CHAPTER 5
"You stopped me from leaving just so you could spin some convoluted tale about a secret land that's hidden somewhere on the plateau and that you're some kind of…of…fairy?!" Roxton stormed at the unfortunate sprite. "I should shoot you just for wasting my time!"
"Now, now, John, take it easy," came the calming voice of Challenger as he touched the younger man's arm, staying him where he sat. "We've all seen far to many strange things to just dismiss this out of hand." He shot Alban a suspicious look then added wryly, "Although I must say that I do have some difficulty getting my head around what you've just told us myself."
"So do I," agreed Veronica, looking at him distrustfully. "I've lived here all my life and I've never heard of your people."
"I swear what I've told you is the truth," the man assured them earnestly.
"So how come you got injured?" asked Malone sceptically. "Aren't 'sprites' supposed to be immortal beings?"
"Yes, we are," Alban confirmed. "But the price I pay for losing the crystal of Quethiock and entering your world is mortality. The longer I stay the less chance I have of returning to my own world."
"Isn't that kind of a high price for losing one jewel," the journalist replied doubtfully. "Even one that does grant wishes".
Alban shook his head. "You don't understand, the crystal is but one of four stones that when they are together protect our people and sustain our way of life. Each are guarded by their own Protector. Without the emerald the balance is upset and chaos will reign. I am the Protector of the emerald and I have to find it before it's too late…for me…" he paused and looked directly at Roxton before adding, "…and for your friend."
The hunter stared back at Alban then seemed to reach an internal decision and slowly stood up. "Alright, for now, let's say I believe you. How do we find Marguerite?"
The sprite looked visibly relieved and offered a small smile to the stern man in front of him. "First of all, you must follow me into the forest where I can speak to a friend who will be able to help us."
Roxton gave a curt nod then looked at his fellow companions. "Best get ready, we leave in ten minutes."
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Marguerite dragged her pick-axe down the cave wall in a half-hearted attempt at looking like she was working. At the same time, she surreptitiously kept an eye on what was going on around her, trying to gauge if there was any chance to escape.
She felt as if she'd been in the cave for days but in reality she guessed it could have been no more than a couple of hours. Her ankle had stopped throbbing but having stood up to gingerly test it out, she knew she'd have trouble with it should she get a chance to escape. Not that it would stop her if an opportunity arose, she'd be out of there quicker than Challenger could blow up one of his experiments!
Surprisingly, she'd noted that there didn't seem to be many guards around. Even stranger was the fact that considering there were so many people religiously digging away, all holding pick-axes and spades, no-one seemed to want to make any kind of stand against their captors.
The sound of a whip cracked near her ear and she looked up to see a guard staring menacingly down at her. "Work faster," he barked. "Put some effort into it."
Anger rose inside her and, after a quick glance around to check it was all clear, Marguerite suddenly raised her pick. Before he had a chance to realise what her intentions were, she swung the tool down hard and into the foot of the man before her. As the point dug deep into the guard's flesh, he cried out in pain and crumpled to the ground.
"Is that effort enough for you?" she sneered as she watched him rolling about the floor holding his bleeding foot.
Not expecting a reply, she bent down and picked up the whip he'd dropped then, hobbled away as quickly as her injured ankle would allow.
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Alban came to a halt by a small pond then turned and waited for the explorers to join him.
"This is where you're meeting your friend?" Roxton queried dubiously as he looked around.
"Once I've let her know I'm here, yes," the sprite confirmed.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" the hunter urged, using his rifle to gesture for Alban to hurry up.
The bearded man nodded then proceeded down to the water's edge where he knelt down and then moved his hand across the water in one smooth sweep and began talking quietly to himself.
The explorers exchanged puzzled looks then, suddenly, a bubbling started in the middle of the pond, drawing their attention and they automatically readied their weapons, facing the source. After a few seconds, the surface broke and out of the disturbed water slowly rose a young woman. Her blonde hair was long, straight and practically shimmering in the sunlight. Her features were elfin-like with a dainty nose and pointed chin, her pale skin highlighted by the rosy hue that touched her cheeks and lips.
The explorers stared in amazement as the female came fully out of the water with eyes closed and head slightly bent as though in prayer. She wore a long dress of a pale green, wispy, almost transparent material, accompanied by pale green satin slippers. A long dark green velvet cloak completed the stranger's attire and, despite her entrance, the woman appeared completely dry as she hung in the air a few inches above the water level.
Speechless, the group continued to stare as the woman abruptly raised her head and opened her eyes, pinning them with their glowing green depths. The female smiled softly then floated gently towards them and came to a rest on the grass.
Alban stood and walked over to her side before dropping to one knee and bowing his head. "Your Majesty, I would like you to meet my friends," he said as he rose to his feet once more and gestured to each person in turn as he introduced them.
The female regarded them silently for a few seconds before finally speaking, her voice both soothing and melodious. " I am Jodrell, Queen of the Elfreya. I am pleased that you are willing to help, although saddened that you have lost your companion. I had hoped that we would have been able to prevent this situation arising. We must act quickly before I am unable to trace her."
