Keeper of the Realms: Crow's Revenge (Book 1) (5 page)

The dog wasn’t amused. Snarling, it slowly padded towards Charlie, who just as slowly backed away.

‘I guess you’re not the sort of dog that pet shops hope to sell to urban, fun-loving girls, are you? Er … no? I didn’t think so. So why am I getting the really, really, really bad impression that you’re maybe the sort of dog that likes to EAT urban, fun-loving girls instead?’

Looking over her shoulder, Charlie realized with sudden alarm that the dog had backed her into a corner. On one side was a sheer drop down the cliff face and on the other was the river. Lying on the floor a short distance away was a tree limb, worn smooth from its passage through the water. Charlie started to inch her way towards it. If she could just get her hands on it, she could use it to keep the dog at bay, maybe even scare it off.

The dog, with canny foresight, moved between Charlie and her goal.

‘Oh, for crying out –’

The dog suddenly leaped at her. Teeth snapping, it shot
through the air. Charlie fell backwards in an attempt to get out of its way, but abruptly found herself submerged in icy-cold water. The realization that she was in the water and nearing a plummeting waterfall sent adrenalin pumping through her body. Kicking out in a frenzied front crawl, she tried to reach the riverbank, but it was too late. The rushing water dragged her under. Spinning and tumbling, Charlie lost all sense of direction as she dropped over the cliff face.

The twisting free-fall seemed to go on forever. Charlie, dizzy beyond belief, saw the foaming surface of the river rushing up to meet her.

‘Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh–’

She slammed into the water, which cut off her scream. Battling against the rushing water, she struggled back up to the surface. Gasping, she managed to drag in a lungful of air before the pounding waters pushed her under again. Struggling harder, Charlie swam with all her might against the powerful undercurrent, but with no success. The waters dragged her down and spun her along the stony riverbed.

Charlie could feel herself beginning to tire. The thought of drowning in the murky waters made her thrash about, but a sudden collision caused white flashes and an explosion of pain along the side of her head. A trail of blood slowly disappeared into the murky water as she blacked out.

The giant stood there, staring with a focused rage at the carved wooden door. His anger and fury was so intense that it could be seen pulsing around him like a dark halo.
For a long, long time his only movement was the slow opening and shutting of clenched fists. The Shades cowered in silence to either side, forming a rustling and whispering carpet of shadow.

With a shudder, the giant awoke from his bitter trance. Turning, he strode across the chamber towards the stone door and firmly grasped the criss-crossed carvings on its surface. Then he began to chant. His voice was a deep, rumbling baritone, a combination of whale song and distant thunder. The stone door began to glow a deep red until the giant’s powerful voice filled the chamber, rippling back and forth as it rose to a crescendo. As the chant built in power, the colour brightened from red to orange and finally to a luminous white. The eerie singing continued for a few moments, then suddenly stopped. The giant released his grip and stepped back.

‘Open,’ he said.

Smoothly and silently, the huge door swung open. The giant strode forward with his shadowy servants following at his heels. Stopping halfway through, he turned to one of the Shades. ‘Fetch me a garment that belongs to that squishy little girl. Ensure it is rich with her disgusting and vile scent. Bring it to me in the Western Mountains.’

He watched the Shade slink away. Slipping under the small door on the far side of the chamber, it disappeared back into the house. The giant grunted his approval before striding through the door with the remaining Shades, leaving the chamber empty and silent.

5

New Companions

Charlie groaned as she came to. Sitting up, she stared around her and found that she was resting on the riverbank. She didn’t remember getting there; in fact, the last thing she remembered was the horror of drowning.

‘Hello, lass. Nice swim?’ said a voice.

Charlie looked up and saw a figure looming over her.

‘Uh, hi,’ she said. Immediately she noticed that the man looked a lot like Jensen and she relaxed slightly. ‘Um, are you by any chance a Treman?’

‘Ha! Of course I’m a Treman. Wot else would I be? Look! Big nose, big earlobes and let’s not forget me green skin! D’ya meet many Humans that look like dis? I can see yer mind must have been turned ta mush after swallowing all that water!’

