Venom and Song (25 page)

“Autumn, to the top,” Tommy pointed. “See what's there.”

Autumn was gone in a second, racing up the bridge. Then, “Owww!”

“What is it?” the others blurted out.

But in keeping to Grimwarden's command, she was back in another second, standing beside Jett. Autumn rubbed her forehead. “A stone wall is what it is! Bashed my head right against it!”

“Are you certain?” said Tommy.

“Take the light up, and I'll prove it to you.”

The Seven clambered onto the metal scaffolding with Johnny leading the way with the candle. Their footsteps echoed off the water below. With no handrails, one wrong step meant a trip into the drink, and no dinner. As they neared Autumn, still rubbing her head—a trickle of blood running into her eyebrow—they noticed that it was not a wall at all.

“It's a boulder,” Tommy said, amazed. “On top of a tower from the training course.”

Autumn stepped forward and looked at it in the light. “A boulder? But what's a—?”

“I'll move it,” Jett said, stepping forward. “But not before I heal that,” he pointed to Autumn's forehead.

“No, really, it's just—” But before she could finish her sentence, Jett placed his hand over the wound on her head, held it there for not more than three seconds, and then withdrew it—a smudge of fresh blood on his palm. On Autumn's forehead, the cut had vanished.

“I still don't get how he does that,” Kiri Lee said. “So cool.”

“Jett, the boulder?”

“I'm on it, Jimmy,” Jett said, annoyed. He walked up to the boulder and pressed both hands firmly against the enormous rock. Then, bracing himself on the tower platform, he pushed.

At first, nothing seemed to happen. More than one of the others wondered if maybe Jett's powers had diminished in some way . . . maybe from healing Autumn. But those thoughts were short-lived as the rock began to roll forward, and a beat later, plummeted off the tower. A giant splash erupted from far below as water shot upward. The Seven clambered onto the platform so as not to get sprayed, remembering Grimwarden's firm warning. A moment later, all was still, save for the flickering candle and waves lapping gently against the sides of the lair far below.

“I would say you have about three minutes left,” came Grimwarden's voice. “Maybe a little more. Almost here?”

“Three minutes?” Jimmy threw his hands up. “I canna'
believe
this!”

“Hey, look at that!” Kiri Lee pointed to a post protruding vertically from the far right side of the platform. Attached to the top was a rope descending out and away from them, and on it was a pulley with a handle set horizontally.

“It's a trolley!” Johnny yelled.

“A what?” asked Jimmy.

“A trolley. We built them all the time in our backwoods. Grab the handle and off you go. Just like on our way here to Whitehall in the forest.”

“So that's how we get down,” surmised Kat.

“Problem,” Tommy interjected. “There's only one trolley. Once someone uses it to get down there, how do we get it back up here?”

“Aw, mannn! He's right,” said Jett.

“It looks way too far for me to air walk,” said Kiri Lee.

“Johnny, shine the candle over here,” said Autumn. “I think I see something.” The two neared the opposite corner of the platform. Coiled in a neat pile was a thick rope.

“We'll tie one end of this rope onto it,” Autumn held it up. “Then pull back the pulley each time.”

“That might take forever,” said Jimmy.

“Not if I'm pulling it,” replied Autumn, a sparkle in her eye.

Tommy set to tying the rope onto the trolley and then asked who wanted to go first. The only person to volunteer was Jimmy. “I got nothing to lose,” was all he said, which no one really understood at the time. He stepped in front of the post and grabbed the handle. He tested the strength of the zip line with his weight a little, then lifted up his legs. A breath later he was sailing down the rope and vanished out of sight. The others heard a loud “
Woohooooo!
” echo out into the room as the pulley
whizzed
faster down the line. Autumn held the tail of the trailing rope, watching the coil unravel over the side of the platform like an endless snake hurling itself into midair.

All at once Jimmy's progress seemed to slow as the
whizzing
of the zip line decreased in pitch. His course was bottoming out, reaching the end of the line. And then, silence.

Everyone held their breath.

“I'm here!” Jimmy yelled. “And Grimwarden is, too!”

“Autumn!” Tommy yelled.

“I'm on it.” It was just that fast that the pulley suddenly appeared back at its starting point, the line and wheel smoking.

