Aldo's Fantastical Movie Palace (12 page)

T
UFTUNDER'S CHEST SWELLED
as he began his tale. “Elves, especially wood elves, are a dumb collection — filled with fear they are. I floated a silent raft into the Unknown and hollered, ‘Vaepor be I. Give up your stones.' Mountain stones dropped like apples from the trees. Mind you, Tuftunder is the only river dwarf with courage to float into that accursed forest.” He stroked the wooden chest. “But the reward ‘tis grand.”

“You pretended to be that beastly thing?” Chloe scooted backward on the raft.

“Beastly? Perhaps to some. But Vaepor pays a pretty penny for these stones.” Tuftunder paused and lowered his voice. “Lately, he pays a pretty penny for children — perhaps not lame ones, but strange,
pretty ones. ‘Keep your eyes open,' he's been saying of late.”

Pretty. He called me pretty
. Chloe straightened, and the thought washed over her.

He also wants to sell you to Vaepor
.

The second thought was new; an unknown voice pushed into her brain. Chloe turned toward Scout, who peered off into the distance. It wasn't his voice she'd heard. At least she didn't think it was.

“Don't take us to It,” Chloe said.

“Now you have a problem with that? Ease, lassie. Enjoy the ride. You were walkin' Its way on your own, why shouldn't I benefit from the deal?”

Night soon felt thick and heavy, and the river sounded wider, stronger. Wilder.

“Soon the river will fork and we will veer right, toward Wayward Mountain.” Scout spoke, his voice monotone. “The river will tumble down, beneath that peak. There, Tuftunder will try to remove us. We must not get off the raft. No matter what, we stay together on this raft until we pop out the other side.”

“Out the other side are the Safelands,” Chloe said. “I know that like I know my name. And the river flows into the bay. It's a beautiful bay.”

“It's a horrifying bay. Who filled your mind with these tales?”

“That doesn't matter.” Chloe peeked at Tuftunder, who was poling without any attention to his passengers. “What's under the mountain, Scout?”

“No,” he said.

“What do you mean, no?”

“Simple word, really. It means that at this time it might be best for you
not
to be thinking about what's ahead.”

Chloe crossed her arms, stared at Scout, and exploded. “Had you jumped sooner, we would not be here. You're the reason I'm floating at night with a nasty, smelly dwarf!”

“Hardly smelly,” muttered Tuftunder.

“If you know so much, fearless guide, don't you think it's time you tell me where I'm going?”

Scout sat back and spoke quietly. “Under Wayward Mountain lies what you want most, Chloe. It's how the dwarfs will lure you.”

“There.” She stretched and lay back down. “Was that so hard? Doesn't sound so bad. What I want most … My mom and a big steak and Grandpa's hug and to wake up in Aldo's —”

“Quit your yammering!” Tuftunder hissed. “We're being followed.”

Chloe glanced back. She couldn't see more than ten feet in the mist. Tuftunder reached his hand
into the water. “Three hundred yards, I'd say. Likely comin' after what I've rightfully stolen.”

And then Scout did perhaps the bravest of all things.

He stood and lunged at the chest of stones, and shoved the entire crate into the water.

“Think, Chloe!” Scout yelled. “Remember home.”

“You fool!” Tuftunder raised his pole above Scout's head.

For a moment, her mind blanked, and then a face rushed in.
Dad? Will you please look at me?

In the water, stones floated to the surface, burning a brilliant blue and leaving a breadcrumb trail behind them.

“My stones!” The dwarf brought the pole down on Scout's bad leg and dived into the water. Scout cried out as the dwarf swam furiously from stone to stone, stuffing them into his pockets.

Scout reached for the pole and staggered to his knees. He pushed the raft forward with a groan. “Now, Chloe. Think of me.”

“What?” She shook her head and focused on Scout's twisted leg. Floating stones turned gray and then disappeared into the night. From a great distance back, Tuftunder screamed, “Me stones. Me raft, me — Help!”

