Read Race Riders (The Hidden Quest- Book One) Online
Authors: E.W. SALOKA
Race Riders (The Hidden Quest- Book One) (28 page)
Twenty Two - Plinking With the Flurts
Some days had passed and Zach was spending his time with Brownie and training J fire, if you could call it training. The small dragon was still stubborn, willful and always determined to get his own way. For relaxation, Zach enjoyed plinking with the flurts. It was a beautiful morning and Zach decided to go to the East-Garden before lunch. He made his way down the spiral stairway feeling refreshed and content. Stepping out the door, a fresh morning breeze made the leaves of the fruit trees seem to dance. He sat down on a stone step surrounded by flowering plants and hedges arranged in a tight symmetrical pattern. In the center sat a marble statue of a woman holding an urn. Crystal-clear water flowed delicately into a small basin creating a pool for the tiny creatures that lived here. Colorful birds of all sorts and sizes dwelled within the gardens of Dragmar and drank and bathed in the many scattered pools and fountains within its walls. Faazen cared for his gardens and it showed.
Zach couldn’t help but smile when out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of his favorite little creatures in the garden.
A few weeks back he discovered them while sitting in the same spot one afternoon. Faazen grinned at Zach when he asked him about them. “They are flurts Zach, important to the gardens as they pollinate the plants and flowers here. I really find them quite engaging, don’t you agree?”
“Yeah they’re funny, we play a little game when I come out here.”
“Yes they do like games,” said Faazen. “What do you call your game?”
“I call it plinking,” he said.
Very quickly, a small lizard-like creature scurried out from under a flowering bush. It had large round eyes, a long slender tail and dark thin stripes running down the length of the body. Tiny scales reflected the sunlight and made it seem to glow.
“There you are. You want to play don’t you?” The tiny flurt raced up on its four legs and seemed to challenge him. Zach reached down and scooped up a few small pebbles in his hand. Taking careful aim, he flicked the pebble at the creature. With a high-pitched laughing sound and lightning speed, the flurt sidestepped the projectile effortlessly. The second pebble shot past the twittering lizard going way off course. Other flurts ran out of their hiding places and joined the first. They boldly ran closer towards Zach and then retreated as he would launch another pebble toward them. One daring flurt with eyes wide held his ground as Zach took aim again; its head was bobbing up and down with frills pulsating anxiously.
“Aren’t you the brave one” said Zach grinning ear to ear. He took aim carefully, and as the pebble flew, the challenger whacked it with his tail sending it flying over Zach’s head.
‘Good one boy.” The gathering of flurts twittered and screeched loudly.
“Sir, Sir, Cook requests your presence for lunch.”
“Be right there Bergouhy”
“Are we having fun?” The small gnomlie questioned Zach with a smile.
“Definitely Mr. Berge” Zach said.” I’m coming, I’m starved.”
Zach got up from his step and moved towards the door. Forgetting to say goodbye to his little friends, he turned around and was immediately hit in the forehead by a pebble.
“You plinked me you little …” The littlest flurt stomped wildly, large eyes whirling. It scampered off into the hedges, screeching happily on its way. Laughing, Zach went in the door for his lunch.
For the time being there were no pressing matters that needed Faazen’s attention and he was enjoying tending to his gardens. Thomas was glad their lives were back to semi-normal. His main purpose for this journey was still to find out what had happened to his son Philip, But for the time being he kept that to himself.
A few days later Dredd arrived at castle Dragmar. He scanned the grounds looking for Zach, and minutes later he found his friend in the stables.
“Are you about done with whatever you’re doing? I think you have had enough time off Zach. Let’s go!”
Zach smiled, “Go where Dredd, I’ve been content here doing absolutely nothing.”
“Yeah, that’s the problem, you need to get moving again, get that adrenaline flowing! I’ll say it again, get off your rear and let’s go!”
“Fine, don’t get radical. Let me tell granddad and Faazen I’m going out for awhile.”
Dredd’s dragon Payne was waiting for the boys in the clearing, Faazen walked over to where the dragon stood and whispered something to the dragon.
Payne nodded. Soon Dredd and Zach came over to the dragon and climbed upon him. Payne surprised the boys by turning into a black and white striped color.
“Cool Payne, you look like a zebra again,” Zach said
“Yes, I rather like this look,” Payne replied.
“Right Payne, I think Sennah likes this zebra look too.” Dredd smirked.
Payne just snorted.
“To the hunting grounds” Dredd shouted!
The boys shouted and hollered as Payne soared high into the clouds. The sleek dragon then quickly descended in a circle.
A blast of wind blew up around them as he landed squarely in a large, dusty clearing.
The boys jumped off. “Hey Dredd what are we doing here?” Zach asked brushing the dust from his pants.
“There’s a doorway or passage hall somewhere that connects our two worlds. Payne thinks its here at the hunting grounds. I have been searching for it.” Dredd had a serious look on his face as he spoke.
“We could be looking forever Dredd,” Zach said in a matter of fact way.
“Maybe so, but it’s the adventure part, use your head Zach. After all, how much fun is it to be hanging around the castle all day,” he yawned comically.
“I guess you’re right. There is always some kind of drama with the Ice Wizard and Faazen. He is after some leaf or something like that. I don’t even know what it is.” Zach shrugged.