‘Uh, sure … Well, thanks anyways for saving me. I really appreciate it.’

‘Don’t thank me, blossom, thank Sic Boy. He was the one that pulled ya outta the water.’

‘Is that him?’ asked Charlie, pointing to a very fat Treman who was walking along the bank, whistling a jaunty tune as he came. His big green stomach, too large to be contained
by his leather shirt, bulged over his belt. Charlie couldn’t help noticing that his belly button was pierced.

‘Ha! Ya must be kidding. Kelko the Fat Oak swimming? The only thing he’s good for is floating!’

‘So who’s Sic Boy, then?’ asked Charlie.

‘Sic Boy?’ said Kelko, who had just arrived and was now sitting down on the bank next to Charlie. ‘I just saw him off chasing squirrels. He’ll be back in a minute.’

Charlie raised her eyebrow.
Chasing squirrels? Riiiiight
.

‘Nice dive, by the way,’ said Kelko. ‘I especially enjoyed all the arm waving and screaming. Very stylish, wouldn’t ya say, Stotch?’

‘Oh, sure. Real stylish,’ answered the Treman who had first spoken to Charlie. ‘Of course, ya’ve gotta be the only girl stupid enough not ta take the stairs,’ he added, pointing towards the cliff face.

‘Stairs? What stairs?’ asked Charlie.

‘Those really, really big stairs cut inta the cliff face,’ said Kelko. ‘Ya know, the ones that are really hard ta miss.’

Charlie looked back at the cliff face. Kelko was right: there was indeed a huge staircase carved into the rock.

‘Well, it’s not as if I didn’t intend to use them, but I never got the chance.’

‘And why’s that, then, lass?’ asked Stotch.

‘Because I got pushed into the water by a blooming big, black-furred monster, that’s why!’

‘Monster? Around here?’ said Stotch, surprised. ‘Hey, Kelko, ya haven’t seen any monsters around here, have ya?’

‘No, not since yer sister stopped coming around!’ said Kelko.

‘Shut it, ya big green lump o’ blubber!’

‘Hey, I’m serious!’ Charlie interrupted. ‘It jumped at me and … Oh, my days! There it is! Quick, run!’ she shouted.

Stotch and Kelko stared around in puzzlement.

‘Wotcha going on about, lass?’ asked Stotch.

‘See, I always said Humans were a few acorns short in the head,’ added Kelko.

‘What are you two? Blind? There, right there!’ screamed Charlie.

The huge dog was sitting calmly on top of the bank. Opening its huge mouth, it yawned and scratched its flanks.

‘Ha! Lass, don’t be stupid now, that’s Sic Boy,’ laughed Stotch.

‘Sic Boy?’ said Charlie. ‘No, it’s not. It’s the monster that chased me into the river.’

‘Sic Boy chased ya inta the river?’ said Kelko. ‘He wouldn’t have done that on purpose. Although I’ve gotta admit he does have a rather wicked sense of humour.’

‘Wicked sense of humour? He tried to bite me in half!’

‘Nah, he probably just wanted ta play a bit. He’s a bit feisty sometimes. Anyway, don’t forget he’s the one that pulled ya outta the water,’ said Stotch.

‘Hhmpf,’ grumbled Charlie. She still wasn’t convinced that the huge dog wasn’t going to pounce down the bank and try to gobble her up.

‘How’s yer head?’ asked Stotch.

‘Really sore, but I’ve had worse beatings from Mr Crow.’

‘Who’s Mr Crow?’ asked Kelko.

‘A skinny, deceiving, miserable … um … Never mind, he’s not important.’

‘Well, then, lass, if ya can walk, let’s go see the others, get ya some grub and something dry for ya to wear,’ suggested Stotch.

Bending down, he scooped up his fishing gear, his catch (which consisted of some brightly coloured fish) and his fishing rod before clambering back up the riverbank with Kelko wobbling by his side. Making sure that the two Tremen were between her and Sic Boy, Charlie followed slowly after.