Scout stared at Chloe. “There is something back there. Can you” — he winced and reached Chloe the pole — “take a shift?”

She nodded and clasped the grip. She'd not used a raft pole before and was not certain how to hold it correctly even now, but she sank the rod deep into the mud and pushed until her shoulders ached.

Hours passed and dawn broke, and still they urged on their now-drifting raft. The river had indeed widened, so much so that it more resembled a lake, but always the pole struck bottom.

The swift current that had carried them so far now meandered about. At times the raft swirled aimlessly, with neither Chloe nor Scout owning the strength to stop its spin. Other times, the logs caught a quick drift and forged ahead, sending Chloe sprawling onto her belly.

“I've never been on a river like this,” she said. “At home the Snake River winds, but it never throws you down.”

Scout stretched, staggered to his feet, and reached for the pole. Chloe collapsed with a groan.

“There's much beneath our feet to change the water's direction.” Scout squinted over his shoulder. “I can't see anyone behind us. Perhaps he exercised his revenge on the dwarf and that was that.”

Chloe nodded and watched Scout battle the current.

“Scout?” she asked softly. He didn't answer. “Scout? I lost it with you back there, and I'm sorry. I'm afraid I'm not very good at adventures. I'm the boring one in our family.”

Scout laughed. It was rare to hear the sound, and it rang so clear and free that she laughed too.

“Boring?” Scout asked. “I doubt —”

“What is that?” Chloe interrupted, pointing in front of the raft. Water rose like a small wall, churning and foaming and drawing them near.

“That is the squeeze. All this water crowds through that channel, and then the river speeds and twists and the rapids overtake it. We shoot beneath the bridge spanning the Northern Road and from there on it's a wild ride to the roots of Wayward Mountain.”

“Rapids. On this raft?” They pitched to the left and bobbed beneath the water. Chloe slipped her fingers in the cracks between the logs. “It won't —”

“Stay together.” Scout poled. “No, it won't. The banks are foul — we can't land. Our friend Tuftunder would have brought us certain doom. Without him, we may just have delayed …”

Chloe nodded. He didn't need to finish. Her plan had failed.

They reached the channel. On the near side swirled a cauldron that sucked water from the larger river, churned it into white froth, and then whisked it into the rapid-filled smaller river ahead.

Scout grabbed her hand. “Lay down and grab the edge. Don't let go.”

“Of the raft, or you?” she yelled as they spun nearer to the gap.

“Both.” Scout grimaced, and in they flew.

The front lip of the raft dipped beneath the waterline and the raft followed. They sank, struck an underwater tow, and popped out again. Chloe gasped for air and lifted her head off the beams. Ahead was the Northern Bridge.

“It would be strange if there were people waiting for us, right?”

“Waiting? Nobody's waiting.”

“So,” Chloe continued, “if I did see someone on the bridge —”

“You won't.” Scout said. “The Pilgrimage —” Scout looked ahead and quickly glanced back to her. “We can't be seen, not here. Get beneath the raft!”

He released her hand and rolled into the froth. Chloe did the same. Only their fingertips would be
visible from above, and they should be easily missed in the waves and white caps.

Thud
.

The raft jerked down into the water and struck Chloe's head, but she felt little. Instead, her body went limp and she closed her eyes.

C
HLOE CAME TO
with a splitting headache. Far above her, unnamed stars twinkled, larger and closer than those in her own nighttime sky, and around her stretched mountains, deep and ominous. Their shadows rose up and ate the stars on either side.

She pitched and bobbed and moaned, and Scout hurried to her. “Welcome back, Chloe.”

“The sneaky little fish chooses to wake. How pleasant for us all,” Tuftunder spat. “Were I commandeering this raft, which I'm not, I'd be making you swim behind.” He wriggled and collapsed onto his back. Chloe blinked. Tuftunder was tied — hand, foot, and chest — with thick rope.

“What happened?” she asked.