Although no more than a whisper, her voice seemed to surround the group completely and as they stood staring at her, a feeling of peace and wellbeing came over them as if that now she were there, they had nothing to worry about any longer.
Challenger cleared his throat then stepped forward with a smile. He bowed his head and touched his hat politely before saying, "It is indeed an honour to meet Your Majesty but how do you propose to find Marguerite when she could be anywhere on the plateau?"
Jodrell lifted her arm and held out her hand. In front of four pairs of disbelieving eyes, three large gems appeared in her palm; a ruby, a sapphire and the most faultless diamond they'd ever seen.
"The stones will guide our way," she replied simply then held her arm higher and closed her eyes. After a few seconds a low hum began to resonate around them and the jewels started to glow, their colours producing a stunning rainbow effect that engulfed her hand in multicoloured orb. As the humming got louder, the mixture of colours changed to an emerald green and the glow spread down her arm to enclose her entire body.
Suddenly the noise stopped and the surrounding glow vanished. As the explorers waited expectantly, Jodrell slowly lowered her arm and they watched the three gems disappear before turning their gazes to her.
"Well? Did you see her? Where is she?" Roxton demanded impatiently then glanced over at Challenger as the scientist suddenly cleared his throat loudly. Catching the older man's warning look, the hunter's eyes widened slightly and he turned back to the Queen added politely, "Uh, Your Highness."
Jodrell turned to look at him and his chest tightened at the sadness that clouded her eyes.
"She is in a dark place," she told him sorrowfully. "There is danger there. We must hurry before it's too late."
"Which way?" asked Malone giving Roxton a sympathetic look as his friend's head dropped despondently at what Jodrell had said.
"Towards those mountains," she directed, pointing to two peaks that rose side by side in the distance.
"We can't make it there today," Veronica determined.
"I agree," Challenger concurred gazing up at the still light sky. "We should go back to the treehouse and prepare ourselves for the journey then set out early tomorrow morning."
Roxton lifted his head then looked from his companions to Jodrell, who nodded at him, then back again. "I can't wait that long," he told his friends determinedly. "I'll keep going and you can meet us there tomorrow."
He began to walk away but Challenger grabbed his arm. "John, you must think about this," he urged his friend worriedly.
Roxton appreciated Challengers' concern but his mind was made up. "I haven't got the time, George. Marguerite's alone out there and in danger. I can't sit around, you know that."
"Yes, but…"
"I'll be fine, George," the hunter insisted, cutting off the older man's objections. "Really". Challenger slowly nodded and regretfully relinquished his grip. As he took a step back, Roxton smiled slightly and added, "Although, naturally, I shall miss having all of you along."
Challenger stared at him for a couple of moments before sighing and shaking his head. Smiling wryly, he said, "I daresay we wouldn't hear the end of it if you alone turned up and saved Marguerite. Best not give her cause to grumble." He then glanced over at Malone and Veronica with eyebrows raised. The young couple looked at each other then back at their friends.
"Hey, I don't need to go back to the treehouse, I'm all packed," announced Malone with a shrug of his shoulders.
Veronica nodded. "And after looking at those mountains again, it doesn't seem that far," she conceded with a smile of her own.
Roxton grinned and a wave of affection filled his body as he looked at his friends. "We'd better put our best foot forward then." He turned to Alban and Jodrell and nodded curtly. "After you, Your Highness."
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Marguerite stealthily turned a corner and almost laughed in relief. There, directly ahead of her, she saw a small ray of light. "Not far now," she coaxed herself as she took a deep breath and forced her protesting ankle to move.
Considering it appeared to be an exit, alarm bells started ringing when she observed there were still no guards around. 'Just what was it, that kept these people from walking out?' she wondered with a frown.
She soon found out when she walked out into the sunlight. As her eyes slowly adjusted to the light, she drew in a sharp breath and instinctively stepped back a couple paces until her back hit the hard wall of rock. She closed her eyes momentarily, then opened them and hesitantly leaned forward. "Damn it!" she cursed unhappily as she realised she hadn't imagined the sheer drop that disappeared into a mist so heavy she couldn't make out any land beneath. Glancing up and to each side, her stomach churned as she become conscious of the fact that she was on a small ledge on the side of a mountain that appeared to be so vast she couldn't see an end to it in whatever direction she looked. Now she knew why the exit wasn't guarded.
With a shake of her head, Marguerite edged back inside the cave and paused to allow herself time to adjust to the overwhelming darkness. She hadn't stood there more than a couple of seconds when she heard a noise and stiffened in shock as a voice she recognised floated out of the blackness.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the lovely, Marguerite. What a marvellous surprise, I was finding it quite dull here but you'll cheer me up no end."
There was movement to her right and as she turned her head, a figure moved towards her into the light that was streaming in from outside.
Marguerite slowly crossed her arms and her features took on a look of resignation as she greeted her captor. "Tribune, how perfectly dreadful to see you again."
END CHAPTER 5