Dredd nodded and spoke. “Oh I know about it. If the two parts unite, it will cause both worlds to come together and cause mass chaos. You know, imagine dragons, wizards and orcs in your world?”
“You forgot dragon riders,” Zach said laughing.
“I could never forget dragon riders, we rule!” Dredd said shouting.
Zach paused for a second. “Wait a minute Dredd, you dropped something.” Zach handed him the silver object, looking at it curiously.
“Thanks, I wouldn’t want to lose this. Payne gave it to me.” Dredd smiled at Zach who still looked slightly perplexed.
“Dredd I have one just like It, my grandfather gave it to me. He said it was in father’s personal belongings when his body was found at the park.” Zach reached inside his shirt and pulled an identical but reversed silver object dangling on a chain.
Twenty Three - The Substance of Silver
The two boys silently looked at one another and then stared in disbelief at the silver leaf halves sparkling in the late afternoon sun.
Dredd and Zach watched in amazement as their two halves came together. The force was so great it caused a rumbling, and it was as if the earth shook where they stood. Dredd felt a light shock running through his body and Zach felt the same as it caused a connection between the two, neither one of them understood.
“What’s going on? “Zach shouted above the rumbling as the atmosphere around them began to change.
“It may sound crazy Zach, but I think I know what’s happening,” Dredd said quietly.
“Well then, tell me Dredd because this is weird.” Zach felt droplets of water start to hit his face.
“I thought it was just a dream I had when I was younger. But you and your grandfather coming to Brandiss-Dor, then it must be true.” Dredd heard a rushing sound. “Do you hear that Zach?”
“Look Dredd!” Zach gasped, slowly a beautiful waterfall appeared, it was quite high and the waters looked cool and shimmery.
Dredd was mesmerized, he moved closer to it and stood directly in front of the rushing waters. He pushed his hand through and stood motionless, just gazing at the waters as though in a trance.
Although it felt wet, the liquid did not cling to his body. This wasn’t truly a waterfall but something like liquid energy that seemed to move around him.
Dredd walked in the waters and quickly the force pulled him in. Zach ran up to the waterfall and tried to see where he had disappeared He moved a little closer and all at once Zach fell, spinning through the waters, and again it was as if he was flying through a vortex. There were flashes of light, and a soft whirring sound almost lulled him into the next world. However, it soon became harsh and he finally landed on a dirt floor, smack right on the seat of his pants. Zach was confused as he looked around, but then there, sitting in the corner with the same confused look was Dredd. “Where do you think we are?” Zach asked nervously.
“Well,” Dredd said slowly standing and brushing the dust and cobwebs from his clothing, “That was interesting.” He looked around and saw buckets, pails and old gardening tools. The room had a damp, musty smell.
Faazen was deep in thought when he heard a sound on the observatory; it was if something or someone had landed. Once there he saw his friend. “Good evening Hannalore, what brings you to Dragmar?” He eyed her curiously.
“I should think you would already know Faazen. Someone has located the Passage Hall and it has been opened, they have not entered alone.” She kept her voice even toned.
The wizard looked at her and spoke calmly. “Do not be too alarmed as of yet, I believe it is Dredd and Zachary that have gone through. We must keep this from Rianor at all costs.”
Hannalore nodded in agreement. “It would be disastrous if he were to find out.”
“C’mon Zach, lets get out of here and see what this is all about.” Dredd was anxious to investigate their surroundings.
“Alright, you lead the way since it was your idea.” Zach was hesitant but followed him anyway.
Dredd paused for a moment, took a deep breath and slowly opened the door. They gingerly made their way up a few old and creaky wooden steps. Dredd peeked first through the overhanging branches; pushing them back he saw they were standing in the corner of a spacious and noisy park. There were benches and a man selling ice cream. Kids were playing and people were walking their dogs who were barking furiously at other dogs.
Zach smiled. “I know where we are Dredd! This is where I used to skate with my friends. Right there is where I fell off my bike a few years ago and needed three stitches” as he pointed to his elbow. “This is my home, we’re in Hickory Heights. I can’t believe it!”
“Alright, no mass chaos obviously, uniting the two pieces allows you to travel between our two worlds. This should stay between us, tell no one,” Dredd said with a quiet authority.
“Look Dredd, that creek back there is where granddad and I would go fishing.” Zach was happily reminiscing
“Focus Zach, we can only visit now, but we might be able to return.”
“Wait a minute, this is my home, I like Brandiss-Dor but maybe I want to stay here.”
“Zach, your grandfather is back there, you can’t leave him!”
The two started to raise their voices a little because they were nervous and excited.
Just then, a little girl walking down the path stopped and approached them. Zach bent down to say hello.
“Oh pretty,” she said as she lightly touched the silver leaf hanging from his neck.
“Thanks” Zach said as he patted her dark silky head. Following not far behind, an old man in a long coat caught up to her. He nodded politely to the boys and spoke to the girl.
“Come child, it’s time to go,” he said in a firm but eloquent voice.
She looked up at him with wide violet eyes and the pair walked off down the winding path. Soon she started to skip ahead, and under her flowing white dress there was just a flash of her little pink shoes.
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