“I'll leave that explanation to my brother.” Scout leaned back on his elbows.

“You have a brother?”

“He does.”

Nob waved and poled forward. The raft skipped over a wave and landed smoothly on the other side. He gave a bashful smile. “I am a ferryman, you know.”

Chloe's jaw dropped and she propped herself up, then raised a finger.

“How could you … and Scout … and that dwarf …”

Nob grinned. “I've been following you for some time, not knowing who was in front of me. I was curious, though, as nobody falls off the bridge, especially to sail down this river. When I caught the scent of dragon blood, I prepared for the worst, but it was this dwarf who floated my way, and I scooped him up. Fortunately for me, he's far from mute.”

“Mute you say?
Mutiny
, I say. That's what we should be starting, lassy. From what I gather, this Nob left you in the cold, isn't that right?”

Chloe said nothing.
He
is
right
.

Nob breathed deeply. “The dwarf has me there, and you aren't the first one I've let down either. Fear got the best of me, but I didn't leave you alone. I
knew my brother would take better care of you than I ever could … He always does.” He hung his head.

“Go on.” Chloe stood and put her hand on his shoulder. “You're here now.”

Nob lifted his gaze. “So when the river widened, I passed you in the fog and dragged the mouthy dwarf onto the bridge. I threw him onto your raft, neither knowing his weight nor that your head was inches beneath. I'm so sorry.”

Chloe hugged Nob from behind. “I am so glad you're here. Will you stay?”

He nodded.

“Oh, how touching.” Tuftunder struggled against the rope and rolled onto his side with a huff. “Enjoy each other's company. Soon you'll be in waters only I know.”

Chloe ignored the dwarf and stared at Scout and Nob.
Brothers!
She didn't need to ask their story. Scout was the leader, confident like Grif, only kinder. Nob was Q. Much quieter when Scout was around.

Gradually, Chloe's sea legs returned, and she plunked down behind Nob. “Thanks again for coming for me,” she whispered.

“You don't need me.” He didn't turn.

“Secholit seems to think I do.”

Nob puffed out a long blast of air. “Yes, lady. So I came back. But I'm not a very …”

“What?”

The raft pitched downward and all went black.

“Nob!” Scout said. “Did we go in the tunnel? Are we heading toward Wayward Mountain?”

Nob poled hard. “I've never felt waters like these before.”

“And won't likely again.” The dwarf chuckled.

“Remember, Chloe,” Scout shouted. “Remember anything!”

“Oh, right!”
Pancakes
. Her stomach growled. The thought slid easily into her mind.
Mom's buttermilk pancakes
.

Her stone glowed blue and lit up the tunnel through which they hurtled.

Scout jumped over to Tuftunder and shook him. “Where does this end?”

“In her lair. Your oh-so-gifted Nob lefted when he should have twice righted. Now we're all as good as dead.”

Scout nodded. “Did we pass two rights, Nob?”

“We passed ten. How was I to know?” He rubbed his face. “I should have known. I shouldn't have come.”

They swirled deeper, bouncing off rock and rock wall, desperate to stay on the raft.

“What's in the lair?” Chloe shouted. “It can't be as bad as all that.”

Scout peeked over at Nob.

Tuftunder winked. “She's worse.”

And with that, the raft accelerated toward whatever danger awaited them.

Chloe loved water rides. Partly for the whoosh, but more for the splash.

There was no splash.

It was just down and down and down. Chloe couldn't believe a mountain's roots could reach so deep. But eventually the raft slowed and drifted into a still pool. There was still not a shred of natural light, and no matter how hard she remembered, a dull gray glint was all that came from her stone.

“Swim to the shore,” Tuftunder grunted. “And quick. Before she sucks us in.”

“Do not leave this raft.” Scout reached for Nob's arm.

“He's a fool,” Tuftunder snorted.

“He's a dwarf,” shouted Scout.

Nob's breath was heavy. “Lady, this is your quest. What do you want me to do?”