‘Hey, um, Kelko, is this Bellania?’ she asked.

Kelko stopped and turned to her. ‘Of course, lass. Where else would ya see a forest like dis?’ he said, gesturing around him.

Reaching the top of the bank, Charlie saw that they were in a clearing about half the size of a football pitch. The trees lining the clearing were gigantic, bigger than any she had seen in London. The trunks were wider than buses and the trees themselves towered high enough to look like small skyscrapers. A couple of the pink birds she had seen earlier were walking about, plucking at seeds and insects in the grass. Every once in a while one would lift its head and trill out a whistling song.

In the centre of the clearing a group of maybe ten or twelve Tremen were sitting around a roaring bonfire. They all seemed very merry, passing a leather gourd to one another and eating freshly barbecued fish. A couple of the Tremen were pounding out complex rhythms on leather-bound drums. Some were singing along and several others were dancing and cavorting about. They all cheered when the four of them came in sight. Charlie did a double take when she saw a familiar face.

‘Jensen!’ she cried.

‘Charlie! Wotcha doing here?’ he asked, clearly pleased to see her. His eyes took in her wet and dishevelled clothing and the big bump on her head. ‘I see ya’ve been in the wars. Everything all right, me little Hippotomi?’

Before Charlie could reply the other Tremen began to badger Jensen.

‘Who’s she, then?’

‘Who’s the lass, Jensen?’

‘Yeah, who’s she?’

Jensen waved his hands for silence. ‘All right, lads, dis is the little lady I was telling ya all about. Say hello ta the stompin’, stampin’ girl, me little Hippotomi, Charlie!’

A large chorus of ‘hello’s and ‘hi’s greeted Charlie, who couldn’t help but grin. The Tremen were very welcoming and their good cheer and big smiles were infectious. Many of them tried to come up and ask her questions.

‘Stand back! Stand back, ya useless lotta weasels!’ shouted Jensen. ‘Let’s give her some grub and a chance ta dry out before ya all start bothering her!’

Jensen led Charlie over to an empty seat, sat her down and got one of his companions to fetch a towel. The smell of the freshly cooked fish set Charlie’s stomach rumbling; it had been hours since she had eaten. Accepting a plate of the Tremen’s dinner, she tucked into it straight away, washing it down with a drink that tasted like fragrant vanilla, lime and raspberries.

‘Charlie, me lass, are ya all right?’ asked Jensen, obviously concerned. ‘That’s quite a big bump on yer noggin.’

‘My head’s OK,’ said Charlie. ‘I think it just looks worse
than it is.’ Seeing the worry in Jensen’s eyes, she added, ‘Really, though, I’m fine.’

‘Well, if ya be sure, but if ya don’t mind I’ll have Lentol look at it later,’ suggested Jensen.

Charlie nodded, wondering vaguely who Lentol was.

‘So, tell me, lass, wot brings ya ta Bellania?’

‘Urm, I didn’t really have a say in the matter. I kind of got chased here,’ said Charlie.

‘Chased?’ said Jensen. ‘By who?’

‘By a really, really big giant with poor anger management and a whole load of black, hissing shadows!’ explained Charlie.

‘Big giant, black shadows?’ muttered Jensen. His face suddenly looked very grave. ‘Dis giant, did he keep his face covered?’

‘Yes, that’s right. And everything else was covered in black bandages.’

‘Bane!’ hissed Jensen.

One of the Tremen sitting close by promptly fell off his seat upon hearing the name. Silence fell across the campsite and all the Tremen turned to stare at Charlie.

‘Bane? Who’s Bane?’ asked Charlie.

‘Bane, the Western Menace, is bad, bad news,’ said Jensen. He spat into the fire to prove his distaste. ‘He’s an evil thug with a thirst for power. And he’s been a right pain in the neck. He’s been closing down a lotta the trade routes, forbidding travel through the Stoman lands and amassing a huge army. He’s a bringer of war.’