“Who's next?” Tommy asked.

“Might I suggest two at a time?” Kat said, stepping forward. “We'll never make it in time.”

“Good thinking.” Tommy looked over. “Ladies first.”

Kat stepped up, followed by Kiri Lee. Kat didn't even look up. Once situated on each side of the handle. They were off and flying.

Next came Johnny and Jett, Johnny handing Tommy the candle.

Jimmy went by himself as Tommy insisted that Autumn not go alone. Then Tommy and Autumn leaped out into total pitch black, hollering all the way down.

When all Seven were at last assembled on the landing far below— having traversed nearly the entire hall—Grimwarden produced a brilliant flash of light that settled into the steady blaze of a torch. And beside his smiling face he held a timing glass . . . the final few grains of sand slipping through the narrow center.

“Who's hungry?”

15
The Scarlet Raptor

ON THOSE rare occasions when he was free from the brutal training schedule, Tommy spent nearly all of his time exploring the labyrinthine passages of Whitehall Castle. The intricate network of corridors, keeps, tunnels, and towers was an irresistible puzzle waiting to be solved . . . and Tommy loved puzzles. Most often, he'd make a wrong turn and wind up at a blank stone wall or, worse, right back where he'd started. But every once in a while he'd follow a passage and discover spectacular settings like a chamber full of sunlit water fountains or a hall strewn with intriguing artwork. Or, like yesterday, a secluded balcony high on Whitehall's central tower. Why he hadn't found it earlier, he wasn't sure. But Whitehall was vast indeed.

Tommy had spent several hours reclining on the balcony's curving stone bench and quickly made it his own. Eyes open or closed, he found the spot relaxing and entertaining. Colorful birds crisscrossed in the air and disappeared into the dark green shadows under the canopy. Braided mimots—the striped, ghost-faced monkeylike creatures that lived in the treetops—hooted and cackled as they leaped branch-to-branch after each other. And numerous driftworms— thumb-sized, fuzzy purple caterpillars—descended from the upper branches on gossamer parachutes of silk to land wherever the breeze carried them. It was as peaceful a place as Tommy had yet seen in Allyra.

After a particularly exhausting long sword session, Tommy couldn't wait to get back to his new special escape. Traversing several large halls, climbing two flights of stairs, and racing blindly down a dark passage, Tommy turned a corner and . . . came to an abrupt stop.

Kat was sitting in his spot.

She looked up at Tommy, her bluish skin purpling with a blush. But there was no smile. Just a sigh.

“You're kidding,” they both said.

“I just found this place yesterday,” said Tommy.

“I found it a month ago,” said Kat. She saw his shoulders fall and didn't even need to read his thoughts. “It's okay,” she said. “There's room for two.”

Feeling somewhat disappointed and very awkward, Tommy sat. He crossed his arms and leaned on the balcony rail. He didn't look at her but could feel Kat's stare. When she finally looked away, Tommy felt somehow lighter. He relaxed a little and absently watched the driftworms.

“I come up here to work on my First Voice studies,” Kat said, trying to think of something interesting to break the awkward silence.

“You and Kiri Lee with your First Voice stuff,” said Tommy. “Beats me.”

“Languages can be a lot of fun.”

“I suppose,” he looked away. “If you're smart.”

“I'm sure you could learn quickly, Tommy. You're smart.” But Tommy didn't answer, and another awkward silence filled the time.

“Oh, look,” said Kat. Tommy turned. A small purple piece of fuzz was crawling down her forearm. “It tickles.”

“Reminds me of woolly bears back at home,” Tommy said. “Except they're not so purple.”

Kat smiled and held up her hand. The driftworm traveled the length of her index finger and seemed perplexed as to where to go from there. “Have you seen the moths that these things turn into?”

Tommy shook his head.

“Claris says they're as big as both your hands . . . and they glow.”

“Cool,” said Tommy. He envisioned the forest canopy at night, alive with hundreds of luminous moths. “Way cool.”

Suddenly Tommy and Kat stiffened and looked up. They had heard a sound, a haunting . . . alien sound. Like a bird's cry, but it gradually phased into a screaming voice. It trilled and then faded.

“What was that?” Tommy asked.