Chloe held up her stone and searched the dull shoreline. “We need to reach the bay; that's my goal. But I can't stand this water anymore.” She looked
over at Scout. “You said I'd see what I wanted, and I guess I do. I want to land.” She exhaled. “Nob?”

Scout buried his head in his hands. “That was not beneath this mountain. We're off course.”

Chloe closed her eyes and fought to remember her maps. “No, this is right. It's where we need to be. We can walk out to the Safelands. I wrote a way out.”

“A wise decision, lassy,” Tuftunder whispered. “Though a wee bit ill informed. Now will someone release me? I will need my legs if you get my meanin'.”

Scout groped toward Tuftunder, and with three quick slashes set the dwarf free. Nob stretched his pole toward shore, and the raft slid silently into sand.

“May I suggest you attempt a faster exit from this place?” Tuftunder leaped ashore and was gone.

Chloe squinted at the grayish beach. A weight descended on her heart — there was something evil about this darkness. Still, she stepped onto solid ground. Scout and Nob followed. She couldn't bear to look into Scout's eyes. It wasn't the first time she'd ignored his council.

“Help me secure the raft,” Nob murmured. “We may need it later.” Nob and Scout and Chloe splashed into the water and groaned the raft onto shore.

“Whose lair are we in?” Chloe asked.

Scout shook his head. “I had thought perhaps
fortune had swept us to the meeting place. We're many years too late, but … the lair, this I've always taken as myth. Nob?”

Nob squinted. “I see no danger, but my spirit feels one. Tuftunder ran that way.”

“Then let's go the other,” Chloe said.

They traipsed along the waterline. Chloe had felt many emotions since her arrival, but the despair of that place was overwhelming. Every thought was filled with hate; every step took her deeper into disgust. They'd marched an hour, and still the drab scenery had not changed.

“This was your route, Chloe,” Scout hissed. “This was your decision. We could be in a wide place, but instead we are here, in this hideous, cavernous —”

He suddenly grabbed Chloe's arm, and Nob grasped Scout's. They looked at each other's hands, and then up at each other's rage-filled faces. Slowly, they released their grips.

“I don't like my thoughts here. Angry thoughts, but familiar thoughts. May I suggest that the raft is our only way out?” Scout said. “This river flows in. It must exit.”

Chloe's jaw tightened at the thought of more water, but she knew he was right. This shore was changing them.

“Fine!” She kicked at the sand. “Back to the raft. There's nothing down here I want.”

Darkness gobbled up all sense of time, and in the forever space of their return shuffle, Chloe felt hope drain out of her. She forced her mind back home, but even there she found no joy.

Her family — who cares if she saw them again? She'd leave Nob and Scout if she could.

“We should have reached it by now.” Nob searched the area. Another five minutes passed.

“It's gone,” Scout said, then pitched forward. “Well, most of it.” Beneath his feet, the pole lay in the sand.

Chloe fell onto her knees. “I couldn't take it. It was me. I messed up.”

Scout said nothing.

Nob plopped beside her. “We're still together. It could be worse … Scout, do you feel that?”

He nodded. “A cool breeze. Something comes.”

Chloe jumped to her feet, and Nob reached for the pole.

“Who goes there?” Scout yelled. “We demand safe passage through.”

The breeze grew stronger, circled them, and drew them forward.

“Give me your hands!” Nob grabbed Scout's and
Chloe's, and they flew forward, squinting and blinking, toward a pinpoint light.

Chloe cracked an eyelid as her body swirled helplessly and her feet lifted off the ground. Above them — hundreds of feet, thousands of feet — she could see an opening and the clear blue of the sky.

“Ooh!” The foot of a dwarf kicked her head as he spun by. She ducked as a wood elf skimmed her scalp.

“Wind funnel!” Scout screamed.

Chloe squeezed Nob's hand. “We're trapped inside the mountain! This is not how I wrote it! Nothing is like I thought it would be!”

