looked about. Shale fell in a trickle down the hill before the hand appeared once again, followed quickly now by a head.
‘Over here, quick, take my hand and I’ll pull you through.’
It was the eyes. Ultra blue, they seemed to pierce through her, somehow knowing what she was thinking. In that split second Maisey felt trust for the elf-like being whose face shone with kindness and laughter.
‘Hurry, take my hand,’ he insisted.
The girl did as she was asked and an instant later, landed on her backside, having been pulled through the shale and between a small gap in the rock face. She stood, but banging her head, decided to crouch instead. The hand which had so terrified her was now extended in welcome; its owner a pointy eared dwarf with weathered skin.
‘I’m Rendal and you are?’
‘Maisey.’
‘Pleased to make your acquaintance, Maisey.’
She shook his hand but frowned now at his cheery face which seemed to be laughing at her.
‘What’s so funny, short stuff?’
Rendal ignored the insult. ‘Life’s funny, and you’d be a whole lot better off if you laughed more.’
‘Well I don’t see what there is to laugh at. For one, how did I get here and where exactly is here?’
Rendal turned and signalled for the girl to follow. ‘There’s no time to explain, come with me. Follow closely and be very quiet.’
‘But?’
Rendal silenced her. ‘We must hurry or we’ll be caught in the avalanche.’
‘What avalanche?’ asked Maisey, following him through a twisting tunnel that wove upward.
‘The avalanche of fear and doubt that hangs like a cloud,’ he whispered. ‘If it penetrates our senses for too long, we must stay.’
Maisey crouched low and hurried to keep up with her tiny escort. Breaking out of the tunnel, they scrambled through shrubs to stand atop a thick outcrop of rock. Before them stretched a green valley dotted here and there with trees.
‘Get down.’ Rendal whispered desperately as he pushed the girl behind bracken.
‘We’ve still got this to cross before we’re home.’
‘What is this place? And where is home?’
She was even more confused now, for the terrain looked inviting enough.
‘This expanse is known as The Void and it stretches between this land which is known as Id and my own homeland of Euphoria. There are eyes that watch so you are going to have to wash at the spring before we cross or they’ll spot us for sure.’
Maisey realised that she needed a good wash but she wouldn’t have risked staying here to get it. She tried to get a whiff of herself. Surely the enemy couldn’t smell her? Then again.
‘Come on! Stop mucking about.’ Rendal sounded quite stern and for once she didn’t argue as she followed after him around the perimeter of the valley, using shrubs for cover.
Eventually Rendal veered off into a thickly wooded area and weaving through the trees, they emerged into a clearing. A well stood surrounded by a wide circle of flowering fruit trees, their blossoms sending out a plume of fragrance. Hurrying to wind the bucket up, Rendal instructed Maisey to stand nearby.
‘But why? Why should I do what you say?’ she snapped. Having to follow blindly made her irritable.
‘Well now, you always have a choice.’ His eyes twinkled with humour. ‘But the options don’t seem favourable now, do they?’
There was little comfort to the truth of his words so the girl walked over to where he stood with bucket raised.
‘You must leave your fear and doubt here, otherwise we will be detected as we cross the void,’ he explained.
‘What?’ She was confused. ‘I thought you wanted the dirt off me.’
Rendal laughed. ‘That can wait till we’re home. There’s different dangers here.’ He held his hand up to silence the girl. ‘This spring runs from Euphoria to Id and if you place your hands in the water, you should imagine all of Id’s filth flowing away.’
Reluctantly she did as asked and felt lighter and happier than she could remember. Finished, she stepped back and allowed Rendal to send the bucket downward.
‘The current will return it to where it rightfully belongs.’
That completed, Maisey followed Rendal out of the clearing and back to the edge of the void.
‘We’ll make a run for it. I trust you’ve gotten rid of all the slime you picked up in Id because if you haven’t then Well, I guess we’ll soon find out.’ Maisey took the hand he extended, then they were off.
Out over the valley they ran at breakneck speed. Maisey found she could barely keep up. Suddenly a scream pierced the air. ‘They’re there!’
Rendal ran harder as the girl looked back to see the rocks dissolve and become large armies of grey creatures with spears in hand, forming a wall that was fast approaching. Though the creatures were only a few inches tall, there was no question of their ferocity and with newfound strength, the girl leapt ahead, nearly overtaking Rendal on the uphill leg.
Only