“Shh, there it is again!” Kat looked at him wide-eyed. “Did it . . . did it speak?”

“So you heard it, too?” Tommy gasped. “It said—”

“CoO-oMmMm-mme
.”

“It's in the castle somewhere!” Kat said.

“Where?”

“This way!” Kat leaped from the stone bench and tore through the doorway. Tommy sprinted after her. Hearing the sound again, they followed the echoes farther into the castle, and then veered off down a passage they had never taken before. The haunting call led them deeper and deeper into the mountainside. Several twists and turns later, Kat held up a hand for Tommy to stop. The passage they were in was lit only from windows at either end. They stood in the shadows between.

“Why'd you stop?”

“That last—whatever it was—it's here. I feel like we should see it.”

Tommy pointed to the far side of the corridor . . . a dead end. “Maybe you just heard it echo.”

“No, it was right here.”

“But it's just a wall.”

Kat let out a yelp and jumped back. Something moved at the base of the wall.

Something with eyes.

Tommy and Kat edged backward, squinting in the dim light. It was hard to see whatever it was, but something snakelike emerged, apparently squeezing between two stones just above the floor. It slithered toward them and squeaked.

“Oh, it's a frake!” said Kat. She stepped forward and, to Tommy's astonishment, picked the thing up.

Tommy looked at it curling around Kat's wrist and up into her hand. “A what?” he asked.

“A frake. Well, that's what I call it at least.” She gave him a goofy smile. “It's like a furry snake. Fur-ake—get it? Nelly called it some Elven name I can't remember. So I just call it a frake. Here, hold it.”

She let it slither into Tommy's cupped hands. Indeed, its body was like a snake's, but completely covered in soft, shorthaired fur. It had huge eyes and a small pink nose. It squeaked again and then emitted a low purring sound. Tommy looked at Kat. “No chance this is what made that sound.”

“No,” said Kat. “No way.” She walked over to the wall, eyeing the stones. “But that little guy just came out of the wall. Which means . . .” She pressed her palms flat against the stone. “I bet there's something behind here.” She pushed in several places.

“Yeah, right, Kat,” he said. “That only happens in the mov—”

“Ah! This one.” Kat found a stone that slid inward and then fell, revealing a gaping black hole.

“I don't believe it.” Tommy stepped forward. “What's in there?”

“I can't tell. Hey, put the frake down and help.”

“Oh . . . right.” Tommy placed the still-purring creature on the passage floor and pulled at the edge of the hole until he dislodged another stone. It was no little effort, but soon Tommy and Kat had an opening they could crawl through.

Kat looked at Tommy. “Think we should?”

“Why not?” he asked, sarcastically adding, “I mean, if you hear a scary bird-scream-ghost-voice coming from a black hole in a stone wall, the only thing to do is investigate.” Kat whacked him on the shoulder and then disappeared through the wall.

It was a little more awkward a fit for Tommy. When he was through, Kat said, “Stairs.”

Still wiping dust from his tunic, Tommy looked up. About seven feet away, just visible in the inky dark, gray steps spiraled up and to the left.

“Come on,” Kat said.

Placing each foot carefully and bracing themselves on the cold, dusty walls, Tommy and Kat began their ascent. “
Phew!
There's a ton of dust,” Tommy said.

“Been a long time since anyone's gone through here.”

“I wonder why it was bricked up.”

None of the answers that suggested themselves were very comforting. They continued to climb in silence, Tommy assuming the lead and Kat right on his heels. Up and up and 'round and 'round it went. Ethereal, gray twilight filtered down from somewhere far above.

The dust was powdery and thick. How many years had it built up? Tommy wondered. But he noticed that there weren't any cobwebs . . . not a single one. That was good. Tommy had had enough of spiders. In fact, he— Kat squeezed his shoulder like a vise. “Did you hear that?”

“No,” he whispered back, his heart kicking into thrash-metal mode. “What?!”

“It sounded like . . . scratching.”

“I don't hear any—” He stopped short. He did hear something. A scraping . . . or a scratching sound but not very loud. What it lacked in volume it made up for in creepiness. Tommy pictured a zombie locked away in a stone crypt and, though the flesh of its fingers had worn away long ago, it still kept scratching.