They were not swirling alone. Thousands of creatures, from fleet-footed cheetahs and tumbling snapping turtles, to trolls and gnomes and elves and men and winged giants with their hands on sword hilts, all spun limp and lifeless.

The air about her was so thick with creatures that Chloe caught just a moment's glimpse of the shaft's walls. This wasn't a thin hole that reached down from above. This was an entire hollowed-out mountain.

A tiny dragon thunked Nob square in the chest. He gasped and Chloe broke free from his grasp.

“Scout?” Chloe yelled as her body whizzed by his.

“These are Old Retinyans!” he called. “I don't know if they are living or dead.”

“Dazed.” The voice echoed from below, and Chloe twisted to catch a glimpse of a woman, hooded in white, standing on a rock and unaffected by the whirling winds.

“Scout, it can't be!” Nob said.

“Poor, frightened ferryman. A bit late to the meeting, wouldn't you say? Is that how you greet royalty?” she said, calmly raising her hand. Nob's body crashed against the rocky wall and kept spinning.

“Younger sister, is this how you greet your royal brothers?” Scout shouted. “I am Biln. This is Nob. We wandered this land together.”

That's your sister?

“That was a different life,
Scout
. When all was set right. When this lair was not my prison. Before Secholit fled —”

“I didn't flee.”

A shadow darkened the inside of the mountain. “I don't flee.” The voice was closer now. “I won't flee.”

The wind funnel spun even faster, and then the winds stopped. The host of creatures fell, landing hard on top of the stone slab. Chloe was fortunate. After landing feetfirst on top of a giant's back, she leaped toward a wall as the sky rained man and beast, freed from their merciless spin.

Chloe witnessed far more painful descents. The
shadow that darkened the sky vanished, and in the light she clearly saw four upright figures. Chloe drew nearer. Scout and Blind Secholit stood together. Nob cowered behind Scout. The hooded woman backed away.

“You abandoned me here,” she hissed.

“You left me. I never left you.” Blind Secholit stepped forward and pointed upward with his staff. “That opening above you was a gift. You've always been free to leave this place.”

“Vaepor's funnel cloud was too strong.” Her voice cracked. “It held us all in.”

“Your courage fell.” Another step. “Your anger grew.” And another. “I gave you these men and creatures to lead, and you allowed their capture.”

Secholit leaned over to a wood elf. He whispered and it opened its eyes.

Then he turned to Chloe. “Did Scout not tell you to stay on the raft?”

She nodded. “But he said that beneath the mountain I'd find what I most wanted.”

“Have you?”

“I guess this is the wrong mountain, and I didn't find home. But I did find … you.”

Secholit smiled, but only for a moment. “Your trip will now be more difficult. I see heartache ahead
for you, Chloe.” He turned to Scout. “But still you are not too late. Nick is near. And as for you, Zophira, you will accompany Chloe and your brothers.”

The woman pointed at Chloe. “But she is weak. Isn't there another task?”

Secholit nodded. “Only one, and that is mine to complete.” He glanced around the mountain. “Zophira, all these I gave you to lead, I now remove from your command.”

Her jaw dropped. “But, sir, only a gifted one can command their respect.”

“Agreed.” Secholit leaned hard on his walking stick and approached Scout. “Move.”

Scout stood aside. Nob stared up with wide eyes and gradually straightened.

“Yes.” Secholit tapped him on the head with his staff. “You will do well. I place this army under your command.”

“I don't … I haven't … Maybe Scout would be a better choice,” Nob stammered.

“A snow toad would be a better choice,” Zophira muttered. “You can't do this to me!”

Blind Secholit turned toward her slowly, his face stern. “Where have you come from, Zophira?” And Secholit grew, not in inches or in feet. He swept Zophira up in his hand and grew until his head
shielded the sky. Chloe rubbed her eyes, blinked, and when she looked next, Secholit was back to normal size and reaching for his stick, while Zophira sat pouting in the corner.